Dennis_C

One nuance here. As far as I understand the NF series from SH is an entirely new model not related to the usual Meteor from 2006. And here we get closer to the thread topic I'm wondering if Airfix is actually going to miss an opportunity to release more from the full series... One example of completely lost opportunity in my view - never released metal wing Hurricane mk.I. Why??? How is that at all possible for the British model company to miss the true BoB Hurricane stopping half step from that?

Hi Piotr, Thank you for the detailed response! All that really makes sense. And the above quotation I think is the essential Airfix problem. They are stuck with expensive steel molds that they do not like to make customizable to produce varied versions of the same aircraft - thus losing market. Plus they do have troubles in producing modernly fine molds so they simplify exterior and adhere to trenchy panel lines. And then we hear stories of declining market etc. while in reality the market and hobby are flourishing. P.S. By saying Eduard and MPM/SH are new manufacturers - I mean they are new to the top league with superior quality. Sure they are not at Tamiya or Finemolds level - but at least already ahead of Airfix.

I wonder if there is any world wide statistics on the market size? My view: even though overall sales volume might not be growing or may even be actually declining - the market is still large enough to allow entrance of new manufacturers who start mass production of high-quality long-run kits. Examples are Eduard, SH, Arma etc. So probably we actually have a market shift from low-end buyers of simple kits for pennies to high-end buyers of quality kits for double-digit numbers? If that's the case - Airfix price strategy is right, but they desperately need to change the approach to product quality to follow the high-end market.

Hi Michał, a great project and superb attention to details! I've recently bought an Eduard's box with Revell Tonka inside so would be following your work with great attention! Best regards, Dennis

Hi everyone, All right. I thought that the Little Italian is the easiest one to pull together so it is going through assembly shop right now. First picture - all prepainted parts are here. Instruction says interior is fully black including seats. Walkaround pictures of Italian SF.260 are showing mostly grey interiors, however photos of the prototype M.M.54436 from the final flight ceremony on 19/9/2009 actually confirm all black cockpit except for the instrument panel. Second picture shows instrument panel and seats with decals added. Seat belts are probably oversized for 1/72 but worked fine at last. Instrument panel decal is spot on. No problems with decals application. Seats are generously covered with future to ensure better decals adhesion and create smooth italian leather look and differentiate from flat cockpit finish. Third shot is preassembled cockpit (fit is fine) and with weight added. Space was enough to squeeze three pieces of lead there which seems sufficient to ensure proper position on three wheels. The last one is from yesterday late evening - fuselage closed! Front part is just inserted to ensure proper alignment. More will be coming on other airplanes. Kind regards, Dennis

Excellent result! How was the model in construction?

Painting continues. I spent about two hours today with black colour. I used mix of Vallejo black and grey primers in fact to paint black parts and prime exhausts for further painting into gun metal. I know it's a bit hard to see black parts on black painted masking tape I think I'll make some dedicated posts on each airplane over this week.

Excellently made little Delfin!!! Very striking scheme! Very inspiring so I probably have to unpack my AMK kit some day

Is Heller or Airfix so off? And second question - how is the KP molding quality? Any softness of smaller details? I've not been looking really to this kit having seen unsuccessful L-159. But looks like this one is not so bad at all.

I think wrong pictures for this article.

Hi All, As festivities are over, I'm getting back to the workbench. Firstly, I completed all the outstanding bits of jet trainers and gave an extra white primer cover to everything that is going to be white. Look at these marvels: I actually cut the front wheel molded together with the strut to give way for the resin replacement. This required a new wheel axe. All this photoetch is supplied in the Eduard fret and worked finely. Second action - I cut, sanded and preassembled some of the propeller trainers' interiors and minor exterior bits. And already primed all that too. So next step is painting everything. Best regards, Dennis

From my knowledge interior green was applied on early wwii RAF fighters to proper cockpit only. Even the behind the seat zone was not green. Secondly, the aircraft with painted bottom side had to have all visible parts in lower side colours. Spitfire's undercarriage bays are visible so should be black/white, sky, etc. In your case I guess this is silver so nmf or silver is what I would have chosen. Kind regards, Dennis

Early warning version HR2S-1W is what we need!!! Crazy looking machine.

Joined the thread as the follower!!!

And quite a bit of exterior parts too. Total cost hits the 100 quid ceiling!