Matchbox Nostalgia Campaign
Western Australia, Australia
Joined: July 22, 2007
KitMaker: 607 posts
Armorama: 599 posts
Posted: Monday, May 03, 2010 - 10:03 PM UTC
Jan
Got the base almost done so far. Cabbages look good enough and the oils on the broken/abandoned plough is drying.
I have painted the tracks and joined them. The tracks on my kit look like a good fit, but only installation will prove that. Next up are decals, followed by dot filtering.
"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."
- Galileo Galilei
#023
Zurich, Switzerland
Joined: March 13, 2009
KitMaker: 2,058 posts
Armorama: 1,656 posts
Posted: Monday, May 03, 2010 - 10:48 PM UTC
Wow, things are moving here! Some very good progress here! I like Monty's caravan, have never actually seen one before. Especially the figures seem to be quite decent.
Looking forward to more progress! An SAS and LRDG set are still missing, as are the Honey and Humber sets. Anyone?
Cheers!
Stefan
Too many models - too little time...
England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: November 19, 2008
KitMaker: 2,249 posts
Armorama: 2,007 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 - 09:27 AM UTC
Quoted Text
An SAS and LRDG set are still missing, as are the Honey and Humber sets. Anyone?
I realise Jan is the analysis person, so please correct me if I am wrong, but here is a list of the eligible kits with a tick for those that were registered, and those that have been or are being built. There are indeed a few gaps, and I slightly regret that some of us (including me) doubled up on what others did. I missed out for example on the SdKfz 11/BMW R75 which I saw on ebay at the time.
As I say, I may have some of this wrong:
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 - 09:38 AM UTC
Thank you all for the progress pictures, text updates and comments. We still have nine members who have yet to commit to a kit so there is hope for the LRDG and Honey. Braille committed to the Humber but has been conspicuously absent from Armorama for quite some time.
Now for potentially pleasant news. As I mention earlier in this thread there has been a growing number of individuals who have PM'd me regarding an extension.
At this point I will formally commit to an extension of the campaign. The reasons are varied but the responses have grown. I won't commit at this point to how long the extension will be but I can say that it will not be less than additional 16 days and possibly longer. If anyone wishes they may PM me with their views as I will not make a decision on the duration until the beginning of the last "official" week of the campaign.
Keep those builds coming!
Cheers,
Jan (the soft hearted
)
#023
Zurich, Switzerland
Joined: March 13, 2009
KitMaker: 2,058 posts
Armorama: 1,656 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 - 07:27 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
An SAS and LRDG set are still missing, as are the Honey and Humber sets. Anyone?
[...] There are indeed a few gaps, and I slightly regret that some of us (including me) doubled up on what others did. I missed out for example on the SdKfz 11/BMW R75 which I saw on ebay at the time.[...]
Hmm, I'm guilty of that too, I actually have the LRDG and SAS in the stash (as well as the T34) but wanted to build the AVRE as this is one of the few I have never built. I also tried to get my hands on a Pz. III but someone got it before me (or rather for more money than I was willing to pay...). I don't think I'll find time to get the SAS and LRDG in beofre even the prolonged deadline...
Cheers!
Stefan
Too many models - too little time...
#372
United Kingdom
Joined: March 10, 2010
KitMaker: 2,568 posts
Armorama: 423 posts
Posted: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 - 05:22 AM UTC
I built the Humber sometime around the mid 90's, probably about the third or fourth model I built (first was a matchbox Hellcat!). And its still on my shelf unlike the others. Haven't seen one since, not even the short lived revell re-issue. Really wouldn't mind having another go at one. Like wise with the Stuart, not come across one yet and they always seem to go for a fair bit on evilbay. Did revell give that one a repop?
Any news on the extension? It would be a big help if we could. Had to spend too many weekends out with the girlfriend than working on the Comet. I need to get my prioritys straight
On the bench: 1/72 Mosquito, Lightning F.6, DH.2,
AMT Vulcan Shuttle Surak.
Cyber-Hobby 1:35 Sherman Firefly IC - still stalled.
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 - 09:36 AM UTC
@firstcircle - Thanks for the chart detailing the builds.
Always nice to have input from the participants as it eases my pressures.
@phantom_phanatic309 - Stephen, if you check the qualifying kit chart (and if you could find it
) way early in this thread you'll find Revell re-released the Humber (Pk-75) as the Humber Mk II (03223). The Stuart M3/A1 (Pk-84) was repopped as Kit 03224 - M3A1 Stuart Honey by Revell.
