Author Topic: SPAD Spaticus Tank Buster (Read 6099 times)

Brian da Basher · « **on:** January 29, 2013, 08:33:05 AM »

It was with great alarm France watched Germany rearm in the mid-1930s. Of particular concern were Germany's growing armored units. New tanks like the Panzerkampfgesundheitwagen I and II were being produced in great numbers and France needed to counter the threat.

Because of this, the old SPAD company was resurrected and tasked with building a new tank buster. Thus the SPAD Spaticus was born.

The new prototype was armed not only with three machine guns (2 forward & 1 rear), but also two 75 m.m. auto-cannons in the large spatted gear which were ideal for rough, forward airfields. The aircraft could also carry a 500 kg bombload. After passing initial flight tests, the SPAD Spaticus was ready for gunnery testing. Targets were set up on the test range.

The Spaticus took off and dove towards the target area like a hawk after prey.

The tank buster opened up with its 75 m.m. auto-cannon with great effect, obliterating everything before it.

Unfortunately, the huge spatted landing gear made the aircraft a little nose-heavy which caused the shots to miss the target.

Instead of destroying fake tanks, the Spaticus blew the Officers' latrine to high heaven.

This unfortunately spelled doom for the SPAD Spaticus. The project was cancelled and France was left without a way to counter the German Panzers in June of 1940.

Brian da Basher

Brian da Basher · « **Reply #1 on:** January 29, 2013, 08:34:38 AM »

The basis for my Spaticus was the venerable Airfix Hawker Demon. Thanks, Bill!

Once again, the crew at Airfix provides impeccable box art, including a very nice color/marking guide on the bottom:

Of course, there was no way I was going to follow this.

I started with a little basic surgery:

And a few added parts:

I ended out leaving off the large bomb due to ground clearance issues, but with a little blisterpack and the canopy from a Val, here's how things looked before painting:

The entire model was brush-painted by hand with acrylics, including those tricky rudder stripes:

The decals were a mix from the decal dungeon and I was lucky to find some SPAD logos.

This project took me two and a half days from start to finish. I guess you could say I was inspired!

Brian da Basher

Cliffy B · « **Reply #2 on:** January 29, 2013, 08:49:22 AM »

He did it again!!! Love all aspects of it man. It has a great Crimson Skies vibe

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #3 on:** January 29, 2013, 09:02:50 AM »

Wow! Those spat/gun pod thingies are serious looking. Chalk up another one for BdB with an excellent back story to go with it :)

elmayerle · « **Reply #4 on:** January 29, 2013, 09:42:09 AM »

Gorgeous model with a credible backstory, what more could you want? Superb bit of work, sir.

Weaver · « **Reply #5 on:** January 29, 2013, 10:47:20 AM »

Excellent - very French-looking indeed!

What's the engine?

apophenia · « **Reply #6 on:** January 29, 2013, 11:28:07 AM »

Another BdB triumph! In the recent past, Brian has taken some ribbing for producing spatless models. We should all acknowledge that he has has outdone himself, coming back with S.O.U.S. (Spats of Unusual Size).

finsrin · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2013, 12:49:00 PM »

S.O.U.S. it is

BdB enlightens us on another poorly documented piece of aviation history which never made it into books.
Heck of a tank buster once bugs are worked out.
Congrats on build and your history research.

deathjester · « **Reply #8 on:** January 29, 2013, 08:22:08 PM »

Ohh boy, the glue fumes have built up again, haven't they mate?!!

Delightfully mad - LOVE IT!!! :) :) :)

arkon · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2013, 08:18:52 AM »

those big a== spats are great!

Frank3k · « **Reply #10 on:** January 30, 2013, 09:23:24 AM »

Great back story, Brian! The Spaticus looks very much like a French aircraft designed in the 1930s. I'm sure that no one would think it out of place if it was displayed next to an Amiot or a Potez.

Tophe · « **Reply #11 on:** February 01, 2013, 12:03:36 PM »

Great invention, BdB, congratulations! You have invented one more reason to be a biplane it seems, to make solid those two lateral giant pods. :)

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #12 on:** February 03, 2013, 03:43:48 AM »

Brilliant!!!

finsrin · « **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2013, 12:07:03 PM »

Spaticus and Slowy Jet can join up to prowl together looking for ground targets !

Dr. YoKai · « **Reply #14 on:** February 12, 2013, 04:59:00 AM »

Spadtastic! Spattastic!

taiidantomcat · « **Reply #15 on:** February 15, 2013, 02:39:37 AM »

The layout is just brilliant! well done! :)

Eddie M. · « **Reply #16 on:** February 17, 2013, 01:11:35 AM »

Outstanding work and story BdaB!

KiwiZac · « **Reply #17 on:** February 21, 2013, 04:49:12 AM »

Great job Brian! I like it! That's a very novel, and clever, use of spats and it looks quite plausible as an interwar French design. I'd not guessed it started as a Hawker Demon...that must be a good sign!

ysi_maniac · « **Reply #18 on:** December 09, 2013, 04:26:04 PM »

You are really mad :) :) :)

Camthalion · « **Reply #19 on:** December 10, 2013, 04:00:05 AM »

very cool. Great work


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Author Topic: SPAD Spaticus Tank Buster (Read 6099 times)