FS-21B Shrike Trans-atmospheric Strike Fighter The Smiley Special

During his career as a fighter pilot, Billy Bob Smith had always loved flying his FS-21B Shrike. He knew the fighter's strengths and weaknesses like no one else. He could make it run straight and hot or sneak up low and slow on a target. Even his squadron mates agreed that Billy Bob knew how to coax his fighter into surviving the most dangfool manuvers ever attempted and still live to fly another day. His squadron leader had been heard to grumble that when Billy Bob hollered the phrase "Hey Ya'll, watch THIS!" coming over the common freq he could terrify enemy pilots into departing the battlezone.

So, it came as no surprise to anyone that the day the Shrike-class fighter was declared obsolete, Billy Bob was first in line to purchase one of the decomissioned ships. He then set about making it into a first-class racing vessel. When he was done, he realized that he'd need a memorable paint scheme . . . (He was known for his piloting skills, never for his painting skills.)

Later, after 18 cases of yellow spraypaint (bought from the local hardware store, of course), all that remained was to find some black paint for the "smiley faces" that he just knew he needed to make it look "right." Well, the finished result was just plain silly; furthermore, he knew that it was just plain silly. But, he also knew that the color scheme would fool the other racers into discounting him until it was too late. His unprecedented string of wins at nine racing events in a row, within a two-month period, may never be exceeded. (That boy could fly!)

Given his inability to fake being humble, it isn't too surprising to learn that after his 9th victory, the members of the Society for Asthetic Appreciation ambushed him as he passed through the asteroid belt on his way home. In his delight at revving up the racing engines again, Billy Bob clean forgot that the weapons package had been removed from his fighter before he'd purchased it.

He will be missed.

The Model

This is Starship Modeler's first resin spaceship kit, and it's in 1/48 scale. The kit builds up quickly and easily, and is very well cast. I had initially painted it with a wave pattern over green, and had planned on stripping that off and replacing it with a modified Saab Viggen Splinter Camouflage scheme. I had the pleasure of assisting in the Shrike's creation, and that's when I joked about doing a smiley face version. And when I located my original notes about doing a smiley face, I knew that I had to enter it in this contest!

Image: Front office

Image: Starboard side

Image: Head-on

Image: Have a nice day!