Airfix

[NARSES2]

Yup I'd read your comments and muttered "exactly" to myself 

[KiwiZac]

Again I say: why would Airfix release an old Academy kit when they've JUST released one which made said Academy kit completely obsolete? Come on, people!!

[Thorvic]

Academy is providing the Titanic kits and the Armour kits, and no doubt it goes both ways as Academy released the Airfix Hawks and Lynx with their own South Korean markings

[NARSES2]

Again I say: why would Airfix release an old Academy kit when they've JUST released one which made said Academy kit completely obsolete? Come on, people!!

Exactly Zac  Must admit I'm rather tempted with the Hunter, even if it is 1/48.

Academy is providing the Titanic kits and the Armour kits, and no doubt it goes both ways as Academy released the Airfix Hawks and Lynx with their own South Korean markings

Sensible way of doing things, as long as it's made clear.

[Weaver]

Academy is providing the Titanic kits and the Armour kits, and no doubt it goes both ways as Academy released the Airfix Hawks and Lynx with their own South Korean markings

Didn't the South Korean Hawks have different noses from every other type? Did Academy provide a new nose?

[tigercat]

On their website they talk about Modelling Associates , it does sound vaguely mafiaesque .

Buts says models will be airfixised.

[Weaver]

Well, assuming the business deal is sensible, this should be a relatively painless way for them to try sticking their toe in the 1/35th armour market. If it works out, and I don't see why it shouldn't, they can move on to doing their own moulds in due course. I don't do 1/35th armour, but judging by the reaction that things like the Takom FV432 and the Dragon(?) Saladin got, there's definitely a market there for British post-war subjects, so how about, as a baby-step, a 1/35th Ferret scout car? Relatively small and easy, and, as far as I know, not covered before by anyone. Some late '60s- early '80s troops and crews would be good too... (i.e. the SLR/Sterling/GPMG/Carl Gustav/DPM cammo era).

Not sure if they'd want to court the controversy, but if they did, then the Northern Ireland Troubles are a rich well of diorama possibilities that could be supported: Humber Pigs, Saracens, Shorlands (armoured Land Rovers), the various Police vehicles, troops on-patrol with berets, scoped SLRs and black gloves, etc, etc...

[philp]

Are the re-popped figures in styrene or that 'orrible polypropylene stuff?

Pretty sure the HO troops are the same soft plastic as always.  The 32nd scale figures should be the hard plastic Multi-pose figures from years past.

[Rick Lowe]

I wish they'd start doing the polythene figures in hard styrene. Both scales.

I would also like to see someone do a reasonably-priced set or sets of 1/32 or 1/35 Multipose generic civilians... 30s, 40s, 50s, modern etc.
Adults and children (which can be the most difficult to convert and get right).

Something we can use to populate dioramas, civilian vehicles, etc etc.
It can't be that difficult, but I guess there has to be a perceived market. 

[Weaver]

I wish they'd start doing the polythene figures in hard styrene. Both scales.

I would also like to see someone do a reasonably-priced set or sets of 1/32 or 1/35 Multipose generic civilians... 30s, 40s, 50s, modern etc.
Adults and children (which can be the most difficult to convert and get right).

Something we can use to populate dioramas, civilian vehicles, etc etc.
It can't be that difficult, but I guess there has to be a perceived market. 

Some companies do Middle-Eastern style and WWII style ones, but their imagination doesn't seem to get far beyond that, unfortunately. Master Box and Dio Park are two that spring to mind.

Preiser do some modern civilian figures in 1/32nd scale ('Gauge1' and/or 'Slot Car') scale, but they ain't cheap...

[Rick Lowe]

I wish they'd start doing the polythene figures in hard styrene. Both scales.

I would also like to see someone do a reasonably-priced set or sets of 1/32 or 1/35 Multipose generic civilians... 30s, 40s, 50s, modern etc.
Adults and children (which can be the most difficult to convert and get right).

