Everything I know about life I learned from model aeroplanes
The Tao of Airfix
After struggling with a variety of languages it’s a slight relief to find a new Dornier Do217 reference in English – Osprey Combat Aircraft 139, Do217 Units of World War 2 currently at a decent price from Books etc.
The author is Chris Goss so it’s going to be a good one. As one would expect, the usual Osprey format focusing on units and operational history, but with some good photos and colour schemes.
Continue reading “If you go chasing rabbits… a new Dornier Do217 reference, auf Englisch”
After determined searching and a bit of retail, some more Dornier Do217 books arrived. One in German, two in Polish, but with lots of pictures and diagrams (fortunately for some of us).
What started out as “a couple of books off eBay for some pictures” turned into a Holy Grail-like obsessive quest for the definitive Do217 reference. Spoiler alert: there isn’t one – yet.
Continue reading “Further down the rabbit hole – even more Dornier Do217 books”
“Cousin Robert and the Starfighter” has nothing to do with Robert Calvert – or any other member of Hawkwind. Nothing so complicated, because life was simpler when I was a child. And it was about ten years too early.
Before I actually got into building Airfix kits myself, my older cousin Robert built one for me. An Airfix Lockheed F-104G Starfighter, or to be precise, a CF-104G in RCAF markings.
At the time, I didn’t appreciate this valuable lesson, which illustrated how simple and straightforward my life was. Then again, I was only 6 years old and hadn’t done much work on personal growth. So I just marvelled at the appearance of this miniature futuristic aeroplane. Which still looks quite futuristic today – retrofuturistic, perhaps.
Continue reading “Cousin Robert and the Starfighter”
Life is simpler and easier when you’re a child, in the sense that grownups make a lot of your choices for you. You are free from the burden of responsibility and decision making. But of course there’s a downside: you may not like the decisions someone else makes on your behalf. Like when some relative thought that a Veron Tru-Flite Seamew kit was a great gift.
According to family legend, my sister really did once say to a grown-up, “That’s just what I didn’t want” about some present or other. I was more diplomatic, or perhaps baffled by this box of wooden bits – nothing like any kit I’d ever seen before.
Continue reading “The Veron Tru-Flite Seamew – just what I didn’t want”
Inevitably, some of the things the Airfix Junkers Ju88 teaches us are similar to lessons learned from the Do217E kit. But five years had passed by the time the Ju88 appeared, and the state of the art had moved on. Most of the learning is about reliable sources (or otherwise) and how a story gets subtly modified each time it’s told.
Continue reading “The Airfix Junkers Ju88 – some signs of progress”
Obviously, model aeroplanes teach you stuff about aviation history – they tend to be models of old aeroplanes, after all. From its original 1958 release to the final 2008 incarnation, one option was to finish your Airfix MiG-15 in Polish markings. Presumably the model was supposed to look something like a real life aeroplane, but which one? Not a real issue for my original 2/- Airfix MiG-15, but over time I got curious (or so people told me).
What started as a 2 minute search on Google developed into yet another rabbit hole…
Continue reading “Air travel pre-Ryanair – the Airfix MiG-15 in Polish markings”
From a 21st century perspective, the Airfix Dornier Do217 was ahead of its time. Mixed messages, confusing instructions and a baffling array of choices. Key facts they forgot to tell you, dubious information presented with great confidence. It has (some of) the faults the MiG-15 had, and adds some extra, just for you.
Continue reading “The Airfix Dornier Do217 – ahead of its time.”
As a small boy, I had several copies of the Observer’s Book of Aircraft. But what I really, really wanted was Janes All the World’s Aircraft, aka JAWA. (Not to be confused with the Czech motorcycles of the same name). Can’t recall how I learned about this magical book detailing every current aircraft in the world, but my vague sense of wonder still persists.
Along with memories of going into the charming old fashioned bookshop in Enfield Town. And a numbing sense of shock when a nice man told us the astronomical cost. The original price in 1965 was £8 8s 0d – more than £160 in today’s money. That was a lot of pocket money and was just never going to happen. All very disappointing.
Continue reading “Janes All The World’s Aircraft – a childhood ambition finally achieved”
The Airfix MiG-15 is a shining example in the literal sense – the finished model is a nice shiny silver colour. The actual aircraft was natural metal and in the good old days, that meant gloss silver paint. Whereas the process of building this kit could be a bit of a dull experience.
Not a bad example to start with, it’s where I started in my youth. Although that may not be a good reason to start there now. After all, the whole point was supposed to be about learning from these experiences.
Anyway, the Airfix MiG-15 offers us insights into life, evolution and other stuff too. “Evolution” doesn’t mean we’re getting into Charles Darwin territory, so please don’t be alarmed. Any actual biology lessons are elsewhere, but they might get a mention.
Continue reading “Airfix MiG-15 – a shining example of what model aeroplanes can teach us”