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Bent Throttles

By Jim Schubert

Journal of the Racing and Record Aircraft Special Interest Group of IPMS-UK
No. 21, January 2002

I have a broad interest in practically everything in this world - as we all do.  And, as we all do, I have had to narrow my interests to focus on only several, rather than all, subjects.  Life is too short!  Aviation history, unusual airplanes and especially racing airplanes are a couple of the several subjects upon which I have focused my interests, so I am especially pleased to find books, magazines, newsletters, journals, etc. relating to my selected interests.  One such journal is this quarterly publication.

Like most enthusiasts' newsletters this one is almost exclusively the work of one hard working person - Anders Bruun.  In this issue he had the help of only four contributors - William Kerka, Dave Jones, Alex Bernardo and Keith Davidson.

This 20 page issue includes:

• The Schoenfeldt Firecracker - History and Drawings,

• The Williams Brothers Schoenfeldt Firecracker - Kit Review,

• "Signal Sea Fury"/Miss Merced - Drawings,

• "Hi Time II (P-51D) - Build Report and Drawings,

• The Heritage Aviation DH-88 Comet - Kit Review,

• "Knife Edge" -Book Review and

• "Air Racing Today" - Book Review

This fine material is preceded by an intro from Anders about the SIG, what's new, etc. including a note about new members and other miscellany.

The "Firecracker" is the in-depth, eight and a half pages, feature of this issue with a great multi-view, very detailed, technical drawing by William Kerka and several additional drawings by Anders to clarify the colors and markings applied to this plane during the 1937-1939 racing season.

Keith Davidson's review of the Heritage Aviation (nee Aardvark) 48th scale Comet leaves me with the clear impression that it's another of those models that you have to scratchbuild-out-of-the-box.  I've never seen a Heritage/Aardvark kit, but I'm about to order a copy of their 48th scale Heston Napier Racer after reading a review of it in the October/November 2001, Issue 17, of Aircraft Modeller International.  That review made it sound acceptable and the photos of the finished product looked pretty good.  It's a pity that the Comet kit sounds so bad - the world really need good 48th and 72nd scale kits of the beautiful DH-88 Comet.  Off the top of my head I can recall five color schemes that can be applied to a DH-88 and only one of them is dull.

To join this SIG contact its leader, Anders Bruun.  The quarterly journal and membership cost ten pounds Sterling, or equivalent in a major convertible currency, paid in cash.  IPMS membership is recommended but not required.  Take a look at theSIG's new web site; there's a lot of good material there.