The Little World

The Finnish Air Force roundels on this Post-War Dornier seemed a little small when seen in the illustration. They were also depicted this size on another modeller’s effort…so I finally had to accept them as real.

The colours of this ex-Luftwaffe aircraft were very close to that of the German Air Force in the late WW2 period. But interestingly enough the upper surface pattern bears more resemblance to Allied camouflage than German. I suspect it was repainted smartly as the war ended and Finland was – if not exactly on the wrong side – standing near enough to the losers to be in danger of being taken for them. Thus the former air force roundel of a light blue swastika on a white circle was discretely restyled into a light blue roundel on white.

And I suspect they parked their planes under the trees for a few years just in case…Their war years against the Soviets wer in ’39-’44 but in the meantime the Soviets had won big time and were likely to be sore winners, as well as sore losers. Time to be neutral and placatory…

As a model, the end result is all I ask for this small scale – reasonable shape and sturdy construction. there are enough guns and aerials ready to get knocked off as it is. The canopies are admirably well-fitting and clean.The crew are well-moulded, though there is no variation in the pose. The net yielded a colour picture of a famous Finn pilot in flying gear so the painting there is probably accurate.

I find myself wondering if any of the Finn Brewster Buffaloes survived into the post-war period to end up with the roundels as well – must investigate. I need more Scandinavian aircraft.