Bengtson Company Nieuport 17 User manual

Nieuport 17 40”
Copyright©2005‐13M.K.BengtsonAllRightsReservedRev04/13
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Nieuport1740”
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R/CScaleModelInstructions
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CONTACTINFORMATION
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TheNieuport17wasdesignedbyM.K.Bengtson
PrototypebyStevenPerry
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ManufacturedandDistributedby:
BengtsonCompany
e‐mail:[email protected]
WebSite:www.aerodromerc.com

Nieuport1740”Page1
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Copyright©2005‐13M.K.BengtsonAllRightsReservedRev04/13
NIEUPORT17
ThankyouforpurchasingtheNieuport1740”modelfor
electricflight.
SPECIFICATIONS
Morethan250lasercutparts
Scale:  1/8
Channels: R/E/A/T
Wingspan: 40ʺ
WingArea: 380sqin
Weight: 32oz
PowerSystem:AXI2217/20brushlessoutrunner
Prop:  11x4.7
Wheels: Balsa&plywood,Neoprenefoamtires
AirfoilType: Undercambered
Cowl:  Builtupbalsaandplywood
Spinner: Optional
Covering: Litespan,CoverliteorPolyspan
Decals: Availableonthewebsite
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BUILDINGTHEMODEL
BeforeStarting
Anoteaboutthephotos:Thephotosweretakenofa
prototypeandthepartssuppliedmaylookslightly
differentfromthem.However,theconceptsillustratedare
thesame.
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 Thefirstthingtodo,andwhateverysetofmodel
instructionsyouhavelookedatsinceyourfirstkit
hastoldyou,STUDYTHEPLANS!
 Thekitprovidestheoptionofundercamberedwings
byprintingadottedlinealongthebottomedgeof
eachrib.Thismustbecutalongwithagoodsharp
#11blade.
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CuttingUndercamberedWingDetail
COWL
IgluedthefirstringtogetherusingmediumCAonthe
edges.
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CowlConstructionDetail
IusedTightbondaliphatictogluetherestsinceIwas
matingflatsidesandedges.Istaggeredthepiecesoneach
ringsothateachedge‐to‐edgejointwasunderthecenter
ofthepieceontopofit.Eachsubsequentringwas
similarlystaggered.
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CowlConstructionDetail
Therearpartofthecowlcomesnext.Iused1/64ʺply
stripscut11/16ʺwide.IstartedbyCAingtheplystripto
theedgeofC2.Igluedabout1/2ʺandthenletthatsetup.
Iwasverycarefultoaligntheedgesprecisely.ThenI
bentthestriparoundtheformeracoupleofinches
keepingtheedgesalignedandgluingwithmediumCA
ontheinsideedge.Iworkedaroundthecircumference
thiswayafewinchesatatimeandconcentratingon
aligningtheedges.
Ijoinedtheendsofthestripbycuttingapieceof1/64ply
aboutaninchlongandCAingitinsidethering
overlappingandreinforcingthejoint.
NextIfittedC1insidetheplyandalignedtheedges
flush.Takethetimetofiddleitexactlyright.IranCA
aroundtheinsideoftheringalongtheC1/plyjoint.
Thenextstepistojointhefrontandrearcowlrings.Use
aslowcuringgluelikeTitebondandNOTCA.Youneed
theextratimetoensurethepiecesarealignedasperfectly

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Copyright©2005‐13M.K.BengtsonAllRightsReservedRev04/13
aspossible.Thebetterthealignment,thelesssanding
andfillingyouwillneedtodo.Alignit,weighitdown,
checkalignment,doublecheckalignmentandletitdry
well.
Whenthegluehasfullycured,removetheweights.Sand
thewholeringintoasmoothcylinder.Iusedabitof
SquadronWhiteputtytofillinsomelowareas.Only
whenIwassureIhadareasonableapproximationofa
smoothcylinder,didIstarttheroundingoffprocess.
TakingacuefromJohnAlcornʹsbookʺScratchbuiltʺIhad
atitwithaknife.ʺHadatitʺbeingdefinedascarefully
whittlingawaymostofthewoodthatwasnʹtsupposedto
bethere.Igotridoftherestoftheunwantedwoodwith
progressivelyfinergradesofsandpaper.Note:An
alternateapproachistouseabenchorbeltsanderforthis
step.
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CowlConstructionDetail
FrontFuselageBox
Afterthecowl,Imovedaftandbeganconstructionofthe
frontfuselagebox.Istartedbygluing,lightly,thebox
sidesintotheslotsinformerF5.
Ithenfittedthemotorplateintoitʹsslots.Besureyou
orientitcorrectlysothelargeslotcutforthemotorslants
totheRIGHT.Donʹtglueitinplacejustyet.
InextfittedformerF1inplaceonthefrontofthebox.I
usedsomeanglealuminiumandweightbagstolineup
theboxandensureitstayedsquareandtrue.Withthebox
secure,IcarefullytackgluedF1andthemotorplatetothe
sides,beingcarefultopincheachjointtightwhilethe
dropofCAdried.Withtheboxtackedtogethersquare
andtrue,IthenranCAalongeachsideofeachjointto
firmupthestructure.
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FrontFuselageBoxConstruction
Withtheboxgluedupsquareandtrue,addtheformersat
stationsF2‐F4.Therearethreepiecesforeachstation.The
sidepiecesformtheasymmetricalbulgesonthefuselage
sides.IalsoaddedformerF5atoF5.
Finally,IaddedtheliteplyUC2U/Csupport.
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FrontFuselageBoxConstruction
MountingtheMotor&Gearbox
Mountingthemotor&gearboxisgoingtodependonthe
motorandgearboxthatyoudecidetouse.Thisisanarea
whereyoumayhavetodoabitoffreestylemodellingto
geteverythinglocatedproperlyandsecuredthere.
ServoMounting
Theelevatorandrudderservosmountontraditionalrails
acrossthewidthofthefuselagebox.Iusedbalsasticks
CAedtotheliteplyfuselagesideslocatedexactlywhere
indicatedontheplans.
Onceallthesupportsareinplace,mounttheservos.Do
sowiththearmsinplacesoyoucaninsureproper
clearance.Thisisagoodtimetohookupallfourservosto
areceiverandturnthemontocenterthem.Adjustthe
positionsofthearmsifnecessary.
WireBending
Thecabanestrutsaremadeof3/32ʺpianowire.Ifinda
Dremeltoolwithacut‐offwheelessentialtotheprocess.

