MATCHBOX A-10A - how I built it!

[@neillowe8230]

Built this in 1979, OOB and I still have it today. Good fun if a bit basic as I had just built the 1/72 Monogram A-10A in the weeks before. You ask about the tail fairing being a seperate part, well the molds would not fit in the standard box if the fuse and wings were full length. Matchbox did that with quite a few of their model kits, a kinda box engineering but thankfully at a standard scale not all over the place like "box scale" kits from the US.

[@NickAndrewsFaulkner]

Looks great! Currently working on a 1971 Frog Vampire in 1/72: crude panel lines, fit a bit dodgy, but tremendous fun and happy memories of building similar kits back in the 70s. It's still nice to have the modern glues, paints, fillers, tools etc Best wishes, Nick

[@willwoods6466]

1978 was a great year. Looks like you had some fun with the A-10, that's what it's all about!

[@jorodo299]

Nice one Gary. I like Matchbox kits and this is one that seems to go under the radar.

[@jamesmair2512]

Looks good, as I said, I've one in the stash, might be inspired by your efforts. Thanks again, James.

[@modelermark172]

You did a great job on this build! These older kits were great fun! Noting the date on the inside of the fuselage (I graduated High School when this kit was new) reminded me this was still a time when model kit manufacturers competed to be the first with a model of the newest aircraft on store shelves, which were often meant offering prototypes and preproduction versions, like this one. (Remember all those red, white and blue F-16's . . . ?) But there is still a place for these classic kits; for beginners to hone their skills on, and older modelers to enjoy a bit of nostalgia. As a sidebar, the parts breakdown of this kit offers an interesting possibility: I'm imagining a hypothetical USMC carrier-based version with folded wings . . . . I'm fortunate to have original issues in my unbuilt stash of the Revell 1/72nd scale F-15 and F-16, as well as their F-111 complete with parts for the naval version. Maybe watching this will light a fire under me to build one of them, soon. 259th Like.

[@garys_stuff]

I love the idea of a navalised A-10. I mean, imagine if the Fleet Air Arm had purchased them too.....

[@SMAZVidoes]

Love the no frills attached build like I used to do in my school days.

[@MrFumblethumbs]

Great stuff Gary!! Cheers! 👍👍

[@Jonathan_55018]

a blast from the past i must have built one back in the day

[@Jelly-B]

Where can I get a Simon of my own?

[@davidgroves1464]

Nice build Gary again of a neat kit. Brings back memories of building one when I was a teenager. Time to have a go another. Unique aeroplane.

[@davidorr6627]

I built that one in 1983 or 1984 when I was still at school. I remember it being quite a nice kit for the time. It came out quite nice and looked great on my shelf. I'm looking forward to building the Tamiya 1/48th scale A10 that's been up in my closet for over 20 years. It's almost ready to come out of the darkness.

[@markfranks1329]

Great build again, Gary. I recall being given the 1974 issue of The Observer's Book of Aircraft for my 13th birthday and amongst the many a/c types residing in the pages of this wonderful little book was that of the YA-10, resplendent in its overall grey finish. The F-14s, '15s, '16s, Northrop's YF-17, that would go on and evolve into the F/A-18 for the USN, also graced the pages of this publication. A few months later, in September, I saw all these amazing designs in the flesh at Farnborough, including the A-10's progenitor. Fantastic day.

[@bugler75]

Nice build and great memories of childhood with this build😊 I remember painting mine a bizarre bright green as it was the only green I had! All the best Gary Ian

[@julianmhall]

Great build Gary :) A bit naughty not telling the modeller it needed nose weights, but then nobody did in those days.

[@garys_stuff]

I know, bit remiss of me that one. At least I'll never look at a trike again and think "nah, they didn't say add weight so why should I?"

[@julianmhall]

@@garys_stuff Maybe used to modern kits actually telling you and forgot old kits don't? easily done :)

[@hueyJoe135]

Love the A-10. Another excellent build brings back a lot of memories

[@garys_stuff]

Excellent apart from forgetting the nose weights!!!!

[@jaws848]

Awesome build Gary.....now THIS is how you do jet pilots.....yes i AM looking at you Airfix

[@flapsmcginty4039]

On the real aircraft, the ‘nose weight’ is the massive Vulcan cannon, without it in, it’s a genuine tail sitter! You’ve done a great job with that kit, it looks great for a 1978 tooling, recessed panel lines and all!

[@garys_stuff]

Well, on the prototypes anyway, on production aircraft it was the even bigger GAU-8 Avenger 7-barrelled 30mm. Surprised the nose gear was big enough to be fair. Wonder what the difference in trim was after unloading the whole magazine of rounds? Maybe the ammo bin was quite close to the centre of mass? Just don't really know much about the A-10 apart from the BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP noise it made.

[@ianwilliamson6615]

Nice looking kit Gary. Good job!

[@simonjohn8904]

Well done Gary. Love the cheat solution to getting a panel off to add nose weight. Great advice about adding weights to any aircraft with a "tricycle undercarriage". I must admit that I tend to go over the top with nose weights and sometimes I do wonder if the nose wheel of the aircraft will buckle. Lol Fantastic end result mate as the kit has come out looking great!!! 👍 Now looking forward to the box opening video of Challenge Kit No5.

[@garys_stuff]

Me too mate - I have shot it so might manage to get the edit in before the weekend!

[@MatterusOD]

Nice job Gary. At least the plastic colour combination wasn't too garish on this kit! Sometimes it sort of worked but other times it didn't. Nothing a bit of primer can't fix (or a thick Humbrol enamel layer as in my youth). Great kits. Cheers Matt🦘

[@rotwang2000]

Matchbox always felt a bit chunkier and more "toy-like" than Airfix. They were made with a different mindset that today where accurate detail is important.

[@lxtechmangood9503]

70s or 80s kit? Either way can't complain for it's age!

[@ChristianSchroter-ok4sk]

Hello Mr.gary!it seems to me like a nice fastdish for the mojo.wasnt it? Nice build gary!with sticky greetings from Brandenburg germany.faithfully yours.your modellmate.christian

[@garys_stuff]

It was Christian, in the middle of loads of other stuff (both in and outside of model making) going on it was so nice to have a simple yet decent kit to make and enjoy.

[@ChristianSchroter-ok4sk]

@@garys_stuff ohhh thats great you enjoyed it.that Whats its all about.with sticky greetings. Your modellmate.christian

[@simonrichards6739]

Looks great! I wonder why they use different colour plastics?

[@garys_stuff]

I think it started as a way of providing a hint of camouflage colours to kits so children making them could play with them without painting. Then I think it became their 'thing' so everything got made in two or three colours of plastic, even the A-10 which was one grey all over!

[@iannicholls7476]

Wow! That makes up into a lovely little model. Nice job Gary.

[@gadeeshi]

All is good except for this is not an A-10A :) This is a model of YA-10A - the first flight prototype, which had a bunch of differences from production model.

[@garys_stuff]

Indeed, the gun and the shape of the tail fins for a start. But it's what Matchbox called it back in 1978! That's why I got some YA-10A decals and added the nose probe.

[@Steve_8341]

How do you like the dissolved putty over super glue or old fashioned Tamiya putty? I can never decide which is better for which scenario

[@garys_stuff]

I like it for narrow gaps or slightly misaligned edges - good for leading edges of wings for example. If there's anything more than that I use Perfect Plastic Putty or Miliput because they set really well and are easy to sand.

[@Steve_8341]

@@garys_stuff cool, I haven’t tried Miliput yet but will