David Womby Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 This is Phantom FG1 XV569/013 of 892 Squadron, Royal Navy in autumn 1969. She bears the 'R' on the fin denoting she belongs with HMS Ark Royal but also the markings on her rear fuselage 'USS Saratoga'. That's because, before embarking on Ark Royal, XV569 was one of 4 RN Phantoms that spent time in the Med. on the Saratoga practicing deck landings and takeoffs. Apparently the extra power of the Spey engines, coupled with them being fitted with the exhausts pointing more downward, buckled Saratoga's deck! XV569 flew then in this configuration: no pylons except the centreline one carrying the large drop tank. There's video of this event on YouTube. This is the first release of the Matchbox kit modified with a resin radome cast from the, somewhat, corrected later release and a spare Fujimi canopy fitted. The exhaust cans are from the Aeroclub set for the Matchbox kit. The decals are a mix of Fujimi (their 'Royal Navy' decal was visibly too big), Matchbox and an ancient Almarks sheet. The small Rolls Royce badges are from a Liveries Unlimited sheet for airliner engines. The Fujimi were hardest to use and there's some silvering evident despite glossing and solvents! I didn't do the stencils - not my thing. If you look closely you may notice the '013' on the port nose is slightly too large. That came from the Almark sheet but was all I had to make up those numbers. The starboard one is from the Matchbox sheet but, sometime in the distant past, I had removed one of the sets of '013'. Hence the oversize Almarks on the port side. I've left her pretty glossy as she was less than a year old then and this was her first time shipboard. Comments and suggestions welcomed. David 38 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Young Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 That's a lovely Phantom David, just goes to show that some of these older kits can be made to look really good. I like the idea of using a Fujimi canopy, I was checking out the same thing a while back, but mine hasn't progressed much further since then. Interesting to hear how inventive you had to be with the decals!. Great job. Cheers, Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 Great job on this Matchbox classic David. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardiff guy Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 very nice, love to see these old kits brought up to standard. A real blast from the past well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 There is hope for these old kits, a few details I didn't know about. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 A great rendition of such an old kit, looks superb. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 Lovely work David. I love these old classic kits given the TLC they deserve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby No Mac Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 The old girl's scrubbed up well. Nice to see a classic Matchbox display stand being deployed too Was the Saratoga cross-decking episode also when one of the Tooms got zapped and rebranded as 'Colonial Navy'? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Womby Posted January 23, 2022 Author Share Posted January 23, 2022 16 minutes ago, Bobby No Mac said: The old girl's scrubbed up well. Nice to see a classic Matchbox display stand being deployed too Was the Saratoga cross-decking episode also when one of the Tooms got zapped and rebranded as 'Colonial Navy'? Thanks. I believe the Colonial Navy zapping was later in the 70s. David 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 A lovely clean build of a classic kit 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmaks Posted January 28, 2022 Share Posted January 28, 2022 I love seeing old Matchbox kits being brought to life so well 👏👏👏 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomcat101 Posted January 28, 2022 Share Posted January 28, 2022 Nice build. I know they are not considered 'the best' but I always have a blast building old Matchbox kits. I did the Phantom in RAF grey scheme decades ago. Long gone now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Womby Posted January 28, 2022 Author Share Posted January 28, 2022 1 minute ago, Tomcat101 said: ............................. I always have a blast building old Matchbox kits. .................................. Me too! And old Frog kits. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classic 315 Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 Nicely done - good to see the old Matchbox kit being made. Waste not, want not! 👍🏻 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 It looks really good. Irrespective of the age of the kit. Well done 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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