The Little World

Every one who leaps off the edge of a cliff in the face of a stiff breeze wearing a set of nylon wings exhibits a degree of faith and hope…and wishes sincerely for charity on the way down. They have to risk something valuable…ie their neck…to get a benefit. I am going to have to do this myself.

I need to get the final stages of finishing straightened out for my models. I can manage construction, undercoating, and painting to my satisfaction – I’ve worked out the airbrush skills and choice of putties,undercoats, and lacquers that please me. I’ve gotten good enough to be good enough. But the decal-to-finish stage is still uncertain territory.

Trials have been made with a number of recommended regimes; clear varnish or no varnish, then decal, then topcoat, but the variations of material and application have led to some poor results. Even my Mystery Science Theatre experiments with finishing only went so far.

So now I have to risk some necks. I shall buy a series of small fighters – as cheap as can be got in our local shops – and assemble them as test mules. You can only find out.

Which brings me to the MiG 15. It is cheap enough, but rather a nice kit. I am going to have to steel myself when the time comes to try the experiment and to discard it if all goes awry. A pity, because the Russian makers have poured their heart and soul into this little kit.

As well they should – it is an iconic fighter of the Soviet era and unlike some of their designs, actually was successful in combat – in their own hands, if not in those of their client nations. As far as a model goes, if anyone is going to make a good accurate version of it , it will be the Russians – so I do not fear the dimensions or the equipment. The fit of the actual kit may be different, but we shall see.

One thing I am impressed with – the sturdy nature of the box and the fact that they sealed both the outer sleeve and the inner container at the factory. You get what you paid for.

The quality of the moulding looks good, with only a little flash that I can see. I expect the plastic will be somewhat hard and the clear parts may be brittle.

The decals look excellent, though I see the sheet is studded with stencils. At least the main insignia are very plain and simple. Funnily enough, the North Korean-marked one is probably one I’d build. No idea what colour the wheel wells really are, but that’s what the internet is for.

And the instructions? Wisely diagrammatic and not bombastic in the aircraft history summary.

I shall bathe it at the first opportunity and get it together as quickly as might be. Let us hope I am not condemning it to be on the scrap pile from birth…