Torbjorn Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 (edited) 4 hours ago, Aeronut said: Hornby group see themselves as a High Street brand and as such we serious modellers do not have the pull we think we have. About 2 years ago Hornby stopped their consessions scheme where retailers got stock on sale or return and as a result Hornby products disappeared (almost) from the high street overnight. It’s only recently that they have started to return to non-specialist high street shops. I work at an aviation museum and the percentage of visitors who come under the description ‘Knowlegable Enthusiasts’ is 22% and I’d hazard a guess that the percentage of serious modellers who are Airfix customers is a similar figure. Whilst museums and Hornby ignore the ‘expert’ market at their peril, they could possibly struggle on if they did as the majority of their customers are children, families and passing trade. My point is that just because a kit manufactured by a company is available in specialist shops / on the Internet for the expert modeller the majority of Airfix’s customers will not know (or care) it exists, therefore, if Airfix produce a similar kit their only direct competition is high street brands ie Revell and even then the odd ‘same subject from both firms’ has, and will occur. Their newest re-tooled kits fits both the knowledgable enthusiast and children I would say. I just got back to the hobby because I introduced my kids to it, and couldn’t help myself from joining in. I remember how I used to buy kits - by spending a happy hour in the hobby shop looking at box art and reading the parts count - and my kids do the same now, only online*. Now I read build logs (I stopped reading reviews after too many ”Excellent kit! - totally recommended!! - Thank you Kit Manufacturer X for the sample!!!”-reviews on total train wrecks of a kit) and look for accuracy, something that was quite unimportant for me 30 years, just as it is unimportant for my kids now. For the kids I let them choose and just check the ease of build before I buy them something, since nothing kills interest so much as failure. What I’m trying to say, is that 1) re-tooling popular aircraft to decent quality and ease of construction, coupled with fancy boxart and 2) trying not to compete with highly detailed specialised manufacturers (resulting in more expensive kits) who anyway does not posses the same distribution network and brand name is likely a good strategy. Kids and impulse buyers will not go to hannants or other specialised online shops so they don’t compete there anyway, while ”experts” (or rather nerds, but ok :p) will still buy Airfix if the quality is good enough - or even just for nostalgia. So far it has resulted in me buying their kits both for myself and for my kids. *) as a side note, the only local shop selling kits closed down recently. With their closure my kids unfortunately lost quite a bit of their interest in kits, since for them the touching and looking at boxes apparently did much to stir their curiosity! Out of site out of mind... Edited October 24, 2019 by Torbjorn 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 3 hours ago, Albeback52 said: A Valiant B2 /new tool TSR 2 double kit with multi option squadron markings and, optional buckets of instant sunshine/ conventional H E loadouts AND, a set of conversion parts/decals Ah the Mistel version 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Thompson Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 18 hours ago, Troy Smith said: E Given they did do a Yak-9 back in the 60's, and still no modern kit of one, and there are now lots of documented interesting Yak-9 schemes, I know this has been @John Thompson hobby horse for years. Say on, Brother! Now that we have not one but two really nice Yak-1B kits, the next wish would be for a series of VK-105 Yak-9's. Or a Yak-9U and Yak-9P without the wing location error of the Amodel kits. Or a brand new series of Yak-7's. Or some early I-16's - types 4, 5, and 10 - gimme gimme gimme... John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albeback52 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Ratch said: Ah the Mistel version Now, THAT would be some "what if" project!! 