Spad C.XIII flown by Rene Fonck (Merit 1/24)

[chowhound]

We continue with the next project. As a "victim" I have chosen Merit's Spad C.XIII (Scale 1/24). 
Just because of the size of the model, some additions will be necessary! Merit unfortunately did not do a good job, as far as the detailing is concerned. Let's begin with the first reconstruction work.
The spars under the wing covering are only indicated. This is not at all possible. One this picture you can see, what I mean:



No fabric strips and nails over the spars!
First I wanted to use rivets from Archer, but they are too close together, and you would need a lot of them (on the bow are also rivets with a larger distance, but too few of them, which would cost a lot of money). And I still had the problem of the fabric strips. So we improvise a bit. For this I use a rivet roller from Trumpeter. Here I have cut off every second spike. This gives me the correct distance between the rivets. As a strip of fabric, I use the label from a label printer. On this label, I use the rivet roller to press my rivets on the glue side.



Well cut, and glued.





The material of the label is very thin, and fits perfectly to the scale. And it is a very cost-effective solution.

Cheers
Jürgen

[Juan]

Great beginning, looking forward to your progress.

[lone modeller]

That is a really good and cost effective idea!

Stephen.

[RAGIII]

Nice start and an inventive way to recreate the tapes!
RAGIII

[Des]

You are off to a good start Jürgen, looking forward to the next update.

Des.

[chowhound]

Hello my friends,
in Germany we have a proverb: "Mühsam ernährt sich das Eichhörnchen". Or in english you would say: "Little by little, the bird builds its nest". This also applies to this kit.
This time I want show you the pilots seat. First the seat from Merit.



As you see, you see nothing. The pillow is a simple piece of plastic, nothing more. After I saw the seat of a restored spad, I went on with the grind. This has come out.



The buttons are made of 0.4 mm round bar.





From the same material I have also made the encircling surround of the seat shell. Since there are no seat belts in size, I have necessarily taken those of Eduard in 1/32. The instrument at the seat also gets a scale. Unfortunately it has not yet been delivered. Merit, by the way, has decent decals for the instruments. Nor is there anything to be discovered on the instruments themselves!

Cheers
Jürgen

[RAGIII]

Very nice work on the seat and especially the cushion!
RAGIII

[Juan]

The bird is building the nest very nicely.   

[chowhound]

Time for an update!
Hurray, the cockpit is ready!
In order to build the cockpit somewhat more faithfully, the seat has already been reworked. Of course, the belts were missing, and the instrument at the seat could not be recognized as such.
The big problem with this scale is that there are no accessories. The trade offers only up to 1/32. Thank goodness, the greatest instruments are just big enough for 1/24. The same applies to the seat belts. They are actually a little too small. For the tension I used self-twisted wires. You may remember my attempts at the Nieuport of Roden. These experiences have now been introduced here. The turnbuckles are made of 0,4mm brass tube (inside diameter 0,2mm). The switches on the dashboard are scratched. I have used leftovers of PE-parts and cut. Due to the extreme zoom factor, the setting looks very rough, but in original size absolutely OK!
And now, have fun looking at the pictures.





















Until the next update!
Your
Jürgen

[RAGIII]

Your cockpit is a large improvement over what comes with the kit! Well done!
RAGIII

[Monty]

That cockpit is looking quite gorgeous! Well done! Marc.

[Borsos]

Jürgen, it looks very fine. Nice touch with the reworked seat and especially the back of the seat. Obviously this is a kit that doesn't profit from being large scale as it's detailed like a mediocre 1/72 kit. So you do a great job to improve what is just sparse.
Viele Grüße
Borsos

[chowhound]

Another little update!
Since the MG's of Merit are not exactly great, I've done the luxury, and bought me the MG set from shapeways. Unfortunately, the MG's are not cheap, 20 Euro + shipping! But this issue has paid off. And so I will not have to order again so expensive in the future, I have bought from my birthday money also a 3D printer!
Here the pictures of the MG's. (Top shapeways down Merit)





Jürgen

[jeroen_R90S]

What an improvement!
Nice present, getting a 3D printer yourself, too!

[Juan]

Great job with the cockpit, and great improvement with your new machineguns.