The Little World

I have become suspicious about this Dora Wings model of a Bellanca CH-300 now that the box is open and I can see the instructions. They refer to it as a ” Peacemaker “. Was I meant to have a B-36 in the box?

Never mind – I’ll build what I found. And what I found was one of the better sort of short-run multi-media kits. This CH-300 has injected parts, PE, and even a masking set for the windows. It is a pity that the fuselage of the aircraft doesn’t have windows…

Well it does on the inside – marked off neatly in oblongs and ovals, with a rebate for the clear plastic windows they supply. The only catch is you have to drill and file them open before you can assemble the fuselage. The reason for this awkwardness is that the kit is intended for several versions – and one of the international record-holder flights was made in a plane that had no windows on the side. The company left the fuselage side undisturbed and filled the cockpit space with extra fuel tanks.

There are also extra parts for wheel fairings that the later models did not bother with. Fortunately there are any number of Bellanca CH -300 images on the internet – the type having been used by civil and military operators in the 1930’s and frequent photos taken. Unfortunately the older ones are not in colour – but ther are modern Bellancas preserved and flying that illustrate the bright orange-red of the period.

The decal sheets and colour call-out would yield a Hawaiian inter-island plane or an air racer, but my ambition is a Canadian bush plane. I turned up a clear picture of CF-AKI as it was delivered to Wilfred May in Edmonton in the 30’s and it will be the basis of the build. The plane sat on various things in bush service; wheels, floats, and skis appear in various photos. I fancy the wheeled version as it was used for a Royal Mail plane by the Canadian Post Office and has a national crest and ” GR ” logo on the side.

The ski version is also appealing so wait until the end to see what has happened.

This is a rarity in my stash – a kit that I specifically wanted and ordered – as opposed to the wayfarers that are presented to me during the year. I love ’em all, but this one gets special affection.