Characteristics:

A-4 format,166 pages, 132 pictures (include  16 in color), 14 drawings/ plans pages , 36 color profiles . English and Polish text.

 The French WWI fighter Spad VII  seems to attract publisher attention for some times. After 4+, here is a new one, that promises a lot. On this beautiful 166 pages research, the 43 last ones are strictly a translation from English to  Polish language. So it’s really a 123 pages study of one of the famous fighter, with wartime b/w pictures, and a beautiful  series of plans and consequent profiles.  A drawing of the airplane seen from above go with each of the 36 profiles, that cover a lot of unusual users; Romania, Uruguay, Brazil, Yugoslavia, Poland, Russia, aside  the well known; England, USA, Italy, Belgium.  The black and white photos  are completed by some color pics from actual preserved aircrafts in Museums.

The chapters successively touch to the development, the technical description, the operations, the camouflage and markings. Next come the backbone of this volume; superb color drawings in 1/48 scale and close up in 1/24 for tiny details. The color visually allows us to understand the construction of the models; the difference of the wood  and the adjustment with metal parts. The fuselage is also show “open” with 12 bulkheads and the wing  with 4 ribs.  Every difference between the manufacturers (under- licence) is drawn; Kellner, Janoir, SEA, Grémont, Of Marçay, Blériot, Mann-Egerton models.  You’ll  discover page after page  the Guynemer’s  Spad (n° 254), the first, middle, last production line aircrafts, the English built aeroplanes, skeleton and its development, armament, and land modifications.  You certainly like me discover the different  armaments (4), the propellers(7), the axle(5), and 9 types of windshield! You certainly see that it’s a heavy research that we have now aces. We have in our hand everything to make a scratch model! , or simply check and modify the models available in 172 and 1/48 scale. (the Revell 1/28 scale was a XIII type). Amongst all the pilot’s machines, the list is long in the French trench with  Lenoir, De Guibert, Pinsard, Guynemer, De Richemont, Dorme, Gerard, Chevillon.  Lufbery and Turnure represent of course  the American sides.  This volume is a MUST for the fan of the first SPAD, waiting and hoping that the series continues. Highly recommended.

January 2005

Available at  AIRCONNECTION 

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