Airfix Starter Kits - which One ?

[NARSES2]

I want to get one of the Airfix starter sets for a 7 year old this Christmas. It will be his first model so nothing onerous. Any suggestions ?

I was thinking of getting the Hawk but I don't know the quality of the kit

Thanks in advance

Chris

[The Wooksta!]

Get him a Spitfire!

[Rheged]

"The Works"  are flogging these at £5.99 each.   Spitfire or Typhoon would be my suggestions

[The Wooksta!]

Typhoon?  One of the kits that time forgot?  Na, Spitfire would be a better bet as, IIRC, the starter kits are the older tool Mk 1 and not as difficult as the newer one.  Plus the Typhoon has separate wings and fuselage, whereas the Spitfire is one continuous lower wing.  Better fit.

[NARSES2]

Must admit I'm tempted by the Spitfire but wasn't sure what tooling it was (so thanks Lee) and wondered if something more up to date would be better for a 7 year old ?

[Rheged]

Must admit I'm tempted by the Spitfire but wasn't sure what tooling it was (so thanks Lee) and wondered if something more up to date would be better for a 7 year old ?

Is a spitfire ever out of date?

[MilitaryAircraft101]

Nah mate, don't start him on yawn darts   Get him into some oldies first: does airfix have a Tiger Moth starter? That'd be perfect. Or a spitfire, tiffie.. He might like the gnat though If you want to go that modern. certainly no boring schemes there!

[The Wooksta!]

I wouldn't start a 7 year old off with a biplane and the Airfix Tiger Moth is pretty ropey by all accounts.  IIRC, the older Airfix Spitfire Ia is still part snap fit, so that may even help him.

And Spitfires are NEVER out of date!

[Mossie]

If you want a modern(-ish) jet the Gnat is in a starter kit at the mo & simple as it gets, Hannants have it & the F-5A £7.99.  You can get a Sea Hawk, F-5E, Mirage & Harrier GR.3 (old tool) at £9.99, the new Harrier GR.9 is available at £12.99.

[Weaver]

The old Harrier GR.3 is a pretty nasty kit for a 7 year old mind, given the nozzle linkages and the way you have to jig it dead carefully to get both wings straight and all four wheels on the ground.

[Aircav]

At the moment we are selling Gnats, Spitfires and P-40 Kittyhawk starter sets like no tomorrow at work.

[Geoff]

My  first time was a Spit so I'm biased.

[Aircav]

Nah mate, don't start him on yawn darts   Get him into some oldies first: does airfix have a Tiger Moth starter? That'd be perfect. Or a spitfire, tiffie.. He might like the gnat though If you want to go that modern. certainly no boring schemes there!

Airfix don't do a Tigger starter set and there are model makers with years of experience I know that wouldn't try the Tiger Moth best with a WWII prop job or a jet.

[thedarkmaster]

At the moment we are selling Gnats, Spitfires and P-40 Kittyhawk starter sets like no tomorrow at work.

tis true for us as well but would also add the Harrier GR9

[Spey_Phantom]

my first kit was a Revell kit, a 1/72 AH-66 Commanche ("Stealth Comanche" box)

my first 2 Airfix kits, was the 1/72 A-4D1 Skyhawk and the MIG-15 (witch didnt have a canopy)
i'd say the old A-4 is a good starter kit, for those who like building jets