Annoying Auster - part 1

I was sent this kit by Paul a couple of years ago.  At the time I couldn't understand why he had parted with such an apparently useful model.  Then I had a look in the box and all was clear.  The parts are moulded - and not too well - in a type of plastic which somehow manages to be at once bendy and brittle.  And for such a small model there are a lot of them.  So back it went in the box.,  This process was repeated a couple of times over the ensuing years until I gave in and decided to actually build the thing.

Construction underway.  Considerable quantities of sweat and tears were spent just to get this far.

On a more positive note, the decal sheet was large and included markings for the four aircraft shown above.  But which one to choose?

By now I had decided on a somewhat simpler build than that intended by the good people at AZmodel.  Believe me - that masking tape does a much better job of supporting the wings than the kit's spindly and flash-ridden struts.

By now you may be wondering if Paul and I are still on speaking terms.  We are - and I unreservedly withdraw all the terrible things I said about him in the privacy of my toy room during the build.
Thanks again Paul - I have a plan to use this thing and I am beating it's attempts to thwart me!