Has Airfix lost it?

[Heinz]

Yeah its a shame, I think mainly its because of the Hornby ownership.

Airfix to them is a side interest there being a big boom in their model railways since they outsourced (like every other bugger to china) and upped the priced and quality of their trains.

I too love the old airfix kits and still quite a few in my stash, they are a portal back to happier and simpler times i think

Regarding the attitudes to the hobby i started a thread talking about the current attitude and future of kit building which I cant find at hand. Generally hobbies have boomed overe the last 10 years however we may see a fair down turn with the surplus cash not being around as much.

I will however summise it will survive with most modellers being of a paitent and cautious nature as thats vital to be good/enjoy the hobby, lets hope that transcends to their wallets as well therefore keeping the many companies at the moment afloat during these choppy times.


Cheers.

[109ROAMING]

Ya I know what ya mean Karl

last time I was in a model shop ,about a week ago.I saw an Airfix Bf-109G-6 for $12and yet from another model shop I could pick up an Academy 109G-6 for the SAME price

So what do you think I'm gonna buy???

[109ROAMING]

My advice guys

Do what I did on the 28 of December and buy these....(keep things from the good old days around)

[badbear]

yep they have really lost it i fell through the floor when i saw the price of the mossie they are really taking the .... i won,t be getting one now no matter how good it is.

[Lucky13]

Thanks to tie mafia running and ruining the company...!

[Catch22]

Sorry, who's the tie mafia? The Corporate guys?

[Lucky13]

Oh, they know who they are.....

[Lancaster630]

just my four pence I like you all hold the Airfix name in high regard although like Catch22 am younger than some at 19 but my happiness with them was destroyed with the Bolton Paul Defiant I found it to be a horrible kit, I was interested in the new Mossie but was thinking about holding out to see if they will do a B.IV version but at that sort of price there is no way I could afford the blighter

But I have heard what may be promising news, apparently the Spit Mk.IX and BF109G-6 are to be re released with new tooling as well as the re release of some WW1 types which I am pleased with, I think that the Short Stirling could do with a going over as well really, whoever is in charge needs to realise that Airfix is the company many a child's first models will come from as it is such a well known name, and unless the kits quality improves and they can keep the prices for 1/72 Spitfire's, Hurricane's, P51D's and 109's in pocket money reach then we can be sure of more interest in the hobby with younger people for Hornby its the same with their trains. I don't know how to finish so I'll finish there I hope I haven't talked a lot of rubbish

[Airframes]

No, Lanc, you've made a lot of sense.
It might be coincidental, but, when Airfix first started in the kit business in 1952, their first, and main customer was Woolworths! Now we all know what's just happened there! But, Woolworths branches throughout the UK all had a counter dedicated solely to Airfix models. The Woolworths management/buyers, stipulated that the kits, all in 1/72nd scale then, and mainly smaller aircraft, the Spit MkIX being the first (and the Defiant not long after!), should be affordable from the pocket money of the average child, and set the retail price at two shillings - ten pence in today's money! The kits were pegged up on the display wall, packed in polythene bags, with a folded paper header label, with the instructions printed inside this. Eventually, larger aircraft joined the 'fleet', the Lancaster 'G for George' being one of, if not the first. And it's just been re-issued! These bigger aircraft came in cardboard boxes. Wow! Modern stuff then! As most of us know, the company went from strength to strength, with a huge range of aircraft, ships, cars, boats, figures, military vehicles etc etc. Every Saturday, the counter was virtually awash with kids, clutching their 'two Bob' in grubby hands, desperate to buy another Airfix kit! I know, I was one of them!
So, the basic idea then, and for many years after, was to produce a range of acceptable kits that were affordable for the average child/teenager or adult. Even when, a couple of decades later, Airfix introduced more complex, accurate and detailed kits, and in a variety of scales, including the first huge (or so they seemed then) 1/24th scale aircraft, the prices were still kept to a realistic level - the 1/24th scale Mustang, when released in 1972, retailed at £2.75 - and they continued to improve the range, introducing some of the best 1/48th scale kits made at that time.
So, under the new ownership, why they are releasing very old kits, basic then, terrible now, as 'new' kits , is beyond me. Like many, I truly hope that they get it right soon, and we can see another 57 years of Airfix....but I doubt it!

[Lucky13]

Swap for new kits AND new management...!

[Lucky13]

I also agree and understand you Lanc630, as good ol' Terry put, you made a lot of sense! Sent you an email Terry old boy...

[Airframes]

Ah, Roger One Three, will check box, out!

[Airframes]

HeHeHe! How many pints, no, gallons, not to tell anyone?!!
Bit late now, of course.

[Heinz]

I agree with Lanc totally, I too am of the younger breed round here (19) and its disappointing that Airfix are not seeming to care as much. It definately ain't a nostalgia thing here either via the releasing of untoched kits that date from the 50s.

Airfix still have the name, they still have the mouldings for some truely interesting models what they now need is some enthusiasm and spirit to be put back into their kits. Then maybe they can retake the crown as 'Airfix'.

[Lucky13]

They need someone with the heart in the right place, aviation interest and with some ecomonic sense, not only see the pound and dollar sign....