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Curtiss Hawk II – Part One – The Evolution Of A Goshawk
With the recent announcement of new land division within the Republic Of China – the Generalissimo commanding Swuping province has mandated the formation of an air force. Generalissimo Stein Kai Shek is up to date with all the latest methods of defence, as seen by his formation of an Armoured Women’s Dance Corps, a Terrestrial…
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This Model Ain’t Makin’ Itself…
The lazy modellers guide to workflow. We are told that youthful modellers in the 1970’s used to buy a kit at their local shop, have it together by teatime, and destroyed by the next morning. I think this is one of those old-guy stories that is made up of fibs, lies, and political promises. I…
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Okay, Ben….Now What?
Poor Richard Saunders, aka Ben Franklin, kept telling us that time is money and we should do today rather than putting off until tomorrow. Sound advice, and then we go and take it and rack up another $ 50 debt with Bunnings for overpriced wood. This goes directly against Ben’s other constant song of frugality…
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Aichi Val – Part Four – Pearl Harbour
As problematical as this model has been to build, it is still welcome into the collection as the final piece in the set for the USS ARIZONA diorama photo shoot. This is the reason it doesn’t have stationery propeller blades – it will be photographed diving on the battleship from the port quarter. Doing this…
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Airfix Vintage Val – Part Four – The Judgement
The judgement can finally be delivered on the relative merit of the Airfix Aichi Val vs the Fujimi example. The AIrfix model wins – despite being older and sporting the ancient raised rivets. The verdict is based upon the ease of assembly, the fit of the parts, and the quality of the decals. Admittedly, the…
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Aichi Val – Part Three – Stripe Tail
I have often remarked the stripes that appear on the horizontal stabilisers of WW2 Japanese aircraft. They are on the upper side and form a fan radiating outwards from the front of the vertical stabiliser – some tails have them in white – some in yellow. This Aichi Val tail has them in red. They…
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Airfix Vintage Val – Part Three – Well Wrap My Rice Roll
And call me sushi – the Airfix Aichi Val is looking pretty good. The top and bottom colours have gone on the AIrfix Val and I have taken the precaution of glossing them into place with Mr. Color No. 46. It is a cool day and there are travelling showers – I do not want…
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Aichi Val – Part Two – Not Quite Tamiya
I was a bit premature in my assessment of the Fujimi kit of the Aichi Type 11. It is closer to Monogram than Tamiya. The flash encountered was not too bad – nothing that knifing and sanding could not deal with. The location pins were in the right places. Yet the fuselage halves fit only…
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Airfix Vintage Val – Part Two – So Far, So Good
The last couple of plague days were very productive – and the Airfix Aichi Val was coming along splendidly. Fuselage seams needed progressive assembly but in the end little filler would be needed – so little that it would probably be only thickened undercoat. So far a victory over the Fujimi product. Wings needed no…
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Fujimi Aichi Val – Part One – Oh Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy
I finally got to build a model of an airplane my uncle Jack shot at on Dec. 7, 1941. Fujimi kits are thin on the ground here in Western Australia at the best of times and these aren’t the best of times. But a shelf of them turned up at the local shop and I…
The Little World
Close focus on the world of scale models
The Little World 