Boeing P-26 Peashooter’ - part 2

 Here is the finished P-26, resplendent in Chinese markings. I bought some suitable decals recently and the rather wobbly rudder stripes were hand painted.

Boeing P-26 ‘Peashooter’ - part 1

I bought this kit recently as I have a game in mind. You’ll notice I haven’t claimed to ‘need’ this but I do at least have a vague justification for its acquisition.  

I remember this being launched as a Matchbox kit but mine came in Revell boxing. 

It was a pretty straightforward build with a pleasingly modest number of parts. 

I’ve also seen it in this style of Revell box. The US colour schemes are pretty wild but mine is destined for a different employer. 

More Brits for North Africa

I recently finished a second batch of 1/32 Brits for WW2 games in N.Africa. Like the first they are a mix of ancient Airfix, Matchbox and Timpo plastics. I’ve daubed them in my usual ‘toy soldier’ style, topped off with a coat of Ronseal light oak satin varnish.

 Senior officers look on in despair. 

 The earlier batch can be seen in action near Sollum here.

Basically better Buccaneer - part 2

I’ve now finished the Bucc (see initial build here) and it will see service alongside the recently completed Canberra.
Here it is in ‘flight’ over the South Yorkshire veldt.

Basically better Buccaneer build - part 1

As an antidote to the ghastly Canberra I cracked open this elderly Matchbox Buccaneer, expecting it to be a rather higher quality kit.

I wasn't disappointed - the crisp moulding and fine parts fit was every bit as good as I remember from the late 1970s.  Not that I could ever afford this kit back then!  I never quite understood Matchbox's 'innovation' of moulding their kits in 2-3 colours but paint will cover the ensemble anyway.

Speaking of paint, that's next on the agenda.

another week but the same website

Last week's post generated quite a few interesting comments, one of which alerted me to the fact that I had completely forgotten to mention the splendid Matchbox range of figures!  Here then, is my effort to make amends.

Possibly the best of the MB 1/76 sets.  The Afrika Korps figures still stack up today.  I only recently shipped my '70s veterans off to Paul in NZ.

 Along with the DAK were their old enemies the 8th Army.  Miles better than the original Airfix set and including both a 'Monty' figure and a piper!

There was also a small 1/32 range.  Of these I only ever had the Brits.  Indeed I recently picked up a set in a more recent Revell box.

We've had 'planes, tanks and figures but there was also an interesting range of cars.  The only one I ever built was the Tyrrell P34.

This bizarre F1 car raced during the 1976 and 1977 seasons, claiming it's only first place at the '76 Swedish Grand Prix in the hands of Jody Scheckter.

And finally....I recently bought an old Strikemaster kit.  I have no idea why...

Website of the Week

It's been ages since I posted a WOTW feature but once in a while I stumble on a suitable site.

One such is Matchboxkits.org.  I have fond memories of discovering Matchbox kits - in the far off 1970s they made for an interesting contrast with the staple Airfix offerings.  Oddly enough Bertrand and I were reminiscing only a couple of weeks ago about some of the kits we had built.

Anyway, back to the website.  Here you will find loads of information about this surprisingly large and diverse range of kits.  All images are copyright Matchboxkits.org.

To whet your appetite, here are a few carefully chosen images together with my own awards.

Winner - Worst use of two colour plastic.  The Gnat was the first Matchbox kit I built.  It may have been a nicer kit than it's Airfix competitor (I wouldn't know) but here the two-colour plastic rather let it down.  Red and Orange Arrows anyone?

Winner - worst scenic base.  My first Matchbox AFV - and save for an appallingly built Airfix Lee some years earlier - my first tank kit.  The base was a bit of a let down. being just a bit of desert!

The only MB ship kit I ever built.  Well, sort of built.  Prepared for a game of the St. Nazaire raid, this poor thing was hacked about into a representation of HMS Campbeltown after the charges were detonated.

Winner - best scenic base.  Not least because if you and a friend each had one you could make a complete bridge!  And frankly a rather nicer kit than the older Airfix Sherman.

Winner - nicest AFV kit.  I know this debate could run and run, but for my money the Panther was head and shoulders (or should that be turret and hull?) above other tanks kits of the time.  It still builds into a nice model and remains my favourite Panther kit.

Winner - wierdest 'plane.  Another hard fought category as MB did produce some oddities (Siskin, He-115, Ju-188, Fury etc) but when I saw this in the late 80s - during an extended break from kit building - I just had to have it!  It will come as no surprise to regular readers that I opted to complete mine as the pug-ugly Hungarian version!  I wonder what became of it.

One man and his 'Hog - part 2

Behold the completed Warthog.  I opted for a basic two-tone green camo and used some of the decals from the kit.

I know the real Hog is built round it's main weapon - a 35mm cannon - but it seemed only reasonable to hang some explody stuff on the wings.  So now it's all ready to support my US forces in Little Cold Wars games next year.

One man and his 'Hog - part 1

I recently picked up this old (originally released in 1978) kit and uncharacteristically, rather than stashing it away for a few years, I decided to build the thing!  This had originally been part of the Matchbox 'Orange' range, which if memory serves were priced at about the same level as Airfix Series 3.  Which explains why out of a range of around 50 Orange aircraft kits released in the 1970s I only recall having three: Beaufighter, Swordfish and F-16.

 Anyway, back to the Warthog.  The parts - moulded in three colours - were largely flash free and not intimidatingly numerous.  Initial build progressed smoothly enough.

 The decals related to a prototype and a pre-production aircraft.

 Rather a lot of tape holding it all together!

And now for some paint...