SIMON'S FOURTH MATCHBOX CHALLENGE - what is it?

[@jaws848]

Matchbox pilots are among the BEST sculpted pilot figures ever

[@gordonlangdon780]

Well…..I find your channel compulsory as one of the few channels in which the builds are presented such that mere modelling mortals such as I can aspire too! #anniversary . Keep on going!

[@philippasco9450]

Most of my childhood models were Matchbox. Local Newsagent/PostOffice 200 yards down the road sold them.

[@jaws848]

It was the same here in Ireland.....every newsagent /post office / corner shop sold them back in the day

[@jeffholt9437]

​@@jaws848Nowadays newsagents don't even sell newspapers, let alone model kits - oh, for a time machine!

[@jaws848]

@@jeffholt9437 agreed

[@BobbyG-bp9xr]

Hi Gary. Another wonderful unboxing of my favourite childhood memories! I could pretty much tell you every matchbox kit I bought and where from and when! Every one was a cherished memory and is one of the reasons I started modelling again. This A10 kit was a gift way back in the early 80's and I still remember building it to this day! Lovely kits which make lovely models. I think they stand the test of time too. And as someone has commented, you could buy them at the post office, the newsagents and I remember my local chemist selling them too! Ah...... memories! 🥺 Looking forward to the build Gary. Thanks for the video mate. 👍

[@jabber1957]

The YA-10 prototypes were originally fitted with the Vulcan 20mm cannon while the 30mm Avenger was being developed. I had this kit back in the day and researched why the nose looked so different. Turned out ok in the end.

[@markfranks1329]

I never made many Matchbox kits. I always preferred the equivalent Airfix and Revell offerings, even though they were much older toolings, BUT I can understand the thinking behind Matchbox kits, particularly the assembly friendly features for those modellers with less experience; multi coloured parts that negated painting, simplified cockpits that could easily be assembled to give a good approximation of the real thing yet also provide a blank canvas for those more experienced to detail if so desired. However, the best aspect of Matchbox models was, imo, the choice of a/c subjects. Among the expected familiar types, they also chose subjects that were quite esoteric and left field. Modellers back in the day, I'm sure, would have been over the moon to learn that, for example, Stranraer's, Heyford's,Tunnan's, Piston Provosts, etc, were now available. Yeah, bloody good for you Matchbox. (Even though you've sadly gone the way of the dodo).🙄

[@hueyJoe135]

Another great video Gary. I love Matchbox models it's a part of my and others youths. I'm looking forward to seeing this one built up 😊 Keep up the great work 👍

[@BobbyG-bp9xr]

Hi Gary. Love these matchbox challenge unboxings and builds. Every one of my matchbox builds is a cherished memory, I could probably tell you where , when and why on every one! This kit brings back memories from the early 80's and funnily enough only popped up in my thoughts last week! You could buy them everywhere as a kid, the post office, the newsagents or even my local chemist! Ah .... Good times! Really looking forward to this build Gary. Thanks mate and thanks to Simon John too! 👍

[@MichaelCampin]

The Matchbox 1/72 troops were far more detailed and accurate than the Aifix ones of the same era

[@jaws848]

Agreed....do you remember the "N.A.T.O. paratroopers" set they released.......in reality they were 1980s British Army paratroopers .....and the set was reissued by Revell

[@randalscott7224]

They were more cleanly moulded, and the plastic was a bit more rigid making for easier clean up if I recall.

[@markstott6689]

I loved building the Matchbox P-38 Lightning. I loathed the Matchbox Brewster Buffalo. 😊❤😊

[@glencwilson]

I can imagine a lot of people weeping when that cellophane being removed. Great video as usual.

[@iannicholls7476]

Yeah, Peter Oxley has had to go and have a lie down!

[@bobtano7824]

IveI'been doing some matchbox kits a fun relief. Im currently doing a red arrows gnat as part of a "red" group build. Just added tape belts and ejection handles..

[@kissfan6321]

Somebody should bring those kits back!!

