Airfix

[KiwiZac]

I'm somewhat confused about the 'new tool' Spit I. Have they chucked the molds of the previous kit and issued a new one?

From what I understand the old one - box art of the 19 Sqn aircraft mimicking the famous photo - is gone and the new one is indeed new. I think sharing some Mk.V parts? Word online is it's a major improvement on the old one.

[Supertom]

I'm somewhat confused about the 'new tool' Spit I. Have they chucked the molds of the previous kit and issued a new one?

From what I understand the old one - box art of the 19 Sqn aircraft mimicking the famous photo - is gone and the new one is indeed new. I think sharing some Mk.V parts? Word online is it's a major improvement on the old one.

No, it's a brand new one, nothing to do with the 2006 release! This shows how serious Airfix is about coming back, and they know Spitfire fans are pretty serious. Brett Green from Hyperscale took a look at it and was quite excited by what he found:

http://hyperscale.com/2015/reviews/kits/airfix05126reviewbg_1.htm

[Librarian]

Thanks for the info. I made the 2006 issue and found it seriously clunky; have a go at this one and maybe a V. WHERE'S that XIV we really need??

[Captain Canada]

Looks wonderful ! Lots of canopy options too.

[NARSES2]

Got the May Airfix Magazine yesterday and they have various articles on the Beaufighter and a build of the new tool. Looks nice and should be in the shops soon 

[Weaver]

They have a Shackleton in test build:

[Supertom]

Whoa I need one of those portable workbenches! Is that official Humbrol merchandise?

[Weaver]

Whoa I need one of those portable workbenches! Is that official Humbrol merchandise?

Yes it is: http://www.airfix.com/uk-en/humbrol/accessories/workstation.html

[Weaver]

Airfix have just started their own web forum: http://www.airfix.com/uk-en/forum/

[Thorvic]

http://www.airfix.com/uk-en/news/airfix-development-news-avro-shackleton-mr2-172/

The development of the Shackleton kit including the above test shots assembled 

[rickshaw]

I have one question about the Shak.  Those nose guns have worried me ever since I first saw them on the cover IIRC of an old Frog catalog back in the late 1960s.  Can they be trained in azimuth or only in elevation?

[PR19_Kit]

I have one question about the Shak.  Those nose guns have worried me ever since I first saw them on the cover IIRC of an old Frog catalog back in the late 1960s.  Can they be trained in azimuth or only in elevation?

Good question that Brian. I've asked it myself more than once and I never did get a sensible answer, not even from the folks at Air Atlantigue who had two of them at one stage, albeit gunless AEWs. I've never seen a pic of one with the nose guns trained in any direction other than straight fore and aft. Lots with them up and down at various angles, the norm being depressed maybe 20 deg., but never to port or starboard.

IIRC the prototype had two nose guns in barbettes either side of the nose and they only trained in elevation so perhaps the RAF and AVRO figured they could aim the whole aircraft if they wanted to strafe something?

[pyro-manic]

I would think not very much, if at all.

[Thorvic]

I think there is a bit a play in movement from left to right, but they are there only for strafing submarines on the surface or just below rather than air defence. Probably worth checking into if the aircraft is open at Newark.

Anyway nice to see the kit to test shot stage already, looks like some fine tuning may be required for the fuselage join, but looking good so far, hopefully its still on schedule to meet its December release date.

Interesting to note that Airfix have publically put up that Shackleton development progress to date, going form concept, to research, to CAD and to Test shots; not only does it show the kit creation process but also an elbow in the ribs to Revell who have only shown an archive photograph so far and have quoted a release 2 months ahead of Airfix  . Sort of saying we're delivering on this promise, now show us your completed test shot builds as they should be at that stage by now 

[PR19_Kit]

I hope Master are already working on brass versions of those 20 mms. I can see them being VERY vulnerable on built Shacks!