Hobbycraft' Spad XIII

Hi guys;

How about something on French aircraft for a change?
Hobbycraft has just released its new Spad XIII in 1/32nd scale. I haven't built the kit yet, however a quick run through the box indicates that this is the most accurate kit yet released by Hobbycraft - at least no major errors as in their last Nieuport l7. You can build 2 versions of the Spad XIII, either Rickenbacker's 95 Aero Sqadron or Nungesser 's SPA 65. Unfortunately, the decals are not the best. Missing from the decal sheet is the large S on the tail including the serial number and other data. Also missing is the stars for the wheel
hubs and the stripes for the landing gear strutts. Oh well! no kit is perfect.
If you are a Spad lover (as I am) then buy it- you wont be dissapointed - as a matter of fact I bought 2 of them!

[PeterL]

I've been salivating at the prospect of this kit for some time but have yet to see one. As well as getting a SPAD out of the box I can think of plenty of things to do with a Hisso, wheels, guns and all the other bits in the box. Oh joy.

[Lyle]

I just picked up the Aces version and it is really nice! Indeed it is better than the Nieuport 17, and for the price it is a really good deal. The cockade colors are way off, though, but I'm hoping for some nice aftermarket decals with unique and less-oft seen markings. All in all, a super package.

I did notice that the cockade colours were not correct although I didn't mention it. It appears that Hobbycraft used the French blue in the cockade instead of the darker blue used by the U.S.Air Service at that time. Copper State Models has a fine decal sheet for the Spad XIII for F. Luke and E. Rickenbacker's aircrafts - they are much better than Hobbycraft's decal sheet, so I will order that sheet from them together with the set of French Gauge - this should really dress-up the interior!

[StephenLawson]

The 'French blue' was used on American purchased Spads. The license manufacture's that sold to the Americans (Kellner and Bleriot mostly) Used what ever was in stock at the time. If the had no 'American blue' then the French colour in stock was used. Also some American Spad XIII were sent to the front in French Cockades. In the 94th Aero they were painted over in American colours almost immediately. Several examples stayed in French Cockades through their whole service carrier. S.4750, served in both the 103rd Aero sqdn -(Lafayette Esc. ex-N.124) and the 28th Aero sqdn. It is a prime example of this condition. See Over the Front Vol.3 #4 Pp. 312-315. Also Charles Woley's book on the 94th & 95th Aero Sqdns.

[Lyle]

I suppose that there is some leeway, then in the cockade colors with the kit; my measuring stick is what NASM did with the Nieuport 28. *There, the blue is darker and not as greyish and the red is more vivid as well. *However, since the 94th's Spads ended up being overpainted, then it would stand that this would be the way to go if modeling one of them. *Thanks, GuyCanuck for the lead to go see Copper State and see what he has.