Built this one a few years ago, original MB issue. It went together OK but the shape just didn't look like a 104 so I eventually tossed it. The RCAF markings are atrociously inaccurate, as was common for kit and even some aftermarket decals at that time. For me this was one of the duds among the early Matchboxes.
I agree. Shape was not right. I purchased and built a half dozen Matchbox 104s during the 70s, as well as a few of the Matchbox two-seat variant. It was cheaper and more readily available in my part of the world than the earlier Frog/Hasegawa F-104 kit. As I recall, that kit also had shape problems. If memory serves, the Heller kit also had some shape issues but was much better and accordingly more expensive. At least that is what I recall. Thankfully, ESCI came to the rescue and produced a nice kit, which was followed by Hasegawa's own tooling of the 104, which remains the gold standard in 1/72nd scale. Still have some of the decal sheets from the Matchbox kit. The Tiger meet decal if fairly accurate, I think but my recollection it was maybe applied only on the left side of the airframe on the real aircraft. Regardless, thanks for the trip down memory lane. I am enjoying these videos.
That's fascinating, thank you. I'd never noticed as the F-104 wasn't used in Australia so I didn't see them enough to pick up on the finer details. Seems that MB had duds, good thing there weren't too many of them.
love the F 104, I have the kit and the national guard boxing of the kit . I think that it's a nice easy kit to build.
Yes, they understood that simple construction was important, thankfully for people like kid me!
Built one 1976/1977, put it in Modeldecal Belgian markings.
Good stuff, alternate markings are often a good choice.
Built this one a few years ago, original MB issue. It went together OK but the shape just didn't look like a 104 so I eventually tossed it. The RCAF markings are atrociously inaccurate, as was common for kit and even some aftermarket decals at that time. For me this was one of the duds among the early Matchboxes.
I agree. Shape was not right. I purchased and built a half dozen Matchbox 104s during the 70s, as well as a few of the Matchbox two-seat variant. It was cheaper and more readily available in my part of the world than the earlier Frog/Hasegawa F-104 kit. As I recall, that kit also had shape problems. If memory serves, the Heller kit also had some shape issues but was much better and accordingly more expensive. At least that is what I recall. Thankfully, ESCI came to the rescue and produced a nice kit, which was followed by Hasegawa's own tooling of the 104, which remains the gold standard in 1/72nd scale. Still have some of the decal sheets from the Matchbox kit. The Tiger meet decal if fairly accurate, I think but my recollection it was maybe applied only on the left side of the airframe on the real aircraft. Regardless, thanks for the trip down memory lane. I am enjoying these videos.
That's fascinating, thank you. I'd never noticed as the F-104 wasn't used in Australia so I didn't see them enough to pick up on the finer details. Seems that MB had duds, good thing there weren't too many of them.