The Little World

No spinach is ever entirely free of sand and no model kit is entirely free of flaws. The Tamiya ones get close, but you can still get picky. In the case of the Revell Curtiss Hawk, the stumbling blocks are – so far – minor.

a. Look at the way the top half of the engine cowling doesn’t match the bottom half. Pulled out of the mould too hot, I expect. Revell state in their instruction sheet that you shouldn’t glue the cowling in place – they intend you to be able to show off the bare engine.

Nice thought, but no. That’s never going to happen with this pair of castings and in any case it invites loss of the parts.

The cure was simple – a quick and careful heating of the part with the gas-powered crème brûlée torch and then blowing on it until it cooled into the right contour. The two halves were then cemented together and sanded smooth. There is enough space in the engine compartment to see the two-bank radial anyway.

b. Look at the heading image. The wings , tail, and cowling all fit square and true but the fairing at the wing root is an absolute trench. Tomorrow it is going to get a filling of epoxy resin to stabilise it and then Vallejo acrylic putty.

I am really pleased with the way it is going. Old classics are not to be derided – they are the kits that yield the most satisfaction in the end.