TSR.2 kits

[Mairfrog]

I reckon Airfix should have first refusal, as its just the sort of thing they should be doing. Might help turn their fortunes around too. There's no point them trying to compete in 48th with Tamigawa etc.
A Revell TSR would kick donkey, and they did do the Orlyonok which was secret, cancelled, soviet and scrapped. And a Revell kit would still be affordable.

The JMNs would come down on a new kit like a flock of angry vultures, no doubt moaning that they could have had some cancelled nazi project instead. IMO, the world can manage without another 1/48th Me109 ...

We'll see at the Nats, if Airfix say 'get lost' or 'How dare you! We're gonna sue!' we'll take the whole thing over to Revell and say 'If you really want to bury Humbrol, make this.' Either way, I think a table full of TSR 2 will highlight the potential sales of a new kit.

Found out yesterday that the Frog Shackleton is still being made by Eastern Express, available through Aviapress. Only snag is ludicrous minimum postage costs, so a bulk purchase would be advisable.

[nev]

like Wooksta said, the TSR2 doesn't have swastikas, so Revell won't be interested  

Still, no harm in trying eh?

[Geoff_B]

Hi Nev

like Wooksta said, the TSR2 doesn't have swastikas, so Revell won't be interested

However it was propossed to the West Germans as a Starfighter replacement. Just make sure we get a few shots of the TSR-2 in Luftwaffe markings (Should be at least 3 i think) and get the Germans on board, it will soon move. Then again the way Revell are working i wouldn't be too surprised to see the Nimrod MR2 appear from them as they seem to be doing a number of MPA recently.

Like the MPA idea for next year, already got the Atlantic, Neptune, Shackleton & Orion; plus the Nimrod is undergoing a refit. So plenty of choice. BTW the Revell Atlantic kit breaks down so the Atlantic 2 could be produced next year.

However still plenty to do on this years !!!!

Thor

[Mike Wren]

[/QUOTE] Found out yesterday that the Frog Shackleton is still being made by Eastern Express, available through Aviapress. Only snag is ludicrous minimum postage costs, so a bulk purchase would be advisable. [/QUOTE]

Eastern Express are imported into the UK by Pocketbond, so it might be worth checking with them first, although some of the product ranges seem to be a bit hit and miss when it comes to everything being available over here (been trying the get hold of an Eastern Express Canberra for ages...)  

[F-32]

The Shackleton is current in stock at the Basingstoke Model Zone, I saw it there last week, just as I was walking out with an armful of kits................doh!

If Airfix make the TSR.2 I would personally buy a bunch as they are a great many variants I want to make.  I imagine they would ask for a guaranteed purchase of x amount of kits before they make it.  That means we would have to buy them all ourselves    or sweet talk someone like Hannants into stocking them......

[Nigel Bunker]

There is a story dating from the 60's that Airfix were working on a TSR-2

It's true.   What's even worst, one of the moulds was nearly complete but when TSR-2 was scrapped, Airfix decided that there was no point in issueing a kit of it and scrapped their die.

By the way, if anybody sees Trevor Snowden at the Nats, ask what happened to the T-45 Goshawk mould? This was completed about 1990 (based on the Hawk mould) but held back when BAe/MDD had to mod the design of the actual plane to make it work (LE slats, taller tail, etc). Airfix were due to mod the moulds and then release it but it was about the time of the Humbrol takeover and so it never happened.  

[lancer]

been trying the get hold of an Eastern Express Canberra for ages

Same here. I want a few of them actually.

[Ogwash]

From monitoring the Airfix forum, Trevor Snowden has conformed that the TSR2 is on their wish list and the fact vatious people who shall not be mentioned (Thorvic & mairfrog amongsty othere keep various TSR2 topics going, it may well be sinking in. The key question is will the new bean counters allow funding for it, in 1/72 it shouldn't be too much bigger than their Hawk kits and arround the same sort od price range (Perhaps we should get a sweedish one done to get that market motivated as Airfix really do cater for Sweeden).

I know its all wishfull thinking but it might happen, Airfix are supposed to be seeing what the people want (against what it can afford to produce) and i suppose with the right marketing the TRR2 might sell rather well after all its a nice looking model and the What-if possibilities could enable multiple boxings perhaps - Luft 46 didn't do Revell much harm after all !!!!!!!! B).

So don't forget bring the subject up with Trev and the rest on the Humbrol/Airfix stand at the Nationals, after all if heller can produce new kits then so should Airfix.

Cheers

GeoffB B)  

[Supertom]

Actually I've been wondering - does WIf have a bigger following in Europe?  If you think about it the majority of the prominent JMNs (or, at least the more vocal) are in the US.  Yes, it would make sense for Airfix to kit a TSR.2 if it IS true, especially since the TSR.2 is so well regarded among British modelers.

[Mike Wren]

Same here. I want a few of them actually.

re: Eastern Express Shakletons & Canberras. We had a stock listing faxed through from Pocketbond last week and neither were on the list of currently available stock. bugger.

[Geoff_B]

I've just seen a Revell one of the Shackelton go for £32 on ebay !!!! And saw a couple of original Frog ones at the Toy Fair (never bothered to even ask !!!) also saw a kit trader trying to sell an Airfix Canberra for £55.

Perhaps the Shack and Canberra are not currently being produced by Eastern Express at the moment.

Cheers

Thor B)  

[lancer]

also saw a kit trader trying to sell an Airfix Canberra for £55.

#

Christ, that takes the Pi*s big time. I know that traders make thier living from kits, but £55 is bloody exessive

[TsrJoe]

What's even worst, one of the moulds was nearly complete but when TSR-2 was scrapped, Airfix decided that there was no point in issueing a kit of it and scrapped their die.  

dunno...as far as i knew they only got as far as preliminary design stages...prob a similar stage to where they are now...!!! (could/prob be wrong tho!)

cheers, joe  

[Mairfrog]

Nah, Airfix had it all ready for release, but Roy Jenkins came round and personnally destroyed the test-shots, tooling and blue-prints, whilst two burly American minders looked on.

[TsrJoe]

chuckle..so thats why it ran way over budget...it was the cost of airfix's moulds...

btw..i still think it shouldve been cancelled way sooner instead of the political football; it became

ps...i remember asking that prat jenkins (local mp.) about the TSR.2 on a couple of occasions...he couldnt/wouldnt recall anything, letters were even better...quote...blah blah Jenkins (lots of letters after his name) does not comment on defence matters or the decision making processes of govermental bodies...aye right...i still reckon he mustve signed the cancellation order altho absolutely nothing survives in the pro.! hmm...not only a prat...a clever one too...

cheers subversively, joe