Kes Posted August 10, 2017 Share Posted August 10, 2017 I've been chasing a few Project X kits around on eBay without much success, they certainly go for prices beyond my wallet! Do Maintrack still exist? is there someone somewhere with the tools to begin production again?? I'm thinking SR53/177, FD1, HP88 that kind of thing?? . . . Kes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted August 10, 2017 Share Posted August 10, 2017 Maintrack are long gone, but some or all of their moulds went to Whirlykits/Whirly birds. They have re-released some of the kits, eggs the P1121. They have a website http://www.whirlybirdmodels.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 Olimp Models Pro Resin do, or did a rather nice range of British prototype aircraft such as the Arvo 707 series, Boulton Paul P111 and P120, BAC 221, Fairey FD1, Shorts SC1, Shorts SB5 and Bristol 188. They are all nice little kits and make an interesting collection. A quick check on Hannant's website shows that most are still available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris57 Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 I thought that Colin at Freightdog picked up most of Peter Lockharts range, Pegasus, Blue Max, Maintrack. Might be worth checking with Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 Maintrack's stuff largely went to Martin Blundell at Aardvark/Heritage but he then sold it on to Roger Evans, who set up Whirlybird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 I can confirm discussing these with the Whirlybird chaps at Telford last year whilst I was dragging out the process of buying their S-61N conversion over an hour or two. Some of the ex-Maintrack models are available now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John R Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 I believe that the Olimp/Pro Resin are copies of the Maintrack versions. I have built a couple, FD1 and P120 and their quality control is not that good but for some a/c they are the only game in town. I have a 188 which I haven't been strong enough to face just yet. Some of the Maintrack masters have disappeared, according to Roger at Whirlybird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 I made the Maintrack FD.1 many moons ago and loved it: vac fuselage, wings etc, nice white metal details and good decals too. Worth a go if not too expensive because it was tiny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikestow Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 Whirlybird Vacform with resin/white metal kits are splendid,and easier to produce a nice representation of the 50s British Prototypes.They are usually all still available on their webstie and will arrive very quickly.Having also experienced the Olimp Resins,I would agree some are not easily built to an acceptable level,and need a lot of finessing to get right.A Vacform is much easier to reshape with particular relevance to getting the wings level on both sides,having had the cutouts/slots at different positions on each side with the Olimps.You can muh easier change that on a Vac:The earlier Maintrack Supermarine 508s suffered from that,but the last Whirlybird one was perfect that I had last year!!!I was waiting for an Olimp 508,but it has not happened yet???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted August 11, 2017 Author Share Posted August 11, 2017 Thanks for the replies fellas, lots to consider, the Whirlybird website seems a bit out of date with no direct method to order? I'll give them a call tomorrow? I see Hannants are out-of-stock on most of the Pro Resin kits?? I have a few kits of British post war research aircraft, Anigrand - Handley Page HP.115 Planet Models - Shorts SC1 CMR - Boulton Paul P111 Pro Resin - Bristol T188 Frog - Fairey Delta II Aeroclub - English Electric P1 On the top of my list would be a Project X HP 88, to build as an homage to the little known mathematician ans aerodynamicist 'Johanna Weber' Oh, one more thing, why do Airfix SR 53 kits sell for really high prices for such a old and somewhat niche kit?? . . . Kes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 5 minutes ago, Kes said: Oh, one more thing, why do Airfix SR 53 kits sell for really high prices for such a old and somewhat niche kit?? . . . Kes Probably because there will be no more. Airfix lost the mould. The Ursus kit is a copy, and they have gone as well. People buy the SR53 as a collectors item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 Colin at Freightdog did/has a resin 1/72 SR.53. kit. The website is undergoing an upgrade but you can PM him to find out the situation regarding the kit. He also did an Avro 720. