Matchbox PK-127 / 40127 de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter — 1/72 Scale Plastic model kit

Manufacturer: Matchbox / Lesney

Kit number: PK-127 / 40127

Barcode: 035995422834

Aircraft: de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter

Scale: 1/72

Original tooling/release: 1983

Later Matchbox release: 1989

Status: Out of production

Kit type: Injection-moulded plastic

Subject: STOL utility/transport aircraft

Markings: Canadian and British options

The original Matchbox tooling dates from 1983, with another Matchbox issue in 1989 using the same basic box art and decal sheet. The tooling was subsequently reissued by Revell in several releases.
Manufacturer and kit history

This is a particularly interesting Matchbox kit because it represents a civilian utility aircraft rather than a fighter or bomber.

PK-127 appeared during the later period of Matchbox's classic aircraft-kit range. The company, part of Lesney Products, was well known for making relatively straightforward 1/72 aircraft kits that were affordable and accessible to younger modellers while still covering unusual subjects.

The Twin Otter was an excellent Matchbox subject because its distinctive high-wing, twin-engine configuration is instantly recognisable even in a relatively simple model.

The original tooling was introduced in 1983 and was reissued by Matchbox in 1989. Specialist catalogue records identify it as an original Matchbox kit and note that later Revell releases used the same basic tooling.

The Matchbox kit is now discontinued, although the tooling has subsequently appeared under Revell branding.
Kit contents

PK-127 is a conventional 1/72-scale injection-moulded plastic kit.

The kit represents the standard wheeled Twin Otter configuration and contains the major components needed to construct the aircraft, including:

fuselage halves;

high-mounted wings;

twin engine nacelles;

Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprop representations;

propellers;

tailplane;

vertical fin;

cockpit;

passenger cabin;

transparent windows/canopy;

landing gear;

wheels;

engine nacelle detail;

propeller assemblies;

decals;

assembly instructions.

The kit has a difficulty rating of 2 in one current catalogue and is described as an unassembled plastic model.

The original Matchbox release provided two marking options, one Canadian and one British.

The kit is therefore particularly suitable for collectors interested in vintage Matchbox civilian aircraft, Canadian aviation or STOL aircraft.
The real aircraft — de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter

The de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter is one of the most successful utility aircraft ever developed.

It was designed during the early 1960s as a twin-engine successor to the single-engine DHC-3 Otter.

Development began in 1964, and the first Twin Otter prototype flew on 20 May 1965.

The central design objective was to retain the outstanding short takeoff and landing (STOL) characteristics of the DHC-3 while gaining the increased reliability and performance of two turboprop engines.

The result was an aircraft capable of operating from very short, rough or isolated airstrips.

That capability made the Twin Otter useful in locations ranging from remote Canadian bush communities to Himalayan airfields, Arctic bases, island airstrips and Antarctic research stations.
STOL design

The Twin Otter's most important feature is its ability to operate from short runways.

The design uses:

a high-mounted wing;

large double-slotted trailing-edge flaps;

ailerons that work in conjunction with the flaps;

powerful turboprop engines;

rugged landing gear;

relatively low wing loading.

The combination gives the aircraft excellent low-speed handling and short-field performance.

This explains the aircraft's unusual popularity with operators who cannot use conventional commuter aircraft.
Engines

Early Twin Otters were powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 turboprops producing approximately 550 shp each.

The Series 300 introduced the more powerful PT6A-27, rated at approximately 680 shp before being flat-rated for Twin Otter use.

The PT6's reliability was a major factor in the aircraft's success.

Twin-engine turboprop operation was particularly valuable for operators flying long distances over remote terrain, where an engine failure in a single-engine aircraft could be much more serious.
Series 100

The initial production aircraft were designated Series 100.

The first six aircraft were prototypes/Series 1 machines, followed by the Series 100 production aircraft.

The first production run comprised aircraft with serial numbers 7 through 115.

The aircraft retained the fundamental characteristics of the prototype while being adapted for commercial service.
Series 200

The Series 200 appeared in 1968.

One of the significant improvements was a longer nose, providing additional baggage capacity.

