Updated: 12 Apr 07

Fitter's Aerodrome

Bringing the graceful elegance of flight and beauty of form from history's early days of aircraft developement. These wonders of the graceful years are all modeled in 1:33-scale unless otherwise noted and delivered in pdf via my usual dependable delivery system. These models, unless otherwise listed, are $5.75

First release is the Spad VII-C-1. This craft was the mount of pilot Jacques Raphaël Roques of Escadrille 48

Country:

Switzerland

Rank:

Adjudant

Service:

French Air Service

Unit:

Escadrille 48

Victories:

5

Born:

02 August 1897

Place of Birth:

Paris

Died:

May 1988

Earning a Civilian Pilot's License on 10 September 1915, he joined the French Foreign Legion on 17 November 1915. In 1916, he transferred to the Aviation Militaire and was posted to Escadrille 48 on 2 January 1917. With this unit he scored five confirmed victories and two probable victories.

Order reference: 07-01-SPAD-F001

Pilot Giorgio Pessi. . . . . . . . . .Pilot: Cpt Walter Lowell

Ref No: 07-02-SPAD-F002. . . . . . .. Ref No: 07-03-SPAD-F003

Piloted byADJ Marcel Henriot . . . . . . . Piloted byWO Guttmejer Zodzin

Ref No: 07-04-SPAD-F004. . . . . . Refer Ref No: 07-05-SPAD-F005

Second of Fitter's releases is the Sopwith Tabloid. This craft was the Schneider Trophy Winner of 1914.

The Sopwith Tabloid was constructed in 1913 as two-seater racing aeroplane. The design was one of simplicity. The engine was the popular 80 hp. Gnome rotary enclosed in a odd metal cowling, that had two small cooling slots in front. The fuselage, a wire-braced wood box girder, was broad for the pilot and passenger to sit side by side in the one cockpit. The wings were of usual fabric-covered wooden construction, with raked tips. Wing warping was used for lateral control. The undercarriage was equipped with twin skids.

Flown by Harry Hawker, the Tabloid performed excellently on test at Farnborough. Reaching a speed of 92 m.p.h and climbing to 1,200 feet in one minute, with pilot, passenger and fuel for two and a half hours' flying. On April 20th, 1914, Howard Pixton, who had taken over Hawker's pilot duties, flew the seaplane version of the Tabloid to victory in the Schneider Trophy race. This model had the 100 hp. Gnome Monosoupape engine and plain rudder and fin.

Order reference: 07-02-Sopwith-F002

07-03-Thomas-Morse-F003. . . . . . 07-04-Thomas-Morse-F004

07-05-Salmson-2A2-F005. . . . . . 07-06-Salmson-2A2-F006 . . .. . . 07-07-Salmson-2A2-F007

07-08-Salmson-2A2-F008. . . . . . 07-09-Salmson-2A2-F009

 

All of Fitter's current releases are now available.