Well I was able to get to the Shuttleworth Evening Display on Saturday past, the light was rubbish for piccies towards the end of the event - and even from the start of flying, but I got to see the Tomtit flying. I thought it had been grounded indefinitely, anyway it inspired me to dust off the two repaints that have been gathering cobwebs these past few months.
I'll see if I can get any passable pics re-toned from the shots I managed to get of the old timers which put up a super display, with the 1910 Deperdussin at the end threatening to make a circuit with some high level hopping along the runway. :flying:
First, actually second as it got completely reworked after the Canadian one, is the prototype which was displayed at the Earls Court Show in 1929 "in pale blue". There is a black and white picture in the "Hawker A/C since..." tome, but the paint colour is a pure guess based on the very pale colouring of the b&W pic.
Then the second is Lief's Canadian number 140 (one of only two with 139 that the RCAF bought), the text beneath the cockpit defeated me, and in fact I've left Ted's Support Here instead of the Lift Here, as I couldn't get the text to compress enough. If you're that near you're too sad! Besides, if you want to be picky the exhaust is not quite right for this model and the rear cockpit appears to have a much larger fairing than Ted's model. :roll: But I like it!
Listening to the engine note from the middle of the flight line, it sounded deeper and smoother than the Ryan - closer to the Lockheed Vega of the default aircraft. Mind you, my ears had just been battered by the flatulent Ryan PT22 prototype that was clattering about, so that might have coloured my judgement.
Now I'll see if Ted is agreeable to them flapping round the birdbath at The Pond.