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After seeing the recent and beautiful Gauntlet build by @galgos, I felt compelled to try a few silver biplanes from the ‘golden era’. I envisage these being flown by jolly chaps with handlebar moustaches who drive open top sports cars, play polo and generally have a roaringly splendid time. A few bouts of aerobatics then off to the village pub for gin and impressionable young ladies. And damn good show too chaps! Anyway, it was probably nothing like that, but the silver biplanes look cool and I like the colourful squadron markings on these things, so I bought a few on eBay … Unfortunately, the Gauntlet has no decals. Reference books … I need to buy some very thin wire for the wing braces. First up, I thought I’d try the Siskin. It seems quite simple compared to the Airfix ones, so a good place to start. Hopefully I won’t get bored and want to start another 1/48 fast jet! 😂 I’m going to do the 29 Sqn one. The Matchbox kit is very basic, so already I’m tempted to add my own detail, such as an instrument panel. Plastic card should suffice for this. What colour were Siskin interiors!? Anyone? Matchbox say black, but I want to be sure that’s correct. Wooden instrument panel? Some nice 1/72 diagrams in Silver Wings.

@Rabbit Leader aka Dave Has brought our attention to the fact that if his calculations and history are correct, 2022 is the 50th anniversary of the first Matchbox (Lesney Products) kit releases. Yet another one of those great British plastic kit manufacturers now lost to childhood memories. So anyone up for another Matchbox Classic GB ? Cheers Pat List of Fame 1. @JOCKNEY Host 2. @theplasticsurgeon 3. @vppelt68 4. @TEMPESTMK5 5. @Rabbit Leader Co-host 6. @Heather Kay 7. @DaveyGair 8. @nimrod54 9. @Jinxman 10. @Jb65rams 11. @malpaso 12. @Mjwomack 13. @Corsairfoxfouruncle 14. @Ray S 15. @Black Knight 16. @Marklo 17. @rafalbert 18. @Bonhoff 19. @Pete F 20. @cmatthewbacon 21. @CliffB 22. @Arniec 23. @bigbadbadge 24. @stevej60 25. @junglierating 26. @Paul821 27. @Angus Tura 28. @airfixpeter 29. @Foxbat 30. @IanC 31. @TimJ 32. @John Masters 33. @klr 34. @Ventora3300 35. @Robert Stuart 36. @Thom216 37. @Desk Flyer 38. @AdrianMF 39. @Wez 40. @ijs302 41. @Rob S 42. @Richard Tucker 43. @TonyW 44. @Mike Dean 45. @fightersweep 46. @Grandboof 47. @Ozzy 48. @Joecool 49. @erniewise 50. @Redstaff 51. @Mr T 52. @GREG DESTEC 53. @Pin 54. @Tomjw 55. @Rafwaffe 56. @TonyTiger66 57. @MsModeller 58. @2996 Victor 59. @pizzapaolo 60. @THEscaleSHOW 61. @Ned 62. @Dermo245 63. @psdavidson 64. @Six97s 65. @Touvdal 66. @johnlambert 67. @stuartp 68. @dbostream 69. @rs2man 70. @alt-92 71. @John 72. @Troy Smith 73. @Franz75 74. @Beermonster1958 75. @jean 76. @RevDWC 77. @PeterB 78. @Allan31 79. @Doccur 80. @Natter 81. @ModelraynzModelraynzda 82. @stevehnz (eventually ) 83. @Swamp Donkey 84. @JosephLalor 85. @mike romeo 86. @jackroadkill 87. @Julien 88. @drdjp11 89. @davecov 90. @Aww94 91. 92. 93. Please note all reboxings of Matchbox kits are naturally included.

This is my most challenging build to date. The kit itself is easily Matchbox's greatest achievement in terms of detail and finesse, and from when the masters where probably carved in wood. It suffers though from the the near non-existent or vague attachment points everywhere. A more modern kit would solve these issues but even then the subject is just very demanding as a build due to it's complexity. There just isn't a easy way to handle the model while its being built and it was tempting to stick wings on it just so I could hold it. Finally the extensive chrome work was very challenging - I used Alcad as that's what I had but the finish is just too delicate, clear coating helps but you lose that sheen. I will explore newer alternatives such s the Molotow pen refills and Green Stuff World Chrome but I don't want to got near another metal finish for a quite a while! I re-spoked the wheels with florist's wire and insulation stripped from fine wire. The kit's seat position was lowered to the correct height. Like my other Matchbox builds this year it will be on show at SMW on the Classic British Kits SIG table.

