VK Nieuport 17 / Camel kit  
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VK Nieuport 17 / Camel kit - 10/25/2007 3:50:55 PM   
KitBuilder



Posts: 291
Joined: 2/17/2007
From: Palm Harbor, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Has anyone built the VK Nieuport 17 or Camel kits and is there anything that should be noted? I'm trying to decide which one and am leaning toward the 17 b/c most do the Camel or Pup. Look like real nice kits for 225 beans shipped.
17:
http://www.proctor-enterprises.com/products/vk/nieuport17/nieuport17.htm
Camel:
http://www.proctor-enterprises.com/products/vk/camel/camel.htm

Mike

< Message edited by KitBuilder -- 10/25/2007 3:53:29 PM >

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RE: VK Nieuport 17 / Camel kit - 10/25/2007 10:30:24 PM   
Mode One


 

Posts: 2228
Joined: 5/4/2005
From: Park Rapids, MN, USA
Status: offline 		I had the VK Camel kit, which I sold on Ebay and regret! This was from previous to Procter taking over the VK line. It looked like a fun build and I am sure the Nieuport would be the same. Think light in the tail!


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RE: VK Nieuport 17 / Camel kit - 10/26/2007 12:59:30 AM   
Walt Thyng


 

Posts: 744
Joined: 7/27/2002
From: St. Charles, IL, USA
Status: offline 		I have a VK (pre-Proctor) Camel in my stable. It is definitely a builder's kit. It is also a terrific flyer!
Walt

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RE: VK Nieuport 17 / Camel kit - 10/26/2007 1:10:03 AM   
TFF


 

Posts: 677
Joined: 10/30/2006
From: Memphis, TN, USA
Status: offline 		I have the Proctor kit versions of the Camel and Dr1. They are nice kits that are a good deal for what you get now days. I wish I had the money to buy all of their kits.

Tom

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RE: VK Nieuport 17 / Camel kit - 10/26/2007 2:51:18 AM   
allanflowers



Posts: 871
Joined: 9/26/2004
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I built the Camel and have a build thread over on RCSCALEBUILDER.com. There was a thread there on the Nieuport too, I think.

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RE: VK Nieuport 17 / Camel kit - 10/26/2007 3:19:29 AM   
KitBuilder



Posts: 291
Joined: 2/17/2007
From: Palm Harbor, FL, USA
Status: offline 		OK... thanks everybody... I'll look for the Neuiport thread too..

Mike

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RE: VK Nieuport 17 / Camel kit - 10/29/2007 3:42:58 PM   
KitBuilder



Posts: 291
Joined: 2/17/2007
From: Palm Harbor, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Help Diagnosing power differential:

Well the VK kits got rave reviews, and I found the 17 thread (not sure if i like that skinny bottom wing)... but I saw a thread on the Balsa USA Sopwith Pup so I took a look. This lead me to more questions.

I started looking at the VK Camel and the USA pup. I realize I'm not comparing apples to apples since we are talking two different aircraft however they are similar enough I believe to make me wonder about the difference in stated engine requirement. The Pup weighs a bit less but takes quite a bit less power? The USA site did not have the wing area but I'm assuming similar or slightly less since smaller in span.

Here are the numbers:
Balsa USA Pup: VK Camel:
Weight 6.5 lbs Weight 6 lbs
Span 53" Span 56"
Area not listed Area 931 sq in
Engine 40-50 4cycle Engine 48-70 4 cycle


The pup is 60 bucks less (though i think the camel looks meaner ) and I could put those $$ toward the less expensive motor. I was hoping to get a 4 stroke .52 which would be at the upper range of the pup but the lower range of the camel.

Any thoughts why planes with similar physical characteristics would have wide power diffeence?
Mike

< Message edited by KitBuilder -- 10/29/2007 3:44:53 PM >

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RE: VK Nieuport 17 / Camel kit - 10/29/2007 4:55:14 PM   
DanSavage



Posts: 570
Joined: 4/17/2002
From: Trabuco Canyon, CA, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: KitBuilder

Has anyone built the VK Nieuport 17 or Camel kits and is there anything that should be noted? I'm trying to decide which one and am leaning toward the 17 b/c most do the Camel or Pup. Look like real nice kits for 225 beans shipped.
Mike


Hi Mike,

I built the Proctor VK Nieuport 17 several years ago. Really nice kit. Clean die-cutting, generous hardware package and detailed plans.

