trickydicky210

Interesting blog this week, mainly focused on the vintage classics, some clues there, but they have said that the TSR2, Westland Whirlwind (helo) and Bloodhound kits were very popular choices when they asked for suggestions. No confirmation that they will be included though. There is a section on the Spitfire event on sunday and it contains the following para: "As all Airfix fans will know, the Spitfire and Airfix go hand in glove, so to have the opportunity to speak about our association with this iconic aircraft at the spiritual home of the Spitfire is one which the team are really looking forward to and one which might already prove to be one of our event highlights of the year. As this is shaping up to be a truly memorable occasion, will there be any other Airfix related announcements coming from Duxford this coming Sunday? Stay tuned to Airfix social media and the website homepage on Sunday to hear about all the latest developments." Not sure what to make of the bold text, will they announce a new kit ahead of Monday? Cant see why they would mention this if unless there is some sort of announcement albeit new tool or not.

Wonder why it’s at 4pm not the usual 10am?

The one on the show was more like 1/48 scale, probably around 25-30cm long the quick build one is only 18cm, I know they Airfix do 3D prints, but they tend to be smaller, so I am sure that the one on the TV show is not the quick build kit. It could of course be someone else’s kit for reference.

As much as I would like to see a kit of the Ark Royal I think it’s a red herring as the accompanying text said ‘clear the decks for the 2022 range launch’ so I think we are more likely to get a RN aircraft that served on the Ark Royal a 1/48 Buccaneer was strongly suggested in the now closed Airfix 2022 topic, but we will know whatever it is soon enough. Personally, I am hoping it’s a 1/48 SeaKing or Gannet🤞

I think quite a few Maxis and Marinas went shooty bang bang when they should not have 🤭

Wonder if Airfix will Redbox any of the Academy 1/35 post war kits such as the Warrior? would also like to see the Panzer III reboxed As for new items in 1/35, a new DUKW? A 1/350 or 1/600 QEC would be great

Don’t think there is much given away here, just 3 Lancs ( unless they are doing a 1/48 Lanc) just had an email from Airfix with the date for the Launch and includes following message: ‘with new introductions in all your favourite categories, our huge new offering is not one you will want to miss!’ So I take that to be an increase in new and vintage kits 🤭

I think it’s the Hellcat and the Airfix logo below is causing a v like image The undercarriage looks further apart than the wildcat one

That’s the Ark Royal as the image, thanks to Dave Cov spotting it. From the title I think it’s an aircraft? 1/48 Buccaneer or Phantom?

Looking at the title ‘Clear the Decks, range launch coming’ I think it’s an aircraft linked to Ark Royal 1/48 Buccaneer or Phantom or Wessex would make sense as they are on the picture, maybe a Gannet, SeaHawk, Wyvern, Sea Vampire, Scimitar, Sea King, Dragonfly or Avenger has she carried those types (Sea Vixen excluded of course). Might even be a F35 in an obscure link

I don’t think the image is the QEC or POW, it is certainly a carrier, I like the idea that it could be the Ark Royal 1970s, but it could be HMS Illustrious ( re-issue as a vintage kit). I certainly suspect it’s a link to a QEC kit though.

That’s the idea set your expectations very low and it should avoid disappointment

Also the 1/35 Ambulance missed the deadline 😧

Assuming that the Tiger Moth & Chippie have sold well, I would have thought that a Harvard/Texan would be a strong contender at some point.

I think we will see a 1/72 P38 Lightning and a 1/48 F35B as both were spotted on the recent Hornby TV programmes in other makes boxes ( unless of course they were deliberate red herrings).

