Caudron C.610 Aiglon, Elisabeth Lion's record (Modified SBS Caudron Aiglon)

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

A build from 2 years ago:

 

While doing some research for the previously posted Caudron C.600 Aiglon, which flew with Mme. Finat, I noticed some photos of the record variant, the C.610. Basically the same plane, with increased fuel capacity, the deletion of the fore seat and a revised canopy, plus other details.

Two apparently were built/converted: the registration that interested me was F-ANSK, flown by French Elisabeth Lion to some remarkable achievements. The plane's appearance changed quite a bit during its life, so check your references.

I am basing my work on some images found on the Net after much researching, and "L'aviation Légère en France", by Roger Gaborieau.

I thought it was only fair to build a second plane flown by a successful women.

I had first to establish a chronology to sort out the many different schemes the plane wore during it's life:

Chronology F-ANSK (const. # 7035)

Beginning at the presumed end of its life, the only certain deductive starting point possible:

-The plane is appropriated by the invading forces.

As such it still wore most of its registration, and had a very light finish, possibly cream, not likely white, or a really whitish aluminium color, and marks in what seems red (which renders a very dark hue in B&W photos). It still has the spinner and the Ratier prop, as well as the three stripes on the external side of the wheel pants, and the last known closed cockpit configuration (that looks like a racer, a bit like a C.430 Rafale's) with "half-moons" extending the view that coincide with the cockpit opening to the sides). The fore position is seamlessly erased, not just lidded over.

-Therefore the photos of the plane with Elisabeth Lion posing with the exact scheme (minus the despicable nazi marks) are the last wore by the plane before the war.

In that configuration a not too prominent "bulge" can be seen bellow the fuselage due to the tank that provided extended fuel capacity. In one photo Mlle. Lion is wearing a white mechanics garment, and the color of the plane seems close to that, possibly a very light cream.

-The configuration that preceded that one, inverts the tones of the decoration. The plane is painted in a dark hue (perhaps blue), and the marks in a lighter hue (perhaps silver, although definitely not white), besides changes in the details of the decoration (different wheel pants motifs, a small French flag, etc). In this scheme extensive windows are seen in what used to be the front seat area. Still the closed canopy is there with it's half-moons to the sides. The inversion of the decoration colors is not the product, as some times happens, of ortho and panchro films, to which many other details in the photos attest.

-The configuration that preceded those above had a different, sort of "fighter" canopy, the fore position closed with a visible lid, no Ratier prop nor spinner. A tailwheel is present instead of  a tailskid.

-In an earlier configuration (July 1936) at the "12 heures d'Angers" (which were reduced to 6 hours due to weather), the two positions on the plane are open and have their windshields. The airscoop at the left cheek of the cowl is still there. A number "83" (the age she will pass away, strangely enough) is visible on wing and fuselage. Mlle. Lion will come 2nd at the 8 liters category.

-To adapt the kit for the conversion I started by cutting off the first half of the cockpit floor, since only the aft pilot's position is needed.

-I discarded the prop since the variant I want to model had a Ratier prop with a prominent spinner.

-Necessary additions are a slim "belly" seen in photos (extended tankage), a new decal set and a home-made vacuum-formed canopy.

-Deletions will include the fore position and the intake normally seen at the left cheek of the engine cowl.

As you can see this an adaptation that doesn't require special things, and just involves normal skills and renders a model with an interesting "racy" appearance and remarkable historical significance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here together with the Caudron C.600 of Mme. Finat posted today:

 

 

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

The Caudron C.600 is here:

 

[Baldy]

What a stunning, beautiful aeroplane that is! Certainly has panache and it is easy to see the Caudron lineage. A superb model too - I guess a good kit does help! Deriving colour schemes from black and white pictures, especially ones from old papers and articles is never easy. At least if you are wrong about the scheme, you have something beautiful and convincing.

 

I have used a few SBS detail sets over the years and they too are excellent.

 

Cheers

 

Malcolm

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

29 minutes ago, Baldy said:

What a stunning, beautiful aeroplane that is! Certainly has panache and it is easy to see the Caudron lineage. A superb model too - I guess a good kit does help! Deriving colour schemes from black and white pictures, especially ones from old papers and articles is never easy. At least if you are wrong about the scheme, you have something beautiful and convincing.

 

I have used a few SBS detail sets over the years and they too are excellent.

 

Cheers

 

Malcolm

I absolutely agree: the quality of this kit helped a lot.

Cheers

[Dazey]

Great model of a beautiful aircraft.

Regards,

David

[pheonix]

Got to agree with Baldy about the Caudron lineage there, and his comments about the colour scheme. A very graceful model with a first class finish as always.

 

P

[Dennis_C]

Nice pair of Caudrons! And excellent job as always! Surprise to see some elegantly looking aircraft in your collection:)

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

47 minutes ago, Dennis_C said:

Nice pair of Caudrons! And excellent job as always! Surprise to see some elegantly looking aircraft in your collection:)

Dennis, to compensate, have a look at what I just posted as a completed model 😜

[Dennis_C]

1 hour ago, Moa said:

Dennis, to compensate, have a look at what I just posted as a completed model 😜

Yeah. Glass of wine is something you need to have prior to looking at THAT "airplane". 😲

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

9 hours ago, Dennis_C said:

Yeah. Glass of wine is something you need to have prior to looking at THAT "airplane". 😲

How do you dare, sir!

If you don't retract those words I will have to challenge you to a duel with my weapon of choice: a twelve-tome dictionary.

[Dennis_C]

57 minutes ago, Moa said:

How do you dare, sir!

If you don't retract those words I will have to challenge you to a duel with my weapon of choice: a twelve-tome dictionary.

Retracted  as any airplane is beautiful even those of unusual charm. 

I just spotted a glass of wine (or it's 1:1 scale model) on one of the construction photoes.

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

6 minutes ago, Dennis_C said:

Retracted  as any airplane is beautiful even those of unusual charm. 

I just spotted a glass of wine (or it's 1:1 scale model) on one of the construction photoes.

That, my dear friend, is liquid inspiration.

 

[Mitch K]

Beautiful!