Airfix

[PR19_Kit]

but it mentions the expected Victor K2 as well.

Reading the small print about the latter shows that one of the decal schemes is for XL193, which never was a K2, it was an SR2, which was a long winged PR and radar recce version. Which means the kit must have both long and short wings in the same box. 

Of course Airfix may have screwed it up, but I suspect not.

I hope not. An old friend served on 543 sqaudron when they had the Victors, he wants me to do one as the SR-2 option for him when it comes out.

Sadly 543 is exactly the unit that it's decaled in. Weren't they the only squadron to fly SR2s?

[Thorvic]

Airfix's latest emailed news item has a listing of all their planned 2018 products, including the Phantom FGR2 (cue much joy from Thorvic and OGL  ) but it mentions the expected Victor K2 as well.

Reading the small print about the latter shows that one of the decal schemes is for XL193, which never was a K2, it was an SR2, which was a long winged PR and radar recce version. Which means the kit must have both long and short wings in the same box. 

Of course Airfix may have screwed it up, but I suspect not.

The Victor profiles seems to illustrate a non-tanker version for the third option and confirms 543 squadron in Peru, but the text makes no mention of recon as well as tanker parts.

https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/shop/new-for-2018/handley-page-victor-k-2-1-72.html

As Martin says I'm quite happy with the FG1, I'm fleet air arm biased so will likely settle on just the token FGR2 kit or two, where as I have 16 of the new FG1 kits.
What would have made my year is if they had replaced their Buccaneer in 72nd, scaled down the Sea Vixen or done the Sea King as a RN ASW version with a proper interior and weapon load  (Would really like to see the rest of the Ark Royal Air group if possible.

With it being the RAF 100th and with the current financial situation however I knew it was going to be an RAF year which is why we had the FAA types last year as a result.

[Weaver]

The XL193 profile has different aerials, and different fittings on the nose of the slipper tank and the tail fin bullet. It seems therefore that they're aware that it's an SR.2 and haven't just used the XL193 serial in error.

[Snowtrooper]

Wonder if they're planning a B-25H/J for the 2019 lineup, or will they milk the C/D for a couple of years before that?

[NARSES2]

The next planned issue of the B-25 (as far as I'm aware anyway) will be in RAF colours.

Looking at the sprues of the one I got at Huddersfield I can't really tell I'm afraid. However it would surprise me if they haven't at least thought about it.

[PR19_Kit]

They'd need to change quite a bit to make an H/J out of an early C/D.

But not impossible if the sprues were designed right of course.

[PR19_Kit]

Airfix are re-popping the Folland Gnat trainer in standard RAF trainer colours, and in the spoof US 'Navy' scheme too. 

[jcf]

Wonder if they're planning a B-25H/J for the 2019 lineup, or will they milk the C/D for a couple of years before that?

A new fuselage moulding would be required.

[KiwiZac]

Airfix are re-popping the Folland Gnat trainer in standard RAF trainer colours, and in the spoof US 'Navy' scheme too. 

I completely missed the USS Essess option in the first announcement, how cool is it to see a mainstream, major manufacturer tackle a subject like this?!

[NARSES2]

Wonder if they're planning a B-25H/J for the 2019 lineup, or will they milk the C/D for a couple of years before that?

A new fuselage moulding would be required.

Were the engine cowlings different on latter models ? If so then they may well have allowed for the possibility. The sprue has fuselage halve, bomb bay interior, tailplanes, wing spar and 2 bits of the cockpit area.

[kitnut617]

Wonder if they're planning a B-25H/J for the 2019 lineup, or will they milk the C/D for a couple of years before that?

A new fuselage moulding would be required.

Were the engine cowlings different on latter models ? If so then they may well have allowed for the possibility. The sprue has fuselage halve, bomb bay interior, tailplanes, wing spar and 2 bits of the cockpit area.

The dorsal turret was moved from the mid point to just behind the cockpit and there is a tail position too on later types

[NARSES2]

I knew about the turrets and the more I look at the sprues I think they may have thought of the possibilities, indeed I'd be surprised given their track record if they haven't.

I'll take some pics of the sprues and get them posted

[Weaver]

Someone was telling me at Huddersfield that later B-25s have a deeper fuselage than earlier ones, but that many profiles and drawings miss this fact.

[CANSO]

Someone was telling me at Huddersfield that later B-25s have a deeper fuselage than earlier ones, but that many profiles and drawings miss this fact.

Yes, many of the older plastics use C/D fuselage with tail turret for the later H/J models (e.g. Italery 1:72), which is wrong. The tail end of the new models (H/J) is very prominent if compared with the older. The engine cowlings with the Clayton S-stacks are the same for late C/D (starting with block 15 AFAIK) and all H/J. If you make a postwar K/L/M/N modifications they have only the lower 7 S-stacks + a big exhaust for the upper 7 cylinders and different (Bendix) carburetor. But there are many other smaller or bigger differences between the C/D and H/J models. The cockpit glazing (top and front) is different. Many of the side windows (navigator, radio-gunner etc.) of the C/D models were deleted by the later versions. Top turrets are basically different in appearance and have completely different form from version to version. Based on what I have seen Airfix might produce a late D version (block 30 and 35) with the tail gun and fairing over and the non-staggered side gun ports. The model as for now is ideal for the North African modifications with the side openings and tail gun(s): the factory modification (with the bigger side openings) by Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Georgia as seen in the 321-st.BG and the field modification from Sidi Ahmed Base in Bizerte (smaller openings) as seen in the 340-th BG. Or you can produce a Pacific commercial strafer (Pappy Gunn's modification) with some minor nose changes + side blister guns etc. There are so many mods in the CBI and the Pacific that one will have endless possibilities with this mold + some additional sprues. It is also possible to build a G (factory built or modified) as well as an 8-guns-nose strafer, like the famous Dirty Dora (the first one, not the second). And if we add the PBJ -C and -D conversions and mods (they all were modified after the initial manufacturing) + General Kenney's private transport - Oh man! I'll need about 35-40 Airfix models only for the major versions and mods. I found a good deal for about 18 pounds the kit. This makes 720.00 in total. By a rate of 1.60 CAD/pound this will be 1150.00CA$ (before shipping). I might need to sell all my old kits...

[NARSES2]

As promised here's the sprue shots. Second time using new phone and it's a bit better 

To show Airfix's dedication to accuracy there are 2 canopies included. The difference between the 2 is a matter of two small frames, which I wouldn't of noticed. Well done Airfix.