A tale of two VICTORS! 1/72 Matchbox v. Airfix kit reviews
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- čas přidán 20. 04. 2021
- Get ready for THE MOTHER OF ALL BATTLES!
Matchbox's 1986 Victor K2 tanker v. Airfix's 2016 Victor Mk2 BS go head to head in another old v. new comparison in box review.
Bear in mind no in-box review is ever a final verdict though, so please also see my recent after-build review vids, see: @Peter-Oxley-Modelling-Lab
Thanks for watching, - please like, share & subscribe.
Thanks for a great review. Considering buying one on eBay and think you've talked me into it
The victor always reminded me of Gerry Andersons productions, it wouldn't look out of place in a sci fi movie, it always looked futuristic.
Hi Peter, I haven't gone through all of the comments to see if anyone had mentioned this, but the Google translate app on your phone can help with translating print. I've used the Google translate app on many occasions to do this and it works quite well. All you need to do is go to the app, choose the foreign language that needs to be translated, and use the app to take a photo of the print that you need to translate.
Before any of these came out I had the 1/72 Rareplane HP Victor, very nicely molded for a vacform kit, but I only managed to do one wing before I binned it, but I was only 12 at the time
Seeing what the new tool 1/72nd Airfix victors go for i will just stick with my cheap 1/72 Revell victor in my stash! Liked and subbed Peter!
Peter: you Brits have more model CZcams channels than here across the pond. I wonder why? I listen to yours, Nigel, Flory, Makeit Stuff, and one other person. In the US, there are two: Max’s Models and Doogs. Keep up the good work....
Hi Peter, nice video. New Subscriber. Jason over at Modelkit Stuff mentioned your channel, so I had to come on over and take a look.
Tuxfords book contact a must read!🤔
Great video, Peter, much appreciated.
Hi Peter! I made this Matchbox kit last year during my lockdown in Madrid. I had not assembled any kit since 1992 and it was fun! I have to say the kit fits very well, especially the wings root into the fuselage impressed me most. Fortunately the kit I have includes a large instruction sheet and all sprues and large parts have the marking 'Made in England'. I had been thinking long before start building, because your actions are irreversible and it feels almost like doing something wrong. But I could feel why I enjoyed this so much back in the day, the time that I made drawings of air battles and had my scale models and books for inspiration. I enjoy your reviews and I hope to see more!
My Swordfish was from the same period, and included one of those plastic pods of cement - it went together beautifully, thanks to the Matchbox engineering.
Not just one Vulcan Peter. 6 Attacks took place ,1,2,3 & 7 dropping bombs. 4 Aborted. 5 & 6 carried anti-radar missiles, with 6 having fuel problems & landing in Rio. The Vulcans dropped seven 1000Lb bombs afaik, (a very light load for the sake of range compared to the normal 21 bombs). There are still a number of large craters visible diagonally across the boundary of the Airport if you look on Google Maps. I used to have a photo of me at the bottom of one of the roughly 30ft crater on the runway edge at Stanley, (near miss) taken in 1982, (photo and crater long since disappeared), but I still have a chunk of 1000lb bomb shrapnel or two that was in the bottom.
Now that’s an interesting review! I was tempted to buy me a Matchbox Victor and was also wondering, why they never did a Vulcan bomber in the tradition of their Lancaster/Halifax kits.
When this kit came out in 1983, raised lines were still the main way of depicting panels on injection moulded kits so I wouldn't be too harsh on Matchbox. By modern standards, I agree they don't look great but at the time we weren't too fussed about such things. The fact we had a 1/72 injection moulded Victor was good enough. To be honest, even engraved panel lines can be unrealistic, especially if they are overemphasised by panel washes etc.
You are right Pete!
I bought the Matchbox Victor last year at a model show in the USA. The instructions are in English with German, Italian, French, etc summaries. There is one line of Chinese on one side of the box and that's it. Instructions are much bigger and in English- colors too. Camouflage guide is as big as the kit. It's got raised panel lines but plastic looks much crisper than your example. Pilots are much better nice detail with no flash. Instructions marked 1983 printed and made in England. Maybe Matchbox made some before they went out of business? Price was $18 which was kind of expensive for 1983 in the USA. Has Airfix done the tanker version of the Victor? I like the Falklands War aircraft. Got a few Sea Harriers and the Matchbox Victor tanker so far.
"Low vis" is anti-flash. The roundals and markings were intended to absorb as little heat energy from the bomb flash as possible. Important at high altitude.
Peter, this is yet another admirable video! I check in with you occasionally and you never disappoint. Interesting to compare these two Victors. the comparison will of course favour the newer technology but it does reveal some interesting comparisons notably the raised panel lines of the Matchbox typical of its era and the arguably over engineering of the newer Airfix. There is also the notable price differential between the two kits. With the Airfix one certainly gets what one pays for. The largely obscured cockpit is a good example. My question is, is the modeller paying for more than they need?
This guy was going in on China! You funny, I'm subbing!
really enjoyed the video, Peter. When you were talking about the Falklands operation, I had an idea for a ceiling diorama - Victor tanker refueling a Vulcan in flight. Would take an awful amount of work on the Matchbox kit, even with the photoetch update set. If Airfix would release a tanker variant after the new Vulcan kit, it would make life easier.