The Little World

And that lovely crispy bacon you got before the war…

The local airlines used to get a yearly contribution from me to visit Sydney or Melbourne. Not last year, and not this one, and maybe not next year, either…but hopefully some year after that. I hope the Sandowne Park model expo is still going then.

I am surprised that there is no greater interest in civil aviation amongst the scale modellers – the kit makers treat it as a secondary market and you rarely see built examples of the very airplanes that used to roar over Perth. I was pleased, therefore, at the recent WASMEX show to see several really outstanding civil models.

I think the best one for me would have been the 707-B of Air France with the detailed diorama base. I’m guessing it may have started out as a Heller Kit. The accessory figures and vehicles are new to me but I think the overall picture is perfect with them in place. This was an era with fewer dedicated airside vehicles.

The Interflug Ilyushin from the German Democratic Republic is an interesting choice. If I were to bet on the origin I would say Zvezda, though I’m open to correction. The final finish is delightful, though the original airplane my not have been.

I do recognise the Jetstar plane – I rode one myself in the eastern states on a feeder line. It was neither better nor worse than any other 1-hour up-and-down flight and the coffee was hot.

These exhibition models have fired my enthusiasm – my next large build could be made as a military version but I think I’ll convert it to an air freighter. A lot of real airlines are doing just this right now.