Salmson 2.A2 French Escadrille Sal.259

GASPATCH 1:48 SCALE PLASTIC INJECTION MOLDED KIT GP4002 OF THE SALMSON 2.A

THE MODEL TO BE BUILT

This profile by Juanita Franzi was taken from Salmson Aircraft of World War I, Great War Aircraft in Profile No.3, by Colin Owers et al, published by Flying Machine Press (see bibliography for more details). Escadrille Sal.259 was created from AR.259 in May 1918. Until the end of the war, Sal.259 moved to several bases to participate in the major battles of Second Marne, offensives near Noyon, Couchy Forest, the Flanders Offensive, and late war action in Belgium.

PHOTO OF THE MODEL TO BE BUILT

This photo was taken from Salmson Aircraft of World War I, Great War Aircraft in Profile No.3, by Colin Owers et al, published by Flying Machine Press (see bibliography for more details). The caption notes that the individual aircraft letter 'C' was uncommon because numerals pre-dominated throughtout the French Aeronautique Militare and the U.S. Air Service. The unit insignia clearly denotes the role this escadrille that of observation although all activities of "corps aircraft" were done.

ESCADRILLE Sal.259 INSIGNIA

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO No. 1

Cockpit detail is the specialty of this Gaspatch kit of the Franch Salmson 2.A2. The left fuselage half as shown on top shows the initial steps I took. First, the inside surface was painted in Humbrol 103 Cream to simulate the fabric. Second, the wood structure was painted with Vallejo 824 Orange Ochre. Third, .005 monofilament thread was used to create the internal rigging. For this fuselage half, parts added were the observer's seat with signal pistol stowed nearby. Up front, the compass was glued in place. The center piece is the floor of the fuselage painted with Tamiya XF-16 Aluminum. Added to it is the fuel tank and flight linkage including rudder control and the control column. The right side of fuselage is below. Installed from left to right is the wireless wire aerial apparatus, the small telegraph key, and up front, the magneto (black) and pump (red).

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO No.2

Additional work on the fuselage interior involved only the left side. From left to right: the camera, the left side fuselage wing struts, the fuel tank, and the pilot's seat. The pilot's seat belts were upright for painting and will be lowered.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO No.3

The fuselage halves are glued together. More components can be added; namely, the rear Lewis gun ammunition tray (unpainted), last of the fuselage struts, and the pilot's seat belts are pressed into position. The instructions allow for a larger additional camera in the opening just behind the main fuel tank but I wonder if photo missions carried multiple cameras.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO No. 4a & 4b

Two stages for fuselage join. The top photo shows the familiar "high tech" approach to gluing fuselage halves together. The cowling had to be pulled off because it was not situated correctly. After the halves dried, the cowling was properly installed.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO No.5

The lower wings are set up for glue to dry using the cdardboard jib included in the kit.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO No.6

The landing gear was tackled next. I cut out the left and right fuselage side views from a 1:48 scale drawing. Struts were to be made from brass tube and rod. By trial and error, each strut that makes up one side is copied for the other side. To solder, the struts were laid out against the drawing and tacked down with pins. Solder flux was applied and each strut length was soldered together until each strut sub-assembly was completed. These were then cleaned in laquer thinner and trial fitted as a pair to see how they fit. Next, a brass rod serving as the axle was soldered to each strut sub-assembly leaving a fair amount of the rod extended to be trial fitted with wheels. Next, the kit part for the axle fairing had a groove cut for the brass axle rod which was glued in place. Lastly, the kit's shock absorber parts, 2 per axle, were glued overe the brass axle. Wheels were trial fitted and the brass axle was cut to length.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO No.7

The tail unit is substantially reinforced with brass rod instead of the kit's frail plastic parts. Each 'V' unit (rudder top and two underneath) required precise cutting. The rudder post is a smaller diameter length of brass rod.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO No.8

It's time to paint. Two coats of mixed Vallejo paints according to my "Table of French 1917-1918 5-Color Camouflage Paints" which I mixed and keep in tightly sealed glass bottles.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO No.9

Fuselage decals were now applied. One coat of Vallejo Acrylic Satin Varnish was applied to protect the decals. Not shown are the top wing decals of the outer wing cockades and the black "T.S.F." decals near the cockpit opening.

TABLE OF FRENCH 1917-1918 5-Color CAMOUFLAGE PAINTS

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Alexander, Richard. Wingnut Wings Salmson 2.A2 'USAS' Construction Manual. Wellington, New Zealand, 2014.

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

Guttman, Jon. Salmson 2.A2, Windsock Datafile 109. Berkhamsted. Hertfordshire, UK, 2005. ISBN 1-902207-71-8.

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

Owers, Colin A, John Guttman, and James J. Davilla. Salmson Aircraft of World War I. Boulder, CO. Flying Machines Press, 2001. ISBN 1-891268-16-3.

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