In the late 1930s, the small, strategically located desert kingdom of the Sultanate of Swat asked Great Britain for help.
The former British protectorate had a problem and the Sultanate of Swat's ruler, the Caliph Khalif, needed some assistance.
Fierce renegade tribesmen known as the Bandidiots were raiding the far-flung outposts of the Sultanate of Swat. These raiders were not ones to be trifled with.
The Caliph Khalif was hoping some modern weapons, especially combat aircraft, would be sent to put down the rebellious Bandidiot raiders.
While Britain was hesitant to risk its most modern aircraft in such a place, the engineers at DeHavilland's had an answer. They were able to tweak a new trainer they were working on to become one of the first counter-insurgency, or COIN aircraft.
Featuring a distinctive raised and tinted canopy and built to withstand harsh desert conditions, the DeHavilland Dromedary was born.
A test-squadron of 10 Dromedaries were soon completed and sent to the small desert kingdom. The Caliph Khalif was praising his good fortune at having such a dependable ally in Great Britain as a hand-picked group trained on the new aircraft.
Featuring a powerful Bristol Burkurey radial engine and the latest, streamlined, spatted landing gear, the new COIN bird not only looked intimidating, but its twin .603 machine guns in the wings seemed to be just what the Caliph Khalif needed.
A Bandidiot attack on the small oasis town of Ben-al-Dryll was reported and the 10 Dromedaries took off to deal with the raiders.
Machine gun bullets ripped through the sky as the airplanes dove on the Bandidiots. Not one of the renegade tribesmen survived the aerial assault. Their blood stained the sand in mute testimony of the effectiveness of modern air power.
The Caliph Khalif was jubilant at the radioed reports that the fierce Bandidiots had finally been taken care of. A crowd gathered at the airfield awaiting the victors' return.
Unfortunately, while well trained at flying and gunnery, the new airmen had been given short-shrift when it came to navigation and instead of landing at their airfield, they landed in the Italian Libyan territory nearby. The Italians refused to negotiate a return of the Dromedaries to the Caliph Khalif or the British and the aircraft was soon forgotten.
The basis of this project is the venerable 1/72 Airfix DH Chipmunk which I picked up on the cheap recently.
First off was a little minor surgery to swap out the engine with something more fitting.
I dithered about adding the Townend ring but it looked to good to pass up.
I also had a few more extras to add, courtesy of my friends at Aeroclub and a dive in the spares box:
I also thought some Techmod lozenge decals I got on sale would be a nice addition too. I think the colors are fitting for a desert look. What do you think?
I had a blast putting this together and I hope you enjoyed it as well as learning about the Caliph Khalif and the Sultanate of Swat.
Brian da Basher
