Airfix Finished?

[DispatchDragon]

personally Simon - Its rather like buying oil Futures at 70.00 a barrell
because the weather channel said this was going to be a terrible year for
hurricanes -- funny how that works

My brother has an entire room (see american style bedroom) set aside for his boxed models - me id rather enjoy building them


But its horses for courses


Leif

[Garry Russell]

Hi Simon

So if BEA's the game then you will need to make the 500 series One-Eleven as detailed over on Robs site.

A word of caution about the Trident...the fin need total reworking as it is under scale.

When Airfix first ussued BA the tail transfer was far too big as they did it off scale plans so they had to re issue it to fit the model

Airfix has been under recievership before and I doubt that the model will become any rarer than they have been thus far due to the fact the were often withdrawn.

It was often possible to get the Trident from large stockists as it was not a popular model. The One-Eleven was hard to find as was the Vanguard, Comet and Caravelle.

I once oredered a Trident and I was a good customer.....he put two in saying couldn't get rid of the bl@@dy things.

SO even though Tridents have faded they have been quite easy to get.

So they will not die out overnight. FROG models could be bought from shops for years after their demise.

I would also think Airfix will be back and if not someone else will take on the moulds.

Garry

[simtrac]

I used to be a pretty good modeller - and, really, I don't believe in keeping the things all boxed up for posterity (I DO keep the boxes though!). So eventually they will get built - along with my 1/48 Lightning, my Vulcan, my Stirling etc etc :redface:

So - a BEA 500 it is then. Plastic card and Milliput at the ready ... I haven't started ANY research on these at all - so thanks for the pointers. No pressure then!

Likewise - I can't see Airfix disappearing altogether. Either some big company like Mattel (who own Corgi) will step up - failing that some entrepreneur - if they can get the moulds back that is.

I think Airfix would work well on a fairly small scale (no pun intended!) even if they never released a new kit again, a few old favourite models from the range rotated on a yearly basis ...

[Garry Russell]

Hi Simon

A lot of the interest in Airfix is nostalgia, but they must get it right

They should have released the Vanguard in Red Square and perhaps Flying Jack..not British Airway which it never wore.

It still appeals to it's customers form it's heyday. The little boys that have now grown up and have more money to spend.

Airfix to many of us is not just a kit manufacturer but a part of our childhood. It's what we did then.

So it they stick to where they belong, there is a place, but now probably as a part of a larger more diverse setup.

Garry

[VC10]

Can the TSR2 take the blame?

I assume it never entered production - again

[John R]

I remember going to the local model shop and gazing at the box artwork. The 1/24th series had not been around long and Roy Crosses artwork left a lasting impression. I seem to remember watching a program with James May were he interviewed Roy Cross.
He told how the PC age had meant that the war-bird scenes had to be 'toned down', no flaming engines on the Junkers 88, the Beaufighters 4" rockets airbrushed out of shot etc. :roll:

Here's a few box tops collected off the web that I remember sticking my fingers too.

John

[vulcan]

I remember building a Lysander about 45 years ago in about 30 mins.
It crashed later that afternoon and was a w/o.

Re the Vanguard, I thought the original release way back in the 60's was in the BEA red square livery as was the comet at one time.

The originals of the VC10 and Boeing 707 came in BOAC & BOAC Cunard liveries when originally released.

RIP Airfix.

[Garry Russell]

The Vanguard was in Red Square originally, the small tail squre early livery (G-APEB)

But twice later they re released it in British Airways which it never wore :huf:

I well remember the VC 10 in the white bands...then before it entered service BOAC changed to the Golden Spreed stepped livery so Airfix reissued.....just as that hit the shops BOAC dropped the stepped liver y and the VC 10 was reissued again with the later Golden Speedbird.

Garry

[VC10]

My first kit was the Westland Whirlwind helicopter Series 1 price: 2/6d (12.5p). Series 2 was 5/- (25p).

[Garry Russell]

I had a Whirlwind in....... BEA

Also got a One-Eleven cheap it was priced at 11d when it should have benn 1/3.

I had to save up for a Vanguard 4/6 (22.5p)

Those were the days

Garry