So, having had my arm twisted by @Rabbit Leader (all I did was mention that I happened to have a Matchbox Phantom and then next thing I know, here I am… ), here’s the start of what will undoubtedly turn out to be a long drawn-out build (although not as long as a certain pair of Airfix Hawks have taken…). I originally purchased this kit from Beatties maybe 40 years ago – if you look closely at the box you’ll see I paid the princely sum of £4.50, reduced because the clear parts were missing.

This started life as the old Matchbox HP Victor K2 as re-boxed by Revell and I added the Flightpath Victor B1 conversion, took lots of bits away and made a new fin and cockpit transparency. Lots of fun with filling and sanding but it wasn't a difficult conversion. The Work In Progress is here as part of the Big and British GB. The silver is from a Halfords rattle-can, the black and the red stripe are Humbrol gloss enamel. After an overall coat of gloss the home printed decals were added before an overall coat of matt varnish . Back in the early 1950s the Victor must have looked very futuristic compared with the Lincolns and Washingtons in service with the RAF. I think the colour scheme makes it look very menacing as well but was probably chosen to hide a few details from the prying eyes to the East. I couldn't resist a photo with my Valiant prototype from a few years back - the build for that one is here Also a photo with the HP88 which was built to test the Victor's crescent wing - some more photos of the HP88 here Thanks for looking. Steve

Evening Folks, Thought i would squeeze another one in if i may? This is a Revell re-box of the Puma AFV complete with dio base. I haven't built this one before and have been impressed with the other armour kits that have been going on in the GB. Anyhoo, here are the photos of the box top and pile of bits - all in glorious monotone grey . Cheers, and "tanks" for looking - get it??? - "tanks" for looking!! No??? (i'll get my coat.....)

This is the Matchbox 747 kit in 1/390 scale. I’ve built this kit in the Revell boxing / Air Canada scene in the past and it makes for a surprisingly good looking model despite the small scale. The only thing that lets it down is the undercarriage. So, this one will be ‘in flight’ on a makeshift stand made from an acrylic rod and one of the always useful and cheap shadow box frames from Jobbycraft. Going for the BA livery of course although I’ll pick up one of the Revell kits and do the Air Canada version in the future… … Providing the decals hold up! I think they will. Yellowing a bit but otherwise seem ok. And this is the Revell version I did and sadly destroyed moving it upstairs. Hopefully this one avoids such an unfortunate demise. Good luck with your builds everyone!

I am contributing this one. I had decided to do it a couple weeks ago but dragged the chain finding it in the stash, so we now have two 125s in the mix. I will be using the Model Alliance sheet to mark mine up. It includes three schemes (as well as a number of Dominies). Looks like the previous owner of the kit did some test fitting and the kit decals also look to be in good nick. I had built one of these back in 2005 as a RAAF what if, It left my collection soon after but I now have it back. It needs a refurb as that kit did not include clear parts so I had to use clear cement for all the cabin and cockpit transparencies and the clear coat has cracked over time. So I will be also remarking it as a RAF machine from the MA sheet.

Hi everyone, I haven't built a Matchbox kit for centuries, and I only have 3 oldies in the stash. For starter I have chosen the kit PK-6 of the FW 190 A-3 or A-4. Here are a few photos to show this plastic from another age. The tasteful plastic: Notice, decals and transparencies: This kit has always been described as one of the best models of the A-3/A-4... in its time. Ergo it is still a good kit and I want to do it justice. Therefore I will jazz up the cockpit, using a Reheat PE seat, pedals and seat belts. Te wheels are very much under par and will be replaced by a True Details set. I plan to finish it as a FW 190 A-2 of JG 26, using decals found in a Kagero booklet about JG 26. The kit's decals are for a FW 190 G, so... It will be fun!!! JR

This is a placeholder for my first build in this GB. I hope to start it by tomorrow. I had originally planned to build jt in 2020 for the "Kit you built as a kid" GB, but COVID-19 travel restrictions prevented that. I first built this kit on Christmas Day 1978, some time in the early evening. This had the original artwork, describing how ZG 26 was "bounced" by Mustangs, suffering terminal losses. I am building a re-release from the late 1980s, with the same box-art as on an earlier re-release. I bought this in 1990, probably late in the year. I can't remember if Swastikas were included when I first built the kit, but by the late 1980s, they were definitely verboten. I will have to dig into my after market sheet.

