The Spad S.XIII (Spa 13 C1) Volume 2: Mid/Late Version
By Matt Bittner
Author: Martin Schütz
Publisher: Aeronaut Books
ISBN: 978-1-953201-77-5
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 244
Martin Schütz continues his research into the SPAD XIII with this Volume 2 in his series. This issue deals primarily with the Mid and Late versions, and specifically those from the factories of Blériot, Bernard, Levasseur and S.C.A.F.
The author also provides a chapter on the SPAD XII primarily to show the differences between it and the SPAD XIII. The chapter isn't meant to be a detailed look into the XII but again, only showing how the XII differed from the XIII.
Unfortunately there is one grammatical error throughout the book that needs to be pointed out. The author consistently refers to the aircraft's "aileron" when in context, he means its rudder. Each manufacturer had their own way of providing the aircraft's serial and weights information on the rudder, and he points those differences out. Unfortunately he keeps referring to that piece of the aircraft as the "aileron".
As with Volume 1, Volume 2 also includes a section for the 1/72 modeler, namely that Eduard only provides an access panel on the port fuselage side, under the tail. This was only present on Mid and Late Blériot or Kellner-built aircraft, while the others had that area as a "sewn 'T'". In addition, Eduard - and other kit manufacturers - leave off the "trap door" on the underside of the fuselage, something that must be scribed in by the modeler. Plus, if you're building an aircraft manufactured by Bleriot, then the fuel-filler cap needs to be moved forward slightly. Finally, check your references closely for the aircraft you're modeling because there were two different types of "angled strut" at the forward part of the fuselage: either a solid welded strut, or a wood strut that was put around the supporting wire with the ends of the wire "exposed".
I can not recommend this series of books enough, especially if you're a Spad 13 aficionado and want to model your Spad 13 as accurately as possible. There are color profiles throughout the book, showing how each manufacturer finished their Spad 13, not only differences between the various Spad manufacturers, but also the differences between sub-series aircraft within the same manufacturer. For Volume 2, the author also provides color profiles of French aces that flew these Mid and Late Series aircraft by the manufacturers already typed out.
I definitely thank Aeronaut Books for sending this book to review. Contact them direct for ordering information.