Airfix

[Alvis 3.1]

Now I can happily loot my FROG Shacks for the props and cowlings without feeling even a teeny bit guilty.

Where Airfix needs to go with ships is a 1/700 and 1/350 Light Fleet Class carrier series. Really, those hulls were shopped around all over, showing up in RN, RCN, RAN, Indian, Dutch, Argentiniann, Brazilian, and French navies. With a few basic changes, you can do all the ships they did, over many boxings, and a: make money, and B: Make modellers happy!

IMHO


Alvis 3.1

[Weaver]

My tastes are a bit simpler, I hope their new 1/72 AV-8A will lead to an AV-8C or a conversion kit (Olimp, are you listening?) for such.

Is there much external difference between an AV-8A and an AV-8C? I thought it was just the LIDs and minor aerialology?

[Weaver]

Now I can happily loot my FROG Shacks for the props and cowlings without feeling even a teeny bit guilty.

Where Airfix needs to go with ships is a 1/700 and 1/350 Light Fleet Class carrier series. Really, those hulls were shopped around all over, showing up in RN, RCN, RAN, Indian, Dutch, Argentiniann, Brazilian, and French navies. With a few basic changes, you can do all the ships they did, over many boxings, and a: make money, and B: Make modellers happy!

IMHO


Alvis 3.1

The problem with the international Light Fleets is that they were two different classes (Collossus and Majestic), all of the latter were finished to different individual customer specs and all of them were repeatedly rebuilt to different standards over their lives, involving major shape changes to their flight decks and islands. I agree that a good base model would be highly desirable, but don't underestimate the difficulties of tooling all the different versions/fits or of converting a single base kit to them.

[elmayerle]

My tastes are a bit simpler, I hope their new 1/72 AV-8A will lead to an AV-8C or a conversion kit (Olimp, are you listening?) for such.

Is there much external difference between an AV-8A and an AV-8C? I thought it was just the LIDs and minor aerialology?

Yes, there is more than that, including removal of the internal recce camera and addition of ALE-40 chaff flare dispensers on the aft underside.  Some of the aerialology is a bother to get right, too, like the RHAW antennae on the wing leading edges.

[Alvis 3.1]

Now I can happily loot my FROG Shacks for the props and cowlings without feeling even a teeny bit guilty.

Where Airfix needs to go with ships is a 1/700 and 1/350 Light Fleet Class carrier series. Really, those hulls were shopped around all over, showing up in RN, RCN, RAN, Indian, Dutch, Argentiniann, Brazilian, and French navies. With a few basic changes, you can do all the ships they did, over many boxings, and a: make money, and B: Make modellers happy!

IMHO


Alvis 3.1

The problem with the international Light Fleets is that they were two different classes (Collossus and Majestic), all of the latter were finished to different individual customer specs and all of them were repeatedly rebuilt to different standards over their lives, involving major shape changes to their flight decks and islands. I agree that a good base model would be highly desirable, but don't underestimate the difficulties of tooling all the different versions/fits or of converting a single base kit to them.

I agree, some of the conversions were quite different, and having thrown in the towel trying to make those damn sponsons to convert an Arromanches into a Bonaventure, I agree the alterations would be a challenge. One can always hope some model company is up to the challenge. One day.

Alvis 3.1

[Volkodav]

I am surprised Airfix never did an Ark, Eagle or Hermes.  A switch would be great for commonality with other kits on the market as well as accessories etc. and I would love a family of light fleets.

[The Big Gimper]

Here are some Shackleton hi-res CAD images. As someone else noted, nice interior but it will be hidden.





What about substituting R-3350s in-place of the Griffons? USN flew PA-1S's?

[Volkodav]

How about something simple, the Shackleton is developed as a long range bomber instead of the Lincoln and makes it into service in time to see combat in Europe and against Japan.

[Cliffy B]

That interior begs for a clear fuselage half!

[kitnut617]

How about something simple, the Shackleton is developed as a long range bomber instead of the Lincoln and makes it into service in time to see combat in Europe and against Japan.

