The Little World

As most know, I do not, as a rule, model Axis subjects. Oh, I have done so where historically appropriate to tell a story, or as captured aircraft, but few in their own livery.

The recent completion of a Heinkel 70 G-1 Blitz was an exception – it forms part of the civilian scene at a European airfield. This kit of a Henkel 51 would generally not have a place – but a chance search through the internet showed that it could be built as a training aircraft of much the same time as the Blitz. Attractive, but not overt.

The kit is from Hasegawa – probably their classical period. Two sprue grey trees and a tiny clear windscreen in a bag. The decals are two planes from the Condor legion – one of which seems to have been flown by Adolf Galland. They are well printed, but superfluous; the civil markings are red/white/black tail bands and black registration numbers – all do-able on the inkjet printer.

The moulding seems fine, but carries a fair bit of flash. No sink marks visible, and hard plastic. Fine lines, but raised. A pilot is included, and will be flying the thing.

The instructions are clear and leave no doubt as to the assembly, but are the old style with no colour to the call-out. You can manage these kind, but they aren’t as nice as the newer Airfix printings.

An enjoyable home project, just in time, and at a swap-meet bargain price – I look forward to it.