When I started making models at the age of about 8 or 9 (I'm 38 now) I soon discovered that Airfix models were poorly moulded (or rather the filling if the moulds wasn't exactly quality controlled). So, in common with my friends I stuck to Matchbox. The parts were well defined, the instructions were clear and thanks to the tri-colour system they really didn't need painting!
OK, the last part about the non-requirement of paint was a lie. Anyway, Matchbox models were widely available and seemed to be still popular when girls, music and Dungeons And Dragons started to distract me away from model making.
So, when my interest in modelling picked up again three years ago imagine my disappointment when I find Matchbox went under taking their wonderful plastc scale models with them.
So, I'm now trying out Revell models. They seem quite good. Comparable in style and quality to the Matchbox range and I'm sure I may well try out a Tamiya model or two (as I seem to remember I occasionally did when I was a kid).
"Come on, JJ! What's your point?" I hear you cry.
Well, I was wondering where my old favourite Matchbox range sits with everyone else's affections? Of course when anyone mentions scale models the first name that springs to mind is Airfix. That's always the cliche anyway but I always hated them and Matchbox always seemed more popular.
Looking in the shops I'd say the split is 40% Revell, 40% Tamiya, 20% Airfix.
Does this reflect the relative quality?
Did Matchbox 'deserve' to disappear from our shelves?
Were Airfix as poor as I remember them (in fact should it have been them that went under instead of Matchbox)?
A vague and rambling post I know, but perhaps it might provoke discussion...and hopefully galvanise a company in to buying up and re-releasing the Matchbox range properly (I'm aware someof the old models have appeared but it's not many!)