I know, not another article
about impressed civil aircraft into the RAAF. Doesn't anyone do anything
unusual, like 109's? In the dark days of
early 1942, Australia was at the end of a VERY long supply line, with other
areas taking a higher priority (although not to the Australians). Consequently,
some of the civil aircraft were taken over by the RAAF and used primarily for
courier duty and other transport duties. Usually some roundels were added, along
with the "A" number, and it was deemed military! The
first of these is the Beechcraft 17, or Staggerwing as it's more commonly known.
It was the Learjet of it's time; fast, desirable personal transportation. This
was the first of three that were taken over, ex VH-ACU.
The second is the
one and only Stinson Reliant, or Gullwing as it's more popularly known. Previous identity was
VH-UXL,
owned by a Mr. W. J. Smith.
Disclaimer:
Both kits were built pretty much out of the box. The only pictures I've seen of
the Staggerwing in RAAF service don't show it with the A39-1 on the rear
fuselage. My reasoning is that being the first one impressed, it may not have
received it until later. Regardless, it still looks right with it in my eyes.
The Reliant is somewhat more incorrect, the
striping graphics used were the kit's, which are both the wrong pattern and a
poor match for the red I used! In the interest of actually finishing a model, I
didn't obsess too much about the fact the striping package is incorrect.
I figure out of a hundred people, maybe half dozen
will know the difference and chances are none of them will be tactless enough to
point it out. The best reply for that was given to me by Hugh Silvis, "Show
me the one you built correctly!"
Mark
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