I will jump in with this old kit - I am sure I built as a young lad many moons ago.... To try to do something different I will use some aftermarket decals... From what I can find and see the Portuguese airforce effectively bought USN A-7Es - so I am not going into mega detail changes - the main obvious item is the refuelling probe...I can't see any after market and its a bit crazy to by a 1/72 E so i will either go with out, or try to fashion something that will look ok ish! I have bought a couple of quick boost A-4 Skyhawk probs - I may be able to cut them up to get something.... Earlier probe later Probe If anyone knows better please do let me know!

Have been trying to pick up all four of the Matchbox Airliner kits recently. Have had the 747 for a while and that is in the final stages. I can now add the 727 to the list. Hopefully I can score the remaining two as they turn up on eBay pretty regularly. Sometimes at silly prices but frequently can be had for under a tenner with p&p. This kit (at first glance) seems to be better moulded than the 747. Much crisper with zero flash. I’ll find out soon when I start assembling. The decal sheet is also in better condition although the one for the 747 isn’t that bad to be fair. Going to plough through this build and have a big painting session of both this and the 747 in a few days. Going for the American Airlines livery. Always liked that stripe on the polished aluminium (?) body. Not sure what to use for that. I always use the Revell aluminium for most jobs but that won’t look right on this. Perhaps the Tamiya silver? I don’t really want to shell out on fancy metallic paints but I’m open to suggestions.

My build of the Matchbox 1/72 Messerschmitt 410 (PK-113) will be reported here. It really will be an OOB build as I am going to make it unpainted to show the different colour parts as per the box illustration: Box contents and build details will follow. Dave

Morning all,just finished for the Matchbox GB is their 109e,these are rare beasts these day's and I'd never built one in my youth so forty quid lighter this arrived in great condition but useless decal's.Techmod to the rescue and chose to depict Von Werra's famous aircraft which was downed during the Battle of Britain,he was captured but later escaped in Canada and made it back to Germany served on the Russian front but was killed in an accident off the Dutch coast flying the F4 variant of the 109.Many thank's for looking in.

Hi folk's as explained in the Fury thread a think of what to end the build list with involved something never built before and with 50 plus years of model making it's pretty hard when it comes to Matchbox kits but the T55 fits the bill and I'd really like to see if I can get a good NMF on her had to go to £19:99 but these kits are getting rarer now and at least with KK they are checked over. https://www.scalemates.com/kits/matchbox-pk-126-lightning-t55--162018 Should sit nicely alongside my Airfix offering's.

This is my thread for my build of PK-103 Bristol Beaufighter. This is a Place Holder atm, as I am still a few weeks from returning home from deployment and being in a position to start my build.

Hi folk's I had a cuppa and a think earlier about what I wanted to do for the rest of the GB,left unattended I probably would double the number of builds in the GB and further deplete the remaining stocks of kits available! So with the Voodoo,Lynx and Stuka still to do it was time to call a halt and think,so having and still really enjoying the Skyraider kit I thought right lets have another crack at the Fury which I bought and never finished.Picked up for £14:99 from KK who sadly I've neglected recently and deserve more business from me.

Here now my Models of the old Matchbox/Rebox Revell. I purposely didn't improve anything, just experimented with painting and other techniques. I hope you like them 😊 The first model was a T-34

As if time froze. In the early 70's, as a kid, I used to look in the window of a bookstore in a suburb of Athens, the boxes with the terrible representations of battles and starring planes and tanks. The bright colors and the realistic images, to visualize the stories of the elders, from the Greco Italian war, the victorious battles of the Greek army in the mountains of Pindos and Albania, the Nazi invasion, the collapse of the front, the Occupation, the great famine, the executions of civilians, in my grandfather's village and all the brave acts of resistance. The mystery of the contents of the boxes was soon solved when a friend opened one and tentatively built a plane. Since then, my life has literally changed. I have been involved in the hobby for over 45 years. I acquired and built several models, I destroyed more, many of them are waiting unfinished in boxes. But the acquisition and construction of those first kits that I was fooling around with as a child was repulsed. Most of them were matchboxes. [to be continued]

In 1964 the role of the V-bombers was changed from high to low-level penetration of enemy airspace and equipped with the Blue Steel standoff bomb. XL513 Victor B.2R No. 139 Squadron, RAF Wittering, 1964. I used the housing and Blue Steel missile from the old Airfix Vulcan, wing tips and some aerials from the new Airfix Victor, Vallejo and Humbrol acrylics. Thanks for looking.

