Tbolt Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 (edited) 35 minutes ago, Otakar said: At this point, all I can say about the Eduard, is ;Why? It will also cost 50% more than the Airfix. I bought 4 each of the Airfix and will have absolutely no need for the Eduard. Besides, I believe they will have their hands full for at least 5+ years with their Me/Bf-109s, which I fortunately have no interest in. The Airfix is already available for around $14 on the www, why bother with the Euard for $25-$30 for a weekend kit, by than. I hope that Airfix will do a new Mk.XII family though. Or maybe a Mk-21 family. A DeHavilland Hornet would be nice also. With the quality of the modern / recent kits Airfix has produced, they have won my eternal loyalty. I try to buy any kit which I have interest in, within days of their release. Eduard, I normally wait a few years for them to drop in price before I buy them. The funny part is, that I am also Czech (living in the US). Go figure. I think that I might be a closet Englishman or something. Why? Because it keeps those that love rivets on their models happy Though I see why Eduard want to do the Mk.I & V, it would have made more sense to do the Mk.XIV first - otherwise they might always be behind Airfix, so instead of following with the same version start with the other versions. At least Eduard will bring us a Vc. As for price Airfix might be cheaper were you are but the Eduard weekend Spitfires are cheaper here in the UK than the Airfix kit. Edited October 11, 2016 by Tbolt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otakar Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 (edited) I buy almost all of my Airfix kits from Hannants and Eduard from Hobbyshop.cz. Even with post, all these kits are much less expensive than buying them here in the US. It is not the tax but the outrageous markup our re-sellers are charging for them that drives the kits up. On the average I pay about $5-$10 more for an Eduard weekend kit than for an equivalent Airfix kit. Eduard kits here in the US are about double the price for what I pay for them from the Czech republic. About $25-$30 here in the us and about $12-$13 from the Czech Republic for an Eduard Spitfire Weekend. Ironically the post is almost identical from Squadron as it is from anywhere in Europe. BTW I also like the kits that are coming out of the Ukraine and Russia nowadays also. I virtually completely stay away from almost everything that comes out of China. Unless the subject is getting glowing reviews. In the past decade or more I have been very disappointed in almost everything I have bought out of China. The only WWII kit I have purchased out of China in the recent years was the P-61 and that is because it is about the only game in town. That kit was close enough to be buildable with only slight modifications and corrections. I am surprised to hear that the Airfix kits are more expensive in the UK than the Eduard kits. Edited October 13, 2016 by Otakar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don McIntyre Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Partially because an Airfix kit will (in general) make no money for Eduard (yes I know about the PE and Resin sales, but I'm talking specifically of the kit itself here). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otakar Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 It is still very expensive to make new tooling for these models. Even with modern technology. I was in the business for quite a few years (tooling). I doubt the sails will be there to make them the profits they imagine on the Spits (I & V). The IX I understand, the ICM was the best in town at the time. I still like the ICM to this day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NPL Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 55 minutes ago, Otakar said: It is still very expensive to make new tooling for these models. Even with modern technology. I was in the business for quite a few years (tooling). I doubt the sails will be there to make them the profits they imagine on the Spits (I & V). The IX I understand, the ICM was the best in town at the time. I still like the ICM to this day. But, Otakar, hasn't it been the habit of Eduard to move in where there are already scores of kits, e.g., in the Focke Wulff and Messerschmitt business. There must be some basis for their choice of subject. But still, it escapes me why they move on to a Mk.I/V when the Mk.XIV is still a free to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otakar Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 I agree with you 101%. The reason for the Bosh stuff is because as the saying goes in this industry; "anything German sells". The i90 I understand because the