SPAD XIII WWI RAF

It's not an excuse, but this Nieuport WWI kit, is really small, and also, this one is really cheap to buy, taking in account all that, it's a nice model. Easy to build, and as it has very few parts, you can do it fast. The molding is OK, but some sanding needed. The decals in general are fine, but the big ones are a little transparent, so when placed over a dark scheme of paint, it shows a little, that there are different colors in the background. The model is a rather weak one, so be carefull when placing the strings. The model finished looks very fine, except for the decals issue.

This is hardly the best SPAD kit on the market (If you're looking for a high level of detail, buy the superb Eduard kit), but it is adequate if you're looking for a relatively straightforward biplane build. Detail is limited, with no cockpit interior, and vague bazooka-like shapes instead of the front machine guns. However, some of the surface detail is reasonably crisp, and the fit of most parts is good. The struts fit into large grooves on the wings, so alignment is easier. One word of advice: attach all of the struts to the bottom wing and fuselage first, instead of the top wing, and you will get a better fit. Decals are OK, not as thick as some other Academy releases. There is no marking information provided, but the aircraft appears to be from an American volunteer unit fighting for France on the Western front (not the RAF). Therefore, you would need 5 colors to paint the French camouflage: a dark green, a pale green, dark/chocolate brown, tan/beige, and a light blue (I used RLM 78 for the undersides). The SPAD kit is better than the ancient Revell release (which is horribly off in terms of dimensions), but much less detailed than the Eduard version. Considering the Eduard release costs more than 3x as much, the Academy is not a bad buy. I used mine to learn rigging and how to paint faux woodgrain. For $4, it was worth it.

Academy makes very nice models! The panel lines are crisp and the parts fit together well. I would make 2 suggestions: 1st, I would make the writing in the directions....Bigger , LOL. These old eyes are not what they used to be. 2nd, Remove the alignment pins on the fuselage sides, sand them flat and then glue the halves together. The alignment pins are slightly off and it will create a high and low side on the fuselage. At any rate the overall fit of the kit parts is perfect. This will build up into a nicely detailed model. The price is VERY reasonable as well. Enjoy!