[flaps]

How come matchbox was able to do such a nice pilot and cockpit detail on there used to be under $20.00 models?

I was just looking at my P-47 Skull Nose and man, the pilot, and cockpit look great and are so nicely detailed.

I happen to have this one at work above my desk, cant remember if the rest are as detailed but I seem to remember them being pretty nicely done.

If they can do so well, why arent some of the other more expensive newer models this well done?

Flaps

[mm33926988]

Flaps, I agree with you. I prefer my aircraft with a realistic looking pilot in the seat. I wish more companies offered a pilot, at least as an option. A decent pilot - not just a plastic lump.

[bsmith13]

Yes, I agree. Optional pilots would be nice. I tried to modify some of my old pilots from plastic model kits, but I wasn't very successful.

[STARMAN 352ND]

I agree with both of you.
For the money you got a really good fighter plane and i wished the canopy would slide so you could see inside.
Pilots are better looking than the others out there.
I'm almost finished in getting the complete set of Matchbox fighters
My son has the whole collection here for two years but he just moved out and got his own place and took all the fighters....I missed the little burgers so i started my own
JP

[JC Woodman]

I had not thought about it until you brought it up Flaps! I compared the various Mfg's models on my shelves and the Matchbox is the best effort. I really can’t stand the Witty and Corgi efforts. Those Corgi 32 scale crewman in particular are ridiculous!
I do a little figure painting and am tempted to re-do my 32nd Corgi huricane pilot. Has anybody tried to remove the seated pilot figures from the Corgi's? I am wondering if it will cause more damage than I think?

[Flyboy]

I've just completed hanging most of my Matchbox from the ceiling in my computer room as per the suggestion of a poster on the old MHI. (Can't remember who it was - but Thank you for the idea!) I haven't got brave enough to hang my P-38's yet - they seem too heavy for one nail. I think I'll test it first with my IXO P-38 . . . . then it will have served some purpose in my collection

Only lost 1 F4U in the process. (Wife had put the nail in, and moved it from side to side as she was hammering - made the hole a little bigger than the nail. Hung the plane, turne around, and BAM! Shot down. Suffered a broken fuel tank, lower antenna mast (?) and one propeller blade. A bit of super glue fixed all but the fuel tank - it sort of shattered.

I now have much more shelf space free'd up for my Bong P-38 when it arrives.
FLYING MULE - where is your e-mail telling me it has shipped?

[HotTrap429]

Yes flaps, Matchbox's pilot are the absolute best ones out there. The cockpits look great and since Matchbox's planes are all flying, pilots are a necessity.

As to removing a Corgi pilot, I recently took one out of a 1/72 P-51. He was a 3/4 pilot (no legs) and had a flat peg holding him to the seat. Really looked cheap, so I repainted him and put him into an Easy Model plane. Looks okay, but not great. You shouldn't hurt your rmodel, but don't be surprised by what you find under his b _ _ t.

[kabelace]

Yes I could not agree more the Matchbox pilots are great, so is the detail you get on there aircraft. All for under $20.00 originally. The only cheap players out there is IXO and FOV and they do not even come close. Could this be part of the resoning behind Matchbox not producing any more aircraft, to expensive to maintain the quality that they were producing, and they didn't think the market would take a price incress?

[easy8]

We should call Matchbox, buy the mold of their pilots, and market our own "little men" for use in other aircraft!

easy8

[1250ships]

Originally Posted by JC Woodman

Those Corgi 32 scale crewman in particular are ridiculous!

I was browsing Flying Mule and was looking at the Sea Hurricane in 1/32. When I hit the photo showing the cockpit with the pilot I did a double take. It looked like Ronald McDonald was going to war!