[@davidcommins4179]

Always assumed that it was airfix kits I built as a kid. But actually it was matchbox, particularly the vehicles with the little mini diorama bases. So good.

[@jorodo299]

Looking forward to seeing you build this one Gary, not one I've seen built before.

[@MHMajid-yi8iu]

If not mistaken I bought and build this back in 70s, as it's easy to paint.... mostly light grey. But the box looks so different from yours. Seems mine is 1978 tooling😅

[@alanrogers8535]

i think its amazing how old this plane really is and still in service. I bet the tec' spec' is unbelievably different to the 70s . Not many craft profiles of my childhood are still in service today. C130 Herc, Chinnook... Help me out here fellas. Osprey...

[@richardsweeney197]

B-1,B-52, T-38, KC-135 & derivatives C-5, C-141, F-16, F-15... A lot of kits in those days didn't have recessed panel lines.

[@alanrogers8535]

@@richardsweeney197 Your the man with the brains... The Harrier has only just gone. Dad was based a RAF Wittering 1977--'80. Old Harriers were there then, My favorite. The sound... One day 11 Vulcans landed and a few days later took off again. I was at the end of the runway and couldnt hear or even feel a thing till they were all a mile away. Another day, a guest squad of Tornadoes, afterburners blazing deep red and then blue, screeching off into the twylight. Im gona cry in a minit... Red Arrows Gnats, I think it was their last flight, All the base and families were notified for a flypast and then they (the Arrows) lined up on the runway, pilots and support crew attending, so we could all walk around them. I have lost all my photos, black and white only, Soooo wish i still had them. 55 years ago, Holy Moly Batman... Umm ... 45 years ago, Its coz im emotional !!!

[@Jonathan_55018]

Wow that takes me back I must have built one back in the day

[@Claymore5]

Matchbox pilot (and crew) figures are always fabulous. The biplane aircrew are just as good as the jet age ones.

[@jeffholt9437]

Good to know - I do like the figures in their AFV dioramas...

[@jaws848]

Its a great kit....built one myself only about 5 or 6 months ago

[@ChristianSchroter-ok4sk]

Hello Mr.gary!my first kit was a hawker Hurrican in 1/72from Matchbox.in1994.with sticky greetings . your modellmate.christian

[@Shrike58]

Damn...I had forgotten Matchbox did an A-10...and I'm American. One of these days you'll get a Curtiss Seagull or a Handley-Page Heyford inflicted on you!

[@jaws848]

Notice how ot says "A-10A Fairchild" on the front of the box and no mention of "Thunderbolt 11".......that gives the game away that it is the prototype/pre production aircraft.

[@jaws848]

Awesome Garry

[@michaelkeogh8454]

I built that kit a long time ago back in the 90s. I just bought the academy kid a couple of days ago. I was looking for decals on eBay and somebody made some preproduction aircraft decals who are the a-10

[@garys_stuff]

Caracal Models does a set of pre-production A-10 decals including the prototypes.

[@chrisfirth1803]

I've always had a soft spot for the A10, ever since I used to watch them up at Cowden bombing range in East Yorkshire. I will build one one day, but looking at the matchbox kit, I think I will look for a "better" kit. Having said that, I'm really looking forward to seeing how it all goes together and how it looks when you're finished with it.

[@stefanlast]

The "sink marks" on the bombs seem to all be the same shape and in the same place. Could they perhaps be the attachment points for the pylons?

[@ENLSN77]

Oh wow, i had one of these in the early nineties. * I painted mine in full olive drab, no decals, wheels up and full load out. I'd also love to know where it went. 😢

[@paulcorrigan649]

Be interesting to see how those decals cleaned up with a bit of sunlight. For it's age and era it's not a terrible molding at all is it

[@garys_stuff]

Not bad at all. The fit can be a bit, well, casual in places but it still is going together nicely.

[@joseluiscastanorestrepo]

I must admit I was surprised, I didn't know Matchbox had released the A-10.

