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Anorak – Part One – The Blame Spotter’s Guide to Modelling

North American readers of this column may have noted the use of the word “anorak ” occasionally. There is a story. The original garment may have been Scandinavian, or adapted from an Inuit one. The name also – I cannot tell from googling which is the case. It is a supremely useful thing to wear…
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1932 Chrysler – Part Five – Gangbusters?

Well, that was what it was touted as…and had I chosen to build the motorcycle, the G-Men, and the safe, it would have busted something. But this is a far more dignified Chrysler. I freely confess I have always liked Chrysler products, but with the exception of a Dodge and a Valiant in the 60’s…
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1932 Chrysler – Part Three – Fenders Or Wings?
Depends which side of the Atlantic or Pacific you are when you’re motoring. I call ’em fenders and British people call them wings – both are just as valid. What gets to be confusing, though, is when the English people start speaking about near-side and off-side wings. Right and left are also good English terms…
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1932 Chrysler – Part Two – The Curate’s Egg

I quite approve of the level of detail on the Chrysler engine – enough to look interesting without asking for insane complication. The wheels are rewarding. The white sidewalls are a stiff insert but once in are perfectly acceptable. The hubcaps have been touched up with that marvel of modern modelling; the Molotow pen. The…
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1932 Chrysler – Part One – Trepidation

I’m not normally nervous when selecting a model kit to build…but I’ll confess to feeling that way about this one on the hobby shop shelf.. Why nervous? Because I used to have an extensive collection of die-cast model cars in 1:18 scale that I used as props for tabletop photography. They were sold away, and…
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Time To Ditch The Camouflage

Air warfare ain’t what it used to be. Gone are the days when you had to hide amongst the clouds by painting your machine light blue – or a multi-colour if it was to sit on the ground. Nowadays the electronics look past any colour you might spray on and see the true signature of…
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All These Sprue Trees…

Of which i am collecting more and more each week… What the devil do I do with them? I’ve been in the habit of throwing them into the trash after I finish a build – minus the spare parts, of course. In some instances chopped up as I progress through the box, but in some…
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Curtiss Hawk II – Part Three – The Generalissimo’s Finest

Generalissimo Stein Kai Shek is very pleased with the new Curtiss fighter plane for the Swuping Air Army. The underlings may breath easier. The Generalissimo is relieved as well. The sight of the sprue trees with multiple struts is always a daunting prospect. These went together with absolutely no problems. Even the dreaded photo-etch brass…
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Curtiss Hawk II – Part Two – The Radial

I am always astounded at the enthusiasm of the Czech kit makers to produce ever-finer sheets of photo-etched brass. The Curtiss Goshawk has just such an offering, asking me to make throttle handles as fine as a hair. I have acceded to their demand to the extent of producing two fuel tank filler caps with…
