Took a day trip to Telford Saturday without the express purpose of adding anything to my modest stash. However, while having a browse at an old kit stand, I spied a Matchbox Kaman Seasprite in 1:48 and decided that, heck, one more wouldn't hurt, so I snapped it up. The Seasprite is an aircraft I have become interested in because of a recent build thread started by Rodders. Thanks Rodders. Nice kit, I think, a little sparse on detail but adding detail is the kind of thing that I like best about modelling so no problem there. Besides the pleasure I got from finding the kit, I was equally pleased with the quality of the box art, which I was seeing for the first time. Done by Roy Huxley, the original in gouache, it depicts a Seasprite in 3/4 front view, everything loaded and apparently looking for trouble. This painting is terrific, IMHO, accurate and with a definite painterly quality about it. I hadn't built many Matchbox kits so wasn't that familiar with Mr. Huxley's Matchbox work, of which, after a bit of Binging, I now realize he did quite a bit. The Guild of Aviation Artists has the original of this painting on offer for £1,450. A little off my affordability scale but I'd have it if it wasn't.
The box top:
Dennis