This Caudron family of French planes created by Marcel Riffard produced some of the most beautiful racer designs. Their interesting and complex story exceeds the scope of this blog, but I urge you to investigate a little, especially if you like racers. There is abundant information on the Net and literature on the matter. These racers were very successful, breaking many records and repeatedly earning top positions in a number of events. The model here represents the machine flown by Michel Detroyat at the National Air Races in Los Angeles in 1936, winning the Thompson Trophy. The blue is darker than what appears in these photos, as my camera could not work out the proper color/light balance.
The step-by-step building article is here:
https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2021/07/caudron-c460-racer-172nd-sbs-model-resin.html
This kit is so good, that problems and imperfections are most likely to be introduced by the modeler during the separation, preparation and assembly of parts, than actually be issues with the kit. Nonetheless, care and a degree of patience are needed, as well as some previous experience, to avoid bumps on the road. The parts are perfectly formed, but some are small and delicate -as they are as much to scale as possible- and good tools, good magnification -for the ones among us that are "wise in years"- and a steady hand are recommended.
Those who know me or visit this blog are aware that I will build almost anything, from Beast to Beauty and everything in between, as I enjoy improving, converting, adding detail, and like the challenge that some kits or scratch-builds pose. Short-run, long-run, old, new, resin, injected, vacuform, I love them all (well, almost all). Still, when a jewel like this lands on the building board, what a joy!
The kit is a beaut, and the subject is a beaut, what else can you wish for!
We likes it!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, woof woof!
DeleteBrilliant! Did you mix the blue or is it Klein blue for a French racer 🐞
ReplyDeleteBy the time these Caudron flew Yves Klein was 6/8 years old. I don't think he has anything to do with the color. But you never know, these artists (like myself) are very sneaky!
DeleteWasn't he an infant savant? These child prodilianos get every where. No marks for a smartarse who can match those two arcane timelines. Again a beautiful kit.At a swap shop I bought a larger scale plastiky thingy version which may be a Williams kit. In this weather I am going nowhere near that attic. It might be a case of " I am going topside, I maybe gone for a while.🐞
DeleteIs a blue you mixed yourself or is it Klein blue for a French racer?🐞
ReplyDeleteHi!
DeleteRemember that a post may take some time to pop up, as I have to authorize it.
It's mostly Model Master "French Blue" (surprise!) with a pinch of Ford engine GM Blue.
Cheers
Is that the same color as Sacre Bleu? Seriously, Claudio, she's beautiful, and sooo small!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteIt's more like Smurf Blue, actually.