SPAD VIIc.1 Camouflage

Deedoubleyou · 24 December 2009, 02:27 PM

Good Readers,

I just purchase Roden's 1/32nd SPAD VIIc.1 #615 "Lafeyette and USAAF". My reference consists mainly of multiple Osprey books. None of these references show any standard patterning of the camoufage colors like I have for the SPAD XIII. Did the multiple contractors who built these machines have standard patterns and if so, what would be a good reference that is currently available?

Thanks and Happy Holidays to all.
Dwayne

Dan_San_Abbott · 25 December 2009, 08:29 PM

Hi Deedoubleyou:

SPAD VII ACES OF WORLD WAR 1, Osprey Aircraft of the Aces, 39 has several profiles and top views of the SPAD VII in the color section. I think it will answer your questions.
Merry Christmas Dwayne,
Dan-San

Deedoubleyou · 26 December 2009, 08:20 AM

Dan-San,

Thanks for the input. I have that title and the patterns did not seem to be regular on the fuselages of the different machines depicted but the top wings did so I'll try to mimmic the fuselage schemes as close as possible.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and everyone here at the Aerodrome as well!

Dwayne

Tomasz · 26 December 2009, 09:01 AM

Dwayne,

each Spad contractor had its own camouflage pattern.
- Societe pour L'Aviation et ses Derives (S.P.A.D. company) had finished Spad VII series before introduction of "butterfly" scheme.
- Most of Blériot-built Spad VIIs were finished in clear doped and varnished scheme. Some aircraft of the very late 21xx series were known to carry "butterfly" pattern, but I don't have enough references to replicate the pattern.
- Almost all but some last aircraft built by Kellner carried CD&V scheme. I don't know much about Kellner's pattern as well.
- known Régy-built Spads were camouflaged, but I don't know if the camouflage was applied to entire Régy production. I have too little information to attempt to recreate this pattern.
- All Janoir-built Spad VIIs were camouflaged and Janoir's pattern closely followed the master pattern issued by Société Nauton.
- SEA-built Spad VIIs were camouflaged as well and their pattern was similar to Janoir's except of the tail.
- Grémont's Spad VIIs were unique. They had odd camouflage consisting of overlapping wedges.
- de Marçay, the last Spad VII manufacturer was different in many ways. Firstly he didn't use single scheme but entire portfolio of schemes. Secondly he replaced the style of the schemes from oblique bands to zig-zag patterns in the course of Spad production. Thirdly de Marçay probably refused to use black color in his patterns.
- Little is known about small Roger Sommer-built series. Even Roger Sommer descendants were unable to help me in that matter.

What aircraft have you selected? If it is Turnure's S3301 (the very first SEA-built Spad) I am afraid you have to do some guessing. Wing and tail pattern as well as left fuselage side has been already researched, but right side isn't fully clear. Moreover SEA changed its pattern a little bit thorough the production and it obviously doesn't help.

Tomasz

Deedoubleyou · 26 December 2009, 09:17 AM

Tomasz,

Thank you very much for your detailed answer. The Roden kit has painting guides for the machines depicted on the decal sheet but I have some 1/48 scale Special Hobby kits and a sheet of decals from Pheon depicting the 103rd Aero Squadron. Rowans decals are superb and the profiles and planforms provided are excellent but they only include the port side of the fuselages. There are differences in those patterns, some are subtle and others are more dramatic. Could you recommend a reference beyond the Osprey titles that is currently in print?

Thanks again,
Dwayne

Tomasz · 27 December 2009, 04:25 AM

Dwayne,

as regards a piece of reference for Spad VII models I can obviously recommend this book:
spad.warplanes.info
Now there might have been some problems with accessing the website as it has been recently moved and DNS servers need some time to propagate new domain settings. If you find the site unavailable look at Stephen Lawson's review:
Spad VII
There are no factory patterns depicted in the book but you can see all sides of Janoir-built Spad on the basis of two profiles.

Tomasz

Martin Irvine · 27 December 2009, 04:38 PM

Tomasz' book is excellent, and one of my best purchases last year?

Martin

Kalt · 28 December 2009, 10:56 PM

I agree with Martin, it was one of the best book investments I made (Along with Allan Toelle's Breguet 14 book).

Regards,

Claudio Kalicinski

Tomasz · 29 December 2009, 02:15 AM

Martin, Claudio,

thank you very much for recommendation. Claudio mentioned Alan D. Toelle. To be honest without his help this book would be never written. It was Alan, Ellic Somer, Bernard Klaeylé, Aaron Weaver, Gregory Alegi and many many others who helped this book to be born.
I see now that for some reasons spad.warplanes.info link does not work yet, but warplanes.info alias is already propagated.

Tomasz