Jump to content

Airfix 2012


jaw

Recommended Posts

When I posted that at 08:18am, they did have the red asterisk, which is why I posted it in the first place!

I guess someone spotted the mistake....

Cheers,

Bill.

I'm sure I saw the little red asterisks as well although, it could have been the aftermath of too much Vat 69 at the weekend!! :lol:

Anyhow, I've sent an email to Airfix asking them to confirm.

Allan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not following why the artwork is an indefensible mistake.

I don't want to derail the thread more than it has been already, so I'll try and keep this as brief as possible. Agree with me or not, I won't have anything further to say on the matter here.

When your two choices are: "get it right", or "get it wrong"; and you deliberately choose "get it wrong" -- that is an indefensible mistake.

The majority of modellers, even serious ones, aren't historians

The majority of people are ignorant about all sorts of things. There are plenty of topics that I'm ignorant about, and probably always will be.

So, that means "ignorance is good", and "getting things right" is a pointless exercise, yes? Education -- who needs it? Sack the teachers!

It's not about what the "majority of modellers", or "majority of mums and dads", or "majority of any group" thinks, especially about things they don't actually know anything about. The point is that Airfix are supposed to know something about it, and you either think Airfix should be concerned about "getting it right" or "getting it wrong", or you don't. If you don't, I presume you would equally applaud exciting box artwork depicting rocket-powered Spitfires shooting down MiG-25s with laser beams. You can't be "a little bit" wrong, and if you're going to choose to be wrong, why bother getting anything right?

The purpose of the artwork is not to teach, it is to sell the model

Actually, once upon a time Airfix publicly prided itself on the educational value of their kits. Certainly I can say that my life-long interest in WW2, and my adult study of it (I use the term "study" in an informal sense, I have no tertiary qualifications) was directly a consequence of building model kits when I was a wee lad. Kits (and movies etc.) led to reading books and playing wargames which have led to reading yet more books ... and closing the loop, back to building models. Furthermore, as a child, I spent many hours studying the artwork in the kit catalogues. It was important.

However, I'll grant you that perhaps Hornby have no interest in making educational claims of any sort. I don't know. I think it would be a shame, if so.

and in Airfix's case they do this by making the artwork as exciting as possible. If that means showing a Panther tank driving through a desert landscape with lots of explosions and stuff, then so be it.

Except, of course, an equally-exciting scene can be derived with an authentic background for the same cost as an exciting scene with a spurious background. It's a pretty silly argument. (And the new Panther artwork isn't even "exciting"! It's quite bland, to my eye.)

My beef is not that Airfix got it wrong years ago, as sad as that might be (and it is). My beef is that, knowing better, they continue the mistake. That's more than just "unfortunate"; it's an indefensible mistake.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So if I understand your point correctly, you think it's perfectly OK for Airfix to spend money on new artwork that they know is rubbish, because kids (and parents) are rock-stupid and will buy them any way? (And let's teach the kids some wrong information while we're at it -- heaven knows we don't want them to become better-educated, they might spend their pocket money elsewhere!)

This is flawed, obviously Airfix don't know or think the artwork is 'rubbish' otherwise they would not have run with it - they would have had a number of options at draft stage before they commisioned the final piece. Fundementally all they care about is the artwork sells the kit not if it's right or not and I would guess as long as the kit inside is up to scratch that is all the buyer is interested in as well.

I never said the new artwork would hurt sales. I said the new artwork will hurt their reputation (deservedly). Bad enough to keep using stupid old artwork -- complete idiocy to commission stupid new artwork. It would have cost them nothing extra to make the new artwork actually appropriate.

It won't, but poor and old kits may.

But kids & parents are rock-stupid, so that's OK then.

No they are not, this is by and large the future of the hobby if erroronous but exciting artwork shifts the kits and get new blood into the hobby, everybodys a winner.

Incidentally, there's nothing wrong with being supportive of Airfix (I am), even OK to be a drooling fanboy if that's your thing, but when you feel the need to support a mistake as indefensible as this, you don't do your own reputation any favours, either.

It is not an indefensible mistake - far from it, it is more like a conscious decision to sell kits. Airfix and any other kit manufacturer come to that, reputation will rise and fall on the kit inside, the artwork won't register if the kit is right, period.

Marty..

Edited by marty_hopkirk
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hmm, seems Airfix are not too fussy about artwork accuracy these days, didn't stop me wanting at least two of their new A6M2 Zero though...

Stop Moaning? Why? Where's the fun in that?

I've lost count on how many Airfix SHars/Harriers I've butchered to within an inch of their miserable lives - because they needed "a bit of work" Col!

I actually have a couple in the stash - so probably won't be indulging this time around - though nice new cartograf decals won't go amiss!

Shame the 48th Harrier & SHAR were not new tools but at least the two SHAR under my bench are not outdated yet. Nice artwork for them as well! Wonder if the SHAR 2 will appear?

