The Little World

You know that thing – when you visit a hobby shop on a number of occasions and pass the same model on the shelf each time. And you look at it and heft it and put it back for some reason. Then one day you run out of reasons…

This kit of a Maryland is the only example of the plane I’ve seen. I know the Czechs make a couple but they haven’t appeared locally – and if they did the prices would be premium ones. As the shop owner said when he rang up the sale – this is the only game in town.

I was skeptical about a Russian model this old – it was bound to be a re-mould of someone else’s bomber. In this case I think it is an old FROG mould gone east. With my experience of the NOVO Tupolev SB2 bomber kit I wasn’t expecting much…

Note: I am a weak character. I cannot wait until I get home to learn my fate – I knife open the kit boxes on the front seat of the car and pore over the contents.

In this case I was pleased and encouraged. Old sprue trees, certainly, but no overweening flash or burring. The clear parts were clear and had good framing. The decals looked Russian and fragile, but I had plans for the kit with an old Xtradecal sheet so I wasn’t fazed. I would still overcoat those Russian ones and be very circumspect about using them if the opportunity ever arose.

The instruction sheet is purest Institute Of Translation Office Number 45. I do not blame them and am grateful for the amusement.

This is actually quite a nice kit.