In the U.S. civilian racing planes blew the doors off of the military aircraft in service. In 1933 The Marines and the Army juggled some funds to contract with the Granville brothers to build one improved Gee Bee Model R Super Sportster per service . They would be competitive racers and speed record machines. The Secretaries of War and Navy said NO! They ended their days flying at exhibitions and airshows or as static displays for the recruiters at state and county fairs.
These kits date from 1960. They are original Hawk Model Co. releases. I removed most of the engraved and raised panel lines and re-scribed the control surfaces. I added a couple of pilots from two trashed Monogram Wildcats. Construction is OOB.
The Devil Dog is brush-painted Citadel Games Workshop Yriel Yellow, Testors Flat Red and Silver with two brush-coats of Future. The Army Mule is the same hand-brushed Yellow, Humbrol Gloss Orange, and Pollyscale OD with a double brush-coat of Future.
The Rudder stripes on the Marine plane are painted, the Army plane are painstakingly made piece by piece from scrap red and blue decal material over a white base. The rest of the decals came from scraps of decal sheets from about ten different models.
I am very happy with the results. I am contemplating doing some more of the old Hawk 1/48 racers as "What-if?" builds.
Adios, Larry.
