RichG

Thanks Dave. As I said the canopy replacement is unfortunately not currently listed at Models for Sale (although other Alley Cat Nimrod stuff is, albeit "sold out" in some cases), but luckily I did get one a few years ago from A2Zee Models when they were still in business.

Many thanks for the encouragement Gary. The Alley Cat Nimrod canopy is not available at Models for Sale, however when I read a few years back that A2Zee Models, original producers of the Alley Cat range, were shutting I thought I'd get one at the time before it became unobtainable. So all good on that score; great to know its well worth using! 👍 Rich

Just to prove the point, the box art for the soon to be re-released Airfix Wellington currently available for pre-order and presumably moulded in the new harder dark grey plastic. Its the 4th time its been re-boxed since 2018 so it must be a really good seller. Airfix have only done their Whitley twice since 2015, so perhaps not as popular as the Wimpey but its still a recent tooling so my guess is it will be re-released in the next year or two. Rich

Thats a fantastic build Gary. I still have the kit I started years ago and planned to build as an early MR.1 in these markings. Well when I say "started", I took the main components off the sprue and ended up snapping the big lower wing/ fuselage section (vulnerable to excessive dry fitting..!) I think I was put off at the time by people panning the kit, but your's looks superb and is certainly the inspiration that I need to have another look at this cold war warrior - I'll study the WIP. Rich

I was just reading the Airfix Workbench blog which previewed the recent re-release of their 1/72 Phantom FG.1/FGR.2 kit (Firebird Phantom bares its teeth) and interestingly it states "our British Phantom continues to be one of our most popular kits..." and as "a true icon of Britain's post war aviation heritage, an Anglicized development of a classic American aircraft, the awesome and incredibly popular McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom." This may well be just marketing spiel but it is worth noting that this is the 4th different boxing of a relatively new 1/72nd scale tooling since 2017... I loved the comment "...initial supplies of the new Phantom [in 2017] disappeared faster than an actual Fleet Air Arm FG.1 launching from the deck of HMS Ark Royal and repeat runs of the kit had to be placed in order to keep up with demand..." I think it is pretty safe to assume that Airfix are well aware of the subject's popularity and doing a 1/48 version would be a sound commercial choice. Rich

They are one and the same kit, numbered A06019A. This boxing of the kit was released earlier this month, however in advance of its release, it was advertised with an interim boxart (the left hand version in your post). The actual kit boxart is the right hand version although confusingly many online retail outlets continue to advertise it with the interim artwork, including Airfix itself initially! The recommended retail price on the Airfix web site for this kit is £33.99 although it can be found for sale cheaper elsewhere. Airfix have issued this kit in different versions with specific parts a few times in the in the past (marked as a Phantom FG.1 or FGR.2); this particular boxing does actually include the parts and new markings for both versions. More information on this kit can be found on the Airfix Workbench blog Firebird Phantom Bares its Teeth HTH Rich

It seems unlikely there will be much to feed the rumour mill for this unless someone observes a scan being done in a museum. So we can only really speculate; but on the balance of probability and ticks in various (Aifix) boxes I personally think a 1/48 F-4K/M kit has to be a dead cert, just really a matter of sooner or later, probably wihin the next 5 years. With the posiible exception of no overseas operators, it seems to fit the Westland Sea King selection criteria / template very closely; and a Phantom has a significant additional level of interest all of its own. If they do take it on I hope it's to the same standard as the Sea King. Rich

Sensible decision. 👍 Best wishes Rich

To reiterate what others have said, a beautiful model Rob. I don't confess to be any sort of expert but you've captured the subject exactly as it is my minds eye. The colours, the weathering, the surface finish... everything! I know its a fabulous kit but you've more than done it justice. I'd also love to see the Hurricane Mk.1 from the same stable. Rich

No, not changed @matford that's still the main kit box art in your post. I noticed in addition the main box art, the kit box also features a second beautiful piece of artwork on the end of the box - the picture in my post. I can imagine Airfix had a dilemma deciding which one to use so went with both... But then you can never have too many Adam Tooby piccies! 🙂 Rich

Just taken delivery of Airfix's new boxing of their Phantom FG.1/FGR.2 kit now numbered A06019A. Includes the parts for both British Phantom variants but as expected no change to the moulds themselves are evident, however the kit does now come in the new dark grey, harder plastic Airfix have recently switched to. To my eye at least this does make the surface detail look crisper; it may be an illusion but the individual can judge. This seems to suggest that all future Airfix kits and reboxings will now use this plastic. A positive move I think. The decal sheet is beautifully designed and superbly printed and includes 2 RAF grey scheme Phantoms, an FG.1 and an FGR.2 ("end of box" box-art below in this scheme), and a Royal Navy FG.1; all illustrated earlier in the thread. The designer has gone to town with the stencils which are, what shall I say, prolific... 😮 I know this is something of a "Marmite" kit, for all sorts of reasons but personally I like it and I'm looking forward to building my Frirebird sharkmouth! 🦈 Rich

Ah yes I see what you mean. Great tip. I suspect the test builder perhaps wasn't aware and the wing supports on his model do look a little bent compared with that superb photo of the Gannet on the lift and which may have caused the subsequent gap between the ailerons. Resassuringly, on checking out the CAD illustrations, it looks like Paramjit the kit designer got things right, but certainly worth being aware.👍 Rich

FYI in the UK Jadlam still have the initial Airfix Vulcan (2021) release for sale at £44.99 (free delivery)* also £44.99 at The Scale Model Shop & Wonderland Models and £47.95 at Amazon. (* Jadlam have a slightly damaged Vulcan kit (seal intact, slight box damage) on sale for £39.95) Despite the latest release faux pas it's still a great kit. Rich

