The Little World

I appear to have started an aircraft factory.

This was not my intention when I began my retirement modelling – I was just looking for one or two kits to while away spare time. Nostalgia. A mere bagatelle.

Well, the Mere Aircraft Company’s Bagatelle Mk III turns out to have been a hell of an aircraft. 16 radial engines, many of them on the outside of the plane and a cockpit so large that they could run two bowling alleys and a lunch counter for the flight crew. Heated Elsan cans at the back. 7 turrets mounting 20mm cannon, and that was just on the airliner version. Don’t ask about the network of escape tunnels under the main spar as these were secret.

It is just as well I found 5 clear plastic tubs with lids in the workshop shelves – they will eventually all be needed to contain kits in progress. I am currently working on one twin-engine bomber, a biplane, and will start a jet fighter shortly. The reason for these parallel builds is the fact that I am becoming more fastidious with the finishing and there must be time assigned for fillers and sanding to obliterate join lines. Plus more and more undercoats and colour finishing. You cannot work on complex structures in a serial way – there are too many necessary pauses.

Were I an extra-parts and aftermarket worker it would be far worse. They spend big on extra detail and each new packet of goodies costs more days of prep, curing, and finishing. I concentrate on what comes in the box and this takes long enough.

The hobby has been a godsend in the viral lockdown period and may be called back to that if things flare up again. I shall monitor the stash level and make sure that there is always a strategic reserve. I hope the manufacturers are going to be able to keep stock levels in the stores.