Special Hobby's Spad VII c.1

[Bob_D]

Greetings all!
Just received my new Special Hobby Spad VII in 1/48 and IMHO, It's a beauty!
Great surface detail, resin inserts for cockpit interior, and beautiful decal options for a couple of different French and Italian versions. Also some pretty nice box art suitable for framing. Attachment points to sprues are a little heavy, but with a little care and attention should prove to be no big problem. Here's hoping they continue with new additions to their 1/48 WW1 line.

[stringbags4ever2]

Hi Bob:
Yeah, the model just got a great preview rave on Modelinmadness.com by Tom Cleaver. However,he recommends going with the new Spad Aces decal sheet from EagleStrike/Aeromaster. Go to
http://www.modelingmadness.com
for the review and preview of the decal sheet. Good luck with the build. Let's see some pics after!

[StephenLawson]

Greetings all: I have just recently finished the Special Hobby Spad VII and can echo the sentiments of the others expressed here. For anyone doing the build here's some references I used.

‘A Man for Sonderfilme, Rudolf Windisch’ by H Täger, Over the Front 17 #3, Pp.196-232.
‘French Aircraft of the First World War’ by J. Davila & A.M. Soltan, Flying Machines Press, 1997.
‘Hispano-Suiza (Birkigt Patents), Cross & Cockade USA Vol. 10 #3, 1969.
‘Mann Edgerton Spad 7.C1 B9916' by H.G. Fisher, Over the Front Vol. 8 #2 Pp.100-113.
‘Markings of the Lafayette Escadrille’ by B. Alexander, W. Michigan IPMS News 1976.
‘Project Butterfly’ by Hardesty, Hastings, and Toelle, Cross & Cockade USA Vol. 9, 1968 and 13, 1972.- (Most excellent articles on the French 5 colour camouflage patterns.)
‘Spad Scouts S.VII - XIII’ by J.M. Bruce, 1969. Reprint Osprey pub. for Glencoe Models, 1993.
‘Spad VII Aces’ by J.Guttman, Osprey Pub.#32. 2001.
‘Spad VII - Original Bleriot Aeronautique general arrangement drawings’ Cross & Cockade USA Vol.15 #4, 1974.
‘Spad 7: 3 View Drawings’, Cross & Cockade USA Vol.2 #1 , 1961.
‘The Real Spad’ by B.S. Kelsey, Over the Front Vol. 8 #2, Pp.114 -122.

[stringbags4ever2]

Will we see some pictures soon, Perfesser?

[StephenLawson]

Here's a review and a build up of this kit.
Spad VII

[Barker]

Thanks, Stephen - seems no matter what - that kit keeps getting put under a Fokker, Camel or Ni.28!
B)
So bookmarked.

Went to the review.......no price.....compared to SMER which is 1/50 not 1/40 but no compare to th $4.50 Testoor 1/48 kit of the S.P.A.D.

[PeterL]

Originally posted by topgun56@May 10 2004, 08:58 AM
[b] Went to the review.......no price.....compared to SMER which is 1/50 not 1/40 but no compare to th $4.50 Testoor 1/48 kit of the S.P.A.D.

If cost is more important than accuracy to the prospective buyer then yes, the Testors kit (nominally a XIII but not so's anyone would notice) wins hands down. But trust me TG, the two are light years apart in terms of quality. The Testors kit kind of resembles a SPAD, of some sort, if you squint at it between the partly closed fingers of your hand. Special Hobby have the VII off to a tee.

[Lugarno67]

Originally posted by topgun56@May 10 2004, 12:58 AM
[b] Went to the review.......no price.....compared to SMER which is 1/50 not 1/40 but no compare to th $4.50 Testoor 1/48 kit of the S.P.A.D.

I checked the preview in MM and Armorama, and both show a price of about $30 (retail). It can be had from E. European dealers for about $17 plus shipping.

Considering the kit has resin and P/E and a nice selection of decals, I don't find that price at all out of line.

In case anyone is looking for a good price for this, Squadron has the RFC and USAS version for $19.99 as part of their "Comsale". The French and Italian version is regularly priced at $24.97.

Jack