Salvaging SPADs

Paul Baer and his SPAD VII

Two of the more prominent Allied fighters during The Great War were the SPAD VII and SPAD XIII, yet they are not valued by Wings of Glory players as their maneuver decks, to put it bluntly, are shite. While both fast for their time, they suffer from a lack of maneuverability, having no broad sideslips or sharp left or right turns, making them less than desirable when facing Central Power planes that are more nimble, such as the Fokker Dr.I and D.VII. SPADs are thought of as being boom and zoom aircraft, or are they? According to the book WW1 Aircraft Performance. written by Anders F. Jonsson (published by the author in 2023), the SPAD XIII had a sustained turn rate comparable to the S.E.5a at 1,000 meters and slightly better than the Fokker D.VIII at the same height. At 5,000 meters the XIII can turn as well as the Sopwith Camel and Nieuport 28, and better than than Fokker Dr.I. 

What does this mean for the SPAD VII? Certainly with its smaller engine and only one gun, it must have been discarded as soon as the SPAD XIII was available. However, that would not be a correct assumption. As late as April 1918 there were more SPAD VII models in service than XIIIs, and some pilots preferred the VII, including men of the United States 103rd Aero Squadron. They chose to keep using the VII model as long as possible due to the engine issues found with the XIII. As well, found on page 23 of Jon Guttman's SPAD VII Aces of World War 1, French ace Andre Henri Martenot mentions that although he had a SPAD XIII available that he would use on group flights, for solo sorties he preferred the slower SPAD VII because it was more maneuverable than the SPAD XIII. 

How do we enhance the SPADs in Wings of Glory? Should the SPAD XIII use the sharp right and left turns found in the N Deck? So does that mean the SPAD VII goes to the F Deck or at least uses the sharp left and right turns found in the F Deck? Perhaps yes, perhaps no. The SPAD XIII did suffer from an slower instantaneous turn rate when compared to most contemporary aircraft - even the Pfalz D.IIIa and Albatros D.Va would jump into a turn faster than the SPAD. But over a full turn the SPAD would show its speed and complete turns faster than most other aircraft of the time. How do we reflect this within the construct of the game? 

Additionally, the data in the book bears out the perception that the SPAD XIII was a great diving and climbing aircraft, climbing faster than most of its contemporaries, due to its inherent strength and stability. The SPAD VII would also have similar properties. One might consider treating both the VII and the XIII in the same manner as the Pfalz D.III and D.IIIa by giving them the High Speed Dive card found in the Werner Voss Pfalz D.III, which states the following:

High Speed Dives: (2019)

• If this optional rule is in use a Pfalz D.III/D.IIIa can plan an extra stall directly after another stall or a dive, even if they are two steep maneuvers in a row.
• If the pilot has no ace skills he must draw an A damage card. If there is any special damage symbol the airplane spins out of control and is eliminated.
• If there is no special damage symbol ignore the card and shuffle back into its deck.
• If the pilot is an ace, no A card is drawn and the maneuver is safe.
• In any case if altitude rules are in use when the second stall is executed the airplane loses an altitude level.

Adding Some Pop

A bit of a video describing the process: 

Ahhh, the wonderful colored prints that Reduced Aircraft Factory gave us via Shapeways, I do pine for those planes to be available again. When Shapeways unceremoniously shut their internet doors, I still had planes in the shopping cart, saved for a future purchase. And because I didn't buy the planes then, I lost out on adding to my growing collection of Belgian aircraft for Wings of Glory. 

As much as I enjoyed the prints from RAF, colors at times could be less than ideal. Solid primary colors did not print well, but details such as lozenge patterns were wonderful. In preparation for an upcoming game (the last flight of Werner Voss), I decided to give some of the RAF planes purchased for that scenario some "pop." Adding Mark I Decals and touches of paint, I think the end results were worth it. The texture of the Shapeways prints gave the planes a touch of a haze and a gritty feel, even after a spray of satin and a brush of matte varnishes. When deciding to add decals, I came across some mentions about placing decals on smooth (glossy) surfaces. I had not really had any issues applying decals to matte varnish surfaces in the past, but with the Shapeways prints I thought I would give the areas that would see decals a coat of gloss. Two things occurred - first, it was very easy to align decals with the smooth surface and a dab of Vallejo decal fix, and second, the colors "popped" a bit more. The grit and the haze were much reduced. So I have given these pair of Pfalz D.IIIs a bit of a rejuvenation - decals and gloss.

