What kind of new models to expect from the big names.

[steelpillow]

Was chatting to Airfix and Revell staff at SMW 2024, and badgered them about the kits I wanted to see. Learned a few things off them.

They tend to avoid kits of singular one-offs (such as the prototype Spitfire). They prefer a kit that can be periodically reboxed with different decals, to stretch out the initial up-front cost of the tooling. So don't expect too many "Love this one-off" ideas to make it through.

Revell have looked at reviving their 1:25 bikes range, but a) have lost the old tooling along the way, and b) found that the tooling costs were surprisingly high for what is effectively a low-budget kit.

Revell seem mostly unaware of the big WWII Wunderwaffen cult and the endless whiffy kit fodder out there. This despite their 1:72 Arado E.555 being among the more popular kits. With luck, I might have nudged them into looking around for more.

Darn forgot to ask why they can't just press button B and get CAD data for three different scales out of the same research.

I am hoping this thread will throw up some more awkward/promising questions for 2025.

[The Rat]

I spoke to the chaps at Airfix and begged them for a Hindustan Marut. Showed them the Fantasy Kit World box and they said 'niche.' I was hoping to grab Paramjit, but he was leaving just as I got to the stand, and he seemed to be in a hurry, didn't want to delay him. He might have thought differently. 

[PR19_Kit]

Would Airfix count the Scimitar as a 'niche' model?

[Gondor]

Would Airfix count the Scimitar as a 'niche' model?

They might well do. Perhaps we should talk to Sword about the Scimitar then?

Gondor

[Thorvic]

Would Airfix count the Scimitar as a 'niche' model?

They might well do. Perhaps we should talk to Sword about the Scimitar then?

Gondor

think you'll find they did the Xtrakit Scimitar for Hannants

[McColm]

In the list of 'why hasn't anyone built one of those in plastic yet' must be getting shorter so the Avro York and Lincoln must be on their way within the next five years which should give me plenty of time to save up and buy my own 3D printer with a scanner so I can create my own even if it's just the fuselage.

[Gondor]

Would Airfix count the Scimitar as a 'niche' model?

They might well do. Perhaps we should talk to Sword about the Scimitar then?

Gondor

think you'll find they did the Xtrakit Scimitar for Hannants

Ah, not so good an idea then. Freightdog perhaps then?

Gondor

[Gondor]

In the list of 'why hasn't anyone built one of those in plastic yet' must be getting shorter so the Avro York and Lincoln must be on their way within the next five years which should give me plenty of time to save up and buy my own 3D printer with a scanner so I can create my own even if it's just the fuselage.

The Avro York is done by Mach 2

[zenrat]

...why they can't just press button B and get CAD data for three different scales out of the same research?...

That's the real question.
Zoukei-Mura (SWS) seem capable of doing it.

Airfix must be kicking themselves for not making their Phantoms 1/48.

[Hobbes]

Darn forgot to ask why they can't just press button B and get CAD data for three different scales out of the same research.

When the scale changes, this changes:
- how much detail you can include in the model. This changes the part breakdown, so your CAD model has to be split up into parts differently. Do you make a fuselage with all of the lumps and bumps integrated, or do you inlcude those as separate parts?   

These stay the same:
- moulding constraints: minimum thickness for walls and sprues. Scale your CAD from 1:72 to 1:48, and you have to go over every part to make the walls thinner, to avoid having thick planks. Go the other way, and the parts have to be made thicker to avoid moulding failures, weak spots etc.
- moulding constraints: maximum size of a mould. This changes how you lay out your sprues.
- minimum size of features (lumps and bumps, panel lines). If you just scale down the panel lines, they may become too small to be cut by the mould maker, or too small to be visible in the moulded part.


The research gets you the surface shape, and that can be reused. Converting that into a model that can be produced (and this applies to every production process from injection moulding to 3D printing) is different for every scale.

