Roden's 1/32 Spad XIII Early & The Future Of Large Scale WW 1 Modelling

[Dave W]

RODEN’S 1/32 SPAD XIII EARLY & THE FUTURE OF LARGE SCALE WW  1 MODELLING



By Dave Wilson

Although not intended or marketed as such, in many ways the Roden 1/32 scale Spad XIII Early kit is a crucial test of the post-Wingnuts era viability of the large scale WW1 model kit market.

Delivered with surprisingly little fanfare and almost no marketing push, the Spad is by Roden’s own admission something of a tentative ‘Toe in the water” venture to test the post-Wingnuts WW1 market. Our reviewers Lance Carroll and Rick Geisler have thoroughly analysed the kit and their reviews can be found on this review board.
This article is not so much a product review, more an overview of the Spad and what it means- and could mean- to the future of large scale WW1 plastic modelling.
Simply put, if it sells well Roden will be more encouraged to fully resume the line of WW1 kits that they were famous for in the pre Wingnuts era ( that time until 2009).
More bluntly, if modellers ignore this new release kit, we can’t expect a flow of more new tool injection moulded kits and the large scale modellers will increasingly then have to depend on collector-priced Wingnut kits, resin or limited run manufacturers or companies that issue sporadic aircraft as a sideline to their main armoured vehicle focus now.



So a lot is riding on the Spad’s wings, not least because it was the most requested new kit in the Forum wants poll and it directly influenced Roden to not only add the Spad to its resumed WW1 production, but to elevate it to first release status.
News that Roden were resuming WW1 kit production excited the market but Roden have been cautious in their commitment. This is a trial of sorts, the Spad XIII Early first ( a late is promised  for next year too), and possibly  a 1/32 scale Avro 504K and a Sopwith 1 ½ Strutter – all kits that Wingnuts never did and are not available elsewhere in this scale. The Spad was kitted by Hobby Craft but has been unavailable for some years.
So the Spad is here and the first thing everyone is asking is whether Roden have matched the Wingnuts standard. No they have not and nor did they ever promise that they would do so.
Roden kits have always been a more basic but surprisingly detailed option that, approached with care, produce first rate models.




The online trolls disagree. These individuals, most of whom never make a model, have long flailed Roden for every flaw and fault imaginable. They have been sharpening their keyboards and getting comfortable in their basements awaiting fresh prey to tear apart. Sadly for them they will have to do so elsewhere as our Forum has no place for trolls or their like.
This review is a little different from the usual approach. Lance Carroll and Rick Geisler have evaluated the kit from their individual build approach points of view, so my assessment is something of an overview.
Looking at the frames in the kit, I’m not convinced this is a wholly 2021 design. It has the feel of an updated project that was on the books back in 2009 before Wingnuts emerged and pulled the rug out from under other WW1 kit manufacturers.



That’s just a guess but the engine frame is identical to that in Roden’s Spad VII kit. In the decade since their last 1/32 scale new release you could assume Roden would have lifted their game somewhat in quality , and they have but to be frank, it’s not a giant leap forward. Quality is noticeably better but it’s not Wingnuts or Copper State Models’ level.
That said we need to grasp that Roden never claimed to be producing the perfect model, but have delivered a kit that corresponds to the standards in which Roden works. That phrase is crucial to this discussion- Roden make kits that correspond to the standards in which they work.



How does it build? Forum member Kensar is making the model now and his build log on our “Under Construction” board should be compulsory viewing for anyone planning to make this kit. So too is Rick Geisler whose build also features in the “Under Construction” board. This shows you the potential in the model which, like most Roden kits, is aimed more toward model makers rather than assembly line kit assemblers.
Who knew that the Spad would be the litmus test of the large scale WW1 hobby?
Irrespective of its shortcomings and the howls of glee from the modelling trolls, the Roden Spad X.III Early represents something of a crossroads for our hobby.
If we support through sales what Roden are trying to do, they are likely to produce more 1/32 scale WW1 models for us. A Spad XIII Late, Sopwith 1 ½ Strutter and Avro 504K have been announced but their production will hang on the early Spad sales.
This really is one of those situations where if you want those others, you need to buy this one first to show the manufacturer that the market is there for what is regarded very much as a niche corner of the plastic model aircraft market.
In other words, if we ignore the Spad, it could be the last WW1 kit Roden produce.


Review kit supplied by Roden

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