Airfix

[McColm]

A re-release of the Kaman Seasprite would be welcomed. As in the Real World seems that there is a remanufacture going on to supply Peru with four ex-Royal New Zealand Air Force examples and a fifth for support. To the SH-G Super Seasprite.

[Thorvic]

What if Airfix produced a conversion set to allow the Shackleton Mk2 into the AEW Mk2 just like they did with the Vickers Valiant to change it from a B1 into the PR1 or tanker version.

Gondor

That was only because they were supposed to be in the original kit, but they filled the decal sheet with bomber options and couldn't justify a 2nd full boxing of the variants.
AEW Shackleton probably could justify a second release, so maybe better to watch what happens first and see what they have lined up this time next year.

[Supertom]

Indeed £40 is quite a bit of money, but don't forget that it's the suggested retail price, and patience is rewarded. I managed to get a 1/72 Concorde for US$25 and a Nimrod for US$30 once. Wooksta also forgot to mention that that £40 also buys you better peace of mind since conversions can be quite challenging! Me, I'm still waiting on my new mold Javelin, Vulcan and Victor. I think we're more likely to see a Javelin than the latter two.

[Nick]

Can I just clarify what I meant by being surprised at the price of the Shackleton?

Recently Airfix released a 'new tool' Lancaster B.II. It is on their website at £24.99.
The Shackleton is slightly bigger, maybe an inch all round. I don't think that small increase in plastic makes it cost £15 more than a Lanc.

Airfix have included options for three different Phases. From what I can work out from Wikipedia this is nearly all internal stuff with possibly various lumps and bumps and aerials for the outside. The MR.2 didn't get the Viper jet engines that the MR.3 got but maybe the engine shape changed?
Are these changes worth £15 to those of us who aren't Shackleton experts?
We won't know till we see the kit properly or somebody finds some definite explanations. 

It would be good if the basic airframe model has been designed and moulded so they can utilise the common sprues for a later Shackleton MR.3 kit but I rather suspect they'd make a complete new set of moulds for that job so they can have both kits being made at the same time.

Will I buy a new one? If I see it for about £25-£30 

[Gondor]

What if Airfix produced a conversion set to allow the Shackleton Mk2 into the AEW Mk2 just like they did with the Vickers Valiant to change it from a B1 into the PR1 or tanker version.

Gondor

That was only because they were supposed to be in the original kit, but they filled the decal sheet with bomber options and couldn't justify a 2nd full boxing of the variants.
AEW Shackleton probably could justify a second release, so maybe better to watch what happens first and see what they have lined up this time next year.

I think that regardless I will be buying at least two

I'm not worried about the price, it is higher than I would like but with the quality of the new Airfix products and the subject matter I am not going to complain too much.

Gondor

[kitnut617]

The Shackleton is slightly bigger, maybe an inch all round.

Actually, a Shackleton is 18 feet longer in length and 18 feet wider in wingspan than a Lancaster.  This equates to 3" in both directions in 1/72 scale. Plus the fuselage is a lot bigger (wider & taller) which means much more plastic.  I think the 40 quid range is about right.  The new airfix Lanc only has interior detail around the cockpit, reading the description of the new Shackleton, I'm reading it that it has a whole interior.

[Thorvic]

The Shackleton is slightly bigger, maybe an inch all round.

Actually, a Shackleton is 18 feet longer in length and 18 feet wider in wingspan than a Lancaster.  This equates to 3" in both directions in 1/72 scale. Plus the fuselage is a lot bigger (wider & taller) which means much more plastic.  I think the 40 quid range is about right.  The new airfix Lanc only has interior detail around the cockpit, reading the description of the new Shackleton, I'm reading it that it has a whole interior.

These help ? 

[Weaver]

You would have thought they would have done something similar with the BAe Nimrod kit so you could build the Mk4 version.
Or even an update set for the Boeing E-3 Sentry.

Do you mean the MRA.4? If so, then it wouldn't be viable: the MRA.4 had a completely new wing with much bigger engine nacelles and longer span. It wasn't just an aerials and bumps exercise.

[PR19_Kit]

The Shack definitely needs a bigger weapons load, and a Lindholme Float at the very least, they never flew without one aboard.

The interior looks good, but why not make it an add-on option like the Valiant PR/K bits? Unless you make special arrangements almost none of it will be visible and what's the point of that?

LOVE the 20 mm cannon and turrets though, I can see a few of those being 'exported' to other models. 

[kitnut617]

These help ? 

Yup!

[Captain Canada]

The Shack definitely needs a bigger weapons load, and a Lindholme Float at the very least, they never flew without one aboard.

The interior looks good, but why not make it an add-on option like the Valiant PR/K bits? Unless you make special arrangements almost none of it will be visible and what's the point of that?

LOVE the 20 mm cannon and turrets though, I can see a few of those being 'exported' to other models. 

Agreed on all three points ! Especially the last 

[Librarian]

BWAAAAAAH! I WANT in 1/48. Want Teddy......

[NARSES2]

These help ? 

Yup!

Absolutely  And like Kit I do like that upper turret 

As for the interior being invisible once built I don't find that bothers me that much as I find building them very therapeutic for some reason, but horses for courses as they say. Just glad to be seeing so many fantastic new tools, especially the Whitley 

[rickshaw]

I wonder why a full interior when 99% of it will be hidden?  I'd have much rather seen more weapons and dodads in the bomb bay.

[PR19_Kit]

I wonder why a full interior when 99% of it will be hidden?  I'd have much rather seen more weapons and dodads in the bomb bay.

Precisely..........