Category: Stein’s Air World
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Douglas Devastator – Part Three – Did I Get My Money’s Worth?

That’s always a pertinent question as far as my hobbies go. Indeed it also applies to clothing purchases, dinners at restaurants, and holiday trips. Sometimes the answer is no – for instance when they bring a tiny dinner out on a vast white plate and then hover like a Sikorski asking whether it is to…
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Canadair Sabre – Part Five – Better Than I Expected

An up and down experience, the Canadair Sabre. As are many aircraft…that’s why they have elevators and engines. The Airfix kit was delightful – the Mr Color paint was not what I wanted…but that was my fault. The clear coatings went very well. The decals were an experience. But the ensemble has come together better…
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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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Grumman Avenger – Part Six – Hande Hoch!

Und if you do not obey ziss varning – zere vill be conzeqvences… The consequences will be fingerprints in the clear varnish on the model. I know – I’ve been here before and done this very thing. And had to discipline myself not to do it again. The Mk III jig helps – I got…
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Mitsubishi A5M-2 – Part Two – A Nipponese Quickie

I’m not sure if I should leave money on the mantlepiece. I’ve just had my moment of pleasure and it’s all over. But I don’t regret it at all. Lets face it – building a Hobby Boss fighter plane is never going to be a case of long-term employment. Unless you pace yourself, you’ll find…
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Piasecki HUP Retreiver – Part Five – The Droop

I am alternately delighted and saddened by my first Piasecki. Delighted that it could be made as a Canadian aircraft and in a service that I have not yet explored – the Royal Canadian navy. Delighted that the lacquer paints turned out so well. Delighted that the tiny details of the landing gear actually worked…
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Macchi MC 205 Veltro – Part Four – The Flying Fellah

Note to readers: This post went out in error several days ago – it was shelved and reopened today, to provide the final chapter. Wheter that makes any sense or not is debatable, but then this is me writing and you reading… See, I didn’t go mad after all. Or madder, if you want to…
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Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIX – Part One – So Why This One?

For that matter, why any of them? What’s the factor that impels us to choose one particular plastic model over all the others there in the hobby shop – impels us strongly enough to get us to spend money buying it, and time researching and building it? I think it can be many things: a.…
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Chance Vought Corsair – Part One – Familiar Territory

As you’ll have seen from my earlier postings, this kit build is a confidence-building exercise occasioned by a recent failure. It is the second Corsair to get on the deck but this time it will fly. The Hobby Boss presentation is familiar – a clear plastic tray that corrals all the sprues and parts. I…
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Junkers 52 – Part Three – The Sprues Goose

Okay, that was a bad aviation pun. I’m not ashamed of it, though, as the contents of the Italeri kit have braced me up immensely. This is the sort of modelling I like to do – just the level of detail that supports 1:72 scale without going too far either way. Of course there are…
