The Little World

Starting out on a kit that I bought from someone’s stash, I was gleefully contemplating the colour scheme when I noticed that there was no canopy for the aircraft.

Had it been included in the kit and I lost it? Had it been missing and was overlooked at the time? Was I in possession of a $ 20 Buster when I really wanted a $ 20 fighter plane?

After a session of sinking feelings I reviewed what one can do in the situation:

a. Go buy a modern version of the kit and switch the canopy. Leaving you with a modern dud kit. No good pestering the maker for a replacement canopy – it would be dishonest.

b. Search for an aftermarket replacement. Nothing available for this scale and kit…and if it was, the price would be the same as a modern kit as in ( a. ) above…defeating the whole purpose of the exercise.

c. Try to make a plunge moulded canopy. Yeah, right, that’s gonna happen any time soon…

d. Sculpt a canopy shape from Milliput in place in the cockpit area and when it’s hard sand it smooth. Then cover the assembly with a protective ” tarp “. and weather the heck out of the rest of the poor old thing.

The last named is the only sensible course of action. I won’t like doing it, but it will not set back the display of this aircraft too much in the context of my desert air museum.

I’m peeved but not about to do a Yamaguchi over it.