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1/72 Matchbox 'Black Mike'


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Afternoon all,

Well the week off work must be sending me loopy as I have enterd the Harrier GB and now I'm going to enter this one!

I picked up a Matchbox FGR2/FG1 kit recently, as I used to love the matchbox kits as a kid and it was alot cheaper than the Fujimi offerings, I can see why though!

I have a few phantoms to build but I figured this would ease me in!

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Sprues

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Dissapointing grey scale compared to some I remember!

Some extras

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I've taken one of the closed canopies from one of my Fujimi kits to use and got the Aeroclub set, mainly for the seats, but I think the exhust nozzles will be useful too! Not sure if its the correct nose leg in that set but I can use the main gear I think....

Going to finish it as Black Mike which I believe is an FG1...

The detail on the kit isn't anywhere near as good as the Fujimi kts, but finished in all black it should look pretty good, especially next to the Black Tornado, Black Jag and future Black RAF jets I have planned!

As I said I'm mid way through a Harrier for that GB so I might not get going straight away but having said that I never only have one kit on the go at once!

One last thing, I've read that the kit nose is no where near the right shape and that it can be substituted with a part from an ESCI kit (I guess others with seperate noses) does anyone have a spare?

Looking forward to getting going!

Phil

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This should be interesting, look forwards to seeing this one Phil. Re the nose, you can always shout out in the Swap Shop thread :thumbsup2:

Bexy

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Well I've started!

I've painted the aeroclub seats!

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I've been trying to finish my build for the harrier GB first, that's at paint now so should have some time to do some more.

Next up I'll mod the fuselage halves to take the Fujimi canopy

I'm waiting for some bits to make a decent cockpit thanks to a kind BM member!

Phil

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Thanks for clarifying!

I've got a couple of questions before I carry on.

Should I use the shorter nose gear leg as this was a land base FG1?

Are the RAF style FOD covers the same as any other Phantom covers? ie can I use the Eduard set?

Thanks

Phil

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Thanks for clarifying!

I've got a couple of questions before I carry on.

Should I use the shorter nose gear leg as this was a land base FG1?

Are the RAF style FOD covers the same as any other Phantom covers? ie can I use the Eduard set?

Thanks

Phil

Black Mike, being an FG.1 will have the double extensible nose leg, this was standard on all FG.1's even the ones owned by the RAF. looking at the extended nose leg that comes with the kit, it appears to have an extended nose strut, with two seperate oleos, but it requires a rear facing scissors link to go with it. that should be easy enough to do, and I believe the Eduard set has a scissors link that may be useable. I would recommend shortening both oleos though, as I have never seen Black Mikes nose gear extended on the ground, though I would be happy to see a photo pointing out my error.

As for the intake FOD covers, British F-4 intakes are a different shape to J-79 engined Phantoms, as the Spey needs more air to work.

Ted

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yep, go with shortened oleos, as rhino said...ill have a look in my refs for pics of black mike.

good luck with your build, that kit does have issues :)

steve

EDIT:..those seats look fantastic!!

Edited by kspriss
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Thanks guys, for the help and the kind words about the seats! I was pretty chuffed with my efforts there but credit goes to aeroclub as the seats were nice unpainted! All I had to do was add the ejection handles which I made from Kapton wire (used for PCB repairs) beauty is it's bright yellow!!

I asked about the front wheel as I have the aeroclub upgrade set and want to use the replacement gear from it but I believe it's for an FGR2 so I assume it'll need some work!

Of course I should have guessed with different engines the FOD covers would be different!! If I can get a decent pic I'll try making some, got to be better than the kit intake internals!

Thanks again

Phil

Oh and no glue present when I got it!!

Something about a silk purse from a sow's ear comes to mind...

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Black Mike, being an FG.1 will have the double extensible nose leg, this was standard on all FG.1's even the ones owned by the RAF. looking at the extended nose leg that comes with the kit, it appears to have an extended nose strut, with two seperate oleos, but it requires a rear facing scissors link to go with it. that should be easy enough to do, and I believe the Eduard set has a scissors link that may be useable. I would recommend shortening both oleos though, as I have never seen Black Mikes nose gear extended on the ground, though I would be happy to see a photo pointing out my error.

As for the intake FOD covers, British F-4 intakes are a different shape to J-79 engined Phantoms, as the Spey needs more air to work.

Ted

The nose leg extension was disabled on the RAF FG1's but the leg was unmodified so still had the additional torque link fitted. As an aside IIRC most 111's aircraft were ex 892 Sqn (111 did operate FGR2's when they first reformed on Phantoms but when the FG1's became available they re-equiped on them to make Leuchars based aircraft all FG1's until the OCU arrived in the late '80s). 43 Sqn's aircraft had originally been intended to go to the FAA for service onboard HMS Eagle but with her early decommissioning the FAA had a surplus of Phantoms so they were delivered to the RAF. (Some were ex FAA though)

Edited by Duncan B
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Thanks, I'll have to compare the extended kit nose wheel and the white metal part to visualise what you mean but I'm sure I can do something! I'd rather use the metal gear leg with mods over the kit part!

Phil

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A brave man!!! Biggest problems with the kit (shape wise anyway) was the nose and canopy areas - matchbox to their credit did re-tool the radome - which improved it a bit!! I have cross kitted that very kit with the nose of a redundant F4J -once upon a Pre-Fujimi day!!

Seats have come out rather nicely Phil - well done!!

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  • 1 month later...

Finally an update!

I've picked this kit up and put it back down so many times, but I'm determined to finish!!

Main body together

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Front section modified to take fujimi canopy a1eebbff.jpg there's so little detail in the pit the I figured I'd paint it once it's together!

I was kindly donated an old Monogram kit by a fellow BMer and I've salvaged the front wheel bay and both instrument panels from it to add some detail to the kit!

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No the last putty I'll need on this kit I'm sure!!

Hopefully another update sooner than this one.

Phil

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Keep going! I don't care what people say, I like that Mbox F-4. At least, I like the later issues (like you have) with the corrected radome.

David

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  • 1 month later...

Ok bank holiday weekend and ice finished my 2 Tornados for that GB so I've made progress, and plenty of it!

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This kit is 50% plastic 50% filler! On waiting for the epoxy to cure on the canopy then it's more filling and sanding...joy!

Phil

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