Airfix

ysi_maniac · October 01, 2010, 05:57:52 AM

Does anybody know if Airfix has plans to reissue Jetstream?
If not, can someone suggest them to do it?

Weaver · October 05, 2010, 04:09:34 AM

Whilst I'm a great fan of the ex-JB Models modern military vehicles that Airfix have taken over, there is one thing that I've found to be poor, and it's just occured to me that there's an easy fix.

On the Landrovers, the A-pillar is wrong. There's one thick A-pillar moulded onto the vehicle side, and another one moulded in with the one-piece windscreen & engine bulkhead. Given that the bulkhead doesn't actually fit too well, you end up with an A-pillar that's about 2.5 times too wide, and really hits you between the eyes when you look at the finished model. I understand that the Landy was one of the first models that JB did, so presumably there was a bit of learning curve involved. Later ones, like the Forward Control Landrover or the Bedford MK have all-clear cabs where you mask the windows off before painting them. This gives much finer pillars, without making the model weak.

It's just struck me that Airfix could, if they wished, fix the Landy without changing the main moulds at all. All they'd need to do is make a new clear sprue (which is tiny) which replaces the individual left and right windscreen halves with a clear one-piece window & bulkhead (like on the FC) with NO A-pillars. The door A-pillars would then be in scale. The only other thing would be to change the instructions to match.

No idea what it costs to tool up a tiny clear sprue - worth suggesting to them?

Thorvic · October 05, 2010, 04:15:50 AM

Would be nice if they redid the sides to allow for seperat doors too, then they could also look at the open topped versions such as the Pink Panther, recon or recoilless rifle variants.

Weaver · October 05, 2010, 09:09:50 AM

Although that would involve changing the main moulds, of course.

ChernayaAkula · October 05, 2010, 12:00:50 PM

A bit of a side question: how are the decals in Airfix' latest releases? Someone on a German forum used them and was really disappointed. Said he couldn't get them to cooperate with any decal softer. Someone else said that was his experience as well.
Your thoughts and experiences?

pyro-manic · October 05, 2010, 12:19:15 PM

I've used the ones from the new Mig 15 and Hurricane, and they're rather nice IMO. I used micro sol/set on them just fine. The previous round were bloody awful though - the ones from the Mosquito were extremely glossy, and wouldn't settle down at all.

thedarkmaster · October 05, 2010, 12:21:58 PM

Must say Both Hurricanes, the Me11o , the Mig15 and the Sturmoviks decals were all great but the spifire ix 's were crap so think it may be hit and miss

NARSES2 · October 06, 2010, 03:50:09 AM

I had no problem with the Spitfire IX's, so yes it must be hit and miss.

When Airfix first arose from the ashes (again

) the transfers were poor, my recent kits have been fine however. The "sharks mouth" on the Me 110 could be the acid test however

ChernayaAkula · October 06, 2010, 08:20:28 AM

Thanks for the insight, guys!

The Me 110 decals are what spawned this discussion on flugzeugforum.de. Two users said they couldn't get them to cooperate and now thedarkmaster says they worked for him. Hit and miss it is, then.

Mossie · October 16, 2010, 04:49:14 AM

An announcement in SAMI mentions Airfix are offering a bundle of Spitfires to Schools & kids clubs. It's the old Mk.IA kit, in the bagged BT-K offering. For forty quid you get 15 Spitfire kits, 15 tubes of poly, 6 packs of four brushes, 18 pots of paints, along with an Airfix catalogue & club leaflets. You have to provide proof of the organisation, but if you've only got ten kids in your club, you get five Spits yourself for 'demonstration'.....

They're calling it 'Project Airfix', see the web page:
http://www.airfix.com/project-airfix/

thedarkmaster · October 16, 2010, 05:32:16 AM

Airfix are sponsoring a " Make and Paint " event at Modelzones throughout the UK, we have just recieved 100 spitfire 1's plus paint and glue.

Mossie · October 16, 2010, 10:10:08 AM

It's good, there's often a lot of talk about trying to get kids back into modelling but no action.

NARSES2 · October 17, 2010, 01:40:56 AM

Quote from: Mossie on October 16, 2010, 10:10:08 AM
It's good, there's often a lot of talk about trying to get kids back into modelling but no action.

Agreed, best of luck to them

Thorvic · October 17, 2010, 03:11:10 AM

For those of you who have the Airfix 1/350th HMS Illustrious, Airfix have now issued the airgroup as a seperate sprue:-

http://www.airfix.com/airfix-products/ships/warships/british-navy/ah0022-1350-scale-aircraft-for-hms-illustrious-ah0022/?searchguid=&resultspage=&sortorder=

I suspect it will only be available direct from them, coule be handy for those of you with the 1/350th USS Wasp as you can do visting RN aircraft Sea Harrier FA2, Harrier GR-9, Merlin & Sea King or even do the GR-9 as AV-8B as these dont have radar !.

G

kitbasher · November 15, 2010, 12:15:46 PM

Well SMW saw the rerelease of the DH88 Comet (got one) and the Battle (may weaken) and the release of the F86 Sabre. The Sea Vixen will be out in a couple of weeks accoriding to the Airfix Brother I spoke to, the Valiant in April next year. Overheard somethng about the 2011 release schedule coming out soon - no hints and I may have misheard.