Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => The Great War GB => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on August 04, 2014, 03:21:27 AM
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General Carl Spaatz is one of the most famous U.S. Army Air Force leaders. The story of his years commanding the U.S. 8th Air Force and later, the entire American air effort in Europe, is literally the stuff of history.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/SpaatzLifeCover.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/SpaatzLifeCover.jpg.html)
His early career is less well-known, however and the sole aircraft he designed is all but forgotten.
Carl Spatz (how he spelled it prior to 1938) became a U.S. Army aviator in 1914. His skill in the air and inimitable sense of style quickly brought him to the attention of superiors.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatzinspats.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatzinspats.jpg.html)
When the U.S. entered the Great War, Carl Spatz was put in charge of a U.S. Army Signal Corps training squadron. Spatz was dismayed to discover his unit's imported French aeroplanes were actually crates of seemingly random, mis-matched parts. However, from this morass would be born a cutting-edge flying machine.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_001.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_001.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_005.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_005.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_002.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_002.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_007.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_007.jpg.html)
Made up of mostly Hanriot and Nieuport parts, the new 'plane was powered by an innovative double-row Rhone Clone Gnome Gnome which was achieved by mating two French rotary engines. What really set this bird apart was its fantastically streamlined landing gear.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_003.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_003.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_006.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_006.jpg.html)
Spatz created an incredibly sleek undercarriage by using French cod-liver oil tank parts to cover wheels fitted with low-pressure tires which would prove ideal for use on rough fields.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_004.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_004.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_005.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_005.jpg.html)
The Spatz Scout was comparable to the famous Sopwith Pup but had greater speed and it was thought could carry two .50 cal. machine guns without degrading performance. Unfortunately, the hide-bound upper echelons of the U.S. Army Signal Corps rejected the Spatz Scout and Carl was soon rotated to a U.S. aero squadron in France.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_009.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_009.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_010.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_010.jpg.html)
While the Spatz Scout is completely forgotten, its designer would give his name to the incredibly sexy, streamlined undercarriages that would soon become common.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_00_upper.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_00_upper.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_00_under.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_00_under.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_016.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_016.jpg.html)
Brian da Basher
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This all started when I picked up a fistful of bagged 1/72 Eduard Nieuport 17 econo-kits on the cheap.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/7403NieuportNi-17.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/7403NieuportNi-17.jpg.html)
I don't know if you noticed, but this kit comes with an additional upper wing. This is greatly appreciated if you've got plans to change this sesquiplane into a single-bay biplane.
I had the engine & cowling from a Nieuport 28 in the spares box and it seemed a decent fit. Oddly enough, a lone Nieuport 28 hoiriz. stab. made for a passable fin & rudder too. Some half-wheels and left-over P-35 shell collectors made up the spatted landing gear. Here it sat in the box, unfinished and unloved, for months...and months...
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_prog_01.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_prog_01.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_prog_02.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_prog_02.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_prog_03.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_prog_03.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_prog_04.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_prog_04.jpg.html)
Two months ago the box this was in got tipped over and the lower wings snapped off. I'm sure the neighbors wondered what in the hell kind of animal growls like that.
Anyway, this GB seemed ideal to bring this model back from the dead. Last Tuesday I glued the lower wings back on and figured out how to attack the upper wing using bits of sprue and spare SE-5 interplane struts.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_011.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_011.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_012.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_012.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_013.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_013.jpg.html)
The entire model is brush-painted by hand (including the rudder stripes) with acrylics and decals are a mix from the decal dungeon. Here's a few shots where I forced the flash. Not sure which I like better but I thought you might want to see them.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_001.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_001.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_002.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_002.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_003.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_003.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_004.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_004.jpg.html)
I almost forgot to mention that the model is rigged with busted guitar strings and CA. It's been a while since I tried to build a fully-rigged biplane and I had a lot of fun finishing this up during the rainstorms today.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_005.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_005.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_006.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_006.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_009.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_009.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_010.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_010.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_007.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_007.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_008.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_Xbright_008.jpg.html)
I hope you enjoyed the pictures and reading the forgotten history of General Spaatz and his spats.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_015.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Spatz%20biplane/Spatz_015.jpg.html)
Brian da Basher
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Nice work on adding the spats to the image of General Spaatz :)
Nice looking little aircraft Brian, you always manage to create a winner.
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Is this 1:72, Brian?
If so, it looks outstanding!
How do you manage the silvering of the decals?
Norbert
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very nice work ! rigging on my biplanes is of the " yeh its there ,the wires just so small you cant see it " type, truly impressed with yours!
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So,,, thatz the Spatz story, you history slouth you :))
Looks right, another great build :)
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:)
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Congratulations! :)
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:icon_beer: - to the king of perfectly matching backstory with machine !!!
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Really lovely mate, perfect!!
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Very nice, once again. But, in Canada, our history books tell an oddly parallel tale of a Leutnant Karl Schpatz from a Kampfeinsitzer Kommando unit on the Axis side. I'll...ah...I'll have to pull the details from my daughter's WWI history book for you prior to Nov 11 (if you know what I mean).