forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Topic started by: andonio64 on January 15, 2025, 08:28:51 PM
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Hallo forumates,
I will take the occasion of this group build to restart the work on the SPAD XIII of Caporal Eugene J Bullard.
He's famous for his "Tout sang qui coule est rouge" motto and whether it's true or not I decided to believe the story / legend told and proceed on this colour schema imagined by Ray Rimmell
(https://i98.servimg.com/u/f98/14/26/14/48/eugene14.jpg)
And use the SPAD XIII Roden kit although Ray picture describes a VII, at the end I am modeling a legend rather than a real plane.
I will also use the bleeding heart I drew (see it HERE (https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/tout%20sang.jpg) ) and will look for a reasonably realistic font for the motto around it, then I will need help for printing the decals.
I have not the box with me (I'm at work now) but tonight at home I'll take some pics and post them here.
The original thread where a lot of information and hypothesis were shared is HERE (https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=13138.0)
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Great to see this one onboard with the group build.
I saw the Roden Spad for sale at a bargain price at one of the shows last year and was sorely tempted so will be good to see how yours shapes up. I like the speculation around the colour scheme and agree that sometimes you need to just go with what current research/ideas work best rather than avoid building such an interesting subject.
Looking forward to this ones progress
Paul
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Great to see this one onboard with the group build.
I saw the Roden Spad for sale at a bargain price at one of the shows last year and was sorely tempted so will be good to see how yours shapes up. I like the speculation around the colour scheme and agree that sometimes you need to just go with what current research/ideas work best rather than avoid building such an interesting subject.
Looking forward to this ones progress
Paul
Thanks Paul your words are reinforcing my motivation!
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Some picture
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/box.jpg)
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/sprues.jpg)
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/resources.jpg)
Here is what I was able to do since I started the build, just the engine:
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/engine1.jpg)
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/engine2.jpg)
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/engine3.jpg)
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/engine4.jpg)
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/engine5.jpg)
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Excellent choice of subject. Looking forward to this one.
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Excellent choice of subject. Looking forward to this one.
I agree completely! A tricky kit in some places but really looks great when finished! Looking forward to more posts!!
RAGIII
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I have found a couple of fonts that could fit the style of the historical period to write the motto around the bleeding heart, here are jpg samples for both thw hypothesis, I look forward to getting your opinions and suggestions:
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/tout%20sang%20piano%20music.jpg)(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/tout%20sang%20schnorr.jpg)
Moreover I started studying the internal structure of the cockpit.
I exchanged some messages with Rick to understand wht that canvas bag appearing in some build logs I took as inspiration is. I found some interesting photos in the Memorial Flight web site.
I also purchased some PE mesh (rhomb style) in 2 different sizes to use in front of the radiator and in the two small windows on the "cheeks" in case I decide to make the engine partially visible.
Things are moving, slowly as usual but they are moving!!!
:-D
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Top style would get my vote although you'll need to have a look at the spacing between the U & I in Qui (too tight) :)
Paul
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Top style would get my vote although you'll need to have a look at the spacing between the U & I in Qui (too tight) :)
Paul
Thank you Paul, yes you're right about the spacing between U and I, I'll modify it
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Top one for me as well. Although you should trust Paul more, because he's a signwriter..... :)
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Top one for me as well. Although you should trust Paul more, because he's a signwriter..... :)
Thank you Nigel, I trust Paul anyway! And he's right about the distance between those letters. Thanks to all the forum-mates for the always invaluable contribution!
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I have modified the top style of the bleeding heart. Now the distance between the U and I in the "QUI" word looks better, as suggested by Paul (I replaced the image above).
I worked a bit more on the engine, piece 13 D was broken as happened to Zac here (https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=12718.0)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51740462294_4f66fec9d3_b.jpg)
I will try to rebuild the center L shaped rods.
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Hallo,
I took the brushes again in my hands after this long hiatus, had to verify which colors I still have and which are still usable.
For the time being I was able to paint the cowling+rdiator sub assembly
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/istruz-cowling-radiator.jpg)
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/cowling-radiator1.jpg)
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/cowling-radiator2.jpg)
I used here Tamiya Flat Aluminum XF-16 and Metallic Gray XF-56
Meanwhile I received some aftermarket PE:
- Details fret by Part as used by Kensar in his build (it's the SPAD VII one, but I think there are interesting details to be used for the XIII)
- Rhomb mesh (4x4 and 6x6 width) useful for the "cheeks" openings and to make the radiator sub assembly looking better
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/3-fret.jpg)
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/duereti1.jpg)
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/duereti2.jpg)
Here is the engine cooling slats laid over the mesh just to see the way it looks
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/provarete.jpg)
The cowling will get a blue coat on the external surface, I will use Lifecolor UA126 Israeli Blue
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/blue.jpg)
I want to prepare now the propeller, so will have a look into my decals stash to get a couple of Levasseur 1/32 logos but I'm afraid I only have 1/48 decals. I wasn't able to find it in the online aftermarket. Any suggestion?