Acc.Min. one is gone and the Hasegawa 109s are more expensive. Besides there are original blueprints for the 109s in the Czech republic because they were built at Avia during the war. So, some I can understand but the Spits I & V, I don't. You are right about doing the XII and XIV. also the .21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NPL Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 17 hours ago, Otakar said: I agree with you 101%. The reason for the Bosh stuff is because as the saying goes in this industry; "anything German sells". The i90 I understand because the Acc.Min. one is gone and the Hasegawa 109s are more expensive. Besides there are original blueprints for the 109s in the Czech republic because they were built at Avia during the war. So, some I can understand but the Spits I & V, I don't. You are right about doing the XII and XIV. also the .21 But you see it all over. Modellers think they are strange choices, but still they are coming. You forgot the Zvesda 109s. But the same has happen over and over again with the Mirage, the Phantoms and more. However, I would prefer a Mk.XVIII together with a Mk.XIV. We have two Mk.XIIs in 1/48, by Airfix and Special Hobby. None of them is perfect but buildable. If Airfix produces a Mk.XIV, just make the wings compatible with those from their F.22, and bingo, you have a F.21. That can probably already be done with the PR Mk.XIX cloned to the wings of a F.22.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 Mks I & V?? Eduard haven't finished the long-nose Merlins yet? What about the VII and X/XI??? Please Mr Sulc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tbolt Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 24 minutes ago, MikeC said: Mks I & V?? Eduard haven't finished the long-nose Merlins yet? What about the VII and X/XI??? Please Mr Sulc? I think the Mk.I and V are a long way off, it was just something that was mentioned that they will do in the future. The Mk.XI was meant to be coming as a limited edition at some point before they do the Mk.I and V, but it would be nice if we got some more PR versions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otakar Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 5 hours ago, NPL said: But you see it all over. Modellers think they are strange choices, but still they are coming. You forgot the Zvesda 109s. But the same has happen over and over again with the Mirage, the Phantoms and more. However, I would prefer a Mk.XVIII together with a Mk.XIV. We have two Mk.XIIs in 1/48, by Airfix and Special Hobby. None of them is perfect but buildable. If Airfix produces a Mk.XIV, just make the wings compatible with those from their F.22, and bingo, you have a F.21. That can probably already be done with the PR Mk.XIX cloned to the wings of a F.22.. I did indeed forget the Zvezda one-oh-nines. The Airfix 12 is terrible and the Special hobby even worse. At least the Airfix one is less expensive. I do however have two very nice conversion kits to build the 12. I would still like to see a nice and accurate out-of-d-box Mk.XII from Airfix and just junk the old tooling. Maybe they might be able to salvage some of it, but the fuselage is terrible. Now that they have a nice Mk.V they can use parts of that tooling to do a new Mk.XII. At this point I have bought every Eduard spitfire I will buy in the Merlin powered series. I have three or four of the Mk.IX and three of the Mk.IIX. I want no more. I find the ICM bubble top Merlin spitfire very nice and can be bought for about $8. I have (I lost count) ICM Spitfires and to this day I still like them. I also like the ICM Merlin Mustangs. They are a very inexpensive Tamiya substitute. It is interesting how much you and I think alike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 31 minutes ago, Otakar said: I did indeed forget the Zvezda one-oh-nines. The Airfix 12 is terrible and the Special hobby even worse. At least the Airfix one is less expensive. I do however have two very nice conversion kits to build the 12. I would still like to see a nice and accurate out-of-d-box Mk.XII from Airfix and just junk the old tooling. Maybe they might be able to salvage some of it, but the fuselage is terrible. Now that they have a nice Mk.V they can use parts of that tooling to do a new Mk.XII. Otakar You have gone about this before. Regarding the Special Hobby XII YOU ARE WRONG the SH XII is a better representation of the XII than Airfix in many ways. http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234995521-building-a-better-spitfire-xii/&do=findComment&comment=2490178 Quote a brief update, I just got a Special Hobby Spitfire XII at a price i was happy with... So a quick compare of data from above, and the Airfix and Aeroclub XII