Newbie - Looking for instructions for a 200 series Nieuport

[AK]

Hi Builders

A bit about myself - I started building when I was about 9 or 10 and started on the airfix and matchbox plastic models. I built one Guillows model when I was 15 and then left it as other things like cars, girlfriends, life and jobs got in the way.

A couple of years ago - about 6 I think, I bought and started to construct a series 200 Nieuport 11. I got halfway and then house renovations and arrival of children - the project stalled. Now that my son (5) wants to do carpentry and build planes, I thought I could restart the project and finish it. Ironically, all the parts are still there even though the project had survived room rebuilds, etc. It's amazing that it was unscathed.

I had completed and shaped the top wing, built the bottom wing (still unshaped), and half the fuselage was still pinned down to the project board. Now I have shaped the bottom wing, almost completed the fuselage , and almost built the stabiliser.

Now I have seen that I have everything, parts etc, but I am missing the instructions and I have not built a biplane before - the struts for mounting the top wing look quite flimsy - also the technique for proper alignment I do not know.

So I can do a little more (like complete the tail and stabiliser, do the tissue and doping) but the final assembly is going to be difficult without instructions.

I will order a set from Guillows, but would appreciate it if any one who has built the plane would be able to scan in the instructions, or at least, help me out. The instructions will take time since I'm in South Africa, and as they say, while the wind is in your sails, make use of it.

Thanks

AK

[SteveM]

I have this kit but am not keen on scanning copyrighted plans for people, though in this instance you already paid for the plans twice and are just trying to get early access to them while waiting for the mail. Maybe someone else is a little less paranoid than me and will be willing to scan them for you.

I can offer some links though.
Check out the Virtual Aerodrome where people post pictures of the planes they are building. You'll even find pictures of a Nieuport 11that was started in 1975/76!
Here is a RCGroups build log of one that was built for R/C but still might show enough detail of the build to help you.

[mark]

Hello modelers,

Just FYI on this thread .... we have no problem with you scanning plans and passing along to another modeler such as in this case. As long as it is just that, for help in making one of our kits and not for redistribution or sale of plans.

In this case it would be great to help him out over in South Africa, save on time and postage of anything mailed. You have our OK.

Mark
Paul K. Guillow. Inc.

[SteveM]

Mark - That's good to know, thanks!

AK - Unless someone beats me to it I'll scan the plans for you when I get home this evening. I won't post them here for obvious reasons so please provide your email address. You can post your email address or just email me by clicking the "email" button at the bottom of my posts.

[AK]

In this case it would be great to help him out over in South Africa, save on time and postage of anything mailed. You have our OK.

Mark

Thanks so much for that.....I really appreciate it. I'm getting to the stage where I will be stuck soon...

[BillParker]

The above several messages are just about the coolest thing I've seen happen in this message board! Well done, Steve, and Mark for solving problems in an expeditious manner! Sorry, when things work well in this world, I just have to point it out!

Steve, our new friend AK may be refering to the actually assembly destructions, rather than the plan. I just finished recently blowing up the Newport, so I found the plans for it, but I don't have the assembly page(s).

AK, take a peek at this and see if there's not a hint or two that will get you thru the assembly:

http://www.parkerinfo.com/ap50.htm

If this is no help, somebuddy will be along here soon enough with what you need, so not to worry!

Teach that young fellow well, so he can help perpetuate our hobby!

[AK]

[quote="BillParker"]
Steve, our new friend AK may be refering to the actually assembly destructions, rather than the plan. /quote]

Quite correct, Bill, and thanks for your letter of help. The plan I have - it was pinned under the fuselage for 7 years! It's the assembly instructions I'm after.

But I'm getting a good idea from other build shots and some webpages. I'll mount the upper wing with cardspacer jigs from the side on assemply in the plan.

I've still got time since I am still stringing the fuselage and paper covering will also have to be done.

Still, I'd rather have them than not.....

[thymekiller]

The card spacers work vey well, just tricky the first time. Once you get the hang of it you could put 10 wings on it.

