JBOHMSS

Some wonderful reference photo's. I have the HPH beast to make and I would like to do the Black Cat but I think the HPH is not the correct mark. More research has to be done.

Srtunning - and what patience you have!

I have to confess I do not entertain 1/72 scale so I am on left field a little. I know often the independent kit manufacturers end up shifting their moulds on to larger manufacturers. I will say I did make the Xtra Kit while I was waiting for the Airfix 1/48 ea Vixen...I was gagging for that kit and I have three as well as the one that is nearing completion!

It's possible they have taken over the xtra kit moulds...not unusual these days with the interchange of kits etc.

Hey we are all allowed to differ. The thing I will add here is that the chat is excellent and polite. The banter is great too. Another blog I was on once is full of adults with 7 year old mentalities. It's nice here - a quote from a very old TV advert.

I've seen that kit come up on ebay and at Toy Fairs (Sandown). Beautiful Art work on the box. I do like the Italeri first release Herk Gunship in 1/48 - that's my preference.

Miss Turner I would take around Private Dancer time. But isn't she more Thunderdome?

Nobody mentioned a Thunderthighs!

Absolutely Killed off....it has ceased to be.

I knew someone would do that pun...I nearly did but I thought I'd leave it open for hunting season...

Well, when I look at Model shops - not chains that have deals with Airfix and Revell and I see a lack of Airfix/Revell on the shelves that tells me that no modellers are not buying. Look at your Model Shop...not Model Zone, not WHS, Not Toybarn but your Model Shop. My local is Mick Charles (mainly Radio Control) very little airfix on the shelves...why? because it doesn't sell. New kits are fine back catalogue doesn't. Look at Dorking Model shop - new release Airfix Revell only no back catalogue. Look at Hannants shop...very small amount of airfix...no back catalogue at all. Why? It doesn't sell. In fact if you want old Airfix back catalogue Hannants send customers to the RAF Museum down the road. At my model club all the aircraft modellers will buy the new...NEW Airfix kits but they avoid the back catalogue. And 85% of modellers buying Airfix? Mmm I would argue that point. Airfix can afford to sell the old nostalgic kits in big deals with now WHS - they used to do huge deals with Model Zone - buy these new Canberras at this price and we'll do 1000 units of old stuff really cheap - the idiots at Model Zone took this as a good deal but it wasn't...the container of Airfix leftovers from Model Zone says it all. The R&D at Airfix are doing a sterling job but the back Catalogue is not the foundation they rely on...new modellers are not buying old cave man models after an initial experience of having that badly fitting kit. The 1/72 Mk I Spit was the kit that saved Airfix with the James May TV program...The Mossie in 1/24 laid initial foundation for the Airfix return but it was that little Spit that did the job.

Sorry I was talking about the 1/24th...crossed aileron wires!!

Err No...the original Mk 1 was waaaaaayyyyyy back in the late 1960's early 1970's...A truly nostalgic kit and beautiful box art. No it isn't subjective it is fact that the Airfix back catalogue doesn't sell. It doesn't sell for a reason. Because they are extremely dated. Talk to the owners of model shops and the ex managers of Model Zone.

The data is not so much on paper but physical - ask your model shop owners and look at the stock. I like most of you I am sure got on well with my local Model Zone - indeed before it was Model Zone and Model Time in Croydon and talking to the manager Airfix was not the go to kit manufacturers. Airfix would stay on the shelves and stay on the shelves and become dead money on the shelves when Hasegawa, Fuji, Dragon, Trumpeter and all the rest sold quickly leaving Airfix on the shelves. At Telford looking at the second hand kit sellers what was mostly there? Airfix back catalogue.

As for a 1/24th Defiant - that is one I would avoid and I do feel that a good few would avoid such a kit. The Defiant was not as prolific as the Spit, Hurricane, Typhoon - in fact if I were looking at the next 1/24th subject I'd probably be looking at an ME 262 - a very viable commercially accepted model in all other scales.

The Mk 1 was the first with the Vb coming along from the same tooling. The point is that the Airfix back catalogue does not sell - witness all the left over stock in Model Zone. And the experienced modellers leave the Airfix back catalogue alone. The new modellers and kids do not buy again if their first experience is not good.

Although it may not the experienced modellers who buy the majority of Airfix kits - although a much higher proportion than in the past - it is only the experienced and nostalgic modeller who will cope with badly fitting parts. This is an excellent point from Graham. And this is precisely why Airfix need to address the old catalogue. Us experienced modellers will not go and buy the back catalogue becuase of the crudity of the kit. There might be no other alternatives but would we really go and buy a Defiant that is rough? The answer is above - the experienced and nostalgic modeller who will cope with the bad fit. You pays your money you takes your choice - I would wager that there are only a few who want such a defiant. This comes down to the commercial success factor - I would wager that the defiant is not up there on many wants list. I maybe wrong. But I'd say that re tooled Spitfires and ME109's will prevail...Airfix filled gaps many years ago but those gaps now are filled with old crude kits that surely need to be taken out of the catalogue and replaced or renewed. If I want an FW190 I'd rather spend double and get a kit that is better quality than have something that now represents half hearted attempts at production. Age is not kind to these nostalgic kits...and the same can be said for Tamiya, Monogram, REvell and many more. But the joker there is Tamiya who do replace and renew and regularly.

And that is not just a bike but a wonderful memory. My brother had a WLA Harley - he's 14 years older than me...when I was five he'd put me on the tank and paddle the bike along...thnaks for bringing that memory forward.

