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Airfix 2017


Denford

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About this time last year Airfix broke with tradition and announced 2 new releases scheduled for Jan 2016: then only 6 month off. Thereafter, at least till Telford, a succession of releases were announced in most cases, again, for 6 months later. Telford took this programme to the end 2016 with the Victor.

Since Telford there have been no further announcements, and the next release (after the Victor, and in 2017) is now only 6 months away if it be January 2017.

Does anyone know when Airfix will announce their first 2017 release?

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I think we may have to wait and see, with the way Hornby are doing at the moment, they may well reserve 2017 news until they know what sort of trading environment they are dealing with and the schedule for the remaining 2016 kits.

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I'd respectfully suggest that as Geoff says, they need to think seriously about what they do - and I would imagine that the financial situation means that kits which might be seen as more esoteric and less likely to shift in large numbers will be off the agenda.

In which case, you'd be looking at things like (I'd suggest)

Spitfire XIV (1/48th - it would appeal to those who like Spitfires and not necessarily those of us who sigh when we look at an Academy XIV's nasal contours)

Spitfire Vb and Vc - again, appeals to Spitfire fans and it can be accompanied by something for the 75th anniversary of Malta; a 48th Vc would be a nice addition

Rebox of the 48th Vb in 31st and 52nd FG markings (again, a 75th), plus (say) Findlay Boyd's silver Vb as described in Dugald Cameron's Lion Rampant (if accurate details can be found of that), although the point I'm making badly here is something a little out of the ordinary; maybe a different night-fighting Vb to that found in the club 'Specialist Spits' boxing?

Something for jet fans would also be required - maybe rebox the 72nd scale Lightnings with different squadron markings (say the F2A pre-camouflage, the F6 in the final schemes or perhaps the shark-mouth 5 Sqn markings) and careful thought about something new - and not priced too highly - would also be required. Early mark Hunter? New tool Javelin (maybe a FAW7 rather than re-doing a 9)? New Jaguar GR to mark the 10th (yes, really...) anniversary of retirement from RAF service?

Just my entirely unhelpful 10p worth.

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Or keeping up with the RAF trainer theme following the nice new tool Gnat and forthcoming JP3/4 maybe a new decent Chipmunk to 1/72 and 48th( I know AZ mention one from them but... ) , Jetstream T.1/2, RAF Phantom......More Great War subjects in keeping with the 100th anniversary of that conflict

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Or keeping up with the RAF trainer theme following the nice new tool Gnat and forthcoming JP3/4 maybe a new decent Chipmunk to 1/72 and 48th( I know AZ mention one from them but... ) , Jetstream T.1/2, RAF Phantom......More Great War subjects in keeping with the 100th anniversary of that conflict

Cracking point about the 100th anniversary - opportunity for a Camel, an SE 5a and a Bristol Fighter (all 1917 service entry) and the 100th anniversary of the combat debut of the Sopwith Triplane just for the RFC & RNAS, never mind the German air service.

I would suggest a 1/48 Hunter. We are badly served by Lindberg and Academy. It could easily be tooled to cope for multiple marks.

Definitely; and an early version could go through several reboxings given the number of units which used the F1-F5.

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Once I made a post with predictions

Personally I bet Spitfire MkV and Bf109F Malta Dogfight combo. To be honest, I don't mind new versions of older tooling: Beaufighter MK VIF, metal winged Hurricane and so on. Also I hope Airfix still can make a less popular versions of very popular aircraft, like a new Bf 109D. Gloster Meteor downsized to 1/72 is a option too.

PS. Why is nobody asking for Yak-9?

Edited by Botan
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I'd respectfully suggest that as Geoff says, they need to think seriously about what they do - and I would imagine that the financial situation means that kits which might be seen as more esoteric and less likely to shift in large numbers will be .

indeed they do but the point has been made before that airfixs development of any new kits starts long before they are announced so it's highly likely next years stuff is predates the proverbial excrement hitting the fan, so more likely to have dented 2018 releases, and next not forgot airfix is still very profitable itself, and indeed it has played it safe in 2016 with a quite a few reboxs, and on that note I bet we see a shack rebox
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My bet would be on Spitfire Mk XIV & Mk Vc; Sea Fury and Hunter in 1:48 - so what is already suggeste above. Maybe not as likely as the Hunter but also a good choice would be a Vampire in 1:48. And a new tool Vulcan in 1:72... or 1:48? :whistle:

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The tooling is probably already done on the first kits to be announced for next year, so those iwll no doubt see the light of day soon. However, according to one Airfix bod I had a chat with, the cost of tooling is not the overriding cost in producing a kit these days, rather production costs are the primary one, so if the economics don't read correctly, you may see kits being pushed back even although the tooling is complete. This can also affect the tooling and the range a kit goes in, as it's cheaper to produce a kit with 2 sets of moulds than with three (one reason why the kits with extra runners are often in a higher series)

I have a suspicion that the Shackleton was originally a 2016/7 release, but was brought forward when word of Revell's got out, so I would expect an AEW for 2017/18. Equally the layout of the BE2c suggests a BE12 might be a possibility

Edited by Dave Fleming
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Well, we already know that Airfix have planned for a Shackleton AEW.2, from the model they displayed at several events last year. They may yet sit on it and wait to see if the Revell kit is discounted, as sometimes happens, or maybe it is a definite for next year. Or perhaps they may feel that with the Revell kit freely available they will not have a market for it.

I don't expect to see an ambitious programme for next year; the financial state of Hornby, their commitment to reduce product lines and the small Corgi release programme for Jul-Dec 2016 would suggest that. I would expect some reissues of recent mouldings, a Victor K.2, RAAF Meteor F.8 and perhaps some reboxings with new decals. The 1/48 Hurricane and Spitfire have plenty of mileage in this regard, as too do the Lightning F.6, Vampire T.11, and P-51D in 1/72. I would also expect to see the Jet Provost issued as a starter kit. I also think that there will be a lot of items dropped from the catalogue, and some items from this year held over.

I could of course be totally wrong (it has been known to happen, rarely :whistle: ) and there may be a stunning range of new moulds set to emerge from Airfix HQ throughout 2017. I am not confident, but I am keeping my fingers crossed. At the moment, however, I think we will need to be grateful for whatever we do get, and when the announcements are made we should hang back on the 'meh' comments and realise that this lynchpin of the UK model market is trying to fight with one hand tied behind its back.

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I believe that Airfix will annouce the following:

Westland Lysander

Fairey Battle

Supermarine Spitfire XII

Vickers Wellington

All in 1/72.

(Notice I used 'believe' rather than 'think'.)

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Whatever they do as mentioned above the 2017 schedule will already be in the pipeline. So maybe delay some esoteric types where the mounds have yet to be set for twelve months and start looking for 'bankers' to get a quick return. Sea Fury already mentioned. A UK Phantom(1/72?) would fly off the shelves ;). What about a P-47? That is an obvious, 'small' type yet to be redone.

Trevor

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My best guess is a Wellington and more Spitfires and Hurricanes.

I think that the current problems with Airfix and the pound won't effect things as much we might expect as Airfix would have started work on their 2017 releases before the poo hit the fan.

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Good afternoon

I think that a P 47D in 1/72 scale would be sold very well as well as a Spit Vc , a Lysander ...

I am very grateful to Airfix for their productions in the last ten years and I really hope that they will be able to go on that way for the next ten years ..

Patrice

Edited by TEMPESTMK5
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Please Airfix can we have some post war jets fighter and bombers in 1/72, Canberras B2, Buccaneers, UK Phantoms etc.

Robert

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