Airfix goes into administration

I have a load which I have half completed. I always seemed to break them / glue the wrong parts together :(

Still they were something fun todo over the weekend with my dad :D
 
Oh no, I used to love these as a kid. I still took my little paint boxes and glue sticks to uni coz they're pretty cool to do on the w/e.

Oh well.
 
R124/LA420 said:
:D

I used to buy & build many planes from airfix.

I started when I was about 6.

My sisters little lad (who's also 6) loves nothing more than to download planes for Microsofts Flight Simulator & fly (crash) them! - He has a few model planes (Tamiya iirc) but for every model he gets he probably downloads 50+ free planes for his simulator.

Airfix cannot compete!
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Problem is, other Model makers can.

Airfix sat back and relied on their very famous brand name to sell their product, most of their range are very old moulds with poor detail and raised panel lines (not popular with the modern aircraft modeller), Revell of Germany
are going strong with a wide range and good standard of moulds, and the likes of Tamiya and Hasegawa sell strong based on accuracy and quality.

Even Trumpeter have come on very strong in recent years, their recipe for success has been to produce kits of aircraft in scales that have been ignored and long wished-for by the model community (1/32 Su-27 Flanker anyone?)

Airfix managed to come out with the TSR-2 this year which sold like hot-cakes, unfortunately it was a limited run, too little, too late.

They will survive, the brand will go on and this isn't the end of Airfix, but neither is it the end of models, the excuse that kids just want to play computers now just doesn't cut it as an explanation for Airfix's difficulties, not when other Manufacturers are not sitting back relying on their famous brand name to shift 30 year old re-boxed Vulcan bombers from toy shops.
 
Most of the models that I've bought over the past couple of years have been other makes than Airfix *just gone through and checked them*

The new Trumpeter models do look very good though. Yet to try one though.

Airfix I need to spend some money I think and get new moulds made as some models *the Vulcan is one* that would be very good, if it went together easily and looked good.

It's a 1970's *iirc* model in a 1990's box...

I would love a good 1/32nd Avro Vulcan XH558 though.... *would fill my playroom though...*

Simon/~Flibster
 
hmm i think i still have my little ww2 air group at my parents house, 3 spitfires 3 hurricanes and a lancaster bomber i miss making those things
 
Flibster said:
Most of the models that I've bought over the past couple of years have been other makes than Airfix *just gone through and checked them*

The new Trumpeter models do look very good though. Yet to try one though.

Airfix I need to spend some money I think and get new moulds made as some models *the Vulcan is one* that would be very good, if it went together easily and looked good.

It's a 1970's *iirc* model in a 1990's box...

I would love a good 1/32nd Avro Vulcan XH558 though.... *would fill my playroom though...*

Simon/~Flibster
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Yeah a Big Vulcan would be cool, I'd only have the space for a 1/72 one, but I will be improving the Airfix one at some point. I'm currently working on a Victor here http://s102164210.onlinehome.us/forums/index.php?showtopic=87414 which is a similar case of bringing a 30 year old kit up to modern standard, hard work, but easily the most rewarding aspect of scale modelling.

Mind you - the Airfix Lightning, now thats a corker :D
 
Skii said:
Mind you - the Airfix Lightning, now thats a corker :D
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I've got an old Lightning model that I really should build at one point.

1/48th scale - with special glue and metal foil so you can create the polished metal look with extreme accuracy. :D

It's from the late 60's this model I think and I'm hoping that it looks as good completed as I want it to. :D

That Victor looks great though. Saw Teasin' Tina yesterday at the Vulcan roll-out and she's starting to look a little faded. :(

Simon/~Flibster
 
So, should I want to get into this, where is the best site to head to? Me wants modern stuff, what scale is best?
 
Flibster said:
I've got an old Lightning model that I really should build at one point.

It's from the late 60's this model I think and I'm hoping that it looks as good completed as I want it to. :D

Simon/~Flibster
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If its the Airfix one, beware of warped wings, the lightning has a very unique curved leading edge, but in the older Lightning boxes there are any out there with wing warp problems.

She builds up very nicely though, and foil is definately a good plan for the intake ring - it worked well for me.

05.jpg
 
Skii said:
If its the Airfix one, beware of warped wings, the lightning has a very unique curved leading edge, but in the older Lightning boxes there are any out there with wing warp problems.

She builds up very nicely though, and foil is definately a good plan for the intake ring - it worked well for me.

05.jpg
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Ooooh.....Lightning. :D

I'm going to do the whole thing in the foil for the full polished metal look. Not easy - but should look great *if I don't **** it up*

Noit entirely sure who made the model - it's not in the flat at the moment and It's been a while since I saw it. :(

Simon/~Flibster
 
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