RussellE

Indeed the air flow over aircraft carriers is very important. Did you know for instance, that it was the direction that the props turned (obviously the early prop driven planes) that determined that the islands were placed upon the starboard side of the deck?

Agreed! And I'm an antipodean too! Me too! And when compared to the Nimitz and Gerald Ford classes, not that much different, stylistically. Ah, but this is where form follows function. The f'wd island is for control of the ship, giving a good view of the bow (Something the Americans lack in their Nimitz and Gerald Ford Class) and the aft island is for flight operations giving a good view of the flight deck and approaching a/c.

Holy Moley! Be Still my beating heart! What a centre piece that would make! But! This clearly illustrates why Airfix should offer a 1/700 kit first and only proceed to 1/350 as a hero kit, much in the same vein as their 1/24 a/c kits later on. As Dave's picture perfectly illustrates just how big the 1/350 would be... Yes, the 1/700 Titanic is an Academy re-box, but it's a smart move by Airfix to get into the 1/700 scale. Revell on the other hand are notorious for odd scales... 1/200 kits are in a whole other league (and price bracket), not to mention Trumpeter's recent 1/48 Type Vii release. But it does prove there's a market out there and pockets deep enough...

I think 1/350 and 1/700 are the scales for ships these days. Whilst 1/600 was historically Airfix's naval scale, a modern kit of a RN vessel would do well to be in 1/700 for compatibility with kits of other modern navies from other manufacturers. Having said that, Airfix have forayed into 1/700 already in the form of their release of the Titanic. What would be interesting and probably a popular move would be for Airfix to release the QE/POW in both 1/350 and 1/700 scales and further on down the track bolster the range with the Type 26 and 31 Frigates in both scales. They could also re-introduce their Type 45 DD to bolster the range.

If they do, ask them for a second kit and I'll build that one 🤣

Dave, you are an absolute legend for scratch building a 1/350 scale QE CV, not just once but 3 times! 😀 Something that lack of time would never allow me to do! A kit on the other hand opens a world of possibilities. Letter now being formulated ready to send to Horby 😃

Is this something that anyone can provide feedback to Airfix on, or is it only exclusive to those who received the letter above? I too would love to see Airfix produce a 1/350 scale kit of the QE class-it would go nicely with my Type 45 destroyer and hopefully a Type 26 Frigate will emerge in 1/350 at some point (Also from Airfix, hint, hint). But, I really believe that Airfix also need to release a 1/700 scale version as well, because, let's face it, this is where the volume sales will be.

Fairey Firefly! 😀

Yep, Tempest & Yak 9u in 1/72 would get my 💰🙂

One area that Airfix seems to have moved away from in recent years and that I sorely wish they would go back to, is single engine props in 1/72. Sure, there have been plenty of new heavies & jets recently, but it feels like, unless you're into 1/48, new single engines prop kits get overlooked by Airfix 😟

If it were a new tool Spitfire that could say be engineered so as to be released as the 3 main variants (I, V & IX) Over ensuing years I'd buy one of each!!!

Maybe it's a reference to an old Revell kit that people have been requesting a new tooling of for sometime? Any ideas? Tornado in 1/72 maybe? Previous workbench mentioned P45 slip & this week it's "Revel" 🙄

A "BIG announcement" could mean anything: they've bought out Heller; they're moving from Margate again; or they've partnered with Revell 😯

Agreed. I'd be very surprised if Airfix did a 1/48 Typhoon. As for the Yak-9, the most obvious variant would be the 9U. Absolutely requires considered, clever tooling to achieve maximum number of variations of this type.

Along with heaps of colour schemes the Yak-9 also operated with a wide variety of armament for use in anti-tank, light bomber and long-range escort roles giving even more variant possibilities... and availability of good references is not a problem either 😉

There's definitely a market gap for new tools of both the major Tempest variants in 1/72. Done smartly one set of tools could do both. Another gap in the 1/72 scale is a modern tooling of the Yak-9! A 1/24 F4U would be the next logical step in that scale for Airfix. As for P47 Tamiya have it covered.

Sorry for the confusion: I was only wondering how you knew of their intentions to move into 1/350 kits, not questioning their quality. But! This is good news on two fronts: one is that they are going 1/350 because hopefully they'll upscale their HMS Illustrious WW2 carriers from 1/700 to 1/350; & second because, as you've mentioned they are good quality. Interesting though, that they chose to go with HMS Prince of Wales first, since it seems Very Fire are also planning to release a new kit of same. Unless they are from the same tooling???

Pray tell, on what information do you base this? & What 1/350 kits will they be releasing?

Why not both scales? 1/350 as flagship & 1/700 for sales! 😃

And if we work on the concept that the rumour mill has it that it's big and British and we want it to be something other than an aircraft then could that mean a 1/350 kit of HMS Queen Elizabeth/Prince of Wales??? 😜

What more proof do we need that Airfix read this thread as they clearly get a chuckle out of subverting my comments, LoL

Kinetic already market a 1/24 P47 in both razorback & bubble top.

Probably not this week's, but maybe the next one due in a fortnight's time... And possibly not even that Workbench, as there'd still be another 2 weeks to go, so they might not give any hints until the Workbench due on the 8th!

Still I am hopeful for new tools of the following in 1/72 from Airfix Hawker Tempest V and MkII Arado ar196 and a Supermarine Walrus downscaled from their 1/48 release. I guess a Lysander in 1/72 is out now that Dora Wings are going to release a new one... When is it appropriate to begin speculating on the next 1/24 superkit? Or should that go in its own thread?

Agreed-Airfix's 1/72 spits are due a re-tool to bring them up to the standard of the rest of their range. Mk I, V and IX please. I'd also say a new tool 1/72 B-24 Liberator is a fair bet.