Jump to content

Airfix nostalgia thread, post all your classic airfix builds here.


old thumper

Recommended Posts

I am currently in the process of moving my model collection into a modified summer house and will be taking the opportunity of photographing my collection of old Airfix kits that I began building around ten years ago when I returned to the hobby.

If anyone would like to add pictures of their own builds to this thread then please do.

Should anyone be interested in building classic Airfix kits of any type including aircraft, armour, ships, cars etc, then Airfix the Golden Years is waiting for you in the 2018  group build poll which is currently open until the end of this November.

 

The old Airfix B-24J Liberator kit.

 

26762723939_1e6c653aab.jpg

 

My build is from a late boxing, unfortunately the Dragon and his Tail decal option has been removed from this kit.

 

38528790571_3ece5d014b_k.jpg

 

 

 

The late 50's Mosquito kit, very inaccurate but full of retro character. This kit has some very dodgy painting instructions that include duck egg green for the undersides. Some may remember it from the Me-262 dogfight double. 

 

38497388972_5174ac0767_k.jpg

 

38528809851_2825c97326_k.jpg

 

 

 

The Original Airfix Wildcat kit. This may have been the first Airfix kit I ever built so an old favorite of mine.

 

24656760498_27937d5cf5.jpg

 

 

38497352642_1ae042b025_k.jpg

 

 

The Airfix Hellcat, for some reason I just like the look of this model.

 

 

24666100438_40b0ace9d4_m.jpg

 

 

37813485724_580c709b21_z.jpg

 

The original Airfix Mustang from about 1956, Fools Paradise.

 

24656762498_3dc078b65a.jpg

 

 

38497367322_c55c62264d_k.jpg

 

 

The original Airfix Hurricane, again from the 1950's

 

24656789478_df73ce5cc3_k.jpg

 

 

24656776018_e3d423472f_k.jpg

 

The original Airfix Defiant, not sure how old but old, maybe 1960.

 

38506987882_2b31235ea4_b.jpg

 

26753251759_4522097cb5_k.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by old thumper
  • Like 23
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ahh.  This has brought back some happy memories.  I think I've built all of these bar the Liberator over the years.  Some very nice renditions here.  I especially like the Hellcat.  I think it and the Wildcat are still pretty nice models considering their age.  I remember building the Mosquito as a boy and even at the time thinking it looked all wrong.  Most obvious was the positioning of the machine guns.  A really basic error by Airfix.   I also remember the Defiant having a very emaciated engine cowling that you could probably just about fit a scale Gypsy Major into!  Not that that really mattered when I was using the turret to shoot down dozens of '109s!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've also built most of those in my youth and brought back some happy memories. Am I right in thinking that some of the kits contained a little capsule of glue that you snipped the end off and it went every where or am I thinking of something else?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 20/11/2017 at 21:35, old thumper said:

I am currently in the process of moving my model collection into a modified summer house and will be taking the opportunity of photographing my collection of old Airfix kits that I began building around ten years ago when I returned to the hobby.

If anyone would like to add pictures of their own builds to this thread then please do.

Should anyone be interested in building classic Airfix kits of any type including aircraft, armour, ships, cars etc, then Airfix the Golden Years is waiting for you in the 2018  group build poll which is currently open until the end of this November.

 

The late 50's Mosquito kit, very inaccurate but full of retro character. This kit has some very dodgy painting instructions that include duck egg green for the undersides. Some may remember it from the Me-262 dogfight double. 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi

 

Nice thread. I like these old fun builds. But my god this Mosquito looks badly inaccurate! ;-) A case where the boxart is more accurate by a garden mile!

 

Flemming

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some beautiful example's on show love the Hellcat in particular,Well my contribution won't take long,Im sadly lacking in older Airfix offering's

The Banshee built last year.

20171120_132617

 

And three 1/48 Hurricane's built a couple of year's ago.

20171120_132751

 

  • Like 12
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very interesting post which brings back a lot of nostalgia, because I built all these Airfix

kits when I was a child.

Now I only build 1/48 scale models, my eyes are tired and the 1/72 has become too small for them.

Can't wait to see what is coming.

Great work!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You got me again - my heart strings are twanging wildly as these kits are all old friends to me - long gone now as given away when modelling went out and football and girls came in. Car customisation/maintenance also came in at some point...does any kit maker do a Vauxhall Viva HB, or even a Ventora 3300?

Excellent build quality and something for me to aspire to this time around,  - looking forward to the 'Airfix - the Golden Years' GB whilst struggling along on the Matchbox equivalent.

