This is SO fantastic.
My grandfather, who fought on the Republican side, was a mechanic by trade, but was sent to the front as an infantryman (he was a crack shot, so they figured that was the best skill to exploit). He was badly injured in battle, and after recovery, worked as a mechanic on these. I recall seeing pictures of him standing next to "his" Mosca (Spanish for "fly", as in the insect) when I'd go to Spain to visit relatives.
Alas, most of his wartime pictures went missing shortly my grandmother died, a loss that I feel very deeply. The chance to fly this in a more updated form than the old FS8 version will be a very fitting tribute to the dreadful loss - and eventual healing following, one of the nastiest civil wars of the twentieth century.
Of course, for those outside the Spanish Civil War circle of interest, this little plane played interesting roles in either pre- or early WWII action from as far as Finland to China. Their significance notwithstanding, BF109s, Spitfires, Mustangs, etc. get a disproportionate extent of FS coverage in my personal view, and this model will be an excellent way to explore and reflect on history in other theatres and countries.
Bravo for bringing this little plane to life!
dl
