Airfix

[rickshaw]

Airfix merely reboxed the Heller sets.

No, they didn't.  The Airfix one has Sea Eagles and other RAF weapons and pods in it.   The Heller has French missiles such as Matra R550 and R530 and Exocet and French ECM pods in it.

[PR19_Kit]

No, they didn't.  The Airfix one has Sea Eagles and other RAF weapons and pods in it.   

Yes, that's the one I've got. I used the Sea Eagles on something, or sent them to some deserving soul anyway.

[philp]

Hmm, looked like the kit had bombs, rockets and underwing tanks.  Seems enough to me for an early bird.

Pretty sure they will do another release with Op Granby loadout.

[The Wooksta!]

I'm beyond caring about what others* think should be in the kit as a load out - I rarely use the lethality anyway and extra parts on sprues just bump up the cost.



*Especially said individual mentioned upthread, who bitched at every opportunity he got about the cost of the Airfix Victor or the fact that the new tool Airfix Lancaster didn't include any bombs.  Several members on Britmodeller (including myself) have noticed this trend and have slapped him down.

[Thorvic]

Actually the new Royal Navy S2 is shy on war load as it actually has the open bomb bay but doesn't have any bombs to go in it. The two 1000lb bombs being alternative weapons load to the slipper tanks or Rocket pods, Those rocket pods should also be separate from the wing pylons. Not going to stop me buying the kit (well probably a dozen at least) and the weapons can be picked up as aftermarket items but it does feel like they are being a bit stingy to keep the parts count and sprues down

[zenrat]

... it does feel like they are being a bit stingy to keep the parts count and sprues down

Or, they know there will be an initial sales surge whatever they include and reckon that a fair number of those will then also buy a later, better armed release.  It's like with DVDs.  First one out just has the movie.  Next one has all the extras like commentary and making of and then finally you get the special editions in fancy packaging.

...Several members on Britmodeller (including myself) have noticed this trend and have slapped him down.

Some seem to actively dislike Airfix and want them to fail.  I can't understand why.

[NARSES2]

Some seem to actively dislike Airfix and want them to fail.  I can't understand why.

You and me both.....so sad 

[PR19_Kit]

And they're producing world class kits these days too. 

It's madness wishing them to fail. 

[JayBee]

Depends who the competition is !   

[Thorvic]

... it does feel like they are being a bit stingy to keep the parts count and sprues down

Or, they know there will be an initial sales surge whatever they include and reckon that a fair number of those will then also buy a later, better armed release.  It's like with DVDs.  First one out just has the movie.  Next one has all the extras like commentary and making of and then finally you get the special editions in fancy packaging.

Oh there will be a 2nd boxing with the RAF bulged bomb bay door plus the later slipper tanks, revised fin and the universal pylons, now whether it comes with more bombs, Anti-ship missiles or even the Gulf War fit remains to be seen as we wont find out till the 2020 range is announced. What we don't know yet is if they will try to cover the RAF versions from 1969 to 1991 in the one boxing or keep the Gulf War configuration for another separate boxing most likely due in 2021 (30yrs on!).

The problem being is that one sprue will obviously replace the RN sprue with the bulged tank, different slipper tanks and later fin plus the universal pylons  but if they add another with Missiles then the price of the kit will also go up to. It looks like we will have to rely on the after market to do alternative RN loads or to do the later version with Martel's and the universal pylons.

[Mossie]

I guess plenty of people will have the older kit and that's got most of the weapons carried by the Bucc.  Not greatly detailed though and the Sea Eagle just uses a different cone to go on the Martel when they had differences in the body and fins.

[NARSES2]

My Hellcat supplement arrived this morning * and all I can say is the new 1/24th scale kit looks absolutely stunning  . Indeed when the Northern branch of my family ask me the inevitable "what do you want for Christmas ?" question the answer will be "well if you all want to club together ?" 

* It should of been in with my copy of the magazine, but due to "issues" at their distribution depot it wasn't. Anyway what impressed me was that after I contacted Airfix Magazine via E-Mail I actually received what very much looks like an individual reply, from a named young lady within an hour  Now normally you don't even get an automated reply from these departments.

She was very apologetic, explained the problem and said I should receive it just after the Bank Holiday, which I have. Quite impressed with how they have dealt with the problem. Other's could learn.

[PR19_Kit]

I got mine attached to the mag itself, and it's pretty impressive, yes. Sadly the aeroplane does nothing for me and is definitely in the 'Ho Hum' category, let alone its scale.

VERY pleased to see Colin's Supermarine 327 build in the mag, even if the builder went WELL over-the-top with the blasted 'pre-shading'!

[NARSES2]

I got mine attached to the mag itself, and it's pretty impressive, yes. Sadly the aeroplane does nothing for me and is definitely in the 'Ho Hum' category, let alone its scale.

I really do fancy the Indian Ocean Fleet option 

Have to agree with your comments on the 327. Nice to see it displayed so prominently in the magazine.

[Mossie]

Apollo 50th Anniversary kits released in the Vintage Classics range:
Saturn V
Astronaut figures
"One small step for man" set with lunar lander, astronauts and base.