MATCHBOX 1:72 SISKIN IIIA

 

Reviewer: Richard Stracey  (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted:  February 2001

The Siskin was the RAF’s first all metal fighter & was used by ten squadrons 1/17/19/25/29/32/41/43/56 & 111 & twelve went to Canada. It served in front line service between ’27 & ’32.The Siskin was powered by an A.S.Jaguar IV 450 HP engine & had a span of 33’ 2” & a length of 25’ 4” & was armed with two 303 Vickers machine guns & optional four 20lb bombs.

The matchbox kit of 35 bi-coloured crisp & flash free parts (plus a stand in early issues) dates from 1974. The instructions are in exploded form in nine stages. Matchbox recommends the interior & seat to be painted black, not a bad idea due to the lack of detail. At least it would benefit from an Aeroclub interwar seat & stick pack (VO55), all to be painted cockpit green with a varnished wood dashboard. The kit goes together with no problems & only a dab of filler required. The only thing to watch is in step five, to make sure that the carbine struts (13&14) are fitted the right way round, as unlike the earlier Fury kit, this does not have arrows to indicate the front. The pilot is dressed incorrectly & should have white overalls not khaki drill. As a matter of interest my kit had a translucent blue stand, all other Matchbox stands that I have seen have been clear?

To continue, I painted the Siskin with a mixture of Tamae XF16 Aluminium with approx. 20% XF2 White for the fabric areas & Humbrol No. 11 Silver for the metal parts. The upper cowling, shown as Humbrol HB1 (30) Dark Green should be NIVO,  a medium moss green (approx FS 34159) for which I used Xtracolour X20.Check references as this painted area varies and sometimes didn’t exist at all. The panel behind the cockpit, shown by Matchbox to be Humbrol HJ5 (110) Brown was in many, if not all, cases (medium) grey. The decals are fine, with the option of 29 Sqn. Or 32 Sqn. 43 Sqn. Decals are available on Modeldecal Sheet 31A.Referances can be found in Aeroplane Monthly Feb. & Mar. ’91 & Scale Aircraft Modelling March ’83. 


Photo Credit: Richard Stracey
Dick's image of the completed model in all its glory!

All in all an attractive & colourful little kit, the sort that Matchbox did best.

 

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