Airfix Vulcan

[macgregor]

I remember in the late 70s when I believe the only Vulcan you could get was a vac form one, oh the excitement at model club! Yes the airfix one has been around a fair while but you just have to see some of the stunners that have been posted on here to know it can be built into a canny replica with a bit of work, Ive even been fancing one myself, flash etc, yep annoying but all part of the challenge!

Mac

[venomvixen]

Sir, Mr Airfix Sir!!!!

The boys are being rowdy again, argueing and such

But I've been a very good girl Sir

So can I have a Airfix Firefly 5 in 48th scale pweeeeeesssseeeee?

With RAN decals and foldy up wings

Thank you Mister Airfix Sir

PS I've got that vacform Vulcan, its a contrail or some such.

Got it off evilbay with a Nimrod for not very much.

never had the ticker to have a go at it.

[pigsty]

So can I have a Airfix Firefly 5 in 48th scale pweeeeeesssseeeee?

With RAN decals and foldy up wings

Thank you Mister Airfix Sir

Now you is talking. Chuck in a few proper naval decals and it should be just perfect.

[vtecjack]

The Airfix Vulcan is far from perfect,as is the Matchbox/Revell Victor but you have to remember back in the day there was nothing else available apart from exspensive vac-form kits so the Vulcan and Victor brought to very popular subjects to be made available to the average modeller

plus nowadays with all the aftermarket goodies you can make an excellent model out of the Airfix Vulcan,and some real bargins can be found I found an original first issue Vulcan on eveil bay for 16 quid ,throw in some aftermarket bits and pieces and she should turn into a decent model

I do wish someone would do a resin bombay for the Vulcan though,I would love to do a fully loaded version with 21 1000 pounders on board

[Chris Jephcott]

I've read this entire debate and I think that what is clear are that there are two clear markets for the new model kits:

1/ The younger modellers - primarily aimed at Children who are 12 years or so upwards. Here, the quality of the kit really doesn't matter at all, what matters is the fun of being able to sit down and make something that you are proud of. It doesn't matter about the panel lines, the fit, the decals, for this market, model making is fun and keeps the kids mentally stimulated as well as teaching them important hands on skills for later life.

2/ The serious modellers - primarily aimed at adults and serious model makers. These kits strive for accuracy and detail and when built up, will look incredible. However, many of the kits are so highly detailed that assembling them becomes a serious fiddle.

In between these 2 markets, we have the casual builders, including myself. I'm not overly fussed by detail or accuracy - granted, I'd never want to paint one incorrectly, or even attempt to make a Starfix Spitfire look like a real one, but in this field, it's about the enjoyment of the building of the kits.

What it comes down to really is a cost base - the serious modellers will pay a lot more money for an accurate kit and take care and attention to make sure it is the most accurate kit available. The younger modellers don't really care about accuracy or part numbers or detail or anything like that - they just want to enjoy the kit, put it together and play about with it for quite a while.

One of the biggest observations that you can make about model making though is that no matter what kit you produce, how superb the options are, how detailed the cockpit is, how wonderful the fit is, is that you will never be able to please everyone.

It's for these reasons that aftermarket sets exist - you can make the model to the detail that YOU want, and to a level that you are proud of.

The Vulcan remains a classic symbol of Cold War Britain and is instantly recognisable by generations of adults and children. Therefore, it will always have an appeal across the board of model makers - kids will want to make one because of the majestic sight of the Delta wing bomber amazing them at Air Shows. Serious modellers will want to make one as it's an incredibly important part of our history. And because of this broad appeal, therefore, the kit continues to sell in such large numbers that it really wouldn't justify Airfix spending thousands of pounds on making a new mould just to appeal to one section of the market.

I hope this puts across a balanced view of things?!

Chris

[Pat C]

All I can offer are my own personal experiences which are that as a kid I would always opt for Matchbox over Airfix and Novo (the other two choices) because the fit and quality was better and as a returnee to the hobby, buying the Airfix Bf110 in 2000 put me off buying any of their kits (excepting a few second hand ones I knew to be good toolings) until Hornby took them over. The new Airfix toolings are excellent though!!

Pat

[Albeback52]

Lots of flash is poor quality control, which they could tidy up surely?

