Thursday 15 July 2021

Bassett’s Broken Bits Box

Another heart-warming tale of kindness now.  

Some months ago I was contacted by a good friend.  In accordance with the usual Megablitz and More witness protection programme let’s call him ‘John.’  He mentioned the discovery in a cupboard of a box of mostly broken and decidedly tatty old 1/72 aircraft models.  Should he, he asked, do the sensible thing and chuck them in the bin or would I like them?  Given that the price - free -  was in my preferred range, it was soon agreed that he would bring the box to the Conference of Wargamers.  Thus it was a couple of weeks ago that a large box of crumbling plastic took up residence in my car.  Last weekend I got round to an initial sort-out.  

Above: the winners. I’m currently working my way through this lot.  How many can you identify?  Most will be saved but some will undoubtedly go the way of….
….the losers. Photographed in my bin. And yes that is a B-29. And a Fw-189, He-219 etc. All desirable but really too far gone for recovery. 

Follow the thrilling tale of the survivors on these pages in weeks to come!

12 comments:

Peter Douglas said...

There's always room for more at the Megablitz and More home for wayward aircraft isn't there? There are plastic aircraft restoration projects that even you won't take on?

tradgardmastare said...

Brilliant broken bits box I say!

Martin Rapier said...

It is a shame the B29 wasn't salvageable. It is such a huge model! I'm scratching my head over the British bomber in the winners box, is it a Hampden?

Tim Gow said...

Peter Douglas
Some were just too far gone I'm afraid. Even some of the current survivors may not make it.

Tim Gow said...

tradgardmastare
Definitely some useful stuff in there.

Tim Gow said...

Martin Rapier
Sadly the B-29 was missing too many bits. The British bomber is indeed a Hampden - it needs a lot o f work as the tail in particular is mostly absent. It's survival is not assured. Of course, if someone else were to want to take it on....

Simon said...

Ah this reminds of the good old days when I was 17 having "grown up" out of models. Some dusty aircraft models were hanging from the bedroom ceiling and they were shot up with a Webley 22 pistol. My father wasn't too impressed with the collateral damage to the plaster work!

Simon

Tim Gow said...

Simon
Many a good model has met such a fate!

Chris Kemp said...

Do you remember that Sunday Times article, "The Contents of my Bin"? Yours would win hands down! Alas, mine is mostly empty beer and wine bottles nowadays. :-)

Regards, Chris.

Tim Gow said...

Chris Kemp
I’ll hide the broken kits under beer and wine bottles - they’re probably more socially acceptable.

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

You gotta like that Boomerang .. a kit I always meant to make ;)

Tim Gow said...

Geordie
I remember it from the Airfix catalogue.