1/48th - Jaguar GR.1/GR.1A by Airfix - Q1 2025

[At Sea]

Airfix have just randomly posted on social media a picture of a Jaguar GR.1 under the Northern Lights.

 

If that's not a sign I don't know what is.

 

Just hope it's 1/48.

 

https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxOQpAa_cJaDEJm04IwAcN7FApjwldRnm5

[Overflow]

No brainer release, but please no artificial boosting of value, Series 9 should be max.

[roy107]

I like the comment below the post on YouTube calling them out for posting a plane that's not in their range!

 

Definitely an interesting teaser for Airfix but, while I'm sure it will be 1/48 given their recent releases, I'd prefer it was 1/72.

[Acky190]

I'd gamble it was 1/72nd as there is already the Kittyhawk kits in 1/48th but the best in the smaller scale is the Hasegawa kit which is old! 

[TEXANTOMCAT]

1/72

 

TT

[tempestfan]

27 minutes ago, roy107 said:

I like the comment below the post on YouTube calling them out for posting a plane that's not in their range!

 

Definitely an interesting teaser for Airfix but, while I'm sure it will be 1/48 given their recent releases, I'd prefer it was 1/72.

They have had a Jag in their line up for 50+ years (though I'm unaware whether it's currently online), but that excatly is the problem...

As they're CADed, it would be easy to do both scales, and they have done this with a number of kits (e.g. Defiant). But oddly they have NOT done this where there are huge gaps in 1/72, in particular with the Vixen and Javelin.

[TEXANTOMCAT]

The Airfix 'lore' was that they would not downscale a kit, that rule being broken with the issue of the 1/72 Meteor F8 I guess!

 

I still think we'll get a Spit T.9 - as only Brigade Models and AZ did that version pretty crudely  - especially as there are now, what 10? 11? twintubs flying in the UK alone given the growth of the warbird experience industry - I'd say 1/72 - I don't think they would be brave enough to do it in 1/48 plus you have the standard and Grace canopy options...but I digress....

 

1/72 Jag deffo coming 

 

TT

[roy107]

6 minutes ago, tempestfan said:

They have had a Jag in their line up for 50+ years (though I'm unaware whether it's currently online), but that excatly is the problem...

As they're CADed, it would be easy to do both scales, and they have done this with a number of kits (e.g. Defiant). But oddly they have NOT done this where there are huge gaps in 1/72, in particular with the Vixen and Javelin.

Quite right you are too. The 1970 kit I'd all but forgotten about!

 

I can live in hope that it'll be 72 scale, I'd also like to think that modern CAD technology makes it simpler to scale up and down as appropriate. I guess we'll see - like many others I will certainly want a few Jags if Airfix do release one, and I can consign the stashed Revell ones to the dusty corner of the attic!

[Harold55]

25 minutes ago, Acky190 said:

I'd gamble it was 1/72nd as there is already the Kittyhawk kits in 1/48th but the best in the smaller scale is the Hasegawa kit which is old! 

Yes there is the Kittyhawk kit but it is a bear to build.  Lots of putty and clamps.  It can be built into a nice kit but a new kit to the standards of Airfix in 1/48 would be very welcome!

[RichG]

I'd be very happy with a Jag in 1/48 or 1/72 from Airfix and confident that it would be a great kit either way, especially if there is a deployed flaps option in it. If I was to wager a bet I'd go with 1/72. The Airfix release pattern in recent years suggests 1/72 for late cold war RAF (70s onwards) and 1/48 for post war / early cold war RAF (up to the 60's). Always exceptions and some cross overs/both scales of course.

 

Rich  

[Beard]

There's a Jag at the Manston museum, if they didn't want to travel too far to do the LIDAR scanning.

[RichG]

41 minutes ago, tempestfan said:

They have had a Jag in their line up for 50+ years

Yeah Airfix first released a kit of the BAC Jaguar prototype in 1970, susquently revised to a GR.1 (c.1975) when it entered RAF service, with squadron markings, revised "chisel" nose (LRMTS) and more realistic stores (although only included a single, centre line tank). Ultimately the kit was revised as a GR.3A (2004) with new stores & markings.  Built this many times. Always thought the early releases had fantastic box art that screamed "build me!"

 

Rich

 

Edited August 30, 2024 by RichG

[wadeocu]

Here is a sensational idea (for the guy who has nothing invested in overhead at least):  release in 1/72 AND 1/48 simultaneously.  What a buzz that would cause and never done before by any manufacturer that I am aware of!

[Tbolt]

12 minutes ago, wadeocu said:

Here is a sensational idea (for the guy who has nothing invested in overhead at least):  release in 1/72 AND 1/48 simultaneously.  What a buzz that would cause and never done before by any manufacturer that I am aware of!

 

I think that would be a lot of work for Airfix though. Also doing one scale first has the advantage that any accuracy issues or building issues that get picked up by modellers can be corrected before they release of the other scale.

[PeterR]

Nah, 1/24, to follow up their Spit.

 

...........................................

 

I'll grab me 🎩 'n 🧥 shall I?

