What Did You Get For Christmas Then?
Discussion
Didn't get anything modelwise as I had already bought the kits I wanted. These included the Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire IX, Hasegawa 1/350 IJN cruiser Agano with all the etch updates, Hasegawa CVE 73 1/350 USS Gambier Bay, Dragon 1/350 CVL 22 Independence and Tamiyas new 1/350 IJN cruiser Tone
Shar2 said:
Didn't get anything modelwise as I had already bought the kits I wanted. These included the Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire IX, Hasegawa 1/350 IJN cruiser Agano with all the etch updates, Hasegawa CVE 73 1/350 USS Gambier Bay, Dragon 1/350 CVL 22 Independence and Tamiyas new 1/350 IJN cruiser Tone
I would *love* that 1:32 Spitfire!dr_gn said:
Shar2 said:
Didn't get anything modelwise as I had already bought the kits I wanted. These included the Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire IX, Hasegawa 1/350 IJN cruiser Agano with all the etch updates, Hasegawa CVE 73 1/350 USS Gambier Bay, Dragon 1/350 CVL 22 Independence and Tamiyas new 1/350 IJN cruiser Tone
I would *love* that 1:32 Spitfire!Shar2 said:
dr_gn said:
Shar2 said:
Didn't get anything modelwise as I had already bought the kits I wanted. These included the Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire IX, Hasegawa 1/350 IJN cruiser Agano with all the etch updates, Hasegawa CVE 73 1/350 USS Gambier Bay, Dragon 1/350 CVL 22 Independence and Tamiyas new 1/350 IJN cruiser Tone
I would *love* that 1:32 Spitfire!dr_gn said:
Shar2 said:
dr_gn said:
Shar2 said:
Didn't get anything modelwise as I had already bought the kits I wanted. These included the Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire IX, Hasegawa 1/350 IJN cruiser Agano with all the etch updates, Hasegawa CVE 73 1/350 USS Gambier Bay, Dragon 1/350 CVL 22 Independence and Tamiyas new 1/350 IJN cruiser Tone
I would *love* that 1:32 Spitfire!Shar2 said:
dr_gn said:
Shar2 said:
dr_gn said:
Shar2 said:
Didn't get anything modelwise as I had already bought the kits I wanted. These included the Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire IX, Hasegawa 1/350 IJN cruiser Agano with all the etch updates, Hasegawa CVE 73 1/350 USS Gambier Bay, Dragon 1/350 CVL 22 Independence and Tamiyas new 1/350 IJN cruiser Tone
I would *love* that 1:32 Spitfire!My Mum, stuck for Christmas ideas, got me the Airfix 1:48 Douglas Barder Spitfire.
I'm 30 this year and this is my first trip back to kit building in probably 15 years!
Very much a work in progress - with two kids, classic cars and various house projects my time is limited
Overall it's been an interesting trip down memory lane - a real education and adjustment to my normal working / home life
The kit is a little confusing, dare I say a little dissappointing?! There are many uneccessary parts and incorrect/unclear instruction labels.
Also I've never used the paints supplied in this kit - I believe they are Acrylics??? Either way they are bloody awful! lumpy and inconsistent, unwilling to spread nicely and dries too quickly
Other than that I'm having fun
Oh yeah, I've also realised how bad my eye sight really is and have been forced to crack out the glasses! ha ha ha
I'm 30 this year and this is my first trip back to kit building in probably 15 years!
Very much a work in progress - with two kids, classic cars and various house projects my time is limited
Overall it's been an interesting trip down memory lane - a real education and adjustment to my normal working / home life
The kit is a little confusing, dare I say a little dissappointing?! There are many uneccessary parts and incorrect/unclear instruction labels.
Also I've never used the paints supplied in this kit - I believe they are Acrylics??? Either way they are bloody awful! lumpy and inconsistent, unwilling to spread nicely and dries too quickly
Other than that I'm having fun
Oh yeah, I've also realised how bad my eye sight really is and have been forced to crack out the glasses! ha ha ha
Ben Magoo said:
My Mum, stuck for Christmas ideas, got me the Airfix 1:48 Douglas Barder Spitfire.
I'm 30 this year and this is my first trip back to kit building in probably 15 years!
Very much a work in progress - with two kids, classic cars and various house projects my time is limited
Overall it's been an interesting trip down memory lane - a real education and adjustment to my normal working / home life
The kit is a little confusing, dare I say a little dissappointing?! There are many uneccessary parts and incorrect/unclear instruction labels.
Also I've never used the paints supplied in this kit - I believe they are Acrylics??? Either way they are bloody awful! lumpy and inconsistent, unwilling to spread nicely and dries too quickly
Other than that I'm having fun
Oh yeah, I've also realised how bad my eye sight really is and have been forced to crack out the glasses! ha ha ha
There is plenty of real skill apparent there judging by the finish you achieved on the pilot. Yes, Airfix are crap, but you are doing a great job, and the end result will be very good no doubt. Just needs a lot more work than a kit from a serious manufacturer.I'm 30 this year and this is my first trip back to kit building in probably 15 years!
Very much a work in progress - with two kids, classic cars and various house projects my time is limited
Overall it's been an interesting trip down memory lane - a real education and adjustment to my normal working / home life
The kit is a little confusing, dare I say a little dissappointing?! There are many uneccessary parts and incorrect/unclear instruction labels.
