Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA37904
SPAD S.XIII Diecast Model
RFC No.23 Sqn, William Fry, January 1918 | Limited Edition
1100
Pieces Worldwide |
|
| 1:48 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| SPAD S.XIII | | 5.25" | | 6.75" |
The Spad XIII was not widely used by the RFC and the only unit to be fully equipped with the aircraft was No 23 Sqn. It received its first aeroplanes in December 1917 and by mid-February 1918 the sqn was at full strength with 16 Spad XIIIs. Captain William Mayes Fry served in the infantry before transferring to the RFC in December 1915. By the time he joined 23 Sqn late in 1917 he was already a veteran with experience in Morane-Saulnier and Nieuport fighters. On 4th January 1918 he scored his first Spad XIII kill when he downed an Albatros DV and on 23rd January he was flying aircraft B6847 when he shot down another Albatros in flames over the Houthhulst Forest. Fry finished the war with eleven kills and went on to become a wing leader in the post-war RAF. After retiring he returned to wartime service for the duration of WWII from 1939 to 1945. Willy Fry died on 4th August 1992.
Designed by The French aircraft company Societe pour l'Aviation et ses Derives (SPAD) as a refinement of the highly-successful SPAD S.VII, the SPAD S.XIII was first flown on April 4th, 1917. Essentially a larger version of its predecessor with a more powerful V-8 Hispano-Suiza engine, the SPAD XIII was a strongly-built wood and fabric biplane. It could reach a top speed of 135 mph-making it 10 mph faster than the new German fighters. It carried two Vickers machine guns, each with 400 rounds of ammunition, and the pilot could fire the guns separately or together. © Copyright 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Corgi's 1:48 scale S.XIII models are beautifully made, with simulated fabric surfaces and fine gauge wire used to represent the bracing wires passing through the banded wooden wing struts. Radiator detail is easily seen inside the engine cowling, with simulated vents and separately applied exhaust pipes on each side of the fuselage. A photo-etched metal gun sight sits between two Vickers machine guns, which are mounted in front of a detailed pilot figure and transparent windscreen. The model rests on rolling rubber tires that accurately simulate the gray color that vulcanized natural rubber takes on after prolonged exposure to sunlight.
© Copyright 2003-2013 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Corgi "Aviation Archive" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. The vast Aviation Archive range has become the standard by which all other diecast airplane ranges are judged. Each Corgi model is based on a specific aircraft from an important historical or modern era of flight, and has been authentically detailed from original documents and archival library material. Famous airplanes and aviators from both military and commercial airline aviation are all honored.
Corgi "Aviation Archive" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
- Poseable presention stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
- Detailed, hand-painted pilot and crew member figures.
- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
- Selected interchangeable features such as speed-brakes, opened canopies and access panels.
- Selected moving parts such as gun turrets, control surfaces and swing-wings.
© Copyright 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc.
