The Little World

As a child in the 1950’s and a young man in the 60’s I was always frustrated. Not about school or friends or money or sex…these problems tended to sort themselves out. I was frustrated that I could never get an Airfix model of a Boulton Paul Defiant in 1:72 scale.

It was not that Airfix didn’t make them – they made them all the time, all the way back to a baggie version in black plastic. All my modelling friends had one – painted or unpainted, it made a fine night fighter. I saw them everywhere…except in the shops. Everyone had got there before me. They were a constant source of unfulfilled desire.

Well, Hobbytech came to the old guy’s rescue. Airfix have a new kit of this and it is a beauty. And I finally got to buy one over the counter. It’s a bit more than the 50¢ baggie, but I don’t care. The family can eat gruel as long as I have the kit.

Good experience all round – good sprues – good mouldings – good crew figures – good decals. Flattened tyres and a special key on the axles that puts  the flat side on the ground. Three options on the canopy and, of course, the turret turns. Good instruction sheet. What’s not to like?

Note: They have even been careful enough to provide two versions of the rear decking  – it dropped down into the fuselage when the canopy fairing was tucked in to provide a wider operational space for the guns. I’m building mine on the ground and so will have both fairings in the ‘ up ‘ position.

In a way, I am sort of glad I waited this long – the kit is a beauty.