Introduction

Just before the holidays, Matho Models released some new sets of boxes in 1:35 scale. I received a care-package through the post (see last pic for full selection), including this set of plain cardboard boxes to review. They are generic modern boxes, with bar-codes, "fragile/this way up" graphics, and even faint marks from packing tape!

review

The boxes come printed on glossy paper, three sizes in brown and two in white, for a total of 28 boxes in all. The back of the paper is plain brown.
Assembly starts by carefully cutting them out with a sharp knife - it's well worth chucking a new blade in the old #11 for this! There are thick black lines between flaps where you are meant to cut on both sides so the black sliver falls out - this gives enough clearance between flaps to ease the bending and assembly process, but is fiddly so take your time. Folding is easy enough if you pin the box down with a metal straight-edge and lift the free part of the box by wedging a wide chisel-bladed knife under it, rotating the knife up to create the bend. Then it's a mater of gluing flaps - I used Gator's Grip glue. Locking tweezers come in handy too.

conclusion

These boxes may seem fiddly to assemble, but they are surprisingly robust once assembled, and certainly look the part. They can decorate any modern AFV, "technical" truck, or office-based diorama. And the more clever modellers out there will no doubt find they can be "crushed" or flattened just like real empty boxes...