[Glenn Gilbertson]

I keep pressing for a 1/72 Manchester, but I fear I will be out of luck. With its interesting variations and actual service it would have been produced by many manufacturers if it had been Luftwaffe.
Will Special Hobby ever issue their "future release" Albacore?

[steelpillow]

Darn forgot to ask why they can't just press button B and get CAD data for three different scales out of the same research.

When the scale changes, this changes:
- how much detail you can include in the model. This changes the part breakdown, so your CAD model has to be split up into parts differently. Do you make a fuselage with all of the lumps and bumps integrated, or do you inlcude those as separate parts?   

These stay the same:
- moulding constraints: minimum thickness for walls and sprues. Scale your CAD from 1:72 to 1:48, and you have to go over every part to make the walls thinner, to avoid having thick planks. Go the other way, and the parts have to be made thicker to avoid moulding failures, weak spots etc.
- moulding constraints: maximum size of a mould. This changes how you lay out your sprues.
- minimum size of features (lumps and bumps, panel lines). If you just scale down the panel lines, they may become too small to be cut by the mould maker, or too small to be visible in the moulded part.


The research gets you the surface shape, and that can be reused. Converting that into a model that can be produced (and this applies to every production process from injection moulding to 3D printing) is different for every scale.

Of course. Button B would have to be smart enough to do the donkey work of applying those rules, and to offer options for combining smaller parts and perhaps for smoothing over vs. widening out a borderline groove or whisker. Design to your largest planned scale (say 1:24 or 1:32), then go click the button for the smaller scales and tidy up any remaining glitches. Given the sophistication of today's software, that is just a question of applying it here.

As Zenrat says, Zoukei Mura appear to be going down that road.

[PR19_Kit]

Bizarrely the original Airfix 1/72 TSR2 master was made in 1/48 scale. You'd have thought that when they did the 1/48 scale model it would have been a doddle as they already had the master.

But no, they did a new master, and got it WRONG!     

[Thorvic]

To be honest i dont expect too much from either Revell or Airfix in 2025, Revell have recently poached the Airfix researcher, so thats not likely to bare fruit untill 2026 at best.

Airfix efforts appear to be soley focused on its 48th aircraft types, virtually abandoning 72nd bar for the odd one probably where the leg work was done in previous years and their basic noddy kits for the airshow market. Revell & Italeri will also be doing larger scales like 32nd. Heller are supposed to be back, but their new Hawkeye announced in 2023is now a 2025 release with no sign of test shots as yet.

Hasegawa and Fujimi dont appear to be doing much new stuff just reissues and revamps of older kits, Fine Molds are doing some nice jets, but mainstream US/Japanese types. Tamiya are doing some superb F-35s with all three versions in 48th, yet their 72nd F-35B was only tooled for VTOL mode, so not sure if thats going to be it or we'll see a 2nd CTOL mode F-35B next year. Expect to see a nice F-35C in 72nd from them, but again it may be tooled for just a single pose, such as folded or ready to launch.

With the Czechs, AZ/KP seems to be revamping exsisting kits, with the odd new one, s|pecial hobby are doing the same or releasing stuff in development over the last few years, Sword have pulled back from their more unusual farye and focusing on US Navy types and 48th boxings.

Ukraine seem to have the more exciting 72nd kits in the works but with the ongoing war development can be slow and again efforts are more 48th.

China, always the chance of something interesting, although more likely to be a vehicle in 35th or warship kit.

So not expecting much or real interest to get excited about, but always hope for some surprises, but the anticipation  of Airfix/Revell schedule announcemnet of past years is now just alot of social media hype with very little substance worthy of a pre-order

[Rheged]

It's all getting rather humdrum and almost boring.  We  need  something  affordable or completely off the wall, like a 1/35 Brabazon, a selection of hovercraft, or even the kit(s)  to convert a simple Churchill tank into one of eleventeen different varieties of Percy Hobart's funnies  to liven up the market.