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Copyright©2005‐13M.K.BengtsonAllRightsReservedRev04/13
NOTE:Anothertechniqueforbendingmusicwireisto
useahammerandbenchvise.
Thefrontcabanesaresimple90‐degreebends.Cutoffthe
wiresomewhatlongerthannecessaryandbendagood90
inthemiddle.Nowplacethebendovertheplansand
thenmarkandcuttolengthasshown.Thecabanesshould
beabletofitintoapieceofbrasstubeembeddedinthe
CR1‐CR3structurefarenoughsotheverticalendsarethe
correctwidthapart.
Cutapieceof1/8ʺbrasstubetotheapproximatelength
showninthephoto.
Fitthepiecestogetherandlinethemupwiththeplansto
ensuretheyareacceptableinsizeandshape.Wire&tube
arecheap,donʹtbeafraidtopitchthepieceanddoitover
ifitisnʹtright.
Therearcabanesaremadebymakingthetwobends,
adjustingtheanglestomatchtheplansandthencutting
offtheendstothelengthshownontheplans.Cutand
dresstheendsoffourpiecesoftubeasshowninthe
photo.
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CabaneConstructionDetail
TheU/Cwireswillalsoneedtobebentupbefore
finishingthefrontfuselagebox.Thistimethewireis1/16ʺ
andthebendingandcuttingiseasier.Startwithpiecesof
wireseveralincheslongerthanneeded.Measureand
bendthewiretomatchthedrawings,butdonotmakethe
bendatthelowerendsyet.
MaketheplywoodU/Clegsovertheplans;thesewillbe
usedasbendingpatterns.
Holdthewireuptothewoodenleg.Matchthetopofthe
wirewiththebottomofthenotchintheleg.Markand
makethebendatthebottomoftheleg.
Leaveaslightgapatthebottomoftheleg.Thisissothe
brasstubejoiningthefrontandbackwireswillrestflush
onthebottomofthewoodenleg.
WhenyouhavemadegoodbendsinallwireU/Clegs,cut
themoffsothereis1/16ʺ‐1/8ʺgapwhentheyaretapedto
thewoodenlegs.Cutanddresstwopiecesofbrasstube
andusethemasjoiners.Donʹtglueorsolderuntilthewire
andwoodenlegsareinstalledonthefuselage
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UndercarriageConstructionDetail
MountingtheCabanestruts
Makeathree‐sidedboxoutofthetwoCR1andtheCR2
pieces.Ensurethepiecesarealllinedupinalldimensions.
Sandalledgesevenlyespeciallythetop.
Insertthebrasstubeyoupreparedwhenyoumadethe
frontcabanes.Keepitevenlycenteredandbelowor
exactlyevenwiththetopedgesoftheslot.
NowgluethetopCR3pieceoverthetubeintheslot.Take
carenottofillthetubewithglue...Sandthewhole
assemblysquare.
Gluethefinishedfrontcabanemountingassemblyinto
thenotchesinthefuselagesidesclosebehindtheF1
former.
Therearcabanesrequiretwomountingblocks.Build
theseupusingthepiecesprovidedaroundthebrasstubes
youmadewhenyoubentthecabanes.Againensureyou
donotgetanyglueinsidethetubes.
Takeyourtimetogettherearcabanemountingblocks
mountedexactlywheretheyaresupposedtobe.

