The Little World

And it’s not Swedish at all.

The reason I refer to this RS Models kit of the Airspeed Envoy by the shop name is that – like most of the goods that IKEA sell – it is very nearly what I want, but not quite…I could make do with it, and change it around, and pretend it was something that it is not. However, I shall be honest with it – and build it in one of the kit variations.

The plane is soooo close to the Airspeed Oxford that i want for my 1940’s RCAF airfield that the temptation is strong to bodge. But an Envoy’s side windows bear little resemblance to those of an Oxford. I shall possess myself in patience and wait until someone finally has a 1:72 Oxbox in stock. Or is that stox…?

In the meantime, this plane will join either my Spanish republican air force or my nationalist Chinese one – I shall decide later.

It has all the good things such as resin engines and cowlings and brass etch controls and seat belts. There is a horrible sight – photo etch pushrods for the engines. I will need to steel myself for the brass…

The resin engine cowls do have some buried bubbles – I will either need to pop them and fill them or be careful not to touch them with anything. I think the former rather than the latter, as I do not want to get all the paint on and then have them collapse.

The rest of the injection mouldings look good – including a number of seats for the interior – the side windows are open enough to reward a good interior. Surprisingly, three separate sets of under-wing nacelle mouldings and four ( 4! ) separate sets of propellers. There is no call-out for the nacelles so there’ll be some research and dry fitting needed.

The decals look superb – and RS have been good in the past. I’ll use the new soaking system for these so they should do well.