👍😊. I like your thinking here! Allan Edited October 24, 2019 by Albeback52 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickydicky210 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Here is a crude analysis of where i think Airfix has gaps in its range of WW2 Aircraft I have looked at the aircraft from WW2 and have tried to work out which ones would be the most well known to joe public and therefore appeal to both modellers and casual buyers, with a view to list of subjects that any mainstream model company should have in their portfolio. This is very subjective of course, but it does highlight some areas where Airfix have gaps which i would expect or hope they will fill. The listing below is of course generic - it doesnt take specific variants/marks into account i.e Spitfire is 1 entry. It also doesnt take account of scale (either 1/72 or 1.48) AIRCRAFT - COMMENT Fieseler 156 Storch -- KIT NEEDED Focke Wulf Fw 190A - ALREADY NEW TOOLED Heinkel He 111 - - ALREADY NEW TOOLED Junkers Ju 87 Stuka -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Junkers Ju 88 - -KIT NEEDED Messerschmitt Bf 109 --- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Messerschmitt Bf 110 ---ALREADY NEW TOOLED Messerschmitt Me 262 -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien Tony -- KIT NEEDED Mitsubishi A6M Zero -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Ilyushin 2/10 Sturmovik -- KIT NEEDED Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress - ALREADY NEW TOOLED Boeing B-29 Superfortress -- -- KIT NEEDED Consolidated B-24 Liberator -- -- KIT NEEDED Curtiss P-40 Warhawk -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Douglas C-47 Skytrain --- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Grumman F6F Hellcat -- KIT NEEDED Lockheed P-38 Lightning -- -- KIT NEEDED North American B-25 Mitchell - ALREADY NEW TOOLED North American P-51D Mustang -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Republic P-47D/M/N Thunderbolt --KIT NEEDED Vought F4U Corsair -- KIT NEEDED Avro Lancaster -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED De Havilland Mosquito -- KIT NEEDED Fairey Swordfish -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Gloster Gladiator -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Hawker Hurricane -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Hawker Typhoon - ALREADY NEW TOOLED Short Sunderland - KIT NEEDED Supermarine Spitfire & Seafire - ALREADY NEW TOOLED Vickers Wellington - ALREADY NEW TOOLED Westland Lysander - KIT NEEDED Anyway its just a few minutes analysis and suggested list Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenshirt Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 16 minutes ago, trickydicky210 said: Here is a crude analysis of where i think Airfix has gaps in its range of WW2 Aircraft... edit that with those that have research completed, but a kit is needed. Example is the Hellcat. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denford Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Won't take up space by repeating trickdicky's list but add PB4Y-2 Privateer - KIT BADLY NEEDED 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMA131Marine Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 21 minutes ago, trickydicky210 said: Here is a crude analysis of where i think Airfix has gaps in its range of WW2 Aircraft I have looked at the aircraft from WW2 and have tried to work out which ones would be the most well known to joe public and therefore appeal to both modellers and casual buyers, with a view to list of subjects that any mainstream model company should have in their portfolio. This is very subjective of course, but it does highlight some areas where Airfix have gaps which i would expect or hope they will fill. The listing below is of course generic - it doesnt take specific variants/marks into account i.e Spitfire is 1 entry. It also doesnt take account of scale (either 1/72 or 1.48) AIRCRAFT - COMMENT Fieseler 156 Storch -- KIT NEEDED Focke Wulf Fw 190A - ALREADY NEW TOOLED Heinkel He 111 - - ALREADY NEW TOOLED Junkers Ju 87 Stuka -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Junkers Ju 88 - -KIT NEEDED Messerschmitt Bf 109 --- ALREADY NEW TOOLED - The Airfix 109G may be relatively new and easy to build, but it's not much of a 109. I'm not asking for Tamiya quality but something close to AZ Models would be good Messerschmitt Bf 110 ---ALREADY NEW TOOLED Messerschmitt Me 262 -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien Tony -- KIT NEEDED Mitsubishi A6M Zero -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED - The Airfix A6M2 is nice, there's also room for a new A6M5 Ilyushin 2/10 Sturmovik -- KIT NEEDED Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress - ALREADY NEW TOOLED - The Airfix kit is a late G, an E/F would be nice Boeing B-29 Superfortress -- -- KIT NEEDED - Agreed! Consolidated