The Little World

I don’t really understand the actual process of re-boxing kits.

Whether they are pre-made kits that are packaged up or whether they are re-moulded sprue trees taken from old moulds is still unclear. I think we might be seeing both processes in action sometimes. In any case, I am delighted to report that it works.

Decades ago I purchased a Matchbox 1:72 model of this Consolidated Privateer. It was built in a somewhat desultory fashion and as easily sold off when I sent a collection of goods away. I remember it had a couple of decal options but I took no notice of them.

Now I highly prize aircraft that have a Canadian connection and wondered if the old MB plane was still about. Not as MB, but I did discover it in a hobby shop in a Revell re-box. Taking a big punt, I purchased it and opened the box to look at the instructions.

Lo, and behold – not only is it the old MB kit, as I suspected, but it is now moulded in decent grey plastic. The nose and tail – and side panels – that make it a post-war RCAF plane are there and the decal sheet has been remade to provide three options; One US Navy, one Aéronavale, and one RCAF. But the RCAF option has been slightly changed to a different plane number from the previous option and the objectionable nose art has been ditched. Win on all fronts!

The moulding has raised panel lines, which do not bother me at all. It has cut-out places for the numerous side windows, which bothers me greatly. And everything else is pure MB but done very well.

The only down side of this build will be the large space this plane will occupy on the tarmac once it’s built – a Liberator or variant thereof has long wings and a big footprint. This one has a high tail, too, so we may be seeing a special hangar display box for it and a few other Cold-War Canadians.

Anyone willing to sell an unbuilt CF-100 Canuck or CF-105 Avro Arrow in 1:72 would benefit from contacting the author.