Grover 27 Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 (edited) Matchbox's McDonnell Phantom FG.1, 892 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, H.M.S. Ark Royal: Built right out of the box with only a swop of the plastic ejection seats to metal aftermarket ones. The nose wheel is not correct. But the version with the nose so weird high I did not like. The ageing transfers unfortunately leave their mark on the result, but despite that it was really fun to build this old kit. Thanks for watching, Edited June 11, 2016 by Grover 27 34 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 What a superb build of this kit,looks every inch a Phantom despite the kicking it's had since it's release,great painting and decals look fine to me,that's cheered me up thanks! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old thumper Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 Seeing this has made me want to build one myself, and I'm not even a jet builder. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildeSau75 Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 Very nice - like it in this scheme. Cheers, Michael 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 I have a weakness for Matchbox kits due to the artwork, but your build has trumped that. I never knew this old kit could look this good 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 Looks good to me - well done. Keep the Senior Services Flag flying... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 looks good, nice to see one in the proper colours! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darby Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 looks good, nice to see one in the proper colours! Likewise. I'm starting the Fujimi 892 one when I get home next week. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon382 Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 Very nice result! I made this kit many years ago in the 111sqdn markings. Needless to say your effort looks rather better than my effort!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 That's a kit I always missed when I was young, and very frustrated I got. To see it built in such a brilliant fashion makes me happy, because this old plastic deserves it. Congratulations. And it is Royal Navy: what a pleasure! JR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Outstanding build of a Matchbox classic, I love these old kits 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Wow, that reminds me just how good the Phantom looked in RN colours. Without a doubt that was best scheme worn by any Phantom, anywhere, at any time. Top class. Cheers John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders154 Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Who would believe that that was the Matchbox kit. I remember many many years ago I changed the canopy as I thought that it looked a bit flat but yours look fine. Well done Rodders 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtecjack Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 A great build ,of an old favourite ,well done 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryanm Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Very good! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat C Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Yours skills have made this old Matchbox kit look rather good! Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 (edited) Fab, it builds in to nicely proportioned toom. A bit of fettlin and a British toom at a fraction of the price...but I'd change those winders. Nice work Edited June 12, 2016 by junglierating 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albamac Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 The Toom looks ship shape to me and nice to see an FAA one. It is a credit to your modelling skills Sir to get the best out of an old Matchbox kit which I like with a bit of extras added on. albamac 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viscount806x Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Great job on the old classic kit. This was the only game in town when it appeared in 1976, Fujimi being way into the future at that time. We were so grateful for it too and could finally forget cross kitting Hasegawa F4Es and the Frog/Hasegawa 'UK Phantom' which wasn't one at all really. James Goulding in his column in Aircraft Illustrated, a modelling journalist who seemed at the top of his game to me and whose opinions I avidly followed, reviewed the new kit in 1976 and besides the usual carping about multi coloured mouldings, really found little to criticise, one thing being the rather shallow cockpit transparencies. You've got round that by posing them open so all sorted. Nice one! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 A great build of a classic kit. I really enjoy seeing these old kits get the attention they deserve. Well done indeed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grover 27 Posted June 12, 2016 Author Share Posted June 12, 2016 reviewed the new kit in 1976 and besides the usual carping about multi coloured mouldings, really found little to criticise, one thing being the rather shallow cockpit transparencies. You've got round that by posing them open so all sorted. Nice one! True, well seen. The shape of the kits canopy is not quite accurately (too low). And the reason that they are mounted in the open position. Also the radar dome was too much an "onion" shape. The diameter is sanded smaller so that it fits better in line with the fuselage. looks good, nice to see one in the proper colours! Actually I initially had difficulties with the gray color. The first coat of paint (a mixture of Revells aqua "Panzergrau", "White" and "Night Blue") ended in failure in terms of color tone. After this I switched over to Humbrol's 123 "extra Dark Sea Grey" and mixed it to create different color tone. What gave the result as seen in the end pictures. That's a kit I always missed when I was young, and very frustrated I got. To see it built in such a brilliant fashion makes me happy, because this old plastic deserves it. Congratulations. And it is Royal Navy: what a pleasure! JR That's funny. I have the same experiences. I admired the kit much in my youth but was never able to buy. Matchbox kits gave me In my youth many modelling fun. And today they still can. You're welcome JR. I would like to thank everyone for the kind and motivating comments. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcdonnell Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Hello,Grover27 - You deserve every credit indeed for this beautiful build.The kit you used,with all respects to it,is not the most high- tech.or sophisticated but your skill has transformed this into a fine tribute to a fine aircraft.Great job! All the best,Paul. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spad Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Nice job! Certainly looks like a Phantom to me. If I recall correctly, the kit when originally released had an undersized radome and a shallow canopy. I understand that they reacted to this by reworking the radome to increase it's size. Am I right, anybody? ATBRick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grover 27 Posted June 12, 2016 Author Share Posted June 12, 2016 If I recall correctly, the kit when originally released had an undersized radome and a shallow canopy. I understand that they reacted to this by reworking the radome to increase it's size. Am I right, anybody? ATB Rick My Matchbox is one of the later versions as you can see on the first picture. I also heard (rumors) that Matchbox has modified the radome shape from the first batch. But I have no facts other than mine experience on this kit. This is a picture from the early building progress showing the kits nose attached to the fuselage prior to sanding. Its little, little over sized and the union shape present to strong. Check this nose with an old build here. This form seems to be different compared to my model: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/25784-matchbox-172-phantom/ Maybe someone can help with facts. Kind regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonhoff Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Pretty sure the later boxings had a revised tailplane with the RWR housing and a revised nosecone. Got the original boxing in the stash and built another about 40 years ago, remember thinking the nose looked off then. Might look see how difficult it would be to kitbash an Italeri F4S nose and cockpit onto the MB fuselage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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