The Little World

I have an ongoing problem with model kit building – one that is exacerbated by the fact that I build my kits in three locations. This involves hauling kit boxes and part-made structures around with me. The problem is that parts can go missing.

I have tried to prevent this by adhering to the practice of leaving parts on sprue trees until the last minute. I’ve taken to painting the smaller parts on the trees and then touching them up after removal. Mostly this works. But in the rough and tumble of moving models, things can work loose fron the trees and once rolling around in the box, they can roll away forever.

This is the only explanation I can give for why one of the propeller spinners is missing. And the bomber is distinctive with them – so a rescue repair was necessary.

I’ve done this before…and equipped with a very useful kit from Hobbyco in Sydney – bought on speculation some years ago – I set out to duplicate the spinner.

First part used the Pinky silicone material – I used the reamining spinner as a master model, trapping it on a baseball card and putting a steel collar over it, into which the pink silicone was poured. it set in an hour and I had a flexible rubber mould of the spinner.

The second part involves the casting resin – you just need a couple of drops of A and B liquids mixed rapidly and poured into the mould. When it had cured for an hour it was prised out, washed with meths, and the interior carved out to take the propeller.

Lo, the rear flange seated as well as it did on the original part, and I could epoxy everything together and paint it.

I know there is a ringer in there but no-one else will.