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Airfix 2012


jaw

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I'm actually quite happy with Airfix's releases over the last couple of years, and would like to see more of the same - a couple of retools so the kits are as nice as the decals they're using these days, a couple of new issues tied into anniversaries, and a headline grabber for the enthusiasts, so...

1/72

Il-2 retool to put those Mongolian markings to use.

Douglas Devastator retool to go with the Pearl Harbour set and for the Midway 70th anniversary.

Mirage III/Etendard/Skyhawk for the Falklands 30th anniversary.

1/48

Hurricane II to go with all the Spitfires they've done, and to piggy back on the interest generated by the new Italeri Mk.I

Sea Hurricane - fills a gap in their FAA range, and ties in with the above.

Headline Grabber

Something so unexpected I can't even speculate, but it will be in a series 11 box.

Edited by Foxbat
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Mirage III

Now you're talking! A new 1/72 Mirage family would be cool, pick the basic versions and let the aftermarket and decal companies go nuts filling in the blanks!

1/48 Hurri gets my vote, especially of priced same as the 109s and new Griffon Spits - cheaper than Hasegawa and Italeri.

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1/48 Hurri gets my vote, especially of priced same as the 109s and new Griffon Spits - cheaper than Hasegawa and Italeri.

Especially as there is one 3 miles from the Hornby site to look at (Manston Spitfire and Hurricane Museum)

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Some other suggestions for new toolings of past kits in the range: Massey Ferguson tractor(Their First kit!!!) F-104G, WW1 aircraft subjects, Gosling, Sunderland, P-38-----Now thats a kit that is lacking at the moment with perhaps the Academy around, and Dragon. If Airfix would do the P-38 like the P-40C That would be real good.

For more I'll have to delve into my entire collection of AFX catalogues going back to 1962!

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I like the Mirage III family idea. An AV-8B+ adapted from the new Harrier GR.9 release would be nice too, as would a Merlin scaled down to 1/72. On the subject of which, scaling the Lynx down to 1/72, possibly with options for the AH.9, would be a welcome replacement for the AH.1 mould.

James

Edited by Paveshadow
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Just as a purely commercial point, I can't quite understand why Airfix doesn't do more versions of kits, like Hasegawa does - e.g. release 4 different versions of a Lightning kit over the next 4 years, different marks, different markings, etc. Equally, why they decided to release a Stratos 4 version of the TSR-2 rather than one including a good mix of WHIF markings, which would sell much more strongly, is a mystery to me. Which begs the question, other than the Lightning, which nobody else yet has covered properly, which other subjects would be well suited to the multiple-editions treatment? Best of all is something which sells well in the UK, but also would have a good following in other major markets, perhaps in different flavours. The 1/72 and 1/48 Canberra family looks to me a good success, despite the knock-down prices they had on the 1/48 kits for a good while.

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Not sure I see your point.

The Spitfire I has been reissued already as a I/IIa and it looks as if there is a Va to come.

The Valiant is about to be reissued as a recce variant

The Zero is barely on the streets, yet already available in 2 different marking schemes.

The Tomahawk is already available in 2 sets of markings with another boxing on the way.

The Bf 110 and Sabre are already out in 2 boxings.

Think there needs to be a balance between delighting the enthusiast with multiple boxings in different schemes and creating problems for the non-specialist shopkeeper faced with keeping multiple versions of to him to all intents identical models on the shelf - and always being asked by the customer for the one he hasn't got! TBH, I'm surprised at how quickly Airfix are bringing out alternative boxings and/or variants. And there must be limits on the energy and resources even of a dynamic company like Hornby.

Edited by Seahawk
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Which begs the question, other than the Lightning, which nobody else yet has covered properly, which other subjects would be well suited to the multiple-editions treatment?

More Spitfires! :partytime:

There are still some that have yet to appear as a mainstream kit, which by my book means the type has not yet been properly covered.

OK. I'll get my coat.

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my personal wants form airfix are,

1/72:

venom single seat

vampire single seat

vampire trainer

javelin

swift

vulcan b1

vulcan b2

victor b1

victor b2

sea vixen

sea venom

buccaneer s1

buccaneer s2

canberra b2

vc10

comet airliner

cessna 152 (as i used to fly one)

shorts belfast

argosy

shackleton

raf phantom

jet provost

gloster whitle

harrier gr1 /gr3

bristol brabason

hunter mk1

jaguar

foland midge (love the midge)

not alot to ask is it, :fish:

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Massey Ferguson tractor(Their First kit!!!)

