Airfix Club Kit 2014

[HobbyModeller]

http://www.airfix.com/airfix-club/

For those of you who haven't heard...

Quite an interesting pick of kits this year, very unorthodox, Airfix seem to be continuing the British Planes in other airforces theme.

Anybody going to get this?? I may as they're both decent kits and you get some unusual markings ... has anybody here built an American Hurricane or (more unlikely) Swordfish??

[DC87]

Very interesting, it is certainly a tempting package. I particularly like how the Swordfish is linked to the old British - French relationship.

[Gav0909]

I saw this and my first thought was "hmm do I really want another Hurricane (not my favourite aircraft, they are a touch on the dull side), but boy does that Stringbag look good!

[Johni044]

The stringbag is the recent tooling which is a really exceptional kit for 1:72, I believe the Hurricane will also be the recent release but with a new wing.

They ran out of the Under the Red Star set by the time I renewed so am looking forward to getting that set sometime soon.

[Joesdad]

They look lush.. As long as they're not old kits re-boxed (grrr), it seems Airfix are starting to boss the 1:72 scene, which is nice...

[HobbyModeller]

I believe they are both new toolings. The swordfish definitely will be and I reckon the Hurricane is perhaps with a few spare parts or something

[Trainboy153]

Seems like a very interesting kit, I always have to look twice to check if its really a british plane in another paint scheme

[Joesdad]

A cheeky box for the stash then Hobby

[Bassman]

I must admit to seriously considering joining up, to get the kit.

[HobbyModeller]

From my experience its well worth it Bassman

[Bassman]

I just now signed up for this. I wonder how long before the kit arrives...

[HobbyModeller]

I just now signed up for this. I wonder how long before the kit arrives...

Haven't signed up yet but they usually arrive late January - mid February I need to fill out the form !

[Johni044]

I got mine mid December, so they are in stock and you should get them shortly after joining/renewing. Here's a quick review I did elsewhere.

This is an abridged review as one of the two kits, namely the Swordfish has been reviewed elsewhere on the web, the consensus of which appears to be universally positive, so I'm just going to concentrate on the Sea Hurricane, decals and paint guide.

Box Art.


Swordfish.
The Swordfish is the full new tool kit which was met with such acclaim on release last year. A beautifully detailed kit which also includes the torpedo trolley.

Sea Hurricane.
This is the kit which provoked speculation given Airfix had not released a version of this mark before. Views of both sides of all the sprues are given below









The arrestor hook assemble is also on this gate and it has both a retracted or deployed option. Fitting it will require some cutting of the planes fuselage.

Panel lines are nicely engraved. The absence of cockpit and wheel well detail are possibly the two areas which may be of concern to some.

Decals.

Seem to be in register and of good density. The 10 guns are depicted using decals 20 and 21.

Paint and decalling guides

[Bassman]

They waited for the catalogue before sending out my kit. Apparently they were trying to catch up on the Saturday before Christmas.

I looked for a review on the Hurricane and found one that was dated 2010, so I presume it is a relatively new tooling. It does at least have a two part cockpit.

The big problem with the kit is fitting all the sprues back into the box!

[Gav0909]

Hmm can't say I am that impressed with the Hurricane there. For a new tooling kit I would have expected some more detail in the wheel wells and on the cockpit sides there. But I think this tooling is from a few years back now perhaps with the addition of the arrestor hook parts, and so it was before Airfix were doing kits with wheel well and sidewall detail.

Shame as I don't think I will bother renewing my club membership this year. Although I might just so I can claim my kit on my flying hours.

[Bassman]

The Hurricane is not up to the standard of the latest Fabric winged Mark 1 that was released recently which has a much better interior (as do all the recent Airfix releases).

[Johni044]

True, it's kit A02096 which hit the shelves in 2010 with an additional sprue for the different wing, it's an ok kit but certainly not up to the standard of the Mk1 just released.

The Swordfish on the other hand is a gem of a kit.

[Gav0909]

I think the Hurricane is probably the same base kit that was in 2013's club kit. I built that, and it does build up ok. But I stuck a pilot on it to hide the bare cockpit. Shows how simple it was, as I never put pilots in my models usually!