Airfix

[Hobbes]

Can someone explain all this interest in insanely huge models? 1:72 C-17s are bad enough, but 1:48 Vulcan, 1:24 Lancaster??

[GTX]

ah, but think of the detailing you can (nay, must) do .

Regards,

Greg

[Thorvic]

Mr. David J. Ross posted a comment with an image on the HyperScale "Plane Talking" forum that he states is a 1/48th scale injection molded plastic kit of the Avro Vulcan to be offered by Airfix. Is there any truth to this or has someone decided to wind us up? 

Here is a link to the image of the model in question that he claims to be a 1/48th scale Vulcan on the Airfix table at Telford

Nope the Bomber Command SIG went and placed the Vulcan on the end of the AirfiX stand along with print or a possible box art as a spoof on friday night after Airfix had gone back to the hotel. The Bomber boy actually advised us lot quietly in the bar later on to get in early before the Airfix reps removed in when they arrived in the hall on Saturday. (Thus Falcon got up early legged over to the hall with Camera in hand whilst the rest of us had breakfast with Trev and the rest of the Airfix gang)

However when Airfix arrived on the stand they had a chuckle as Trev loves these things, but then left the model in situ and see the reaction of the modellers and the public to the possibility. Overall it did appear very favourable, and no doubt they will then assess interest before they decided to start the project when they do their planning meetings next spring. If they do go ahead dont expect one on the shelves till about 2011 at the earliest

Size wise its about the same as the 1/24th Mossie so therefore its not that impractical.

Cheers

Geoff
(back from 3 days at SMW)

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Nope the Bomber Command SIG went and placed the Vulcan on the end of the AirfiX stand along with print or a possible box art as a spoof on friday night after Airfix had gone back to the hotel. The Bomber boy actually advised us lot quietly in the bar later on to get in early before the Airfix reps removed in when they arrived in the hall on Saturday. (Thus Falcon got up early legged over to the hall with Camera in hand whilst the rest of us had breakfast with Trev and the rest of the Airfix gang)

However when Airfix arrived on the stand they had a chuckle as Trev loves these things, but then left the model in situ and see the reaction of the modellers and the public to the possibility. Overall it did appear very favourable, and no doubt they will then assess interest before they decided to start the project when they do their planning meetings next spring. If they do go ahead dont expect one on the shelves till about 2011 at the earliest

Size wise its about the same as the 1/24th Mossie so therefore its not that impractical.

I would have fallen for it at first glance if not for the caper pulled by the TSR.2 SIG several years ago... While the thought of a 1/48th scale Vulcan kit or three residing in my protective custody is pleasing it is certainly not going to happen without support from the customers to let Airfix know that this is indeed a gamble worth taking.  That being said, I can only hope that I have the funds available when an affordable injection molded plastic model of the Vulcan is on the shelf awaiting consumption. 

You ask why the demand for larger scale models.  Simple answer really, we are getting older, our eyesight is not what it used to be and for those modelers not in that age group yet, just wait, your turn will come soon enough when you start looking for larger scale subjects to maintain your interest in the hobby. 

[PanzerWulff]

I hope I can Find & get one of their Sea Vixens when they come out I have always found the aircraft interesting
"Panzer"

[NARSES2]

You ask why the demand for larger scale models.  Simple answer really, we are getting older, our eyesight is not what it used to be and for those modelers not in that age group yet, just wait, your turn will come soon enough when you start looking for larger scale subjects to maintain your interest in the hobby. 

To true Jeff - I'm starting to have some problems with brain/eye/finger co-ordination especially with some of the detail on small scale armour 

[Thorvic]

Airfix 2009 new items (thanks to Airfix Tribute Forum and the Airfix newsletter)

New tools for 2009
A02017 Spitfire PRXIX
A02065 Spitfire Mk IXc
A02029 Messerschmitt Bf 109G
A02037 MiG 15
A03078 Sea Harrier FRS1
A03079 Sea Harrier FA2
1/350 HMS Illustrious (Current Fleet flagship VTOL Carrier)

Re-releases
A01073 Grumman Widgeon Gosling
A01050 Hannover CLIII
A01076 RE.8
A01078 Albatross D.Va
A01080 Bristol Fighter F2B
A02002 Supermarine Walrus MkII
A03014 Blohm & Voss Bv141
A03034 Petlyakov Pe2
A03053 Focke Wulf Fw189

1:48 Sea Vixen Special Edition

[NARSES2]

Aghhhhh - they are re-releasing the RE8  Bloody thing still gives me nightmares from 40 odd years ago 

Nice to see the others though 

[pyro-manic]

Hmm - should be interesting to see how they pull off the Illustrious. I don't believe they've done a 1:350 ship before? I wonder how it will compare to the Dragon 1:700 Lusty...

