Matchbox Curtiss SBC4 Hell Diver on Deck

[Richard48]

Nice trip down nostalgia lane chaps.When i got into models aged 9 our local newsagents and model shops stocked Matchbox kits.I dont know about you chaps but the wonderful Matchbox box art grabbed my attention and eager paws.I remember having a tooth out at Dentist and mum treating me to the monoplane Matchbox helldiver model.I loved Matchbox kits and now nearly 50 i look back with affection and a tear or two at a bygone age in the 70s when life wasnt so much rush here and there.
Richard.

[rtfoe]

Thanks Collin and Richard. Nice to have jolted old memories on a vintage kit. I still like building Matchbox kits when I get hold of any because of their clean rivetless molds.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

I plugged every opening with soaked tissue before spraying a primer coat...

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When satisfied that there were no blemishes to fill and sand I did a pre-shade with black.

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Vintage kits come with vintage decals that desintegrate right before your eyes in 5 seconds...talk about mission impossible. Next is mission possible.

Cheers,
Richard

[colin m]

because of their clean rivetless molds

They also fit really well. it's very rare I reach for the filler on a matchbox build.

[rtfoe]

They also fit really well. it's very rare I reach for the filler on a matchbox build.

You are right about that Colin.

Cheers,
Richard

[JR]

Richard .
Thanks for the tip with the wet tissue.
As for the green, looks good to me . Very annoying though when you find out the colour was wrong. I'm quite good at that ! :worried:
John .

[Steve Jones]

What John said:thumb2:

[Guest]

Vintage kits come with vintage decals that desintegrate right before your eyes in 5 seconds...talk about mission impossible.

I’ve read that spraying them with varnish will work, though you will need to cut them from the sheet much more closely so the varnish doesn’t stick the decal to the paper.

[langy71]

Good god, what an excellent build you've got going here,
I'm struggling to believe that's a Matchbox kit, mine never looked that good,

I really love the extra detail you're putting into this, can't wait to see more..:thumb2::thumb2::thumb2::thumb2::thumb2:

[rtfoe]

Hi John, Steve, Jakko and Chris, thanks.

I noticed how tissue can easily be teased into tight corners and can be fastened with water just like paper mache. Jakko, the decals refused to leave the backing paper so I photo copied the stencils in black and the stars were masked and sprayed. I love adding extra details to old kits like Matchbox...just enough to get it looking presentable. :smiling4:
Not only was it stuck it was hard to remove the tracing paper covering it.

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Tracing and masking was the only other solution but you will see I had problems with paint peeling from the first try...in hind sight I should have the red dot first.

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Looked like disaster but I kept a cool head and reversed the steps of masking and re-did the blue.



The rest of the stencils in black were photostated on decal paper.

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Once all decals set I protected it with a layer of future and matt varnish.

Coming up next will be the carrier deck and figures.

Cheers,
Richard

[Steve Jones]

Nice work on the decals. Will save that one for the future. Many thanks.

[rtfoe]

Hi Steve, I hope I wouldn't have to go through the decal debacle again. You're welcome.

Cheers,
Richard

[Jim R]

Hi Richard
Great stuff. That wet tissue idea is one to remember. Love the detailing. Shame about the decals but you'll sort it.
Jim

[rtfoe]

Hi Jim, thanks, just remember to wet the tissue again when you remove it. In the end replaced the decals with my own photocopies on decal film and masking.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Moving onto the diorama part I had to look for references on American carrier decks of the Lexington. As I was going to do just a portion of it at the edge so was curious how it looked. The following images are for reference only and were helpful...

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The materials I used for my base is plywood, wood bidding, mounting boards and polycarb sheets. I wanted a raised platform for the deck which was formed with measured and cut mounting boards.

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I usually don't composition perpendiculy and made a cut at the corner for the side walkways to the deck. I gave enough lip to the mounting boards to cover the polycarb sheet edges and had the sheet jut out a little for the deck edge.

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I fashioned the walkway structure from plastic sheet and rod with plustruct T braces. The same was done for the hull side structure.

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Rivets were spots of thick white glue applied with a tooth pick and port holes were sliced plastic tubing. Pipes were from rod and lead wire.

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Squadron Green Putty filled areas that needed flushing with the raised side panels

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The deck edge now primed revealing the rivet detail. At this time the plane was positioned to measure the rundown lines which I would be adding later as I didn't have any precised measurements...mostly eye-balling all the way.

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Thanks for looking in.

Cheers,
Richard