Airfix

[Thorvic]

Airfix are asking for suggestions with a Youtube video again. This time the question is:

"What kit would you like us to design that HASN'T been in our range before?"

The video is here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tYrWmpe0cCU

If you don't have a Youtube account and can't leave comments, then please SEND ME A PM and I'll put it on for you. Bear in mind that I'm back at work (part time) now, so it might not be immediate.

I just put this list up:

All 1/72nd scale:
Gloster Javelin
DH Sea Vixen
Supermarine Scimitar
DH Venom (single-seater)
Avro Lincoln
FV432
Ferret
Stalwart
British Cold War Infantry (SLRs & Stirlings era)
Westland Wasp
AVRO Canada CF-100 Canuck
AVRO Canada CF-105 Arrow

Good selection there could you add:-

1/72
Leonardo Wildcat
Leonardo Merlin HMA2/Crowsnest/HC4
Westland Sea King HAS1/2
Westland Wessex HAS1/HU5
Seafire XVII
F-35B Lightning II full kit with weapons bays and full weapon load including expected UK weaapons such as Meteor, ASRAAM, SPEAR etc

1/35
Lightweight Land Rover
Bedford RL GS Truck
Bedford MK GS Truck
Fox Armoured Car
CVRT Spartan, Striker Samaritan family

[Weaver]

Good selection there could you add:-

1/72
Leonardo Wildcat
Leonardo Merlin HMA2/Crowsnest/HC4
Westland Sea King HAS1/2
Westland Wessex HAS1/HU5
Seafire XVII
F-35B Lightning II full kit with weapons bays and full weapon load including expected UK weaapons such as Meteor, ASRAAM, SPEAR etc

1/35
Lightweight Land Rover
Bedford RL GS Truck
Bedford MK GS Truck
Fox Armoured Car
CVRT Spartan, Striker Samaritan family

Posted! 

[Weaver]

Erm, they DID do a Javelin.

The Heller T3 was re-boxed to start with, and rumour has it that the moulds were updated to be the FAW9/9R.

That's my understanding.

Btw PM sent, Weaver

Erm, they DID do a Javelin.

The Heller T3 was re-boxed to start with, and rumour has it that the moulds were updated to be the FAW9/9R.

That's my understanding.

Btw PM sent, Weaver

List posted. 

[Weaver]

I fervently wish that people in these threads would understand and accept that Airfix are a business that exists to make a profit. They are not a charity producing unmarketable and poor selling items to frothing at the mouth loons on t'nterweb demanding their particular moon on a frakking stick!

Well Airfix are, of course, entirely free to ignore suggestions that their marketing department declare to be uneconomic, and I hope they do: it's in nobody's interest for them to go bust. Having said that, how are they supposed to do market research except by asking kit buyers what they want and sifting the replies? It may be that there's an aircraft that you'd think would be obscure but in fact has enough pent-up demand to justify kitting it. After all, isn't that how a kit of the 'failed' TSR.2 got made?

I've had three replies in the comments to my initial list, one supporting the Arrow, one the Wasp and one the Scimitar.

[jcf]

A 1/72nd Scimitar might be a possibility, 1/48th is doubtful due to costs associated with design and
development of a kit in that scale.

Several things work against it as a viable subject:
It was built in small numbers; only in mainline operation with one service, the RN, and only for just
over 8 years. It's an interesting aircraft, I have the 1/48th Dynavector vac, but it's pretty obscure
for the average person.

[Weaver]

A 1/72nd Scimitar might be a possibility, 1/48th is doubtful due to costs associated with design and
development of a kit in that scale.

Several things work against it as a viable subject:
It was built in small numbers; only in mainline operation with one service, the RN, and only for just
over 8 years. It's an interesting aircraft, I have the 1/48th Dynavector vac, but it's pretty obscure
for the average person.

I'm pretty sure that the 'average model maker' is significantly different from 'the average person' these days though. Nobody's selling kits to kids in corner shops for pocket money any more. Most model makers are subject enthusiasts with a fair degree of knowledge. Regardless of the hard facts of it's service, the Scimitar is well known to most enthusiasts and is 'evocative' of a particular period in the RN's history.  The question is more a matter of detail than principle: how many model-making aircraft enthusiasts are willing to pay for a 1/72nd Scimitar at the price Airfix can sell it at and still make a profit?

There's also a certain degree 'bootstrap' effect: if Airfix announce a kit of the Scimitar, then there'll be some modellers who've never/barely heard of it or never considered it who will get interested simply because of the announcement, and may decide to buy it because they like the way it looks or even just because it isn't yet another Spitfire/109/F-16. Again, hard to quantify.

