Airfix quality
Discussion
I thought I'd introduce my lego mad 7 year old to the joys of Airfix so bought him a 1/72 harrier which came with glue, 6 pots of paint and 2 brushes. I haven't built an plastic model for years so I thought it would be fun building it together.
The box is attractive and well packaged - looks like a quality product from the outside...
Inside the mouldings themselves were absolutely shocking quality. OK you expect a bit of flashing but the general dry fit of parts was awful, the rotating nozzle arrangement an engineering joke.
Generally it looked like something out of a taiwanese cracker from the 70's. This kit with the acrylic paints etc included is obviously aimed at the young or inexperienced modeller, but the terrible fit of parts would have stumped most youngsters.
They are cheap to buy but way too cheap quality - definitely an opportunity for improvement
The box is attractive and well packaged - looks like a quality product from the outside...
Inside the mouldings themselves were absolutely shocking quality. OK you expect a bit of flashing but the general dry fit of parts was awful, the rotating nozzle arrangement an engineering joke.
Generally it looked like something out of a taiwanese cracker from the 70's. This kit with the acrylic paints etc included is obviously aimed at the young or inexperienced modeller, but the terrible fit of parts would have stumped most youngsters.
They are cheap to buy but way too cheap quality - definitely an opportunity for improvement
Ancient kit.
The moulds date back to the 70s.
That's the problem.
The new kits go together quite well.
The old ones are well past their best in most cases and best avoided.
And I agree, don't get the good doctor started.
Airfix are bringing out a brand new Harrier kit later this year which will be miles better.
The moulds date back to the 70s.
That's the problem.
The new kits go together quite well.
The old ones are well past their best in most cases and best avoided.
And I agree, don't get the good doctor started.
Airfix are bringing out a brand new Harrier kit later this year which will be miles better.
Sadly the new mould one is due out in a couple of weeks time. The old one was long overdue for replacement but it still sold well, so trying to convince a room full of accountants that it should be binned so we can spend x-thousands of pounds replacing it isn't easy. The old tools are being phased out as quick as we can (we've introduced over 60 new moulds in the last 5 years), but it's a small team, and there's a lot of old worn out tools!
Edited by lufbramatt on Tuesday 23 July 22:42
To be fair to Airfix, all model companies do this and I'm afraid you have to know which are the good newer kits and which are the ones to avoid.
Not sure if Hasegawa still do this but until quite recently you could get stuff from their collaboration with Frog (F100, EE Lightning) in modern boxes, and some of the modern Revell boxings hold the old '70s mouldings too. Tamiya have recently punted out some of their earliest armour subjects as reissues too, which while definitely not unbuildable, are a bit crude for modern tastes.
It doesn't help if you are new or returning to the hobby though, sounds like you got the '60s or '70s Airfix series 2 Harrier kit there which was OKish back then but the moulds must be very tired now.
And can I second the don't get him started request, he's getting very tedious and irrational on the subject, must have been bitten by an Airfix Spitfire as a baby!
Not sure if Hasegawa still do this but until quite recently you could get stuff from their collaboration with Frog (F100, EE Lightning) in modern boxes, and some of the modern Revell boxings hold the old '70s mouldings too. Tamiya have recently punted out some of their earliest armour subjects as reissues too, which while definitely not unbuildable, are a bit crude for modern tastes.
It doesn't help if you are new or returning to the hobby though, sounds like you got the '60s or '70s Airfix series 2 Harrier kit there which was OKish back then but the moulds must be very tired now.
And can I second the don't get him started request, he's getting very tedious and irrational on the subject, must have been bitten by an Airfix Spitfire as a baby!
As a beginner, I find this annoying until my skills get better to deal with it. I now know that I can search out the better newer ones or try another brand. This latter is something I never did as a kid, we only ever did Airfix, it was an eye opener and a joy as a rank amateur to try something else.
I still have Airfix kits lined up mind you, not abandoning them but I am finding this a winter sport so not catching up with them yet.
