The Little World

Sounds like a geriatric pop group, doesn’t it?

In this case it is good old Junkers and their good old metal folding mill. They had an idea and they stuck to it, and we are stuck with it. Don’t get me wrong – I understand the principle of the corrugation and applaud it in fences and potato crisps. In the first case it stands up straight and in the second it allows us to scoop more cheese dip. I just shudder at it when it comes to airplane time.

First hurdle is getting an external part off the sprue tree without cutting ahole in the corrugation. Many moulders feed fat gates in through delicate areas and leave the modeller to wade out of that swamp as best they can. Easy with a Vickers leading edge – hard with a Junkers.

Second problem is getting the striations to line up along a fuselage – good moulders – and Roden are not bad – can get this right. But you need to use the thinnest cement to effect the join or you will flood the peaks and valleys.

Third worry will be when you paint – you cannot afford thick coats as they will fill up the surface and destroy the Junkers effect – but you will be tempted to this when you look forward to decals – they will need to run down into all those little valleys and seat without silvering. Now is the time to go get those crinkle-cut potato crisps and glass of strong drink. You will need your strength and resolve.

And in case you have difficult masking to do – contemplate doing it even before you join the major wing and body panels. By all means assure yourself of a very precise dry fit and clean mating surfaces – you don’t want to be faced with a difficult cementation job when the panels are painted.