RearCabaneConstructionDetail

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Copyright©2005‐13M.K.BengtsonAllRightsReservedRev04/13
MountingtheUC
InstallthefrontU/Cmount,UC1.Glueitfirmlyinplace
andnotfilledwithglue.KeepthenotchformedbyF1and
UC1alsoclearofglue.
TackgluethewireU/Clegsintheirexactpositiononthe
U/CsupportsUC1andUC2.NowbindthewireU/Clegs
tothefuselage.Iused30lbtestSpiderwirefishingline.I
sewedhole‐to‐holestraightacrossthewireandthenwent
backandsewedXsbetweentheholes.
Afterthebindingoffrontandrearlegsaredone,CAthe
bindings.

MountingUndercarriageDetail
SandataperedcrosssectioninthewoodenU/Clegsand
spreaderbar.Leaveenoughflatsurfacewherethewire
legscontactthewoodenlegs.NOTE:Soakthewooden
U/ClegsandspreaderbarinthinCA.Letitsoakinabit
beforeapplyinganykicker.Useepoxyattheapexofthe
U/Clegsandthelittlelegsontheendsofthespreaderbar.
Whencured,sandtheallpiecessmooth.
FitthewoodenU/Clegstothefuselageandwirelegs.
Trimtheupperendsofthewoodenlegsandortheir
respectivenotchesaswellasthecornersonthelowerend
ofthelegsasnecessarytoensureacorrectfit.Check
everythingforalignmentinalldimensions.
NextEpoxythewoodenlegsintotheirnotches.Bindthe
woodenlegstothewirelegsafewturnsatthetopanda
fewmoreatthebottom.Gluethebindings.Epoxythe
wirelegstotheedgesofthewoodenonesalongtheentire
length.Donotneglectthisstep.
InsertthespreaderbarbetweentheU/Clegs.Trimtoget
theearsonthespreaderbartofitcorrectlyintotheholes
intheU/Clegs.Besureeverythingisalllinedupbefore
gluingitsolid.Coatthejointwithepoxy.
Bindtheaxletothespreaderbarandepoxyonlythe
binding.Leavetheendsfreetoflex.
MaketheBatteryHatches
Imadetwohatches,oneinbetweentheU/Candtheother
behindtheU/C.Therearoneallowsaccesstotherudder
andelevatorpull/pullservos.Imadethemoutof1/64ply
laminatedto1/16balsa.Thisprocedurepreventswarping,
butthemainreasonisthatitfacilitatesmountingthe
magnetsusedtoholdhatchesshut.
Afterlaminatingthebalsaandply,cutthehatchestosize.
Theplysideistheoutside.Outoftheremaining
laminatedmaterial,cuttwostripsnomorethan1/2ʺwide.
Trimtheedgestoexactlymatchtherearofeachhatch.
Thesestripswillsupportoneofthemagnets.
Findthecenterofeachstripandmarkit.IuseRadio
ShackRareEarthmagnets.Theyare1/4ʺindiaand1/16ʺ
thick.Placeoneofthemagnetsonthecentermarkonthe
balsasideofthestrip.Pressitintothebalsasoitleavesa
circularmark.Nowcarefullycutthecircledowntothe
plywithoutgoingthroughtheply.CAoneofthemagnets
intotheholeandsandflush.
Puttheothermagnetontopoftheembeddedone.Now
turnthestripoverandalignitcarefullywiththerearedge
ofthehatch.Whenitisaligned,presstomarkthebalsa.
Againcarveoutthehole.Nowhereʹsagoodplacetomess
up.
Youhavetogetthesecondmagnetgluedintheholeright
sideuporthetwomagnetswillrepeleachother.
Tomountthesupportstrips,placeabitofwaxpaperor
clearplasticwrapbetweenthestripandhatch.Placethe
hatchintheopeningandfiddlewithituntilitisflushon
allsides.Turnthemodeloverandtackgluethestripin
place.Whenthegluesets,prythehatchupandfirmly
gluethestripinplace.Besurenottogetblobsofglue
betweenthehatchandstripasitwillkeepthehatchfrom
closingflush.
Finallyhingethehatch.Iusestrappingtapewithasmall
amountofCAtomakesureitholds.

HatchConstructionDetail
RearFuselageFrame
TheNieuport17usestheʺfrontbox/rearframeʺmethod
ofconstructionwithsomedifferences.Firstthereisthe
matterthedifferentdistancesbetweenthetwotop