The majority of the Airfix back catalogue is not really "good enough" now...I understand the concept about selling the old stuff to produce the new...well actually how many of us will go ahead and buy the old stuff to pay for the production of the new? Is there anyone here that will buy a ton of Airfix kits that are now extremely dated just to pay for production for a new tool? I don't think so. I want a new tool Blenheim? Will I buy a ton of the old stuff to ensure the future of Airfix. I'll be honest. Nope! Certainly that was the case at my local modelzone's. Airfix's Spit MkIX when it came out was the only kid on the block but when Matchbox came on the scene it was a dream come true for Spit fan's. The Mk I Spit in 1/24 still has issues and needs new tooling will it be popular if it was retooled? Not sure. We can have these debates all over. I recently helped a neighbor with his latest cast Airfix Spit MkI - Maybe I am being snobbish but the age is very definitely showing, it needs a lot of reworking. I do feel that the Airfix back catalogue needs to be labeled as the nostalgia series now. It would give those unsuspecting newbies a chance to realise that the kit they would be getting dates back to the time of the Cuban Revolution and the Viet Nam War. And I think I am safe in saying that when we didn't have the choice we would buy what was on the market...but if you have the choice of a Monogram/Revell 1/48 Corsair or a Tamiya/Hasegawa or any other state of the art manufacturer - there will be some that are bloody minded enough to get the old kit from those good old days and correct any defects and scratch build to make a point but most modellers even those who have too many years to discuss that make us appear cave man like still like to have a model that goes together with the least amount of filler and as much ease as possible. My ceiling was covered in drawing pins with the majority of the Airfix catalogue hanging from thread. Ah long lost days of boys own adventure...nowadays I have a choice because the market has expanded with many manufacturers - I am not limited to Airfix, Frog, Revell or Monogram. Back in the day yes they were a source for our hobby but they rested on their laurels and did not keep up with the requirements of modellers. The quest for more accurate details. It is only since Hornby took over Airfix that the ante has been upped...Airfix did some miraculous things in 1/48 with the original Seafire, their Mosquito was sublime. I applaud Airfix with their new releases (well most of them), but I do feel that by boxing their old and new in the same livery that some who buy X and do not realise the tooling is 50 years old or dates to the original release should be warned. The 1/72 Hercules was an amazing model when released, but would any experienced modeler buy that kit against the later Italeri kits? Not unless it was as a collectors kit to stay in the box.

I baulk at most of Airfix's old tooled models. Their Spitfire Mk IX was horrendous even when it first came out. Matchbox came along and knocked socks off the Airfix effort at the time. And the old Lancaster while being an innovative kit from nearly half a century ago is best left as a collectors piece. In fact the Vulcan is a little tired. It's a tough choice of what to re tool and what not to, but there is a huge amount that should be left out of production until new tooling has taken place. Many of these old Airfix kits should be put into a nostalgia section of the Airfix catalgue.

Yeah Cammo looks so much better than low vis grey, boring, dull paint schemes. Very nice.

As for getting in and out of traffic, I have no problem, loud pipes make motorists aware and they keep an eye as I filter...but filtering is illegal in the US. In the UK we get away with it much to the dislike of motorists in traffic! As for UK set up and US set up...we are now all one with the gear changer on the left and brake on the right....that is standard now. Back in the day when manufacturers did what they felt worked wasn't always great - Indian and Harleys and others had hand gear changers, which I find quite off putting. And believe me a Harley is not over rated if you want a comfortable easy ride for many miles. It has character something many bikes of this size do not have. The Japanese V twin knock offs do not come close. The Indian is over the top but that is what you buy into the Harley is just right. Nice low centre of gravity, easy maneuverability and that sound...only a Harley. Brit bikes have a nice angry growl, Italian Bikes a fast buzz a Harley has a drum beat that is glorious on the open road. But it takes all sorts.

Well I have to say I take my Harley on some lovely twisty roads, I just don't do high speeds, the cruiser is not made for that but then I get to see all the countryside without having to watch out for all the potholes - oh that's a very English thing! Norton's are nice I have to say but at my size after twenty minutes leaning over the handle bars I get uncomfortable. I tried a Buell once...1/2 hour of leaning forward was enough. Better than a Norton is a Norvin - Yeah baby!!! Or what about a Brough Superior? I'd like a nice model kit of a Brough - couldn't afford the real thing! But to get back to your original point how to get a Typhoon 1/24 into your house - just buy it and be honest with the Mem Sahb...then allow her use of your credit card to make amends.

Getting int serious bike talk here...I have a Heritage softail...it is wonderful a nice easy cruiser. I like the stock Harleys but I am 6'5" and a small bike like the Enfield would not be great for me...and in the UK on the inclement weathered surfaces the Enfield would be twitchy. But what about a Vincent?! Now we're talking? Oh ok a bit old and expensive and work of art like. How about a Triumph Rocket - 2.5litre engine? The business. But you have to be quite tall to pull it off, I saw one old boy on one once he was on tip toe as it is a high ride. Triumph Daytona is nice and sporty...no the best on the sports side is a Ducatti. But whatever you get...you gotta do it. God rides a Harley that we all know his minions ride other bikes...none that burn rice wine though! Oh the power in me!!!! Actually someone should bring out a bike and call it the Typhoon.

Oh so it's the US you live in? Then a Harley it must be certainly for the roads of Texas!