SIMON'S MATCHBOX CHALLENGE #1 - what has he sent me to build?

[@markhornby3135]

Can't wait to see you build this. Definitely my era. I can remember a Hunter doing a low pass at the Liverpool air show. My uncle, who was dozing at the time nearly jumped 6' in the air. It was very loud! I got back into building models during my retirement when my wife bought me four of the starter kits from Aldi. Little did she know that she would lose her garden room to plastic models, paints and an airbrush bench.

[@NickAndrewsFaulkner]

That was a real 'Christmas Morning' reaction to seeing it was a Hunter 😃!

[@hueyJoe135]

Matchbox rule. Another great video, like a lot of us Matchbox were our childhood and still are today. I'm on collector of Matchbox models. I'm looking forward to watching this one get built.

[@DR-lc9qg]

As a child, I was given money each time I went to the dentist, and after such visits I went to a nearby newsagent/sweet shop that kept Matchbox kits, and used the cash to get a Matchbox model kit. I usually got a tank kit, some I still have. I found the quality of Airfix back then so poor, lots of flash, part fit that was awful, and Matchbox kits the complete opposite they were nicely moulded, no flash, went together well, were a joy to build, unlike vintage Airfix. Sure compared to most modern kits they lack detail, but back in the 70s I enjoyed building them, though my attempts to paint them, not so good 😂 Great nostalgia in your video, thank you for posting it.

[@111doomer]

In my second stage of kit building, (first was as a child building Airfix Spitfires and Hurricanes with no paint), as a 20mm tabletop wargamer Matchbox kits were relatively cheap, easy to get hold of, (pre internet), and good quality. I think the first one I built was the Puma armoured car. I have moved on to 1/35 scale now in my third modelling stage, (post kids), but those Matchbox kits were really good for the time. I wish Revell would re-issue them at a sensible price, but that does not seem to be their business model.

[@NielsenDK-1]

In fact, you can buy kits like Matchbox' Puma and Humber mk.II in Revell's release for less than €10 (£8). The simpler time with Matchbox kits was great :-)

[@ronaldbyrne3320]

As a kid opening my first Matchbox aircraft kit I remember thinking “What the heck is this” on seeing the garishly coloured sprues. 😆 To be honest I preferred their AFV kits then because of the cute bases and diorama pieces. Airfix and Monogram were my go-to brands for aircraft models. Nowadays, I have a few Matchbox aircraft kits in my stash that I’ve learned to appreciate. And for the nostalgia. Your new series is going to be mighty interesting to me, Gary. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@timbevan7457]

Nostalgia - my favourite was the Box Art on the Hurricane MKiic - happy memories of bygone years😀👍🏻

[@Chilly_Billy]

One of the most handsome aircraft ever built. I'm looking forward to the build. We need more simple kits like Matchbox. Hobby Boss does a few but it would be nice to have other choices.

[@jefthing]

Matchbox kits aren’t a challenge - they’re a joy! Plus they were often available from newsagents in the 70s, so I could scam my dad on Sundays too.

[@NOSHER]

I remember my Father made this kit and matched the camo pattern on both noses and didn't glue them to the fuselage so you could have both versions from the kit.I have one in my stash

[@jorodo299]

I do like Matchbox - with me it's often the box art that launches the imagination and makes me buy and build. None better than Roy Huxley for doing that.

[@alanjenkins6968]

reminds me of my tour at Muharraq in the late '60s early '70s where I guarded, along with a great hairy beast, both T7s and FGA.9s of 8 and 208 sdn amongst other types. great model, great aircraft.

[@markfranks1329]

Never really made that many Matchbox kits back in the day. I always went for Airfix or Revell, for some reason. One very good thing about Matchbox, was their simplicity. They could be made by complete novices and yet be a blank canvas for the more experienced, allowing them to add detail and scratch build as necessary. What was really good about them was their boldness in giving aircraft subjects that a lot of model companies tended shyed away from. Who else offered a Stranraer, Heyford, Siskin and... the option to build a Hunter T7, to name four? Looking forward to the finished item, Gary.👍

[@bromhead100]

nice to see a kit from the 70's giving you two options of different nose fronts to choose from, not many now give you that option,looking forward to seeing it being built.

[@kitbag9033]

Early Matchbox: good outline,good fit, interesting and unusual subjects, cheap as chips. Great fun for finessing fine motor skills.

[@markstott6689]

The only Matchbox kit I remember building was a Bristol Beaufighter, aged 11 circa 1979. I suspect that the only reason I remember is because I liked it so much I built two of them. The second one I built at my grandparents on their living room floor. During the build, I was stung on the back of my knee by a wasp. It hurt and my knee swelled like a balloon.

