by George Grasse

SPECIAL HOBBY 1:48 SCALE INJECTION KIT SO4009 OF THE SPAD 7

SPECIAL HOBBY SO4010 BOX ART

SPAD 7  THREE-VIEW DRAWING

This 3-view drawing is credited to J. D. Carrick or F. Yeoman and appeared in Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War compiled by W. M. Lamberton and published by Harleyford Publications Limited.  The Spad 7 was a tremendous leap in fighter aircraft for the French Aeronautique Militare with a large engine for speed and a rugged design for maneuverability, the Spad 7 was equal to any other fighter in late 1916 and well into 1918.  Consult French Aircraft of the First World War by Dr. James J. Davilla and Arthur M. Soltan.

THE MODEL TO BE BUILT

The model to be built is Spad 7, S.1396 of Escadrille Spa.81 flown by Andre Herbelin, 11 victories, five probables, Legion d'Honneur, Military Medal, and Croix de Guerre (7 palms).   This image created by David Mechin from his monumental work The WW1 French Aces Encyclodedia, Volume 4, pages 230-241.  The sickle-carrying winged skeleton was Herbelin's personal insignia.  The escadrille eventually adopted the white greyhound (see below).  The French phrase on the side of the cockpit 'Risque Tout' means 'Risk All'.  The smaller Roman numeral 'VI' refers to Herbelin's sixth iteration of his assigned fighter aircraft.

 

Escadrille Spa.81 Insignia

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO No. 1

In preparation to start. . . . . . . . .

 

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Bibliography:

Bruce, J. M.  Spad 7.C1, Windsock Datafile 8.  Berkhamsted, Herts: Albatros Productions, 1988.

Bruce, J. M. Spad Scouts SVII - SXIII.  Glencoe Models via Osprey Publications.

Conners, John F.  SPAD Fighters in Action.  Carrollton, Texas: Squadron-Signal Publications, 1989.

Davilla, James J. Dr. and Arthur M. Soltan.  French Aircraft of the First World War.  Boulder, CO, Flying Machines Press, 2002.

French Escadrille 48 website page - http://albindenis.free.fr/Site_escadrille/escadrille155.htm

Guttman, Jon.  SPAD VII Aces of World War I, Osprey Aircraft of the Aces No. 39.  Oxford, UK: Osprey Publications, 2001.

Hayez Lt. Colonel (French Air Force Historical Section), translated by H. D. Hastings.  French Escadrilles in World War I.  Cross & Cockade (US), Volume 7, Number 3, pages 205-231.

Lamberton, W. M., Compiler, and E. F. Cheesman, Editor.  Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War.   Los Angeles, CA: Aero Publishers, 1962.

Mechin, David.  The WW1 French Aces Encyclopedia, Volume 4 of 8.  Aeronaut Books,. 2021.

Velek, Mark.  Spad S.VII C1.  Stasnice, Czech Republic: 4+ Publications, 2004.