Hi all,
I thought some of you might like to see my completed and 9th 1:32 scale model.
Nieuport 11 Bébé, Serial No. 576, of Escadrille N.67, during the period 1915-1916 and as flown by Jean Navarre.

My build log (PDF format) can viewed or downloaded via the following link:

http://igavh2.xara.hosting/index.htm




Jean Marie Dominique Navarre (8 August 1895 10 July 1919).
Born on 8 August 1895 in Jouy-sur-Morin. Navarre earned Civil Pilot's Brevet No. 581 on 22 August 1911, which allowed him immediate entry into French military aviation in August 1914, when the World War One began. Navarre went on to gain 12 confirmed victories, three flying Morane Saulnier aircraft and nine flying Nieuport aircraft. During this period he became known as The Sentinal of Verdun, due to his habit of flying low over the French troops on the ground, which promoted morale at that time.
On 17 June 1916, Navarre was shot down and sustained severe head injuries from which he never fully recovered. Navarre's younger brother was killed in a flying accident at about the same time. Navarre was removed from active duty and sent to a sanatorium to convalesce. Nearly two years later he would return to duty, although he would not again fly in combat.
After the end of hostilities, a victory parade was planned on the Champs Élysées on 14 July 1919.
However, the high command ordered airmen to participate on foot rather than flying their aircraft. The headstrong 'heroes of the air' took this as an insult. At a meeting in the 'Fouquet' bar on the Champs Élysées, they decided to respond to this affront by selecting one of their number to fly to Paris and through the Arc de Triomphe. Navarre, as the first among the aces, was considered the ideal choice despite his injuries. Tragically, however, while practicing for this stunt, Navarre was killed when his aircraft crashed at Villacoublay aerodrome on 10 July. He was only 23 years old.
Fellow pilot Charles Godefroy would eventually perform the historic flight through the Arc de Triomphe a few weeks later.

That is absolutely beautiful!

Fantastic work Sandbagger. The weathering and staining details are so well done ... impressive!

Super

Excellent work the weathering is spectacular !

Great!

Outstanding skill in all regards. Beautiful.
Wish I had 1/10th of your skill and my house would be full of aircraft.

Very nice! I have two Proctor N11 kits and this would be a nice color scheme for one.

Looks very professional work. I like especially the oil panels.

Br.

Arto

Superb Sandbagger

Magnifique!

Ditto on the oil stains behind the cowling and struts. Most excellent!

Absolutely Amazing! The whole piece is a work of art. The weathering is so realistic. Congrats on your patience and craftsmanship to produce
such an amazing piece from a simple box kit. I look forward to seeing when you feel you have Mastered this craft in your own eyes because
what I see in this work is Masterful and I am not sure how it could be much better Sir.

S!Blade<><

Sandbagger;

I love the look of the grass. It's being erect and of good length is impressive in itself as part of the Diorama. First rate work sir, and as everyone has pointed out the weathering is stellar, as well as the added detailing.

As usual a fantastic job Sandbagger, I envy specially your skills with rigging, it´s one of the skills that makes me step away from WW1 scale models, for now.

That's delightful, Sandbagger! I love the little bebe! Some of the pictures are good enough to sub in a full sized background and fool the casual observer, I would bet!

Now if that had been an N16, well, I would have been hurling some choice words your way!

.

Incroyable! Fantastique! Très magnifique! Superbe! Un très bel avion! Vous êtes un artiste extraordinaire M. Bagger-de-sable*.

*(that’s Sandbagger in French - I think)