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Copyright©2005‐13M.K.BengtsonAllRightsReservedRev04/13
longeronsandthetwobottomones.Topcrosspiecesare
goingtobelongerthanthecorrespondingbottomones.
AlsothetoplongeroncurvesallthewayforwardtotheF1
former.Greatcarewillbeneededwhenjoiningthefront
andrearfuselagesections.
Ibegantherearframebylayingoutthetopandbottom
longerons.NOTE:Hardbalsalongeronsare
recommended.
NextIaddedtheverticalstrutsandthediagonalbraces,
finishingthesideframebyaddingF9andf10atthetail.
Besuretotakeextrapainstolocatetheverticalstrutjust
aftoftheF5formerexactlyevenwiththerearedgeofF5
onthedrawing.
Tostatetheobvious,makeanotherframeasidenticalto
thisoneaspossible.Itdoesnʹtmatterwhattechniqueyou
usetomakeitidentical,justthatisasclosetothatasyou
canmakeit.
Inconventionalfrontbox/rearframeconstruction,you
buildupbothstructuresandthenmatethem.Theslanted
sidesoftheNieuportrearfuselagemakeithardtofollow
thatprocedure.Thesolutionistoaddeachsideseparately
andthenformupthereargirderafterthesidesare
attached.
Startbydryfittingeachsideframetothefrontbox.Trim
andfiddleuntilyougetaflushjoinbetweenF5andthe
verticalstrutimmediatelyaftofF5.Thisestablishesthe
correctsideangle.Whenyougetagoodfit,gluetheside
tothefrontboxalongF5.

RearFuselageFrameConstructionDetail
Nowgluethelowerlongeronendintothenotchonthe
frontbox.Finallygluethelongupperlongerontoeach
notchinformersF1‐F5,formingacurve.Dotheother
sidethesameway.
Ifounditbesttoaddtherudderhingesbeforethejoining
theframesatthetailpost.Withtherudderhingesin
place,pullthetailpoststogether.Ensuretheyareevenon
thetop,bottomandendsandthentackgluethem
together.
Checktoseethesidesareeven,untwistedandtrue.
SecurewithCAandthenaddthetailskidsupportTS1
betweenthelowerlongerons.
Addtheturtledeckformers,F6‐F8betweentheupper
longeronsatthestationslocatedontheplans.Finallyadd
thecrossstrutsbetweenthelowerlongeronsattheir
respectivestations.

TailSkidConstructionDetail
SheetingtheFuselage
Nextupissheetingthefuselage.Usesoftbalsa.
Makeuptemplatesforthesheetpiecesbycuttingand
fittingconstructionpapertothefuselage.Make
adjustmentsuntilyouaresureyouhavethebest
approximationoftheneededshapesthatyoucanget.
Makenoallowanceforthelowerwingroots,weʹlldeal
withthatarealater.
Nowlayoutthetemplatesonthewoodandcuttheparts.
Ensurethegrainofthewoodisorientedforeandaft
relativetohowthepartsitsontheairframe.Thisensures
thepartwillbendinthedirectionrequired.
Whenyouapplythesheetingpieces,dependingonyour
wood,youmayhavetroublegettingthemtobend.Ifso,
youcansprayalittlehouseholdammoniaontheoutside
ofthebend.Thisrelaxesthewoodgrainandgreatly
facilitatesthebend.Whenallthepiecesareinplace,trim,
sandandfillifnecessarytogetagoodsmooth,even
surface.


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Copyright©2005‐13M.K.BengtsonAllRightsReservedRev04/13
MOTORMOUNT/DUMMYENGINE
Itemsneededtofinishthemotormount:
3–2‐56x2”machinescrews
HeavyCardStockpaper
String
1/32”musicwire,forpushrods
Themotorthatwillpowerthismodel
Findthetwo1/16”plywoodmotormountsplates.Comparethe
mountingpatternontheplatetoyourmotor.Adjusttheholesif
necessary.Laminatethetwoplatestogether.Findthe83/16”
balsamotorcorepieces.Laminatethemtogether–onesectionof
5piecesandanothersectionwith3pieces.Checktheplansfor
correctorderofpieces.Usethe2‐56screwstolineupthepieces
properly.Laminatethe1/16”plypiecestothe3‐unitsection,
withthe1/8”notchedpiecebetweenthe5‐piecesection.Mount
yourmotorinsidethecoreunit.Aholeforthethreemotorwires
toexitwillneedtobefashioned.Findthethreedifferentsized
circularpiecesfortheenginecylindersaswellasthe3/32”
squarebalsacentersticks.Thisbuildermadeasmallfixtureto
gluethepiecessquareandproperdistanceapart.

Assemblethe9cylindercores.Cut9piecesofheavypaperfrom
thepatterninthelowerleftcorneroftheplans.Cutthepaperso
thegrainallowsthepapertoberolled.Thisbuilderpre‐rolled
thepaperaroundaSharpiepen.Gluetherolledpaperaround
thecylindercores.Cut2piecesofstringabout18”long,glueone
endofthestringtothetoporbottomofthepapercylinders.
Windbothpiecesofstringaroundthecylinder.Gluetheother
endofthegluedstringandunwindtheungluedstring.You
haveevenlyspacedcylinderfins.Paintwithdopeorpolycrylic
tofixthestring.Repeatfor8morecylinders.Gluethecylinders
ontothemotorcoreusingthe1/8”notchedpieceforproper
spacing.

