2022 Airfix releases

[RangerNeil]

If anyones interested the 2022 Airfix new releases were announced today. The Mk IX Spitfire in 1/24 due 1st Quarter will come as no surprise. The Harrier in 1/24 due 3rd Quarter might be a surprise though.
A few of the old range are making a come back - the DHC Beaver, Basset Beagle & Westland Whirlwind(helicopter - not fighter) being some of them. Sadly no Rotodyne this year.

[aur0ra145]

Just in time for the large scale GB!

[Tomcat64]

...The Harrier in 1/24 due 3rd Quarter might be a surprise though...

Is the Harrier a new tool or another re-pop of their 1974 moulds do you know?

I remember trying to tackle the original when I was a nipper and have three distinct memories...
1. It weighed a ton
2. Getting the fuselage halves to mate up was a nightmare
3. No matter what I did I couldn't get the nosewheel to take the weight of the thing

It's entirely possible it was just beyond my capabilities back then, but a new tool might be really tempting...

must not buy any more new kits, must not buy any more new kits, must not buy any more new kits...

[Stokesy44]

If anyones interested the 2022 Airfix new releases were announced today. The Mk IX Spitfire in 1/24 due 1st Quarter will come as no surprise. The Harrier in 1/24 due 3rd Quarter might be a surprise though.
A few of the old range are making a come back - the DHC Beaver, Basset Beagle & Westland Whirlwind(helicopter - not fighter) being some of them. Sadly no Rotodyne this year.

WOW - a 1/24 late mk Spit? Wanted one for years! Is it a new tool or just their old one with a new engine?

Please let it be a new tool!!!!!

[Stokesy44]

If anyones interested the 2022 Airfix new releases were announced today. The Mk IX Spitfire in 1/24 due 1st Quarter will come as no surprise. The Harrier in 1/24 due 3rd Quarter might be a surprise though.
A few of the old range are making a come back - the DHC Beaver, Basset Beagle & Westland Whirlwind(helicopter - not fighter) being some of them. Sadly no Rotodyne this year.

WOW - a 1/24 late mk Spit? Wanted one for years! Is it a new tool or just their old one with a new engine?

Please let it be a new tool!!!!!

its a new tool! YEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[Tomcat64]

...The Harrier in 1/24 due 3rd Quarter might be a surprise though...

Is the Harrier a new tool or another re-pop of their 1974 moulds do you know?

I remember trying to tackle the original when I was a nipper and have three distinct memories...
1. It weighed a ton
2. Getting the fuselage halves to mate up was a nightmare
3. No matter what I did I couldn't get the nosewheel to take the weight of the thing

It's entirely possible it was just beyond my capabilities back then, but a new tool might be really tempting...

must not buy any more new kits, must not buy any more new kits, must not buy any more new kits...

I did a bit more digging and it appears the Harrier being released is a "Vintage Classic"

Link here

Excuse me while I go and fetch my bargepole... but at least the wallet has stopped quaking

[digger303]

...The Harrier in 1/24 due 3rd Quarter might be a surprise though...

Is the Harrier a new tool or another re-pop of their 1974 moulds do you know?

I remember trying to tackle the original when I was a nipper and have three distinct memories...
1. It weighed a ton
2. Getting the fuselage halves to mate up was a nightmare
3. No matter what I did I couldn't get the nosewheel to take the weight of the thing

It's entirely possible it was just beyond my capabilities back then, but a new tool might be really tempting...

must not buy any more new kits, must not buy any more new kits, must not buy any more new kits...

I did a bit more digging and it appears the Harrier being released is a "Vintage Classic"

Link here

Excuse me while I go and fetch my bargepole... but at least the wallet has stopped quaking

I have a vintage shovel that would like to get acquainted with the vintage airfix.....

[RangerNeil]

And theres me never even knowing they had released a Harrier in 1/24 before....
All I remember is the Spitfire Mk1, Me-109 and P-51...

[digger303]

And theres me never even knowing they had released a Harrier in 1/24 before....
All I remember is the Spitfire Mk1, Me-109 and P-51...

Hurricane, Stuka and Mosquito

[Tomcat64]

Hurricane, Stuka and Mosquito

I remember building the Hurricane & Stuka.

The Stuka was a big ole bird, and that was before the days of airbrushing so I probably painted it with a barn brush....

