discussion Dave w's Matchbox 1/32 Spitfire mk24

[Dave W]

This is my entry for the old kit build.Its a classic Matchbox kit and was produced between 1977 and 1982. It's currently boxed by Revell. I loved building Matchbox when I was a kid.But I could never afford the 1/32 range.I picked this one up with a bunch of other kits a couple of years ago.I got it for £2!. Don't know if it's worth anything as a collectors item. But I don't care. As far as I'm concerned,kits should be built. Not gathering dust in someone's loft waiting for the value to go up. It's a kit of its time and apparently has some accuracy issues. But I'm not bothered about that. I'm going to build it out of box apart from a fabric seat belt set. It's got those great instruction sheets that I remember and some detailed painting instructions. Not sure about the decal sheet. Some ink from the instructions has stuck to one of the roundels. But I've got spares that should be suitable.Not sure when I will start it as I've got a Lancaster on the go as well.


View attachment 118695

View attachment 118696

View attachment 118697

View attachment 118698

View attachment 118699

View attachment 118700

View attachment 118701

View attachment 118702

View attachment 118703

View attachment 118704

View attachment 118705


View attachment 231717

View attachment 231718

View attachment 231719

View attachment 231720

View attachment 231721

View attachment 231722

View attachment 231723

View attachment 231724

View attachment 231725

View attachment 231726

View attachment 231727

 

[Guest]

Looks very fine Dave

 

[papa 695]

Nice one Dave.


Three colours so no painting required then

 

[yak face]

Great choice Dave , like yourself I used to look at these and the Revell 1/32 kits with awe , but could never afford them normally , I had to wait till a birthday to get anything big! Which scheme are you going for? I always liked the look of the Egyptian one with the all over silver and green roundels, cheers tony

 

[Dave W]

Great choice Dave , like yourself I used to look at these and the Revell 1/32 kits with awe , but could never afford them normally , I had to wait till a birthday to get anything big! Which scheme are you going for? I always liked the look of the Egyptian one with the all over silver and green roundels, cheers tony

Not sure yet.Probably the camouflaged RAF one.Will have to test a decal to see what they are like before I decide.

 

[Guest]

That's the attitude, stuff keeping the kits for a profit, build build build haha

 

[colin m]

Nice one Dave. I built the Revell re-box some years ago, which was a bit warped in places. However as your is an original, I hope it's a lot straighter.

 

[Dave W]

View attachment 120197

View attachment 120198

I've made a start on this whilst I wait for the glue to harden on he Lancasters engine nacelles. I've never built a kit where the wing is built in sections with internal spars.seams to work though.And this is a 1977 kit.Eat your heart out Zoukie Mura!.View attachment 233219

View attachment 233220

 

[Dave W]

View attachment 120231

View attachment 120232

I've glued a few bits of the engine and interior parts together.There are two fuel tanks to glue into the fuselage.But they won't be seen when the models together.As can be expected for a model of this vintage the exhausts are solid. So I've started drilling them out.The instrument panel has a strange clear insert.Dont know what Matchbox were thinking of there.View attachment 233253

View attachment 233254

 

[stona]

View attachment 131995 View attachment 131996 The instrument panel has a strange clear insert.Dont know what Matchbox were thinking of there.

Some finish that central panel in a slightly different dark grey/black to the rest of the instrument panel. I can't see any evidence for this in the real thing.


Why Matchbox made it as a clear part I know not


Cheers


Steve

 

[Dave W]

View attachment 120289

View attachment 120290

View attachment 120291

View attachment 120292



I've started assembling the prop.The individual blades with a small contact area makes it very tricky to get right.Ive also put the wings together.Im not going for the open cannon bay option.But I've glued the bay's in to give a bit of rigidity to the wing.And ive finished assembling the engine and drilling out the exhausts.

View attachment 233311

View attachment 233312

View attachment 233313

View attachment 233314

 

[colin m]

Looking nice. Have you had a trial fit of the front end yet ? This is where I found my 'bendy bits' on my Revell build.

 

[geegad]

looking real good and a classic kit

 

[Dave W]

Looking nice. Have you had a trial fit of the front end yet ? This is where I found my 'bendy bits' on my Revell build.

I've not tried the front end yet.But nothing's warped so hopefully it will go together ok.Im going to paint the engine.But I might have to glue all the cowlings on to give the fuselage a bit of rigidity.We shall see...

 

[flyjoe180]

You really went old school, nice choice Dave and looks to be a good start.

 

[Dave W]

View attachment 120616

View attachment 120617

The instrument panel only has raised circles for detail.So I've used a decal from the Revell 1/32 Hurricane in my stash.Yes I know it's not accurate.But it will look OK through a closed canopy.Ive glued the fuselage halves together and glued the wing root fairing sections to the wing.View attachment 233638

View attachment 233639

 

[papa 695]

Looking good Dave and I really like the instrument panel

 

[Dave W]

View attachment 120758

That's the wing glued to the fuselage.As you can see the two assemblies need some encouragement to join together!.View attachment 120824

View attachment 233780

 

[papa 695]

Some nice work Dave is it plastic or metal your working on with those clamps Dave

 

[Dave W]

Some nice work Dave is it plastic or metal your working on with those clamps Dave

The clamps are left over from the days when I used to do metal repairs on real aircraft.They are fine on plastic as long as you don't do them up too tight!.