Paintthemotorunitandaddwhateverdetailyouwish.Add
somewirepushrodstofinishofftheunit.Addwasherstothe
topandleftscrewstogettheproperdownandrightthrustfor
themotor.Thereislotsofroombehindthecylinderstomount
theESCandnoseweights.


WHEELS
Gluingtheplysidesonthe3/8”balsacoremakesthebasis
forthewheels.Usethebrasshubforalignment.Epoxythe
hubsinplaceandaddasufficientamountofepoxy
aroundthebaseofthehubtoreinforcetheconnectionof
thehubtotheply.Plywoodreinforcinghubsareprovided
thataretoslipoverthebrasstubingasshown.
Next,CAgluetheneoprenecordingtogethertofroma
“tire”.UsethinCAsparinglyastheCAbondsvery
aggressivelytotherubber.PresstheCAwettedends
togetherforaninstantbond.Thebestwaytoalignthe
endsistogluethemwhiletheyareinplaceonthewheel.
ThenattachthetirestothewheelsandCAinplace.Athin
beadofCAaroundtherimmakesforasecuretire.

WheelConstructionDetail

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Rudder
Thekitprovideslasercutcrosspiecesinsteadofmaking
youcutthemoutofstripwood.


RudderConstructionDetail
Stabilizer/Elevator
Theconstructionisasdescribedabove.

StabilizerElevatorConstructionDetail
Iaddedapieceof1/8ʺbalsasheetwheretheupper
elevatorcontrolcablepassesthroughthestabilizer.
LowerWingPanels
StartlayingoutthepanelsbypinningthelowerTEpiece
totheplans.Note:Woodendowelsmaybesubstitutedfor
the1/4”carbonfibertubing,leadingedges.
Stringtheribsonthesparrodathelocationsyoumarked
previously.Besuretodoaleftandarightpanel....also
makesureyougettheL1andL41/8ʺplyribsinthe
properlocations.
Carefullygluetherootandtipribsexactlyinplaceonthe
plyTEpiece.UsetheRAGtosetthedihedralangleofthe
rootrib.
NowglueeachribinthecorrectplaceontheTEandatthe
correctangleshownontheplans.Ensurethesparis
locatedexactlyandglueeachribtothespar.Finallylocate
theLEinexactlythecorrectpositionandgluetoeachrib..
Finishthepanelbyaddingthetipyouconstructedearlier,
theplysheetingbetweentherootandfirstribandthe
strutnotchsupportpieces.Imadethestrutnotchsupport
piecesoutof1/8ʺbasswood.

ConstructionDetail
BuildingtheUpperWing
Therearealotofpartstotheupperwing;manyarepairs
orsetsoffouridenticalparts.Layingthemoutin
numericalorder,willsaveyoutimelater
Theprototypekitfeaturedworkingscaleaileronlinkages
withservosinthefuselageoperatingthe
pushrod/belcrank/torquerodscalelinkage.Theinitial
prototypefabrication,revealedthatthetwoaileronservos
inthefuselage,leftinadequateroomforwiresand
battery,whichhasbeencorrectedbymovingtheservosto
thewing.Thisarrangementisbettersincethoseinterested
inbuildingthemodelassportscalecansimplyignorethe
scaleaileronlinkagesandthosewhodesiresomething
morescalecanstillusethedesignedtorquerodtocause
theaileroncrankstomoveinunisonwiththeailerons
operatedbythein‐wingservos.

UpperWingConstructionDetail
Ifyouwantthebelcrankstomovewiththeailerons,start
bybendingupthetorquerods.Otherwiseskipthisstep
andbuildon.Puta90degbendinoneend.slideonthe
brassbushingtubesandthenmakethe90degbendatthe
otherend.Besuretomakethemmirrorimages.Carefully
consultthedrawingstogetitright
Nowlayoutthetrailingedgepieces,TRB&TLB.Next
addtheR11pieces.NowstringribsR3,R4a,3xR4andR5
onthetorquetubes.Againmakealeftandrightassembly.
InboardoftheR3ribs,attachtheR12piecesandthenthe
R15pieces.GluethetwoR1ribstogethermatchingthem
upexactly.ThesegoinbetweenthetwoR14pieces.Add
theR2ribs.Omitthetwoplybracesfornow.Glueinthe

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R21piecesbetweenR2&R3tosupportthefrontsparlike
R15doesfortherearone.
Nowfeedthesparsthroughtheribs,agentletwistwhile
yousupporttheribwithyourfingersworks.Eachpairof
sparsmeetsatthecenterofthetwoR1ribs.Positioneach
ribexactlyandgluetothespars.
UsetheR13,R14andtheotherR15piecestobuildupa
supportaroundtherearspars.Dothesameforthefront
sparwiththepiecescalledoutonthedrawings.SeewhyI
saidtolayoutallthepiecesinnumericalorder?
PindownthebalsaTEpieceandcarefullyfeedtheR6and
R7ribsonthespars.Locateeachribexactlyandglueto
theTEandspars.NowaddtheLEtubesandgluetoeach
rib.

