Airfix 2015 Pt 2

[HP42]

After watching the VC-10 head down the runway at Bruntingthorpe last weekend I think I'm a VC-10 convert. I even went inside it and had a good look around as well as a stroll out on the wing and a tour of the cockpit -what a privilege thanks chaps, much appreciated!

I can't see Airfix doing a VC-10 any time soon, but I would buy one without a doubt. I've been looking at the Magna one and I'm in two minds really. Anyone with any experience of it?

[Truro Model Builder]

AND a 1/35 Cutty Sark surely??

Allan

Will. You. Be. Quiet!

[Max Headroom]

You can have your Cutty Sark only after the Beaufighter has been released in all marks and popular scales.

There. I Have Spoken!

Trevor

[Enzo the Magnificent]

You can have your Cutty Sark only after the Beaufighter has been released in all marks and popular scales.

Beaufighter??? I'm tired of telling people there's no demand for it.

[Mantog]

Comet 1 airliner in 1/72. Can't believe they haven't done one already in that scale.

[Steven Corvi]

2015 Airfix releases are.......

1/48 Supermarine Scimitar

1/48 F11F-1 Tiger (special secret release to blind side everyone!)

1/72 F-4 phantom family

1/72 P/F-80 family

1/72 Buccaneer

Steve

[Homebee]

2015 Airfix releases are.......

(...)

1/48 F11F-1 Tiger (special secret release to blind side everyone!)

(...)

Steve

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234959822-132-or-148-grumman-f11f-1-tiger/?hl=tiger

V.P.

Edited August 28, 2014 by Homebee

[Albeback52]

Will. You. Be. Quiet!

Anything to oblige sir!

Allan

[Geoff_B]

Now that Yeovilton has returned Phantom XV586 back to her original FAA colours in the markings she carried at the end of her service with 892 squadron, perhaps that might help encourage Airfix to do one in 72nd.....

http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=101660

[Truro Model Builder]

That Phantom looked absolutely stunning in the sun.

I had to give Grizzly my last pack of tissues so he could rush off to the toilets after he saw it.

[Albeback52]

That Phantom looked absolutely stunning in the sun.

I had to give Grizzly my last pack of tissues so he could rush off to the toilets after he saw it.

Too much information!!!

[Meatbox8]

I got an Airfix newsletter e:mail today offering some kits at discount prices saying something like 'buy now as once they're gone they're gone'. Most are Gift sets or editions in special markings with one notable exception - the 1/72nd scale Buccaneer. What can this mean? Are they withdrawing this kit forever and if so is this because they are planning to replace it with a new tooling!?

As an aside I hope they consider scaling down the Javelin and Sea Vixen. I think a Venom would be a good idea to.

[Tripod]

There should be something WWI coming in 2015. But what? Early-war aircraft first, or big sellers to gauge interest?

If they went for the first option,a BE2c and Avro 504K would be a good start. They could even release a civil version of the Avro, as they did with the Tiger Moth. For the second, the Camel and Brisfit could do with being replaced, and if they sold well they could add a couple more to their 2017 releases!

[chrisrope]

I got an Airfix newsletter e:mail today offering some kits at discount prices saying something like 'buy now as once they're gone they're gone'. Most are Gift sets or editions in special markings with one notable exception - the 1/72nd scale Buccaneer. What can this mean? Are they withdrawing this kit forever and if so is this because they are planning to replace it with a new tooling!?

I really really hope so

[Max Headroom]

I really really hope so

Or Airfix have run out and won't have any more until it's that mould's time to be dusted off again.

Like you though I hope for a state of the art Brick.

Trevor

[FalkeEins]

..not many Luftwaffe subjects appearing in all these 'suggestions'.......just sayin'

[Truro Model Builder]

Talking about the Avro 504, is there enough commonality between the 504K and 504N that would allow for a mostly generic kit with just the notable differences (undercarriage, engine) on separate sprues? If so, could be an option.

[Work In Progress]

I think there are wing differences too.

Edited August 29, 2014 by Work In Progress

[Ray S]

Hello all. Well the Avro 504K is a prime candidate for a new tool in 1915, as I am currently building one of them on another forum, and going to town on the detailing (but not correcting the thin, short fuselage). I do hope they do some WW1 new tools, their detail would be terrific in this day and age (and they do not need to do much in the way of transparencies!).