Something we can use to populate dioramas, civilian vehicles, etc etc.
It can't be that difficult, but I guess there has to be a perceived market. 

Some companies do Middle-Eastern style and WWII style ones, but their imagination doesn't seem to get far beyond that, unfortunately. Master Box and Dio Park are two that spring to mind.

Yeah. I'd like post-war Europeans, as I say, for cars & such. Or urban, 20thC Insurgents/Militia.

You can do a lot with tissue paper glued over the basic figure, but it's fiddly and takes more practice than I've had, or skill I've got.
Having said that, I'd probably still wind up modifying them anyway! 

And did I mention I'd like to find CHEAPER ones? Preiser and Masterbox have some great stuff, but the prices for them (if you can find them) in NZ are deal-breakers.

Still, I can always make a blank/generic and cast it.

[zenrat]

Well, assuming the business deal is sensible, this should be a relatively painless way for them to try sticking their toe in the 1/35th armour market. If it works out, and I don't see why it shouldn't, they can move on to doing their own moulds in due course. I don't do 1/35th armour, but judging by the reaction that things like the Takom FV432 and the Dragon(?) Saladin got, there's definitely a market there for British post-war subjects, so how about, as a baby-step, a 1/35th Ferret scout car? Relatively small and easy, and, as far as I know, not covered before by anyone. Some late '60s- early '80s troops and crews would be good too... (i.e. the SLR/Sterling/GPMG/Carl Gustav/DPM cammo era).

Not sure if they'd want to court the controversy, but if they did, then the Northern Ireland Troubles are a rich well of diorama possibilities that could be supported: Humber Pigs, Saracens, Shorlands (armoured Land Rovers), the various Police vehicles, troops on-patrol with berets, scoped SLRs and black gloves, etc, etc...

All Airfix need to do to get ideas for 1/35 armour subjects is to look at what Kit Form Services are doing as 1/24 resin.
FV432, Stalwart, Saracen, Saxon, Humber Pig, Scammell Crusader, Bedford RL & GS, Saladin, Ferret, Champ, Matador, Militant, Forward Control, Ambulance & Air Portable Landrovers...

[rickshaw]

I wish they'd start doing the polythene figures in hard styrene.

I am unsure why people find polythene such a difficult substance to work with.  Back, many moons ago, when I was a wee lad, I read in a modelling magazine that the trick was to dip the figures, whole into a tin of plastic varnish - before painting.  I used to use the common Humbrol varnish (doesn't matter if it's gloss or matte). This was to provide a stable and slightly harder surface to paint on.  After I'd painted them I then sprayed them with another varnish (usually Estapol). That would then protect the figures for decades even under rough wargaming handling. 

[Rick Lowe]

I wish they'd start doing the polythene figures in hard styrene.

I am unsure why people find polythene such a difficult substance to work with.  Back, many moons ago, when I was a wee lad, I read in a modelling magazine that the trick was to dip the figures, whole into a tin of plastic varnish - before painting.  I used to use the common Humbrol varnish (doesn't matter if it's gloss or matte). This was to provide a stable and slightly harder surface to paint on.  After I'd painted them I then sprayed them with another varnish (usually Estapol). That would then protect the figures for decades even under rough wargaming handling. 

Yep, I have heard of that technique and it sounds like it'll do the job nicely.
What I'm after is something that can be altered and converted more easily, without having to pin the things and hope the paint/varnish will keep it from falling apart again.

[zenrat]

I wonder if the figures could be successfully injection moulded in another material?
It isn't uncommon to find sink marks in 1/72 (or HO or OO or 1/76 etc) hard styrene figures (usually in the chest or stomach so they look like they have been shot with a very large calibre weapon) but i can't recall ever seeing them in the equally complex similarly scaled soft plastic toy soldiers I used to play with.
If one requires to re-pose these figures one could always cast copies in resin.