The Little World

I must record my admiration for the box art of this ICM product. I was never going to be able to do the weathering or modulating that is shown on the package, but the slightly yellow tinge to the Russian green was what made it really special.

I was also grateful that the designers didn’t select one of those Soviet paint jobs that have an enormous banner painted down the side of the fuselage. I avoid them whenever possible as I know the problems of trying to float on an eastern-bloc decal at the best of times.

Fortunately, ICM seem to have gotten a better printer for their markings – all the stars and numbers loosened after a minute and could be eased off with a wet brush. The Mr. Mark Setter seems to be the secret to avoiding silvering as well; even with this egg-shell surface there is no problem.

They were wise enough to leave the rudder tip marking off the decal sheet – this sort of thing is easy enough to paint anyway and decals never seem to give a good result over the break of the tail.

In the future I am going to snap these ICM kits up as they appear – even if they are not on the immediate agenda, they are of such quality and price that it’s worth laying down a separate division of the stash. And apparently they are getting better year by year.

Note: Written before the current war and consequent disruption to trade. I am in the hands of circumstance.