Thanks for watching
Antonio
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That is a great project which I loved from its beginning. So I am happy that you go on with it. I like your progress and your design on the personal marking. Sadly I cannot help regarding Levasseur decals. There are no aftermarket products as far as I know. I have searched for some myself.
Best of luck
Andreas
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Thanks Andreas!
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Hi to all,
here is another small update on this work.
I tried to cut the mesh I showed last time and to make it fit between radiator and the protection vents but the sandwich was not satisfactory at all, so I left the radiator as is and in the end it does not seem a bad idea.
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/radiatore-alette.jpg)
so I went on and painted the cowling in blue.
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/cowling-dipinto.jpg)
It will need some touch up and I will try to add some chipping.
Then switched to the cockpit, here are the instructions for the top part
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/cockpit_top_istruz.jpg)
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/cockpit_top.jpg)
I found the instruments on the sprues have the hands molded in relief and they do not look good. I would use some of the instrument decals I have in my stash and maybe some PE bezels too.
For the time being I have flattened the interior of those dials, but seeing them enlarged in the pics suggests some more working and maybe some putty.
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/Strumenti1.jpg)
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/Strumenti2.jpg)
Any comment welcome.
Thanks for stopping by.
AnDonio
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I agree, that radiator looks fine. I am sure it will be effective with some washes to highlight the detail.
That's good work on those instruments.
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Those sprues are about the same diameter as the dials. If you are not happy with working on the kit dials and if the sprues are round you could slice them like a carrot, stick your decals on them and then on top of the decal put a PE or wire ring. I have made dials like this, I have not used PE but wound fuse or circuit wire around a drill but, cut thru the coil and used the wire circles this makes.
Alan.
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Thanks Alan, the solution you imagined is ok but I decided (I feel more comfortable this way) to proceed as follows:
- I pierced the inner part of the instruments on the sprue, filing the holes and sanding the pieces to make them thinner.
- I cut the back of the instruments from styrene 0,5 mm thick.
- I then slided the dials from a decal sheet and will glue this part behind the pierced pieces.
I show below some picture of the work done on piece 15A:
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/DettagliStrumenti01.jpg)
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/DettagliStrumenti02.jpg)
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/DettagliStrumenti03.jpg)
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/DettagliStrumenti04.jpg)
Here are a couple of other pierced pieces:
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/DettagliStrumenti05.jpg)
Thanks for your attention
Antonio
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Very inspirational, I forgot I had this in the stash, maybe it should move up the list....
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/faa1e03a-eb43-4d90-b559-cc2183be446d.png) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/faa1e03a-eb43-4d90-b559-cc2183be446d.png)
Comes with a nifty enameled pin too...
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Nice box Alan, I also have one 1/48 by Eduard and I assigned it to Frank Luke who was born my same day (although some year before me!!!)
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Nice work on improving the Instruments Antonio! Great to see progress on this kit!
RAGIII
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Hallo,
I did not really like the strategy I decided to follow for the instruments, so I have stopped that and will make the instruments after the cockpit sub assembly is completed.
For the time being I went a little bit forward glueing other sub assembly pieces, now they need some priming and then painting. Life, as usual, is taking me away from the bench.
I am most of the weekends out of town for "positive" reasons :-)
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Nice work on improving the Instruments Antonio! Great to see progress on this kit!
RAGIII
Thank you Rick, as I said above I'm not satisfied by the results and will elaborate a new strategy...
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Some progresses in my build...
Tips of the two wings glued and gaps filled with putty
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/Ali_unite.jpg)
pieces of the cockpit area / engine seat
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/cockpit1.jpg)
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/cockpit2.jpg)
seat cushion sculpted using milliput
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/sedile_cuscino.jpg)
Other bits and pieces to complete the cockpit area
(https://www.andonio.it/model/bullard/Bits_pieces.jpg)
Next steps: primer to the wings, paint the cockpit floor on lower wing, complete the cockpit, prepare the instruments.
Thanks for watching!
Antonio
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I am looking for a good custom printed decals, what do you think about "FFSMC Productions"?
Are there other better services you would recommend?
Thanks!
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Good to see you making progress on this one, the interior is going to look very nice.
I can't help with the custom decal recommendation I am afraid.