New boxing's new boxart... Rich

More 3D black magic! Incredible work by both @Patrik and @TeeELL I've no particular interest in the specific subject tbh, but... I wonder?🤔 Always had a bit of a soft spot for these British interwar types, patrolling the far flung reaches of empire in their silver finishes - especially the magestic flying boats. I've always been put off by the challenge of rigging and I really do have far too many projects on the go but I am tempted, very tempted.😆 Perhaps one for my own back burner. Rich

Yes I was thinking just the same myself, be good to have that confirmed. So possibly no biggie, if so. But bit of a howler by Airfix though, especially as they pride themselves on their level of research. Wonder what happened to their involving subject matter experts in the design stage? Even so, its not as if there is an absence of published material on the subject. I would've thought anyone familiar with the type would've spotted it straight away including at markings design stage. I got my extra Vulcan at the knock down price a few weeks ago so its unlikely I'd be getting this one very soon anyway and surely Airfix would correct it on a future production run. Rich

Ahahahahahaha!!! Listen very carefully I shall sey ziz onlee wance...! Sorry couldn't resist. 😆

I'd love to see some British Army figures from the Ferret's era, ideally 1970's/1980's, to go with it. Who knows maybe Airfix could have a British Army post war vehicle range in 1/35. There have been some great kits of British post-war armour / Landies etc in recent years and it would be great to also see some of the support vehicles. My personal choice for a Ferret follow up / companion would be a "Truck, High Mobility Load Carrier (HMLC), 5 Ton, 6 x 6" AKA the Alvis Stalwart. An injection moulded 1/35 Stolly in a variety of configurations would be fantastic. Or for an occasional Airfix "left of field" release perhaps a kit of Wolfgang The Bratty Man's blue "Bratty Van"! To British troops based in north Germany in the last two decades of the Cold War, he was a legend. During exercises on huge training areas he had the knack of finding soldiers - however well hidden.... 😆 Rich

That's certainly of interest David! Especially the potential for crew figures; there is definitely a gap in the market for more cold-war British Army figures - perhaps some mates for the British Fusilier (1970s-1980s)... a whole foot patrol perhaps? Or a vehicle check point..? 🙂 I'm looking forward to the Ferret (I think I pre-ordered one...🤔). Have a project for a Berlin Wall diorama circa 1970s; a bit like the Airfix box-art without the Brandenburg Gate! RMP Land Rover 88 (AK) or alternatively a Land Rover 109 (Italeri & Firing Line detail set); a broken down civilian VW Beetle at the kerbside / by the Wall ("modernised" RFM Staff car); Coastal Kits Berlin Wall display base and some wall section kits from AFV Club I picked up really cheap a few years ago. The Airfix Ferret will provide a great Army vehicle in attendance at the scene... well that's the plan! Rich

Meanwhile just returning us briefly to the subject... 😉 Just seen the brief preview of the gorgeous new tool 1/48 Fairey Gannet from Airfix in the latest edition of Airfix Model World magazine. Its scheduled for release in October at a retail price £54.99. Loads of different configuration options - including inflight. 2 seperate sets of wings are included (folded and un-folded). Marking options are for the 3 Royal Navy machines mentioned earlier in the thread (so a follow-on version in overseas markings in almost certain). Detailed cockpits and various internal and external weapon fit options. Large underwing pylons are included usually for carrying drop tanks, although these are not actually included. Perhaps they are being held back for another version down the line? Well, this is "The Rumourmonger" area... 😆 I must confess to having only a passing interest in the Fleet Air Arm and zero interest in the Fairy Gannet, but this looks to be another great kit by Airfix which must be off the scale for "quirky looking aircraft" ... so for for that reason, and that reason alone, I'm in! 🙂 Rich

Only time I recall a problem was when placing an order which included an item from my back order list which then went "out of stock" before I could confirm payment (and went back on my back order list). The one occasion I've had to email [email protected] (regarding a damaged item quite recently), I did receive an email response the following day. I know that probably doesn't help you too much... Rich

Not sure exactly when the strengthening plates on the transportation joint were added; probably not before the 1990s. They were definitely fitted to Sea King HAR.3s as this walkaround of Westland Sea King HAR.3 ZA105 clearly shows it fitted to this airframe. Probably safe to assume it was a mod applied across the whole fleet. Rich

There have been a few resin F-4K/M (Spey engined) seamless intakes specifically for the 1/48 Hasegawa FG.1/FGR.2 kit produced over the years from the likes of Cutting Edge, DMold Modelworks and most recently XMM. I'm not sure if any of these are still available and I think the latter two are/were Russian in origin, so very doubtful... I do actually have the DMold set although not completed as yet. The fit seems good but you're right much hacking of the kit is involved. AlleyCat Models also produced a set but I don't know if they're still in business. https://www.alleycatmodels.co.uk/phantom-seamless-f-4-km-british-intakes-for-148-scale-hasegawa-kits-1-6122-p.asp Another resin set of intakes is currently available from GT Resin who seem to sell exclusively through Sprue Brothers in the US. They also produce a detailed under wing belly strap and reinforcing plates that were used on late service FG.1/FGR.2 Phantoms. https://spruebrothers.com/gtr48038-1-48-gt-resin-british-phantom-fg-1-fgr-2-seamless-intake-set-has-kit/ See page 6 of this thread for more info... Rich

Yes you're correct, part A10 is probably best described as the insert for the jet exhaust "roof" area. Strangely not mentioned in the instructions. I suspect its because the first Airfix Hunter F6 boxing was to orignally include a Hunter F6A (similar configuration/parts to the FGA.9) but when that version was dropped from the final release of just the F.6 , the part somehow got overlooked in the subsequent FGA.9 release. HTH Rich

Good plan. My thinking went along these same lines too. Rich