Category: History
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The Fifty Cent Fighter Plane
Sixty years on. My allowance in the eighth grade was 50 Canadian cents per week. It was more than adequate for my needs as I was stuck in an Alberta bush construction camp with no shops anywhere. Our one shopping trip a month went to Drayton Valley and by then I’d built up $2.00 pressure…
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De Havilland Kate Moth – Part Two – Bobbing On The Lake
Nothing said sport flying like a Kate Moth on floats. Whether it was in the Yukon or Ontario, the Kate Moth formed reliable transportation for hunters, fishermen, and prospectors. Of course nothing heavier than a dead chipmunk could be flown out strapped to the floats, but these were prized anyway. Red floats are good for…
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Tupolev Tu-2 – Part One – Long On The Shelves
This model of the Tupolev TU-2 light bomber by Hobby Boss Has been seen on Perth shelves for a long time. Whether it was ignored because it was seen as too simple – a snap-kit – or too obscure remains to be seen. It is actually a technological gem The kit design breaks the fuselage…
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I Miss The Old China Station Scheme
I mean I miss the warship paint scheme that was favored in Victorian times: a white hull and upperworks with buff funnels and the occasional black funnel cap. Brass, too, just to trim up the works. Oh, I understand perfectly the need to paint them a uniform grey in wartime to let the ship approach…
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The Box Office, The Cast, And The Audience
Which is the most important part of the theatre? If you know, tell me. I am trying to decide the same thing about the modelling exhibitions that are held annually in Perth. Whether they are of cars, boats, trains, planes or houses, they all have essentially three components; those who show, those who they show…
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CAC Wirraway – Part Six – No. 4 Sqn RAAF
I have been googling No. 4 Sqn in WW2 with reference to the Wirraway. These were busy aircraft. The squadron was generally intended for reconnaissance when it was formed before the war and was working closely with the Australian Army and US Army in New Guinea throughout the conflict. It looks as if this was…
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RCAF Hudson – Part Four – 145 (BR) Sqn
Eastern Air Command, Torbay, Newfoundland. Well, if you cannot have dedicated patrol bombers from the British Air Ministry, you buy or borrow them from the USAAF. Pressed into service for a long time, they did succeed in sinking a U-Boat and damaging several, The last few years of their service was arduous and even the…
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It Is Hard To Sell A Poisoned Chalice
Especially if you have been killing off people’s enthusiasm with it for years. This sentiment applies to a lot of things; hobby publications, exhibition organisation, and box-scale kits come to mind. The magazines we loved to buy are slowly giving way to YouTube presentations that take up hours of our time for minutes of information.…
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Gloster Meteor F.8 – Part Two – IAF
And wasn’t that a clever idea, Great Britain? Selling Gloster Meteors to the Israelis and De Havilland Vampires to the Egyptians? Bit of export cash in the old exchequer, What? And a good leg in either bed, no matter who won, eh? Pip,Pip…! Looks like GB supplied Meteors to Egypt and Syria as well. Jordan…
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A Good Reason
Vs no reason at all. If you want a history of design you have no further to look than the RFC/RAF roundels. Airborne identification is very sensible indeed – people bent on murder need to positively identify their enemies. The roundel, cross, star, or other symbol on an aircraft wing lets you see it at…
The Little World 