Airfix 1/72 Stratos 4 'TSR.2MS' (manga aerospace interceptor)

[Martin H]

Ok children. stop the bickering.

Inaccurate or not, we now have a main stream kit of the TSR in two of the main scales. so give it a rest and build the bloody things

[Thorvic]

I fear poor Aleback is suffering from a case of 'Foot in mouth'  disease  , he wouldn't know this site was the origin for the Airfix TSR2 campaign and some of us know the background and history of the kit form its very beginings. Like many he's attempting to judge the kit based on either the old Airfix brand back from the 70's or the revitalised Hornby owned company that has risen from the ashes.

The Airfix 1/72nd TSR2 actually dates from the dark period when Airfix was first starting to break away from the Heller wing of Humbrol that was absorbing any profit that was made strangling new production. The TSR2 was their first step back into 1/72nd after many years away from the scale and was choosen as a fan kit after the sales team had blown the budget on the wasteful England footballer figures for yet another failed World Cup campaign. Money was tight, so they went with a popular modellers choice using a new production subcontractor from Trumpeters production empire, they went with the simpler fit, as they knew many who wanted a detailed build would automatically replace it with resin or etch after market sets and more detailed moulds would cost more to produce at a time when they only estimated 7000 domestic sales with 1500 export max.

Thats why they went with the limited number release as they hoped the limited edition might prompt a few more collector sales to hit the 10,000 mark and break even, plus they were tied to fixed production numbers as these were produced in China rather than France so rather than a drip feed every few months from regular production its one big production run all in one go !. However the limited production idea greatly backfired as the marketing team got their predictions wrong, the first order was for 3000 from Japan due to the Stratos 4 cartoon which has promtped this re-release and domestic and home orders soon outstripped the 10,000 limit so much so that 15000 were eventually produced, but the limited edition marketing ploy meant they were capped at 10,000 domestic kits preventing a further batches to meet interest & demand.

Actually were rather proud of the campaign and that it did lead to the kit being produced, and i don't know of any other similar kits that were inspired by popular demand and have produced suck a broad range of successful aftermarkets, decals, etch, resin and books !!!, together with its larger and less successful 1/48th half brother.

[JayBee]

I love it when Goeff is being modest

[ChrisF]

I wont "correct" my 1:48 tsr2 for several reasons...

1: Like our new friend im happy if it "looks" the part.. (If someone else releases a correct one then awesome)

2: Im doing a "what if" so who knows what shape it would have ended up ?

3: Im just not a good enough modeller to basically scratchbuild three quarters of the model.. If i was i wouldnt need to buy the kit in the first place... 

[Martin H]

I love it when Goeff is being modest

 

Luv it.

[albeback]

You're absolutely right MartinH

As far as I am concerned this is now a bicker free zone!

Apologies to everyone.

[P1127]

However the limited production idea greatly backfired as the marketing team got their predictions wrong, the first order was for 3000 from Japan

Can you imagine being the sales guy who took that order? "You want how many? Hold on a moment...... Trevor, what was the phone number for that factory in China?"

[TsrJoe]

just a little bump to mention the reissued kit is now avaliable once again with the larger missile included (as we speculated the chopped off sprue was) and new decals for a further 2 'TSR.2MS' examples from the 'Stratos 4' anime series.

Markings are also included to complete a normal TSR.2 prototype as well as the kit having the original parts for same 

cheers, Joe

[Nick]

My local shop has the first manga release TSR.2 for £17.99, is this a reasonable price?
It was reduced from £24.99 so that's a big cut already.

[pyro-manic]

Sounds pretty good to me.

[The Wooksta!]

Given that the original release in 2006 was about £17 and this comes with new and better decals plus some extra bits, then yes, it's well worth the candle.