[hopkp]

1 hour ago, TEXANTOMCAT said:

The Airfix 'lore' was that they would not downscale a kit, that rule being broken with the issue of the 1/72 Meteor F8 I guess!

 

I still think we'll get a Spit T.9 - as only Brigade Models and AZ did that version pretty crudely  - especially as there are now, what 10? 11? twintubs flying in the UK alone given the growth of the warbird experience industry - I'd say 1/72 - I don't think they would be brave enough to do it in 1/48 plus you have the standard and Grace canopy options...but I digress....

 

1/72 Jag deffo coming 

 

TT

I'd have thought the market for a TR.9 would be pretty limited. After all, it's the only Spitfire that could ever be described as 'ugly', and making a Spitfire look ugly is pretty hard to do! 🙂

[hopkp]

1 hour ago, Tbolt said:

 

I think that would be a lot of work for Airfix though. Also doing one scale first has the advantage that any accuracy issues or building issues that get picked up by modellers can be corrected before they release of the other scale.

In that case I hope they get the 1/72 one out of the way first and make all the mistakes on that before producing the best 1/48 Jaguar series ever.....all the GRs and Ts, the Jaguar A and E.....I'd buy them all in multiples and willingly offer up the Kittyhawk ones in the stash as a sacrifice to the modelling gods!

Edited August 30, 2024 by hopkp

[hopkp]

21 minutes ago, PeterR said:

Nah, 1/24, to follow up their Spit.

 

...........................................

 

I'll grab me 🎩 'n 🧥 shall I?

Now that's one that I would DEFINITELY buy!

[Britman]

2 hours ago, Beard said:

There's a Jag at the Manston museum, if they didn't want to travel too far to do the LIDAR scanning.

It has no engines or seat though sadly.

 

Keith 

[TheyJammedKenny!]

This is a logical subject choice for Airfix, and much anticipated in either scale.

[Mountain goat]

Great, Sepecat deserves some love from manufacturers. I'm hoping for a 1/72 kit - with separate flaps and slats! Sawing the flaps out and scratching the slats on the Hasegawa Jag wing is a bit of a chore.

 

Jay

[wellsprop]

Airfix post about lots of different aircraft on their social media channels, I wouldn't look too much into it. 

 

That said, I do think it's one of the more likely subjects to be released. 

[Tbolt]

4 hours ago, TEXANTOMCAT said:

The Airfix 'lore' was that they would not downscale a kit, that rule being broken with the issue of the 1/72 Meteor F8 I guess!

 

I still think we'll get a Spit T.9 - as only Brigade Models and AZ did that version pretty crudely  - especially as there are now, what 10? 11? twintubs flying in the UK alone given the growth of the warbird experience industry - I'd say 1/72 - I don't think they would be brave enough to do it in 1/48 plus you have the standard and Grace canopy options...but I digress....

 

1/72 Jag deffo coming 

 

TT

 

I'm not sure how well a post war training version of the Spit would sell. Don't get me wrong I would love one but there's plenty of other Mk's they could do that would probably sell better. 

[XV107]

Well, since 2024 is the 50th anniversary of the Jag entering RAF service, it wouldn't be inappropriate (although from memory 54 got its aircraft in about March '74, with 6 and 225 OCU following in the Autumn. 72nd kit, while great fun, is ancient (as observed) and the Hasegawa is unrepresentative of later GR1/GR3 (needs tandem bomb beams, AIM-9 rather than R550 for overwing and 1000lb bombs as well as the couple of BL755 for starters). And something easier (and a bit less costly) than the KittyHawk and a bit newer than the Heller/Airfix effort (and the ESCI kit, for that matter) would be fine for 1/48 as well.

 

Opportunity for a Jag in Granby fit (overwing pylons, CBU-87 [without open tail fins. Yes, Italeri, I am being sarcastic about your research], CRV-7, Have Quick antenna, Phimat and AL! pod, etc) plus a former Yugoslavia fit (add Paveway & TIALD sprue) could be exploited, as could the opportunity for a Jaguar in the ASuW role with India (Sea Eagle, slight change to nose), all on top of the standard Cold War RAFG aircraft. With the various colour schemes - camo/LAG; wraparound; desert 'pink'; ATRF grey; grey + India and a choice of Ecuador, Nigeria & Oman and there are several boxings that could be released. I'd happily have a couple of each...

 

 

 

[XV107]

9 minutes ago, Tbolt said:

 

I'm not sure how well a post war training version of the Spit would sell. Don't get me wrong I would love one but there's plenty of other Mk's they could do that would probably sell better. 

 

Yes - a high-back Spit XIV for a start! (Preferably 1/48 to accompany the low-back, but I'd settle for 72nd if pushed). 

 

That said, a new Jaguar in either 72nd or 48th would be welcome and I suspect would do well - the Hasegawa kit seems to remain popular, after al - and just building on my last, think of the RAF schemes you could do - several boxings possible and popular with aftermarket decal people (black display Jag, retirement schemes, arctic and varieties from the seven front line squadrons all seem to have been in enough demand to get people doing them as AM options).