It does have one major problem as far as XH558 is concerned, in that it has the series 300 engines, whereas XH558 has the longer Series 200

Be that as it may Dave, how many people buying the kit will know, notice, or even care! It's still a Vulcan & that's what counts. Personally, I wouldn't waste modelling time fixing something that really isn't going to be noticed on the finished model. Still, that just me! I don't bother checking for accuracy or otherwise, I'm happy to try & just get the best out of what's in the box! Not having a go at you by the way! . I do respect & admire the patience & dedication of those who DO strive for (near) total acuracy!! Just not for me!

I'm on broad agreement with most of the posts here regarding fit etc. I don't regard the Vulcan as being of poor quality. The fit issues will arise largely from the kit design/engineering but, given the complex shapes could it have been done differently within the limitations of 1982 moulding technology? I got round the wing fit issues on the ones I built by gluing the upper & lower wing sections to the upper/lower fuselage halves & then leaving for 24 hours before gluing the upper & lower halves together. I used tube cement for strength. Result - a very neat joint that required minimum sanding. The biggest problem I think is with the intakes!! Took a bit of doing but, I managed to get a near perfect joint.

The Vulcan is certainly a challenge but, I prefer that to a "shake & bake" type of kit!

Even after 40+ years of modelling, I don't regard myself as a "serious" modeller!! (whatever that is!!) Probably why, for me, the pleasure is out of the simple building & painting. I dont necessarily agree with the earlier post about Matchbox & Novo offerring better quality & fit over Airfix. My own personal experience was the opposite!! Funny creatures modellers!! I suppose it depends on what & when we were buying?

Certainly, nobody could EVER say the Matchbox Victor fitted together well!!

Of course I'd love to see the Vulcan ( and Victor) updated! . With modern CAD techniques, who knows what might be achieved. It will of course be down to Airfix. Certainly, they did a good job with their Lancaster in 1981 & have done equally fine jobs with their new BF-110, P40 & forthcoming Swordfish. More of the same please!!

ps - a 1/72 VC-10 would be nice as well!!

Allan

Now, how about a Vulcan B1, Victor B1 & B2?.........................

Edited September 21, 2011 by Albeback52

[Pat C]

nobody could EVER say the Matchbox Victor fitted together well!!

It was OK where the parts touched wasn't it??

[Albeback52]

It was OK where the parts touched wasn't it??

The wings were a good fit I'll grant you that!!! Just a pity nothing else was!! Still, it's another one that's worth the effort.

['V']

O.K CJHM,

What I could say is by the time you've finished the 3 Vulcan you will probably have learned all the get out of jail tricks !!

BUT would you pay £100 for a modern ultimate kit ? ....... I wouldn't

Most things are fixable including making tail pipe extensions from brass tube and filler. I don't have the Airfix Valiant so can't

include that in my comments, but prior to the Valiant the Airfix Vulcan was THE best 'V' bomber kit, perhaps sad, but true.

'V'

[Jennings Heilig]

Consider that 20-30 years ago, it was perfectly "normal"...

1. To have manual wind up windows in your car. Now they *have* to be electric.

2. To have one telephone in the entire house. Now there has to be one in every pocket. And it has to walk your dog and water your house plants, make you better looking, and make chicks dig you more.

3. To buy french fries at McDonald's and get a normal size portion. Now it has to be EXTREME. Actually now everything has to be EXTREME (sports, weather, news, food, etc)

4. To buy a decal sheet for a model that had (if you were lucky) black & white tone drawings printed on white copy paper for the instructions. Now it has to have airbrush rendered, photo-realistic profiles and cost 15x as much.

5. To buy a model with raised panel lines, arm chairs in the cockpit, etc. Now every kit is expected to be an überkit that builds itself, paints itself, and decals itself.

My point being that expectations have changed **dramatically** in recent years for everything from cars to decals. What used to be perfectly acceptable is no longer, and in fact the opposite. It's considered substandard. Tastes have changed, and expectations of "normal" have changed.

[kev67]

I really don't know what people are moaning about, try making a Vacform, then you might realise the Airfix Vulcan is a doddle, where has all the proper modelling spirit gone

[Alan P]

I think Jennings is probably closest in reality to what's essentially "wrong" here.

I used to have most kits bought for me as a kid, and as soon as i could afford them, I'd buy my own based on how much i like the subject. I built the Airfix 1/48 Prowler, 1/72 Vulcan, 1/72 B-1, and Monogram 1/72 F-14 and 1/48 Corsair II. The best kit i ever made (then) was the Tamiya 1/48 A-10 - so i thought. All of these are roundly lambasted as awful kits these days. Yet the pride and enjoyment I had in my early teens from building them made me very happy with them.