As to the general question of 'obscure' kits, I think the smaller outfits like Special Hobby et al have demonstrated beyond all reasonable doubt that a market of some sort exists for them (just been looking at Micro-Mir's announcement of a Martin XB-51...), the question is how much of that market will buy a particular kit, and whether that's enough to support an Airfix-sized company producing it.

[The Wooksta!]

I should have added a Vickers Warwick.

The naysayers pooh-poohing a Scimitar should look to the Swift. One operator.  That seemed do well.

[Weaver]

I should have added a Vickers Warwick.

The naysayers pooh-poohing a Scimitar should look to the Swift. One operator.  That seemed do well.

Good point!

I should have added a HAL Marut too, so I'm going to put that and the Warwick on for you.

[Rick Lowe]

I'd like to see them re-release some of the 1/32 cars they modified the moulds for; Capri, Zodiac, Victor and Cortina. With added parts to make them buildable as stock.

A set of Civvy standing/seated drivers (male and female) for the cars, possibly in a 'Multipose'-style arrangement.
Or just regular seated persons- there are a lot of Civilian vehicles out there now, in 1/35, that need passengers/crew.

Maybe expand the 1/32 car range, but there are way too many I want to winnow the list down - perhaps if enough folk agree with the the idea, that could start them asking for more 'wants' in that specific range.

Cold War Brits in 1/32 or 1/35 would be nice, Vietnam ANZACS even more so.

Thanks, Weaver!   

[AeroplaneDriver]

I perpetually request a 1/48 Scimitar and I see no reason why they wouldn't.  To echo Lee, they made a 1/72 Swift that has done well even though it had one operator and was built in limited numbers.  Their 1/48 range does show a trend of RN Cold War aircraft...Sea Vixen....Buccaneer...and now the Gannett?  Talk about an aircraft that you wold assume would have limited appeal.  At least the Scimitar is pretty.  I'll keep requesting it at every opportunity and hope it shows up one of these days. 

[Beermonster58]

I perpetually request a 1/48 Scimitar and I see no reason why they wouldn't.  To echo Lee, they made a 1/72 Swift that has done well even though it had one operator and was built in limited numbers.  Their 1/48 range does show a trend of RN Cold War aircraft...Sea Vixen....Buccaneer...and now the Gannett?  Talk about an aircraft that you wold assume would have limited appeal.  At least the Scimitar is pretty.  I'll keep requesting it at every opportunity and hope it shows up one of these days. 

Indeed. And, if an aircraft like the Swift, despite its chequered history and very limited use is worthy of a kit, then why not an Avro Manchester ( which morphed into Avro's finest) and, the Avro Lincoln (which was morphed into BY Avro's finest!)  
Incidentally, a company called DB Model Kits is supposed to be producing a 1/48 Scimitar for release in October 2023.

[jcf]

I guess reading comprehension is still a challenge for some folks. 

I stated that a 1/72nd scale kit is a possibility, the doubts I expressed were about a 1/48th scale kit.

As to the Airfix Swift, well it's 1/72nd innit?

[McColm]

I never understood why they don't include the Avro Lincoln B.2, they have the Lancaster and the Shackleton but not the one in between. Likewise the Shackleton MR.1,  Revell has done the AEW.2 and MR.3. So will this mean that they will also do the MR.2?
I'm not too sure if any of the MR.1s survived but there must be a front section somewhere in someone's collection.
Now we have the Boeing P-8A Posideon but nothing in 1/72 scale or the E-7 Wedgetail at an affordable price.

[McColm]

It looks like I have offended someone or some of my fellow whifferters. I can submit the facts and let you decide.
I was a member of the Territorial Army for 13 weeks in 1984 and operated Searchlights for the military tattoos.
The SA 80 replaced the Bren and Sten/Sterling sub machine gun during the 1990s.



My discharge letter


If you look very closely at the photo below, rear rank, fourth from the left, that's me.



And if you are still confused try this photo of me, yes they are Corporals stripes!



I can't show you my T.A. papers as it's a classified document and I'm still under the official secrets act
I can give you a copy of my medical report for the five weeks I stayed at King's College Hospital May 8th to June 2021 on request.

[Leading Observer]

A 1/72nd Scimitar might be a possibility, 1/48th is doubtful due to costs associated with design and
development of a kit in that scale.

Several things work against it as a viable subject:
It was built in small numbers; only in mainline operation with one service, the RN, and only for just
over 8 years. It's an interesting aircraft, I have the 1/48th Dynavector vac, but it's pretty obscure
for the average person.

I have included the Scimitar in my short list:
Blackburn Roc
Avro Lancastrian
Avro Lincoln
Supermarine Scimitar
BAC 221
VC-10
DH Sea Vixen