The Little World

I walk in awe of the people who build scale model biplanes and then rig them.

They have condemned themselves to the sort of stage act that used to involve Chinese jugglers, bamboo poles, and spinning bowls…and then added the sort of things that would make a spider burst into tears. I don’t know what they wear as they build their planes, but I would not be surprised if it was a hair shirt.

I do not rig, but I do strut – because the wings would not go on without it. Fortunately, Airfix have taken pity upon me in latter models and have provided positive seating for struts in both wigs and fuselages. And their geometry is so precise as to allow the whole to snap together before any cement is applied.

The use of a centre section and folding outer panels is also a feature of naval aviation – Airfix gave the option of deployed or folded wings for this kit. Like its float-plane mate, I have opted for open wings. They cemented cleanly and were straight from the start. I did take the hint, and – like the Airfix Tiger Moth kit in 1:72 – I left the sprue tree braces in between the struts until the very last moment to provide support while cement set.

Only one flaw in the entire kit – the braces under the tailplanes were heat-warped. Easy to replace with brass wire.