UpperWingConstructionDetail
AddR8andR10.R10isflatontheboardandR8is
centeredontheLEtubeandfrontspar,whichraisesitoff
theboard.ConnectthetwowithR9andbracewithR29.
GluetheupperTEpiecesinplace.
Takethe1/32plyaileronservohatchandlayitinplace
betweenthetworibsandtakecarethatitisflushwiththe
bottomoftheadjoiningribs.Nowcuttwohardwoodor
plystripstheexactwidthofthebay.Slidethesepieces
downbetweentheribsuntiltheytouchthehatch.Now
carefullytackgluetheminplace.Donotgluethestripsto
thehatch,onlytotheribs.Whenthewingisremoved
fromtheplans,separatethehatchpiecesandfirmlyglue
thestripstotheribs.Thisshouldproviderecessed
supportsthatallowthehatchtositflushwiththebottom
ofthewing.Servosareattacheddirectlytothehatchwith
epoxyordoublesidedfoamtape.NOTE:Alternate
methodforservomountingistousesmallwoodenblocks
and#0woodscrews.Usesmallwoodscrewstoattachthe
hatch/servoassemblytothebay.
Thiscompletestheupperwing.Theaileronsarebuilt
separately.
Theaileronconstructionisstraightforward.Layoutthe
TEandLEpieces,addtheribsandbuildthetip.Glue
somescrapbalsanexttotheinboardribtomakeasolid
placetodrillaholeforthetorquerodend.Addsimilar
supportfortheaileronhornlinedupwiththelinkage
fromthein‐wingservo.Alllinkageandhornsforthein‐
wingservoareonthebottomsurface.
COVERING
IchosetocovertheNieuport17withaluminiumcolored
CoverlitebyCoverite.MymodelisfinishedasaRussian
machinefromaboutmid1917,servingtheKrensky
governmentagainsttheGermansandAustriansduring
theperiodbetweentheTsarʹsabdicationandLenninʹs
NovemberRevolution.
Thiswasachaotictimeandshinynewairplaneswerefew
andfarbetweeninthoseparts.Coverlitehasalessshiny
finishthantheusualiron‐onplastics.
CoverliterequiresthebuildertopaintonBalsarite
whereverthematerialistobeattached.Ithasnostick
itself.CoveritemakesaproductcalledBalsarite,likethick
cleardope.Itispainteditontheframeinitiallyand,in
laterstages,ontheedgeofalreadycoveredsections.
Whendry,youcansealthecoveringmaterialtothe
Balsaritedportionswithasealingiron.Payheedtheold
saw,ʺWorkoutasmanywrinklesaspossiblewhen
attachingthematerial.ʺ
Finallywhenallwasdoneandcheckedout,Iclosedup
thebottomofthefuselage.Ididnotcoverthesheetbalsa
frontofthebottom,insteadIpainteditwithRustoleum®
BrightMetal.Thecowlsanded,filledandpainted.
Pull/PullControls
TheNieuport17ispronetoatail‐heavycondition.This
conditionnecessitatestheuseofpull/pullcontrolsforthe
rudderandelevator.IuseDuBroMiniservoconnectors.
Thesearelittlebarrelsthatcliponaservoarmandhavea
holedrilledthroughsoastraightwirecanpassthrough.
Thewireisheldinplacewithasetscrew.
Imakeupfourpiecesofstraightwireabout3ʺlongwitha
loopbentinoneend.Itietwocontrolwires,(30#test
Spiderwirefishingline),toeachoftwoofthewireloops.I
tieoneeachtotheothertwowires.
Thewholekeytoasuccessfulpull/pullinstallationisthe
abilitytoimmobilizethecontrolsurfacesindeadneutral.
TheNieuportrudderwillneedanassistanttoholdit
gentlybutfirmlyinplacewhileyouwork.Theelevator
canbelockedinneutralbytapingtwostripsof1/8ʺx
about1ʺstripsatoneendSlidetheopenendoverthestab
andelevatorandthentapethatendtogetherwhereit
projectspasttheelevatorTE.Thiswillholdthestaband
elevatorstraightasaboard.

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Mountthewiresintheconnectorswithroomtoadjustin
eitherdirection.Mountthewireswithtwocablesonthe
elevatorservoarmandtheothersontherudderservo
arm.Turnthesetscrewsfirmly,butdonʹtstripthescrews
NowtakealoosepieceofSpiderwire,holdittaughtover
therearfuselageandmakestraightlinesfromeachloopin
theservowirestothecontrolhorns.Thiswillestablish
wherethecableswillexitthefuselagesidesandinthe
caseoftheupperelevatorwires,whereitwillpass
throughthestabLE.
Cutapieceof1/8ʺbalsaandglueitinplacetocoverthe
cableexitareas.Drillangledholesandinsertplastic
tubingthathadbeenroughedupontheoutsidewith
sandpaper.CAthetubesinplacefromtheinsideandtrim
flushontheoutside.
Nowrunthewirestiedtotheloopstotheappropriate
controlhornandtieitsecurelyandtightlytothehorn.A
dropofCAwillkeepitthatway.Donʹtworryabouttoo
tight;youcanloosenitattheservoconnectorslater.What
youwantisanevenstrainandstraightruns.
Thatʹsaboutitforpull/pullcontrols.Don’tforgettotake
thebracingstripsoffbeforeyouflyit.