Understand what you mean about the kits being a bit more 'involved' if you want to get a highly detailed replica Bill but equaly they can be built up as the mould-maker intended if you are happy with what is provided. Sure there is a thread here showing what you've done to at least one of them that I'll use as inspiration when the time comes.

See the Trumpeter new release thread hasn't attracted a 'there's nothing here for me and it's a disaster as they'll not get any of my money therefore go bust!' comment yet. <_<

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't want to derail the thread more than it has been already, so I'll try and keep this as brief as possible. Agree with me or not, I won't have anything further to say on the matter here.

When your two choices are: "get it right", or "get it wrong"; and you deliberately choose "get it wrong" -- that is an indefensible mistake.

The majority of people are ignorant about all sorts of things. There are plenty of topics that I'm ignorant about, and probably always will be.

So, that means "ignorance is good", and "getting things right" is a pointless exercise, yes? Education -- who needs it? Sack the teachers!

It's not about what the "majority of modellers", or "majority of mums and dads", or "majority of any group" thinks, especially about things they don't actually know anything about. The point is that Airfix are supposed to know something about it, and you either think Airfix should be concerned about "getting it right" or "getting it wrong", or you don't. If you don't, I presume you would equally applaud exciting box artwork depicting rocket-powered Spitfires shooting down MiG-25s with laser beams. You can't be "a little bit" wrong, and if you're going to choose to be wrong, why bother getting anything right?

Actually, once upon a time Airfix publicly prided itself on the educational value of their kits. Certainly I can say that my life-long interest in WW2, and my adult study of it (I use the term "study" in an informal sense, I have no tertiary qualifications) was directly a consequence of building model kits when I was a wee lad. Kits (and movies etc.) led to reading books and playing wargames which have led to reading yet more books ... and closing the loop, back to building models. Furthermore, as a child, I spent many hours studying the artwork in the kit catalogues. It was important.

However, I'll grant you that perhaps Hornby have no interest in making educational claims of any sort. I don't know. I think it would be a shame, if so.

Except, of course, an equally-exciting scene can be derived with an authentic background for the same cost as an exciting scene with a spurious background. It's a pretty silly argument. (And the new Panther artwork isn't even "exciting"! It's quite bland, to my eye.)

My beef is not that Airfix got it wrong years ago, as sad as that might be (and it is). My beef is that, knowing better, they continue the mistake. That's more than just "unfortunate"; it's an indefensible mistake.

No offence but, don't you think you are making a huge mountain out of a tiny molehill? And, as for Spitfires shooting down Mig 25s with laser beams? Well, why not! It's just a bit of harmless fun & certainly no more ridiculous than a fantasy comic strip story I remember from The Victor ( I think!) featuring a bitter German W W 1 veteran flying a BIPLANE eqipped with a laser gun which he used to attack RAF bases!! He was eventually shot down by a Spitfire of all things!!

If you honestly believe artwork should be instructional and/or historically accurate, that's fair enough and, I respect your opinion. However, I do not personally think it matters a damn if Airfix (for example) showed JU-87s dive bombing a U S carrier!! The purpose of the box art is there to attract attention & thereby sales. I do not honestly believe modellers judge a kit by its cover!!

Allan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Seriously, who would not buy this?!:

2679094421a22df6dd3c.jpg

:lol:

I'll take 6 John ! That's brilliant!!

Now, how about JU-87s dive bombing & sinking a U S carrier in the Atlantic!! :lol:

Come to think of it, was there not an episode of Dr Who that featured Spitfires in space?

Edited by Albeback52
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Seriously.... I hate inaccurate boxart, only 4 talons on the dragons claws :angrysoapbox.sml: EVERYBODY knows they have 5! And I'm not even going to touch on the colour, what shade of scales is that supposed to be :jump_fire:

nah you're thinking of the mkIvb Dragon, the one in the boxart is clearly a mkVIIc, the length of the neck on the left gives it away.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's the front runner for box art of the year 2012!

The Airfix desert Panther gaff is pretty well known. Is it possible they commissioned the new artwork as a tongue-in-cheek nod to this famous episode from their past?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Now that wound be cool, who wouldn't applaud that.

Add me to the list of those already applauding! :D

I'd love to know the "screenplay" for the Walrus box art - it looks like the guy lying on the starboard wing who's (apparently) about to get a knuckle sandwich somehow just jumped aboard during the attack on the submarine, and a crew member (the pilot?!) crawled out to subdue him! A frantic rescue attempt gone badly wrong? Photoshop?!

John

Edited by John Thompson
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't want to derail the thread more than it has been already

<snip>

I presume you would equally applaud exciting box artwork depicting rocket-powered Spitfires shooting down MiG-25s with laser beams.

Well, that didn't work - now everone's gone to wanting laser-armed rocket Spitfires patrolling the surface of the Moon... :D

John

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This still gets my prize for best box art ever!

Walrus1.jpg

Excellent, the chap on the wing with the brown jacket looks like 'OddBall' from 'Kelly's Heroes' - "woof! woof! - the people in this Walrus have sensitive feelings!" :boxing:

Karl

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...