Description

In the year 1930, the Armee de L´Air issued a requirement to the french aviation industry for a single-seat fighter powered by a 650 hp engine with a maximum speed of  350 km/h and a height of 9,000 metres. Out of the many proposals was the Nieuport-Astra design, a parasol wing-type fighter with an opening in the middle to improve the pilot´s visibility. Another original feature was the radiator, placed  in the wings and ventilated by a small openings in the leading edge. Two versions were proposed: the Nieuport-Delage NiD 121 powered by a water-cooled Lorraine-Dietrich 12H V12 engine and the NiD 122 powered by a Hispano Suiza 12Y engine.

The NiD 122 was the first to fly on 23 July 1932, with the NiD 121 following shortly after on 25 November. Unfortunately the NiD 122 was destroyed during a test flight on 13 April 1933 after severe wing flutter caused an aileron to break off while the aircraft was being demonstrated in front of France government representatives. A second NiD 122 prototype flown in July 1933.  In the meantime the NiD 121 showed good performance, reaching  367 km/h (226 mph), but its weak undercarriage and unortodox radiator placement found critisysm as it was considered vulnerable to damage in combat and gave poor performance at high angles of attack, and the type lost the competition against the Dewoitine D500.

This 3D designed model represents the first prototype for the NiD-122.

This kit includes cast resin, photo etch and 3D printed parts plus decals for the prototype.