The Mosquito went down hill initially but has recovered some as a test bed. Not perfect but a lot better.
I still have Airfix kits lined up mind you, not abandoning them but I am finding this a winter sport so not catching up with them yet.
The Mosquito went down hill initially but has recovered some as a test bed. Not perfect but a lot better.
lufbramatt said:
Sadly the new mould one is due out in a couple of weeks time. The old one was long overdue for replacement but it still sold well, so trying to convince a room full of accountants that it should be binned so we can spend x-thousands of pounds replacing it isn't easy. The old tools are being phased out as quick as we can (we've introduced over 60 new moulds in the last 5 years), but it's a small team, and there's a lot of old worn out tools!
How about sending sjp's son a new one as a goodwill gesture? Rest assured this isnt the first time someones been disappointed by an Airfix kit like this.Edited by lufbramatt on Tuesday 23 July 22:42
King George V is pretty old (1970s?) so expect some issues. However, by the 1970s Airfix were producing some nice models so it may be OK. It's the 50s and 60s stuff that they should be withdrawing as quickly as they can.
Even though Dr_Gn does have a bee in his bonnet about Airfix and has a tendency to damn almost all their products, the one point I am 100% in agreement with him on is the repackaging of old, tired and poor kits in modern Starter Packs.
It is a very, very poor policy simply because Starter Packs are aimed at beginners, especially youngsters. They are often bought by parents, grandparents etc as presents for young 'uns.
If the model is not good, the experience of building one of these old clunkers, especially for a young first timer, can put them off modelling for life. That is the last thing the modelling world needs. The kit building demographic is getting older and older and we need to encourage, not discourage, new youngsters into the hobby.
I am currently building the new mould 1/76 Cromwell tank and I have assembled this without needing one application of filler of any sort. That is how good the new moulds are. I am impressed.
I would suggest that anyone who is unsure about the provenance of a kit built by the legacy manufacturers (whether Airfix, Revell, Hasegawa etc) should ask about it here.
I and others here usually have a fair idea when a kit first appeared on the scene and what might be involved in building it.
A Google search can often reveal a kit's history too.
The one good news is that many of the "favourites" for Starter Packs (Spitfires, Hurricanes, Me109s, Red Arrows Hawks, Red Arrows Gnats etc) have now been replaced with pretty good brand new mouldings.
But I think the ancient kits should be withdrawn immediately because they are damaging Airfix's reputation and the hobby.
Even though Dr_Gn does have a bee in his bonnet about Airfix and has a tendency to damn almost all their products, the one point I am 100% in agreement with him on is the repackaging of old, tired and poor kits in modern Starter Packs.
It is a very, very poor policy simply because Starter Packs are aimed at beginners, especially youngsters. They are often bought by parents, grandparents etc as presents for young 'uns.
If the model is not good, the experience of building one of these old clunkers, especially for a young first timer, can put them off modelling for life. That is the last thing the modelling world needs. The kit building demographic is getting older and older and we need to encourage, not discourage, new youngsters into the hobby.
I am currently building the new mould 1/76 Cromwell tank and I have assembled this without needing one application of filler of any sort. That is how good the new moulds are. I am impressed.
I would suggest that anyone who is unsure about the provenance of a kit built by the legacy manufacturers (whether Airfix, Revell, Hasegawa etc) should ask about it here.
I and others here usually have a fair idea when a kit first appeared on the scene and what might be involved in building it.
A Google search can often reveal a kit's history too.
The one good news is that many of the "favourites" for Starter Packs (Spitfires, Hurricanes, Me109s, Red Arrows Hawks, Red Arrows Gnats etc) have now been replaced with pretty good brand new mouldings.
But I think the ancient kits should be withdrawn immediately because they are damaging Airfix's reputation and the hobby.
Edited by Eric Mc on Wednesday 24th July 08:07
I just bought one of their new 1/72 DH Vampire T11 kits and it simply awesome. Lovely mouldings and getting very close to Tamiya /Hasegawa quality and detail.
