SPAD XIII - American Air Corps, Raoul Lufberry.....in 1/72nd scale

[S. Uehlinger]

This is hardly the best SPAD kit on the market, but it is adequate if you're looking for a relatively straightforward biplane build. Detail is limited, with no cockpit interior, and vague bazooka-like shapes instead of the front machine guns. However, some of the surface detail is reasonably crisp, and the fit of most parts is good. The struts fit into large grooves on the wings, so alignment is easier.  Decals are OK, not as thick as some other Academy releases.  This SPAD is done up as the mount of Raoul Lufberry, who flew with France's Lafayette Escadrille before transferring as a Major into the US Air Corps, CO of the 94th Aero Squadron.   He had 17 victories before he died in combat.     The Airfix figures featured were painted in 1981 or so....I kept them and they add some life to the scene.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Wulfman]

Nice job on the Spad, l like the mini diorama !

 

Wulfman

[swralph]

Nice one.😀

[Epeeman]

Good work on an ancient kit!

 

Regards

 

Dave

[Black Knight]

For next time; the Spad is a 'single-bay' biplane. The interplane struts half way out just support the wires. The wires go from top of the cabane struts to the bottom of the outer struts and from top of the outer struts to the lower wing/fuselage joint, They cross X at the inner wing struts. 

And the tail fin wires don't go the tailplanes, they go into the fuselage where the tailplanes join it

[S. Uehlinger]

Thanks, I will keep this in mind!   Anything that saves me stringing some wire!