October 11, 2026

Preview: Copper State Models 32nd scale Neuport16 - Bonus for Pre-orders, markings & Test Shot.

Preorders for Copper State Models Neuport 16 have commenced. We show you the markings, info, test shot & pre-order bouns in our preview...


Copper State Models has opened pre-orders for its upcoming 1/32 scale Nieuport 16 (Kit No. CSM 32016). This injection-moulded kit replicates the French World War I fighter, featuring multiple historical marking options and dedicated multimedia components. 

Nieuport 16
From Copper State Models
1/32nd scale
Kit No: CSM32-016
Resin kit with four marking choices
The Real Aircraft
The Nieuport 16 was developed as an evolutionary step directly following the Nieuport 11 "Bébé," arriving on the Western Front in the early months of 1916. It retained the sesquiplane wing layout of its predecessor—where the lower wing surface area is significantly smaller than the upper wing—but incorporated a reinforced airframe structure. The most significant upgrade was the replacement of the original 80-horsepower engine with a heavier, 110-horsepower Le Rhône 9J rotary engine, intended to counter the structural and performance advantages of contemporary German aircraft. 
The addition of the heavier engine altered the aircraft's centre of gravity, making it nose-heavy and more demanding to fly than the lighter Nieuport 11. To offset the change in weight distribution and manage the increased fuel consumption, production versions were fitted with a revised engine cowling, a headrest for the pilot, and sometimes an enlarged upper wing cutout. Standard armament consisted of a single Lewis machine gun mounted on top of the upper wing firing over the propeller arc, though experimental variants deployed Alkan synchronisation gear or Le Prieur rockets for balloon-busting operations. The type was flown by notable French aces, including Jean Navarre, Charles Nungesser, and René Dorme, serving as a frontline stopgap until the introduction of the refined Nieuport 17. 

Kit Specifications and Contents
The standard release package consists of the following components: 
- Plastic parts: 111 injection-moulded plastic parts
- Photo-etched metal detailing components for specialized interior and exterior fittings.
- Decals printed by Cartograf providing options for four French service aircraft.
- A full-colour instruction booklet including a dedicated rigging guide. 

Marking Variations 
The kit includes options for four distinct French service airframes:
-N.1139, as flown by Charles Nungesser featuring an Alkan synchronisation system; 
-N.1130, used by Jean Navarre during the Verdun sector operations; 
-N.939, flown by René Dorme of Escadrille N.3;
-N.1191, flown by Gilles de Chivré featuring large "69" recognition numbers on the fuselage sides.
The test shot:
The plastic test assembly shows the profile of the Le Rhône rotary engine fitted inside the open-bottom horseshoe cowling. The over-wing gun mount and its structural bracing are positioned above the cockpit opening.
From this angle, the fabric-over-frame effect on the fuselage and wing surfaces is visible. The pilot's headrest fairing is integrated into the turtle deck behind the cockpit opening.
The head-on view underscores the sesquiplane design, showing the single-spar lower wings connected to the dual-spar upper wings via the angled V-struts. The landing gear assembly incorporates a central spreader bar.
The side view shows the location of the cockpit control linkages, the fuselage step, and the fixed tail skid mechanism. The trailing edges of the flight surfaces are moulded to a scale-appropriate thickness.

Pre-order details (& a bonus if you are quick!)
Copper State Models is running a pre-order programme until the end of October 2026. Orders placed during this period include a separate 3D-printed Le Rhône engine at no additional cost

This new kit is available directly from Copper State Models as well as their distributors worldwide.