Brilliant idea!! How cool would that be....??!! If they have the 'wishlist' on their stand at SMW again this weekend, I'll add that together with my annual plea for a family of 1/72 Lightnings (the proper EE ones, not those misnamed WW2 Yank things....!! :P ) & a re-issue of all their 1/32 British classic cars (the ones on e-bay are now fetching almost as much as the real thing. Although they won't rust away like the real ones I suppose!!)

keef

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I've got to agree with some of robvulcan's wishlist and go for some of the classic 50's/60's jets on there. A new tool Harrier GR1/3 in 1/72 would have me reaching for my wallet straight away, as would EE Lightnings in 1/72. Since Dragon seemed to have screwed up the Sea Vixen, Airfix should step in and down size their 1/48th effort, same as they should do with their forthcoming Lynxes.

A new tool Buccaneer would be good, especially since the 1/72 one is a little lacking in detail/accuracy and I'm sure a new tool in 1/48th wouldn't go a miss! Same goes for the Jaguar in 1/72. If they could squeeze the optional parts to do a GR1 and GR3 into the same box, I'd buy 4 on the day they came out!

In a perfect world, we would all be treated to a Shackleton, VC10 and a Short Stirling on top of all these, but a man can dream!

Incidentally, I have the Bucc, Jag, Shack, various Harriers and a Frightening in the stash, so if anybody wants a new tooling of any of them, let me know and I'll start construction ASAP. You can be sure Airfix will announce a new kit of whatever I start within the week!

Mark.

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If we are talking about multiple releases then the Tornado would be a prime candidate surely. Their old 1/48 F-3 is truly awful (as me how I know), but imagine being able to do a GR.1, GR.4 and F.3 with all the special schemes. The GR.4 would be especially welcome...

I would love to see a 1/48 Hunter and a new Harrier GR.3 (or even a two seater) in 1/72 or 1/48. Oh and the Sea Harrier kits in 1/48 please.

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Why do so many people want a new tool 1/72 Harrier GR.3 ? :unsure: The italeri/esci kit is easily available, it's cheap and it's lovely, much better than the more recent airfix 1/72 sea harriers ! If we're talking 1/48 I'd agree that new kits would be welcome. Mind, I can see as the early harriers might be interesting subjects for a british manufacturer, I'd not be too surprised if Airfix did them.

As someone mentioned the Mirage III, this would be one of my wishes too as there's no modern kit around (yet, as a new one is coming, although expensive). Please airfix, if you do one let it be a III-E instead of the III-C.. or please do both !

Talking about lightnings, I believe the airfix P-38 is the only kit of the early versions around, a new mould one would fill a niche very nicely !

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Why do so many people want a new tool 1/72 Harrier GR.3 ? :unsure: The italeri/esci kit is easily available, it's cheap and it's lovely, much better than the more recent airfix 1/72 sea harriers !

This is very true and it is THE best early Harrier in 1/72, but it's not without it's limitations. First up, the cockpit needs a little work to bring it up to speed and the ejector seat is pretty naff. The wheel wells could do with some more detailing and Airfix have shown that a proper nose wheel can be moulded, including the retraction jack that is not moulded on other Harriers. The quality of the ordnance in the Italeri/Esci kit is a bit limited by today's standards and could benefit from improvement. And don't get me started on the decals supplied by Italeri, suffice it to say they're crap!! I mean, if they can't match up the fuselage serials to the underwing ones....

Hasegawa's Harrier GR7 didn't look too bad until Airfix came along with theirs and promptly blew it out the water! Imagine what they could do with the GR1/GR3 (just so long as they don't base them on the SHARs!!!) With some intelligent tooling, they could offer the GR1/3 in the same box and the decal sheet would only need a few differences between the two marks as well. Maybe I'm just hoping for too much....

Mark.

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You mean the subjects that sell and help bring the coffers in, this being a business and all that..?

Yes. those same old boring, dull, unadventurous and unimaginative subjects! I'm sure they could come up with something original for 2012!!

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The threads subject was 1/48 Airfix releases for 2012.

Not the usual wants in the unpopular 1/72 scale. :tease:

But seriously, Revell has announced a re-release of their Wessex. So deducting this reasoning :smartass:

of their releases, i.e. 1/48 EA-6B, A-6, etc. (Kinetic,etc.)

Airfix will be releasing a new tool Wessex in 2012! :wicked:

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But seriously, Revell has announced a re-release of their Wessex.

Have they?? I missed that!! So the rumours of destroyed moulds were just rumours then?!

Any link to the announcement?

Keef

Edit - it's OK I found it!!

Edited by keefr22
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Yes. those same old boring, dull, unadventurous and unimaginative subjects! I'm sure they could come up with something original for 2012!!

