Popular Post Tomoshenko Posted March 20, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted March 20, 2018 This is my interpretation of the venerable Matchbox Hawker Fury Mk.1 courtesy of the Revell reboxing in the wonderfully bright, eye-catching livery of No.43 Squadron based at RAF Tangmere 1932. I originally intended this to be a gentle excursion and break from my Dambuster build as a contribution to the Made in Great Britain GB. Sadly, and shamefully, I ran out of time and failed to make the finish, but reincarnated it in the WIP section. Build thread is here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235027219-revell-matchbox-hawker-fury-mki-172/& I believe it is Matchbox’s first kit way way back circa 1972: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/147812-matchbox-pk-1-hawker-fury The kit itself is a lovely little kit which goes together very well. Even after all these years, apart from some flash here and there, the tooling holds up quite well. It is also quite accurate with the exception of the tailfin which is a little undersize, and the undercarriage which is a tad high because it is moulded in the inflight position. That said these really are subtle nuances which are barely noticeable. Of course it has raised panel lines, the rivets are a bit OTT, as is the wing ribbing. The undercarriage is a little clumsy and toy-townish looking, but after all it is a kit from 1972. There aint much else on offer in 1/72, save the old Airfix kit and the Amodel Mk.1/2. I understand there is an MPM Production future kit in the pipeline. You’re not exactly spoilt for choice in respect of aftermarket – you can get an IP panel and some undercarriage conversions for the Spanish version, although there are plenty of decals for those tasty schemes to choose from. As for my build, well as I said above it started as a gentle OOB build, but I started adding details and ended up getting carried away, with the result that it was a proper kit bash in the end with quite a bit of scratch added and parts replaced. I sanded back the raised panel lines and re-scribed new ones. I pretty much rebuilt the entire cockpit interior, scratch building a new seat, cockpit frame, IP, gun mount, joystick, harness from take-away container foil, and other bits and bobs. The pit is pretty much Spartan as you can imagine with an early 70’s kit. You can’t see an awful lot of it, but as is the usual parlance “I know it’s there”. I trod on the windscreen and bust it so had no choice to make a new one from acetate with frames made from take-away foil. The guns were moulded on, so I cut and sanded them away and scratch built replacements from Albion Alloys tubing. Ditto the gunsight which was a bit oversize and clunky. I scratch built cross hairs and the pilot bead – quite fiddly but nice little touches I feel. I sanded back and cut out the exhausts which were moulded on. I replaced these with small sections of brass tubing, slightly squashed to replicate the oval shape. These were finished off in Humbrol Metalcote gunmetal. I left the rivets on the engine housing as I liked the effect, albeit they are a tad over scale. This was then covered in Bare Metal Foil to replicate the polished aluminium effect. The rest was finished off in Humbrol polished aluminium metalcote and HU 24 trainer yellow. The prop and wheels were finished in Tamiya NATO Black to give an off black effect. The wing ribbing was sanded back to give a more subtle effect, and I added the little actuators and counter weights. I used a little of the undercarriage but largely replaced it from flattened tube. Ditto the tail struts. I modified the wheels, spinner, tail, scratched a new tailskid and modified the radiator with little bits of mesh and a scratch built an oil cooler. The latter can barely be seen but “I know it’s there”. Made a pitot and venturi. The rigging is invisible thread. Phew! Anyroad it’s a great kit and an enjoyable build. You can build it straight OOB on a rainy Saturday afternoon like we did as kids, or go nuts like I did. Either road you’ll have fun. Thanks for looking. 84 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Fantastic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Stunning work Tomo. Can't believe this started life as a Matchbox kit. Have learnt lots from your build. Stuart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Incredible work you have done on this.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qn30jEkPz7 Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 beautiful work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 I put a thanks Tomo Sincerely thanks for letting us enjoy this with you Will it be on the revised timetable club table this weekend? I still need to know whether it was the Covered Wagon or one of the almost legendary dens of iniquity in the Village, t'other day 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 I'm sure I said this in the build thread Tomo, but it bears repeating - that is simply beautiful, an absolute little jewel of a model! Look forward to seeing it 'for real' in November! Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 You improved Matchbox kit to the limits! Congrats J-W 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastcat Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Beautiful little aircraft and something to be proud of. Hard to believe it's so tiny. Lovely workmanship. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Tom Absolutely amazing. The work you carried out on this is inspiring. I also learnt a lot from your WIP thread. What a beautiful model of a beautiful aircraft. All the best Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killingholme Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 I'd have believed you if you said it was 1/48, or even 1/32 scale. What a crisp build! Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 I doubt there’s ever been a better built Matchbox Fury anywhere!! This is just awe inspiring stuff and honesty lifts the already high RFI bar to even greater heights. Makes me think that Sir Ringo’s latest gong to music should also apply to your incredible service to modelling. Cheers.. Dave. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VG 33 Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Hi Your build was most interesting and the result is fantastic. Thank you for sharing. Patrick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 What a gem! Beautiful modelling, Cheers, Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry1954 Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 This is just simply a masterpiece! I have watched the WIP thread for the last few weeks and I became mesmerised as it took shape. Looking forward to seeing this at Telford later in the year, unless its due to appear anywhere south and west sooner! Well done an thanks for sharing the journey. Terry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpthedog Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Inspiring build and superbly presented model! John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 That's a true stunner. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Convair Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 (edited) Have you used an image editing software to rework the photos of an actual plane? The details and the finishing are absolutely stunning! I also doubt that a better Matchbox Fury has ever been built anywhere. Edited March 21, 2018 by Convair 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opus999 Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 I am extremely impressed by your attention to detail! the Fiddly bits really make it... well, that and the beautiful paint/bare metal foil job! Nothing like real metal to look like real metal! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaddad Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 orsum 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invidia Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Beautiful looking fury. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 A perfect result Tom, nice work Cheers, Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Beautiful, a real work of art. Those radio wires are simply amazing! Andrew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 That truly is beyond brilliant, stunning modelling in every sense of the word. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinChipmunkfan Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 As all the superlatives had already been said I'm just going to have to say I wish I could build models like that. Thanks for showing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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