Movie review: A Yank in the RAF (1941)

Since we have Netflix, I have been using the instant streaming feature to watch some movies that I hadn’t seen before.  I am trying to do this rather than watch reruns of the same mind-numbing sitcoms.

As part of their streaming feature, Netflix rotates in some older movies.  I took the chance to see this one recently, A Yank in the RAF.

As a movie it is ok.  Not great, but OK.  The movie revolves around a self-absorbed US pilot who ferries aircraft from Canada to Englad during WWII.  The movie was made in the US prior to the entry of the US into the war and it is clearly pro-England propaganda. 

The movie starts Tyrone Power and Betty Grable.  On of the things that strikes the view is how society and acceptable behavior have changed in the last 70 years.  Power’s character’s behavior borders between a stalker and potential date rapist.  Grable comes off as a fickle airhead.

Of interest to modelers are scenes of WWII Harvards, Hudsons and some newsreel footage of Spitfires from the Battle of Britian era.  Of course, they are all in black and white.

All in all, it isn’t a bad movie and wasn’t a waste of time, but Casablanca it isn’t.

Disturbing

See the story here.  This is what happens when government gets involved in lending monney to and owning businesses.

Starfighter decals

On the F4F that I recently completed I used Starfighter decals sheet for F4F-3s in the yellow wings scheme.  These decals were very nice.  Very well printed.  Very thin and the reacted well with setting solutions.  I highly recommend them.

Food rights?

I’d like to know more about the facts underlying this story.

UPDATE: Thanks to Jim Bates in the comments below, we now have a link to the underlying decision.  Read here.

F4F-3 Done

#2 for the year is done.  The Hasegawa Wildcat modified to an F4F-3 and decaled with Starfighter decals.  It was a fun build but I got tired at the end.  I do like the look of a yellow wings aircraft and may do an F2A in the same scheme.

Wildcat

and

Wildcat2

and

Wildcat3

and finally.

Wildcat4

72nd scale aircraft forum

This site celebrates its first anniversary and has just added its 300th user.  A great site for 72nd scale modeling.  Check it out.

Practicing law in Ohio

Apparently it is much more dangerous that one would think.  Read here. On a serious note, I hope whoever did this is caught and severely punished.

The African Queen

I love The African Queen.  The boat by that name in the movie is still in existence in Florida.  It turns out that the actual German ship that was the actual enemy ship on which the movie was based is also still around.  Facinating story here.

Interesting magazine

Jim Bates brought this magazine to my attention recently.  If you are at all interested in the Royal Canadian Navy this looks like a must have.

Modeling progess

Just to prove that Mr. Bates isn’t the only one making modeling progress, here are some photos of my recent efforts.  The Wildcat photo is a week or two old and it has made more progress since then.  The Spit. is an Airfix Spit. I that I am doing just because these are sweet kits.

Wildcat

Spitfire

Spitfire interior

 

Spitfire fuselage