Birth of the Spad XIV

**Walter Nowotny** · 08-02-2016 19:52

I bought some WoW planes on ebay last year and one was damaged. The landing gear of Baracca's Spad was broken off and missing. I emailed the guy and he took care of it no problem--there are a lot of good folks still out there. So off to the closet in the junk pile this plane went. Recently, I was looking at Albatros Seaplanes and figured, heck I could make pontoon floats for this crippled old Spad, but would it be historically correct? With some internet research I found my Answer, the Spad XIV. I found a few pics, not many at all, on the web and very little info on the plane. There were only 40 made and flown only by the French Navy. This plane held the record for the fastest Sea Plane of the time at top Speed of 127 MPH! I began by making the landing gear from old parts and hand forming the pontoons from stacked and glued strip Styrene. A lot of sanding, forming and heavy magnifier use (and a soothing Cocktail) and Violia, The Spad XIV. I will need to re-paint this model to the correct scheme. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT COLORS THE FRENCH NAVY PAINTED THEIR PLANES? I'm thinking a silver-grey but I may be wrong. If you know for sure please tell me, I really appreciate it! I will post more pics once she's painted.

**flash** · 08-02-2016 22:47

Very nice Jim. The Spad XIV is the cannon armed Spad XII on floats. Have a look here for some rules & stats to consider when using the cannon.

An impression I found was here and all silver as you said.
Pics found support this:

**milcoll73** · 08-03-2016 00:10

very cool!

**Guntruck** · 08-03-2016 00:46

Good job!

**gully_raker** · 08-03-2016 01:50

That great work Jim.
Cant wait to see the finished plane.

**Carl_Brisgamer** · 08-03-2016 01:57

There is just something about floatplanes, they look amazing. Nice work.

**gully_raker** · 08-03-2016 02:04

I must agree with Carl!
Even though he shot down my Macchi at Wintercon I do find them rather "cool".
I only have one as a result of disposing of Col Jones aircraft so I really need to get a Macchi to fight against it. (well actually two if you count my WGS Catalina!)

What I really want is a Felixstowe!

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**Flying Helmut** · 08-03-2016 04:49

Nice conversion!

**john snelling** · 08-03-2016 05:11

Great looking model.

**Vindicator** · 08-03-2016 06:14

Great modeling. Here's another interesting image that's not silver (might be from a game though):

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**Teaticket** · 08-03-2016 06:21

Really nice conversion Jim.

**Marechallannes** · 08-03-2016 06:25

Nice one, Jim.

**clipper1801** · 08-03-2016 08:40

Originally Posted by gully_raker

I must agree with Carl!
Even though he shot down my Macchi at Wintercon I do find them rather "cool".
I only have one as a result of disposing of Col Jones aircraft so I really need to get a Macchi to fight against it. (well actually two if you count my WGS Catalina!)

What I really want is a Felixstowe!

WSF H-B W29 a.jpg Views: 65 Size: 266.4 KB ID: 203715" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />

Every Good Boy Deserves Felixstowes! Shapeways has them . . . .

**Walter Nowotny** · 08-03-2016 09:17

Thank you for all that info Dave! I will start the painting tonight.

**Walter Nowotny** · 08-03-2016 09:19

Originally Posted by Vindicator

Great modeling. Here's another interesting image that's not silver (might be from a game though):

Oh man!! Now I will have to build another one! I don' t know which paint scheme I like more.

**Walter Nowotny** · 08-03-2016 09:20

Originally Posted by clipper1801

Every Good Boy Deserves Felixstowes! Shapeways has them . . . .

Those are some nice looking birds!

**gully_raker** · 08-03-2016 16:04

Originally Posted by clipper1801

Every Good Boy Deserves Felixstowes! Shapeways has them . . . .

I Know! Its just trying to paint all those stripes that keeps putting me off.

**clipper1801** · 08-03-2016 16:35

The stripes? I get chills thinking about all the struts! I have done 19 so far, that's a couple forests!

**csadn** · 08-03-2016 16:44

I always find it interesting to note how far forward the floats have to extend in order to support the bulk of the unit....

**Carl_Brisgamer** · 08-03-2016 16:57

Originally Posted by clipper1801

Every Good Boy Deserves Felixstowes! Shapeways has them . . . .

This is the F2A model at the RAN Fleet Air Arm museum in Nowra NSW - a little big for the Wings of Glory table Barry!

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**Naharaht** · 08-03-2016 19:45

Great work, Jim! That was a very good idea to use your broken model that way.

**Barkmann** · 08-04-2016 13:35

Wow! A SPAD with floats! Great idea the French had! Makes up for a very beautiful plane. Nice job!

**Walter Nowotny** · 08-11-2016 16:44

The Spad XIV is complete (less a card). If anyone out there can make a card I sure would appreciate it. Maneuver deck K, damage B/C damage points 15. Making cards is way beyond my computer skill level. I had to blend a clear flat and a clear satin to get the result I wanted. Too much flat greys-out the silver and I did not want it glossy. Now all I have to do is load the Cannon!!