Wot...like British WW2 Submarines in 1/144 preferably or perhaps 1/350. T class, S class etc...

If Airfix do a wishlist at Telford can those who are going put that on the list among the planes

Cheers

Adam

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  • 2 weeks later...

I've read (and I agree with) the statements why Airfix should produce Hunters and early Harriers in 1/48th. I'm curious though, why should not Airfix produce them?

- Is the company already commited as which new molds they will produce for the next 5 years?

- Do the decision-makers at Hornby feel that the decades old 1/48 Harrier/Sea Harrier molds are more than adequate?

- Is my perception incorrect that the Harrier and Hunter would be very popular subjects in the UK?

- Are modelers in the UK content with the Academy Hunter?

- Do the UK modelers feel that there are other subjects they would would want more than a new 1/48 Hunter or early Harrier?

In my mind, the Supermarine Spitfire symbolizes British aviation in WW2. The Hunter equates to the RAF in the 1950s. The Lightning in the 1960s. The Harrier represents the UK victory in the Falklands. I really don't understand why a British model company wouldn't be justly proud to produce Harrier and Hunter kits in 1/48th. (I'm an American, so apologies for any errors in my perception. I also apologize in advance if I've caused any offense for any national wounds.)

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There is little doubt in my mind that a ne 1:48 Hunter kit is necessary. The Academy ones are not easily vailable in the Uk and as is well know sufer from a series of (correctable) faults. To take note of an earlier post, just think what could be done - an F4/5 with no wing LE extensions and small Avon, an F6 with LE extensions, the T7 and FGA9/FR10. All of thsse could be done with a standard centre section of the aircrfat plus the relevant add ons.

Go for it Airfix and make a lot of people very happy indeed!

John

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There is little doubt in my mind that a ne 1:48 Hunter kit is necessary. The Academy ones are not easily vailable in the Uk and as is well know sufer from a series of (correctable) faults. To take note of an earlier post, just think what could be done - an F4/5 with no wing LE extensions and small Avon, an F6 with LE extensions, the T7 and FGA9/FR10. All of thsse could be done with a standard centre section of the aircrfat plus the relevant add ons.

Go for it Airfix and make a lot of people very happy indeed!

John

There's your answer. Academy did their Hunters based on largely on feedback from the IPMS nats and all the talk about how they'd be onto a dead cert winner, only for the market to go AWOL when it was released and now the kits are hard to find. If there was a buoyant market in the UK, Pocketbond would be trying to import as many as they could.

One wonders how Revell fared with their 1/32 and 1/72 kits, certainly they never bothered to do any more variants in the manner you prescribe, when the kits were practically tooled with that expansion in mind.

Then again it could be argued that Hunter plus Airfix logo equals box office, but I can't shake the feeling that the "we need a Hunter" philosophy (need?) is a bit of an 80s SAM hangover whereby the panacea to all kit companies fortunes was 50s British jets.

I'd like to have an Airfix Hunter to the same level as the Sea Vixen, but like and necessity are two different things.

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Well if we are taking the Hawker Hunter as an example I'll tell you a story and see if it makes sense. I have 10 Revell Hunter kits in the stash - across all three scales - and one on the display shelf, two Matchbox kits in the stash and one that needs refurbishing, four unbuilt Airfix kits and three built ones also in need of refurbishment or repair at my father's house, although I've never owned any of the Academy kits. The Hunter second in my affections only to the Harrier and is still my father's firm favourite of all the aircraft he flew hence why there are so many of them in my collection.

The Airfix kits were bought at a time when they were the only ones available and detailed or modified to the best of my abilities. One each of WB212, an FR.10 and an FGA.9, with plans for an F.5 and GA.11 to follow at the time to sit alongside some FROG examples my dad had also built. The Matchbox ones will be a T.7 & T.8 someday around the same time the existing T.8M gets refurbished. The Revell ones? Well four are 32nd examples earmarked to be an F.1, F.5, FR.10 & GA.11. The 72nd ones are still open to final decision but one will also be an F.5 and another a PR.11 while of the two remaining one may find itself converted to a P.1100. That leaves the two 144th kits to do as F.6 display machines. If I see any more Revell kits in either of the scales at a sensible price and I have spare cash they will be joining the others as there are plenty decals in my collection they can wear. Why no Academy kits? Don't really know why. Although I did see them in my LMS every so often I was never sufficiently inspired to get one at that time. Particularly once I knew what shape issues and quirks damned them in the opinion certain experts.

One man's obsession, however, does not a market make and from what I understand the Hawker Hunter was not a good seller for Revell thus was dropped from the range. Otherwise, if it was a good seller, would the shops not be full of them and several other versions to keep the money rolling in? Perhaps Academy found the same with their kit?

