The Matchbox F4U-4

[Daniel Cox]

Hi All,

Here is my latest build, which I am happy to say was terrific fun from start to finish. In fact it was such fun that I didn’t even bother to photograph the sprues (absent the fuselage halves which a previous owner had untidily liberated from those same sprues). The fun was so great that I also didn’t bother to take any work in progress shots either, since it was a simple “Matchbox”® kit from a 1973 boxing, which saw it built rather rapidly.

Now that it’s complete I can share my musings on this kit, which I first experienced through a 1974/75-style boxing as a child of 8. Although I no longer have any of the many kits I built as a child, I have been fortunate enough to acquire a number of old “Matchbox”® kits, many which I built as a child as well as a few that my father built which I couldn’t help but covet at the time.

If this keeps up though I can see myself ending up with some old Airfix, Crown, Otaki, and Hasegawa kits as well which is fine of course as long as I build them.

Anyway onto the kit I have decided that the best way to review it as such is to list the kits advantages counterpointed by its disadvantages to give a more comprehensive picture of what is on offer as follows below.

Advantages

This kit offers a little something for everyone, since it has various features from a variety of F4U Corsair sub types. If you like the F4U-4 you get a terrific port wing with quite accomplished renderings of its details like the gun panels, three machine gun ejection ports, recognition lights and more. All of this is represented by recessed panel lines that are equal to the state of the art from Airfix® today. If you like the early F4U-4 or the F4U-1D, the canopy has you and the pilot figure covered there. As to pilot figures this kit has one which is better than having none since it is not unreasonable for a modeller to be given the option to glue someone’s bum to a seat if they are so inclined. The cockpit is floorless which is also perfect for the all F4U aircraft except the F2G and F4U-4 and beyond of course.

Then there’s the cowling if you like the F4U-4 it features the chin carburettor intake while if you like the F4U-1D or FG-1D the lower cowling is round instead of flattened like on the F4U-4. As a bonus if the F4U-4B or F4U-5 amongst others is more to your tastes you get the wing-mounted 20mm canons to stick on the front of the wings. Although the pitot tube with a dongle on the end and aft fuselage upper antenna mast is provided. You don’t have to bother with IFF, radio altimeter antennas, pylons or any other appendages, which would only get broken if one used such things, so that right there is a terrific feature amongst many!

Disadvantages

This kit offers a little something for everyone, since it has various features from a variety of F4U Corsair sub types. This can be a bit disappointing if you were after something more representative of the type listed on the box. One could note the fact that the port starboard wing is a copy of the port wing down to its recognition lights. Or otherwise spot the fact that recessed panel lines represent the flap footstep on both wings instead of featuring a cut out on the starboard wing only. Not to mention all of the other features that may not be your cup of tea if you have Kinzey’s, Sullivan’s, Maki’s Yamada’s, Kuroki’s, Hards’, and others work on the Corsair.

Advantages

The tail plane and elevators features recessed details that represent quite well albeit heavily the details found on the real thing.

Disadvantages

Those same tail planes and elevators feature the above-mentioned details upon the upper surfaces only. This is in error since the details should be present on the port side upper surfaces and starboard side lower surfaces only. The trim tab control rods have also been omitted.

Advantages

The transfers, considering in this instance are circa 40 years old performed admirably well. To the point where they conformed quite well, which is not bad considering scissors then tweezers, plus hot water in a teacup and tissue paper were the only aids used.

Disadvantages

The fuselage "Marines" markings were somewhat oversize in this instance, which if I recall correctly was never a problem in my first build of this kit in 1979.

Advantages

According to “Matchbox”® no painting is necessary which is terrific if you like clean builds.

Disadvantages

According to “Matchbox”® no painting is necessary which is disappointing if you like the smell of enamel paint and were wanting to have dark blue fingers.

Advantages

It comes with a stand that features a ball and socket assembly, which cleverly allows the modeller to display their work in a variety of dramatic attitudes.