[Kevthemodeller]

Sadly a lot of Airfix of late is just re-released old stuff and like the Harrier (remember it well) all the old faults are still there

Hornby/Airfix are pulling on the nostalgia strings of many who remember the kits, only many are looking through rose tinted glasses. There's a lot alternative manufacturers out there now who kits are not only massively better at similar price or cheaper

In the case of the Harrier a good few in 1/32 most are all cheaper and will be far better engineered. I really think Hornby/Airfix is just out for quick profit and will crash yet again, once the backers have had their dividends

[Stokesy44]

I really dont understand the release of the old kits. All it does is create bad blood with the people who want a decent box of bits to work on.

I like Nostalgia, I'm sentimental but I would never consider building an old AFX release. I've been there and done that. Some of their releases were great for their time but they have proved they can release better stuff in the past few years. The new 1/24 scale Typhoon and Hellcat offerings have been well received and a lot of people like their new 1/48 stuff too. Not as well engineered as Eduard and Tamiya but then they're not as expensive either.

I have built their new 1/24 Typhoon and a few of their 1/48 kits - enjoyed them all.

In answer to a previous question, Airfix released the following 1/24 kits in the 70s / early 80s.

Hurricane 1
Spitfire 1 (rereleased in 2010 with a horrendous Mkvb (trop) conversion
Me 109E
Fw 190A
Ju 87B Stuka
P51D Mustang
Harrier 1

They then released a Mosquito in 2010

[RangerNeil]

Damn - I missed so much....

[Stokesy44]

Damn - I missed so much....

They were kits of their time. There was nothing else around to compare to when they were released. Working on such a large subject with engine and cockpit and guns was like nothing else the hobby could offer. I built them all except the Harrier. The Hurricane and 109 were the best in my view. The Stuka was a beast of a kit!

And all brush painted

[Tomcat64]

Whilst I agree with the comments from Kev & Stokesy about Airfix trying to cash in on the nostalgia trip at least they're being up front about it by releasing them as "Vintage Classics" so we know what we're buying or avoiding.

This to my mind is much better than the manufacturers who re-release their old mouldings in a new box every few years, or those who acquire another manufacturer's ancient moulds and then release them as "new" under their own brand.

Whilst most of us will use Scalemates (is there anything else that does the same job?) to check on the provenance of a kit, I think there should be something on the box that tells you the age of the oldest components inside.

[Kevthemodeller]

I think there should be something on the box that tells you the age of the oldest components inside.

I agree there should, but the cynic in me says they won't.

They're gambling and sadly in my view it's all about money. They'd rather get whatever sales/profit they can now, with little regard for buyers getting annoyed and disillusioned, once they realise just how bad these kits are, compared to what's now available and cheaper. Who won't then buy anymore Yes the diehards will, but even they will struggle with the price compared to better competition.

I'll not be buying any of them, yes I love to reminisce, I built a good 50% of the airfix range back in the day and loved them. But once I'd found Tamiya there was no going back. That said some of their new tool is quite good, I built the Airfix latest Spitfire 1a while back and it's a good kit. But still suffers fit issues as is not engineered anywhere near as good as Tamiya's latest 1a, which falls together and is only couple £ more, it's a no brainer.

IMHO, Airfix either up the standard or drop the price substantially of their kits, before I'll buy anymore. It pains me to say that but they're just not value for money.

[digger303]

Hurricane, Stuka and Mosquito

I remember building the Hurricane & Stuka.

The Stuka was a big ole bird, and that was before the days of airbrushing so I probably painted it with a barn brush....

[digger303]

Whilst I agree with the comments from Kev & Stokesy about Airfix trying to cash in on the nostalgia trip at least they're being up front about it by releasing them as "Vintage Classics" so we know what we're buying or avoiding.

This to my mind is much better than the manufacturers who re-release their old mouldings in a new box every few years, or those who acquire another manufacturer's ancient moulds and then release them as "new" under their own brand.

Whilst most of us will use Scalemates (is there anything else that does the same job?) to check on the provenance of a kit, I think there should be something on the box that tells you the age of the oldest components inside.

Some manufacturers will list the patent issue date on the kit and that is usually pretty accurate.

[GMahaffey]

I've never built anything larger than 1/32 but boy do I want the 1/24 Spit. I saw the 1/24 Mossie in my LHS and I really wanted it, but sadly I didn't have the funds to pick it up.