Matchbox 1/72 FGR.2 Phantom II

MATCHBOX 1:72 FGR Mk.2 PHANTOM II

I believe this is the boxart for the earlier kit

Reviewer: Gavin Reed (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: December 2000

Aircraft:
I won't bore you with a history on this magnificent aircraft but rather just tell you that the Phantom in RAF service was a derivative of the USAF F-4M variant and given the designation of FGR Mk.2 in RAF Service. It formed the backbone of the RAF air defence forces during the Cold War periods, especially 70's and 80's and featured prominently in a nuclear war film titled "Threads" in the mid 80's (something along the lines of "The Day After" but in my opinion more scary!!).

The Kit:
This is the usual standard of Matchbox kits with large trenches as panel lines and triple colour plastic. If memory serves me correct there are actually two FGR.2 kits released by Matchbox, an old one and then a reissued one in the 80's. I picked this kit up second hand with some parts already attached so that will impact a little on this review, but I have a feeling I have the later reissue. Kit parts are of the usual Matchbox quality, a bit basic when it comes to detail - especially on the armament parts which should be ditched and replaced by some from the spares box!

Instructions:
Fold out typical Matchbox style with quotes from the old Airfix colour range and Humbrol. Assembly views are accompanied by large arrows which are a bit vague in positioning in some instances but otherwise okay.

Construction:
For the main the kit is pretty easy to build except some areas highlighted in the next paragraph. Parts fit like a snap-kit where they are meant to and I wasn't really troubled by too much. However, the usual Matchbox traits of requiring filling and sanding were called upon, especially around wing roots and intake areas.

The main fit problems occurred with the nose - it was slightly different shape to the front of the aircraft section where its affixed to, wings needed some coaxing, jet pipes also had similar problems to the nose section.

The cockpit is very basic as is the norm for the Matchbox toys - er - kits. Just the usual bucket seat, panel and stick provided. As previously mentioned some of the kit was already assembled and I picked up the kit with the fuselage and cockpit sections already completed plus sub assembly of the wings, so cannot comment if there were any problems with the fit of these components, but a little sanding/filling job on the fuselage join lines suggest this needed attention.

Armament supplied in the kit included a couple of missiles and tanks and all were pretty crude in shape - you knew what they were but exact replication was way off. Undercarriage was easily put onto the aircraft but the tyres are dreadful (again toylike examples) and the framework is very basic. The kit did not rear up, and I am not sure whether any nose weight was placed inside by the previous owner so cannot comment whether this is a tailsitting kit.

The kit provides a little bit of external detail to slap onto the exterior of the aircraft but nothing like other more mainstream and detailed kits provide. Once it was finished it was time to whack on the decals and the paint job.

Aftermarket stuff:
On a side note, I have since learned that Aeroclub produced an aftermarket correction set for both this Matchbox kit and its older derivative (assuming I have the newer retooled and reissued example). Pity I wasn't aware of it when I was doing this kit! The Aeroclub set includes replacement parts for canopy, ejection seats, jet pipes and undercarriage. There are also a plethora of aftermarket decal sheets to pick up for the FGR.2 including one or two sheets also from Aeroclub.

Versions & Decals:
Three aircraft are produced from the kit, two RAF examples in updated low-vis Grey scheme and a Royal Navy example. I chose an older scheme from the great Cold War days which was included in the kit by the previous owner - the decal sheet said Aeromaster and I assume was an aftermarket set he (or she) purchased and left in the kit when it was sold. Now, I realise why this was probably done, because the original Matchbox sheet was missing, so I assume they kept it for their spares box. I would expect that the original sheet would be consistent with Matchbox sheets of that era - large, slightly off register and enough carrier film to be used on another set of decals!

Accuracy:
The planform of the model looks fairly convincingly like a Phantom and the dimensions are also acceptable for the scale - but that's about where the niceties for this kit stop! There are many flaws least of which start with those awful trenches as panel lines. The canopy is incorrect and is quite noticeable when compared with photos of the aircraft - appearing too flat. The nose section was supposedly corrected between the older and this kit but this was still incorrect on my kit (which makes me wonder which kit I actually got!) in being smaller than it should be. The undercarriage and armament are both crude and basic in replication and best ditched in favour of having wheels up and replacements respectively. The older kit is supposed to be even worse in having all the above inaccuracies plus a worse nose shape and incorrect Fin top supplied. Many other flaws I am sure can also be picked up by the avid Phantom phanatic.

Overall:
This Matchbox was cheap second hand and not much to put out for new either. But I think the old adage of 'what you pay for is what you get' rings pretty accurately for this kit. Its not quite cheap and nasty but if you want an accurate depiction of a Phantom then try one of the Fujimi kits! Matchbox produce an easy to build but very basic kit that requires the usual sanding/filling duties by the modeller. Not recommended for anyone who wants to produce a half decent Phantom in 1/72 scale but on the otherhand suitable for someone younger to kitbash for the sake of having a plane that still resembles what it is supposed to be.

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