Vintage models
Here are some of my vintage models. They're all Matchbox. Firstly, there is the Armstrong Whitworth Siskin IIIA which is J8652 P from B Flight No. 41 Squadron at Northolt in 1929. Then there's a Handley Page Heyford Mk. 1 of K3498 Q of A Flight No. 99 Squadron in 1934. Finally a Vickers Wellesley Mk. 1 K7716 from No. 76 Squadron in April 1937. All the models have been heavily detailed and have scratchbuilt cockpits and interiors. The decals for the Heyford came from the kit but others were painted on or custom ordered.
All three are amazing, Christopher! What a departure from the standard kits!
Thanks for sharing!
Many thanks for the very kind comments Spiros - I do like to improve old models.
A beautiful set of Matchbox kits, Christopher @christopher
Great to see those improvements of the basic molds.
Well done.
Many thanks @johnb. The improvements are actually quite easy but just very time consuming
All three are beautifully done!
Thanks a lot Bob - that's very kind of you to say so.
These are great, Christopher! I love well built Matchbox models. They were always interesting subjects.
Many thanks John - Matchbox always did have some very nice subjects and the challenge of detailing them is fun.
Fantastic job on a much maligned brand of kit. Matchbox molded subjects no one else was doing, and your builds look wonderful!
Hi Rob - your kind comments are very much appreciated. I never bought into the anti-Matchbox hype. Certainly their more common prototypes were simplified but their off-the-wall prototypes were very welcome (An injection molded Heyford!).
Great work on those old kits!
Thanks so much Chas - I find that detailing old kits like that is an enjoyable project
Great builds, love those between wars birds.
Thanks a lot Chas - I always think it was one of the most fascinating periods of aviation as well.
Some nicely built and uncommon models ...
Many thanks Jay - the Heyford is one which is particularly uncommon and I'm very pleased with that one.
You're certainly not going to get those three from any other source in 1/72 (Aeroclub did do a 1/48 Siskin vacuform). Very nice work bringing them "up to snuff" and great results for all three.
You're right there - interwar British bombers don't even attract resin manufacturers so the Heyford was a surprise. Thanks for the really kind comments. I also liked your vintage models.
Great looking builds! Most Matchbox kits can be built with decent results, but when the shape of the kit is off then there's no hope. One of the worst shaped kits was their F-4K/M Phantom.
Many, many thanks Robert. I agree though the Wellesley needed a new engine (the others just needed detailing). The biplanes were generally the best.
Great builds of some unusual subjects - nicely done!
Thanks ever so much for the kind comments Greg.