Re: Extension: So far the I have received more input and there is a general desire by most for a 30 day extension being the most asked about. As I wrote prior, I will make my decision on the duration at the beginning of the "official" last week but I have definitely committed to a minimal of an extra 16 days. Now lets see some progress pictures from those that have yet to post any. I'd like to see how far everyone is along. No pressure as the main goal is to have FUN. Cheers,
Jan
England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: May 22, 2009
KitMaker: 40 posts
Armorama: 39 posts
Posted: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 - 09:39 AM UTC
Hi all,
As some may know, I have ditched the Priest build, as I am using a few parts of it (mainly the gun) on a kitbash/scratchbuild - to try to get a 'more or less' 1/72 Priest. (Obviously the gun will be a little underscale!!). You can see progress of my Priest Kitbash in the AFV/Braille section
However I did have a Revell (i.e Matchbox) A34 Comet lying around.
In the spirit of the campaign I have completed a very (I started Monday evening) qucik build a paint job on this, because I want to complete an entry.
Here it is:
Apologies for the poor photographs. I need to take some pictures in daylight to bring out a little more detail and highlights (it is less flat in real life, honestly!!!)
I will spend a bit more time on this over the next few weeks to produce a better model, and will post again if this campaign is still running
England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: November 19, 2008
KitMaker: 2,249 posts
Armorama: 2,007 posts
Posted: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 - 09:41 AM UTC
This interesting little package went on ebay today for £18
MATCHBOX GIFT PACK 4 DESERT BATTLE FORCE MODEL KITS Removed by original poster on 05/05/10 - 21:08:22 (GMT).
#372
United Kingdom
Joined: March 10, 2010
KitMaker: 2,568 posts
Armorama: 423 posts
Posted: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 - 10:36 AM UTC
I remember seeing the Humber and Char B1 set once in the catalogue a few years ago. Dont recall the Stuart at all. They must have done them very briefly. Pretty much every shop I ever went into only stocked the usual suspects - Firefly, AVRE, T-34, Wespe etc... Obviously if I'd seen either of those two I would have grabbed them! Just bad luck I suppose.
Anyway, I got the next couple of days to myself from she-who-must-be-obeyed, so plan to get the last little things done then prime the Comet and shoot some pics.
On the bench: 1/72 Mosquito, Lightning F.6, DH.2,
AMT Vulcan Shuttle Surak.
Cyber-Hobby 1:35 Sherman Firefly IC - still stalled.
Queensland, Australia
Joined: April 15, 2010
KitMaker: 224 posts
Armorama: 205 posts
Posted: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 - 11:53 PM UTC
Hi all
Chaffee is finished.After finishing the base i realised i had glued the sandbags on the wrong corner
and with the putty i used to seal the gaps it wasn't coming off again! Had some old ones in spares and added to other side to balance things out.
Had no luck with the Testors Dull coat,even after practising on an old model,kept coming out semi gloss so had to go with the 'back up' plan and used Humbrol flat and a brush,not exactly the finish i was looking for but... Will post photos tomorrow.
@phantom_phanatic309 I picked up the Revell Stuart re-issue about 10 years ago in a box set,came with 50 "Brit. 8. Armee", not matchbox figures though.
Don't know if their still around or not...
Western Australia, Australia
Joined: July 22, 2007
KitMaker: 607 posts
Armorama: 599 posts
Posted: Thursday, May 06, 2010 - 02:14 AM UTC
Jan
Got the M40 tracks on. The trick is to remove two links and CA the run to the road wheels and the front roller. Finally CA lock the top run onto the top rollers.
All is good. I determined this with experimentation and much cursing....
"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."
- Galileo Galilei
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Thursday, May 06, 2010 - 09:07 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Jan
Got the M40 tracks on. The trick is to remove two links and CA the run to the road wheels and the front roller. Finally CA lock the top run onto the top rollers.
All is good. I determined this with experimentation and much cursing....
As I originally surmised (two links). Had a similar issue with the Challenger 1 that I've been tinkering with as the M40 and my other project dry. In that case I removed the two links from the part where they join. It was also easy thanks to the side skirts. I wonder if the other two Challenger builders have had a similar problem.
Cheers,
Jan
Wien, Austria
Joined: November 03, 2005
KitMaker: 47 posts
Armorama: 44 posts
Posted: Thursday, May 06, 2010 - 10:13 AM UTC
Update for the Firefly and the Wespe: Washing completed.
Next Step: Decals, Chipping and Detail Painting.
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Thursday, May 06, 2010 - 11:39 AM UTC
@Maxiplus - Really looking great!!
Thank you for posting the pictures and here is hoping that others will follow your example.
Can't wait to see the final stages. The stone on the bridge looks very well done; wish I could achieve the same results.
Cheers,
Jan
Ontario, Canada
Joined: April 04, 2009
KitMaker: 458 posts
Armorama: 456 posts
Posted: Thursday, May 06, 2010 - 12:06 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Had a similar issue with the Challenger 1 that I've been tinkering with as the M40 and my other project dry. In that case I removed the two links from the part where they join. It was also easy thanks to the side skirts. I wonder if the other two Challenger builders have had a similar problem.
Jan, my Challenger has progressed well. I chopped off some pieces of the joining section as they broke when trying to put them together. Guess the tracks were just too old and brittle. Not sure how many links were involved but it worked out fine when I crazy glued things.
