Author Topic: 1/32 Roden Spad VII  (Read 17896 times)

Offline Epeeman

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1/32 Roden Spad VII
« on: December 04, 2012, 03:23:37 AM »
All,

Been persuaded to post up a build thread of my efforts of the 'Lafayette' version of Roden's Spad VII.   This is a bit late in so much as I am currently three weeks into this project.  This will be mostly OOB with a couple of minor alterations here and there.

As you may have seen elsewhere on these forums, this particular kit has been a real battle so far due to an atrocious level of fit (Note:  Des has built this kit and found overall fit to be good so either down to my poor efforts or I have a bad kit - don't be put off by my experience therefore) of parts - mainly upper and lower cowlings, seat support structure, lower wing and tailplane - especially with the fin.  Consequently, lots of work getting parts to fit followed by a lot of tidying up work.

Anyway, some pictures below showing where I currently am - I intend to build the version as depicted on the box artwork.  The cowling and rudder were painted (after some measuring and drawing out the lines with pencil on paint base coat once dry) by hand (this model will be entirely brush painted as is normal for me) without masking tape simply following drawn pencil line with fine brush and touching up where it was required.

The alterations made so far have been opening up the cowling louvres to improve look by drilling out and trimming with model knife.  I have also cut and shortened the axle fairing so that the under carriage will (hopefully) be more vertical (when viewed from the front) as internet research has shown that this part is too long making undercarriage 'splayed out'.  The join has been strengthened with metal pin and now requires tidying up.

I will be doing some more work on this evening so will post up progress reports later.

Regards

Dave

















As we say in fencing, what's the point?

Offline Epeeman

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Re: 1/32 Roden Spad VII
« Reply #1 on: December 04, 2012, 08:40:19 AM »
All,

A bit more work completed this evening -

Added the cabane struts and the struts that support tailplane.  Have aligned (as best as possible) the cabane struts against the top wing.   Also, I wondered if I could improve the look of the kit supplied Vickers gun moulded solid.   I therefore drilled and trimmed to shape (with model knife) out the face of the gun jacket and muzzle of gun barrel as shown below.

Getting close to be able to start painting fuselage - update to follow in due course.

Regards

Dave





As we say in fencing, what's the point?

Offline pepperman42

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Re: 1/32 Roden Spad VII
« Reply #2 on: December 04, 2012, 11:20:43 AM »
Nice!! It looks like youre winning the battle.

Steve

Offline GAJouette

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Re: 1/32 Roden Spad VII
« Reply #3 on: December 04, 2012, 12:15:08 PM »
  Dave,
Your SPAD is coming along splendidly my old friend. I'm very much looking forward to following along with your outstanding progress.  Keep up the great work.
Highest Regards.
Gregory Jouette
" What Me Worry"

Offline Whiteknuckles

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Re: 1/32 Roden Spad VII
« Reply #4 on: December 04, 2012, 01:17:33 PM »
Dave,

you may be battling this kit but you're clearly winning. Keep up the great work - no surrender!

Andrew

p.s. your hand brushing is an inspiration for those of us who also handbrush ;)
Eternal Apprentice

Offline Rob Hart

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Re: 1/32 Roden Spad VII
« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2012, 01:57:31 PM »
Nice start. Great choice of subject too. I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

Offline Rizzo

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Re: 1/32 Roden Spad VII
« Reply #6 on: December 04, 2012, 11:53:45 PM »
This is a kit I'd like to try myself one day, so I'll be following this with interest.

The progress you've made already looks great. Not sure I'd have the patience to cut out all those louves so neatly- but it'll look great on the finished model.

Offline Epeeman

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Re: 1/32 Roden Spad VII
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2012, 09:48:05 AM »
Some further progress to report -

Completed the painting to the fuselage and added the cowling ring.  Painted Vickers gun and assembled landing gear after tidying up fairing.  Making a small start on working the exhaust pipes.

Painting went well but getting the cowling ring on proved to be another fit nightmare - got there in the end but had to undertake a fair bit tidying up and touching up afterwards.   Consequently, the fit does not look as neat as I would have liked but was forced to except the best 'fit' I could get.

Next stage will be to add the fuselage decals.

Regards

Dave





As we say in fencing, what's the point?

Offline pepperman42

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Re: 1/32 Roden Spad VII
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2012, 10:29:12 AM »
Great combination of colours. Nice to see the problem areas have been overcome - next the wings etc!!

Steve

Offline Des

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Re: 1/32 Roden Spad VII
« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2012, 10:40:57 AM »
She is shaping up very nicely Dave, I really like the colours you have used on the fuselage and all the little extra detailing you are doing is making this a very attractive model.

Des.
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Offline GAJouette

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Re: 1/32 Roden Spad VII
« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2012, 01:45:27 PM »
  Dave,
The little SPAD is coming along very well my old friend. What did you use for your French yellows? Spot on and very pleasing. Keep up the outstanding work.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette
" What Me Worry"

Offline coyotemagic

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Re: 1/32 Roden Spad VII
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2012, 04:19:53 PM »
I agree with all of the above, Dave.  That fuselage is lovely.  Great work, mate.
Cheers,
Bud
"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream in the dark recesses of the night awake in the day to find all was vanity. But the dreamers of day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, and make it possible." -T. E. Lawrence

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Re: 1/32 Roden Spad VII
« Reply #12 on: December 08, 2012, 12:20:39 AM »
I'm still pretty new to this hobby so my skills are growing little by little.  Can you offer any tips on brush painting large areas of color such as your very impressive fuselage?  Any advice would be appreciated.  Great Spad!  Always been my favorite.

Rick

Offline Epeeman

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Re: 1/32 Roden Spad VII
« Reply #13 on: December 08, 2012, 02:51:15 AM »
Many thanks, gentleman -

To answer some questions -

Gregory - I always brush paint using Revell 'Aqua colours' - the linen colour is Revell's Biege silk matt which I use for all my models where linen is required.  The brown is 'Africa brown'

Rick - I used a larger flat paint brush for the fuselage - this helps cover larger area easier and the straight edge to the brush means I was able to follow the straight line of the forward brown colour.  Always make sure (regardless of paint type used) that you always thin the paint prior to use - it will then flow nicely from the brush and will not leave brush marks behind once dry. Use a base coat colour prior to applying top coat.  In the case of the linen (beige) colour, I used plain white.  Other times I use light grey but base coat colour will depend mostly on top coat colour to be applied.  Experience has shown me what base coat colour works best for top coat colour.  Painting is built up in thin layers.  I have at least eight coats of top coat on base colour.  Alternate brush strokes in different directions between each coat - move in same direction with brush, e.g. first coat may go horizontal, followed by diagonal, vertical, etc, etc.  always end with final coat going in direction of airflow over aircraft surface where possible. 
Finally, small brush for small areas, with increasing larger brushes depending on size of surface to be painted.  I also try to avoid using masking tape - otherwise, you can end up with visible 'ridge' which looks untidy.  I have now starting to drawn out line (using masking tape to act as 'ruler' to obtain straight line) and then simply paint along it with the brush.  The result (if carefully done) is a nice even match with no visible 'ridge'.  Some touching in is always required though. 
Please feel free to PM for more details.  Others who paint brush will most likely have their  own preferred method.

Regards

Dave
As we say in fencing, what's the point?

Offline RAGIII

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Re: 1/32 Roden Spad VII
« Reply #14 on: December 09, 2012, 06:02:03 AM »
Dave,
You are doing a far better job on dealing with the fit issues and basic construction than I did on my SPAD VII. You have come close to catching up with where I am on my build! I love your color choice for the fuselage, looks great!
RAgIII
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