Airfix

[Gondor]

Not having seen the fuss on The SuckBook, nor heard anything about those pylons - what has happened?

Basically Airfix didn't do much research, again. 

The original kit's pylons were much better as they were nearer the real things.



The picture of the instructions makes them look as if they are the same for both pylons, they are not, one of them was shallower/not as deep as the other and the aerodynamic fairings were of different lengthis if I remember correctly as well.

The new release has both of the pylons exactly the same



I will give them a "C" for trying though as they have added the ECM pylon even though they made a mess of the ECM pod which is the same as that used in the recent RAF Buccaneer kits they released.

Basically they didn't do as much investigation as they should have, the same thing that happened for the recent 1/72 Mosquito, the aircraft the used as a quide in that case had been converted into a target tug and painted as a normal operational aircraft but still with some of the Tug modifications. They don't appear to check or double check what they are using as reference or even ask anyone   

Gondor[/quote]

[jcf]

They put the ECM pod on a big rectangular pylon based on a photo, but the photo shows one of the
ground-crew working on the ECM pod mounted on a rolling table. The open landing gear door is behind 
the guy, Airfix interpreted this as a pylon and reproduced it to include a notch on the forward end, the 
notch is the guy's shoulder.

[The Rat]

They put the ECM pod on a big rectangular pylon based on a photo, but the photo shows one of the
ground-crew working on the ECM pod mounted on a rolling table. The open landing gear door is behind
the guy, Airfix interpreted this as a pylon and reproduced it to include a notch on the forward end, the
notch is the guy's shoulder.

That is very unprofessional. Or maybe the person in charge runs an aftermarket company. (adjusts tinfoil hat...)

[Mossie]

As far as @#$% ups go that's spectacular.  At least you should still be able to model it correctly though.

[Pellson]

Thanks all. That was.. impressively bad performance.. 

[Weaver]

That's epic. 

Cool points to anybody who takes one to Telford fitted with six-inch long pylon extensions that lift the wheels off the floor...    

I can't wait to see how Airfix Model World report this, 'cos there's bound to be an exclusive build in the works, right?

[PR19_Kit]

As an aside, why would the pylon need to be THAT long? 

[jcf]

That's epic. 

Cool points to anybody who takes one to Telford fitted with six-inch long pylon extensions that lift the wheels off the floor...    

I can't wait to see how Airfix Model World report this, 'cos there's bound to be an exclusive build in the works, right?

They've had egg on their faces on FB since they announced the special release and people went WTF?
One guy who commented on the cock-up was an erc who had worked Black Buck support. He offered
Airfix photos showing how the ECM pods were actually mounted and they took him up on it. There's
no way they can downplay the whole mess.

[Old Wombat]

However, my take on that is that they accept their error &, if they are accepting his photo's, seem to be thinking about rectifying the error for future releases (or making after-market rectification sets).

[Gondor]

That picture also shows how deep the pylon was on that side of the airframe, the other side was deeper. Not supprising really as it was a very rush job to design and construct pylons from what was available, which were then mounted on the Skybolt pylon attachment points, hence the long length of the crude pylons.

Gondor

[zenrat]

Hilarious.

[Weaver]

That's epic. 

Cool points to anybody who takes one to Telford fitted with six-inch long pylon extensions that lift the wheels off the floor...    

I can't wait to see how Airfix Model World report this, 'cos there's bound to be an exclusive build in the works, right?

They've had egg on their faces on FB since they announced the special release and people went WTF?
One guy who commented on the cock-up was an erc who had worked Black Buck support. He offered
Airfix photos showing how the ECM pods were actually mounted and they took him up on it. There's
no way they can downplay the whole mess.

I had a little needle on their related Tweet/Xcretion (whatever the hell you call them now), but I doubt I'll get a reply until their social media bod comes in on Monday.

[Weaver]

As an aside, why would the pylon need to be THAT long? 

Funnily enough, it looks almost like the Firestreak pylons on a Javelin. Still too long, but in the ballpark.

[Pellson]

As an aside, why would the pylon need to be THAT long? 

Funnily enough, it looks almost like the Firestreak pylons on a Javelin. Still too long, but in the ballpark.

I thought that too! 

[Gondor]

When looking at "The Unofficial Airfix Modellers Forum Official Facebook Page" I saw this picture which I have shamelessly borrowed



This shows that Airfix did next to no research other than to look at one picture 

The picture was posted by Chris A Payne so if there is a copyright issue at least I have credited my source.

Gondor