B-24 Liberator -- -- KIT NEEDED - Agreed! The Hasegawa is nice, but very expensive. Curtiss P-40 Warhawk -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED - I like the Airfix P-40B/C, but the most produced P-40 variant was the N and we badly need a mainstream kit of the F/L series, which have some very colourful markings Douglas C-47 Skytrain --- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Grumman F6F Hellcat -- KIT NEEDED Lockheed P-38 Lightning -- -- KIT NEEDED North American B-25 Mitchell - ALREADY NEW TOOLED North American P-51D Mustang -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED - What about the P-51B/C? Or even the early Allison engined variants Republic P-47D/M/N Thunderbolt --KIT NEEDED Vought F4U Corsair -- KIT NEEDED - The most needed variants (-4, -5/5N, -7, AU-1) are the ones Airfix is least likely to do. But there isn't a good mainstream kit of any of these versions Avro Lancaster -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED De Havilland Mosquito -- KIT NEEDED Fairey Swordfish -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Gloster Gladiator -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Hawker Hurricane -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED - But what about the metal wing Mk.I and all the Mk.IIs and the Mk.IV (I'm completely discounting the newish Airfix Mk.II because it's quite horrible in terms of accuracy) Hawker Typhoon - ALREADY NEW TOOLED Short Sunderland - KIT NEEDED Supermarine Spitfire & Seafire - ALREADY NEW TOOLED - Need the early Merlin Seafires (Ib, II, III) and the Merlin PR variants Vickers Wellington - ALREADY NEW TOOLED Westland Lysander - KIT NEEDED Anyway its just a few minutes analysis and suggested list A few others: Hawker Tempest Messerschmitt Me 410 Arado Ar 234B/C Westland Whirlwind Mk.I Douglas A-20 Havoc/Boston Douglas A-26 Invader Martin B-26 Marauder Handley-Page Hampden Handley-Page Halifax Vickers Windsor Avro Anson Heinkel He 219 Dornier Do 17E/F Arado Ar 196 DeHavilland Hornet/Sea Hornet DeHavilland Venom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 7 minutes ago, VMA131Marine said: A few others: Hawker Tempest Messerschmitt Me 410 Arado Ar 234B/C Westland Whirlwind Mk.I Douglas A-20 Havoc/Boston Douglas A-26 Invader Martin B-26 Marauder Handley-Page Hampden Handley-Page Halifax Vickers Windsor Avro Anson Heinkel He 219 Dornier Do 17E/F Arado Ar 196 DeHavilland Hornet/Sea Hornet DeHavilland Venom The Do17, Me410 and Ar234 would be amazing. I'd but at least one of each 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denford Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Don't miss the much requested Beaufort 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 6 minutes ago, Denford said: Don't miss the much requested Balliol Fixed that for you Trevor 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMA131Marine Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 6 minutes ago, Denford said: Don't miss the much requested Beaufort 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 3 minutes ago, VMA131Marine said: D'ohfort? Cheers, Stew 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 4 minutes ago, Stew Dapple said: D'ohfort? Cheers, Stew That deserves its own d’oh!!! Trevor Burns 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanC Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Surely a Stirling too? I'm sure it would be better than Italeri's effort, and they might even re-do the bomb trolley and tractor which made the old kit that bit special. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMA131Marine Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 3 hours ago, Adam Poultney said: The Do17, Me410 and Ar234 would be amazing. I'd but at least one of each You just need to find people to buy at least 9.999 more of each and Airfix would probably do these. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denford Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 However did I miss my 'most wanted' which at Telford Airfix agreed was a credible choice: Grumman Avenger, with folding wings. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 Wonder if we will get a teaser today ? Regards Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 2 minutes ago, Robert said: Wonder if we will get a teaser today ? Maybe, however you might have to read through 2000 words before you get there! