The Day I Squirted Too Much Glue All Over My Chipmunk

Jet Girl's Jets, my first model kit, and Tank Girl archive book sale...

Airfix de Havilland Chipmunk model 1973

This is the first model kit I ever made (not this actual one, obvs) - the de Havilland Chipmunk, a post WW2 trainer plane, the original was made by the company responsible for the mighty Mosquito (of 633 Squadron fame). I found this unopened blister pack on eBay, date marked 1973 on the packaging, which means I would’ve been six or seven years old. The one I made is long gone, probably blown to smithereens a few years later by having a French banger (firecracker to those outside the UK) shoved up its tailpipe. My dad bought identical kits for me and my brother from Gamleys Toy Shop in Portland Road Worthing.

Gamleys Toy Shop, mostly obscured by a Bedford van, but Airfix Model kits are visible in the right hand window. An (almost) entirely superfluous photograph.

I remember the construction of the kit being incredibly exciting - following step-by-step instructions to manifest an aircraft, and then applying the decal transfers onto its unpainted wings and body. The tiny plastic pilot was the most exciting part of the kit, and actual little man that I had to stick into a seat, and then into a crudely-formed cock-pit. The end result was a plane with some parts stuck in the wrong place, and far too much Britfix glue seeping out the joins, but I was incredibly proud of my work, and quickly progressed on to a Red Arrows Gnat model.

The Legendary Royal Airforce Red Arrow, mainstay of British aerial displays since the mid 1960s.

It’s easy to see the design influence between these old Airfix kits and the packaging on our recent Actionfix art models. The reception of these sets has been far beyond our expectations, and we are working hard to get everyones orders out. THANK YOU for your support and enthusiasm!

The latest in our line of popular ‘Actionfix” model kit artworks.

The sixties/seventies culture of war films, planes, tanks, toy soldiers, Action Men and GI Joes, can’t be ignored in the later creations of the generations that grew up around them; a bunch of characters like Tank Girl and her friends had to turn up sooner or later.

On Friday we will be putting a whole bunch of signed books from our archives up in the TANK GIRL SHOP, including art books, graphic novels, and some old obscuriosities. Each one will come with a limited edition Tank Girl art print (which will be for sale separately too).

Meanwhile, have a nice tomorrow.

Alan XXXX

Coming soon in this newsletter… why I’m so obsessed with vintage aircraft…