The Little World

Well, that’s what it reminded me of…as well it might – being a flying boat. If it was to go on water, a fish shape would be most a appropriate.

The insides are bare, but at least they are decorated. And the windows will not fall inward. I’ve seen that trick too often not be careful – two types of cement holding them in. The cockpit has less in it than the front seat of my car, but at least it’s green. Being Airfix, they have supplied a full crew, and they’ll make up for the simplicity somewhat.

The misplaced locating pins and holes is another thing, though if you know about them before you start offering the fuselage sides up for cementation, you can decide to alter or remove them. I am always suspicious these days, and never more so than with the older retro vintage kits. I admire a design that snaps together, but it must do so in such a way that it doesn’t provide me with ridges and gaps later.

Whenever I cannot mate the fuselage sides or wing and stab halves, I search out all the pins and sockets and remove one or the other. I also sometimes sand the parts flat on a large surface to provide the best opportunity for a stress-free join that has adequate welding surface. So far I have rarely had to add styrene strip at the margins, but it is always an option.

I must also record my gratitude to one of the team members of the Flory Forum for their demonstration of progressive cementation – it’s saved a number of fuselages and wings.