The Little World

We are about to embark upon a Spanish adventure – and in an unfamiliar scale.

I have already produced some aircraft in 1:72 from the period of the Spanish Civil War – an Antonov, a Potez, and a Dewoitine – all in Republican colours. I have also built a Polikarpov I-16 in 1:72 scale – but this will be a combination of the aircraft in Republican livery in 1:48 scale.

Not my normal scale, and made possible by a kind gift from a friend who went to a hobby shop in Singapore and brought back presents. It’s one of my trusted brands: Academy, and may have been another trusted brand before that.

John and I have compared the moulding of the Academy 1:48 to an unbuilt ICM in 1:72 and as far as the detail of the engine goes, ICM have put more onto the sprue trees. But the parts are very small and finicky,so the advent of this larger size will be an interesting experiment. The parts are well up to their standard – no Potholes and no flash.

The extras are very few – amounting to no more than multiple Soviet markings. My Republican insignia choice will be sprayed on with only the barest unit marking. And fortunately I suspect they were supplied in standard VVS green/grey overall – no need for especial paints or after-market decal sheet.

I don’t know quite yet how to display it, or whether it will just feature as a star model for a photo shoot. Its little brother – the ICM 1:72 will eventually be joining the Nationalist Chinese.