alt-92 Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 In the years before the outbreak of World War II, a number of countries became intrigued by the idea of developing a very light fighter aircraft, with these proposals often being derived from the design of racing aircraft. One of those examples that actually saw service and combat was the Caudron C.714 . Although light and fast, its wooden construction did not permit a more powerful engine to be fitted. The original Renault 12R-03 engine seriously limited its climb rate and maneuverability with the result that the Caudron was initially withdrawn from active service in February 1940. The invasion of France in May 1940 changed plans again, 35 Caudrons were delivered to the Polish Warsaw Squadron manned by escaped Polish pilots, Groupe de Chasse polonais I/145. Just a week later, the French War ministry ordered the C.714 to be withdrawn (again) but since the French authorities had no other aircraft to offer, the Polish pilots ignored the order and continued to fly the Caudrons. Despite flying a fighter hopelessly outdated compared to the Messerschmitt Bf 109E, the Polish pilots scored 12 confirmed and three unconfirmed victories in three battles between 8 June and 11 June, losing nine in the air and nine more on the ground. --- RS's c.714 kit. Quite a simple affair, just the one sprue really. The roundels do look a bit suspect, may have to scrounge up an alternative somewhere that looks better. At least I get to break open the Hataka set, so that's a good thing 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 Nice choice Dirk, I will need to get one of these someday for my Polish Air Force collection. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 Great choice, I built the Heller one in the recent Heller GB and it turned out great. @vppelt68 will tell you some of these ended up in Finland later on as well I believe. Best of luck. Cheers Pat 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted July 19, 2021 Author Share Posted July 19, 2021 I know They weren't too impressed either. Still, they kept one around so we can say 'what were they thinking' And they donated an extra fuselage to the MdA (not quite sure if the French wanted that reminder...) Anyways: Cockpit. Tiny. And you wouldn't see much. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted July 19, 2021 Author Share Posted July 19, 2021 While we're at it, might as well close the fuselage. Smeared a bit of Surfacer 500 on the seams as weld-action TET tends to leave a small furrow. Coin for size. Wonder how much will remain visible after the clear parts are on! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted July 20, 2021 Share Posted July 20, 2021 A good start, curious to see how this comes out. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted July 26, 2021 Author Share Posted July 26, 2021 As is usual with short-run, a fair amount of cleanup, scraping and fettling is necessary - and even then there's no avoiding fillers and putty. Nevertheless: I might just mask off the walkway there - it's so small that getting masking tape at the wing root is too much of a bother. Leading and trailing edges ; could have done a bit better on scraping and thinning them but some surfacer 500 does the trick as well. Time to mask some clear parts and add grey primer. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted July 26, 2021 Share Posted July 26, 2021 Hi, I am afraid I can't see any of your photos. Are you doing something different? Cheers. JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted July 26, 2021 Author Share Posted July 26, 2021 No, at least - not consciously? Do pics show in the threads in my signature for you? Same hosting.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted July 26, 2021 Share Posted July 26, 2021 I can see the photos. Nice work so far, coming together nicely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted July 28, 2021 Author Share Posted July 28, 2021 Thanks Masked the clear parts - windshield and canopy are one-piece and take some fettling to get flush with the spine. And grey primer on. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 At least you did not have to manufacture a correct(ish) rear fuselage/cockpit like me - I think this is probably a better kit than mine! Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted July 29, 2021 Author Share Posted July 29, 2021 19 hours ago, PeterB said: At least you did not have to manufacture a correct(ish) rear fuselage/cockpit like me - I think this is probably a better kit than mine! Oh dear, Mistercrap well, good luck, can I suggest digging through the decal drawer in case the ones from the box don't survive first contact with water? I'm having to do the same here, but that's more due to the misshapen cocardes on the kit decals.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 If you are worried about the transfers give then a coat of varnish first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, alt-92 said: Oh dear, Mistercrap well, good luck, can I suggest digging through the decal drawer in case the ones from the box don't survive first contact with water? I'm having to do the same here, but that's more due to the misshapen cocardes on the kit decals.. Fortunately I do have a couple of sheets of spare French WWII roundels as the kit ones are a bit out of register. Finding any that small is problematic but I believe I have some. The rest will get a coat of MS Decal Cote. Pete Edited July 29, 2021 by PeterB 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted August 23, 2021 Author Share Posted August 23, 2021 Stuck with the Hataka set of colours, but I'm not sure if I want to repeat using these again. Aside from the fact that getting to grips with thinning them just right is proving to be a chore.. especially with the Gris Bleu Claire. This is four thin coats now. Eh, alors. On Y va. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted August 24, 2021 Share Posted August 24, 2021 (edited) Looks pretty good though - annoyingly I have now found my Colourcoats "Vert" which I probably should have used on mine, but at the time all I could find was the Vert Moyenne and the Vert Fonce, so I used the latter!. Pete Edited August 24, 2021 by PeterB 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted August 25, 2021 Share Posted August 25, 2021 She looks good nonetheless, Peter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Tucker Posted August 25, 2021 Share Posted August 25, 2021 On 8/23/2021 at 8:45 PM, alt-92 said: Stuck with the Hataka set of colours, but I'm not sure if I want to repeat using these again. Aside from the fact that getting to grips with thinning them just right is proving to be a chore.. especially with the Gris Bleu Claire. This is four thin coats now. Eh, alors. On Y va. Your Hataka green is a totally different shade to my Hataka green from the same set. Mine is vibrant and much lighter. I don't think it is right at all. Yours is much more like the correct colour. I agree with the thinning - it is a pain but they worked reasonably well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted August 25, 2021 Share Posted August 25, 2021 Very nice! Just caught up with this build and you've created a super little model. Looking forward to seeing it finished! Cheers, Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted August 25, 2021 Share Posted August 25, 2021 3 hours ago, Richard Tucker said: Your Hataka green is a totally different shade to my Hataka green from the same set. Mine is vibrant and much lighter. I don't think it is right at all. Yours is much more like the correct colour. I agree with the thinning - it is a pain but they worked reasonably well. I remember that the "Vert" in the old Humbrol Authentic set of French colours was almost "Grass Green" - very light. These days we seem to have decided it was somewhat darker. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted August 25, 2021 Share Posted August 25, 2021 The French colours were not so strictly controlled as the British and German ones: well, pretty well everyone else bar the US approach to Olive Drab in the early 40s. I can't say with what the Vert the Caudron was painted, but a lighter colour can't be ruled out. Perhaps Hataka have adopted the same approach? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted September 6, 2021 Author Share Posted September 6, 2021 No idea, but suffice to say I'm going to experiment a bit on the H-75 with different greys and greens. Added some of the decals from the kit sheet - which is very densely packed and the individual decals are extremely thin. I didn't feel the cocarde & tail markings as supplied, so grabbed a Techmod Cocarde sheet for those and mix/matched some paint for the rudder. some light weathering with dust/mud on the underside and exhaust stains, and then the final bits to add like pitots, aiming rods and antenna, and a satin coat. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 Beautiful work on the camouflage and markings. I think the vert looks spot on! Cheers, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted September 7, 2021 Author Share Posted September 7, 2021 Calling this ready. No.9 was flown by Sgt. Uher in May 1940, GC I/145 based at Villacoublay, the main French fighter base, to protect Paris. They were joined there for a short while by the remaining 16 Curtiss H-75s from GC I/4 that operated over Zeeland, Western Brabant and Belgium/Flanders in the first weeks of the war. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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