Category: 1:72 scale
-
Pitts S2A – Part One – Leonardo’s

My daughter visited Japan some 5 years ago – pre Covid. I tasked her with bringing me back something that wasn’t available in our local shops. Fortunately she wandered into one of the Leonardo’s shops in Akihabara and was able to talk to the sales staff. She selected 4 models that were old, odd, and…
-
Good Ol’ Boyz

Recently I completed a scale model of a Finnish fighter plane from the period of WW2. It was a good kit and the camouflage colours went well; two shades of green on the top and a light blue underside. I was able to add the Finnish Air Force insignia on the wings and fuselage as…
-
Dewoitine D.500 – Part Two – Aeronavale

It is a pity that the development of the French Navy’s air arm was cut short by being the country being defeated on the land. It would have been interesting to see them engaged with the Italian Navy in the Mediterranean. As it was, the two sides might have been evenly matched. This version of…
-
Dewoitine D.500 – Part One – Escapee

In this case, this kit has done a runner from the hobby shop’s stand at the WASMex show. When it was on the stand – and neglected by the crowd – it was priced down from $ 35 to $ 15. To be honest, I missed it as well, so it is just dumb luck…
-
RWD 5bis – Part Three – Bon Dia

Or Dzień Dobry, if you are just starting out. Because this little 450Kg light plane flew from Warsaw to Brazil. Not in one leap, nor in one day, but it started and finished a winner. For a long time the lightest aircraft to cross the Atlantic. The model is also a winner, and will take…
-
RWD 5bis – Part Two – The Solo Monoplane

Whenever you see the word ” monoplane ” you know you are looking at a period design. Because there were other choices – biplanes, triplanes, sesquiplanes, etc. These still exist today, but only in oddity or X-plane form. The big feature of this little airplane is the fuel tank – sandwiched into the tiny interior…
-
RWD 5bis – Part One – The Dollar Flier

I have no idea where the original owner of this kit obtained it. Like as not, it was sent to the UK during the Warsaw pact era as a foreign-currency earner and was probably sold quite cheaply. I obtained it for a dollar – rough cardboard box and all. I have had a number of…
-
Norcanair DC-3 – Part Five – CF-CTD

A nearly good model… The basic structure of CF-CTD is fine – Italeri make a first-rate moulding of this aircraft. The military modeller who makes a D-Day C-47 will be delighted with the result. The invasion stripes should make for a spectacular OOTB build – even though research seems to show that the real stripes…
-
What Do You Do When It All Starts?

Starts to go pear-shaped… Make cider, possibly. Or begin to panic. Panic is always a good choice as it gets the circulation going nicely. And you get a lot more done when you are screaming. Some kit builds progress well – they are logical procedures that flow from one to another as the structure matures.…
-
Norcanair DC-3 – Part Four – Trying To Read The Pictures

As soon as you decide to change a scale model kit from what the manufacturer has given you in the box, you should be cautious. What did the real thing look like? Hopefully like the mouldings in the box. What was the finish and what were the markings? Well, if it isn’t on the decal…
