Category: Soviet aircraft
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Douglas A-20 Havoc – Part One – Search The Sprue

I’m starting to know how to play the game – at least recognising some of the new rules. It’s changed since the 1960’s… Back then, plastic model kits gave you only a very few choices – the AMT 3-in-1 cars had extra parts that you could glue onto them to make racing cars or customs.…
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I Don’t Think I’m Working Hard Enough At Being Lazy

I mean, procrastination starts with ” pro ” and you’ve gotta be dedicated for that, right? I’m typing this because there is a backlog in the Little Workshop – but it is a deliberate thing. I’ve been working on the A-20 Havoc, several P-39’s and a B-25 Mitchell. They’ve all got to the undercoat stage…
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Bell P-39 Airacobra – Part Two – The Sprues Goose

There was never going to be a great deal of desperate basic modelling in the construction of two P-39’s from Hobby Boss kits from the outset. And this was just what made the idea so appealing. I know the kit to be a good one and the ease of construction is just a bonus. Doing…
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Bell P-39 Airacobra – Part One – The Soviet Twins

For the first time ever I am doing a group build. Not an exercise where I’m going to be a member of a group of modellers, but one where I make a group of models. Related items, if you will, and all made at the same time. They are being made for a purpose –…
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Sandown Park 2019 – Part Five – A Red Star Track

When Red StarTrack deliver…you sign for it or else… This year’s exhibition pointed out something to me – the quantum shift in the scale modelling word from US and UK manufacture of plastic kits to makers behind the old Iron or Bamboo Curtains. With the moulding going to areas of former Soviet influence there are…
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MiG 15 – Part Eight – Is Ready For Uszhitmi Air Show

The Uszhitmi Air Show has always been the premier display of Soviet – and laterally Russian – air power since the early 20’s. Starting as it did with flying tractors and merry peasant dances on the tarmac between crashes, it progressed to formation passes made the giant creations of the 30’s that were ever larger…
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MiG 15 – Part Seven – Supercheap To The Rescue

Do you remember my series of tests done to find out which acrylics, enamels, and lacquers would spray best? And the subsequent quest for clear coatings that would let me do decals and then protect the models? Well I looked out my sample tablets today and reassessed them. The local version of a floor polish…
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MiG 15 – Part Five – Science To The Fore! Onwards To Socialism!

Whoops, sorry about that. The Radio Havana broadcast was turned up too high… But let us not allow politics to interfere with science – particularly with the science of the model airplane. The Little Workshop is proud to announce the introduction of a new instrument into the world – the Stein Staterometer. You won’t find…
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MiG 15 – Part Three – You Have Chosen Wisely, Grasshopper

The MiG 15 is somewhat of an iconic aircraft – albeit Soviet, derived from German research. It lasted well after contemporary Meteors and Sabres were shuffled off to client nations and thence to museums. Indeed aircraft of this era are now only found as museum exhibits – flying or otherwise. Oh, and a Canadian private…
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MiG 15 – Part Two – Bring On The Clowns, Popov

Well, I stared and stared at the colour call-out and decal sheet for the MiG 15 and just couldn’t get excited. The entire outside of the airplane was aluminium colour – with only a little red or blue on a tail or nose. I am not against aluminium colour per se but I’ve recently built quite a…
