The Little World

The first B-66 Destroyer I had was a Monogram model with lots of moving parts and a bomb bay that worked. I remember destroying a small city with it. Play was more robust in the 1950’s, I can tell you.

But the Italeri RB-66B is no bomber – it’s an electronics warfare and reconnaissance bird. It has the most aerials I have ever installed in any aircraft, and they are the most vulnerable. All on the bottom, the only reason they can survive in the collection is the fact that this is sitting on a very sturdy undercarriage. Had I elected to build it as an in-flight model on a stand I doubt if they would have lasted a week.

There is something to be said for metal castings for this sort of detail, or rubber mouldings if possible.

In any case I am delighted with the result – more so in that it was so neglected there in the hobby shop. The price had never advanced with the market so it was very economical indeed.

The decals went on well, but there was some question about the smaller markings. Italeri made a superb set of them but left some to the investigator of the internet to position. I may have edited the smaller and sillier ones out…

Will I build another neglected Italeri USAF plane? The B-58? You bet I will.