Greetings all;
Due to the kindness of Burl Burlingham (PE Grandmaster) and Tom Harrison (Tom's Modelworks) all those of us interested in scale accuracy & PE details we are about to be blessed with their newest brass fret. Specifically they are in 1/72, 1/48, 1/32 & 1/28 scale Spad XIII ply wing tip pockets. These items capped early round profiled wing tips. I will be adding these to a 1/48 Spad kit in the near future.

Greetings all;

I had a DML Spad XIII laying around (two actually) and I pulled one down that I had started with the idea of finishing as a derelict. This will work out nicely for this thread, detailing derelict aircraft and the multicoloured French camouflage threads. First of all the DML / Dragon Spad XIII is done from the D. Carrick drawings. It is the best set of plan view drawings ever available.

I began reshaping the wing tips a couple of days ago. Tonight I started at about 4pm and finished at 530pm. I just finished the ply pocket applications. I have to say this is an easy modification to make and the engine access panels (with the chicken wire) fit perfectly over the DML / Dragon plastic. The ply pockets were dipped in hobby black cleaned rinsed. Then folded as recommended. Dry fitting went well then I tacked one side at a time to the wing. Usually the underside first .

Images in about two weeks.

As far as th Americans were concerned the ply pockets were only seen on some machines. For instance the Spad XIII 7689 "Smith IV" is seen in the NASM in Washington DC (recently restored). Its lower wings had the ply pockets but not the top wing. Again the ply pockets only were installed on round tipped Spad XIII wings. This was to add more area to the wings. Later production airframes (manufacturered after February 1918 ) had the blunt tips incorporating the larger area at the factory floor.

The ply-pockets will be seen on more on French early (round tipped ) wings of their Spad XIII aircraft. The British were loath to use them but did try. By Feb. 28, 1918 all 200hp Spad XIII in the French 6th Army area had these installed. The XIII had been in service since Sept. 1917. Factory blunted tips began showing up around March of 1918.

So if your doing a Spad XIII before The beginning of 1918 it should probably have round tips. From about Jan. 1918 - March these plypockets would have been installed on various wings. Please understand these are only general time frames.

Greetings all;

Here is an illustration from the instruction sheet that may help as well.

Here is abit of fun.

As mentioned earlier the lower wing of NASM "Smith IV" Spad XIII 7689 has ply pockets on its lower wings. Here due to the kindness of the grand fellow Alan Toelle is an image of the lower left wing before restoration. The small iron cross marks a bullet hole patch.

Here is how they look on a 'Modified" DML Spad XIII.

Stephen,

I'm looking at the Tom's Modelworks site now, and don't see the photoetch pockets. Did they just make them for a limited time, or...?

Hey Matt!
Yes they are in the early stages of production. I got this advanced copy through Burl Burlingham "buzz1941" for review. By the way more images coming later theis next week. Try e-mailing Tom and hitting him up. The screening on the 1/48 is sooooo fine. I can't fathom it in 1/72 (your specialty.) Let us know what you think.

Checking up on it they have added the Ply Pokets to the website.

Tom's Catalog page.

Awesome job, Stephen!

I need to start looking for other French machines that flew with the "ply pockets".

Excellent model.