UpperWingMounting
Beforecoveringtheupperwingyouneedtomountiton
thecabanes,establishthecorrectincidenceandsecurethe
mountingtubes.Startbyopeningupthedeckingwhere
eachofthecabanesgothrough.Ipunchedasmalllocater
holewithapieceofwireinsertedthroughthebottomfor
therearmounttubes.Thefrontonesrequiredmeasuring
backfromthefirewallandopeningupasmallholewitha
sharpblade.
Withthedeckingopenedup,Iinsertedthecabanesin
theirfuselagemountingtubesandDIDNOTGLUEthem.
Thenotchesbuiltintotheupperwingstructuretoreceive
theuppercabanemountingtubesneedtobecleanedup
andwhittledoutabittoacceptthetubes.
Theplansshowthebottomoftheupperwingtobe
exactly1.5ʺfromthetopdeckingatbothcabanemount
stations.Icuttwopiecesofbalsastickexactly1.5ʺlong.
Thesewereplacedasspacersbetweenthedeckandwing
bottom.
Withtheupperwingrestingonthespacers,Iadjustedthe
wingtobetrueinallviewsandranjustasmalldropof
thinCAintofuselagemountingtubestosecurethe
cabanesinthecorrectposition.
Aftersecuringthelowerendsofthecabanestackthe
uppermountingtubesintoplaceintheupperwing
structurewithoutgluingthecabanesintothetubes.
Doublecheckalignmentandadjustifnecessarywhileyou
stillcan.Removethetopwingandsecurethetackedin
placemountingtubes.Keepglueoutofthetubes.The
upperwingisreadytocover.
MountingtheAilerons
MountfiberhingesintheaileronLE.Trimthehingesto
projectonly1/4ʺpasttheLEoftheailerons.Youneedto
dothisbecausetheCFrearsparisgluedtotherearofthe
TEpiecesandyoucanonlycutaslot1/4ʺdeep.
MountingtheLowerWing
Thelowerwingismountedbycuttinganairfoilshaped
openinginthesidesheetingandgluingtherootribtothe
fuselageside.Incidenceandpositionaredeterminedby
locaterholesintherootribsandfuselagesides.Pay
specialattentiontogettingthelowerwingpanelsatthe
SAMEincidence.Dihedralisdeterminedbythe
mainplanestruts,whicharefirstattachedtotheunderside
ofthetopwing.(Besuretoapplytheundersurface
markingsbeforeyouattachthestruts).
Simpleenough,thetrickbeingtocutawaythesheeting
onlywhereyouwantitcutaway.IusedaTeepinand
fromtheinside,Iranitthroughthelocaterholeand
pokedaholethroughthesheeting.FromtheoutsideIran
a1/8ʺdrillbitthroughthesheetingandthelocaterhole.
SohappenedthatsectionsofCFsparIhadcutoffserved
asperfectlocaterdowels.WiththedowelsinplaceI
workedthewingontothelocaterʹsandsnuggeditupto
thefuselageside.Withthewingsnuggeduptotheside,
drawanoutlineonthesheetingallaroundtherootrib.
Removethewingandcutouttheopeninginthesheeting.
Cutabitinsidethelineandtrialfitthewing.Trimthe
openingasneededuntilitisjustbigenoughforthewing
root.
Beforeattachingthemainplanestrutstotheundersideof
theupperwing,installrigginganchors.Iusesmallbrass
safetypinswiththelatchpartnippedoffleavingabrass
loopandtwolegs.Pairsofholesdrilledwitha#75bit
allowthelegstobeinserted,nippedcloseandbentover
onthebackside.AdropofCAsecuresit.
Openuptheholesinthebottomofthetopwingandfit
themainplanestruts.Trimtheholeandorthestrutends
toensureagoodfit.Besureyoumountthestrutswiththe
rigginganchorsontheinside.
Finally,spreadacoatofepoxyalongtherootribsand
locaterdowels.Workthewingpanelonoverthedowels
andensureitisflushtothesidesoftheinnerfront
fuselagebox.Insertthelowermainplanestrutendsinto
theopenedupholesintheuppersurfaceofthebottom
wing.CAinplacetoholdthelowerpanelsatthecorrect
dihedralanglewhiletheepoxyontherootribssetsup.
StrengthenthejointwithepoxywhentheCAsets.

