Category: design
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When Is An Apple Not An Apple?
When it is drawn as a diagram on the instruction sheet of a scale model piece of fruit. Then – particularly if the kit is from Prague – the part that looks like a Granny Smith, Mackintosh, or Cox’s Pippin could well be an aileron or de-icing strip. There will be few written notes to…
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MiG-29 Fulcrum – Part Two – Thinking Behind
Thinking behind is opposite from thinking ahead and has different rules. a. You are not meant to feel good. b. You are not going to do a good job. c. The language is different. Shorter and sharper… My second lesson in second thinking came when I had closed up the fuselage of he MiG-29. It…
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RCN Swordfish – Part Three – Careful Observation
Does not necessarily mean sensible painting. The camouflage patterns painted on British aircraft were pretty standardised in WW2. You’ll all have seen the A and B patterns for fighters, bombers, and such and the basic designs were similar. Paint crews were issued with instructions and often masking mats to enable them to put on the…
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RCN Swordfish – Part Two – The Escapee
Normally you escaped from the USSR – it rarely went the other way. In this case the mould for this FROG Swordfish did cross to the east when the British company closed their shop. The Soviets made a few printed additions to the box and instructions then just wiped its bum and sent it out…
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The Nearly Model
We’ve all had the experience of seeing an item on the shelf of a decor store antique palace that looks like a model from a distance – but a dust catcher from close up. Not that real scale models do not catch dust…it is just that the decor items are stuff that is churned out…
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Heinkel He-111c – Part Three – Touch-Fit
And only where it touches, I might add. The Roden curse is starting to take effect. The ambitions of the moulders will need to be matched with equal bravery by the builder. The fit of many of the parts is approximate. This is surprising considering the more delicate parts like the landing gear struts seem…
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Heinkel He-111c – Part Two – The Elsan
You may not have a lot in life, but as long as you have a pot… This is the type of thought that I deal with every day – no wonder the in-laws avoid me at parties. In this case, the Roden kit of the He 111c brought it to mind again as I commenced…
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Republic P-47D – Part One – Show Surprise
I was astounded when presented with this Hasegawa P-47 at our recent scale model show. It was not a prize for competition – just a kind gift from an official. I hope the end result will adequately express my gratitude. There are several other P-47’s in the collection in USAAF markings so this time I…
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Eco-Friendly Virtuous Modelling
Become One With The Modelverse. A new contest is about to be announced by the BGA for scale modellers who wish to become legends, icons, or be included in the Hall Of Famousosity. The 2025 Greta awards are going to be for the best scale model made with traditional materials by modellers who are attuned…
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I’m From Missouri
Show me. If you recognise that phrase, you’ll know it embodies the scepticism and practicality of the Missourian. It must be hard to sell used cars in Kansas City… But the miniature builder can satisfy even the hardest prairie mind – because the miniature builder need not be restricted to where they are or when…
The Little World 