Airfix

[Aircav]

Well it was in the Airfix Newsletter, nice of you guys to point it out but not actually bother to mention it for those members who are not as close to the grapevine

I shall have a look in Newcastle on Friday

You would be better asking Steve  to hold some for you, as the Wooksta will minesweep any Spits 22s that make it to Newcastle this week !!!

As of 5pm we hadn't had a delivery off Airfix so we haven't got them in yet but Friday is another day so you never know.  

[Daryl J.]

I want two.  One for a version on floats, another for USAF Vietnam night duty.

[The Wooksta!]

Fenwicks are sold out.  My two were the first out of the box and they had six.  Gary got the last one.  Sold out in a day!

[Daryl J.]

In a day.

Why am I not surprised. 

[NARSES2]

[As of 5pm we hadn't had a delivery off Airfix so we haven't got them in yet but Friday is another day so you never know.  

You did have 2 on the premises though 

Fenwicks are sold out.  My two were the first out of the box and they had six.  Gary got the last one.  Sold out in a day!

That was the one I left on the shelf - didn't want to be greedy and snaffle all 3 remaining 

And the kit is absolutely gorgeous 

[The Wooksta!]

I now have the first two of the new F22 and...  Actually, I feel a bit let down.
It is everything I wanted - beautifully detailed and with some nice spares and oodles of possiblities -  but something about it feels wrong.  It didn't help that the one in build has some quality control issues - the wing fillet is short shot, as is one of the u/c doors plus everything has had to have flash trimmed for better fit.
One other trick, which I learned from the Airfix MkIa is to drill out the locator pin holes - they're a very tight fit and as such the fuselage won't close up properly unless you drill them out.  Even so, it still needs clamping when the cockpit assembly goes in.  That didn't fit together as well as the Ia either and like the Ia needs some trimming to go together properly.
The wing is nicely detailed and the fit is again better once some fettling is done with the mating surfaces.  I can understand with the AZ and MPM/Xtrakit ones - they're limited run - but Airfix?
I *really* dislike the wheels.  The hub isn't as well defined as it could be and on the example in build has a lot of flash on it.  Ideally, it'd get replaced but as they've moulded it with a flay, the axle is a larger squarish shape so the wheel is angled correctly on the leg.  This is quite clever but another annoying niggle.
Yet another niggle is the odd lip on the outside edges of the tailwheel doors.  These need trimming because there's no such thing on the real aircraft.  I don't like the options for the closed doors - the tailwheel section is a solid lump whilst the maingear ones are thick with a bar to help location.  Not that much of a niggle really but these are always handy for other things.
Fit overall is good, with the caveats mentioned above.  They've continued with the tailplane locator style used on the mk Ia and it makes alignment much easier.  Love the prop.  It looks very nice indeed but the spinner needs the panel line rescribing.  The supercharger intake is also the nicest one in injection.
The engine cowling.  Slide mould used to get the rocker covers but needs cleanup and some of the panel lines around it are a little indistinct.  There's something about the whole cowling that bothers me and I just can't put my finger on what it is.  It feels... dainty.  Too dainty.  The Griffon is a big, beefy engine and the cowling doesn't really reflect that.  Not in my view anyway.  I've plans to replace one with an FR47 cowling anyway, but I shouldn't have to do this.
Overall?  8/10. 

[Hobbes]

The Griffon is a big, beefy engine

Actually I was surprised by how little difference there is between the Merlin and Griffon outer dimensions.

[Aircav]

Some very nice photos of the new Airfix stuff coming out on this site.  
http://www.plastik-modellbau.org/blog/spielwarenmesse-2012-ein-kleiner-rundgang/2012/

[Steel Penguin]

looks like no crews for the helos?  can any one confirm?  and if so any ideas where i can get some crew? ( bar cut and shunt on hasagawa modern crew)

[kitbasher]

I have two.  I like!

[Captain Canada]

Are they planning any more Harriers ? With the three beauties they just released why not a GR.3 and some T birds ? What about the Sword T, any word on it ( or the price ?)

[Thorvic]

Are they planning any more Harriers ? With the three beauties they just released why not a GR.3 and some T birds ? What about the Sword T, any word on it ( or the price ?)

No idea about the Harriers, we'll probably have to wait till the end of the year to hear if anything lined up for next year.

As to the Sword Two Seaters, they listed as future release on HobbySearch with a reasonable price :-

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10190444

G

[PR19_Kit]

As to the Sword Two Seaters, they listed as future release on HobbySearch with a reasonable price :-

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10190444

Excellent news! We've waited a long time for a decent early Harrier T bird. I'm assuming it will appear here under the Xtrakit label too.

[PR19_Kit]

Today's Airfix Newsletter is advertising the Jubilee Tucano for 'Advanced Orders', and they're only making 1000 it seems.

Naturally the 'Advanced Order' process entails you paying for it NOW............ 

I did, but the Airfix site's MIND bogglingly time consuming and complex order process seems designed to make things difficult, and me angry and frustrated. 

[kitbasher]

Green DH.88 Comet and the new P-51D in Holborn MZ today, chaps.