I'm with BillP. That was very cool!!! In a world of greed and lawyers, its good to see somebody still plays well with others.
Well done guys!

thymekiller

[SteveM]

AK, I just scanned in the directions and will try to merge the scans seamlessly and crank out a PDF for you. Send me an email at swm@swm1.com so I know who to send the file to.

[dbcisco]

First, my hat is off to Guillow's for allowing builders to help each other with missing plans. Most other companies would be sicking lawyers on their customers. What a wonderful business model. Maybe that is why Guillow's has stood the test of time while many others faded away.

Second, what are card spacers?

Third, (in jest) what instructions? That paper thing that is left in the box after I'm done? Hmmm, must be a guy thing; I don't ask for directions and never read the instructions, just look confusedly at the blueprint.

[thymekiller]

Instructions: Pages of text to be refered to AFTER it has been assembled. Explains all those extra parts.

Card template. : Copy the side view of the plan where the wings go. [I trace onto tissue.] Cut out the airfoil shapes. Trace these open holes in the tissue onto cardboard. Cut out the airfoil shapes. Insert wing tips into these holes. Now you have the perfect location of top, middle, bottom wing, in perfect alighnment, exactly as shown on the plan. One template on each end of the wings.

Thats the short version.

If the plane has one wing directly attached to the fuse, Glue that one wing like a normal wing. Then add the cardboard and top wing. Some people only make the pattern inbetween the wings.

Some guys will also make a bottom template for the fuse. Make certain that your fuse template and your wing template have the same bottom line. They should match at the bottom. That insures that everything has something to set on as you build. It is VERY important that the wing angles and fuse angle match the plans EXACTLY. It is easyer for me to make both of my templates go all the way to the bottom of the plans. When layed on top of each other and matched at the very bottom, The wings are in proper relation to the fuse.

There are infinite other ways to do this. I have only done it once. I need to do it again, so if any one needs a pic, give a shout. I will mock up and post. It only sounds tricky. Thats mostly because I dont think I have done a good job of explaining it.

Its an interesting topic and other suggestions are welcome. HELP!!!

thymekiller

[dbcisco]

That was what I was going to do, now I know what it's called

[AK]

@SteveM - Thanks for the effort - I've emailed you...

Thanks for the help on the biplane wing, thymekiller... I want to photocopy the side view of the plan on to card, and the cut out the aerofoil shape top and bottom - that should be simple..

@ dbcisco - I don't follow instructions to the letter, but it's nice to have them for reference regarding certain details on a build. Like how to mount the biplane wings, for example!

Anyway, back to the build - I don't have much time until the year gets going and my time is limited...

Tks...

[SteveM]

I have just emailed AK a link to download the PDF of the directions (yes, there is a set of directions besides the sheet of plans). It is a 14.1MB PDF file created from 300 DPI scans of the original (non laser cut kit, not sure if there is a difference) and is fairly good quality with some ghosting from the reverse sides. If anyone now or in the future needs these directions and owns this kit then please email me and I will send you a link too. I will not post the link as once that happens it gets indexed by google and next thing you know someone is selling a bunch of Guillow's plans on a CD on ebay for $0.99.

[AK]

I have just emailed AK a link to download the PDF of the directions (yes, there is a set of directions besides the sheet of plans). It is a 14.1MB PDF file created from 300 DPI scans of the original (non laser cut kit, not sure if there is a difference) and is fairly good quality with some ghosting from the reverse sides.

Downloading now - thanks Steve you are a star! Luckily (or unluckily) I have the older non-laser cut kit, so the plans are a perfect fit. I must admit that there are some tolerance issues in this kit though!

Progress - main fuse complete - not sanded yet, wings complete & shaped, and tail and stabiliser complete but also not sanded. Need to do a nice sand on the fuse and the tailplane, and then to covering. I am toying with the idea of doping the fuselage to get a better sanding finish, but the jury is out on that one....

AK