HISTORICAL MINIATURES BY GEORGE GRASSE WORLD WAR 1 AVIATION

by George Grasse

SPIN MODELS 1:48 SCALE RESIN KIT 48004 OF THE SPAD SA.4

SPIN MODELS 48004 BOX ART

 

SPAD SA.4 THREE-VIEW DRAWING

This multi-view drawing is credited Colin Owers and Albatros Productions from their Mini Datafile on the Spad SA.2 and SA.4 by J. M Bruce.  The Spad SA.4 was the export (Russia) version of the French SA.2.  The major outward difference being the narrow chord lower wing for the SA.4.  As in France with the SA.2 version, these somewhat odd aircraft were assigned to flying units as individual aircraft.  More reference information is available in the bibliography section below.

THE MODEL TO BE BUILT

The model to be built is Spad SA.4 Russian serial number S.79.  The aircraft is finished in the French 'yellow' scheme in which metal parts had a deeper 'yellow' shade than fabric-covered surfaces.  In this profile, the forward partr of the fuselage from the propeller to the cockpit is rendered in a darker shade.

 

PHOTO OF SPAD SA.4 Nr. S.79

The above photo is taken from SPAD Two-Seat Fighters (see bibliography below).  During winter, wheels were removed and skis attached.  S.79 was was issued to the Russian 30th Corps Detachment (KAO), 9th Russian Army, Rumanian Front on 22 July 1916.  Earlier, on or about 6 May 1917, the crew of Private  Efrietor E. S. Nedzevetsky (pilot) and Starshiy Unterofitzer Rodin (observer/gunner) while escorting a photo reconnaisance aircraft shot down Austro-Hungarian Hansa-Brandenburg C.I serial 63.23 of Flik 1 crewed by Oblt Johann Baumgartner (P) and Ltn d R Vlastimil Fiala (O) near Gura Gumora who became prisoners.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #1

JUST GETTING STARTED

JUST GETTING STARTED

 

-------------------------------------------  a suivre  -------------------------------------

Bibliography:

Blume, August G.  The Russian Military Air Fleet in World War I, volume 2: Victories, Losses, and Awards.  Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History, 2010.

Bruce, J. M. SPAD S.A-2/S.A-4, Windsock Mini Datafile 4. Berkhamstead, UK: Albatros Productions, Ltd, 2000 (reprint).

Conners, John F.  SPAD Fighters in Action, Aircraft Number 93.  Carrollton, Texas.  Squadron/Signal Publications, 1989.

Davilla, James J Dr. and Arthur M. Soltan. French Aircraft of the First World War.  Flying Machines Press, 1997.

Durkota, Alan, Thomas Darcey and Victor Kulikov.  The Imperial Russian Air Service: Famous Pilots and Aircraft of World War I.  Flying Machines Press, 1995.

Herris, Jack.  SPAD Two-Seat Fighters of World War I, Great War Aircraft in Profile No. 7.  Flying Machines Press, 2005.

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

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18 February 2025