[@blainefrenette3520]

I remember matchbox from the 70’s don’t think I ever made one. It was Airfix and Revell that were common in my town.

[@jimbraiden2094]

Morning Gary, such blast from the past! On two counts the kit, and Maintrack Models Unfortunately like like so maney of the great model shops long gone and missed by model makers in Hastings and in the area, thank you for bringing back some long lost memories.

[@simonjohn8904]

Hi Gary. Well what a great reveal and unboxing video to start this series off mate. After running the idea for this series past you and getting the green light for it, this kit just had to be the first one I sourced for the "Matchbox Challenge" after you had mentioned about the Hunter kit during the December live stream. I must apologise for my excessive wrapping of the kit, but its a habit of mine that you will have to put up with Im afraid. Lol. Really loved your reaction once you realised what kit it was too!!! Looking forward to the build video which I hope you enjoy. Best of luck with it mate. 👍

[@garys_stuff]

Thanks Simon, it's a lot of fun doing these videos and so good of you for coming up with the idea and finding the kit! Very excited to make it....

[@jaws848]

​@@garys_stuffdid Simon say how many Matchbox kits are coming your way Gary

[@garys_stuff]

@@jaws848 not entirely sure but I think this could be a long-running monthly-or-so feature - I think we're good for 2024!!!

[@jaws848]

@@garys_stuff that would be awesome.. have this kit myself...the actual Matchbox "Blue Diamonds" boxing.

[@barrywalker8790]

Well done Simon very generous of you, 1976 OMG l had just left school 😳and l have to say that kit aged better than l have, will look forward to seeing this build as l remember Matchbox Airfix and Frog models our corner shop sold them along with sweets and newspapers that's what l like about these old kits brings back memories of simpler times 👍

[@garys_stuff]

They do bring back memories, don't they? I love them.

[@robertgrimsted877]

Gary your never too old for Christmas presents I think you enjoyed opening that kit 😀

[@Rom3_29]

That's a cool kit. 20 years ago while driving by local airport. I saw all gray private Hunter fighter on display. Sadly as the Hillsboro, Oregon air show was closing. As the fighter was taking off and flying short distance. It had engine trouble. Long story short. Plane fell on two houses. We saw thick smoke billowing and thought it part of the show.

[@johnmarley6695]

Growing up, my three brothers and I probably built ninety percent of the entire Marchbox range. They were fantastic! (Like my generous parents.) Wonderful Roy Huxley box-art, simple instructions and colourful markings. Back before filling seams, re-scribing, re-riveting, photo-etch, washes…But LOTS of enthusiasm and reading! Looking forward to this one.

[@julianmhall]

You beat me to it John re the box art. It looks like quite a few Ron Huxley box art images are online too :)

[@Slycockney]

I have never built a Matchbox kit. I had stopped making models when they came along and they had disappeared before I started again, I really must get one to have a go at to break my Matchbox duck.

[@DutchDaveModels]

Matchbox kits are always fun to build ✨👍✨

[@willwoods6466]

The hobby has come a long way over the years. I have been involved off and on for the past 55 years. New kits are amazing in detail and construction, it has truly jumped leaps and bounds. One thing is for certain though Gary, nostalgia is also a beautiful thing. The last kit I completed was the Airfix 1/72 Avro Anson, tooling from 1962. Built straight out of the box. I also tackled the Monogram 1/48 for your equinox build session in the fall. Did that one as I had built it as a youngster, many fond memories and fun build. Present project is a 1988 Hobby Craft 1/72 Canadair Sabre MK6 built as a 1961 RCAF Golden Hawk. Not an easy build as many of the parts don't have locater pins, but it's fun. I have more confidence now as my skills have come a long way and I have many more tools that I did 50 years ago, making it more fun to work on some of these old kits "Memories". Yes, I have kits in the queue that are new molds and will be amazing to build, but I do love going down memory lane. Build on my friend, and have Blast as you make your journey down Memory Lane.

[@emmabird9745]

There's nostalgia for you. I remember building an A7 Corsair (SLUF) back in about '76. Lovely model. The two colour plastic was a pain to paint because the shade changed over the join. I was surprised to find I still have unbuilt Ju188 and RAF F4 Phantom, all the parts but no instructions or transfers. I loved your new logo, GS with the match heads. That really raised a smile.

[@garys_stuff]

See a Ju188 is can unusual subject, I'd love to see someone release a new tool of it.

