AnonymousA667 Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 Finally got my act together and started something, so let's get the preliminaries over with. Box art: If you look at the price lable it says 'Martin 1.75' - it has been stashed for a long time. Schemes. This will be a Battle of Britain period machine. Not sure if the aircraft sub-type is correct. Decals. Will they hold up? Parts. They look OK, except one of the fuselage halves had some plastic flake off like it was de-laminating. I managed to clean it up by brushing on some MEK then sanding. It may need bulking up again, got to decide on this. This will be an OOB non AMS build, so it was stick a few parts together, then squirt them with some paint. I didn't have any Grau 02 to hand so mixed some grey and green together. Good enough for me. peebeep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Blackburn Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 Finally got my act together and started something, so let's get the preliminaries over with. Box art: If you look at the price lable it says 'Martin 1.75' - it has been stashed for a long time. Schemes. This will be a Battle of Britain period machine. Not sure if the aircraft sub-type is correct. Decals. Will they hold up? Parts. They look OK, except one of the fuselage halves had some plastic flake off like it was de-laminating. I managed to clean it up by brushing on some MEK then sanding. It may need bulking up again, got to decide on this. This will be an OOB non AMS build, so it was stick a few parts together, then squirt them with some paint. I didn't have any Grau 02 to hand so mixed some grey and green together. Good enough for me. peebeep thats cool not to be too fussy over exact shade of paint things vary in real life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedfellows Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 God i miss Matchbox kits!! Do you have the stand for it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousA667 Posted July 21, 2008 Author Share Posted July 21, 2008 It's gone AWOL. I have other red series kits that should have them in the box still. peebeep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darson Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Aaaahhh the memories of childhood modeling come flooding back . Oh and as for the sub type, the He 111-H is perfectly fine for the BoB. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old VG 33 Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 A great Matchbox kit that reminds me too... Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erwin Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Good entry. I guess most of the older members started the hobby with Matchbox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Good entry.I guess most of the older members started the hobby with Matchbox. Nah, I'm much older than that! The first Matchbox kits came out the year I went to High School. As to the Matchbox He111, it was the first kit of this aircraft I can recall that represented an earlier BoB era "H" model, with the FROG kit being a later H6 and the Airfix a much later H16 or H20. The biggest drawback I can recall was the moulding of some of the windows on the underside gondola solid - they did the same thing on the Ju188. Apart from that it builds into a nice, if rather simple, model. I remember using the Matchbox props on an Italeri H6 to get a BoB version. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousA667 Posted July 21, 2008 Author Share Posted July 21, 2008 Nah, I'm much older than that! The first Matchbox kits came out the year I went to High School. I'm older than that! I'd left senior school when they came out. As to the Matchbox He111, it was the first kit of this aircraft I can recall that represented an earlier BoB era "H" model, with the FROG kit being a later H6 and the Airfix a much later H16 or H20. The biggest drawback I can recall was the moulding of some of the windows on the underside gondola solid - they did the same thing on the Ju188. Apart from that it builds into a nice, if rather simple, model. I remember using the Matchbox props on an Italeri H6 to get a BoB version. Checking my references it does appear to be based on the H-1. The windows are moulded as depressions and initially I was thinking of drilling them out, but I don't think I will do that. I will probably paint them black and then 'glaze' them with Klear or Clearfix. The two forward fuselage apertures are moulded 'solid' and this is correct for A1+BT - I have a photo of this machine. The 'B' on the decal sheet is white, but from the photo this is clearly incorrect. My reference suggests yellow and this would seem to be a fair call, same for the yellow spinners. peebeep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Matchbox kits came out some years after I left university. I started on the Airfix Spitfire Mk 1 - the Aurora-based one, not the little goodie. OK, who's next? I know at least one modeller who'd left the RAF before they appeared. I didn't recall that Matchbox gave us the thin props? Ah well - or where they just thinner than the Italaeri? I'm sure I waited for Hasegawa to do an H-3 and I've spare Matchbox props. Having thinned down a set of four Matchbox Halifax props, two He 111 ones would be a doddle. I'm not sure about the introduction of the forward gun in the gondola - He 111 sources are a bit vague about that. Overall a nice kit in outline, if a bit basic, but I see it as an H-6 and thus a little late for the BoB. Differences are small, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPNGROATS Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 peebeep: Nice entry, somehow a Matchbox kit seems so appropriate for a BoB build...as does an He-111... Cheers, ggc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dragon Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 I remember the Airfix Spit I well, a scale down of the Aurora kit as you said, complete with the bombs (8?) under the wings, not long after came the original Airfix Bf.109, a "F" if I remember. Phil Matchbox kits came out some years after I left university. I started on the Airfix Spitfire Mk 1 - the Aurora-based one, not the little goodie. OK, who's next? I know at least one modeller who'd left the RAF before they appeared.I didn't recall that Matchbox gave us the thin props? Ah well - or where they just thinner than the Italaeri? I'm sure I