The Little World

Stand back, folks. I am about to admit I’ve been wrong.

Wow, eh? Didn’t see that coming, did’ja? Neither did I, and it only hit me when I got to the end of this build. I have had a epiphany, or a revelation, or a slight brain fart. I have missed out on a lot of fun due to hidebound rigidity. This little shelf queen has opened my eyes.

Hitherto I have tried to restrict my building efforts to 1:72 scale aircraft. This has let me amass a collection that shows relative sizes and designs of the prototypes without needing any great mental arithmetic. I have been drawn away by some kits in 1:144 and 1:48 just as they appeared – frequently as gift horses into whose mouths I am loathe to look – but they did not get the respect they deserved.

This one does. It is as good a model as I have ever built, and as easy to do as one could want. It fell together, and the interplane struts went into their sockets first time – all round.

The overall effect was as pleasing as the old Aurora Famous Fighters of the 50’s – their WW1 aircraft were a joy to build.

I am forced to conclude that there are horses for courses and scales for prototypes. Just as I will hesitate in future to build 4-engine bombers in 1:72, so I will similarly avoid 1:72 WW! biplanes and other tiny craft. 1:48 makes them a lot more fun to do, and with more reward at the end. It also opens a lot more of the hobby shop shelves to my pocketbook

PS: The decals went on well after being re-enforced with lacquer spray. I may be a fool but I do learn…