The Little World

I am never one to decry play value. Whether it is a model railway layout or a burlesque dancer, getting pleasure out of fiddling around is what it’s all about. Above all, we want things to move…

This was the case with the dear old Monogram airplane kits of my childhood. Things that moved sold the kit to me. In the model car era that succeeded the aircraft, it was kits providing alternative parts and decals that got the $ 2.49 out of my pocket. Most of the moving parts eventually broke off and many of the alternate parts were wasted…but I loved the kits.

The Italeri GR.1 has mechanisms in the design that allow the builder to fold and extend the variable-sweep wings and to cycle the horizontal stabiliser fully up or down. You need to assemble the mechanisms before you close the top of the fuselage to the bottom. If you wish for variable wings you need to also assemble the wing stores pylons before you close the wings. Italeri fancy you will be able to use a hot screwdriver to mushroom the ends of the pylon’s axles in the wing and then turn the bombs and rockets as you play.

I appreciate their enthusiasm but it just cannot happen – the parts are too small. The wing fold is also weak, though it could be done.

I have opted to depict the Tornado on the ground, with some of the doors open. I’ll have the wings out, the pylons forward, and the bang-goods hung on them. I’m locking the internal mechanism to that with cement and PVA glue so that nothing wants to come adrift or to lever the fuselage apart.

I’ll still play, but inside my mind…