The Little World

After learning how to correctly cut parts from sprue trees ( learned last year… ) the next most important thing I’ve discovered is the importance of the dry fit stage. And the more of the kit you can get to hang onto itself in this preliminary exercise, the better idea you’ll have of how to assemble it.

Some kits make this easy – they have accurate fit, locating tabs and pegs, and interlocking design that lets you slot it together like a LEGO. The best of the Japanese kits are like this. At the other end of the spectrum are the short-run European kits that provide nothing in the way of help. However, you will still be well advised to go through an extensive dry fit anyway – they are more likely to have fit issues than the Japanese ones.

The Stuka is not that bad, and contains design decision in the under side of the wings that allow them to mate in the centre of the fuselage – a much easier seam to deal with than bad wing roots.. It means the dihedral is that much closer to right when the assembly begins.

The decision to make the wingtips separate is on the other side of the balance – the ailerons are unnecessarily divided and will never get to look good. I shall practice looking away…