Nowadays, my expectation of a kit has risen, but i will still happily tackle "awful" kits as my skills and range of tools and equipment are a lot better now. Why would i build the Revell 1/48 B-1B, AMT B-52H, Minicraft B777 and older Monogram kits? Are they any good by comparison to today's releases? Not really. Do they fit well? Not even close! But do i want to build the subjects? Of course - and that's the reason why indifferent fit, flash, ropey detail and raised panel lines will never put me off building something. Ever. I'm happy to put my skills to the test improving an inaccurate or poorly presented kit, but if i have to draw the line, i will put up with some inaccuracy and error inherent in practically every kit on the market past and present.

After trawling through the Airfix Kittyhawk thread, i am soooo glad to remain a builder of models, rather than a collector, or critic. Please o enlightened ones, let us ignorant plastic bashers make up our own minds.

Al

[Mark]

Nowadays, my expectation of a kit has risen, but i will still happily tackle "awful" kits as my skills and range of tools and equipment are a lot better now. Why would i build the Revell 1/48 B-1B, AMT B-52H, Minicraft B777 and older Monogram kits? Are they any good by comparison to today's releases? Not really. Do they fit well? Not even close! But do i want to build the subjects? Of course - and that's the reason why indifferent fit, flash, ropey detail and raised panel lines will never put me off building something. Ever. I'm happy to put my skills to the test improving an inaccurate or poorly presented kit, but if i have to draw the line, i will put up with some inaccuracy and error inherent in practically every kit on the market past and present.

And a big round of applause!! Well said Al, I wholeheartedly agree!!

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

[venomvixen]

And a big round of applause!! Well said Al, I wholeheartedly agree!!

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Indeed

[Work In Progress]

I actually prefer wind-up windows, and think the evolution of the car peaked between 1989 and 1994. Pretty much the same way with model kits, for me.

[Heraldcoupe]

My current daily tranport was built in 1972, it will shortly be replaced by one built in 1961.

No electric windows for me, and I'm currently 'enjoying' a Roden He-111 more than many of the easier kits I've built.

While I'd be happy to see a state-of-the-art Vulcan, I feel there are other subjects which more urgently need the investment.

Cheers,

Bill.

[thx6667]

Yet the pride and enjoyment I had in my early teens from building them made me very happy with them.

And I don't think that perspective changes much for todays generation stepping into your shoes, any more than when I was making models as a kid which the enthusiasts at the time would have sniffed at. In fact years later I can remember reading contemporary reviews of kits that I enjoyed hugely at the time, only to read they were considered pretty cack! I must have worked my way through the original Revell 1/72 line up of ME 109, P-47D and Mustang (yeah, that Mustang) thinking how cool they were.

But as I said from the outset, I wasn't making models from the perspective of an experienced and discerning enthusiast, it was something to fill the gap between tea time or rainy school holidays, and the quicker I could get something made and painted, the better because spending a week on a model when you were seven or eight was much too long to wait.

Perhaps sometimes people think "how can anyone make this kit to the standards I aspire to?" - answer, because maybe they're not building to someone else's standards but to their own.

Edited September 23, 2011 by Jonathan Mock

[F-32]

I enjoy it regardless the generation of kit and find its sometimes more fun to 'beat' an older kit into submission!

[woody37]

As a teenager, I was put off Airfix and Matchbox models as I at last had the money to afford better quality kits which enabled me to make better models. This made up for my 'average' or 'poor' model skills. As a kid I built them because they were there and available where my mum went shopping (these were the two main choices you could buy), so I believe that what makes Airfix sell well is their availability on the high street. This has nothing to do with quality, simply easy access, a bit like putting sweets on the till at the supermarket checkout. I think this has been Airfix's survival policy over the years. That said, I now enjoy building some of their earlier models as the scratch building and lack of equivelent models makes them a suitable choice.

Great to see Airfix investing in better tooling though.

[Giorgio N]

If I may add my 2 cents worth on the general topic of kids and quality of kits, I was discussing these recently with a guy who owns a hobby shop. We were comparing italeri and revell kits, and he told me that in his experience the kids of course don't care about quality and would buy (or better tell dad to buy.) anything as long as they liked the box, as they're just happy to slap some glue on. However when the kids become boys and start to develop an interest in buiding models they also start to care seriously about the quality, where for quality we should mean good fit of the parts and cleanliness of the moulds. In his experience the revell single engined fighters were the best because they were cheap and easy to build. The corresponding italeri kits were still cheap, but more than one of these boys commented negatively after building them because of the bad fit of the parts.