[@julianmhall]

Gary, off-topic but you mentioning the seat reminded me of the book 'Eject! Eject!' by John Nichol. It's not as I initially thought about him ejecting in the first Gulf war, it's a collection of first hand accounts of men who have ejected and owe their lives to Martin-Baker ejection seats, the oldest being Jo Lancaster in 1949. Back to the model; I too am impressed by the pilot.. not just the moulding but the pose. Modern mouldings seem to just have the pilot with his hands flat on his knees. This one looks as if he is at least trying to hold a joystick. It's almost as if someone else designed the pilot.. maybe they did. Maybe one person did figures and the other designers did the actual vehicle - armour, aircraft, truck etc.

[@garys_stuff]

I remember a briefing by the pilot who took me for a ride in a Hunter - he said "if anything goes really wrong, I'll give the order 'eject, eject,eject!' If you hear the third one then you're on your own because I'll be gone..."

[@simonjohn8904]

@@garys_stuff that's similar to the pilots on my AEF in the Chipmunks. They all used to say if I slide the canopy back and shout "jump jump jump", don't ask me to repeat because I will already be out of the cockpit. Lol

[@julianmhall]

@@garys_stuff or 'If you hear the third one why the hell are you still there?' ;) In Nichol's book he said Lancaster's eject process took a couple of minutes and /wasn't/ automated. He had to get rid of the canopy, then eject, then unbuckle from the seat, and /then/ deploy the parachute. Nichol said when he did it in 1991 it took all of two seconds!

[@davidcommins4179]

😂😂😂😂​@@garys_stuff

[@simonjohn8904]

Great box opening review @Gary...and on a Saturday too!!! Bonus!!! Im glad you're looking at doing the prototype version as that would be my choice too, purely because its not a version that you would normally get with other manufacturers selling A-10 kits. At least this build should be easier and more straight forward for you than the wokka was. I think I better prep Matchbox Challenge No8 so its ready to send to you at the end of this month. Im hoping it will give you an "Oh My Word" moment when you get it, as I think it could be a real challenge for you!!! 😂 In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the A-10 build mate. 👍

[@ENLSN77]

Thanks Simon. Fond memories of this one. Pre production gets my vote, for the reasons you mention.

[@jamesmair2512]

Great reveal Gary, I've got one of these in the stash! Generally gets a rotten review as the kit is not the same as the production model, mainly the nose/cannon arrangement. However as a kit of the pre-production design it's very unusual. Have fun with it. Cheers James.

[@lindsayross3363]

How do you deal with the old decals?

[@garys_stuff]

If you want to try to use them, there are solutions you can apply to help stabilise them (and many, many videos about it on YT!!!) but I usually just buy newer ones. To get rid of yellowing you leave them on a sunny window ledge for some days and let the sunlight bleach the yellowing out.

[@philsmodelmaking2260]

I don't believe it. right before you opened the box I wondered if it would be that A 10 kit! reason is, I have that same kit almost finished sitting on a shelf gathering dust (literally!) just need some final decals and the bombs putting on, on that note, make sure that the underwing decals go on before the pylons, some of them have to go on over where decals are placed and the instructions do not actually mention this!

[@garys_stuff]

Thanks for the tip! Nothing irritates me more than decals that are part covered by pylons - when I've forgotten to do them!!

[@MichaelCampin]

That was an ugly brutes but we called them either Jaws or Thunder, but it did it's close support job admirably

[@jaws848]

As Han said to luke about the Milenium Falcon "she might not look like much kid but she's got it where it counts"

[@guidor.4161]

I wish modern kits would include pilots...

[@nikjohnson9968]

WELL GARY YOU HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THE ONE I WAS GOING TO SEND AS A MYSTERY BOX. I,M SURE YOU WILL BUT I AM NOT LETTING ON WHAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN. SOME HEAD SCRATCHING TO DO NOW FOR THE 3RD TUESDAY MYSTERY CONUNDRUM

[@garys_stuff]

I'm both excited and a little worried!!!

[@philippemasson2205]

Matchbox kit with cellophane are made in China, thats why decals are awfull

[@davidcommins4179]

Good to know