The Little World

This model was purchased in panic when I thought a local hobby shop was closing down. I did not want to miss out.

Well the shop is still open, but I do not regret the purchase. I have recently built a modern Bristol Type 170 Super Freighter and this older bus will be a wonderful lead-up to it.

The Valom kit is well presented, with a proper instruction book and colour call-out. The decals look superb, and the hard parts – the resin and brass bits – are commendably few.

There is one bit of major cutting needed on the fuselage to change the housing for the rear turret. The kit is also used to build a bomber version of the aircraft and the main mould has a fairing that must be trimmed away. A resin part replaces it.

Surprisingly, the main undercarriage is also duplicated and the kit version will also need resin replacement . the parts as moulded seem perfect but I am leery of the strength of the supporting landing strut. Time will tell.

There are also quite a few holes that will need to be drilled for extra windows in the fuselage – goodness knows there are enough of them already there. A day will be devoted to glazing the thing before the halves are joined, though you will be able to see nothing in the gloom inside after this.

The final finish, however, will be a fine silvery duraluminium, so there are compensations for the drudgery work.