In the meantime, the more recent Airfix 'Lizzie', which was 'a beezer'.

100_1283

All the best,

Mike.

  • Like 11
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Airfix did the early Viva Mike but they are as rare as hen's teeth and costas much as the original car,they did a Victor estate the late sixties early seventies

mosel but I've never seen one in the flesh.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Flemming said:

Hi

 

Nice thread. I like these old fun builds. But my god this Mosquito looks badly inaccurate! ;-) A case where the boxart is more accurate by a garden mile!

 

Flemming

 It is probably the most inaccurate kit I have built, but it does have an oddly beautiful  shape.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

24 minutes ago, stevej60 said:

Airfix did the early Viva Mike but they are as rare as hen's teeth and costas much as the original car,they did a Victor estate the late sixties early seventies

mosel but I've never seen one in the flesh.

Yes, you are right and the Victor also seems to be priced right out the window when making an appearance on ebay. The FE Victor could act as a base for my old Ventora but I would really have to excel myself to do the 'conversion' via scratchbuilding. I think I may have more of a chance of buying a full-sized version! What would SWMBO say about that? - probably be harder on me than my Dad was when I pushed my original one up the driveway minus the gearbox!

Happy days!

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I really wish I hadn't given most of my classic Airfix builds to my son as playthings. They've all long since gone to that Airfix hangar in the sky.

 

I feel like picking up some of my favourites on ebay and having another go. It may be more fun than wrestling with some of the new tool jobs. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Also, I was ill one day and started off on the Airfix Fw190D - I really enjoyed that one but still hadn't mastered the silvering transfers at that stage.

100_1227

 

Edited by Ventora3300
  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

OT I do like the way you build models, skill with the priceless addition of bringing genuine smiles to faces.

 

With respect to the car kits I have the Lotus Cortina which one day I shall build,  but I am acutely aware that it is one of the most valuable I own.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, IanC said:

I really wish I hadn't given most of my classic Airfix builds to my son as playthings. They've all long since gone to that Airfix hangar in the sky.

 

I feel like picking up some of my favourites on ebay and having another go. It may be more fun than wrestling with some of the new tool jobs. 

Go on Ian,check out King Kit and Kits for Cash too some golden oldies going cheap!

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think I'm going to be a frequent poster in this thread...

 

For starters, one Black Widow. A classic T3 boxing.

 

Black_Widow.jpg

 

And a very early T1 display.

I built the stand for the header bags and all the kits on top of it except the Camel, far left.

 

Airfix_T1_dis.jpg

 

And some Airfix rarities. The Spitfires are restorations of old builds. The blue one is bare polished plastic with very carefully saved original transfers. The sand and spinach version is a repaint with the original transfers also preserved.

 

 IMG_7722.jpg

 

And to finish, the classic F4 Phantom alongside the same plane on the cover of Airfix Magazine back in the sixties.

 

image.jpg

 

 

  • Like 11
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tony W

 

Ooh! the VF-74 Phorrestal Phantom, the first Phantom that I ever built. Bought from the bicycle shop in Commercial Street, Kirkcaldy. Must have been in the mid or second half of the sixties ? Painted with a hairy stick, probably glued with Airfix glue or maybe Britfix. Thanks for the wee trip down memory lane.

 

Peter

Edited by Blackfordhibby
Cannae spell
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, stevej60 said:

Airfix did the early Viva Mike but they are as rare as hen's teeth and costas much as the original car,they did a Victor estate the late sixties early seventies

mosel but I've never seen one in the flesh.

The Viva was re-issued not too long ago as a triple boxing with the Escort and Herald. At least until recently (haven't looked on e-bay for a while) the set was available for quite reasonable prices - at least compared to the original releases!!

 

Great thread, some lovely nostalgia builds here!

 

Keith

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 20/11/2017 at 22:46, Meatbox8 said:

Ahh.  This has brought back some happy memories.  I think I've built all of these bar the Liberator over the years.  Some very nice renditions here.  I especially like the Hellcat.  I think it and the Wildcat are still pretty nice models considering their age.  I remember building the Mosquito as a boy and even at the time thinking it looked all wrong.  Most obvious was the positioning of the machine guns.  A really basic error by Airfix.   I also remember the Defiant having a very emaciated engine cowling that you could probably just about fit a scale Gypsy Major into!  Not that that really mattered when I was using the turret to shoot down dozens of '109s!

