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Do you remember those 1/76 scale Matchbox kits?

Discussion in 'World War 2 Hobbies' started by Skua, Dec 27, 2007.

  1. Skua

    Skua New Member

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    This is probably not news to most of you, but I recently discovered that most, if not all, of those old kits has been reboxed and made available by Revell. Not only where they some of the finest kits you could get in that scale back then, but they even came with their own dioramic base to display the vehicles on! And they still do!

    I have already purchased the Humber Mk.II, the Krupp Protze, the Churchill AVRE and the Wespe. Hopefully I will post some pictures of finished models on this thread in a future not too far away.
     
  2. Ebar

    Ebar New Member

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    Yes I do, still have a few kicking around in case they're ever useful for wargaming. Have a Jagpanther, a Char B and FT17. I remember the really fantastic thing around them was the tracks. That little loop and toggle system that meant they held themselve together, unlike airfix ones that had to be stapled. Ah happy childhood memories.
     
  3. David.W

    David.W Active Member

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    They were good kits alright, shame they were 1/76 not 1/72. The difference is massive when you have two side by side.
    I still have the Humber, PzKpfw III ausf L, Priest (awful kit) & Wespe.

    The tracks were good, I had forgotten about that.
     
  4. Ricky

    Ricky Well-Known Member

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    Yes, I have made quite a few, and have a few more in stock.

    Made - Panther, Wespe, Comet, Char B1 bis, FT-17, 17pdr & truck, Humber Armoured Car, Sherman Firefly, Puma, Pz.III, T-34/76, Krupp truck with 37mm AT gun, the LRDG set, Priest, SdKfz 251 halftrack, Jagdpanther, Panzerjager IV, Challenger, Jagdpanzer IV

    In Stock - Sd Kfz 232, SdKfz 7 & Pak 40, the LRDG set

    (and probably others - I am working from memory here)
     
  5. Lone Wolf

    Lone Wolf New Member

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    The Matchbox kits were (are) great and exceptional value - bit strange that they picked 1/76 when 1/72 was so well established though but scales were not always that precise I suppose.

    Diorama base was a nice touch too - good to see the reissues still have them.

    :)
     
  6. TISO

    TISO New Member

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    They are still good kits. I hated the tracks though. In some kits they were to hard or in some cases ( Wespe, PzKpfW II) became wery brittle after a year or so. Some are still the only examples of some subjects in plastic in small scale ( Char B1bis). I rember i was buying them for their diorama bases mainly as they were really cheap. Some are really detailed and delicatly made (LRDG set, Stuart...).

    I recently bought Char B1bis & FT-17 set. Good kits ( i will also get Mirage FT-17 kit) and great diorama base.
     
  7. David.W

    David.W Active Member

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    The kits were good value. :)

    As for brittle tracks, the only time I have encountered that syndrome was when I used to varnish the tracks after painting. And some of my models are over 25 years old.
    Now, the tracks (if they are of the flexable variety) are the only part of my models which remain un-varnished.
     
  8. Ricky

    Ricky Well-Known Member

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    I found the base for the SdKfz 232 - I made the base a few years back.

    You can get a pretty good looking scene from them...
     
  9. Lone Wolf

    Lone Wolf New Member

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    I seem to remeber that one having a lamp post and some figures too but don't remember the top bit at all.
     
  10. Skua

    Skua New Member

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    Me neither. I had that kit, if it is the Puma we're talking about, when I was a kid. The street bit was the same, but I had a lamp post and a different sidewalk.
     
  11. Ricky

    Ricky Well-Known Member

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    No, the Puma is a different kit entirely, and yes it had a street with pavement either side and a lampost
     
  12. Skua

    Skua New Member

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    I didn't know there was a SdKfz 232 as well, hopefully Revell will re-release that one too. Nice work on the base by the way, Ricky. I just love those Matchbox kits. But where are the SdKfz 232?
     
  13. Ricky

    Ricky Well-Known Member

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    The vehicle is currently under construction...
     
  14. David.W

    David.W Active Member

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    Is it the 6 wheeled 232? I seem to remember it was.
     
  15. Ricky

    Ricky Well-Known Member

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    Yup. With the 'bedstead' radio aerial. It is far too thick, and badly moulded. I'm not sure whether to leave it off, to scratch-build a replacement, or use it anyway. That is why the model is not yet built.
     

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