Denford

The picture is in the Squadron/Signal 'In Action' series #39 pp20. By now surely out of print. For the record, it is Turkish. From port side, fuselage insignia reads OK-14, though that's not a very precise description: limited by available typefaces eg '-' is in fact level with the bottom of the characters. Though it can't be identified as such, it's a Vc according to the caption.

Does anybody know when in July they will be making their announcement? We're already at the end of the first week.

Rudders were interchangeable: I've even seen a photo of a V with a pointed rudder! Somewhere (most probably on this site) is a statement that they were mandatory for e wings.

Coming back to reality (and I know I suggested that a German subject was 'due') nobody seems have mentioned a Spitfire XlV ! If B\C and D Mustangs are possible, then surely High and Low back versions.

Be aware that the Crusader variable incidence wing, leading edge and I think landing flaps were all mechanically linked, so to show only the wing raised is incorrect.

I'll put a Seafire 15 \ 17 as a possibility. Never previously tooled in Mainstream, though the original Airfix had it planned. Given that ARMA often / always include Brass Etch one might expect it to be here too as part of wing-folding.

Interestingly ARMA say that the Ki84 sold surprisingly well. This bodes well for another Japanese type at a later date, but not for the now delayed release. No hint of what it might be but of all the types so far chosen, the Luftwaffe is conspicuously absent. However most small such subjects have been, metaphorically, 'tooled to death' and are now well represented in quality toolings. So perhaps a 'second line' type such as Bf108 or Storch. Both wore many finishes including civilian and in the case of the Storch might be tooled to have the wings folded. On the other hand there's no accurate Me 410 but this may be too large for ARMA.

Wouldn't entirely rule that out: the original 'bubble top' Typhoon was 'reissued' as the 'car door' variant. Sprue shots show the 'pointed' rudder: yes I know that some IX's had that too, though I think most of those had 'e' wings. Don't know if information 'released' so far shows any hint of this being pre-planned. The most obvious would be a 'low back'. New fuselage parts required, but no more 'challenging' than with the Typhoon variants. Most 'low backs' were XVls, having a Packard Merlin. For differences v RR Merlin, they're listed in 'Spitfire - The story of a famous fighter' and don't seem too difficult if planned ab-initio. Yes: some other minor differences too but again, if 'preplanned', no more 'challenging' than the Typhoon. And lots and lots of (mainly post-war) users and colour schemes too.....

Just the response I sought: thanks.

I use Nail Polish remover (with or without Acetone) available cheaply from SuperDrug

To those who have been good enough to reply it is the coloured paints in which I am interested. Metallic 'shades' are still (!) widely available, but not the 'bog standard' colours eg PRU blue, RLM 65 Hellblau. Also what has happened to the UK supplier who had a 'base' in Norfolk but has now disappeared into cyberspace. Alclad are still listed as having a stand at Telford (where I could ask) , but that's a long way off....

Does anybody know what has happened to Alclad ll paints? Not the ‘Metallic’ and ‘CandyColours’ (still readily available) but their ‘ordinary’ MlL-SPEC range of Airbrush Ready paints. Coded ALCE followed by 3 digits. Named colours (coded as appropriate) such as ‘RLM65 Hellblau’, in 30 ml screw-top bottles. These were listed (somewhat randomly) and could be bought separately though there were a few ‘composite’ sets with 3 bottles e.g., USN WWll. Air Brush ready, the first I ever used, and I’ll never thin again if I can avoid it! Quick drying, solvent based not acrylic, easily cleaned using a quick spray with Nail Polish remover: much cheaper than any proprietary cleaner! The bottle declares ‘Made in England – Patent Pending’ They had a terrestial address in Norfolk and were selling from their stand at Telford. They were aware of the need for certain late-war Luftwaffe colours so I felt no need to mention FAA Slate Grey Tracking down via the address on the bottle gives ‘Domain over used or seller ran out of rescources’. Where are they (and their stock) now?

Make it an XlV

It also had a whip aerial instead of the post type of the Xl

Have you heard about the new Ap' So simple that only a child can understand it.

I think there was some such correspondence when the kit was first issued. The answer (and we have to take their word for it, not what we would like to see) was it would have required a larger mold than they would have been able to handle.

Maybe they'll announce something at Telford?

The best 'element' of the releases is their Number x Size. My greatest wish is not for any particular kit, but to see Airfix/Hornby Hobby return to profitability and thence pay off their Bank Loan. Clearly whoever controls the budget feels this way too and the funds for all these releases must have been sanctioned even as far back as 2020. It's hard to see how this wouldn't be repeated at least in the immediate future, so maybe we'll get some of the toolings we were hoping for but weren't announced. One 'curious' feature that nobody so far seems to have mentioned is that all genuinely new subjects are of UK origin.

You may just be lucky with the Sea Vixen because: - Airfix are now downscaling - Despite tales of visits to Yeovilton last year, nothing this year has been announced that would warrant going there. The 1/48 version is pre-digital, so new data would have to be acquired. - The 1/48 version was to have been re-released but was then withdrawn.... - I'm just finishing off my Frog kit, having bought it many years ago in Asda for I think £2.50!

This is what they told me at Telford some years ago. I'm as glad to see it as you seem to be. I don't purport to tell Airfix how to run their business.

Don't forget the Sea Hawk. The original 1/72 was issued in 1958! New tool could be its replacement, or in 1/48 to 'stand alongside' its younger brother the Sea Fury.

Where did you get the information that the tooling was shot? Is it just supposition based on its age - remember it's not been in continuous production. But regarding a new tool of a 1/24 Spitfire or anything else to this scale, this is a huge investment. Others may have more precise figures, but Hornby Hobby is still some £3 million in debt, event though they made a profit of £240,000 last year. So there's still a long climb to solvency and with Interest Rates rising, the slope is becoming steeper... Add up the selling prices of 2021's kits (excluding the Vulcan) and it falls well short of that of any 1/24 subject, so it would seem unlikely the funding is available, never mind the lead time to recover the investment. As to a new tool Spitfire (elsewhere lX seems to be the favourite) selling in 'large numbers', how many of those having the Mk1 would now buy the new one too ? To the model-buying public (to whom the majority of sales are made) a Spitfire is just a Spitfire and are surely more likely to buy something else rather than repeat what they already have.

There's absolutely no need to re-tool. Most of the buyers aren't modelers (true of all purchases) and in some cases don't even build them! The said Spitfire makes an 'easy' gift for an elder relative to a younger family member, and the square box makes is easy to gift wrap. The money (remember they are still in debt) is better used for other subjects: there's no shortage of suggestions here on BM!

If that was at the time of the original release, that was a 'different' Airfix.

My original post specified a Corsair as a 'follow on' from the Hellcat, providing it sold well. There's an added advantage that both had the same engine, propeller, (often) wheels, tyres and of course armament. Haven't studied the sprues to see if any duplication is possible, but at the designs are already 'held', in digital form.