Jump to content

Caudron Goeland 1936 Paris-Saigon


Recommended Posts

I just bought RS Models 1/72 kit of the Caudron C.445 Goeland, with the intention of doing an interesting civil version. I quickly found the 1936 Paris-Saigon air race C.448 version, F-AOMX, for which LF Models do a decal sheet, which was promptly ordered and received together with the kit.

As I was waiting for that to arrive I found that Renaissance also do a decal sheet for the same subject, only that it is quite different...

LF Models suggest a white fin on a blue machine with a black "2" on the fin and a yellow "Ric et Rac" logo on the fuselage left side, while Renaissance suggest an all white top fuselage and fin with a blue "2" and red "Ric et Rac" logos on both sides.

I don't have any references or knowledge about the subject at all; I just want to build the model as well and accurate as possible. Is there anyone out there who knows more? Do I stick with LF Models suggestions, or do I get the Renaissance sheet? I don't mind buying a second decal sheet at all; I just want to know what would be most accurate, if it's possible to know at all?

I would appreciate any information you have.

C448_1.jpg

C448_2.jpg

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

According to André Hauet (les Avions Caudron tome II) the Goéland that took part at the Paris-Saigon race was s/n 7/7268 F-AOMS (the demonstration aircraft) and not F-AOMX. There is a photo on page 204 showing an all blue aircraft (or at least not with the white top), unfortunately the registration is not shown. But, as it happens many times, the photo may not be the correct one or the caption may be wrong...

Carlos

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I considered this one but ended up with two different ones

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/75921-caudron-c445/

There were two C.445's in the Paris-Saigon race and both had to retire. F-AOMS was certainly one of them - it made a "hard landing" ie a controlled crash in Karachi.

http://www.baaa-acro.com/1936/archives/crash-of-a-caudron-c-630-simoun-in-karachi/

I suggest you contact "Zambudio" on the 1/72 forum as he appears to have information about the Caudrons in the race

http://z15.invisionfree.com/72nd_Aircraft/index.php?showtopic=6507&st=15

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the input and links so far guys. Interesting projects Ed, I will check them out carefully.

There were indeed two C.445-types in the 1936 race, I found two old news paper notes also mentioning this:

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17271212

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/49436223

This registry mention F-AOMX "Ric et Rac" as a participant in the race, if it's correct it may well have been F-AOMS and F-AOMX.

http://www.airhistory.org.uk/gy/reg_F-15.html

I also found this photo while searching, showing F-AOMX with an all white(ish) fuselage top but difficult to make out which Ric et Rac logo, although it is said to be from another event in 1937:

http://images.slideplayer.fr/3/1151938/slides/slide_47.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is a fascinating thread. I am also making (slowly) the RS Models kit. It is a very nice kit. This air race is interesting in that the Breguet mentioned may be an aircraft that ended up, like a few Caudron Goelands in Spain during the civil war. I am also interested in these air-race aircraft and the correct schemes.

Superb research chaps :)!

Best regards

Tony

Edit: the Breguet Fulgur in the Paris-Saigon race was indeed the one that ended up in Spain. Given one Caudron crashed, I wonder what the fate of the other Caudron was? :shrug: A diorama of all three aircraft would be stunning....

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is a fascinating thread. I am also making (slowly) the RS Models kit. It is a very nice kit. This air race is interesting in that the Breguet mentioned may be an aircraft that ended up, like a few Caudron Goelands in Spain during the civil war. I am also interested in these air-race aircraft and the correct schemes.

Superb research chaps :)!

Best regards

Tony

Edit: the Breguet Fulgur in the Paris-Saigon race was indeed the one that ended up in Spain. Given one Caudron crashed, I wonder what the fate of the other Caudron was? :shrug: A diorama of all three aircraft would be stunning....

The kit looks really nice indeed. I just went through the parts and noticed I need to make a tail wheel fairing, same for both machines in the race.

According to the registry I linked above C.448 F-AOMX was captured by Spanish Nationalists on 22 June 1937 after a forced landing. I assume that means it survived the Paris-Saigon race to fly on for some time in blue with white French colours.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The kit looks really nice indeed. I just went through the parts and noticed I need to make a tail wheel fairing, same for both machines in the race.

According to the registry I linked above C.448 F-AOMX was captured by Spanish Nationalists on 22 June 1937 after a forced landing. I assume that means it survived the Paris-Saigon race to fly on for some time in blue with white French colours.

Well, that's pretty fascinating. Two out of three aircraft from the race found their way into the Spanish conflict :o!

On the 18th of this month it's 80 years since the start of the civil war.

Apparently Caudron Simoun's also flew in blue colours into Spain, but I've found no images.

I model SCW and record breakers so this Paris air race link has really got the old grey cells whirring.

One thing to watch out for with the RS kit; there's some lovely centre console detail on the resin component that goes there. It's easy to get confused about which side of the resin part needs filing down, and accidentally file all that lovely detail off :confused:.

Also many of the side windows are different sizes, so if taken off the sprue all at once, it can be tricky to know which goes where and glue in the wrong ones at an early stage of the 'glazing' process. I'm sure no-one else would be as daft as I was, but I managed both of these blunders: :(

Time to drag mine out of the Drawer of Doom, I'm inspired now :) Looking forward to your build very much :thumbsup2:

Best regards

Tony

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...