The Little World

In a reversal of other people’s normal behaviour patterns, I commenced doing the Bristol/Fairchild Bolingbroke before I had thoroughly researched it. I was going on an illustration in an Avia book about Canadian aircraft of the WW2 period and the one I wanted seemed to be similar to the Bristol Blenheim Mk IV. As this was on a special price at the plastic model fair, I jumped.

Then I went into the net and looked at the reports of the kit. They were all rather complimentary – and this accords with the experience that I had with the Airfix Bristol Blenheim Mk I. But I noticed that several reviewers complained that the Airfix kit resembled a Bolingbroke more than a Blenheim. Apparently the dimensions of some parts of it have been taken from a Bollie that is sitting at Duxford.

A rare example of me getting what I wanted, in spite of myself.

The sensation of going over old ground with the new kit is not as bad as I thought. Indeed, it shows me how far I have come in learning more modern modelling techniques through YouTube viewing and discussions with my friend Warren. I’m now using three forms of Humbrol cement for three different areas of the plastic kit and the results are noticeably better. I am pre-painting to a greater extent than before. I am even having better luck with the basic business of separating the parts from the sprue trees – I bought a smaller and sharper set of sprue shears.

The result of this experience is greater efficiency and I am amazed to discover that I have the basic aircraft at lock-up stage within two days. Not knocking myself out to do it, either.

I can certainly see the difference in the Airfix line between and new-cast model and a re-box of an old one. I could wish that they would set  to and re-do everything but also realise that economics prevent this. Suffice it to say that I will be watching their website closely to see new releases and silently rooting for my favourites. It’s sad to see and old coot like me do this, but it’s better than golf…

Win for the week – I wondered if I needed to buy fresh paint for this aircraft and then discovered that I had an unopened can of spray paint that was perfect for the overall base coat. Don’t even have to clean the airbrush. Oh, the lazy…

On a side note – look at the design that Bristol or Fairchild thought up for the nose position of the Bolingbroke – and for the Blenheim IV series in general. Is it not the strangest contour imaginable? When you see it in the white undercoat you get the full shape at once. Kudos to Airfix for making it all fit so well.