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Showing results for tags 'Boeing P-12E'.
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I've had a bit of a (nother) hiatus with my Matchbox 1/32 Tiger Moth. Not sure why, but it's not floating my boat at the minute. So in an attempt to kick-start my mojo, I was looking for something simple, a bit of a challenge and a bit off the beaten path. I looked at a few vacforms on TheBay, but most or all of those I found have been done in recent years by mainstream manufacturers or didn't really fit the bill. So instead I've somehow ended up with Matchbox's Boeing P-12E, which as far as I know is the only 1/72 kit of the type (OK there's a similar Monogram F4B-4) and shouldn't take too long to get results. But instead of doing it OOB, I'm going to try some limited aftermarket. I remember these kits when they came out and having managed to get one via FleaBay, it's been a trip down memory lane. First the box: I recall these being end-opening on the original kits, but this one has a proper lid: which came first? Basic instructions and a typically basic decal sheet: This being a typical 'no paint required' Lesney product, these are the yellow bits, plus a tiny windshield: And the 'olive drab' bits: Not forgetting the iconic Matchbox stand. Not sure if I'll use this. Markings for two machines, but a lot of masking and painting required. Did this really cost 20p new???!! And the aftermarket starts with a new engine - an absolute gem from Small Stuff in 1/72: And though not exactly P-12E, I've bought the Pavla P-26 set so I can use the engine baffle plate plus seat (but not the wheels/tyres): And finally since the Matchbox decals are a bit basic, I'm going to do one of the aircraft on Starfighter Decals' sheets 72-122 and 72-133 (respectively): So there it is. I really do hope that this one progresses a bit more hastily than the other stuff I'm struggling with! Oh and who remembers this? Happy times.
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OK! And I am off... I am just waiting to hear back from Martian regarding colour schemes since we are both building the same very pretty little bird. I would like to build the aircraft from Wheeler Field in Hawaii, 31-246, but I am easy to change and it is still early. We both have the wonderful set of aftermarket decals from Starfighter and there are four options, all of which are really cool. At this point I have just primed the plastic and will begun some interior scratch building of the cockpit. There are excellent photos on-line for reference and some wonderful in-flight shots too! What a neat little plane she was... I will be using rattle can paints for the fuselage (see below) and the wings too. Humbrol Light Olive for the fuselage and Trainer Yellow for the wings. The rigging will be .005 stainless and I might try to make a new and thinner windscreen. Here are my opening images... I tested out several different 'greens' and even mixed a few up. I don't have the exact OD from the 1930s, and in the end I chose the rattle can Light Olive from Humbrol. The other examples are assorted Vallejo tints and a bit of Humbrol 159...too brown. The others were too green and the IDF Green is really nice, it was too grey/blue. ...and here are my sprue, primed. The grey primer is really grey, not so blue, so I apologize for the poor white balance. I think the trainer yellow will turn out just fine for this. If I need to brighten it up I'll do a quick scary of Humbrol Yellow from the can to do so, but so far this yellow has grown on me. Yes..it looks a bit 'mustard-y' but remember the white balance is off and I couldn't fix it for some reason. It really is more yellow, and deeper than the plain yellow flavour. ...and away I go...
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