The Little World

This title is prompted by the shape of the Liore et Olivier 45 bomber – the last time you will see the entire name in this report.

It is a fish – a codfish or salmon, by the look of it – attached to two streamlined wings, two streamlined nacelles, and two inverted rudders. This the extent of the good design – from here on in it becomes un produit de France and you are going to need all your good manners to keep from laughing.

The kit is an old Heller/Humbrol Musée 1:72 offering and came to me as part of a legacy sale. I am extremely grateful to the seller, as I would never have encountered something like this in the shops.

The kit is clean – free of sinkhole flaws and with very little flash. The delicate nature of parts of the landing gear has been reproduced and will probably be side-stepped. The basic fit of fuselage halves and wing/tail interfaces is good – about what you expect from the mid-80’s.

Instructions are fine – Heller may have been odd, but they could draw a good diagram. The colour call-out is monochrome, but the net has examples of the type and the basic French early-war tri-tone is well documented. In the end I chose to follow the call-out as it is as good as anything else, but the colouration is surprisingly drab for the French. The Vichy builder at least will get some red and yellow.

The decals look good as well, not foxed with age and with a decent red/blue balance. Not overly decorated, mind, though they have provided a useful arrow to let the pilot know which way to fly it. Always a wise precaution in a nation that drinks red wine during a three-hour luncheon.