The Little World

And I spent a morning pinning the tail on it. No blindfold.

Czech and other short-run airplane kits have many flaws, but one of the most worrying is the fact that they often provide no way of attaching the tail securely. If there is a tab and slot it is rudimentary, clogged with flash and builder’s rubble, and likely to be so rudimentary as to defeat the whole purpose of the thing. There are kits with one or two nubbins on the stabilisers and dots on the tail itself that are even worse.

So whenever I see one of these crudities I go straight to the heart of the matter – I square and true the mating faces and find the thickest part of the stabiliser. Then it’s two small holes deep into the plastic and two small map pins fitted.

Offering them up to the tail, you can mark where they will go very easily. When you drill out port and starboard you can get even holes that match either side.

Then you choose your cement and ease the tail together on the steel pins. You still need to block it up and keep it true as it sets, but the thing is eventually done and stronger than any other part of the fuselage.