The Little World

Every so often a piece of ripe fruit –  a plum of a model kit in this case – falls right into my lap. Upon reflection, it might have fallen to me 8 months ago when I was in Melbourne, but no matter – it has plopped down now, and I am delighted.

I build RCAF planes, as you know, and I have a wonderful illustrated book of WWII types that I am trying to adhere to. In it is a Douglas Boston MkIII – TH-O – that scored a famous victory as a night intruder for an RCAF Squadron Leader. Lo and behold, Special Hobby decided to kit this exact aircraft in the livery of the time with the distinctive markings. All I need do is follow the instructions assiduously and I’ll have a star attraction.

And as I have already built one Douglas Havoc as a VVS aircraft, I know some of the pitfalls of the kit and of the type. Hopefully I will not make the same mistakes this time round.

The Special Hobby kit contains much the same on the sprues as the Havoc kit, with some exceptions – this has provision for a glazed nose as well as the solid gunned one, and the rear gunners position is more complex. There are changes to the engine intakes on the nacelles but these are covered in the instructions and you just need to leave out later trunking or scoops.

I note that the Boston has some dynamite flame-hiding exhausts and provision for completely new engine covers done in resin. The version I intend to build uses the older injection-moulded covers. Thankfully the props are injection-moulded and are very well detailed. There is also provision for a large gun pan under the bomb bay that I’ll need to fit.

All in all, this will be one of the better second builds I have done.