waited for Hasegawa to do an H-3 and I've spare Matchbox props. Having thinned down a set of four Matchbox Halifax props, two He 111 ones would be a doddle. I'm not sure about the introduction of the forward gun in the gondola - He 111 sources are a bit vague about that. Overall a nice kit in outline, if a bit basic, but I see it as an H-6 and thus a little late for the BoB. Differences are small, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousA667 Posted July 21, 2008 Author Share Posted July 21, 2008 Overall a nice kit in outline, if a bit basic, but I see it as an H-6 and thus a little late for the BoB. Differences are small, though. I really can't be fussed, as mentioned above. I may even ignore the fact that the kit exhausts are incorrect for A1+BT - they should be shrouded according to my photo. I also can indulge the luxury of leaving off the waist guns as per the photo. peebeep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousA667 Posted July 21, 2008 Author Share Posted July 21, 2008 peebeep: Nice entry, somehow a Matchbox kit seems so appropriate for a BoB build...as does an He-111... I seem to be the only one doing a Heinkel! Surely an iconic aircraft of the BoB? I have a soft spot for Matchbox, you can nail them together or dress them up and it's still fun. We should be urging the likes of Revell to keep the tooling going for us and future generations of modellers. peebeep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PetrOs Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 I seem to be the only one doing a Heinkel! Surely an iconic aircraft of the BoB? I have a soft spot for Matchbox, you can nail them together or dress them up and it's still fun. We should be urging the likes of Revell to keep the tooling going for us and future generations of modellers.peebeep Hey Not really alone you are I am planning to enter the Revell 1/48 He-111H (+ Aires Cockpit + Eduard big ed set) after doing the Fiat C.R.42, so probably mid-august. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erwin Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 HeyNot really alone you are I am planning to enter the Revell 1/48 He-111H (+ Aires Cockpit + Eduard big ed set) after doing the Fiat C.R.42, so probably mid-august. The battle is still in it's early stage. I'm sure more 111's will show up later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Matchbox kits came out some years after I left university. I started on the Airfix Spitfire Mk 1 - the Aurora-based one, not the little goodie. OK, who's next? I know at least one modeller who'd left the RAF before they appeared.I didn't recall that Matchbox gave us the thin props? Ah well - or where they just thinner than the Italaeri? I'm sure I waited for Hasegawa to do an H-3 and I've spare Matchbox props. Having thinned down a set of four Matchbox Halifax props, two He 111 ones would be a doddle. I'm not sure about the introduction of the forward gun in the gondola - He 111 sources are a bit vague about that. Overall a nice kit in outline, if a bit basic, but I see it as an H-6 and thus a little late for the BoB. Differences are small, though. I always thought of the Matchbox kit as an H1 or H3, although I can't recall if the exact subtype was mentioned in the instructions or on the packaging. Certainly the box art of the original release featured aircraft attacking Rotterdam, so quite a bit prior to the H6. I don't think the Matchbox kit had the forward gun in the gondola, but I could be wrong. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 The Romanian option was certainly an H-3, but as you say they didn't actually specify subvariant and the choice of markings may not necessarily reflect the model. I tend to think H-1 equals no gun in gondola, H-3 equals same shape but with gun, and H-6 equals chunkier redesign - which I think is reflected in the Matchbox kit. I can't check tonight for it is my wife's birthday and there are other priorities - like a nice steak dinner! However, as I say, the references are a little vague, with contradictory captions, and there surely were upgrades. As always - go with photographs of the subject whenever you can! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousA667 Posted July 21, 2008 Author Share Posted July 21, 2008 Checking through Green's Warplanes of the Third Reich and the Aerodata drawings, the Matchbox kit is mostly (to me) like the H-1, as it doesn't have any forward firing gun in the gondola. My picture of A1+BT unfortunately does not show the forward part of the gondola, but my version is going to be an H-1. peebeep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tango98 Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Just a quick note regarding B of B period He 111s that may be of use for anyone who is interested: The primary series of He 111s used by the Kampfgruppen during this period were the P-2 and the H-1 to H5, the H4 & H5 began appearing on unit returns in mid to late September. As for the forward firing MG 17 in the ventral gondola, I have no firm date as to when it was introduced into the H series but photos do exist that show He 111s of the period so fitted. There were also several weapons modifications carried out at unit level by He 111 crews during the battle so as Graham has pointed out it's always handy to try to get hold of a photo of the chosen subject whenever possible to identify any modifications etc. HTH Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Ah, the old Heinkel 3 Keep up the good work Paul... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousA667 Posted July 24, 2008 Author Share Posted July 24, 2008 Keep up the good work Paul... Your wish is my command! Some more progress. Main components in sub-assemblies: And together: Quite a bit of filling required. In the spirit of a Matchbox build I made a late decision to include crew figures and have started to paint them. peebeep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Looks good Peebeep! Cheers, Azgaron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Looking good Peebeep, I remember building one of these with my dad, we could never get the canopy to fit or stay on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyL Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Aha...memories of those wonderful 3 colour kits Keep up the good work Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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