[Hobbes]

Wow. At last year's (?) SMW Airfix had a suggestion form. I wrote Shar FA2 and Illustrious on mine 

Any word on the scale of the FA2? If 1:72, would it have anything to do with the Xtrakit release?

[PanzerWulff]

Does anyone know exactly when that Special edition Sea Vixen is going to be released I Reeeeeeealy want one but being across the pond they will be gone before i know they have been released ,like what happened when the 1/72 TSR 2 came out
"Panzer"

[Thorvic]

Wow. At last year's (?) SMW Airfix had a suggestion form. I wrote Shar FA2 and Illustrious on mine 

Any word on the scale of the FA2? If 1:72, would it have anything to do with the Xtrakit release?

All are 72nd scale unless stated. Not sure about the SHAR FA2 origin, were told its new mould but of course that could be the Xtrakit version.

The thing to note is the FAA trend for next year happens to coincide with Airfix doing a deal with the Royal Navy, which included in exchange for exclusive access to RN information that new kits must be produced as well as using the data to enhance resiisues of existing kits. Lusty is the current flagship and is high profile in the UK at the moment thanks to TV documentary and a UK tour of City ports, so a new large scale kit of the ship in her current configuration is a nice bonus from the deal. Hopefully we'll see others appear in the same scale over coming years (hopefully ships like Type 45, Type 23, Albion, Ocean, all of which would go down well with modellers)

G

[Mossie]

Hmm - should be interesting to see how they pull off the Illustrious. I don't believe they've done a 1:350 ship before? I wonder how it will compare to the Dragon 1:700 Lusty...

Don't think Airfix have done 1/350 before, although they have done 1/400 recentley but I think these were re-boxes of other peoples kits, maybe Hellers.

All are 72nd scale unless stated. Not sure about the SHAR FA2 origin, were told its new mould but of course that could be the Xtrakit version.

The thing to note is the FAA trend for next year happens to coincide with Airfix doing a deal with the Royal Navy, which included in exchange for exclusive access to RN information that new kits must be produced as well as using the data to enhance resiisues of existing kits. Lusty is the current flagship and is high profile in the UK at the moment thanks to TV documentary and a UK tour of City ports, so a new large scale kit of the ship in her current configuration is a nice bonus from the deal. Hopefully we'll see others appear in the same scale over coming years (hopefully ships like Type 45, Type 23, Albion, Ocean, all of which would go down well with modellers)

G

When Airfix re-boxed the MPM Meteor F.8 at a much lower price I think Mr Hannant nearly blew a blood vessel.....   He promised on the website that it wouldn't happen with any other Xtrakit.  That dosen't mean much though if they haven't got the contract right with MPM.  Airfix & Hannants do seem to be on a collision course recentley.

Hmmm, I guess we're likey to see an Airfix Queen Elizabeth & maybe a Prince of Wales then (if they ever get built).  Ship enthusiasts have been after a Dreadnought for some time, I wouldn't be surprised to see one being released in the not too distant future.  I wouldn't be suprised to see a new Victory either since it's sitting in Portsmouth, maybe even a Warrior?

[pyro-manic]

Warspite (a new one, in 1:350 or 1:700!), Vanguard (sub and battleship), Astute, Ark Royal IV, Hermes, etc.

Queen Elizabeth is going to be one big model in 1:350...

[ChernayaAkula]

Argghhh, when it rains it pours! New Lightnings by both Trumpeter and Academy, new MiG-15s by both Hobby Boss and Airfix! Why, oh, why can't anybody do a decent new family of Mirage III/5/50s?


Still, a new Spitfire Mk.IX and new Shars are very welcome!