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 16 hours ago, trickydicky210 said: Here is a crude analysis of where i think Airfix has gaps in its range of WW2 Aircraft I have looked at the aircraft from WW2 and have tried to work out which ones would be the most well known to joe public and therefore appeal to both modellers and casual buyers, with a view to list of subjects that any mainstream model company should have in their portfolio. This is very subjective of course, but it does highlight some areas where Airfix have gaps which i would expect or hope they will fill. The listing below is of course generic - it doesnt take specific variants/marks into account i.e Spitfire is 1 entry. It also doesnt take account of scale (either 1/72 or 1.48) AIRCRAFT - COMMENT Fieseler 156 Storch -- KIT NEEDED Focke Wulf Fw 190A - ALREADY NEW TOOLED Heinkel He 111 - - ALREADY NEW TOOLED Junkers Ju 87 Stuka -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Junkers Ju 88 - -KIT NEEDED Messerschmitt Bf 109 --- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Messerschmitt Bf 110 ---ALREADY NEW TOOLED Messerschmitt Me 262 -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien Tony -- KIT NEEDED Mitsubishi A6M Zero -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Ilyushin 2/10 Sturmovik -- KIT NEEDED Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress - ALREADY NEW TOOLED Boeing B-29 Superfortress -- -- KIT NEEDED Consolidated B-24 Liberator -- -- KIT NEEDED Curtiss P-40 Warhawk -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Douglas C-47 Skytrain --- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Grumman F6F Hellcat -- KIT NEEDED Lockheed P-38 Lightning -- -- KIT NEEDED North American B-25 Mitchell - ALREADY NEW TOOLED North American P-51D Mustang -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Republic P-47D/M/N Thunderbolt --KIT NEEDED Vought F4U Corsair -- KIT NEEDED Avro Lancaster -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED De Havilland Mosquito -- KIT NEEDED Fairey Swordfish -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Gloster Gladiator -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Hawker Hurricane -- ALREADY NEW TOOLED Hawker Typhoon - ALREADY NEW TOOLED Short Sunderland - KIT NEEDED Supermarine Spitfire & Seafire - ALREADY NEW TOOLED Vickers Wellington - ALREADY NEW TOOLED Westland Lysander - KIT NEEDED Anyway its just a few minutes analysis and suggested list Wot? No Harvard or Anson? Personally, I’m surprised that this thread can run for so long without any mention of the BLACKBURN Shark. In 1/72, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 (edited) 15 hours ago, VMA131Marine said: A few others: Hawker Tempest Messerschmitt Me 410 Arado Ar 234B/ Westland Whirlwind Mk.I Douglas A-20 Havoc/Boston Douglas A-26 Invader Martin B-26 Marauder Handley-Page Hampden Handley-Page Halifax Vickers Windsor Avro Anson Heinkel He 219 Dornier Do 17E/F Arado Ar 196 DeHavilland Hornet/Sea Hornet DeHavilland Venom Good point about the Seafire. I hadn't thought of that. A Seafire III in 1/72 would be fab. BPF preferably. Likewise the 15, 17 and 47. And, of course, there is a Seafire III they can LIDAR. Edited October 25, 2019 by Meatbox8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 10 minutes ago, Seahawk said: Wot? No Harvard or Anson? Personally, I’m surprised that this thread can run for so long without any mention of the BLACKBURN Shark. In 1/72, of course. How about a Blackburn Blackburn? The World's most beautiful aeroplane. It would look great next to the new Buccaneer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caerbannog Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 I think a new tool Ju 52 would be a good addition as well - military and civil please. Well known, lots of liveries. In this case I am talking 1:72. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanC Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 1 hour ago, Meatbox8 said: How about a Blackburn Blackburn? The World's most beautiful aeroplane. And the one where the least thought went into the name... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEXANTOMCAT Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 12 hours ago, Denford said: However did I miss my 'most wanted' which at Telford Airfix agreed was a credible choice: Grumman Avenger, with folding wings. An Avenger is an excellent shout! In respect of lists above I thought it was 'Airfix Lore' that they won't produce anything they can't LIDAR or for which a comprehensive series of drawings exist (or both)? I'm still told a Twintub Spit is on the cards! TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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