The Little World

Singapore is a special place for Western Australians – a ” foreign ” Asian city-state…that is not foreign at all. We have come to recognise that it is a Williams Street with humidity. A Northbridge that is safe to walk around. A Canning Vale without the semis.

It is also home to some good bargains in the scale modelling scene – not the least of which are provided by Mr. Lee at Miniature Hobby International from the Trivex building at 8 Burn Road. You get there on the MRT train, walk a couple of short Singapore blocks, and go up to his floor. Any hobbyist will be instantly at home, and when they discover the prices can be 40% of what they are in Melbourne, the whole place becomes that much nicer.

Note: if you are ever hungry or thirsty in Singapore, it’s your own fault. They have more places to eat and more good things to choose from than any place I know.

Why this travelogue? Well, this model of a Soviet Antonov ANT-5 was purchased there by my friend John and given to me as a present – He saw how odd it was and thought instantly of me…

The kit is typical Zvezda – heavy stiff plastic on strong sprue trees.

Moderate detail, strongly moulded. A Soviet subject. Frightening decals – basic instructions. Reasonable box art – one of their later productions. It will be useful to supplement the totally inadequate colour call-out.

The prototype is a Soviet experiment at a time when everyone else was thrashing about anyway. It reminds one of other corrugated wonders – Junkers, Ford, and Polikarpov come to mind. It will be the subject of a painting experiment as well.