Category: design
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Mitsubishi Peggy – Part Five – Airframe Day

Well, the Peggy is closed up and winged. Airframe day passed successfully. I do not decry the Czech makers of short-run kits for their economies of production – at least I do not condemn them too much. I appreciate the fact that they bring me things I could otherwise never have. But I do miss…
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Messerschmitt Me 109 E – Part Two – Airfix’s Steady Earner

The old saw about selling people bread applies to the scale model business as much as it does to bakeries. If people want bread, you bake bread. Never mind the fact that every other establishment in town also turns out loaves – and put aside your enthusiast’s desire to bake upside-down unicorn croissants…bread sells, and…
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De Havilland Heron Mk II – Part Five – Whew

Well, the colour coats are done – the trim stripe is done – the decals are on. The various pieces are being cemented and snapped in. The air crash did not destroy the bird. Every speculative colour scheme that you think up – every set of decals you print yourself – every artistic decision you…
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Avro Tutor – Part Two – So Far, So Good

The assembly of the AZ Avro Tutor so far is encouraging. the fuselage is straight and the interior built up nicely – I even managed the photo-etch seat belts as the cockpit is open. The landing gear is solid once the three struts are braced against each other. The tail wheel will never last…
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Stand And Deliver!

Yes, I’ll confess…I’ve always wanted to be in a self-employed business that involves a fast horse, a black mask, and a brace of pistols. The only thing that has prevented me starting one up is the need to decide upon a suitable name. I was toying with ” Captain Fatuous ” but the family disapproved……
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Good To Go

One of the favourite expressions of Phil Flory on his vlog shows. I like it as it is a comfortable thing to hear – at least something has succeeded. The latest model may be a festering mass of foam and fingerprints but by the time it has hardened and you’ve gotten your fingers unstuck from…
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Heinkel HE 111 – Part Four – The Elegant Wing

Some aeroplane wings are ugly things. Go look at the Junkers Ju52 in broad daylight. Some are incredible – get out a picture of a B-36. And some, like this Heinkel HE 111 wing, are pieces of real sculpture. Don’t look too long at the engine nacelles – they were covered in an earlier post.…
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Heinkel HE 111 – Part Three – The Aerodynamic Engine

I do not know enough about the differences between British and German aero engines to be able to debate their good and bad points. Suffice it to say I think the British practice of mounting the Merlin engine upright seems to be a darn sight more sensible than the inverted Daimler Benz of the German…
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Fokker F-27 Friendship – Part Two – Paying Customers

I admire Italeri greatly for including the interiors on their airliners – after all, these are planes designed to carry people for money, and just moulding up a bare interior is a slack way of doing it. I am prepared to put up with the absence of overhead luggage lockers as these can be made…
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Boeing KB29A – Part Six – A Bigger Jig

The value of the Little Workshop adjustable jig is proving itself daily. It comes in handy for all builds to steady aircraft in either normal or inverted mode and to allow me to rest planes on the trailing edge of the wings to apply propellers. If I turn the fuselages sideways I can do side…