Hello everybody This will be a build of a Revell issue of Matchbox's DH Venom kit - there are two of these kits in the GB, @bigbadbadge is also building one (link). Hopefully, this one will be an Australian example ... The box has seen better days: The plastic looks sound The instructions and decals have gone AWOL ... Fortunately, Scalemates have a scan of the instructions, so taking a look at those shouldn't be too hard. The decals ... just before New Year, I ordered some decals. They are shipping from Aus, but I hope they'll be here by the end of the month 🤞

This is one of 2 quick builds to help contribute to the GB completing as many Matchbox subjects as possible. I'm between foreign trips so there will be no procrastinating, this will be done OOB as Matchbox and the gods intended. To be honest it is highly unlikely that I ever would have built this outside of a GB. The kit itself is still typical Matchbox, 1987 tooling, moulded in two greys, a random selection of deep panel lines, heavy plastic, two piece canopy. No cockpit tub or detail, not even a decal. A decent looking seat though. Two paint options for airshow sales displays, one all black, the other two shades of grey. Undecided at the moment whether to go with these, depends on decal behavior. Have a what-if image in mind if the decals fail.

A second quick build to contribute to the Matchbox range completeness. This is my 5th and final build for this GB. A small simple kit, which has a single colour finish and also probably a kit I wouldn't have built outside a group build. Since restarting the Hobby in April 2020 I had ignored my Helicopter stash, this is now my second chopper build for this GB, having completed the Huey Cobra. Getting to like them again. This will be a weekend bash together with the Hawk 200 due to time pressure caused by travelling. This is another 1987 tooling, never released in the old box type. Revell have re-issued it as the Kiowa. The plastic feels less robust than usual but the panel lines are all there. Moulded in 2 greens for absolutely no reason.

I know I really shouldn't be starting another build, but with a major relocation looming I don't want to be adding masking which may stay in place for over 3 months. Since my other builds have mostly reached the stage of masking, and having just picked this up on evil bay, I couldn't resist opening it up to see what was needed. This will NOT be a quick build, as it will take a backseat to all other builds I have in progress. However, I always enjoyed these Matchbox kits as a kid and I love the subjects (I also just got hold of the Auto Union!) so time to take a look.... that was expected...... this wasn't... What?? Looks like the Chinese are reproducing these! Oh well, the result should be the same. First items on the agenda then are the chassis frames, Pretty basic, and in need of some TLC. The flash was cleaned off and mould lines removed, then it was time to start looking into what was needed to bring them up to scratch. First, the gap between the springs and chassis rails was corrected, as seen on the left. Then the connecting arm for the friction damper was removed, and the lightening holes were drilled out. That was the easy part. Now the wheels! This is what came in the box Not pretty. A bath in bleach helped, and at least shows that the moulding is not too bad, it's just that chrome that filled the gaps! The rear wheels are going to be a bigger problem, as the brake drum is moulded as part of the wheel. That will have to be removed, and of course all the spokes will need replacing. I'm now trying to figure out the best way of going about that. The plan at the moment is to drill through the rims from the outside to give me a starting point, then remove the spokes and file a groove into the hub to take the "wires", which will be either invisible thread or fishing line. Any tips are more than welcome! Thanks for looking in! Ian

I think this is the final Matchbox car kit missing from @Rabbit Leader's build list PK-308 Porsche 935, which is in Martini colours as raced at Watkins Glen in 1976 (according to the kit packaging). It was bought on eBay on Monday evening, so I'm impressed that it arrived so quickly. It's been part started but I think it falls well under the 25% completed rule. It also needs decals as these are completely absent. On the white paper and cutting mat is everything that came in the box. This is what arrived assembled. The body shell had a slight twist when it arrived, but I soaked the shell in warm water and think I've managed to straighten it out. The parts of the body seem correctly aligned so I don't think it was an assembly error. The body needs a few more panels adding but the good thing is that it can all be assembled as a unit before being joined to the interior/floor assembly. I think the first step will be to finish assembling the body, then get it primed and painted. I don't build many competition cars, so I'm a bit nervous about this.