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Scale Model Builders And Savages

The two basic divisions of the world. You are either one or the other. This is a precise and exclusive border and easy to police. You either show your kits, builds, or stash, and are admitted to civil society, or scorn models and are pushed into the cultural wasteland to be forgotten. There is a…
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What Would I Do With An Inventory Of Russian Products Right Now?

If I was a retailer with shelves full of Russian products right now, I would be worried. There is a war on in Europe between Russia and Ukraine and both sides are killing each other daily. People in the rest of the world are taking sides ( And isn’t it interesting which countries have decided…
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Nieuport 28 – Part Two – The Navy 23

Construction photos of the Revell Nieuport 28 are not available for security reasons. The Department of Defence has determined that these aircraft may be vital to national security and details of their interior fittings are classified. The Navy has further clamped down on details of their deployment, though sources close to the Pentagon have hinted…
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Nieuport 28 – Part One – The French Connection

The discovery of yet another neglected old Revell WW1 kit for a very small price led to the the determination to build ’em all. That led to the internet search to find out how many of them there were…and Revell was very prolific in the 70’s with these little models. I have a couple more…
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When The Wheels Fall Off

My task a while ago was repairing models that had come into my hobby club’s possession from a deceased member. I wasn’t sure how long the task would be going for, but I did enjoy myself tackling the small jobs. The breakages were the result of the estate move – not because the models were…
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Sukhoi Su-2 – Part Four – The Green Meanie

I must record my admiration for the box art of this ICM product. I was never going to be able to do the weathering or modulating that is shown on the package, but the slightly yellow tinge to the Russian green was what made it really special. I was also grateful that the designers didn’t…
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Sukhoi Su-2 – Part Three – Oh, Those Wacky Soviets…
Just when you start to think that they have no imagination, they come out with a new one and all you can do is scratch your head. Consider the heading image. I have assembled the engine for the Sukhoi following the diagrams as faithfully as can be. There’s the two rows of cylinders, like a…
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Sukhoi Su-2 – Part Two – The Barbie Bomber

That’s as in Barbie and Ken…not ” put another shrimp on the barbie “. The pink undercoat is still doing what it says on the tin. The coverage is superb and the final surface extremely smooth – no polishing sticks needed to get it ready for the colour coat. I did pick up a jar…
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Sukhoi Su-2 – Part One – This Model Building Suk’s

And how better to start than with a Sukhoi? In this case an Su-2. It was on the shelf in the shop for months before I suddenly realised that I needed it. For library display, I hasten to add. The modeller’s mind had filed the information about it being there and all that was needed…
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I’m A Dinosaur…

Because I was raised in the Plasticine Era. Boom, boom. No, really I was. All the way from kindergarten to way past puberty I was using Plasticine for modelling and construction, and never thought it an outdated material. The smell of it, due to the linseed oil, defined the school art classes. A whiff brings…
