The Little World

And Imperial Russian at that. The finest Fabergé egg I could make for myself. The sadness occasioned by ruining a model has disappeared ( though I still have a sin to atone for when next I come to a military vehicle…) and I can start my WW1 collection in fine style.

I have avoided this fruitful division of model aircraft until now based on my trepidation over multi-plane aircraft and the struts and alignments needed. I built a Czech Avro Tutor and was horribly frustrated with it. But I had forgotten the childhood experiences with WWI planes.

Briefly, this was gained with the old 1:48 Aurora kits – a Nieuport 11 my first venture in 1957. I did not know I couldn’t do it then, so I did it. And followed this with Airfix Camels and Fokkers over the subsequent years. All looked fine…so I guess it’s time to pull up the BGP and start adding to the Pioneers gallery.

So here’s the Morane-Saulnier with the shiny silver finish. The rubber rigging wires are simplicity itself – particularly as Revell moulded in the attachment points and provided a rigging diagram.

Dimitri is dashing with his military moustache but I suspect we may find that he will be switching sides when it comes to building the other Revell WW1 kits in Paul’s gift box – the German and British planes. Perhaps he has brothers.

I am a little hesitant to try some of the more complex lozenge camouflage schemes that characterised the German planes of the time. However, there may be aftermarket sheets of camouflage pattern that can be purchased – one of the few times I will unbend enough to reach for my wallet.