The Little World

I did not even make it to March – the Handley Page Heyford that was to have been the crowning glory of Matchbox March was completed on the evening of February 28. And it was the last Matchbox kit in the stash.

I shall do my research to see what other kits Matchbox made in 1:72 that have been re-boxed by other makers. I like them a lot.

The Heyford is a copy of a model that a British chap did when he, too, was desirous of a change. He found an old newspaper article showing a Heyford being used as an experimental glider tug and based his interpretation on that. I discovered a colour plan on the net and followed his lead.

It takes a deal of spraying – white and yellow – to get a good solid underside for training aircraft. I think there are at least four coats of Mr Color RLM 04 there as well as the RAF green and brown on top. Final varnish is a rattle can as I did not want to risk a home-mix.

The stalky structure went together perfectly at the first try – a tribute to what Matchbox could do in their heyday. I did re-enforce the joints as per usual but there was no stress on the struts at any attachment point.

No guns on this one, and I omitted the gunners as well. The newspaper shot doesn’t show the tow gear but this might be added if any more evidence turns up. As it is, Italeri make a Stirling as a glider tug so I will try to get hold of one as well – a good pair for display. And the glider attachment may be similar in both cases.

The bomb racks are covered in this version – Matchbox courteously providing an alternative part for the bays. More spare ordnance for the spares box. I think I might make a bomb storage facility as a diorama, if I can find photos of the real thing.

Decals are spares box salvage for the roundels but ink-jet printed for the buzz numbers, fuselage numbers, and tail flashes. No problems whatsoever floating them on and sealing them down. I now dry-brush decals to express the water and they stick down much better. Rarely have to use Mr. Mark Softer at all.

Any regrets? No rigging, but then I did not intend to do it. I guess you could say my only sad moment was realising that I had an empty Matchbox March…