Matchbox 1/72 Dassault Mystere IVA

MATCHBOX 1:72 DASSAULT MYSTERE IVA
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Myself (rec.models.scale)
- A Built up review of this kit (both Revell & Matchbox) exists on this site - see the respective fully built kit review index to locate review

Kit Details: Matchbox PK47 - 1:72 Dassault Mystere IVA

Aircraft History: The Dassault Mystere IVA was developed from the earlier Ouragan, featured swept wings and was one of a line of Mystere aircraft developed in the 1950's. The Mystere IVA was the most successful production version. After the prototype first flew in 1952, the US funded an offshore procurement programme on behalf of the Armee de L'Air the following year culminating in the order of 225 aircraft. A further 100 aircraft were ordered by the French Government and deliveries began in 1954.

During the 1960's the French aerobatic team "Patrouille de France" flew Mysteres and the type flew as a fighter and in training roles until the late 1970's. Mystere IVA's were eventually replaced by Alpha Jets in 1982 while many retired Mystere's were finally sent to their owners under the originally funded programme, the USAF. The USAF used Mystere IVA's extensively as drones and "MiG practice" with many ending up as the "baddy" on films such as Iron Eagle and Airwolf.

India and Israel were the only export customers of the Mystere IVA which replaced their own inventories of Ouragans being used at the time. India received 110 and Israel 60 from 1956 and both countries used the Mystere IVA in fighter and fighter bomber roles for the following years, including some combat. The Mystere IVA had a maximum speed of just under Mach 1 at sea level and was armed with a pair of 30 mm DEFA cannons and could carry underwing tanks/bombs.

Preamble: Early this year (2008) I had a look at the Revell Mystere IV.A which is a rebox/reissue of this Matchbox kit. Because of this I will leave the Revell stuff in this article where the two kits are common and change the bits relating to the Matchbox version. There are also two Matchbox boxings of this kit as depicted by the boxart, with this one being the 1987 release.

Kit Parts: Two sprues containing around 30 parts float loosely in the box. Typical 70's Matchbox fare with the parts being molded in two colours, one sprue silver and the other an aqua colour. Panel lines are engraved but are quite shallow and wide while the control surfaces are typical of the "trenches" that is often associated with this manufacturer's kits. The parts have no flash although the sprue lugs are a touch on the thick side and overall it gives the impression the kit will go together in a jiffy! The two piece canopy is reasonable but very cloudy, dirty, distorted and scratched, presumably because it floats with the main parts and had to travel across the Pacific Ocean.

Instructions: This comes in a double sided portrait A4 photocopied sheet which is completely in Chinese. Thankfully pictures are universal so it is easy to read the 7 assembly steps on one side. Painting information is provided but I can't read Chinese so I don't know what they are (no doubt I can refer to Revell's instruction sheet here for guidance later). A side view profile of the starboard side only is given for the two examples the kit produces and a scrap top-view presumably generic for decal placement.

Colour Options: Two - surprisingly written in English! Firstly a French Dassault Mystere IVAs from No.2 Sqn "Picardie", Cambrai, 1955 and the second from No.200 Sqn Israeli Air Force 1967.

Decals: This was a very different sheet to what I have ever seen, it was a transparent film onto which all the decals were printed (ie: there is no backing paper as such). Although it appears to be a third party film, all the decals the kit refers to are there and it is in extremely good colour register, although a slight almost unnoticeable off centre printing of the French roundels. I presume you cut out the decal you want as close to it as possible and soak it?? I'll have to test a couple out later.

Optional components: Two piece canopy for open/closed cockpit and of course wheels up/down. Underwing tanks are also provided.

On the Sprue Impressions: A Matchbox kit produced in 1987 which will no doubt go together quite well. It will be a pretty straightforward and quick project and the type of kit, many of us who like Matchbox kits will cherish it for what it is - a model (as opposed to a replica). Its also a great way of getting these important early jet types.

The parts breakdown is very simplistic and standard with fuselage halves trapping the exhaust pipe and the main wings are split into upper and lower halves. Cockpit detail is very poor with only a simplistic bucket seat provided, you will need to paint up the dashboard as the instrument panel. The exhaust pipe is separate part and the nose cone goes onto the blanked off nose which means no depth in the intake but also means no seeing through the fuselage either. Undercarriage parts have no specific detail and are all molded in single pieces. As already mentioned the panel lines are engraved with oversized control surfaces engraved (interestingly the Revell kit supposedly a reissue of this kit has raised panel lines!).

Conclusion: This is one of those great little weekend projects that will no doubt go together well, produce a solid looking end result and allow novice and beginner modellers to enjoy what many of us treasured as youngsters ourselves, with a fun build up and a very interesting aircraft subject! Of course there will be some shortcomings in accuracy with this kit which have been noted on the full build reviews on this site previously and it is a very simplistic mold with minimal detail but I am looking forward to building this one in the future!

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