AZ Models 1/72 Bleriot SPAD S-51 C1
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Introduction
The Bleriot-SPAD 51 – hereafter referred to as the SPAD 51 –
was developed in response to a requirement to replace the aging Nieuport-Delage
NiD.29s. Unfortunately it wasn't a great design so was refused by the
French government. Although the French declined it, the SPAD 51 was slightly
revised and sold to other governments; 50 going to Poland, one to Turkey
and one to the Soviet Union.
The Kit
The AZ Models consists of 28 injected plastic pieces, 3 amount of resin
and 42 amount of photoetch. The photoetch is very nice and supplies most
of the cockpit along with some external details. Even though the instructions
show where all the photoetch cockpit pieces fit, it's not very intuitive
just how they're placed. I suspect a lot of the photoetch build-up will
have to take place through the hole in the bottom of the fuselage where
the center of the lower wing is placed.
 There
are decals for three schemes, two French and the single Soviet example.
The decals are in register and look nice.
Construction naturally starts with the cockpit. Once all the photoetch
is figured out and placed it will result in a really nice looking cockpit.
Then the fuselage halves are glued together and construction continues.
One area that has me puzzled is the separate center section for the
lower wing. Why? Is there a difference between the lower wing in this
release and the other SPAD 51 releases by AZ? From the documentation I've
found on the 51 it doesn't appear to be so. (For the record, they've released
the kit as "French/Soviet" (this release), "Polish/Turkey"
and "Spanish".) So why create the center section separate from
the outer portions of the wing? There are now extra gaps to worry about,
not to mention having to deal with a butt joint where the lower wings
are attached to the separate center section. I will definitely be putting
some sort of pins in to help with strength.
Once the center wing section is on you add some external detail along
with the horizontal tail pieces. From there the instructions have you
add the engine and prop but those would probably be best left until the
final stages of construction. The next step in the instructions –
step 10 – has you add both the lower wings and the upper wing, along
with all struts. It's best to leave the upper wing until last, but you
might want to check the fit of the interplane struts. Since the mounting
area to the lower wings is large it may require some dry fit to ensure
you get a decent fit before painting the model.
 From
there you add the landing gear, more external detail and end up with the
rigging. Thankfully AZ provides a full rigging diagram.
Conclusion
Once you figure out how the cockpit pieces are to be placed, the rest
of construction should be relatively smooth. At least until the rigging,
but that's just trial and error, especially with my way of measuring out
the length of each wire and using actual wire for the rigging. In addition,
adding some sort of pins for the lower-wing-to-center-section joint probably
is a good idea. I just don't understand why AZ would mold the center section
separate from the outside pieces of the lower wing. Maybe it was to ease
molding of the center section. In any event, it's the only SPAD 51 in
1/72 I know of, so if it's a type you've been looking for then you'll
build it regardless. Definitely recommended.
My thanks to UMM-USA for the review
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