New Airfix 1/72 Halifax? Hobbylink: Oct. rls.

[modelglue]

Hey guys. Just really confused and hopeful here that the product I have seen on HLJ is going to be a new tool Radial Halifax B.III? Here is the link:

http://www.hlj.com/product/ARFA06008A/Air

I looked into the Airfix site awhile back when the Blenheim was announced and saw it then but just figured it was the old tool.

Please tell me this is new. Pretty, pretty please. If not I'll go and brood next to my pile of half built kits.

[kev67]

No its the old tool

[hacker]

Maybe eventually as l can see Airfix doing it along with the Wimpy. The Sterling l don't since Italeria done one. There is such a long list of things in their old line that can be redone and stuff they can add too. I am interested in seeing what 2015 holds. Any thought of kit bashing one with the Revell one?

[Work In Progress]

Yes, its a re-issue of the old one.

http://www.airfix.com/handley-page-halifax-b-mkiii-1-72.html

It would say "new tool" if it were a new tool, plus we would have heard about it previously.

The kitbash with the Revell one has been done on here, have a search and it will come up.

[modelglue]

Too bad... for now.

Yes, I have looked into the kitbashes and builds here but I think I will just wait for a new tool Radial. I have the Revell AG kit, But it will get inline's and a CC paint job.

Thanks for your answers.

[Eric Mc]

I fear you will be waiting for a while.

[PhantomBigStu]

in a fit of madness picked the rerelease up a few weeks a go, what is the kit actually like to build? does it need a load of work to look acceptable, trying to decide whether I flog it at a loss on ebay or build it

[Graham Boak]

The Falcon canopy set and a bit of microstrip curled around the inside of the cowlings will help enormously. You could try a set of engines/cowlings from the Airfix Lancaster Mk.II. Or wait until autumn when Revell will release their Halifax Mk.III.

[SoftScience]

The old Airfix Halifax is the first kit I built in 1/72; many many years ago. As such it holds a special place in my heart, so I'm glad to see it back on the market.

And unlike other Halifax kits, it doesn't feature overdone panel lines and misshapen engines

[Vicarage Vee]

The old Airfix kit isn't one of the ones that shows its age the absolute worst. Follow Graham's suggestions and it looks fine. There's scope for doing more of course, but it IS Halifax shaped.

There may also be Aeroclub engines still available.

[Work In Progress]

The biggest must-do in terms of replacement parts is replacing the canopies with the Falcon set. Everything else is fixable-up.

[PhantomBigStu]

I don't get on with vacuform at all

[Graham Boak]

Just take it easy. Cut the part from its surroundings with a good blade (or scissors), leaving a large margin. Trim the margin with fine scissors as close as you can without error, then if necessary trim slowly and carefully with a sharp crescent blade, following up by smoothing with a sanding stick. If need be, you can use various items to pad the inside to prevent bowing as you cut: plasticene or tissues or whatever you've got. Fingers are often enough. I must admit preferring to cut with the knife blade towards me, as this gives better control. This is not recommended for general knife work. Because the part replaces both the transparency and corrects the surrounding fuselage fore-and-aft, you don't need to be quite as precise as with some canopies, as you can tidy up any misfit problems with filler afterwards. It might help to create a ledge on the kit fuselage so that the vacform part fits flush.

They are more difficult thinking about them than actually doing them,

Edited April 28, 2015 by Graham Boak

[Work In Progress]

At a pinch you can get away with just doing the windscreen and the nose. It's not that hard and worth learning to do.

For some inspiration look here:

http://gregers.fr.yuku.com/topic/7682/Airfix-Halifax-B-Mk-VII

To add a minor snippet to Graham's how-to points: most major supermarkets now sell very sharp and delicate nail scissors for just a few quid which are ideal for the cutting out. And a nice sharp pointed circular file is idea for making starter holes and corner wholes where you need to change the direction of a cut through 90 degrees or so. And I find a flat diamond file ideal for smoothing the edges of vac-form canopies.

If you do get the Falcon bomber set, best not to start with the ones you actually intend to use on your Halifax: start with a stray turret or something for a different aeroplane and refine your technique. It just takes a bit of getting used to. Slow and steady does it.

Edited April 28, 2015 by Work In Progress

[Graham Boak]

I disagree. The curved top of the canopy and immediately-near fuselage is what looks wrong, lacking the boxy appearance of the real thing. The new windscreen will not fit the rest of the kit canopy - and besides, for the beginner/nervous I think it easier to do it all anyway.

[Work In Progress]

Well, I thought it was obvious I meant the whole of the replacement transparency over and around the pilot, not just cutting out the windscreen part of it, but apparently not...

[Graham Boak]

No matter - the necessary shape change extends aft of the transparency along the fuselage for a short distance. You can see it on the basic kit where there's a raised line running along the shoulder of the fuselage, which then curls inwards and down to the more circular section. That's why the Falcon part extends aft, and what makes it a good starter for those new to this kind of vacform canopy - because you can always fudge this part with filler later if it goes wrong.

[Vicarage Vee]

Cutting shapes out of various domestic blister packs is potentially useful practice with vacform canopies. Also, marking the limit of your cut with pen helps some people.

[Work In Progress]

Good points there. Usually a "sharpie" style permanent marker is what's needed.