The Little World

On a Saturday, with a new model kit, no homework, and a whole Coffee Crisp chocolate bar to myself.

If you are English you can equate this to Christmas afternoon, a tin of Bullseyes, and a new Airfix kit plus a James Bond movie to watch.

Religion has a lot to offer the thinking adult, but little kids can have an entirely different idea of Heaven…

This idea passed through my mind as I snipped away at the sprue trees of the little 1:100 Heller Fouga Magister. It is hardly the kit tthat needs a month to build, nor are you going to want to search the net for aftermarket resin or brass. It is a little kid’s kit for a happy day. If you build it in the same frame of mind you get the full benefit.

It is riveted, crude, and garish. There are few parts for the main frame but far too many for the landing gear. In any case this was destined – like my 1:144 models – to fly on a stand.

It has pilots, and they are a pain to paint. They sit in a cockpit tub that is crude to the point of being a cartoon. No matter, it is actually an elegant design, a successful full-size aircraft, and an encouragement to seek out a 1:72 version for a more careful build.

My thanks to whoever abandoned it at the club.