I've started, but how shall I finish?

[Rheged]

During a recent stash tidying expedition, I found lurking deep down a Hasegawa Ki-61 Tony.  I also found a small pot of ultra-quick-drying metallic blue enamel.( The paint was last used to enliven the handles of our younger son's wardrobe 25 years ago)  Not having anything better to do, I tried it out on the Ki-61 and found it gave a remarkably good finish(all considered)  It looked as though it might make a post war racer. But how did it end up in that role?

Further tidying up in a box of stuff mum gave me on our last visit to her revealed a board book of  car pictures I'd been given in 1953 at the age of about 18 months or so.............you can see my teeth marks on the edge of the board pages.......and in it was a picture of "Prince B Bira of Siam in his racing car"  Can I use him in a backstory?

So I looked up B Bira (as you do) and found that he was actually Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh (Thai: พีรพงศ์ภาณุเดช) a member of the Thai royal family.   He raced  between 1935 and 1954  for the Maserati, Gordini, and Connaught teams in several Grands Prix. Bira first raced with his cousin Prince Chula's team, White Mouse Racing, driving a Riley Imp at Brooklands in 1935. In this car Bira established the national motor racing colours of Siam: pale blue with yellow.  He was also a pilot, flying a Miles Gemini from the UK to Thailand in 1952. Yup, he can be used in this endeavour.

At this point, I went off to find some yellow paint. A chap in the garage in the village is doing up a Mini pick up in BL Inca Yellow  so I acquired a small pot of this from him.  Test the paint on a piece of sprue to make sure there's no adverse reaction.  Result!  It worked.

We now have, ready for assembly, the components of an aircraft with blue upperworks and a yellow underside.

Right then.   We have (potentially) a racing aeroplane in Thai racing colours and an intrepid pilot.  All we need now is a backstory.

Here we go, then:-   Once upon a time there was a Thai prince, who returned to his country in late 1945 to find it littered with the debris of  war. Having sufficient cash and a team of mechanics from his motor racing , he set about gathering up lumps of aeroplane and assembling a Ki-61 for the F48 races. He competed with some success and  lived happily ever after.

I will  crack on with the build and embroider this story with lots of extraneous details and flights of fancy as soon as possible. Photos too, if I can persuade my camera to talk to the lap-top,

Thank you Tomz for the  idea of the F48 races.

[PR19_Kit]

Excellent stuff. 

Bira was a favourite racing driver of my Mum, mainly because they were born within a few months of each other and '...he's SUCH a good looking man, don't you think?...'  This was usually followed by a scowl from my Dad. 

I've seen one of his ERA's, R5B 'Remus' at one of the Goodwood events, and it's still painted in his blue and yellow colours.

[Scotaidh]

Sounds great, Rheged

"You know," he said, musingly, "I'm almost sensing a pseudo-GB here - Unlimited Class Racing Aircraft ..."

I'm growing tempted to throw my kit in the ring, too. 

[NARSES2]

So I looked up B Bira (as you do) and found that he was actually Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh (Thai: พีรพงศ์ภาณุเดช) a member of the Thai royal family.   He raced  between 1935 and 1954  for the Maserati, Gordini, and Connaught teams in several Grands Prix. Bira first raced with his cousin Prince Chula's team, White Mouse Racing, driving a Riley Imp at Brooklands in 1935. In this car Bira established the national motor racing colours of Siam: pale blue with yellow.  He was also a pilot, flying a Miles Gemini from the UK to Thailand in 1952. Yup, he can be used in this endeavour.

Oddly I was only looking His Royal Highness up last week as he fits into one of my possible scenarios.

[TomZ]

Thank you Tomz for the  idea of the F48 races.

You're welcome sir.
I really want to see your take on this.

TomZ