Eduard Legie - SPAD XIII čs pilotů – 1:72 Eduard(2126)

[Viking]

Legie - SPAD XIII čs pilotů

 1:72 Eduard(2126) Limited Edition

 

 

In 1916 Georges Guynemer became well known in France as a flying ace with a rapidly rising score of kills, some 25 by the end of the year. He wrote to the SPAD company in late 1916 criticising their VII model for being inferior its German opponents, and his reputation ensured that his concerns were taken seriously. SPAD introduced a number of developments to the aircraft, enlarging it slightly and fitting a more powerful engine and increasing the armament.  Two versions were created, the SPAD XII armed with a 37mm canon firing through the propeller shaft, and the more conventionally armed SPAD XIII with two Vickers machine guns.  
The XII / XIII was heavier and less manoeuvrable than the VII, but had a better climb rate and top speed.  Of the two the XIII was produced in far greater numbers, and achieved widespread use by a number of air forces during and after the Great War.

The kit.
This Limited Edition release from Eduard concentrates on SPAD XIIIs flown by Czech pilots during and after the Great War. Presented in Eduard’s familiar sturdy box, the artwork features one wartime and one post war machine, both in the attractive camouflage scheme typical of French aircraft of this period.
Within the box are two large grey coloured plastic sprues, protected in a re-sealable bag, a small clear sprue, a fret of pre-painted photo etched parts,  a small set of kabuki tape masks, a decal sheet, and an instruction booklet. First impressions are of how small and delicate the model is in this scale, and how fine and detailed the mouldings are.

Sprue A.
This contains the main airframe parts for the wings, fuselage, fin/rudder, and cowling ring. All are superbly moulded with sharp detail and no sign of sink marks or flash. Like their 1:48 scale version of this aeroplane.

 

Eduard have moulded the fuselage in two halves...

...with a third piece for the top, including the tailplanes. Having built a few of the 1:48 version, I can verify that this works extremely well and eliminates any possibility of a seam showing along the top of the fuselage.  I wish a few more manufacturers would do this as it is very effective.

The wings are beautifully thin with fine rib detail and well defined sockets for the struts to fit into. Final pieces are the front cowling ring, cockpit floor & top cutout, seat, and ammo chutes.

Sprue B
This has all the smaller detail parts such as wheels, guns, exhausts, struts, etc, all very neatly moulded. Several parts are marked on the instructions as not for use, either because they are options or because the etched fret contains replacements.

The cockpit is provided with a wealth of very fine detail, and as it is a mixture of wood, brass, and aluminium colours, it should look spectacular. Also provided are decals for all the instrument faces, with the option of using the pre-painted items from the etched fret if you prefer. The etch fret also supplies pre painted seat belts, making this a very detailed cockpit indeed for such a small scale.

Sprue C
There are two very small windscreen, of which only no. 2 is applicable to all four options.

Etch
The photo etched fret contains many pre-painted items, such as the previously mentioned instrument faces and seatbelts. The aileron cranks are also provided, as are the louvered engine side panels.

Mask
On yellow Kabuki tape, pre cut masks are provided for the windscreen and both sides of the wheel hubs, which should make simple work of painting the tyres.

Options
Four options are give, two each from Czech pilots who flew as volunteers with French Air Force during the Great War, and two from the post war Czech Air Force with the large ‘flag’ markings replacing the French roundels. All four wear the attractive brown/sand/green French style camouflage, with the wartime machines having clear doped linen undersides, while the Czech machines have silver undersides.

A. S2807, flown by Adj. Augustin Charvát, Spa.315, Chaux, France, September 1918.
B. S 8875, flown by Adj. Václav Pilát, Spa.124, France, fall 1918.
C. No. 9151, flown by Cpl. Bohumil Siegl, 33rd Squadron, Air Regiment 2, Lípa Airfield near Nemecký Brod, Czechoslovakia, September 1st, 1924.

D. No. 9152, flown by Sgt. František Lehký, 32nd Squadron, Air Regiment 1, Blíževedly Airfield, Czechoslovakia, August 28th, 1924.

 

Decals.
Good colours, pin sharp printing, thin and with minimal carrier film. Well up to Eduard’s usual high standards.
It is nice to see that the shade of French blue on the rudder stripe and roundels look correct.

 

Conclusion.
A well thought out and presented kit  that should build up into a real little jewel of a model . It looks to be based on Eduards larger 1:48 scale SPAD XIII, of which I have made three without encountering any problems.  Rigging in this scale is down to personal preference, but I would recommend fine heat stretched sprue as probably being the easiest. Just measure the lengths with a pair of dividers, and attach with small blobs of white glue, using fine tweezers to place each one.
It is a very complete package with etched details and kabuki masks included, and a wise choice of colour schemes. The two post war Czech machines will appeal to those who like really unusual  schemes, whilst the two wartime ones will satisfy those who like the more familiar.  Probably better suited to modellers at medium skill level rather than the beginner, due to the struts and rigging.

 

(Should 1:72 not be your scale, don't worry - Eduard have also released this in 1:48 scale with the same markings).

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

 

 

Footnote.
As a modeller I am as much interested in the personalities around the aircraft, as I am in the aircraft themselves.  Given Guynemers’ connection to the SPAD XIII and the fact Eduard also do a ‘Weekend’ edition of this kit in his markings,  I thought a few words here might spark some further interest.

Like many Great War aviators, Georges Guynemer was a fascinating character. Born into an aristocratic family, he was rejected many times for military service due to his frailty and poor health. Through fierce determination and strength of character he got himself accepted as a mechanic, and later on to pilot training. He went on to become one of the Great War’s highest scoring aces, with a final tally of 53 victories. A very quiet and modest man who disliked publicity, but who believed very strongly in serving his country.  Tired and exhausted, he was shot down and killed on 11 September 1917, at the age of 22. The whereabouts of his aircraft and his body remain unknown.
Amazingly, one of Guynemers actual SPAD VII’s survives to this day, and I was able to photograph it a few years ago it in the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace at Le Bourget, Paris. It is an amazing museum with some very special and rare aircraft in its collection. Well worth the trip if you can make it.

A priceless treasure;

 

 

 

Those fiddly aileron cranks on the lower wing:

 

 

 

[John Masters]

This is definitely on the list. I'll have to get one quick.  Perhaps this bodes well for a 1/72nd scale DVII?

[Antoine]

Thanks for the review, and for Musée de l'Air report.

 

 

[Andwil]

On 1/6/2019 at 4:02 AM, John D.C. Masters said:

This is definitely on the list. I'll have to get one quick.  Perhaps this bodes well for a 1/72nd scale DVII?

We can but hope.  I would buy s lot if they did!

 

AW