sandbagger Posted July 11, 2018 Share Posted July 11, 2018 (edited) Hi all, I thought you might like to see my 14th 1:32 scale build - The Bleriot built Spad XIII C.1, Number 26 of ‘C’ flight, 27th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, based at Rembercourt, near Verdun, France during September 1918. This was one of the Spad XIII’s flown by Francis ‘Frank’ Joseph Anthony Luke Jnr, the ‘Arizona Balloon Buster'. This kit is the old Hobby Craft SPAD XIII 'International' kit, which is I believe was the only 1:32 scale of the Spad XIII made. The kit was, as expected, fairly basic and had no engine at all. In fact the whole forward fuselage was blocked off. I didn’t recall ever seeing this kit made with an engine installed, so I decided to give it a go. The basic list of changes/additions to the model are: Scratch built: Radiator shutter control rods (Micro-tube). Radiator drain valve (Micro-tube). Cockpit head rest support frame. Fuselage internal storage and cross members (Micro-rod). Engine bulkhead. Decking panel right gun - ejection chute. Forward gun mounting brackets (thin brass sheet). Engine access panels - wire mesh. Ventral fuel tank cap. Fuselage lifting straps. Fuel tank rip (jettison) panel. Oil cooler drain valve (Micro-tube). Ring gun sight and mounting bar (thin brass sheet). Undercarriage struts. Wing inboard 'H' struts (Micro-tube). Wing outboard rear struts (Micro-tube). Wing strut rigging fittings (photo-etch). External aileron operating bell-crank and rods (Micro-tube). Exhaust pipe support brackets (Micro-tube). Cockpit: - Fuel, oil and vent pipes (Micro-tube) - Cockpit frame wire bracing - Additional instrumentation - Instruments pipes/cables (Micro-tube) - Gun firing cables (lead wire) - Fuel rip panel T-bar handle (Micro-tube) - Mallet (freeing gun stoppages) (Micro-tube) - Pilot's seat cushion (Milliput) - Rudder bar foot straps (lead wire) - Top frame above pilot's head - Flight control cables Engine: 'Wingnut Wings' Hispano-Suiza V8 engine built (detail modified) - Ignition leads, support tubes and magneto connection (Micro-tube/lead wire) - Engine support beams - Carburettor air intake - Air breather and pipe (Micro-tube) - Fuel manifold primer valves (Micro-tube) - Cooling/heating system pipes and filler (Micro-tube) - Gun cooling jacket ‘stay’ rods (Micro-tube) - Various fuel, coolant and control rods (Micro-tube) Modified or corrected: Rudder, Ailerons and Elevator animated. Louvres in engine panels opened. Engine valve gear cooling fairings drilled. Forward decking panel separated. Engine cowl cooling apertures created. Fuel filler aperture. Cockpit surround panel modified. Forward fuselage, decking panel and cockpit floor modified. Exhaust tail pipes Aftermarket additions: 'Proper Plane' hand made propeller ('De La Grandville') 'Aviattic' Spad XIII wheels. ‘Aviattic’ decal and figure set (Frank Luke Jnr) 'HGW Models' seat belts. 'Gaspatch' .303 standard Vickers machine gun (modified). ‘Gaspatch’ Vickers ‘Balloon’ machine gun (modified). 'Gaspatch' turnbuckles. 'Albion Alloys' micro-tube. 'Steelon' 0.12 mm mono-filament. 'Polak' grass mat. 'Wings Cockpit' and ‘Copper State' figures. 'Airscale' instruments bezels. As usual I've created a downloadable build log in Adobe PDF format, for those who might want to refer to it for reference or build details. It contains full step by step descriptions of the model build, its modifications/changes and is also supported with illustrations and photographs. If viewed in Adobe Reader, each build log has book marked chapters/headings for easier navigation through the log. NOTE: Due to the complexity of this build, the PDF build log is large at over 200 pages (download size is close to 10 Meg). My model website has the gallery page, so to view any model, go to the gallery and select it. If it has a PDF build log, it will be available to download using the 'PDF' icon on that models photo's page. For any photograph, just click the photo to enlarge or reduce the viewing size. PC link: http://igavh2.xara.hosting/index.htm Mobile device link: Igavh2.xara.hosting My next model will be the ’Wingnut Wings’ 1:32 scale model of the German ‘Hansa-Brandenberg W.29’, a twin float, two seat naval patrol aircraft. Edited July 12, 2018 by sandbagger Whitey, Jan_G, BiggTim and 22 others 25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted July 11, 2018 Author Share Posted July 11, 2018 blackbetty, coogrfan, levier and 20 others 22 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gigant Posted July 11, 2018 Share Posted July 11, 2018 From what I can see, very nice work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMaben Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Now that is a fine piece of work . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proper Plane Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 My congratulation @sandbagger! Great job! I am proud to took part in this project with our propeller! Jeff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Ray Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Man, that is sweet!!! I sure hope you did a build log on this one as I want to see it step by step. I have the same kit and Aviatic setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzas Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Holy cow! What a great build. The changes list was HUGE! Totally impressed! Gaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miloslav1956 Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Excellent ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted July 12, 2018 Author Share Posted July 12, 2018 (edited) Hi all, Many thanks for your comments. This particular build was a challenge and took many months to complete. LSP_Ray: Use the web site link in my post - on the SPAD page is a PDF icon - use it to view or download the PDF build log - be warned it's 200 pages and 10 meg, but it covers everything from start to finish. Alex (ProperPlane): It wouldn't have been correct without having the right propeller fitted - another great piece of work from 'Proper Plane'. Mike Edited July 12, 2018 by sandbagger Proper Plane 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Mike, You've done a beautiful job. I've always liked the SPAD XIII, one of my favorite WW I aircraft. Also having spent 45+year in aircraft maintenance it's nice to see aircraft maintenance 101! Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erwin Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Stunning !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiggTim Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Holy smokes, that's cool! Very impressive scratch work, and the great base is an especially nice touch!! really sets the whole thing off nicely! Just fantastic. Tim Out2gtcha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Cant add much more than what the others said, this is just a STUNNING model IMHO! Very well done, and all the work and extra additions youve put in are reflected very nicely, and were WELL worth the effort. Cheers on one of the best LSP Spads Ive ever seen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted July 13, 2018 Author Share Posted July 13, 2018 On 7/12/2018 at 11:20 AM, Barry said: Mike, You've done a beautiful job. I've always liked the SPAD XIII, one of my favorite WW I aircraft. Also having spent 45+year in aircraft maintenance it's nice to see aircraft maintenance 101! Barry Hi Barry, I spent 27 years in the RAF as a propulsion technician, so we're kindred spirits in that respect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattlow Posted July 14, 2018 Share Posted July 14, 2018 Great build and result. The PDFs on your website are really very useful. Will your other builds feature these or will it just be a feature of subsequent builds? Cheers Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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