[@emmabird9745]

@@garys_stuff You're right there. Its the only one I ever saw. I notice your keyboard can't spell either. This ones terrible, wrong keys everywhere, I find i have to keep a very tight rein on it to get the right letters, or is it my fingers? H'mmm.

[@sorvad99]

I love Matchbox kits, this is one when Revell took over, the original Matchbox decals are actually much better and the tooling on the originals was much cleaner, zero flash and really good plastic. It still looks ok, enjoy your challenge.

[@simonleib1992]

Matchbox planes I built back in the early 70's 30p a box. Had a lot of fun back then. Simple 2 colour kits, great range at the time. My first was the Red Arrows Gnat. Followed by the Hurricane, ME 190 etc. Then I got a 3 colour kit for my birthday a Curtis Helldiver! When I came back to modeling a few years ago I found one on Ebay and built it just as I did back then, no paints. I even built a collection of vintage Matchbox models including the tanks. Really good to see you build this Gary. Not one I ever did. 😀👍

[@AlanWitton]

Looks like a decent kit Gary! I've not built a Matchbox kit since I was a teenager!

[@NJBamforth67]

What a Fantastic Model the Hawker Hunter can't wait to you make it 😊

[@garys_stuff]

Replacement decals for my plane (XL619) are on the way!!!

[@NickAndrewsFaulkner]

Spotted one of these (the original 1976 release) at the Worthing Model Show today and luckily had enough in cash to buy it. I am going to build it up as a FAA 2-seater and have sourced some Print Scale decals. The original came in three colours: green, blue and grey. For a 47 year old kit it looks good and even though I won't be using the decals, they have survived surprisingly unscathed. The 1976 price tag is just about readable: 65p! The 2024 one was a little more. Thanks for the inspiration, Nick

[@stephenwhelan2515]

I remember that kit from the 1980s. Always enjoyed matchbox. That artwork is not the original matchbox illustration (Roy Huxley) however. But still good!

[@melvynkersley-nc8fx]

Love the price ticket!😂 £4:50! You can hardly buy a small pot of paint for that!

[@Claymore5]

I have quite a few Matchbox kits in the stash - I just love them. Nice kit the Hunter - I think it was the only trainer option until the Xtrakit T7 came out.

[@JohnSmith-qk4le]

Brilliant Gary love these kits, happy childhood memories building them, hope you enjoy building them as much as I did!!

[@melvynkersley-nc8fx]

Hi Gary! I really hope he finds you an Aston Martin “Ulster” ! It’s a good little kit of an very early Aston Martin! Love your honest no nonsense videos!👍

[@johnbollig2790]

Loved the hunter and really loved the matchbox one. Gary, as always, thank you for the wonderful idea. Will dig through my stash and see if I can find mine. It is a joy to build as I remember.

[@acfnugget7880]

Looking forward to the build video for this kit. Built a few Matchbox kits myself in my younger day. Always remember hating the different coloured sprues. Didn't appreciate then how good and detailed those kits were until I compared the old Red Arrows Gnat with the newish tooled Airfix one. It still stands up to modern day standards. As always best wishes to you and yours Gary! 👍👍

[@garys_stuff]

Thanks mate, and to you too!

[@julianmhall]

Thoughts about the harder plastic. It probably meant it took detail better, hence the quality of the figures etc; had better resistance to heat, so wouldn't warp as much as softer material, ; was probably more viscous so wouldn't flow where it wasn't supposed so less flash. The only downside was probably expense, but for the modeller it seems like a win all round :) Maybe the dotted lines for the landing gear door decal are printed on the backing sheet? That way if required the right size and shape could be cut but the dotted lines wouldn't show up if the doors were closed. [Re the 'Made in' being obscured. Maybe 'Made in (West or East) Germany' and post-war wanted to maximise sales so obscured it? IMHO They'd have been better to delete it entirely than make it obvious they've hidden the country.]

[@garys_stuff]

One thing I am determined to get from Airfix (or someone else) is some footage showing flow prediction software at work. There is software that uses flow physics to predict plastic flow through injection mouldings, identifies choke points, shows flow across larger pieces and where flow fronts meet in larger pieces with multiple feeds, temperature profiles, cooling predictions and so on. Really clever stuff.

[@rayborg7378]

A nice model of this iconic aircraft.Aeroclub did a conversion for this model ,which I must one stacked around somewhere.

[@jaws848]

If this goes together fr Gary as easily as my one did then there will NOT be any filler needed....while i havent made every Matchbox kit i NEVER needed filler on any of the ones i have made.

