Starting Line
- Limited edition giclee on paper - 25" x 17.75". (image area 21” x 12.75”)
- Limited edition giclee on canvas - 29" x 13.25"
- Medal of Honor edition giclee on canvas - 50" x 23"

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This is one of those ideas where the cart proceeded the horse. Rather than crafting a scene around a historical event, person or aircraft as I usually do, on this one I could picture the scene in my head before I actually worked out the specifics- a dusty airfield, a profile of 1 main aircraft with others lined up behind, engines running, copious amounts of dust blowing around and late afternoon sun backlighting the entire scene and making the dust in the air really glow and giving the whole piece lots of atmosphere. Now I just had to decided what aircraft to put in it. Originally I had thought of using Nieuport 28s for the scene, but then I realized that it needed something a little beefier. A SPAD was much more suitable. I had been discussing Rickenbacker's SPAD S'4523 (#1) with someone recently, and since I am probably long overdue in depicting that particular machine, I decided to go with it.

Most depictions of S'4523 show it in it's late configuration - shortened exhaust stacks, red/white/blue (front to back) rudder, and patched bullet holes. The problem was, though, that S'4523 was only in this configuration late in the war, while Rickenbacker and the 94th were based at Rembercourt. Rembercourt was known for its mud, and so that killed the idea of the dust kicking up. Prior to Rembercourt, however, the 94th was based at Saints. No problem with the dust there, so that would be my location.

As for the configuration of S'4523 while at Saints - it carried the standard length exhaust, no bullet patches (at least not in August of 1918) and the original blue/white/red French rudder.

Starting Line is available in 3 editions:

- Giclee prints on paper: Printed on acid free rag paper, The prints measure 28" x 15.5" (image area 24" x 11"). The edition consists of 250 prints, each of which is signed and numbered by Russell Smith.

- Gilcee prints on canvas: Prints on canvas measure 28" x 13". The canvas edition consists of only 26 prints, each of which is signed and numbered on the back.

- Special Medal of Honor Edition giclee prints on canvas: This special edition of prints on canvas measure 50" x 23.5" - 100% size of the original painting! I'm only making 26 of these available. Each is signed and numbered on the back.

Details of Starting Line
(click on any thumbnail for a detailed image)

Remarque 1 - Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker

The Galleries / WW1 Limited Editions