fuselages, and the new tool Airfix Vb , and the Cooke drawings, taking on board Edgar's dimensions of the Yeovilton Seafire XVII (single stage Griffon, should be the same length) The engine bay on the Cooke drawings is too long, so the engine bay on the Aeroclub XII is too long, about 1.5mm, easy enough to fix The rear fuselage is a little shallow as well. the Special Hobby main fault is the wing position, it's about 2mm too far back, cue the wailing and gnashing of teeth from the SH detractors..... this is really not too hard to fix, as the wing fillet is right, just requires moving the leading edge fuselage fillets forward, and trimming the rear fillet back. Ohh, that's lots of work I hear from the gallery.. BUT, regarding the Airfix XII, I think my length adjustment is unneeded, but the Airfix is still too deep all along the fuselage, so the lower nose cut is still needed, plus backing the inside of the fuselage, the too deep fuselage make the fin is too high,and the rudder too tall, as the pic. (easy fix, just use a spare from the ICM, as shown, or Eduard kits rudder.) the nose does slope down too much, and the exhaust thus rocker covers are too low. Not a hard fix, but more filling and reinstating detail. In fact, the Airfix XII is a very good match for the much damned Academy XIV high back (try it, I just did, want to try bob?) apart from the oversized nose ring. The Academy has the same 'Tamiya' wing problem BTW. The wings have the 'Tamiya' problem, and so are too broad in chord, easy enough to fix, plus dealing with the separate flaps, which does make the wing reshape easier but still another job. They also have oval wheel wells. (then so does the SH XII and the lauded Eduard IX kit...) All the above are fixable with 'some modelling skill' but the Airfix prop blades are really too slim, I have a go at a fix, but it's tricky shape. A member here, Plasto,used Barracudacals blades as replacements. At this point remember the SH XII has fine surface detail, (Airfix is trenchy) correct cockpit side walls, correct prop blades , etch seat belts and instrument panel and some other bits, plus 4 decal options. And moving the wing forward is still a lot less work than dealing with all the Airfix faults. when I feel inspired I can do some comparison pics, but hope of interest. Disagree? Prove your findings. The SH XII is probably a harder build, given it's limited run origin, but even so it requires the least work to make a 1/48th XII The Airfix v is not of use for doing a new tool XII, wrong wing, wrong fuselage, and the ways the sprues are laid out all the dertail parts are mixed in. One thing Airfix should do is tool up a C wing and do a Vc, as they already have the fuselage 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 As I now own the Airfix kit....(lovely kit indeed) I have since learned there are 4 restored Mk1's....are there any good sites with pics of the the storation and such? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 On 19/10/2016 at 14:15, ozothenutter said: As I now own the Airfix kit....(lovely kit indeed) I have since learned there are 4 restored Mk1's....are there any good sites with pics of the the storation and such? erm, have you tried google? In particular try an image search. On a more helpful note, one walkround of particular note is P9444 http://www.primeportal.net/hangar/mark_hayward/supermarine_spitfire_mk1a_p9444/ a ex BoB Spitfire, earmarked for preservation during the war, and displayed at the Science museum, as it's hanging up many useful underside details not usually visible. There are a couple more basically unrestored Mk.I's, the one at the Imperial War Museum and one in Chicago, both still in Training Command markings, the Chicagoone really needs rubbing back to the original paint, as it served with 74 squadron and has 5 kills, one by by Sailor Malan. see here for more HTH T 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 (edited) thanks I did find a lot of stuff online ...just not many pics of the restorations....just the finished article. Thanks for the link to that thread, search didn't throw that up.....reading it.....I thought the new Airfix was 'perfect'.... Edited October 20, 2016 by ozothenutter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tbolt Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 2 hours ago, ozothenutter said: thanks I did find a lot of stuff online ...just not many pics of the restorations....just the finished article. Thanks for the link to that thread, search didn't throw that up.....reading it.....I thought the new Airfix was 'perfect'.... The new Airfix is pretty good - the one in that thread is the old one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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