Regards,
AJ
#372
United Kingdom
Joined: March 10, 2010
KitMaker: 2,568 posts
Armorama: 423 posts
Posted: Friday, May 07, 2010 - 08:37 AM UTC
On the bench: 1/72 Mosquito, Lightning F.6, DH.2,
AMT Vulcan Shuttle Surak.
Cyber-Hobby 1:35 Sherman Firefly IC - still stalled.
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Friday, May 07, 2010 - 09:18 AM UTC
@AJB - Thanks for the update and that you also had a track issue. Can't wait to see some picture updates.
@phantom_phanatic309 - Stephen, it's always appreciated when people show updates of in progress builds. If not inspirational it should at least get some people motivated.
Cheers,
Jan
P.S. - The progress chart on page 14 has been updated to reflect changes in builds (eg - A34 in place of M7).
Queensland, Australia
Joined: April 15, 2010
KitMaker: 224 posts
Armorama: 205 posts
Posted: Friday, May 07, 2010 - 05:10 PM UTC
Hi all,here is the finished Chaffee.Will put 3 photos in the campaign gallery.
I added an antennae (its a little off centre) and drilled out the barrel and 2 Mg's,was the first time ever doing this so reasonably happy with the finished model.
Thanks for the campaign.Learn't some new skills and had fun! Great to see all these old Matchbox kits been brought to life!
Cheers,
Tim
England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: March 13, 2007
KitMaker: 391 posts
Armorama: 321 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 07:08 AM UTC
Hi Firefly74,
That is a great Chaffee! If I can get near that I'll be very happy!!!
I'm still struggling to get off the starting-blocks with mine. I was a bit ham-fisted gluing the upper hull - leaving a rather ugly join along its edges. I scraped down the rough bits where the glue bled onto the surface but it left rather a mess.
I am now trying to make it neater with milliput - but it's v awkward to sand smooth with all those pesky rivets along the edges. That has been my (limited) modelling time yesterday and today. Am in the process of driving myself slightly mad with it. Will meed to replace a couple of rivets which accidentally fell victim to my emery board.
This is my first time making a kit and styrene takes a bit of getting used to. Ho hum! I'll keep at it!
A
Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I remember; involve me and I get tired.
Ontario, Canada
Joined: April 04, 2009
KitMaker: 458 posts
Armorama: 456 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 07:34 AM UTC
I hate to repeat everyone else's comment but there are some really super builds going on in this campaign. The Caravan looks really interesting, the Firefly and Wespe are showing very good progress and that Chaffee by Tim looks astounding. It's hard to believe what can be done with these old kits.
Andronicus, hang in there!
The Challenger is only the second kit that I have built and it has been a whopper. From all the sentiments expressed early on, I thought that these Matchbox were supposed to be easy, NOT.
Here's where my build stood on Thursday.
I am calling the base done and the tank is 98% finished. Had a dickens of a time trying to stretch the track sprue to make antennas. I have one attached and need to make one more. Maybe a touch more dusting up on the body and it'll be done in a day or two.
Regards,
AJ
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 08:33 AM UTC
@Firefly74 - TIm, I've updated the charts with your build as now complete. Great job on the M24 and the weathering looks top notch.
@Andronicus - Please try to hang in there and persevere. As I've often stated, these kits are proving a challenge to even some of our more experienced builders. Just do the best you can and try to have some fun.
BTW, if you haven't read my previous
@AJB - For only your second build that Challenger looks good enough to post to the gallery now.
Can't wait to see pictures of what you call finished.
Just gotta love how those optics lenses turned out.
Cheers,
Jan
Western Australia, Australia
Joined: July 22, 2007
KitMaker: 607 posts
Armorama: 599 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 03:57 PM UTC
Well, the base for my M40 is finished. I will need to do some blend work once the M40 is glued to the base though.
Cabbages look good now.....
"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."
- Galileo Galilei
Queensland, Australia
Joined: April 15, 2010
KitMaker: 224 posts
Armorama: 205 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 04:29 PM UTC
Thanks for the compliments!
Was my first model in 10 years and is a considerable improvement over the previous ones! I trawled around this site for lots of tips etc. and they really helped! Love this site
When i started out modelling there was only really Airfix and Matchbox kits around, i always viewed Matchbox as the "elite" kits
They still have their problems though! I cant wait to get my hands on one of the newer kits these days, like Dragon!
@Andronicus:That hull and chassis fit caused me quite a few problems to! Hang in there and I'm sure it'll look great when your finished! Once the side skirts and turret are on any imperfections wont be so noticeable.
@AJB: your challenger looks fantastic! and only your second kit?! I used small gauge wire for my antenna and drilled out a small hole as a 'housing' to glue it in, could never get the sprue thing to work well for me! Yours looks good.
Cheers,
Tim
