SPAD brass

buzz1941 · 14 March 2005, 03:19 PM

I'm going to bite the bullet and start designing a 1/32 SPAD etched-brass sheet. (Some of you oldtimers might remember the Spandau brass I did for IPMS-USA about (gulp!) two decades ago).

What's needed for the kit? Here's a list off the top of my head:

Engine grill cheek panels
Gunsight
Gunsight bracket
Seatbelts
Seat
Seat bracket
Seat head attachment
Lifting loops
Instrument bezels
Strut plates
Rigging attachments/turnbuckles

Maybe a resin seat cushion

So the question is -- anything else needed? What does the Hobbycraft kit require? My brass sheets tend to be pretty basic; replacement parts and add-ons.

One key piece will be the replacement cheek panels -- can anyone steer me toward a close-up image of the real thing? The grill or netting over these inlets tends to be so fine that it disappears in period photographs ...

Also any images of the seatbelt hardware...

The mid-wing strut contraption is also tempting, as the real thing was pretty delicate. Basically, heavy wires or braces encased in wood fairings, if I'm looking at pictures correctly.

StephenLawson · 14 March 2005, 04:59 PM

Are you thinking about the Hobby Craft kit as an application?

buzz1941 · 14 March 2005, 05:36 PM

Yes -- at the moment that's the only game in town in 1/32 SPADs. And I'm a fan of the kit in general.

RAGIII · 14 March 2005, 06:58 PM

Sounds like you are on the right track! This kit is very good to begin with! Your Photo etched sounds like it will make it GREAT! Maybe the Vickers Jackets and gunsight! Interior stuff would be good like Bezels and Throttle levers etc.
Just my HO!
RAGIII

Copperhead · 15 March 2005, 08:21 AM

Hey Buzz, a good place to start for some close-ups of the cheeck panels is the book, "Medal of Honor; Aviators of WWI", by Alan F. Durkota. It has some close-ups of both Luke's SPAD, and Rickenbacher's. Lukes had the louvered panels removed to show the screen wire, and allow cooling. It's not really that small of a grid from what I can see. Rickenbacher's had the louvered panels in place. As an aside, a good replica of Capt. Eddie's medallion would be nice. JW

Petrov27 · 15 March 2005, 09:48 AM

The little selector levers and backing plates for the inst panel would be great:

http://storage.mfa.free.fr/respadcockuk.html

topgun56 · 16 March 2005, 02:21 AM

Sounds good. What about the radiator grill?

And after you produce these parts, how does one purchase them ?

drIace · 16 March 2005, 03:53 PM

Buzz, once you do it in 1/32, it is only camera work to do it in 1/28 for the old Revell Kits, which IMHO is far superior to the HC kit

WarrenD · 16 March 2005, 05:01 PM

I would like to know how to get a set too, if it is ever produced.

Warren

buzz1941 · 16 March 2005, 11:25 PM

It's been a while since I produced a brass sheet, so it won't happen overnight. When it happens, it'll be under the Little Fokkers label at Pacific Monograph.

I looked at the radiator grill, but it seemed like too much effort for too little result.

Anyone have a picture of the seat belt hardware? Also, how is the lap belt secured? Pictures I've seen have it disappearing under the seat cushion.