Cheers, Ray

[Steven Corvi]

Lets hope Airfix does stuff that hasnt been done And Luftwaffe is a little overdone IMHO....Now on the 1/72 front the Fujimi FG.1 Phantom is a real nice kit perhaps they can re-release it or release it under Airfix licensing and decals for a better price? Fujimi shared molds with Testors back in the day perhaps they could do it w/ Airfix? Why re-invent the wheel when you have a real nice 1/72 FG.1???

Now lets see a 1/48 Scimitar to go along with my 1/48 Sea Vixen

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s315/scorvi/DSCN2534_zpsc640f375.jpg

Steve

[Meatbox8]

I reckon a new tool Beaufighter has to be on the cards. Possibly various versions too, like the Blenhiem. I really, really really wish they'd produce a 1/72nd scale Canberra B2 though.

[Albeback52]

..not many Luftwaffe subjects appearing in all these 'suggestions'.......just sayin'

Probably because most them are well covered elsewhere but, you're right. If I may attempt to redress the balance therefore, may I offer for your consideration;

Ju-88C

JU-88G ( Definitely the meanest looking variant!)

Dornier 217

JU-86 (Diesel and Radial engined variants please!)

FW-190D

JU-52

Heinkel HE-111

Heinkel HE-115

Heinkel HE-59

Arado Ar 196

Allan

Allan

[FalkeEins]

yes, I tend to think at least one Luftwaffe subject is likely to be on the cards..

Edited August 30, 2014 by FalkeEins

[Albeback52]

yes, I tend to think at least one Luftwaffe subject is likely to be on the cards..

Well, with that lovely looking Dornier 17 due later, I'd be inclined to agree with you.

Allan

[Wez]

Charming i started a new thread when the 2014 line up was announced at the end of last year and got lambasted because Enzo decided to rename his and carry on the old thread and lo and behold they close it and start another one anyhow

Don't worry Geoff, I'll just change the name of this one too when the time comes

Here's my 3s 2d worth. 'What do I think they will release?' and 'what I want' are probably two separate things. There is another category which is 'What do I think would make Airfix money?', given that much of their sales are not in model shops at all. The amount of Spitfires, Red Arrows and Typhoons given to kids at birthday parties is quite astonishing. Folks on this forum are the minority (though financially still important), it's Spitfires, Red Arrows, Typhoons and Lancasters from non-model shops that form much of the business.

What would make money, a no-brainer list in 1:72 (don't do 1:48 so can't comment):

-British Phantom. As already mentioned in this thread and I've suggested the same to Airfix, this is very low hanging fruit as two boxes can be had for one kit with FAA and RAF versions. It's a yawning gap left open by the high Yen preventing Fujimi from gaining much ground. I'm not an 'I'd buy 10 person', but I am an 'I'd buy 2'.

-Shackleton. More of an older enthusiasts kit but would sell in steady numbers. Each different Mk would need extensive retooling aside Mk2/AEW, so would suggest this combination.

-York/Lancastrian/Lincoln: All slow burn kits, but if a Shackleton was stuffed in to the CAD files it would, along with the current Lancaster, provide the basis for much of the tooling anyway. It's a way to use existing investment and a way to plug unfilled gaps, a logical next step.

Kits that must be tempting to retool:

-Vulcan, yet the old tooling is still doing sterling service for 90% of modellers. Could a new sprue be added/offered to update the kit and provide a bomb bay/different engines? I think a small part of the market would say yes, the rest don't care.

-Victor, tempting, but there is paid-for moulding with the competition that could be stuffed on the shelves quickly to spoil the show.

-Halifax. A retool needed especially given the old Airfix tooling and the inaccurate Revell offering. My guess is that those who know the difference are in the minority. A retool would go unopposed by Revell who will be seeking to recoup from existing investment.

-Buccaneer -Old tooling still produces a nice model with work. Those who can't change it don't care too much anyway, those who can change it will. Old tooling is paid for and still returning on the investment. No other real competition so far, maintain the status quo.

-Canberra B.2 Many would like one, but 'how' many exactly? PR9 was flogged off cheap with the last of the Nimrods. Was it simply the 'wrong' Canberra? (possibly) It's an odd aircraft that found its advocates long ago, you probably either cherish it or don't really care.

