Jump to content

Airfix HMS Illustrious


Phil Reeder

Recommended Posts

The Best bit of news to come out of Telford,is that the Lovely people at Airfix,have announced that they are releasing a 1/350th kit of the "Lusty"in 2009.

When I first heard this news,I didn`t believe it,but it`s been announced on the Airfix club website.This ship was chosen because of the TV series earlier this year,which had good viewing figures.Must have had as many viewers as Doctor Who!

I`m one Happy naval Bunny! cheerio Phil

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So I presume we are talking about the "new" Illustrious then - the Harrier Carrier?

Yes Paul,it is the current"Illustrious",If it had been the WW2 carrier,I`d have out to the `local`,buying drinks for everybody.but I`ll still happy,at least it wasn`t a British ship that was sunk by the Japanese! Cheers Phil

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well as soon as they release it Phil you will be expected to purchase said model and build it to your usual standard of bloody amazing :yahoo:

Bex

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
The Best bit of news to come out of Telford,is that the Lovely people at Airfix,have announced that they are releasing a 1/350th kit of the "Lusty"in 2009.

When I first heard this news,I didn`t believe it,but it`s been announced on the Airfix club website.This ship was chosen because of the TV series earlier this year,which had good viewing figures.Must have had as many viewers as Doctor Who!

I`m one Happy naval Bunny! cheerio Phil

That makes me one as well - the RN is well under represented in the 1/350 scale injection plastic models. Only the Hood, KGV and soon to be Repulse are to be found. Other than that, the Illustrious is the only modern ship appearing on the Horizon. Now with the news that the RN have an agreement, shall we be seeing other worthies, such as County Class GM Destroyers, and so on. Perhaps there is a chance of an odd cruiser or two, HMS Sheffield/Belfast/Kenya, and hows about a Battle Class/Daring Class destroyer.

Cheers, for now.

Hugh Williams

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's NOT a 'Carrier'...It's a 'Through Deck Cruiser'!

My late Father would be having kittens, and so would my late Father-in-law...they both served on 'Proper' Carriers!

Eagle, Ark Royal, Hermes, Bulwark..

It will be a welcome addition to the stash, though!

All the best,

Phil

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would hope that the Illustrious is a success for Airfix (I certainly plan on buying one, and the Ark Royal and Invincible versions they will inevitably release), and would lead to further kits in the same scale. Any of the Ark Royals would be nice, especially the WWII version (goes nicely with Hood, KGV and PoW as hunters of the Bismarck) or even the post-war version immortalised in the BBC series "Sailor" from the 1970s.

As much as I'd like the WWII ship, I have a real fondness for the last "proper" carrier to bear the Ark name, especially with those ruddy great Phantoms thundering off the deck! Altogether now: We are sailing, we are sailing...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...
Hannants now have it listed at £50!

I think £35 would be about right, given that you can now pick up Revell's 1/350 Bismark for around that figure.

Hugh

Well considering the Trumpeter Kuznetsov and the Trumpeter and Tamiya CVn's are all over £100 i dont think the £49.99 quoted for the Illustrious is too bad.

I certainly hope its out in May as it would be a nice change to see one of these specials come in early and in the correct catalogue year !, should also tie availability with the Navy Days.

Now will Airfix do some of the escorts to go with the Lusty ?

G

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...

It'll be interested to see what a modern Airfix ship kit looks like :)

"Alert one,splash the Zeros" which film ? - Final Countdown

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was speaking to the Airfix team at the Yeovilton model show a couple of weeks ago and they said the design for the kit had just been completed and they are looking to a production date of November 2009.

One good, or bad thing, is that the design images they showed appeared to be of Illustrious in her latest guise i.e. with the extended deck, removed Dart systems and modern Mack/Masts. The box art appears to confirm this. This is good for the modern scenario but could be difficult if you wish to complete her around 1983-2000 era

Bootneck

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Further to my last posting, perhaps we shall see Airfix, (or Trumpeter?) producing Merlins and Sea Harriers for the Fleet Air Arm.

Bootneck

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hannants now have it listed at £50!

I think £35 would be about right, given that you can now pick up Revell's 1/350 Bismark for around that figure.

Hugh

True, but the Tirpitz scheduled for later this year is going to be around £70.

Tony :clif:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

From the latest Airfix Newsletter there is a You tube video of the test shot.

Looks like you will get Shars, GR7/9s, Sea Kings and Merlins included. Also some nice GSE as well. I have been waiting for a 1/350 Illlustious for a while. Looks like this one will fit the bill nicely.

Now are there any 1/350 RN escort type kits available?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From the latest Airfix Newsletter there is a You tube video of the test shot.

Looks like you will get Shars, GR7/9s, Sea Kings and Merlins included. Also some nice GSE as well. I have been waiting for a 1/350 Illlustious for a while. Looks like this one will fit the bill nicely.

Now are there any 1/350 RN escort type kits available?

The only 350th modern RN escort available ,is the WEM kit of the Type 23 Frigate,can`t off the top of my head think of any others.Cheers Phil

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The only 350th modern RN escort available ,is the WEM kit of the Type 23 Frigate,can`t off the top of my head think of any others.Cheers Phil

You never know, if the Lusty sells well enough, Airfix might follow up with an escort of some type. :please:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...