Upon arrival from Shapeways...

Varnish applied to the decal locations and decals started...

Decals complete (after applying Vallejo decal softener) and a coat of gloss varnish in place...

And the finished product after some matte varnish. They are a tad less shiny in person. The grainy feel is nearly gone, and the texture is nearly 100% smooth. I will be applying the same technique to Voss' Fokker once the appropriate decals arrive, and then onto my Belgian collection.

Mat - GripMats

The Last Flight of Werner Voss - German Planes

There has been much talk and controversy about the colors on Werner Voss's Fokker during his last combat. Author Barry Diggens gives some consideration in one of the appendixes in his book September Evening: The Life and Final Combat of the German World War One Ace Werner Voss. When studying Great War airplane colors, one has to consider what type of film was being used during the Great War.  in which many colors that appear dark were actually light. When looking at Jasta 10's various aircraft pictured during the war, the chrome yellow noses appear black. This is evidenced in this poor quality picture:

The nose looks black, or some other very dark color. But an R. A. F. expert, who worked with aircraft and film from the Great War, clearly identified Jasta 10's noses as chrome yellow from the various pictures he had seen. If Alex Imrie, the most noted expert of Great War aircraft from the 1960s, accepted Voss's Fokker with a yellow nose based on the R. A. F. expert, then there was a very good chance it was. Knowing this, let's look at a picture of Voss's Fokker:

The metal engine cowling looks black, but as the Jasta carried chrome yellow noses on their other aircraft, and film showing light colors as dark, there is a very good chance Voss' Fokker did sport a chrome yellow engine cowling.

What of the rest of the plane? Factory light blue painted over with streaks of olive green. There was more green towards the front of the plane, allowing more of the light blue to be more clearly seen towards the rear of the aircraft. The comments of some of the 56 Squadron pilots of a silvery blue Fokker indicate that the blue was noticed. 

As for the two pilots of Jasta 10 who left with Voss that day Friedrch Rudenberg's Pfalz D.III carried the Jasta's chrome yellow nose, struts, and wheel covers. Rudenberg also had alternating red stripes on the tail and a black band angled around the fuselage. Gustav Bellen's Pfalz was painted in a green and purple scheme, no distinctive chrome yellow to be found. Another pilot, Alois Heldmann, who took off later, sported a similar Pfalz.

Rudenberg's Pfalz D.III by Russell Smith

Bellen's Pfalz

Fortunately before Shapeways went tits up I was able to procure Voss, Rudenberg, and Heldmann, the latter will stand in for Bellen.

The Voss Effect

Transitioning some of my blog posts from over at the Wings of War Aerodrome to the blog so that others might enjoy!

Last Dance of the Hussar by Russell Smith

I have been working a bit with camelbeagle (Dan) on a Voss Wings of Glory scenario. Well, Dan has been doing most of the work, but I have been making a few suggestions about setup, aircraft, using more accurate climb rates, that sort of thing. For those who do not know, I have a side business - I give tours and talks related to the Civil War - American that is. So, historical accuracy is fairly important to me. Dan has planned a four on four fight, simply to keep the amount of players around the table at a reasonable number, with four SE.5s against Voss in his triplane, with a couple of Pfalz D.IIIs and an Albatros D.V making a late arriving appearance. 

In reading accounts of the action (September Evening: The Life and Final Combat of the German World War One Ace Werner Voss by Barry Diggens and Lt. Werner Voss: Germany's Greatest Teenage Ace by Walter Musciano) it is apparent that Voss cannot be given too many ace abilities. I have an Ares Voss Pfalz on its way, mostly for the ace ability cards, and a couple of Pfalz D.IIIs offered by Reduced Aircraft Factory of a couple of the German pilots involved. Dan has 56 Squadron in hand. 

Looking forward to testing this scenario and then hosting for the Wright Flight in the future. When we do, we'll be certain to post an after action report!

By the way, the Musciano book was written in the 1960s, and the colors given for Voss's various planes are questionable at best...stating that his Fokker and Pfalz has red noses...Rudolph would be proud.