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Copyright©2005‐13M.K.BengtsonAllRightsReservedRev04/13
OnceIgotthemodelassembled,Iinstalledtherestofthe
gear,balanceditandgotreadyforthemaidenflight.
Isetupthecontrolsusingseparatechannelsforeach
aileron.Toreduceadverseaileronyaw,IsettheEPAto
give50%lessdownthanup.Ialsomixedin15%rudder
withtheailerons.IbelieveIoverproppeditwithatwelve
inchpropandonthesecondflightIusedan11x4.7APC
slowflyer.
Allandidthemaidenflight,amuchmoreexperienced
pilot.Themodeltrundledacrossthesoccerfieldand
finallyliftedoff.Allanhadtocorrectatendencytorollleft
withagoodbitofailerontrim.Alittleupelevatortrim
wasalsoneeded.OncetrimmedAllanhandedmethe
transmitterandIflewitaroundabit.Itloopedwell,butI
triednootheraerobatics.Atthispointtheoverpropping
becamenoticeableasIbegantoloosepower.Allan
broughtitintoaveryscalelikelanding.Themotorwas
quitehot,sowedecidedtousethe11inchpropon
subsequentflights.
Onthesecondflightwiththe11x4.7prop,themodeltook
offanasphaltrunwayinslightlylessdistancethanittook
offfromthegrasswiththe12inchprop.Itcruisedaround
at3/4throttlewhereithaddonethesameathalfthrottle
withthe12inchprop.Ontheotherhandthemotorwas
warmratherthanHOTaftertheflight.Seemsa2100mAh
3cellpack,thelongcan400,3.5:1GBandan11x4.7prop
isagoodcombination
Imaidenedherassoonasthemodelwasflyable.Thisleft
alistofdetailingandfinishingchorestodonowthatI
knowsheʹsairworthy.Mostofthisisdonetotastebythe
individualbuilderandasastaticscalebuildingbuddy
saysʺEachmodellerrisestohisownlevelofmasochismʺ.
Sinceyouʹvegottenthisfar,Iassumeyouhaveyourown
listoffinaltouches,soknockyourselfoutdressupyour
Nieuport.
AdditionalnotesfromDesigner,M.K.Bengtson
Stevenprovidedawealthoffeedbacktomeduringthe
buildofthismodel.Imadesignificantchangesinthe
designasaresultofthisexcellentinformation.Inthis
manual,IhaveaddednotestoSteven’stextthatpresent
alternativeapproachesordetails.
Initially,wefeltthatatrulyscalemechanismforaileron
actuationwaspracticalandStevenʹsmodeldiduseascale
mechanism.However,itwasobviousthattheaverage
modellerwouldnotappreciatethislevelofdetailandI
addedinwingservodrivenaileronactuators.Ileftthe
crankmechanisminplacesothatitstillcanbeusedinthe
model.Itisrecommendedthatthecranksbeabletomove
butnotbeattachedtoaninternalservoinsidethe
fuselage.
Also,itwasobviousthatthefuselagehassignificant
strengthtoallownearlyallbalsaconstruction.Stevenʹs
modelincorporatesafewformersandotherpartsthat
wereinitiallymadefromliteplywood.Productionunits
havebalsainstead.
Manysmalldetailswereaddedtohelpkeepthemodel
lightandespeciallytoavoidthetailheavycondition.
Particularlykeepthisinmindwhenchoosinglongeron
material.Hardbalsaorlaminated1/8x1/16thstockis
preferredoverbasswood.Also,uselightblue/pinkfoam
and1/16”musicwireorthinnerstockforthetailskid
fairing.
Decaloutlinesforthismodelareavailableon
www.aerodromerc.com/decalsinAdobeAcrobatpdf
formatforprintingoutondecalpaper.
AileronServos
Aileronservosaremountedinwingandattachedwith
shortthreadedrodstotheailerons.Usea“Y”wiring
harnessconnectortowiretheservostoasingleradio
connection.Ifdifferentialaileronsthrowsaredesired,
rotateeachservohornforwardabout20degrees,while
maintainingtheneutralpositionoftheaileron.This
shouldcounteranyadverseaileronyaw.
WindsockDatafile#20“Nieuport17“publicationhas
detailsonplacementandmarkings.


FinishedModel
FLYING
Letthemodelgainaltitudeslowlyofftherunway.
Applyingtoomuchupelevatoratslowspeedsrisksa
stall.Makeyourturnsgentlyastightturnsrisktip
stallinginanymodel.Don’texpecttheelevatortomake
themodelclimb.Thinkoftheelevatorasadeviceto
changetheattitudeofthemodel.Thewingandairspeed
ultimatelymakethemodelclimb.Oftendownelevator

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Copyright©2005‐13M.K.BengtsonAllRightsReservedRev04/13
appliedatstallingcanavoidamajorcrash.Themost
importantdetailsforproperflightoperationsare:

CGlocation.Tailheavymodelsneverflywelloratall.
Downandrightthrust
Straightandnonwarpedwings.


FinishedModel

CONTACTINFORMATION
Distributedby:
BengtsonCompany
e‐mail:[email protected]
WebSite:www.aerodromerc.com