-C-130 Hercules. Up against the Italeri offerings which are quite reasonable but let down by poor box art (especially the drab E/H model, what were they thinking?!) and subjects. Airfix could pull a fast one by offering the pre-J series in far more versions, possibly different boxes, and making the box art 'sexy'. Which kid wouldn't put the Specter on their Santa list if they saw the new style box art? With very little change in the sprue and decals and it's off to the Falklands, checking fthe weather with 'Snoopy' or landing in Antarctica on skis. One extra tweak of the CAD files/different sprue tooling and you have fuselage extensions plus props and a J series. Go with UK spec engines to keep Brits happy and let those outside discover (or most probably not) the differences. It's a lot of kit boxes for the investment and if you can come in at a lower price point than Italeri with much better box art (very important, think of how many boxes you see opened in Hobbycraft as folk can't visualise contents) you could push them out of the door nicely with many re-release opportunities. Big project, some risks, reasonable returns over time.

-Beaufighter. The fat balding middle aged blokes (oh, that's me by the way) will buy it to fill a gap in the shelves and there's little else of this subject on the market at the quality/price point. Make the box art sexy and the kids will buy it, especially at the price point to compete with Typhoons, Harriers etc in the toy shops and department stores. The kid had a Typhoon at Christmas and now wants a Beaufighter -with rockets naturally....

Waiting in the wings:

-F-35. Politics aside, it will sell like hot cakes on arrival. CAD it now, tweak CAD as it arrives in service then commit to tooling and choose a good range of schemes. Other will do the same, spend a few bob on the artwork and marketing.

Thinking aloud...:

-On the basis that there are more mice than elephants in the world, I think a box set of small 'Microflyers' aircraft would be a good stocking filler and a release from left field. Imagine a value set that contained a Flying Flea, a hang-glider, autogiro, microlight and a Bede Jet or similar. Kids and hardened enthusiasts wouldn't leave it alone if it had the right price point.

-V Weapons. An accurate V1 with ramp and a V2 with suitable equipment. Imaginative box art and you have a nice stocking filler. CAD work is easy!

-707 derived aircraft. The AWACs wont reappear, Airfix have most of the tooling but I gather the engines reside with Heller. Why not do a reasonable deal with Heller or ditch them and go ahead and re-tool what is the smaller aspect of the complete kit -leaving Heller with a useless mold. Now can the existing tooling be mated up with new engines plus lumps and bumps to make a Rivet Joint, a KC-135, or even backdated to a 707 airliner? A fair investment for a fair return.

Not in the foreseeable:

-A400. Even if you wait until it hits squadron service, Italeri will do a re-issue. I can't see it paying for itself. Italeri have possibly won a Pyrrhic victory as it's an expensive kit and I can't see sales being that big.

-VC10. Huge investment, huge storage required at any point in the sales process. You'd sell 2,000 and never recoup costs. Forget it, one for the cottage producers.

-Concorde. With Revell taking over the old molds, one would assume there would be an understanding not to compete for a time period. Can't see it being reproduced after that anyway.

I have to disagree with you here, I think a British Phantom would be a possibility but I don't think that the Shackleton/York/Lancastrian/Lincoln would be a no brainer for Airfix more like a no brains Airfix, whilst we enthusiasts might want to see these things I don't think they're sufficiently well known to the general public who, let's face it, buy more kits than we do. I just don't think they'll sell. I understand your point about use of the Lancaster mouldings/data but I just don't think it viable.

I think we're far more likely to see kits you've listed as tempting to re-tool, to my mind, they're far more likely to sell - we're talking the Beaufighter, Buccaneer and Halifax (the current kit of the latter must surely be having it's last hurrah with it's latest release and their Beaufighter had it's last hurrah many releases ago). I think we're more likely to see a Canberra B.2/6 before a Shackelton/York/Lancastrian/Lincoln and I think we've already missed the boat for the Canberra (see below). Thinking about it, surely their Hawker Seahawk must be due to be re-tooled.

But as it says in my status "I could be wrong. I could be right"!

..not many Luftwaffe subjects appearing in all these 'suggestions'.......just sayin'

Agreed, I think we may see a new 1/72nd Ju-87B series, their current kit was the baseline kit for some time.

I reckon a new tool Beaufighter has to be on the cards. Possibly various versions too, like the Blenhiem. I really, really really wish they'd produce a 1/72nd scale Canberra B2 though.

I agree about the Beau, clever moulding would give a Mk.I, Mk.VI, TF.X and include thimble and standard noses. Airfix are very keen to maximise mould use.

As much as I'd love to see a Canberra B.2/6 (which would fall into my classification of a no brainer along with a Lightning F.1/3 series), I'm surprised they didn't release one when they released the B(I).8, in fact I'm surprised they released the B(I).8 over the B.2/6 so maybe we've missed the boat.

I'd love to see a Meteor series, especially the F.8, I don't think I'd be the only one either!

Wez

Edited August 30, 2014 by Wez