Ju 388 vacu kit

[zenrat]

I find the lower right corner of this photo intriguing; MADE IN XXXXX 

Who do they think they're kidding? 

I think that said ENGLAND before the man with the die grinder got to it.

[Old Wombat]

I find the lower right corner of this photo intriguing; MADE IN XXXXX 

Who do they think they're kidding? 

I think that said ENGLAND before the man with the die grinder got to it.

Far too short. My money's on CHINA (the barely visible bits of the letters seem to match).

[zenrat]

But these later releases were being openly made in China.  Why would they hide that?
My money is on that originally saying where they were being made BEFORE the moulds were sent to China.

[Old Wombat]

But these later releases were being openly made in China.  Why would they hide that?
My money is on that originally saying where they were being made BEFORE the moulds were sent to China.

Only other option that I can think of that might fit is INDIA. 

[zenrat]

One of us needs to buy an original release Matchbox Ju 188 in order to see where it was made...
 

[zenrat]

Or, look on Evil-Bay.

This is the back of the original release box.  Note bottom left.



But I can't find any sprue shots of an original release kit which clearly shows the relevant area.

[Old Wombat]

Well, having found these images (not the same sprues but showing similar signs of alteration) , I can only assume that the sprues that killnoizer has are at least 3rd gen

1st image showing MADE IN ENGLAND


2nd image showing alterations to the "MADE IN ..." panel similar to killnoizer's but they've taken out "MADE" & the location (which is much shorter than the "ENGLAND" in the above image.


And obvious signs that the MADE IN ENGLAND was removed much more professionally.


Weird, but there you go!

In 1982, Lesney Products & Co. Ltd. sold the scale model arm to Universal Holdings/Universal Toys of Hong Kong, who moved the Matchbox brand and tooling to Macau.
In 1991 Tyco bought Matchbox but weren't interested in the plastic model end, Revell Germany bought the rights to the Matchbox molds.

[zenrat]

I found images of a later generation Matchbox box with "printed in Germany" on it.  No mention of where the actual contents were made though.

[Freightdog862]

I found images of a later generation Matchbox box with "printed in Germany" on it.  No mention of where the actual contents were made though.

Some where definitely made in China, but later production was I think in Poland? When Matchbox parts are in a Revell box it normally says where they are made. I don't think the Ju188 was released in a Revell box though.

Colin

[zenrat]

I've had a couple of "Matchbox" kits which left a Chinese (or maybe Macau or Hong Kong) factory through the back door.  The boxes and instructions were matchbox clones with Chinese script.  They had dry rub transfers, some missing locator pins, some flash, and tiny metal tubes of glue.
They were a Wessex and a Mysteré.  The Mysteré was unbuildable.

[killnoizer]

Back to the main topic, today i have the fun to cut out the new clear parts and try to get them together with the cockpit section. Not easy , i have to push some corners in shape but don't know which way to do that. 

You cannot view this attachment.

[George the Cat]

Well done killnoizer!  l have a early Special Hobby Ju388K/L in the stash with a dud canopy. Going to go in the opposite direction and work an Italeri Ju188 canopy on to the 388. Mine will be done as a night bomber I think.

[PR19_Kit]

That doesn't look an easy job at all! Is the canopy vacformed as well?

[killnoizer]

That doesn't look an easy job at all! Is the canopy vacformed as well?

Yes, sadly ...  That is the hardest part i think, and i want to build another one.
The clear plastic is made of strange Material, not made for sanding the edges 😵�💫

[PR19_Kit]

Ouch, that's NO fun!