Subject: DH Mosquito B MkIX

Manufacturer: Matchbox

Constructed in 1986

This was one of the earlier Matchbox kits, dating from the mid 1970's. Presumably because of the wooden construction of the real thing, it escaped the deep, trench-like panel lines that dogged so many of the company's offerings. The fit of the parts was excellent but the canopy was very thick and its framing grossly overscale. The decals lacked density of colour and in spite of spraying a transparent gloss coat prior to applying them and using a setting solution, the wing roundel carrier film silvered. In spite of its shortcomings it actually looks quite nice in the display cabinet - and it was within the budget of a younger man with a wife and, at the time, one child to........!