Interestingly all of the kits listed above at the Works are kits that are issued as more than one variant, maybe in some cases Airfix (or other model suppliers) should only issue one boxing at a time of a particular subject ( I don’t know if all of the above were available in different versions at the same time) What I mean is that if someone fancies a kit of a Beaufighter, unless you are a serious modeller, you are more likely to buy another kit rather than another Beaufighter and make a slightly different version. So I wonder if Airfix and other makes would find it better to sell one kit with options to make 2 or 3 versions in one box ( cost permitting of course). I would certainly say it would apply that a new tool when first issued would probably sell more of that version than subsequent boxings, take the Beaufort, that has sold well, modellers buying them up as they have been unavailable, but when Airfix release the next version I doubt that they will sell so well, as most people will be satisfied with the first one. I am no expert or can back up my suggestions with data, but thought I would mention it Cheers Rich

I see that Corgi have released a die cast model of the QEC, whilst not directly related to an Airfix kit, it must bode well for one to be in the pipeline?

The Advent calendar says new product news but on opening it’s just confirming that the Victor is to be re-issued so you can buy all three V bombers next year

So Airfix are likely to announce their range on the 11th January (Tuesday) and I believe the Airfix Model World mag is due on the 12th (in the intent to not steal the Thunder) , the Spitfire day is a Sunday, they might do something Telford style? Does seem too much of a coincidence. However Airfix seem to do 1/24 super kits every 5 years and I believe it’s only 3 since the Hellcat appeared, but then the one kit they could do quite easily in 1/24 would be a spitfire as they must have enough info. Whatever happens we will get the cheers 🤗the moans 🥴and the whatever’s 🥱, but let’s hope the cheers come out on top.

To me the LiDAR scanning will be for the museum’s own use. As already mentioned a non disclosure agreement would be in place between the parties. As for other manufacturers using LiDAR, Airfix are the only ones I have heard who publicly state that they use it, so if others do I would have thought they would use it as a marketing tool. just looked at the Central Scanning website and it states that they scan for 3 D printing and reverse engineering as well as design. So would guess that the museum might want to replace some parts of the aircraft? Through reverse engineering? As a modeller I hope I am wrong and it is for a newly tooled kit by Smer or Tamiya to fill a hole in our stash.

I was just basing the scimitar on another post within this topic, have not seen a picture or any other posts on a scimitar being scanned. Did make me smile when I read that it’s been rejected here on Britmodeller, so Airfix won’t being doing one. If only we could choose. Going back to the Starter kit, I forgot that Airfix have produced some simple kits, was thinking of a series 1 kit with paint and glue being added. Anyway still think a new 1/72 P39 would be welcome.

Having watched most of the Hornby model world Programmes along with many of us, it has been noted that kits of the F35 and P38 by MENG and Tamiya were present in the Airfix development area. I also noticed that the Eduard Tempest was also present, so Airfix clearly look at other kits when making their own, so I am very confident that we will see a F35B and a P38 soon probably 1/48 and 1/72 respectively. I did notice that there was a small F35 as well, which would tie into the 3D print version which Airfix use. Expect the ITAR issue will be raised. But can’t see why if they issued a Quickbuild and others have issued kits. Elsewhere Airfix have been spotted LiDAR scanning a scimitar and have made visits to various locations announced on their Facebook page RAF Cosford ( showing a Tornado) - true subject?? Jaguar has been mooted? RAF museum Hendon (Showing an Albatross) true subject??? Portsmouth Naval Base on board a T45 Destroyer, pic shows theQEC or POW in the background, so that might be the subject matter, could be an update to the current kit ( can’t think why as PIP has not been fitted yet) maybe a 1/600 T45? Or they were looking at a Merlin or Wildcat)? Bournemouth Aviation museum (looking at a Vulcan nose section) could be for a Vulcan kit update next year or ??? The visits are clearly not going to be the obvious choices shown for 2022 kits. So time to have an educated guess

How about a P39 Airacobra as a starter kit? something slightly different, plenty of schemes and I don’t believe there is a good modern tool of one in the mainstream market

Tomorrow’s Hornby Model World shows the Vampire development.

I think a 1/24 BAE Hawk would have to be a serious contender due to its Red Arrow link and worldwide use ( as Airfix are really only interested in kits that sell)