Monday 13 October 2014

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!

12 comments:

Wg Cdr Luddite said...

Wuss!
Back in the day (mid 80s) I needed an AOP to spot for for my massed 25 pdrs so I built my own:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Oc6pCY99wsRzO5C_bb9IRdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

maximex said...

Oh, great.
Auster was the first small-plane or civil-machine Airfix series.
Airfix was packed transparent plastic bag, such as a piece of candy.
The year was something like 1965, when I bought this machine
Series 1: bag
Series 2 box, was not yet in stores
came after 1965 ...

Paul Foster said...

Honestly once purchased, handled and the reviews were read I relished the thought about infecting it on someone deserving.

Al also thought of you straight away.

Think of it as plastic Ebola.

Service Ration Distribution (Hobby) said...

I've got an Airfix bowed one but I'm not looking forward to opening it now...Still, summon up the loins and lend the eye a terrible aspect! What, what?

Milgeek said...

What a smashing wee plane! And the decal selection looks interesting too.

'Bendy and brittle plastic' - hmmm, sounds like the resin YaG-6 I'm doing at the moment...Absolutely horrible stuff.

Good luck!

Tim Gow said...

Wg Cdr Luddite
It was probably easier than building this kit!

Tim Gow said...

Maximex
I don't remember the Airfix Auster but I'm sure it was better than this version.

Tim Gow said...

Paul Foster
Such a thoughtful gift...

Tim Gow said...

Service Ration Distribution
Get in with it - the Airfix version must be better than mine!

Tim Gow said...

Stephen Beat
And we do this for fun?

Milgeek said...

'And we do this for fun?' - Yes, I sometimes wonder...I'm looking forward to making a kit just out the box as it's intended with no tinkering, bodging or 'added extras'. ;)

Tim Gow said...

Stephen Beat
I'll believe that when it happens!