The model flew great. Once in the air, it was smooth, stable and manueverable. It looked best flying just at tree-top level where you could see and appreciate the scale details. There were a couple of things I didn't like about the design.

1) External wire bracing. All of the flying surfaces are externally braced using flying wires. Without really thickening the wing(s) to make them cantilevered, there's no way around this problem.

2) Flimsy landing gear wires. The kit is set up to use fairly small diameter wire for the core of the landing gear struts. The problem I had was that when the model ground-looped, the tires on the Williams Bros. wheels would lay over allowing the wheel itself to come in contact with the ground. When it did this it would dig in, causing the model to 'hop' and 'skip' across the ground breaking the LG brace wires. I eventually used 90# SS fishing leader and stopped breaking wires.

A better solution would've been to use heavier wire for the cores so they wouldn't need to be externally braced.

One other point. Because the nose moment is so short, make sure to put all, and I mean ALL of your radio components in front of the cockpit. Even then, you'll need to put the receiver pack in front of the firewall and even then, it will still need lead to balance it.

Other than these minor points, the model is a great design and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone.

Dan

< Message edited by DanSavage -- 10/29/2007 4:57:28 PM >

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RE: VK Nieuport 17 / Camel kit - 10/31/2007 10:49:59 PM   
Mode One


 

Posts: 2228
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From: Park Rapids, MN, USA
Status: offline 		Balsa USA kits are not scale kits without some changes in the designs. if your interest in very good scale outline and detail and more work building the kit, go with the Camel. If your satisfied that the airplane looks like good but understand it has some compensations for flying and ease of build, then the Balsa USA kit might be a good choice.

Also, be aware there is another 1/6th scale Pup on the market from CD Scaledesigns There is a long standing build thread on this airplane, both here on R/CU and at the Aerodrome's models forum. This Pup will compare favorably to the VK/Proctor Camel in scale shape and detail. Visit: www.cdscaledesigns.com


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RE: VK Nieuport 17 / Camel kit - 11/1/2007 1:20:46 AM   
KitBuilder



Posts: 291
Joined: 2/17/2007
From: Palm Harbor, FL, USA
Status: offline 		I'm not concerned about exact shape but rather the overall look of WWI. The CD designs do look fun to build. Decisions, decisions....
Mike

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RE: VK Nieuport 17 / Camel kit - 6/6/2008 6:47:30 PM   
10271940



Posts: 1
Joined: 12/27/2007
From: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Status: offline 		Hey KitBuilder what did you finally decide to build.

Was up in the attic the other day and came across my VK Neiuport 17 from 30 some years ago that Mother Earth had helped to disassemble. Well as the saying goes "We ( me ) can rebuild her to better than new." Did not have many excess dollars back then and to save money used Sear filled epoxy to glue critical parts together. No breaks where that epoxy was used. Don't know if Sears still sells it. Maybe I'll have better luck with the rebuild. Dan Savage had some good comments. I have to decide how to hook up the ailerons as back then the plans were not very helpful and the servos were heavy. I will more than likely use two aileron servos but have to decide where to put them, out in the wing or in the fusalge. Back then I don't know of any one who ever hooked two servos to one channel. This seems to pretty common today.

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RE: VK Nieuport 17 / Camel kit - 6/9/2008 2:49:52 AM   
buzzard bait


 

Posts: 1007
Joined: 1/1/2003
From: Ithaca, NY, USA
Status: offline 		I don't know why Proctor recommends such large engines. I think it's because they can swing larger props, which look more appropriate on these types. But for sure you do not need anything like a .70 four stroke on a VK Camel! Don't let those engine recommendations sway you.

I'm going to fly my VK Nieuport on a PAW .40 diesel. It is no powerhouse, especially on the 13 inch prop I plan to use, but I'm confident it will be plenty.

The finished weight, ready to fly, is under 5 1/2 lbs.

Jim

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RE: VK Nieuport 17 / Camel kit - 6/9/2008 2:24:34 PM   
Walt Thyng


 

Posts: 744
Joined: 7/27/2002
From: St. Charles, IL, USA
Status: offline 		I'm flying my VK Camel on a geared Astro 25 and 20 NiMh cells. If I remember correctly the prop is a 14/6 MA Scimitar. Unfortunately it was badly damaged during my recent move. It is too good a flyer not to repair so it will fly again!
Walt

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