Adrian Hills Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 I chose this kit as I remember it was my favourite build as a kid. I bought it in Anerley, south London at my favourite shop. It was only small and mainly sold sweets and boring newspaper - but occasionally would have a Matchbox kit in the window. I always remember the box and have bought a P12E of the same vintage. As a result of the current situation I am living with my girlfriend and her ten year old son. I've got him in to modelling and he likes to build kits quickly. So did I as a kid but remember painting this one properly. My aim is to start and finish this build on the first day - Tomorrow. Watch this space ! 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 A great choice Adrian! I remember well building the same kit and really enjoying it, this and Matchbox's Helldiver were the first biplane kits that I completed successfully so I have fond memories of them both. Finished in one day though! Even our blitzbuilds last for 3 days! plenty of room for another 80 odd builds in the GB for you then at that rate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dansk Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 Welcome Adrian, and thanks for the background story. A retro turbo-blitzbuild! Maybe it’s done next time you post! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Hello adrian, its not rushing, these things were designed to be blasted together,all the best (does that build time include rigging) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyW Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 I don't think any of my early builds took longer than a day, including paint. You will be building in the finest nostalgic tradition here. Well done that kid, er... Man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Hills Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 A fresh no11 blade, all supplies in place. My Lover even found some invisible thread in her sewing box. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Hills Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 First break for paint to dry. It took two hours to clean parts whilst on sprue. Disaster with Gunze paint on one side of fuselage so wiped it off with isopropyl and will repaint. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Hills Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 5 hours ago, Hewy said: Hello adrian, its not rushing, these things were designed to be blasted together,all the best (does that build time include rigging) Hewy, The rigging is basic so if my eyesite holds at the end of the day will try. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 8 minutes ago, Adrian Hills said: Hewy, The rigging is basic so if my eyesite holds at the end of the day will try. Fair play ade 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 The 2 things that immediately struck me about this kit was that it was tiny and that, for once, the 2 colour moulding meant that you really didn't need to paint it 😃 The only other Matchbox kit like that was the prototype Alpha Jet. It's a wee beauty though. Watching with much nostalgia. John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franz75 Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Hi Adriam, what is a deal with the watch? Rushing? I notice that kits we use to make as kids have shrieked. They also not that sophisticates as we remember it. Funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Hills Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 Adrian's 'quick and dirty masking method 1) Photograph box. put in computer. change size so its about right. then print 2) Put masking tape upside down on image. 3) Cut around shape. Remove bits of tape. stick on fuselage. 4) For other side, simply turn photocopy upside down. Used sliced edges to help guide black marker so it shows through masking tape. Then repeat process. 5) At least it gives me a guide for multiple coats of red 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Coming along very nicely Adrian. Great trick with masking for the red on the fuselage, very clever. I feel I have to ask, who is the little Dinosaur or Crocodilian figure, and does he or she have a name? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Hills Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 My very supportive lover just cooked me a beautiful meal. Time to tidy a bit. Time to start putting it together. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Dean Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 A lovely little kit this. It epitomizes Matchbox's USP of "coloured kits without painting" and the engineering involved in how the little kit goes together is very well done. Looking forward to it all done up and pretty. Mike. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Hills Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 DONE Twelve and a bit hours. That's it basically complete. All the bells and whistles - including STRINGING ! Tomorrow I'll deal with the townend ring issue and work out how to paint it. Decals need a bit of attention too. But for now I'm having a BEER 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 10 minutes ago, Adrian Hills said: But for now I'm having a BEER And a well deserved beer at that Adrian! Just proves what we could do when we were younger, and what we can do now if given the chance. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dansk Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 I’m sure the models we made as kids fast didnt look that good! nice one, the rigging looks great too. 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Hills Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 6 minutes ago, Dansk said: I’m sure the models we made as kids fast didnt look that good! nice one, the rigging looks great too. 👍 Thanks Dansk - I wasn’t going to do any rigging but Hewy suggested it !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dansk Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 4 minutes ago, Adrian Hills said: Thanks Dansk - I wasn’t going to do any rigging but Hewy suggested it !! It turned out really great 👍 Arent you glad you did it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 That has turned out a little pearl, nice one adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 Excellent... Wish my Bi-planes looked half as good though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 Very nice, and quick too! Some of us haven’t even got the box open yet. Seems a bit rotten of Matchbox to show a yellow cowling on the box art and then put it on the not-yellow sprue! Regards, Adrian 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Dean Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 A nice little kit with a lot of colour and some simple rigging. What's not to like! Nicely done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Nice. Much better than the one I built - I think it was when they were fiddling around with plastic cement to cut back on "glue sniffing" - smelled nice but was rubbish at sticking plastic so mine fell apart after a short while. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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