At Sea

I read 1700 NAS as 1:700 then did a huge double take on the first picture!!! I assume it’s 1/48, but even if that was 1/24 that would be impressive. Superb work & a great scheme.

“Holy thread resurrection Batman!” I’m replying to this because I just undertook a Google search for just such a thing. I reckon there’s a fair chance of an IM DD Sherman V as the costs to achieve it are coming down all the time & WW2 remains a popular subject. if nothing else maybe someone at (insert model company here) will see it.

I gave the job lot to a mate of mine & he has made a donation of £100 to the RAF Benevolent fund. Nearly every book I had he has the kit in the stash & he’s about to retire.

Sorted now.

Hi, not a buy & sell as such but I have about a half dozen of the Ian Allen hard back guides to things like B-52, Tornado, F-111 etc and another dozen of the softback guides to various WW2 & Cold War subjects. All of which have been bought for research whilst modelling & now am unlikely to refer back to them. Second hand books aren’t worth much, am happy to donate them but they are wasted at Oxfam, I can’t be bothered with eBay etc. Does anyone know of an aviation charity who would value them, or a modeller who would want the lot and make a donation to a suitable charity in exchange? I’ll provide a full list over the weekend.

I may buy the MR-2 and build it as a present for a friend who has owned one since new. But yes, very conservative from Hasegawa. But then it's Hasegawa...

I have committed myself to 1/48 for jets and 1/24 for single engines fighters but some of the the kits being released in 1/35 are really appealing. I think Border's 1/35 (Takom are doing for helicopters too) will become like Tamiya's 1/20 for F1 cars, an acceptable niche. Put them in a different cabinet and no-one will care. The He-111 is such a great looking aircraft that the large scale with Border's acknowledged attention to detail will really work.

I can imagine this will run & run. French and Oman & Indian export Jaguars. They kindly trialed the 2 seater by supplying 2 pilots. GR.3. The possibilities are endless. I'm delighted for Airfix that they have sold out... ...makes the 1/48 Spey Phantom more likely!

Nothing clever to add other than we have had a good 1/48 Lightning, Buccaneer, Jaguar from Airfix. There are 2 aircraft from the RAFG fleet outstanding. One of these is a Harrier GR.3 C'mon Airfix. Do a Phantom FGR.2!

Now spoken for!

I’m buying one, just to prove theres love for the Wessex & hope they make a 1:48 one! Looking good for Helicopter lovers this year!

I have the AS version and will build this as well. Thankfully the wings fold!

If anyone wants a set of Grey Nurse decals I have a spare Eduard set. PM me.

Unsure how this will fare Vs Tamiya & Eduard’s kits. I know the usual answer ‘they don’t make any money for Airfix’. But I do recall this being an exceptional kit 10 years ago.

Schemes. Hmmm. my Kitty Hawk was built in green/grey wrap around. I think winter white & grey will have to be the one!

Yay! I got something right!

Additionally: I have always thought Biplanes would work in 1/24. Sopwith Camel Tiger Moth. Bristol Bulldog the detail would look incredible. That’s a real shame.

I’m joining in because I am sure Airfix bods must read these threads. New Tool: 1:72 Halifax BIII 1:48 Spey Phantom FG.1/FGR.2 1:48 Scimitar 1:24 Corsair 1:24 Sea Fury Re-Release: 1:48 Sea Vixen 1:48 Lightning F2A/F.6 also, if Airfix could please make 1/35 Land Rovers: Civillian Series 1 & 2 short wheelbase. Military Lightweight & 101. thank you.

My limited experience of the Japanese this is an incredibly personal blog post. Happy he is well and as determined as ever. Retaining one's sense of humour is a must! Now stop all this J-79 nonsense and launch a kit with Spey's please. Keii o motte kansha shimasu.

Blimey that takes me back! I started my career at sea with China Navigation Co. (Also part of Swire group) out of Hong Kong & we always flew Cathay. lovely rendition of a nice scheme.

A kit I would love to see and will probably never be made is a Seafire FR.47 in 1/24. Folded wings, Contra rotating prop, the massive Griffon nose with the distinctive cam cover bulges. That would look so amazing on the shelf. Looking at the kit breakdown of the 1/24 Spitfire the sprue layout allows for a Griffon Spitfire. Any Griffon Spitfire in that scale would be amazing. As would a new tool Mk.I-V.

They did though with the 'Black Mike' 1/72 FG.1 boxing. In a fit of the common senses Airfix graced us with one box which contains all the parts required to build and FG.1 or FGR.2 with or without a RWR and weapons. We shall never see it's like again. A06019 if you are interested.

A CATastrophe, if it doesn’t happen I’d be so depressed I may become CATatonic. However a surprise Telford release may be CAThartic enough to lift me from my gloom!

Whoever decides to make a 1:48 Phantom FG.1 or FGR.2 has an albatross around their neck. It is an aircraft that is so geeked out on, so iconic and so loved that even if SWS or Tamiya put their A-Game on it there will still be mistakes. I would dearly love Airfix to be able to produce a Spey Phantom kit with everything in the box to build any Spey Phantom, to the standard of their 1/24 Spitfire for under £100. I believe they could. The elephant in the room is nostalgia. If anyone dared to bring out the Hasegawa kit today, at the price point, with blind intakes, thick & incomplete decals, non posable tailerons, no belts, incorrect wheel hubs etc etc the internet would crash! People of a certain age (me included) adore the Hasegawa kit with the iconic Shigeo Koike artwork and that is enough to warrant the price plus all the aftermarket to make a stunning kit which easily breaks the £100 barrier. This is why Revell’s re-pop flopped. My hope lies with SWS plus the Xtra-Decal 1:48 Phantom sheets. But I still have faith that Airfix could pull it off if they really want to.

I have no idea where I would put a 1/24 Lightning but I'd build a shed to keep it in once completed.