Also I've never used the paints supplied in this kit - I believe they are Acrylics??? Either way they are bloody awful! lumpy and inconsistent, unwilling to spread nicely and dries too quickly
Other than that I'm having fun
Oh yeah, I've also realised how bad my eye sight really is and have been forced to crack out the glasses! ha ha ha
Their 1/48 kit is a 30 years old -plus and is probably a bit tired. Also, the version you have got is one of the "Starter Kits" which come with those rubbishy paints which I would never use.
Get some decent acrylic or enamel paints (Tamiya acrylics are generally available as are Humbrol enamels), My favourite are Xtracrylics (produced by Hannants) but these aren't generally available in local model shops. I tend to buy mine either on-line or at Hannants shop at Colindale or their stand at model or air shows.
Are you planning on brush painting or air brushing the model?
Dr Grn has a bit of a downer on Airfix kits. I quite like them - even the old clunkers. I know which ones to completely avoid and I know which ones make up into nice models I appreciate that other manufacturers often do things better (especiially Tamiya) but usually at a price.
Pity your mum didn't buy you the new Airfix 1/48 109E which has been getting pretty good reviews.
Get some decent acrylic or enamel paints (Tamiya acrylics are generally available as are Humbrol enamels), My favourite are Xtracrylics (produced by Hannants) but these aren't generally available in local model shops. I tend to buy mine either on-line or at Hannants shop at Colindale or their stand at model or air shows.
Are you planning on brush painting or air brushing the model?
Dr Grn has a bit of a downer on Airfix kits. I quite like them - even the old clunkers. I know which ones to completely avoid and I know which ones make up into nice models I appreciate that other manufacturers often do things better (especiially Tamiya) but usually at a price.
Pity your mum didn't buy you the new Airfix 1/48 109E which has been getting pretty good reviews.
The Airfix Lancaster is still recognised as the most accurate in ANY scale (and that includes Tamiya's wonderful 1/48 scale Lanc and Revells newer 1/72 models.
The main problem with the Lanc, Spit and Hurricane in the set is that the moulds are all a bit old now and the models don't contain the internal detailing we expect these days. They also feature raised panel lines which, over the past 20 years or so, have been almost universally replaced by scribed panel lines.
Airfix have very recently issued new tooling Spitfires and Huricanes in 1/72 which are superior to the older offerings in that they do contain recessed lines and beter internal details. Their sets tend to include the older moulding kits.
The main problem with the Lanc, Spit and Hurricane in the set is that the moulds are all a bit old now and the models don't contain the internal detailing we expect these days. They also feature raised panel lines which, over the past 20 years or so, have been almost universally replaced by scribed panel lines.
Airfix have very recently issued new tooling Spitfires and Huricanes in 1/72 which are superior to the older offerings in that they do contain recessed lines and beter internal details. Their sets tend to include the older moulding kits.
Eric Mc said:
The Airfix Lancaster is still recognised as the most accurate in ANY scale (and that includes Tamiya's wonderful 1/48 scale Lanc and Revells newer 1/72 models.
The main problem with the Lanc, Spit and Hurricane in the set is that the moulds are all a bit old now and the models don't contain the internal detailing we expect these days. They also feature raised panel lines which, over the past 20 years or so, have been almost universally replaced by scribed panel lines.
Airfix have very recently issued new tooling Spitfires and Huricanes in 1/72 which are superior to the older offerings in that they do contain recessed lines and beter internal details. Their sets tend to include the older moulding kits.
TBH they're just going to hang from the roof of my "man shed" along with the German stuff I did in the summer. I prefer the actual act of assembly rather than striving for any real-world accuracy. In fact, as if to prove my point, there's going to be a Mk1 Spitfire up there against an ME262. The main problem with the Lanc, Spit and Hurricane in the set is that the moulds are all a bit old now and the models don't contain the internal detailing we expect these days. They also feature raised panel lines which, over the past 20 years or so, have been almost universally replaced by scribed panel lines.
Airfix have very recently issued new tooling Spitfires and Huricanes in 1/72 which are superior to the older offerings in that they do contain recessed lines and beter internal details. Their sets tend to include the older moulding kits.
Looking forward to the builds though. Painting is a necessary evil. If I could get someone else to do it for me, I would.
Eric Mc said:
they do contain recessed lines
They certainly do:
Subtle
Here's an interesting comparison from Sniperuk on B.M. : First the Corgi diecast Spitfire, second the Airfix Spitfire. Or is it the other way around?
Looks like they just adapted the same moulds, trenches and all. This isn't the way forward Airfix...
They're geting better with the latest couple of releases. It's a new era for them and they are learning.
Come back in two or three year's time and see how they stack up then.
Don't forget, they are, in many respects, a new outfit. Having stagnated for a quarter of a century, they are having to jump into 21st Century mould making and designing without the two decades of practice people like Revell have had.
I think they are going at things the right way. Even if they never match Tamiya et al, they aren't trying to compete with that sector of the market or their prices (with the odd exception - like their 1/24 Mossie). They are after the young mass market because that is where the future modellers comes from.
Their release list for 2011 is looking VERY interesting - new mould Swordfish, Gnat and P-40B in 1/72, for instance.
http://www.airfix.com/2011/
Come back in two or three year's time and see how they stack up then.
Don't forget, they are, in many respects, a new outfit. Having stagnated for a quarter of a century, they are having to jump into 21st Century mould making and designing without the two decades of practice people like Revell have had.
I think they are going at things the right way. Even if they never match Tamiya et al, they aren't trying to compete with that sector of the market or their prices (with the odd exception - like their 1/24 Mossie). They are after the young mass market because that is where the future modellers comes from.
Their release list for 2011 is looking VERY interesting - new mould Swordfish, Gnat and P-40B in 1/72, for instance.
http://www.airfix.com/2011/
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