 

The guns on the Mosquito look very much like carpenters panel pins. The Hellcat is a strong favorite of my own.  

On 20/11/2017 at 23:45, Telboy3510 said:

I've also built most of those in my youth and brought back some happy memories. Am I right in thinking that some of the kits contained a little capsule of glue that you snipped the end off and it went every where or am I thinking of something else?

 I think some kits in the 60's had the glue capsule, later on different manufacturers such as Matchbox included small tubes of glue at times.

 

 

On 21/11/2017 at 01:03, polo1112 said:

Very interesting post which brings back a lot of nostalgia, because I built all these Airfix

kits when I was a child.

Now I only build 1/48 scale models, my eyes are tired and the 1/72 has become too small for them.

Can't wait to see what is coming.

Great work!

 My eyesight is going the same way, I must build my 1/72 stash before it is to late.

On 21/11/2017 at 01:25, Ventora3300 said:

 

In the meantime, the more recent Airfix 'Lizzie', which was 'a beezer'.

 

All the best,

Mike.

 Nice Lysander, I have one tucked away in my stash.

 

On 21/11/2017 at 07:31, Vicarage Vee said:

OT I do like the way you build models, skill with the priceless addition of bringing genuine smiles to faces.

 

With respect to the car kits I have the Lotus Cortina which one day I shall build,  but I am acutely aware that it is one of the most valuable I own.

 

Thanks, I would like to build the old British motorbike kits again but they cost a fortune now also.

 

On 21/11/2017 at 08:15, TonyW said:

I think I'm going to be a frequent poster in this thread...

 

For starters, one Black Widow. A classic T3 boxing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Nice to see the Black widow once again, this is one of the kits I am looking out for at shows.

Thanks all for your posts, especially those with pictures.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

53 minutes ago, Crossiant Oliver said:

"Airfix made some girly stuff, like this ghastly model of Anne Boleyn, and these pointless Robins."

 

-James May

 

I'd suggest James May is rather more pointless than the robins...

 

 

I've been enjoying the fact the Airfix 1/32nd soldier range are now moulded in styrene rather than polythene,  while it's possible to prime the polythene with Halfords grey primer, which gives a pretty good coverage,  the mould lines are hard to clean up.

the styrene ones scrapeable.  so clean up is a quite easy,  I found painted some thinned mr surfacer on the lines before clean up made then easier to see and remove.

 

One of my favourite sets was the US Paratroopers,  I still have the box (with "new" on it) and the figures, but I got a set of new plastic ones as they are really well sculpted.

I still have nearly all the WWII sets from my childhood, in the boxes, painted to varying standards, along with a lot of the 1/76th sets.  

 

Painted with mostly Vallejo acrylics,   main uniform is Humbrol 93 though.

the box art is wrong colour, the painted figure on box is correct, they recommend H93 BTW.

 

Uniform is the M1942 jump suit, it was a but fragile, so the parachute riggers used to reinforce the elbows, knees and pockets with canvas, as seen below.

the bases were quickly knocked up and they came out much better than I expected!

23559390_1563005423736395_51380564424454

 

 

 

23561783_1563005527069718_49868687311364

 

I've not got around to doing some photos,  so I nabbed the ones from IPMS Mid Sussex meeting,

 

this is one of the Australian figures  I did last year,  I need to practice faces!  

37956552941_7de4305ea3_o.jpg

 

more pics and some information on the paints used here

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235002739-australian-infantry-airfix-132nd/

 

I did some Commandos, but no decent pics,  and am planning on some British paras,  they are really well sculpted, and quite fancy the challenge of the camo smocks.

some of the better end of Airfix nostalgia, as they had some really top class figure sculptors doing the masters.

Some of the early sets are more basic, the only ones that I thought poorly sculpted was the British Infantry Support Group set.

the other oddity was it took until the early 80's to do a set of plain British Infantry, while the Paras, Commando, 8th Army and Infantry Support had been available for years...

 

there is an excellent site here with all the sets and different boxes here for the full nostalgia fest

http://www.airfixtoysoldiers.com/

 

cheers

T

 

 

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice Paratroopers Troy good to see you posting up a build.

 

I dug this image out  of my Seafire build based on the much maligned 1/48 Seafire III / Spitfire Vc kit which in turn is based on the Vb kit which is a classic.

 

24683351078_1ca22fb115.jpg

 

Its OOB with nothing tweaked I think I did rescribe the fuselage Panel lines..

 

cheers

 

Plasto

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...