MATPK-27 - Matchbox 1/72 Hawk T.Mk1 The Red Arrows - WWHP111706

MATPK-27 - Matchbox 1/72 Hawk T.Mk1 The Red Arrows - WWHP111706

Preowned, Original seal, Mint

The Lesney-era Matchbox Hawk, first tooled in 1975 and issued from 1979 in this Red Arrows boxing with Roy Huxley boxart. Builds either an RAF Red Arrows display aircraft (RAF Kemble, 1981) or a camouflaged Finnish Air Force Hawk T.Mk51 (Pori, 1981), with parts moulded in Matchbox's characteristic multi-colour plastic. The marking dates place this example as the early-1980s issue.

The BAe Hawk entered RAF service in 1976 as its standard advanced jet trainer and became one of Britain's great aviation exports, with over 900 built for some 18 operators. The Red Arrows adopted the Hawk for the 1980 display season, replacing the Folland Gnat, and still fly it today; Finland was the first export customer, with Mk51s assembled locally by Valmet.

Box contents:

• Multi-colour styrene sprues
• Clear canopy
• Waterslide decal sheet (Red Arrows and Finnish options)
• Instructions