Airfix 1/72 SPAD VIIs ***FINISHED***

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

To whet my appetite for the coming WW1 GB, I decided to knock off a pair of the ages-old Airfix 1/72 SPAD S.VIIs. The first uses the kit decals to represent Charles Guynemer’s “Vieux Charles,” and the other will be a yet-to-be determined bird in camouflage scheme.

The kit has no interior to speak of, so I did a basic one featuring the characteristic “shelf” style instrument panel, a stick with a few cables visible and scratchbuilt seats.

I did my own CDL mix using Tamiya acrylics. Here’s one with weathering and detail started, one still unsullied:

The rest (so far) are Guynemer’s machine with decals. Blue on the kit decals is a little light, but otherwise really nicely done, and for being 10 or so years old, they behaved beautifully.

Thanks for looking in. More later as work progresses.

2

Very cool! Love the markings on these birds.

3

Outstanding results. Great looking cockpit. Nice work.

4

Nice! Love the cockpit work.

5

Looking good Greg. Cockpit looks great.

Jim [cptn]

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Thanks to all for the encouraging replies!

7

Those look awesome Greg, love the detail in the cockpits

8

Outstanding work Greg. I would love to see closer photos.

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Thanks all. I’ll try to get closer photos, but they’re the scary ones…they show all glitches.

Small progress. Wash added (and—mostly—removed). Windscreen, exhausts and Vickers gun added, the latter scratchbuilt since the kit one is essentially only 2-dimensional.

Kit’s windscreen is seriously thick, but it’ll do in this scale.

Next up: top wing and (gulp) rigging.

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Now comes the fun part :slight_smile:

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Those are really looking sharp Greg! [Y]

…and don’t fret the rigging too much. Just take your time and start from the inside working out. You nail those two SPADs and rigging your 1/48 Sopwith build will be a breeze by comparison.

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Thanks, Mike, for the words of support.

I’m not really worried about the rigging–I’ve rigged a lot of bipes over the years, big and small. Once I’d fully rigged the old Revell 1/72 DH-2, I knew I could handle just about anything after that.

13

A DH.2!? In 1/72?! You’re a brave man, Greg, and after that one, nothing should intimidate you. I haven’t gone anywhere near my Eduard 1/48 version (but I do have a Wingnut Wings Fe.2b waiting in the stash).

14

Greg, good stuff! Can’t wait to see them finished.

You know, I’ve rigged ships since I was a youngster (Dad was a ship modeler), but I haven’t rigged a biplane in a long time. Truth be told, I’m both excited and a little nervous. But it’s a good kind of stress.

15

Wow! excellent scratc work on both Greg :slight_smile:

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Work is moving along. Guynemer’s wing is on (no rigging yet) and, best of all, everything is pretty much squared up and straight.

Second bird has the camouflage and a bit of weathering/detail applied, “Futured” up and waiting for decals.

Have a good weekend, all. Thanks for the nice comments.

17

Both SPADs are really looking sharp, Greg! That 's a lot of struts to line up, and the alignment looks perfect.

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Moving along…

In a final spasm of pre-GB insanity, I decided these two wouldn’t be proper SPADs without the characteristic bellcrank mechanisms that worked the SPADs’ ailerons. After not finding any suitable etched leftovers that would fill the bill (honest, I looked), I decided bits of styrene and stretched sprue would do as well.

And what it looks like in place:

Rigging should be next, unless I think of something I forgot.

19

yer insane!

great looking builds. :slight_smile:

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Thanks. I just do what the voices in my head tell me to do.[*-)]