Author Topic: 1:32 scale Spad XIII C.1 of Frank Luke Jnr  (Read 5191 times)

Offline Mike Norris

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1:32 scale Spad XIII C.1 of Frank Luke Jnr
« on: July 12, 2018, 07:14:59 AM »
Hi all,
I thought you might like to see my 14th 1:32 scale build - The Bleriot built Spad XIII C.1, Number 26 of ‘C’ flight, 27th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, based at Rembercourt, near Verdun, France during September 1918.  This was one of the Spad XIII’s flown by Francis ‘Frank’ Joseph Anthony Luke Jnr, the ‘Arizona Balloon Buster'.

This kit is the old Hobby Craft Spad XIII 'International' kit, which is I believe was the only 1:32 scale of the Spad XIII made. The kit was, as expected, fairly basic and had no engine at all.  In fact the whole forward fuselage was blocked off.
I didn’t recall ever seeing this kit made with an engine installed, so I decided to give it a go.

The basic list of changes/additions to the model are:

Scratch built:
Radiator shutter control rods (Micro-tube).
Radiator drain valve (Micro-tube).
Cockpit head rest support frame.
Fuselage internal storage and cross members (Micro-rod).
Engine bulkhead.
Decking panel right gun - ejection chute.
Forward gun mounting brackets (thin brass sheet).
Engine access panels - wire mesh.
Ventral fuel tank cap.
Fuselage lifting straps.
Fuel tank rip (jettison) panel.
Oil cooler drain valve (Micro-tube).
Ring gun sight and mounting bar (thin brass sheet).
Undercarriage struts.
Wing inboard 'H' struts (Micro-tube).
Wing outboard rear struts (Micro-tube).
Wing strut rigging fittings (photo-etch).
External aileron operating bell-crank and rods (Micro-tube).
Exhaust pipe support brackets (Micro-tube).
Cockpit:
- Fuel, oil and vent pipes (Micro-tube)
- Cockpit frame wire bracing
- Additional instrumentation
- Instruments pipes/cables (Micro-tube)
- Gun firing cables (lead wire)
- Fuelt:l rip panel T-bar handle (Micro-tube)
- Mallet (freeing gun stoppages) (Micro-tube)
- Pilot's seat cushion (Milliput)
- Rudder bar foot straps (lead wire)
- Top frame above pilot's head
- Flight control cables

Engine:
'Wingnut Wings' Hispano-Suiza V8 engine built (detail modified)
 - Ignition leads, support tubes and magneto connection (Micro-tube/lead wire)
- Engine support beams
- Carburettor air intake
- Air breather and pipe (Micro-tube)
- Fuel manifold primer valves (Micro-tube)
- Cooling/heating system pipes and filler (Micro-tube)
- Gun cooling jacket ‘stay’ rods (Micro-tube)
- Various fuel, coolant and control rods (Micro-tube)

Modified or corrected:
Rudder, Ailerons and Elevator animated.
Louvres in engine panels opened.
Engine valve gear cooling fairings drilled.
Forward decking panel separated.
Engine cowl cooling apertures created.
Fuel filler aperture.
Cockpit surround panel modified.
Forward fuselage, decking panel and cockpit floor modified.
Exhaust tail pipes

Aftermarket additions:
'Proper Plane' hand made propeller (De La Grandville)
'Aviattic' Spad XIII wheels.
‘Aviattic’ decal and figure set (Frank Luke Jnr)
'HGW Models' seat belts.
'Gaspatch' .303 standard Vickers machine gun (modified).
‘Gaspatch’ Vickers ‘Balloon’ machine gun (modified).
'Gaspatch' turnbuckles.
'Albion Alloys' micro-tube.
'Steelon' 0.12 mm mono-filament.
'Polak' grass mat.
'Wings Cockpit' and ‘Copper State' figures.
'Airscale' instruments bezels.

As usual I've created a downloadable build log in Adobe PDF format, for those who might want to refer to it for reference or build details. It contains full step by step descriptions of the model build, its modifications/changes and is also supported with illustrations and photographs. If viewed in Adobe Reader, each build log has book marked chapters/headings for easier navigation through the log.
NOTE:  Due to the complexity of this build, the PDF build log is large at over 200 pages (download size is close to 10 Meg).
My model website has the gallery page, so to view any model, go to the gallery and select it.  If it has a PDF build log, it will be available to download using the 'PDF' icon on that models photo's page. For any photograph, just click the photo to enlarge or reduce the viewing size.

PC link:
http://igavh2.xara.hosting/index.htm

Mobile device link:
Igavh2.xara.hosting

My next model will be the ’Wingnut Wings’ 1:32 scale model of the German ‘Hansa-Brandenberg W.29’, a twin float, two seat naval patrol aircraft. 















