Airfix

[PR19_Kit]

Just received a pair of the new 1/72nd EE Lightning F6's off Airfix 

So where's the review then? 

Really ?

Well its the new Lightning F2 kit with a new sprue containing the Red Tops, the over wing tanks, longer ducts and the belly tank gun pack together with new decals !

Magic, just the sort of review we need on here. Never mind the '15th rivet on the panel just to the left of the mainspar is 2mm too far to the left' that we tend to get from the mainstream mags. 

[The Wooksta!]

It's a heat blur from the exhaust.

[kitbasher]

The 4 FTS Gnat artwork is just fantastic.  Shame about the scale!

[Weaver]

The 4 FTS Gnat artwork is just fantastic.  Shame about the scale!

Well they've already done a 1/72nd one: unless you mean it's too small and you want a 1/24th one....

You know come to think of it, they might like to consider that......

[kitbasher]

1/72 - in that scheme - is what I meant.  And yes it could be a good future boxing option.  4 FTS Gnats in that scheme where buzzing around everywhere whenever i was dragged to North Wales holiday venues as a kid.

BTW a comment from Kit about the Airfix Val got me thinking about Airfix products.  To the best of my knowledge they've only ever kitted three Japanese aircraft (all 1/72 scale) - the Zero (twice), the Val, and the Dinah.  And I can only think of two Italian types - the SM79 and Fiat G.50.  Do they think their competitors cover Italian and Japanese types to such an extent that Airfix can't create an opening, or are Airfix right to focus on more British subjects because the competition doesn't, and therefore dominate that part of the market?

After all, they appear to have made the Spitfire, Harrier and Lancaster their own, as it were.  I wish they'd do the same with the Mosquito and show Revell that there is a market for decent Hunters in all scales.

[zenrat]

It's a heat blur from the exhaust.

Part of it is, but there also appears to be some speed blurring as well on the rocks under the intake.

[Mossie]

Just the decals.  The Red Arrows Gnats did occasionally carry tanks for training so you could use them if you want.  I'm pretty sure they weren't used in display.

[Weaver]

1/72 - in that scheme - is what I meant.  And yes it could be a good future boxing option.  4 FTS Gnats in that scheme where buzzing around everywhere whenever i was dragged to North Wales holiday venues as a kid.

BTW a comment from Kit about the Airfix Val got me thinking about Airfix products.  To the best of my knowledge they've only ever kitted three Japanese aircraft (all 1/72 scale) - the Zero (twice), the Val, and the Dinah.  And I can only think of two Italian types - the SM79 and Fiat G.50.  Do they think their competitors cover Italian and Japanese types to such an extent that Airfix can't create an opening, or are Airfix right to focus on more British subjects because the competition doesn't, and therefore dominate that part of the market?

After all, they appear to have made the Spitfire, Harrier and Lancaster their own, as it were.  I wish they'd do the same with the Mosquito and show Revell that there is a market for decent Hunters in all scales.

Ah, got you. I was going to say they'd done it in the standard trainer scheme but come to think of it, it was the orange/silver one wasn't it? Does no one do an aftermarket decal sheet for the 4 FTS scheme?

Perhaps Airfix's market research shows them that their customers are either predominantly British and/or come to them looking for predominantly British subjects. After all, you kind of expect Heller to do French stuff, RoG to do German, Hasegawa to do Japanese etc... Airfix havn't been completely parochial either: they've done a new Sabre, a new MiG-15, a new Mustang, a new Zero, a new Tomahawk etc...

There's certainly plenty of British subjects for Airfix to have a go at, even if all they do is replace old moulds from their back catalogue: new Defiant, new Whirlwind, new Fulmar, new Wellington, new Lysander, new Bulldog.... There's a few they've never tackled too. I suspect a reasonably-priced new-tool DH Hornet would go down well, as would a good Venom.

[Weaver]

Just the decals.  The Red Arrows Gnats did occasionally carry tanks for training so you could use them if you want.  I'm pretty sure they weren't used in display.

Weren't there visible smoke pipes at the back of the RA Gnats too?

[kitbasher]

I think Weaver my friend we are in what some would call 'violent agreement'!

[Thorvic]

1/72 - in that scheme - is what I meant.  And yes it could be a good future boxing option.  4 FTS Gnats in that scheme where buzzing around everywhere whenever i was dragged to North Wales holiday venues as a kid.

BTW a comment from Kit about the Airfix Val got me thinking about Airfix products.  To the best of my knowledge they've only ever kitted three Japanese aircraft (all 1/72 scale) - the Zero (twice), the Val, and the Dinah.  And I can only think of two Italian types - the SM79 and Fiat G.50.  Do they think their competitors cover Italian and Japanese types to such an extent that Airfix can't create an opening, or are Airfix right to focus on more British subjects because the competition doesn't, and therefore dominate that part of the market?

After all, they appear to have made the Spitfire, Harrier and Lancaster their own, as it were.  I wish they'd do the same with the Mosquito and show Revell that there is a market for decent Hunters in all scales.

Ah, got you. I was going to say they'd done it in the standard trainer scheme but come to think of it, it was the orange/silver one wasn't it? Does no one do an aftermarket decal sheet for the 4 FTS scheme?

Perhaps Airfix's market research shows them that their customers are either predominantly British and/or come to them looking for predominantly British subjects. After all, you kind of expect Heller to do French stuff, RoG to do German, Hasegawa to do Japanese etc... Airfix havn't been completely parochial either: they've done a new Sabre, a new MiG-15, a new Mustang, a new Zero, a new Tomahawk etc...

There's certainly plenty of British subjects for Airfix to have a go at, even if all they do is replace old moulds from their back catalogue: new Defiant, new Whirlwind, new Fulmar, new Wellington, new Lysander, new Bulldog.... There's a few they've never tackled too. I suspect a reasonably-priced new-tool DH Hornet would go down well, as would a good Venom.

http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/SSM72002


There you go 

[Thorvic]

Don't forget Airfix also had home grown competition in the late 60s/70's in the for of Frog and then Matchbox as well as the overseas producers so they would be somewhat careful to try and corner the market where possible and not risk overlapping on less popular esoteric kits such as Italian aircraft. Also remember the models were aimed at the kids, so whilst they would know the breadth and depth of British Types like the comics they read the Japanese would nearly always be a Zero even if it should really be an Oscar, Tony, Tojo, etc. With the Italian types Revell did the Falco and Frog the Veltro  couple that with the spinach cammo scheme and its a limited demand market for kids looking for a token enemy which they would generally prefer to be German than axis. Its only really our more mature modelling types that are looking for more esoteric and unusual stuff.

[PR19_Kit]

There's a few they've never tackled too. I suspect a reasonably-priced new-tool DH Hornet would go down well, as would a good Venom.

My total support for both of those! 

Perhaps they have a down on de Havilland for some reason, notwithstanding the lovely Vampire T11.

[NARSES2]

I want the Dornier

[lenny100]

wonder how maney of those gnats will be in the "top shots" navy scheme