Experienced modellers are a totally different story, as these choose a kit mainly based on the subject and have the skills required to sort any fit issue.

In the end all he told me made sense to me looking back to my own experience: the matchbox kits were great as most of them had no fit issue. When I bought my first airfix kits I realised they were a step (if not two..) ahead in terms of details and this made me feel as if I was growing as a modeller. However some of them were really troublesome to build and when I compared them with the matchbox ones the latter looked better to me as they didn't have all those misaligned parts and seams. Of course today I don't care and I don't mind the older kits or even short runs and vacforms if they represent the subject I'm interested in.. although there are moments when I wonder why I didn't buy tamigawa !

From this point of view airfix is doing right with the new kits, as these fit generally well and most modellers will consider this aspect over others. The older moulds are a different story, they can still appeal the enthusiast interested in that subject but if I had to buy a kit for a kid I'd avoid them. Not that this is really the case of the Vulcan, I'd never buy a kid a kit of that kind, better start playing with something easier... and cheaper !

[billybigbananas]

As a teenager, I was put off Airfix and Matchbox models as I at last had the money to afford better quality kits which enabled me to make better models. This made up for my 'average' or 'poor' model skills. As a kid I built them because they were there and available where my mum went shopping (these were the two main choices you could buy), so I believe that what makes Airfix sell well is their availability on the high street. This has nothing to do with quality, simply easy access, a bit like putting sweets on the till at the supermarket checkout. I think this has been Airfix's survival policy over the years. That said, I now enjoy building some of their earlier models as the scratch building and lack of equivelent models makes them a suitable choice.

Great to see Airfix investing in better tooling though.

Totally, we can debate the quality of old Airfix kits until the cows come home, I'm just glad that the company is still around & making great kits of classic British subjects. If you'd said to me 10 years ago that in 2011 I'd have a 1/72 Airfix Nimrod on the bench & be considering buying their 1/72 Valiant I'd probably have split my sides laughing. I really thought the business was a goner in 2006, delighted to be proved wrong.

[cjhm]

Seeing as I started all this I have created WIP thread for my build

XH558 Build

Edited September 30, 2011 by cjhm

[Bertie McBoatface]

Yes, I'm glad that Airfix is still around too. Unfortunately I'm not pleased that they are still making

their kits as they do. I believe that they manufacture poor, not great kits of classic British subjects.

We buy them in huge numbers and the quality manufacturers concentrate on making beautiful

models of Luftwaffe and American subjects, rather than challenging Airfix. They know that we are

sentimental/nationalistic/skinflint/dumb enough to continue to buy shoddily engineered kits from

our British flagship company. This is a company which, in my opinion, still trades on it's 1970

'heritage'. Just think of the cockpit in the Sea Vixen for example, or the Canberra rudder, or the

Hawk canopy, or that awful 1/72 Concord, or the Spitfire panel lines and so on. Sadly everything

I've built from Airfix in the last decade seems to have been designed and produced by lazy

people living in the past. British manufacturing is just so embarrassing.

I recall that the RAF defined quality as 'fitness for purpose at the minimum possible cost'. Airfix

aficionados seem happy with 'minimum possible cost for something that we can spend ages making

'presentable'. Yes' of course we can make silk purses from these pig's ear kits, and some people claim

that this is the proof of good modelling skills. I disagree with this, believing that if making something

from nothing was the criterion of modeller greatness, we would all scratchbuild. In fact, other

people's really 'make' almost all of the models that we assemble and, accepting that, I prefer

to employ the most skilled and diligent designers, engravers, moulders that I can find. Tamigawa

put the work in to make a good product in the first place so that their customers don't each have

to put the work in to bring them up to 'acceptable', but can instead spend hours making them

exceptional.

I drive a Japanese car too. It came with everything included in the (very reasonable) price. It all

continues to work perfectly. Come on Tamigawa, buy Airfix and run it like a 21st century manufacturer!

[thx6667]

Tamigawa

put the work in to make a good product in the first place so that their customers don't each have

to put the work in to bring them up to 'acceptable', but can instead spend hours making them

exceptional.

They certainly do, ditto Dragon, it's top quality stuff.

It also costs a lot more, so how do you do that and keep it affordable for the masses?