The rear baggage door was also enlarged.

The Series 200 continued to use the PT6A-20 engines.

These changes made the aircraft more useful for operators carrying passengers and freight into remote areas.
Series 300

The Series 300 was introduced in 1969, beginning with production aircraft around serial number 231.

It became by far the most successful original production version.

The more powerful PT6A-27 engines allowed the aircraft to carry greater payloads, while the maximum takeoff weight was increased.

Approximately 614 Series 300 aircraft and related subvariants were sold before original Canadian production ended in 1988.

Variants included:

DHC-6-310 for UK operators;

DHC-6-320 for Australian operators;

various military and special-purpose configurations.

Military and specialist use

The Twin Otter's capabilities made it attractive to military and government operators.

It has been used for:

troop transport;

liaison;

reconnaissance;

aerial survey;

search and rescue;

medical evacuation;

cargo;

parachute operations;

Arctic operations;

scientific research.

The aircraft can also be equipped with:

floats;

skis;

tundra tires;

amphibious floats;

specialised undercarriage.

That adaptability is one reason the type has remained useful for decades.
Civilian service

The Twin Otter became particularly famous among regional airlines and bush operators.

Its ability to carry approximately 19 passengers while using extremely short runways allowed it to serve communities that could not support larger commuter aircraft.

It has been operated by airlines throughout:

Canada;

Alaska;

the Caribbean;

Africa;

South America;

Asia;

Australia;

the Pacific islands.

It has also become a familiar sight at mountain airports and remote island destinations.
Production history

Original de Havilland Canada production ended in 1988.

By the end of that first production run, 844 aircraft had been built.

The Twin Otter proved unusually durable, however, and the story did not end there.

In 2006, Viking Air acquired the type certificates for the out-of-production de Havilland Canada aircraft, including the DHC-6.

Viking subsequently announced plans to restart Twin Otter production.
Series 400

The modern DHC-6-400 introduced substantial improvements while retaining the fundamental Twin Otter design.

The aircraft uses Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 engines and modern digital avionics.

The cockpit was substantially modernised with the Honeywell Primus Apex integrated avionics system.

Modern aircraft can also be configured with wheels, floats, tundra tires and skis.

The first new-production Series 400 aircraft was delivered in 2010.

By March 2026, approximately 1,000 Twin Otters had been produced across the original and restarted production programmes.
Modern production

The aircraft has continued to evolve under De Havilland Canada.

In 2023, production of the DHC-6 Classic 300-G began, continuing the Twin Otter concept with modern production methods and updated equipment.

This makes the Twin Otter unusual among vintage aircraft designs: the basic airframe originated in the 1960s but remains commercially relevant more than six decades later.
Full-size aircraft performance

Representative Series 300 characteristics include:

Crew: normally 1–2

Passengers: up to approximately 19

Engines: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27

Power: approximately 680 shp each before flat-rating

Role: STOL utility/transport

First flight: 20 May 1965

Original production: 1965–1988

Original production total: 844 aircraft

Series 300 production: approximately 614

Modern Series 400: produced from 2010 onward.

Full-size aircraft selling prices

The Twin Otter has a much more useful real-aircraft market than many of the military aircraft in your previous entries.

Historical prices provide an interesting comparison.

A new Twin Otter reportedly cost approximately US$680,000 in 1972, while a new Series 300 cost around US$700,000 in 1976.

Used Series 300 aircraft have subsequently retained considerable value. One published valuation reference placed a Series 300 at more than US$2.5 million in 2018, despite the availability of the newer Series 400.

For a modern new aircraft, AOPA lists a DHC-6-400 new price of approximately US$7 million, while a 2023 equipped-price reference gives approximately US$7.25 million.

Therefore, for your catalogue:

Historical new price: approximately US$680,000–$700,000 in the early/mid-1970s
Modern new-production price: approximately US$7.0–$7.25 million
Older used Series 300: values can still reach several million US dollars, depending heavily on condition, hours, equipment and configuration.

These are full-size aircraft prices and should not be confused with the value of the vintage model kit.