1/48 RAAF Beechcraft Bonanza

[KiwiZac]

Hi all,
Originally I bought this to build a Baron 58, but the amount of work involved terrified me and it remained in the stash for a year or so. Then I had an idea...how about a VIP or "hack" air force machine? Why not look across The Ditch to my Aussie cousins?

So here it is, 2 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force's Beechcraft V35 Bonanza, used by the Canberra and later F-111 crews to flit about the place. Minicraft 1/48 kit with High Planes Models 1/72 Canberra and (I think) 1/48 Winjeel decals.

Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr

I don't know why, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this build. It's a lovely kit with crisp details. I need to find excuses to get their Super Cub and Cherokee. And one day I'll snag a 1/72 Bonanza to Baronify...

[Dizzyfugu]

That's nice! 

[NARSES2]

That works really well 

[loupgarou]

Very pretty build!

[PR19_Kit]

That looks VERY smart indeed, most impressive. 

[AeroplaneDriver]

Very nice looking Bonanza!  I got my Commercial license in a V-tailed Bonanza many, many moons ago.  Loved flying that thing.   

[AS.12]

Very nice looking Bonanza!  I got my Commercial license in a V-tailed Bonanza many, many moons ago.  Loved flying that thing.   

When I was working in the USA years ago I was amazed at the number of Bonanzas around, and the number of PPL pilots doing their first solo in them!

Back here in UKland they're rare, expensive and considered Gentlemens' Aerial Carriages, not something for students to bash around the circuit.

[AeroplaneDriver]

I've never seen a flight school using a Bonanza as a primary training.  Back in my Flight Instructor days in the early 90s we had a wealthy student by a brand new A36 ($600k ish back then) and did most of his training in it, but that's about the only one I've ever run into for primary training.  It's a very popular airplane here obviously, but here as in UKland it is generally considered a Gentleman's Carriage. 

During my stint building time as a Flight Instructor I was lucky enough to work for a large company that was a Beechcraft dealer.  It was always a big deal to hit the coveted 1,000 hour mark where the company could put instructors on the insurance for Bonanzas and you got to do delivery flights.  Newest one I ever flew had 16 hours on the clock.  New Airplane Smell is soooo nice. 

[KiwiZac]

I don't believe I've ever seen a Bonanza in real life, let alone flown one. That is C O O L!!

Thanks for the kind comments, all! I based the scheme on the RAAF's Dassault Falcons and thought it would be a fun subject. I'm much more pleased with how it turned out than I expected, and I really liked the kit itself.

[zenrat]

Thought i'd commented on this.

Looks good Zac.  Other than being the wrong scale obviously.

[b29r]

Nice rendition of the Beech Bananer  .  I had the fortune of growing up close to the Beech plant in Wichita, Kansas, so saw lots of these as a younker    It was also known for a while as the "Doctor Killer"  .  Looks like a nice kit, and you did a great job with it.

Best regards,
Kem