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...
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.
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.
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 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…
Probably I'm from bognor originally my grandparents lived in lancing used to spend a week every summer from 73 till 81 with them and used to pester them to take me there.
Remember gamley's in worthing my nan would take me there in the late 70s when I stayed with here in the summer holidays not sure if you remember Peter pan play area by the swimming pool. Happy times