Hawk 1/48 Gee Bee racers. "Army Mule" and "Devil Dog".

[CSMO]

In the 1930s small companies run by Matty Laird, Steve Wittman, Benny Howard, and the Granville brothers were building civilian racers that were blowing the doors off of the military machines in service.

The premise of this build is; "If we can't beat them, we will join them!".



The Marines and Army juggled appropriations to purchase one each of an improved Gee Bee Model R Super Sportster. They were to race and beat the civvies and set speed records. The Secretaries of War and Navy shot this "Hot Idea" down and both machines ended their days as airshow performers and static exhibits at military recruiting booths ay state and county fairs.



I sanded off the raised lines and filled the recessed ones and re-scribed the control surfaces. Other than that construction is OOB. I added pilots from a couple of trashed Monogram Wildcats.



These markings are consistent with service markings for 1933, the year these things were "born". I used masking tape for the cowlings only. All the rest is freehand brush-painted. I used Citadel games Workshop Yriel Yellow for both. Tha Army machine has Pollyscale OD and Humbrol Gloss Orange. The Marine machine has Testors Flat Red and Silver. Both models have two coats of brushed Future to seal everything in. The Marine has painted tail stripes. The Army tail stripes are made from pieces of scrap decal, one piece at a time.



All markings are from the spares-box. They are fragments from at least ten different kit decal sheets.

I am very happy with these little guys.

Adios, Larry.

[PR19_Kit]

Amazing! 

What a cracking idea Larry, I'm just surprised no-one came up with it before, well done. They REALLY look the part too. 

[Devilfish]

They need guns......

[McColm]

Great work.

[zenrat]

Like them.

[TallEng]

They do look good

Regards
Keith

[NARSES2]

They do look nice