1973-2000, the story of Matchbox kits - J. C. Carbonel

Who can ever forget the aircraft kits with the multi-coloured plastic parts? Unlike other makes, Matchbox didn't just suddenly appear one day on the plastic scale models scene, but came from the well-known range of die-cast vehicles of the same name. The Lesney company which used the brand name'Matchbox' was founded in 1953 by Mr Leslie Smith (who remained on the board of the company throughout his career - he died in 2005) and Mr Rodney Smith. It was this company that thought up these little "pocket money" vehicles and the ingenious packaging which gave them their name; the box was the shape, size and colour of a match box. The firm brought out scale models of planes, tanks, boats, motorbikes and cars and also little soldiers, which all brightened the childhood days of today's forty-year olds.More than just a kit;'Matchbox' is a state of mind.About the AuthorJean-Christophe Carbonel is a world renowned specialist of French model kits. His 20-year experience of the European and Japanese model kit markets enable him to deal in depth with the French'model craze'.