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An odd title, you may think. It's inspired by the car stickers one used to see, usually on decaying old rust-buckets, that stated "My other car is a Ferrari/Rolls-Royce/Cadillac/" etc. Anyway, I had a Wingnut Sopwith Pup, a figure of an RFC pilot called "Henry" who is depicted holding a small spaniel-type dog, and a career that involved working and living in Gosport for nearly 10 years, and all this came together in this model. The subject is a Sopwith Pup from the School of Special Flying, Gosport, where Major Robert Smith-Barry developed a system of flying training that produced far better results than previously, and is basically still in use world-wide to this day. Anyway, without further ado, here's Henry "Sorry old boy, even at my rank I'm not allowed to take you flying" Forgive me for having a play with some effects in one or two of these photos: Thanks for looking, and for all the kind words and encouragement on the WIP thread. Comments and any suggestions for improvement welcome.

First, a quote from Flying Fever by AVM S F Vincent (Jarrolds, 1972), which is an excellent read, although alas long out of print. "[The date is early 1917. Major Robert] Smith-Barry, my previous CO in No 60 Squadron, had left almost in disgrace, because he had complained so much and so frequently about the abysmal state of training of the pilots sent out [to France] to fight. Eventually the War Office took note and said, in effect, 'If you think you can do any better, come home and do so.' He was given the training squadrons at Gosport which were formed experimentally into the School of Special Flying ...". History records that Smith-Barry eventually developed a system of flying training which is still in use world-wide today. The SSF had a number of aeroplanes on its strength, including some Sopwith Pups. One of these was B2192, and markings for this machine are in the "Gnome" boxing of the WNW Pup. As I missed out on the original issues of the Pup, I was pleased to be able to add this to my collection. The scheme chose itself, not least because in the mid-1980s I worked in an office block built on part of the old Gosport airfield; the hangars were very visible from one side of the building. I don't often do WIPs because I forget to take photos as I go along, but I hope to do better with this. So here we go, with a boxtop shot. And the rather striking scheme I'll be doing: CDL underneath, white on top, all covered with black stripes. Whilst WNW provide decals for the fuselage stripes, I'll be attempting to paint them, along with the wing roundels. I'd do the fuselage roundels as well, but my circle cutter does not allow a small enough radius of cut. Wish me luck!! That's the first Pup: the second, to go with it, is in the arms of "Henry"; the plan is to put him on the base with the completed model. I think the dog is just about small enough to qualify as a pup. I've already opened the box and completely ruined the value of the kit by removing the wings and fuselage halves from the sprue, so here we go, watch this space.