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tomohawk Kid Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 23 hours ago, John R said: I believe that the Olimp/Pro Resin are copies of the Maintrack versions. I have built a couple, FD1 and P120 and their quality control is not that good but for some a/c they are the only game in town. I have a 188 which I haven't been strong enough to face just yet. Some of the Maintrack masters have disappeared, according to Roger at Whirlybird. I bought the Maintrack Project X kits when they originally were available and have the Olimp kit too, I would say the former are not copies of the Project X kits. Yes, the Olimp kits require building but they do compare well to the available references whn built. Thomo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tomohawk Kid Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 CMR manufacture a Boulton Paul P.111 & P.111a double kit. Thomo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris57 Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 On 8/11/2017 at 10:17 AM, John R said: I believe that the Olimp/Pro Resin are copies of the Maintrack versions. I have built a couple, FD1 and P120 and their quality control is not that good but for some a/c they are the only game in town. I have a 188 which I haven't been strong enough to face just yet. Some of the Maintrack masters have disappeared, according to Roger at Whirlybird. Strangely enough I came into possession of some Esoteric masters and some Maintrack sheets recently( HP 115. HP88, Fairey FD1), am now waiting to see what else turns up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John R Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 I built an Olimp P120 some years ago and the wing was so thin as to be useless. It tapered to vanishingly thin at the tip but fortunately I had a spare from the CMR P111a which I was able to use as a substitute. It also had decals for the P111 instead of the 120. The CMR kit of the P111 is very good and contains enough spare bits to almost build two models. 6 minutes ago, chris57 said: Strangely enough I came into possession of some Esoteric masters and some Maintrack sheets recently( HP 115. HP88, Fairey FD1), am now waiting to see what else turns up. Did you mean Maintrack masters? I hope there is a 707A waiting to be found. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptmvarsityfan Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 I built the Olimp 707A a few years ago and was very pleased with the kit, fit was ok and detail was excellent. Also built the Fairey Delta One, again very nice but I used the metal undercarriage from the Maintrack kit. Later tried the Olimp Gnat and gave up, didn't fit well, that was before the SH Gnat appeared. Agree that the Olimp kits do not seem to be based on the Maintrack ones. Cheers, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 Ursus SR53 Maintrack SR177 Pegasus EAP. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John R Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 You managed to finish a Pegasus EAP? Wow! Take a bow. I found it to be the most dreadful set of 'not fitting' parts I have ever seen. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob de Bie Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 15 hours ago, ptmvarsityfan said: I built the Olimp 707A a few years ago and was very pleased with the kit, fit was ok and detail was excellent. Also built the Fairey Delta One, again very nice but I used the metal undercarriage from the Maintrack kit. Later tried the Olimp Gnat and gave up, didn't fit well, that was before the SH Gnat appeared. Agree that the Olimp kits do not seem to be based on the Maintrack ones. I have the Olimp Short SC1. I compared it to photos of the Maintrack kit, and they are different kits as far as I can tell. I found the quality excellent, except for some air bubbles in the leading edges and in the fuselage bottom. Here's mine partly assembled. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aardvark Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 On 11.08.2017 at 5:08 PM, mikestow said: I was waiting for an Olimp 508,but it has not happened yet???? We wait, we wait since 2011: http://scalemodels.ru/modules/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27663 but it is already possible not to wait because the owner said that he won't do these models! On 12.08.2017 at 11:35 AM, Robert said: Colin at Freightdog did/has a resin 1/72 SR.53. It is the fine choice! But rather expensive also I think already so rare as Airfix or Ursus! B.R. Serge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aardvark Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 (edited) 35 minutes ago, Rob de Bie said: I have the Olimp Short SC1. I compared it to photos of the Maintrack kit, and they are different kits as far as I can tell. I found the quality excellent, except for some air bubbles in the leading edges and in the fuselage bottom. Here's mine partly assembled. Rob For help: http://scalemodels.ru/articles/6362-ProResin-1-72-Short-S-C-1.html http://scalemodels.ru/modules/forum/viewtopic_t_43927.html ... or not for help? That is the question!!!! B.R. Serge Edited August 13, 2017 by Aardvark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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