Has Airfix lost it?

[109ROAMING]

Good stuff Mate

Half the reason I buy kits is because of the boxart(Well its a pretty big influence)

The boxart on Airfix kits these days leaves ALOT to be desired

[Lucky13]

All I wanted was that folded paper header which was then glued into a scrapbook. And believe it or not, I still have that scrapbook...

Care to share mate?

[109ROAMING]

Please do!

[badbear]

Hi lucky yes the cranberry kits are worth buying the look to fit well although this was just a test fitting i did cos a certain other bomber turned up so the PR9 got put on the to do list ho ho but yes they have good detail and good decals and you have quite a large lump of plastic for your cash.BB

[badbear]

i used to have that SR53 amuch glued airframe of my long lost youth.

[Graeme]

Care to share mate?

G'day Lucky. I'm sure there must be better ways of accessing Airfix Box art than resorting to a kids scrapbook from the sixties?

Wouldn't they be on the internet? The better artist was Roy Cross...

Roy Cross Artwork

Another avenue is to look for a second-hand book called "The Octopus Colour Encyclopedia of Aircraft" from 1980. A "kids" book, but extensively illustrated by Roy Cross artwork...



One more...

[Lucky13]

This is good enough for me mate...!

[109ROAMING]

Thank you!

[Lucky13]

Every one of the old Airfix box art, as sson as I see one.......zzziiiippp!....ack to school days and childhood memories!
Please keep 'em coming, if you don't mind that is!

[Airframes]

Ah! Roy Cross! A brilliant aviation artist if ever there was one. And that Auster Antarctic, probably the second Airfix kit I ever built, back in about 1960, age 9+! Of course, the first one I did was the Spit IX..didn't everybody?
Even today, as basic as it is, that Auster is a nice little kit. Thinking about it now, I can still smell the paint!

[Lucky13]

It's been a few times that I've been close to buy their Lancaster and Stirling just for the memories....

[badbear]

now a fw189 in 1/32 hmm

[DillyDog]

At 47 years old in a few weeks, I can still remember the very first Airfix kit I had, The Westland Scout, (not my choice, it was a birthday present when I was 7 I think) and since then, I had never EVER bought anything other than Airfix. In my little world, the Airfix kit was synonymous with any make of kit, as was Sellotape to any self adhesive clear tape!

When my eldest son showed an interest in 'having a go', I thought I'd buy a couple of kits we could do together so he could get off on the right foot, (I never had that advantage, I seem to remember the Scout was more glue than plastic!).
Off I went to my local model shop and came away with Hurricane and Bf-109 Airfix kits and a bag full of Humbrol acrylics, cement, etc.
I can only say I have never been so disappointed in the quality of a kit before! Although they were probably fine as 'first try' kits, I have vowed never to buy an Airfix kit again until they sort themselves out and improve the quality 1000%
Sounds a bit sad, I know, but it fells like a little piece inside of me died
So, back to the model shop and chose a couple of Academy kits (they're not very well stocked in the shop these days), but oh my god, what an improvement in molding quality!

I think the 'suits' and Hornby should have a really good look at sites like this and Hyperscale and see what peoples expectations are these days.

OK, rant over, I've calmed down a lot now!

DillyDog

[Airframes]

Welcome to the forum Dilly Dog. It's nice (though sad) to see that I'm not the only one who has similar thoughts about dear old Airfix. You're right, with some of their present policies, and the re-issue of very old kits at stupid 'current market' prices, it IS as if a part of me has died; very sad, like losing an old friend.
BTW, saw your request for the instructions for the Academy '109 kit. If it's the 1/48th '109G, I might be getting that in a week or so, and could copy the sheet(s) for you, if that would help? If I buy it depends whether or not it's got the R6 cannon Gondolas, otherwise it'll have to be the Hasegawa kit.

[Lucky13]

Welcome to the family Dilly Dog...! I agree that the Hornby and the Airfix suits need to have a look around at sites like this, Hyperscale, Modeling Madness to get a grip on reality, what people expect and want, that you can not re-re-re-re-release kits from the 60's ,70's and 80's and expecting us to pay a price that they in no way are worth. Especially when you can get a TamiGawa for a few extra quid....which are a world apart!