« Last Edit: July 12, 2018, 06:17:40 PM by sandbagger »


Retired - 27 years RAF service then 20 years Military Aerospace Technical Author/editor.

Offline PrzemoL

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Re: 1:32 scale Spad XIII C.1 of Frank Luke Jnr
« Reply #1 on: July 12, 2018, 08:07:27 AM »
Amazing. So great to know, there is 1/32 life beyond WNW.
Ash nazg durbatuluk, ash nazg gimbatul,
Ash nazg thrakatuluk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.

Offline lcarroll

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Re: 1:32 scale Spad XIII C.1 of Frank Luke Jnr
« Reply #2 on: July 12, 2018, 12:20:13 PM »
Magnificent! The model is spectacular, and the Diorama setting, details, and the figures take the whole display to the very top of the scale! Add to the foregoing the fact that this is the HobbyCraft Kit and the effort to take it into the super detailed and high end of the Model Aircraft spectrum was, to say the least, considerable speaks volumes about your skills.
Great modelling, and a project you can be very proud of!
Cheers,
Lance
« Last Edit: July 12, 2018, 12:25:40 PM by lcarroll »

Offline coyotemagic

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Re: 1:32 scale Spad XIII C.1 of Frank Luke Jnr
« Reply #3 on: July 12, 2018, 01:03:18 PM »
She's truly spectacular, Mike!  I won't go so far as to say "silk purse from a sow's ear", but you've certainly applied your extraordinary modeling skills to this beauty.
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

Offline GazzaS

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Re: 1:32 scale Spad XIII C.1 of Frank Luke Jnr
« Reply #4 on: July 12, 2018, 03:13:20 PM »
Tremendous job! 
There are only two states to be in:  Queensland and blotto.

Online rhwinter

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Re: 1:32 scale Spad XIII C.1 of Frank Luke Jnr
« Reply #5 on: July 12, 2018, 03:17:09 PM »
Wonderful, Mike!!!

Offline Manni

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Re: 1:32 scale Spad XIII C.1 of Frank Luke Jnr
« Reply #6 on: July 12, 2018, 04:30:17 PM »
Outstanding work! You have turned this kit into a realy beautiful gem. Chapeau!
Bye,
Manni
"Ich hab' da mal was vorbereitet.": Jean Pütz
"Warum noch mehr Bausätze?!?": meine Frau

Offline NigelR

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Re: 1:32 scale Spad XIII C.1 of Frank Luke Jnr
« Reply #7 on: July 12, 2018, 09:25:15 PM »
Superb work and great diorama setting. Very, very well done.

Offline RAGIII

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Re: 1:32 scale Spad XIII C.1 of Frank Luke Jnr
« Reply #8 on: July 13, 2018, 02:04:39 AM »
Your Modeling skills have taken a "Good" kit and made it into a Masterpiece! Watching what you did to this one was a True Joy to behold! The final setting is equal to the effort you put into the Model!

RAGIII
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Online Juan

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Re: 1:32 scale Spad XIII C.1 of Frank Luke Jnr
« Reply #9 on: July 13, 2018, 03:07:58 AM »
Truly outstanding Mike, congratulations on your masterpiece.

Offline gbrivio

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Re: 1:32 scale Spad XIII C.1 of Frank Luke Jnr
« Reply #10 on: July 13, 2018, 05:58:03 AM »
Beautiful model and setting, congratulations, and thank you for sharing your outstanding build log.
Ciao
Giuseppe

Offline lone modeller

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Re: 1:32 scale Spad XIII C.1 of Frank Luke Jnr
« Reply #11 on: July 14, 2018, 03:40:24 AM »
That is spectacular to say the least. The diorama setting is stunning - and sets the whole model off superbly. That one is a winner in every way.

Stephen.

Offline Borsos

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Re: 1:32 scale Spad XIII C.1 of Frank Luke Jnr
« Reply #12 on: July 14, 2018, 05:47:01 AM »
I don’t know why I didn’t drop in earlier here. It’s absolutely amazing what you did with this kit here. Simply great!
Andreas
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Barbusse.
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Offline janh

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Re: 1:32 scale Spad XIII C.1 of Frank Luke Jnr
« Reply #13 on: July 15, 2018, 03:30:39 PM »
The pdf of this build is extremely informative it’s a book by any other standard thanks a lot for it

Offline Dave in Dubai

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Re: 1:32 scale Spad XIII C.1 of Frank Luke Jnr
« Reply #14 on: July 15, 2018, 04:25:18 PM »
That is the best build I have seen of a Spad and the base is excellent too.

Looking forward to seeing your Hansa-Brandenburg W29 in due course.

 8)