{"product_id":"toko-124-nieuport-16-c-1-wwi-fighter-1-72-plastic-model-aircraft-kit","title":"Toko 124 Nieuport 16 C.1 WWI Fighter — 1:72 Plastic model aircraft kit","description":"\u003cp\u003eManufacturer: Toko\n\u003cbr\u003eKit number: 124 \/ TOK124\n\u003cbr\u003eAircraft: Nieuport 16 C.1\n\u003cbr\u003eScale: 1:72\n\u003cbr\u003eBarcode: 4820015440334\n\u003cbr\u003eKit type: Injection-moulded plastic aircraft kit\n\u003cbr\u003eRelease: 1999\n\u003cbr\u003eOrigin: Ukraine\n\u003cbr\u003eStatus: Discontinued\/vintage\n\u003cbr\u003eManufacturer and kit background\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eToko was a Ukrainian model manufacturer whose 1990s catalogue became particularly well known for unusual WWI and interwar aircraft. Many of its kits were later reissued by companies including Eastern Express, but original Toko boxings are now collectible examples of early Ukrainian plastic modelling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKit 124 represents the Nieuport 16 C.1, an improved development of the earlier Nieuport 11. It is particularly useful for collectors because the Nieuport 16 is noticeably less commonly represented in 1:72 than the famous Nieuport 11.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe kit dates from 1999, making it a later Toko release than the Nieuport 11 kit discussed previously.\n\u003cbr\u003eKit contents\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe kit is a relatively small, straightforward 1:72 WWI aircraft kit, using Toko's characteristic tooling of the period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe principal components include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Injection-moulded plastic parts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Fuselage\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Upper and lower wings\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Interplane and cabane struts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Tailplane and rudder\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Rotary engine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Cowling\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Propeller\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Undercarriage\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Cockpit components\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Pilot's position\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Machine-gun installation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Windscreen\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Decals\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Assembly instructions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe kit provides the characteristic sesquiplane wing arrangement, with the large upper wing and much smaller lower wing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs with many Toko WWI kits, the rigging is left to the modeller rather than being represented by separate supplied material. A careful build will therefore benefit from fine thread or stretched sprue for the interplane and control bracing.\n\u003cbr\u003eDecal options\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe documented kit offers three aircraft schemes, covering different operators:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    French Aéronautique Militaire, 1916\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Imperial Russian Air Service, including the Emperor's Flying Guard\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Royal Flying Corps No. 11 Squadron, including an aircraft associated with Albert Ball.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis gives the kit considerably more historical variety than a single-marking boxing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Russian option is particularly interesting because Nieuport 16s were used extensively by the Imperial Russian air arm.\n\u003cbr\u003eMoulding and vintage-kit considerations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a 1990s tooling, so expectations should be adjusted compared with modern 1:72 kits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA collector buying an opened example should check:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    All wing struts are present\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    The delicate undercarriage is intact\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    The propeller and engine parts are present\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Clear windscreen is included\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Decals have not deteriorated\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Instructions are present\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    No significant warping or damaged struts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor a completed model, the fine WWI rigging is one of the most important details visually.\n\u003cbr\u003eThe full-size Nieuport 16\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Nieuport 16 C.1 was developed by French designer Gustave Delage as an improved version of the Nieuport 11.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe principal change was the installation of a more powerful 110 hp Le Rhône 9J rotary engine, replacing the roughly 80 hp engine of the Nieuport 11. The extra power was required as the aircraft gained weight through equipment and armament improvements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExternally, it retained the characteristic Nieuport sesquiplane configuration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe aircraft entered service during 1916, at a time when fighter development was moving extremely rapidly. It was used by the French, British and Russian air services.\n\u003cbr\u003eArmament\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Nieuport 16 initially retained the characteristic upper-wing-mounted machine gun arrangement of the Nieuport 11.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSome aircraft were fitted with a Lewis or Hotchkiss machine gun, while later aircraft could carry a synchronised Vickers gun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe type also became particularly associated with the experimental use of Le Prieur incendiary rockets against German observation balloons. The Nieuport 16's ability to carry these rockets made it one of the better-known aircraft associated with early air-to-air rockets.\n\u003cbr\u003eService life\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Nieuport 16 was an important transitional fighter rather than a long-lived design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIts more powerful engine improved performance, but the aircraft had become relatively heavy and the increased power could not completely overcome the limitations of the basic Nieuport 11-derived structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt was therefore progressively replaced by the much more capable Nieuport 17, which retained the basic sesquiplane concept but offered a more refined design.\n\u003cbr\u003eAircraft specifications\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eApproximate figures for the Nieuport 16 include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Crew: 1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Engine: Le Rhône 9J rotary\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Power: approximately 110 hp\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Maximum speed: approximately 160 km\/h\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Role: single-seat fighter\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Armament: usually one machine gun, with variations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Configuration: single-engine sesquiplane\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt 1:72 scale, the aircraft produces a model only around 8 cm long, with a wingspan of approximately 10.5 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThat small size makes the rigging particularly important to the finished appearance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Toko","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57509849989500,"sku":"Toko-124","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/sussex-model-centre.co.uk\/products\/toko-124-nieuport-16-c-1-wwi-fighter-1-72-plastic-model-aircraft-kit","provider":"Sussex Model Centre","version":"1.0","type":"link"}