So will Airfix be able to do better with a new kit in any scale of the Hawker Hunter? Perhaps They have a different market? Perhaps they have different marketing strategy or expectations? Or maybe they will put better artwork on the box? Don't know how big a factor that is in total sales but I was never inspired by the box-art on any of the Revell or Academy kits. Think of how many conflicts the Hunter had a role in around the world. How about an F.5 blazing a flurry of 30mm cannon shells at Egyptian tanks or MiG.15s on the ground? A 111 Sqn. F.6 mid-display with contrails streaming from the wing-tips? An FGA.9 letting loose a rocket barrage on the ranges? Sounds a bit more interesting in my opinion than the rather pedestrian stuff we got.

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More Spitfires! :partytime:

There are still some that have yet to appear as a mainstream kit, which by my book means the type has not yet been properly covered.

OK. I'll get my coat.

Well said that man! A PRX/XI could be got out of the same kit - and if they used the PR19 wing, tooling costs could be halved - whilst we desperately need a 20 series airframe in mainstream injection, as opposed to limited run nightmares which need multiple sanding just to get the wings together.

As for TSR2 Stratos 4. Airfix were stunned when they first released the kit in 2006 at the Japanese response, they had no idea about the series. Rereleasing the kit with additional sprues and aimed at the Japanese market was a sound business move.

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Well if we are taking the Hawker Hunter as an example I'll tell you a story and see if it makes sense. I have 10 Revell Hunter kits in the stash - across all three scales - and one on the display shelf, two Matchbox kits in the stash and one that needs refurbishing, four unbuilt Airfix kits and three built ones also in need of refurbishment or repair at my father's house, although I've never owned any of the Academy kits. The Hunter second in my affections only to the Harrier and is still my father's firm favourite of all the aircraft he flew hence why there are so many of them in my collection.

The Airfix kits were bought at a time when they were the only ones available and detailed or modified to the best of my abilities. One each of WB212, an FR.10 and an FGA.9, with plans for an F.5 and GA.11 to follow at the time to sit alongside some FROG examples my dad had also built. The Matchbox ones will be a T.7 & T.8 someday around the same time the existing T.8M gets refurbished. The Revell ones? Well four are 32nd examples earmarked to be an F.1, F.5, FR.10 & GA.11. The 72nd ones are still open to final decision but one will also be an F.5 and another a PR.11 while of the two remaining one may find itself converted to a P.1100. That leaves the two 144th kits to do as F.6 display machines. If I see any more Revell kits in either of the scales at a sensible price and I have spare cash they will be joining the others as there are plenty decals in my collection they can wear. Why no Academy kits? Don't really know why. Although I did see them in my LMS every so often I was never sufficiently inspired to get one at that time. Particularly once I knew what shape issues and quirks damned them in the opinion certain experts.

One man's obsession, however, does not a market make and from what I understand the Hawker Hunter was not a good seller for Revell thus was dropped from the range. Otherwise, if it was a good seller, would the shops not be full of them and several other versions to keep the money rolling in? Perhaps Academy found the same with their kit?

So will Airfix be able to do better with a new kit in any scale of the Hawker Hunter? Perhaps They have a different market? Perhaps they have different marketing strategy or expectations? Or maybe they will put better artwork on the box? Don't know how big a factor that is in total sales but I was never inspired by the box-art on any of the Revell or Academy kits. Think of how many conflicts the Hunter had a role in around the world. How about an F.5 blazing a flurry of 30mm cannon shells at Egyptian tanks or MiG.15s on the ground? A 111 Sqn. F.6 mid-display with contrails streaming from the wing-tips? An FGA.9 letting loose a rocket barrage on the ranges? Sounds a bit more interesting in my opinion than the rather pedestrian stuff we got.

Some goods points there, I think my contention would be that the modelling world isn't - to use an old SAM mantra - "crying out" for a 1/48 Hunter. I think the illuminating thing about the Academy kit was that it ended up being pretty much ignored by the very market that demanded it in the first place. Yes, some of that could be put down to Academy dropping the ball a bit in terms of accuracy, but to some extent I think its value as a plastic market commodity was just overblown.

Anyhoo, I seem to remember 18 months back that the nudge nudge wink wink was a new 1/24 kit and a 1/72 VC-10 (dead cert that, don't you know).

As for TSR2 Stratos 4. Airfix were stunned when they first released the kit in 2006 at the Japanese response, they had no idea about the series. Rereleasing the kit with additional sprues and aimed at the Japanese market was a sound business move.

Actually they did and Humbrol were looking at doing a Stratos 4 boxing in 2007.

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