Disadvantages

The socket that comes with the stand is a bit too agricultural in appearance for such enlightened times.

Advantages

This kit has 41 part if you include the display stand which allows one to undertake a timely build which will allow you to fly it around the house under control of course, while terrorising the cat (please note: that no cats were permanently harmed during this build). Not to mention it’s great for a beginner to cut his or her teeth on and can also be fun to build again, for someone who had the pleasure a long time ago.

Disadvantages

It’s not the “Matchbox”® Zero-Sen kit which has 32 parts including the display stand!

Advantages

The kit is moulded with oxford and azure blue plastic, which is terrific since it, looks quite fetching in combination with the willow green transfers that feature in one of the build options.

Disadvantages

The kit is molded with oxford and azure blue plastic, which can be a bit disappointing if one, wants to paint the kit more easily in order to make it look even more splendid.

Advantages

It is a 1-72^nd scale kit, which is considered by some to be the perfect scale for aeroplane kits. It is also ideally sized to allow more to fit on the shelf or if one is really interested in displaying their model at its best. It also allows more to be hung from the ceiling with some fishing line to roar over ones bedroom by day and night.

Disadvantages

It is a 1-72^nd scale kit, which is considered by some to be too small for an aeroplane kit. What were “Matchbox”® thinking? Did they not realize that the optically challenged might have to don ridiculous implements like glasses or heaven forbid even an optiVISOR in order to glue the bits together!

Advantages

If you assemble it right the propeller can spin!

Disadvantages

If you assemble it wrong the propeller won’t spin!

Advantages

It is made in England; it says so on the box, on the instructions and even on the sprues as well.

Disadvantages

It was made in England; so now it isn’t anymore. That doesn’t mean that things aren’t still made in England! Fortunately Lancashire Cheese is still made in England.

Unfortunately you can’t get it in a small Australian town on the edge of the outback where I type this review. Or for that matter even the largest Australian city where I used to live or anywhere else in Australia, this apparently has something to do with customs and dairy imports!

Advantages

It’s not Lancashire Cheese!

Disadvantages

It’s not Lancashire Cheese!

Advantages

It is a perfect companion for the before mentioned “Matchbox”® 1-72^nd scale Mitsubishi Zero-Sen kit which was molded in a splendid orange and white combination which made it ideal for the occasional aerial encounter while watching Black Sheep Squadron on’tele.

Disadvantages

It isn’t a perfect companion for that Zero-Sen kit in the occasional aerial encounter while watching Victory at Sea on’tele, something about them both doesn’t look quite right.

Summary

The “Matchbox”® 1/72^nd scale F4U-4 Corsair is a terrific kit to build and I would heartily recommend it to the beginner for a great introduction and the advanced builder alike for a fun diversion.

I still think it’s a shame these kits aren’t still in circulation in the style they once were with all that lovely coloured plastic inside a box that let you peak inside at the back while a dramatic scene on the top inspired one to give it a go. Though it’s great Airfix is revamping its range I can’t help but wonder what will happen to those more simple kits that provided the best training for those wanting to learn the hobby of plastic model kit assembly.

Matchbox were very good at providing kits for the newcomer that were easy enough to keep one keen while generally assembling much more easily than most other brands in the 1970’s. Not to mention I still like the subjects they chose. Unfortunately though there weren’t enough of us to keep it going. Even I moved on to better things via Otaki, Hasegawa, Tamiya and many others.

If you have any Matchbox kits I encourage you to have fun and build one or if you know someone you’d like to introduce to the hobby get them to have a go at one. Who knows they might even like it, like my wife Jo (who has built a Hellcat) my son Aeddan (who has built a Zero-Sen) and daughter Isabella (who has built a Mustang “Doolybird”) did.

As to what’s next, shown above is my personal Matchbox to do pile, I intend to get them all done this year and will even paint some of them along the way. So whichever I pick next I will share some of my progress from start to finish here on Britmodeller, so till then…

Cheers,

Daniel.