Well -- that was my idea when I did this, it my 'Pacific' bomber for Tiger Force

[kitnut617]

It never rains but it pours ---

see what's here (top middle)  I don't think Airfix will be doing an AEW anytime soon ---

[upnorth]

It never rains but it pours ---

see what's here (top middle)  I don't think Airfix will be doing an AEW anytime soon ---

I fear you're right unless Revell totally mess it up, like their new tooled Halifax, or Airfix decide to approach an AEW variant as they did the reccon/tanker versions of the Valiant and issue a conversion set of their own.

I hope the fact that we won't see the Airfix kit until December of 2015 means that they are working out the tooling to allow for just such a conversion.

[Weaver]

Seen outside Airfix's office today:


https://twitter.com/Airfix/status/573830983411093505

Typed M instead of mm? Looking to boost glue sales? What do you think?   

[The Big Gimper]

The Shackleton MR.2 is getting closer to your LHS ...



More pictures here.

[Weaver]

The Shackleton MR.2 is getting closer to your LHS ...

That'd be why the windows are rattling.....

[Rickshaw]

The Shackleton MR.2 is getting closer to your LHS ...

That'd be why the windows are rattling.....

But it's a good British rattle!   

[KiwiZac]

It looks stunning. I saw the photos on my phone but had to look at them on the widescreen work monitor....gorgeous! 

[Chris]

The May Airfix Magazine (yes May received on 31st March !) has a build of the new tool Beaufighter. Looks very tasty

[ChernayaAkula]

A couple of pics of the Beau built from a test shot and featured in the Airfix mag article over on Hyperscale: LINK!   

Pics of the Sea King HC.4 test shot on a German site (why, of all places, I don't know  ): LINK!

[The Big Gimper]

A couple of pics of the Beau built from a test shot and featured in the Airfix mag article over on Hyperscale: LINK!   

Pics of the Sea King HC.4 test shot on a German site (why, of all places, I don't know  ): LINK!

Thanks for sharing. What was interesting and sad at the same time was all the JMN and SMN comments on what is WRONG with kit and the paint job. Nothing about having fun building it.   

[Volkodav]

A couple of pics of the Beau built from a test shot and featured in the Airfix mag article over on Hyperscale: LINK!   

Pics of the Sea King HC.4 test shot on a German site (why, of all places, I don't know  ): LINK!

Thanks for sharing. What was interesting and sad at the same time was all the JMN and SMN comments on what is WRONG with kit and the paint job. Nothing about having fun building it.   

I don't know, they will definitely have to fix the RP alignment and carburettor housings before anyone could possibly consider fitting a hook and folding wings.

[Kerick]

A couple of pics of the Beau built from a test shot and featured in the Airfix mag article over on Hyperscale: LINK!   

Pics of the Sea King HC.4 test shot on a German site (why, of all places, I don't know  ): LINK!

Thanks for sharing. What was interesting and sad at the same time was all the JMN and SMN comments on what is WRONG with kit and the paint job. Nothing about having fun building it.   

People like that are going to kill off the hobby they claim to enjoy.

[raafif]

People like that are going to kill off the hobby they claim to enjoy.

Certain hobbies come & go (& maybe come back again ie slot-cars).
But the hobby of those sort of guys will never go away ie bitching, sniping & generally whinging ...

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Brett Greene has provided us with a quick review of the new tool Airfix 1/48 scale Hawker Hurricane Mk.I.   

Click on html above or image below to visit the review article at HyperScale. 


(Image source: Brett Greene/HyperScale)


Looks good from what I see in the images but it looks like the kit is molded in the signature soft plastic that Airfix is known for. 

[Weaver]

Airfix VE Day special bundles, only available until 15th of May:

http://www.airfix.com/uk-en/shop/veday-bundles/airfix-ve-day-bundles.html

These are seriously good value for money, being essentially one kit with another plus extras thown in for free:

Two 1/48th Spitfires plus a cutting mat: £17
Two 1/72nd Spitfires plus a cutting mat: £8
1/24th Typhoon plus 1/24th Fw-190: £90
Five 1/76th tanks, two packs of infantry, a building and a diorama base: £25


There's a separate deal to get a free electric motor with any 1/24th scale kit:

http://www.airfix.com/uk-en/shop/veday-bundles/free-electric-motor-offer.html