The Little World

With the recent announcement of new land division within the Republic Of China – the Generalissimo commanding Swuping province has mandated the formation of an air force.

Generalissimo Stein Kai Shek is up to date with all the latest methods of defence, as seen by his formation of an Armoured Women’s Dance Corps, a Terrestrial Navy, and an Unpleasant Chemical Regiment. This latter does not employ powerful poison gases but does have the ability to make people feel queasy.

The new air force will be known as the Swuping Air Army – it does not pay to be too sanguine about these things for fear of irritating Fate – and will be distinguished from the other divisions of the Chinese Nationalist Air Force by the addition of a small device in the centre of the roundel; a Cash coin.

The choice of the Curtiss Goshawk for the SAA is down to the availability of s/h goods from the US Navy. They should work in well with the Hawk II planes in other divisions of the Nationalist forces. In any case, the SAA knows where to go to find spare parts…

To this end, an RS kit was purchased. The sprue trees look very delicate, and the resin moulding for the engine even more so, but with a bit of careful cutting there should not be too many breakages. The wings look elegant, though the attachment points for all the struts are minimal, The plan is to drill them out to accept the strut ends more deeply.

Good plans and decal sheet, though the USN markings will be saved until another time. The makers have included a separate sheet of prop decals with Rotol as well as Hamilton logos – and these are duplicated, so my props can look flash for some time to come.