Caproni CA.3 Re-paint--THANKS ZOE!!!!

**Walter Nowotny** · 01-26-2017 12:51

A while back I purchased two of the same La Guardia Caproni CA.3's from a guy on eBay. The price was right and I knew I wanted to re-paint one in French Markings. I have a bunch of decals, but they are all too small being for fighters so I made a post here on the 'drome to see if anyone had any larger ones. Zoe Brain Stepped up to the plate and offered to make me a set. We exchanged a few emails and a couple of weeks and a few thousand miles later they arrived. I disassembled the plane and mixed a nice color to shoot the model. After the airbrushing I put on Zoe's decals. I was a bit weary of home-made decals at first, only having "not so good" experiences with them back in the 1990's. Let me say that Zoe's Decals are FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!! They applied easily and effortless. I felt like I was using a set of Decals from a high quality model kit. I am very, very grateful and impressed by the quality. I finished off the plane as I usually do, with a coat of Testors Flat Lacquer through my airbrush. The last pic just shows the newly painted French Caproni with the stock LaGuardia one. We will be playing a bombing mission Tomorrow at our local Game shop. The guys I play with have been looking forward to shooting down a new plane but I'll do everything in my power to keep her safe! Zoe exemplifies the high Caliber of Members on this site. A BIG THANK YOU goes out again to Zoe Brain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**clipper1801** · 01-26-2017 13:03

Before you put the paint and plastic strut away check out this thread from the past, once you see the Ca 3 in the flesh you will notice a few "items missing" - since you have done an excellent job so far, there are a few things you may want to add . . .

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...oni%2C+Clipper

just a suggestion . . .

**Walter Nowotny** · 01-26-2017 13:13

Originally Posted by clipper1801

Before you put the paint and plastic strut away check out this thread from the past, once you see the Ca 3 in the flesh you will notice a few "items missing" - since you have done an excellent job so far, there are a few things you may want to add . . .

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...oni%2C+Clipper

just a suggestion . . .

That's one big bomb strapped to the belly of that bird. I can see why all the extra supports are needed. Great work too by the way.

**BeneathALeadMt** · 01-26-2017 13:46

Great work Jim and a great effort by Zoe, those decals look excellent.
Clipper - My darling other half has bought me a caproni for my b'day next week (and allowed me to have five minutes of gazing at it before wrapping it) have you or anyone else replaced the gun position caging at the back as it doesn't appear like the real thing? Is this just ridiculous and too fiddly?

Andrew (BALM)

**matt56** · 01-26-2017 15:08

Your new French Caproni looks lovely, Jim! Glad Zoe's help was so crucial - you're right about her being a gem and a half!

Hope the Ca 3's maiden flight is full of luck and safe landings...

All the best,
Matt

**Zoe Brain** · 01-26-2017 18:52

Thanks everyone for the kind words.

The decals are just icing on the cake though, the basic paintjob is what makes the model, and this one's really good, isn't it!

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These are from Esadrille 115 - see http://albindenis.free.fr/Site_escad...adrille115.htm

As is my wont, I researched some suitable markings and got approval before sending. I think the owls turned out particularly well, and highlighted the quality of the painting. Making the correct sized rondels and fin flash was just a matter of resizing some already in my library of previous work, and selecting powder rather than medium blue.

One of the few rotary engined ones in the squadron. Most, as with this model, had inlines, but this shot of a rotary shows the nose markings better than most.

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**Captain Chum** · 01-26-2017 20:52

Good onya Zoe!......nice work Jim!

**gully_raker** · 01-26-2017 20:53

Nicely done Jim!

**clipper1801** · 01-26-2017 22:15

Originally Posted by Zoe Brain

Thanks everyone for the kind words.

The decals are just icing on the cake though, the basic paintjob is what makes the model, and this one's really good, isn't it!

These are from Esadrille 115 - see http://albindenis.free.fr/Site_escad...adrille115.htm

As is my wont, I researched some suitable markings and got approval before sending. I think the owls turned out particularly well, and highlighted the quality of the painting. Making the correct sized rondels and fin flash was just a matter of resizing some already in my library of previous work, and selecting powder rather than medium blue.

One of the few rotary engined ones in the squadron. Most, as with this model, had inlines, but this shot of a rotary shows the nose markings better than most.

So Zoe, am I looking at 3 rotary engines? The elves are asking . . . Love the photos, you are the ultimate researcher!!!!!!!

**Marechallannes** · 01-27-2017 01:25

Good job with the French Caproni.

**flash** · 01-27-2017 07:57

Great job between the two of you, it looks superb

**Flying Helmut** · 01-27-2017 08:25

Originally Posted by flash

Great job between the two of you, it looks superb

What he said!

**Ken at Sunrise** · 01-27-2017 08:34

Originally Posted by clipper1801

Before you put the paint and plastic strut away check out this thread from the past, once you see the Ca 3 in the flesh you will notice a few "items missing" - since you have done an excellent job so far, there are a few things you may want to add . . .

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...oni%2C+Clipper

just a suggestion . . .

Many of you modelers and painters always amaze me at the great talent you have.

Great job!

**Walter Nowotny** · 01-31-2017 12:18

Here is the Caproni update: I took the finished plane to our club game. Everyone really liked it. We usually roll the dice to determine who is on what side but our Leader Tim asked me if I wanted to pilot the craft. Now let me say that I am usually the guy who draws the explosion card, so I was not too keen on ruining the planes maiden voyage. I chose to pass it off to Tim, who has pretty good luck and is a double Ace. I rolled for the German side. The Germans quickly dispatched a couple of escorts and then began to hunt the Caproni like a pack of Wolves. We all took a bit of damage but as luck would have it, I delivered the final blow to the Caproni. Yep, my efforts to save my own plane were circumvented by my bad luck! After taking 17 points of damage, our Leader drew my card, the explosion card to down the plane! We had a lot of fun and a good laugh.

**Ken at Sunrise** · 01-31-2017 13:17

I'm curious, the barrels (looks like barrels) in the center of the plane, is that suppose to be fuel?

**Walter Nowotny** · 01-31-2017 13:28

Yes, those are the fuel tanks.

**Zoe Brain** · 01-31-2017 14:14

Oh that looks very nice indeed. Professional quality.

Let me say that Zoe's Decals are FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!! They applied easily and effortless. I felt like I was using a set of Decals from a high quality model kit. I am very, very grateful and impressed by the quality.

Hope you don't mind, but I never get tired of reading that. Thanks so much for the kind words, and that was exactly what I was trying to achieve.