P.S. If anyone is looking to undertake a Matchbox group build on Britmodeller, please count me in as well as my family.

References:

Fighter Bomber Team, Air Ace, Picture Library, All Action, Holiday Special, IPC Magazines Ltd., 1980.

“Matchbox”® 1/72^nd scale F4U-4 Corsair Instructions, Lesney Products & Co. Ltd., 1972.

All images Copyright ©2013 Daniel Cox.

Edited October 10, 2013 by Daniel Cox

[MADMUSKY]

OOOOO Matchbox easy bright coloured kits, its there lovely box artwork and the fact I could afford them with my pocket money in the 70s that got me started in modelling.

[Jockster]

Nice build, I remember this from when I was a Kid, even the instruction sheets bring back a blast from the past! You forgot to leave white fingerprints on the canopy though.

[kev67]

Very witty read, I loved these kits and still have some, as Matchbox were the only ones that produced certain kits, although some moulds have been released by Revell

[sean]

A cool trip down memory lane, built just the way I used to when I were but a'lad, except you haven't hung yours from the ceiling

Sean

[woody37]

I want what you're on Daniel !!!!

Great read and I think I might just get a few more MB kits for my son after seeing this

[Bri48]

A fun read whilst sipping my first cup of coffee on this ONCE AGAIN awful, sh!$$y miserable weather morning and lovely presentation of the Matchbox Corsair!

BTW you appear to be a very tidy and organised modeller!

Brian

[Shalako]

This is one of the few times I have really enjoyed reading a post - build.

Very nice and thorough writing. Felt like I was reading a magazine's article.

The kit looks nice too and it is one of my favorite matchbox kits. I really love those decals - markings!!

Now, about the remaining Matchbox kits you have and 'waiting' to be build.....oh that Heinkel 115!!! I wish I had it in my collection!!! I know that Revell has re-release this kit but, my real interest is the Matchbox's decals sheet. They have always managed to 'pick' some rather interesting units' markings like for example, the "Green Hornet" A-20G!!!!

Looking forward to see your next build mate!

Cheers

Sernak

[John_W]

I remember building Matchbox kits like this.

Always thought whoever picked the colours needed their eyes testing.

[stevej60]

Excellent build and read,brings back memories of the seventies growing up,we had a hardware shop selling Airfix and two newsagents one sold Revell and the other

Matchbox. no wonder I never had money for long!

[Daniel Cox]

Thanks All,

I'm glad you all liked it, I really did have a lot of fun putting it together despite my sometimes ham fisted decal application.

As to affording them it wasn't until the early eighties that I could readily afford the bigger three colour kits courtesy of having a paper run after I turned 11. Before then I only had the two colour kits which I could afford with my pocket money and the occasional three colour kit as a gift. I never got them from a hardware store though which sounds cool, for me it was either the newsagent (Matchbox and Airfix) which also sold paint and glue, Woolworth's (Matchbox, Hasegawa and Otaki, Franklins (a supermarket which sold Airfix blister packs plus Revell kits). Then when I was thirteen an uncle of mine took me to visit Hobyco which had everything including my first Italeri kit, the 1/35 scale Marder III since then plastic kits have largely continued to get better and better.

I think the colours are great fun, although I do scratch my head at the cream and red coloured Brewster Buffalo kit.

For the next kit I have settled on the Heinkel He 115 which I will also compare with the Revell reboxing of it, which on first look appears to be a bit tired with a poorer quality canopy.

As to the weather, it's been pretty mediocre outside my window as well.

Cheers,

Daniel.

P.S. Unfortunately my model desk (which also doubles as a spare sketching and painting table) is part of my office which is next to our lounge room so I have to keep it tidy except when I am using it.

Edited May 30, 2013 by Daniel Cox

[jimbuna]

Great build....and many happy memories.