The Little World

Knowing that the Fairey Battle was used by the BCATP in the 1940’s meant that I was always burning to find one.

Well, the coal fire went out at the Airfix works a long time ago, and nothing was seen here until an advertisement for a new Czech mould appeared earlier in the year. This faint hope also died when it was announced that the issue would be withheld. The lacklustre Battle was a lacklustre model.

Then the good news that a friend’s stash was being opened and a Battle from MPM was on the sales table. It is a Czech short-run from long ago, but needs must…

All the middle-to-early characteristics are there; monochrome pictorial instructions, resin detail blocks, and a rudimentary cockpit.

But the engraved panel lines are superb and there are no sink marks visible – courtesy of no locating pins.

The decal sheet looks wonderful, though I will be making my own RCAF serial numbers for the training version. It was a plain plane when on the plains and will be finished in overall trainer yellow.