The Little World

The state government in Victoria has just announced that it will introduce legislation in 2022 to ban the public display of Nazi symbols in public.

This sort of legislation exists in Germany, Austria, Poland, Ukraina, and France and has existed for quite some time. Exceptions seem to occur for museums or other institutions but the laws are pretty widely accepted. The practical effect for scale modellers is that model kits of German aircraft of the period are supplied without complete swastikas on their decal sheets.

In some cases the model kit makers provide a substitute symbol on the box art; a black rhomboid on the vertical stabiliser where the swastika was painted. Some firms just leave it off altogether from the illustration. Inside there may be a broken swastika made up of two elements that can be assembled onto the tail. In extreme cases this has also been adopted to make the characteristic light blue swastika that the Finnish air force used as a roundel insignia during the period. It is a subject upon which most people avoid comment.

Well, that may change with the Victorian legislation…at least for Victorian modellers. Wait for it…but there is bound to be a storm in a teacup in the model clubs, hobby shops, and exhibitions. Advocates of the law will shrei over the decal swastikas on the 1:72 Stukas and argumentative modellers will insist on their right to stick them on. In home model collections there will be little notice taken – in public ones there will be a righteous brouhaha over it all.

And it is inevitable that he fuss will spread. You think Covid is going to stay in Melbourne, and not get to Melville? Think again. It will get here and so will the anti-Nazi symbol legislation…together with opposition to it. It may not make the AGM of the hobby club, but I’ll bet it makes it to the debating society meeting around the water cooler.

Authenticity vs social outrage? Symbolism vs scale accuracy? Cats vs dogs? Oh, My, let’s all have a fight over the modelling workbench. That’ll make the hobby seem attractive to new members, eh?

Declaration of Personal Interest: none. I don’t put swastikas on my models because I don’t build Luftwaffe types in their original colours. I build them as captured, sold, or repurposed airplanes. I have no interest at all in post ’45 what-ifs…with the exception of my growing collection Royal Ruritanian Army Air Force planes. And they’re decorated in the British style. The airfield buildings may be half-timbered and the RRAAF march out may sound like a Sig Romberg musical, but the basic designs are all innocent.

I hope the members of my modelling club can be equally sensible when they have to confront this political theatre. Think light operetta, guys, rather than Wagner, and all should be well.