The Little World

Old British officers will know the difference.

For scale modellers the question may be posed differently; do you build clean or dirty? Are your models fully weathered, tinted, oiled, and matted, or are they factory-fresh.

It can be a great topic if you want to get tempers up – the two groups striving to justify their position with reference to period pictures, paint charts, and other forums. if you extend the debate to a modelling competition and the judging, you can get enough worms out of the can to fish for a whole year…

I’ve tried both approaches for my little aircraft. In the end I have settled for slightly used – or ” on charge but not yet worn out “. The odd exhaust stain or oil patch. The occasional bit of paint wear where feet have trod.

No bullet holes. No dead bodies. No discarded chocolate bar wrappers. I would not keep my house that way, and I do not build that way.

You may suit yourself. Some models suggest a lifestyle…