Category: Ruritanian Aircraft
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Silberner Blitz
There are some models that you build with polystyrene cement – others with wood glue. And yet others that are joined with anxiety. This is one such model – it was a superb bargain buy at a stash sale morning – and never better timed. I was on the lookout for 1930’s European airliners for…
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Heinkel 51 – Part One – An Unexpected Subject
As most know, I do not, as a rule, model Axis subjects. Oh, I have done so where historically appropriate to tell a story, or as captured aircraft, but few in their own livery. The recent completion of a Heinkel 70 G-1 Blitz was an exception – it forms part of the civilian scene at…
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Caproni C311 – Part Four – Fly RT-ITA To The Sun!
Who said Ruritanians are sour drunks living in a postage stamp kingdom? Well, everyone, actually, but that doesn’t stop them from wanting to go South for a holiday. The sudden availability of used Italian bombers after 1943 was a gift to the Ruritanian royal airline. Prior to this the only passenger carriers were two-seat mail…
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Caproni C 311 – Part Three – Civilian Conversion
The conversion of old military aircraft to civilian mode was quite a thing back in the late 40’s and early 50’s. There were a great many spare aircraft left over from the conflict – despite the fact that so many were shot down and wrecked. Careful buying by Ruritanian agents in Europe brought a number…
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Caproni C-311 – Part One – Tropical Splendour
Not that this aircraft is tropical in any way – it’s just that the kit has come from Singapore. A gift from a friend who took a holiday there. I always welcome Italeri Italian aircraft, because I know they do them well; it’s a matter of national pride. The parts fit, the moulding is free…
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Will Ruritania Join NATO?
This is a question that has been exercising the minds of diplomats all over Europe this past year. With events to the east of the kingdom there is a growing nervousness about military preparation. The Royal Ruritanian Army and their air arm, the RRAAF, have petitioned for additional armaments and fortresses. The previous air force…
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SNCAN Martinet – Part One – A Siebel By Any Other Name
Christmas was coming to the hobby shop and it was time to choose my present. In this case before the actual day, so I got a fresh choice. The SNCAN Martinet was a Siebel 204 produced in France during the occupation and afterwards. It was used by the French air force and then sold on…
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Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 – Part Five – Three Cheers For The Transport Service
And their new SM.81 general service aircraft – set to deliver the liquid products of Ruritania as far away as Switzerland and Holland. The converted 1930’s Italian bomber that has just joined the RRAAF in the Transport Service started life with 6 machine guns and two bomb bays. It now has two bottle bays (…
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Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 – Part Three – Airframe
We have an aircraft – not just parts in a box. The wing fit of the Italeri SM.81 was darned near perfect – a few scrapes of a modelling knife on the internal bearing surfaces of both wings and there was hardly a gap to be seen. It gave excellent purchase for a slightly thicker…
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Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello – Part One – The RRAAF’s New Poster Plane
Readers of this column who follow the history of the Royal Ruritanian Army Air Force will be long familiar with the history of the service. The training facilities in Alberta, the variegated equipment roster, the bad decisions and worse outcomes…all have been documented. But here is a new chapter of the saga – brought to…
The Little World 