[@iannicholls7476]

This should be good. I’m looking forward to it!

[@MultiPedroAndrade]

still the only laserdisc missing in my collection, is the Patrouille Suisse on Hunters...

[@jaws848]

Great little kit

[@sharla82]

I had 2 of those kits back in the 1980s, so I could make a single seat & two seater version

[@portland-182]

This might be a good candidate for practising with a scribing tool, even if just to make the few raised lines recessed? No need to go mad, unless you are having a great time scribing :) I wonder if the earlier releases had the flight stand?

[@theenigmaticgamer]

Really good to see how genuinely thrilled you were on revealing the kit. I used to build Matchbox kits in my youth, mainly the AFV diorama types. Enjoy the nostalgia mate 👍

[@troubadour1562]

I loved each well considered diorama with the AFVs. Between those and Esci AFVs, I was in heaven in my youth

[@jaws848]

Love the Matchbox pilots..now Airfix,if you are watching tis take note....THIS is what jet pilots are supposed to look like

[@gavinbooth]

Looking forward to this one Gary enjoy christmas my old marra . Regards Gav.

[@garys_stuff]

Cheers marra, you all have good and happy one too (especially Archie!).

[@NOSHER]

This boxing dates from when Revell took over the Matchbox branding but before they started re-badging kits as Revell and moulding in single colour plastic

[@goforitpainting]

Have a great build.

[@bugler75]

A real blast from the past, I always preferred Matchbox as a kid. They just seemed better at 9 years old. Didn’t another company release the armoured vehicles Matchbox mouldings with the diorama bases recently?But they are asking for a crazy price?

[@jaws848]

Yes,Revel have as they own a lot of the Matchbox toolings....in fact this Hunter kit is a Revel reissue despite it saying "Matchbox" on the box

[@bugler75]

@@jaws848 Thanks mo chara 😊

[@jaws848]

@@bugler75 anytime brother..as Gary said this particular example of the kit /tooling is from 1996 by which time "Matchbox" as we knew them were in reality long gone....there is an easy way to tell if its an original Matchbox release or a Revel reissue.

[@bugler75]

@@jaws848 Thats interesting. I choose my models according to what project I have on the go. My standard is normally to go to Britmodeller and Scalemates and see what has been built and when and their opinion. But I really know very little about the history of models so I appreciate your input. Next time I get back to Belfast and take a trip to Dublin we’ll maybe get a coffee 👍🏼 I’d be down their for some of the Train shows eg at Swords. Take care bro😊

[@jaws848]

@@bugler75 awesome....that would be great....there is a model shop here in Dublin that specalises in vintage kits

[@mrjockt]

Matchbox and their famous “trench” style recessed panel lines, lol.

[@markadams5462]

92 Sqn "Blue Diamonds" version. If anyone would like that particular kit, I know where I can get one for AUD$25.00 + postage. Best way to arrange purchase would be to have Gary act as intermediary for the supply of information to buy. I don't own the kit. Just trying to be helpful.

[@KrisThijs-b5z]

You" Sea" Harrier is no match to this Hunter. I hope that Airfix make in the future the Vickers Wellesley. I twice builded the Wellesley Matchbox kits in the past.

[@Mariazellerbahn]

By law, anything sold in UK must state countr of origin. That is why, if you buy a foreign product that only has foreign instructions, It will say "Made in XXX" in English at the bottom of the page.

[@garys_stuff]

The box says "Made in Poland". But the frames originally said something else, so were 'corrected' before moulding this later version.

[@jaws848]

​@@garys_stuffthe engraving on the original actual Matchbox releases said "made in England" but the Revel reissues have it either fully or partialy filled in so it can't be read

[@ruslannavickas8878]

Hi, Every time you say Imperial tum up I'm going to put it down. I think I'm not going to be alone 😞

[@garys_stuff]

Don't really understand what you're saying...

[@ITAmich]

@@garys_stuff My hunch is some flavor of today's woke politically incorrect nonsense, do what the rest of the world does, ignore and go on, a THUMB's down is still youtube engagement anyway...

[@garys_stuff]

I mean, if it's a reaction to the word "imperial" then I'm kind of confused how something referencing ancient Rome is that offensive 2000 years later. Maybe I'm missing something. Maybe Ruslan is. But if that is the issue then I think he is very much on his own. Be nice if he could explain though.

[@Claymore5]

I have quite a few Matchbox kits in the stash - I just love them. Nice kit the Hunter - I think it was the only trainer option until the Xtrakit T7 came out.