Nieuport 24 & Nieuport 24bis

[Paul A H]

Nieuport 24 & Nieuport 24bis

1:72 Roden

The Nieuport 24 was developed as a successor to the highly effective Nieuport 17 fighter. Building on such strong foundations, and featuring improved aerodynamics and a more powerful engine, the Nieuport 24 was a recipe for success. Unfortunately, the rapid pace of development in aircraft design meant that as the new aircraft rolled off the production line, many French units were equipping with the Spad S.VII instead. For this reason, the Nieuport 24 ended up serving with the air forces of France’s allies instead, including the United States, Russia and Great Britain.

Roden have released not one, but two new kits of the Nieuport 24: the regular 24 and the 24bis. As the two kits are very similar, I will deal with them both in one review. Both kits arrive in the usual end-opening boxes and feature the rather attractive artwork that Roden have become known for.

Nieuport 24

Roden’s Nieuport 24 is comprised of three small sprues of grey plastic. The first sprue holds the fuselage halves, horizontal tailplane, airscrews and cockpit details. The second sprue holds the wings, landing gear and struts. With the exception of the parts for the engine, most of the third sprue is not used. The sprues are nicely moulded, and feature some delicate details, especially in the way the fabric covered wings and fuselage are represented. A little flash is present in places, but nothing that a few swipes with a sanding stick or a scalpel blade won’t fix.

As is almost always the case, construction begins with the cockpit. This features a nice amount of detail and will reward careful assembly. Most of the components for the control column, rudder pedals and the seat fit directly onto the upper surface of the one-piece lower wing. The fuselage halves, which feature some nice interior detail, then close around this sub-assembly. The engine, cowling and machine gun are fitted next, followed by the struts, upper wing and landing gear. A nice, clear diagram is provided for the rigging.

No less than five colour options are provided:

• Nieuport 24 No. 4408 flown by Lieutenant Miodrag Tomych, Escadrille N. 523 Aviation Militaire, Wertecop airfield, Serbia, September 1917;

• Nieuport 24 Escadrille N. 89 Aviation Militaire, 1917;

• Nieuport 24, Japanese Army Air Force, Tokorosawa, 1917;

• Nieuport 24 No. N3987 flown by Sous-Lieutenant William Herisson of Escadrille N. 75 Aviation Militaire, September 1917; and

• Nieuport 24 No. N3961, Escadrille N. 91 Aviation Militaire, 1917;

The decals appear nicely printed and feature crisp, bold colours.

Nieuport 24bis

The Nieuport 24bis features exactly the same plastic as the plain vanilla 24, with the exception of the sprue that holds the fuselage halves. In the 24bis boxing, this sprue includes the older Nieuport 17 style of tailplanes used with the 24bis.

Three colour options are provided:

• Nieuport 24bis No. N3263, unknown training squadron, USAS, France, late 1917;

• Nieuport 24bis, Soviet Army, Slavnoe’s Air Group, 13 Fighter Detachment, Priyamino Airfield, May 1920; and

• Nieuport 24bis, Escadrille N.97, Aviation Militare, 1917.

Again, the decals look great on the sheet and appear to be nicely printed with a glassy finish.

Conclusion

Regular builders of WWI aircraft will no doubt be familiar with Roden’s kits and will therefore know what to expect. Those whose forays into the world of biplanes have been limited to some of the older kits from Airfix or Revell will be in for a pleasant surprise at the level of detail and refinement that Roden pack into their kits.

Review sample courtesy of

[Dave Fleming]

First time I've seen the plastic on the 24 kit - NO surprise it's almost identical to the 24bis, which hit the streets in the Uk this week.

Incidentally, the 3rd set of sprues is from the Roden Camel kit.

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.p...c=62643&hl=

Edited March 20, 2011 by Dave Fleming

[Obi-Jiff Kenobi]

Thanks for posting this, Paul, they look very nice. I've now added them to my shopping list, for my 1 Sqn collection.

[richellis]

The Nieuport 24bis is due to be released in 1/32 very soon from Roden.......