WildeSau75 Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 Hi guys, I got the Airfix newsletter announcing two new KitStarter offerings in 1/72 - the Beagle Basset and the DHC Beaver. Are these going to be new tool offerings or a re-issue? They do say that these models were already released once but I am not fully sure if it's gone be a re-issue of the old moulds or a new tool product. Does anybody knows that? And does KitStarter say anything about the level of detail one can expect? Sounds like models especially made for beginners to me. Hope someone can shed some light on this. Thanks & greetings from Switzerland. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyJ Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 I think its a re-issue, as it says the tooling for the Basset is currently in India and the model will be produced there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildeSau75 Posted July 31, 2015 Author Share Posted July 31, 2015 I think its a re-issue, as it says the tooling for the Basset is currently in India and the model will be produced there. Okay - and the KitStarter label doesn't mean anything special in terms of being designed as an entry level kit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 Hi Michael look at the Airfix site. http://www.airfix.com/uk-en/news/introducing-airfix-kitstarter/ Kitstarter is chance to vote for a new production run of classic kits. The Beaver and Basset are 70's era kits IIRC, but have not been available for a while, full details of when they were made and what they are like will be on the Airfix tribute site. eg http://airfixtributeforum.myfastforum.org/Airfix_1_72_Beagle_Basset_02025__about9814.html http://airfixtributeforum.myfastforum.org/Airfix_Beaver_1_72_about28712.html So, no, they will not be up to the standards of their new tools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildeSau75 Posted July 31, 2015 Author Share Posted July 31, 2015 Hi Michael look at the Airfix site. http://www.airfix.com/uk-en/news/introducing-airfix-kitstarter/ Kitstarter is chance to vote for a new production run of classic kits. The Beaver and Basset are 70's era kits IIRC, but have not been available for a while, full details of when they were made and what they are like will be on the Airfix tribute site. eg http://airfixtributeforum.myfastforum.org/Airfix_1_72_Beagle_Basset_02025__about9814.html http://airfixtributeforum.myfastforum.org/Airfix_Beaver_1_72_about28712.html So, no, they will not be up to the standards of their new tools. Thank you Troy - now even I understand it ;-). I am not so convinced from the concept of re-issuing old kits - rather would one more new tool kit than 5 re-issued 1970 era ones. But that's just me. I find it very good that Airfix is asking its customer base about what they want or not. So not get me wrong - I am a big fan of what Airfix is doing for the scale modeling fans. Cheers, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 Kitstarter is a pun based on the idea of 'kickstarter' - i.e. crwod funding/pre-purchase of a product Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 Hi Bet the transparencies wont be as good as the previous releases gets on 🚲 sorry couldnt resist after the quality of my last three airfix purchases cheers jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Foster60 Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 I am not really convinced that Airfix should divert from their program of recent new issues that have been acclaimed. There is one "old" kit that I think they would sell loads of if they worked on it rather like the reissued Buccaneer a few years ago. If they reissued their Scout helicopter with alternate parts for a Wasp, now that would sell well. Nigel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fea Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 I am not really convinced that Airfix should divert from their program of recent new issues that have been acclaimed. There is one "old" kit that I think they would sell loads of if they worked on it rather like the reissued Buccaneer a few years ago. If they reissued their Scout helicopter with alternate parts for a Wasp, now that would sell well. Nigel Hey Nige... Then you should visit the forum and suggest it. you never know ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 I am not sure that the Kitstarter effort will divert from the new releases, it seems to be a way of using old moulds that have paid for themselves to create a new income stream. My reasons for this are that 1) They are looking at kits that probably no longer have mass market appeal but have a following amongst modellers (which is what Airfix seems to think) 2) They are short runs and being produced in the UK, away from their mass production contracts in India. 3) It would appear packaging etc. would be minimal and so few resources will be spent on design etc. My guess is that although the Airfix side of the business is profitable, the product line needs to generate more income for the group has a whole. This seems a way of using moulds that are still usable but lying idle. As fully written down as assets, from an accounting point of view any income they generate will become largely profit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight_Flyer Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 If we're talking income then kitstarter might not be a bad idea. Out of production kits like the Cessna O-2 and Piper Cherokee Arrow are usually good sellers on ebay and can go for a quite a high price. However, I do agree it would be good if Airfix can look to retooling the popular kits to modern standards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Puff Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 I wouldn't mind seeing the Basset come back. With a bit of chopping I could do a Royal Flying Doctor Service one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Hemsley Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 (edited) Personally speaking, the Beaver interests me much more than the Basset. I quite enjoyed building it years ago and even if one judged it against the current Airfix 'new tools', I think it would still give a good accounting of itself. Scott Edited August 1, 2015 by Scott Hemsley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightningboy2000 Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 If they did re-release the Basset, that would be good in that we would see some nice new decals. One downside to this would be the effect it would have on values in the classic kit market. It's not very often that you see Airfix Beagle Bassets, but when you do they seem to fetch good prices. What I would rather see is new tools of the 1/72 Buccaneer and the 1/72 Thunderstreak. New tools are more important than re-boxings, for the market and the company I would have thought. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tripod Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 The effect on classic kit values is only a downside for those of us who already have the kits! I can't see a newly-moulded kit in a plain box having the same attraction for a collector as an original moulding in a "red stripe" box. Airfix shouldn't even need to provide a set of paper instructions, as they can stick a scanned set on their website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fea Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 Ayup All... Can't remember where, (may have been here) but some other cove opined that the kitstarter things simply just a 'crowd-funding' marketing piece of schtick from Airfix with no real direction behind it. They know how rabid the modelling community gets whenever it does anything so, its shooting fish in a barrel really. TBH, all I want to get my hands on are a Beau and Stuka. The new ones of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastmcc Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 one thing that does puzzle me why the moulds for these kits are in india ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roo Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 Maybe all of the potential and good condition long run moulds were all sent to be stored in China, then India to save on later transporting from the UK costs when production was moved there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 one thing that does puzzle me why the moulds for these kits are in india ... I don't think they are, the new kits are made in India, but I was under the impression that old moulds not currently in use are in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight_Flyer Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 Apparently some of the popular requested kits cannot be done due to the poor state of the moulds. Perhaps their popularity will persuade Airfix to look at doing a new tooling instead. I suppose the unknown could be whether the cost of a new tooling will still be profitable or should Airfix recover the cost from sales of their best sellers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxbat Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 I thought the KitStarter kits weren't for general release - people pre-order them and if they get enough orders to make a production run worthwhile, then they make as many as have been ordered. On that basis I can't imagine there'll be a sudden flood of them on the market, but I've been wrong before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastmcc Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 I don't think they are, the new kits are made in India, but I was under the impression that old moulds not currently in use are in the UK. read this.. As the tooling for this model is held in India, the manufacture will take place there hence the lead time for production will be slightly longer. http://www.airfix.com/uk-en/kitstarter/kitstarter-beagle-basset.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 (edited) A lot of the older tooling was shipped to India when Hornby started producing kits there. Picking up a couple at random the most recent releases of ex-JB Vickers tank and Shorts Tucano both say made in India Edited August 3, 2015 by Dave Fleming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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