I recently handled the new Lancaster moulding too and that is even better.
Yes, they do still box up old mouldings which are woeful but its worth doing your homework before buying.
I'll be buying more Airfix in the future if they carry on this way.
Matt
I recently handled the new Lancaster moulding too and that is even better.
Yes, they do still box up old mouldings which are woeful but its worth doing your homework before buying.
I'll be buying more Airfix in the future if they carry on this way.
Matt
dr_gn said:
lufbramatt said:
Sadly the new mould one is due out in a couple of weeks time. The old one was long overdue for replacement but it still sold well, so trying to convince a room full of accountants that it should be binned so we can spend x-thousands of pounds replacing it isn't easy. The old tools are being phased out as quick as we can (we've introduced over 60 new moulds in the last 5 years), but it's a small team, and there's a lot of old worn out tools!
How about sending sjp's son a new one as a goodwill gesture? Rest assured this isnt the first time someones been disappointed by an Airfix kit like this.Edited by lufbramatt on Tuesday 23 July 22:42
lufbramatt said:
Trying to convince a room full of accountants that it should be binned so we can spend x-thousands of pounds replacing it isn't easy. The old tools are being phased out as quick as we can (we've introduced over 60 new moulds in the last 5 years), but it's a small team, and there's a lot of old worn out tools!
Bloody accountants.Couch your argument in terms they can understand.
If Airfix insists on putting rubbish kits in starter packs, then there won't be an Airfix in a few years time. That might get through their blinkered view on matters a bit more effectively.
Innovate or die.
Not sure I have this right but were humbrol bringing paint production back to the UK because quality was down and sales were down? I might have mis read that?
For a beginner in anything I think it is important that the product is up to the task, and to coin a phrase, does what it says on the tin. I now know there are good kits and now know to search first (King George V was in the bargain bucket for a few quid). Others are presents. So a simple 1/72 out the box and assembled should be nice and easy or it will scare people off. I like the idea of the kit coming with the paints.
Had I bi plane and found that the pilots were giants. Revell get on my nerves with paint mixing required so to get around that I have discovered that people on the web are already on the case and there are various charts etc to help, lots of help out there. I am now using fillers and other compounds to help me along so I know I can get there, just the first out the box experience can be very off putting and maybe Doom is a better option after all.
I also wonder how much stock is out there and how long it would take to filter through. Some shops I have been in have floor to ceiling of boxes of kits.
For a beginner in anything I think it is important that the product is up to the task, and to coin a phrase, does what it says on the tin. I now know there are good kits and now know to search first (King George V was in the bargain bucket for a few quid). Others are presents. So a simple 1/72 out the box and assembled should be nice and easy or it will scare people off. I like the idea of the kit coming with the paints.
Had I bi plane and found that the pilots were giants. Revell get on my nerves with paint mixing required so to get around that I have discovered that people on the web are already on the case and there are various charts etc to help, lots of help out there. I am now using fillers and other compounds to help me along so I know I can get there, just the first out the box experience can be very off putting and maybe Doom is a better option after all.
I also wonder how much stock is out there and how long it would take to filter through. Some shops I have been in have floor to ceiling of boxes of kits.
I had load from my last venture into modelling 12 years or so ago and they are still intact. Not got the hang of acrylic yet, still learning and still not on a sprayer yet though asking on Britmodeller I found out that using stiff art brushes will get some excellent results combined with some very fine grit paper.
Humbrol enamels are indeed now made in London and they are really nice paints to use, much better than the previous stuff. Some production will be starting in the UK for other brands in due course.
Going back to the original point, Revell do exactly the same with old kits, and we're bringing out more "new tool" kits each year than any of our competitors in order to bring the whole range up to date. But it is a double edged sword- you need enough of a range to keep the cashflow going in order to pay for the development of new tools which means getting as much as possible from older tooling that has already paid for itself. Old kits are being replaced- harriers, gladiator, swordfish, mustang, zero, typhoon, spitfires, Lancaster etc. but it all takes time.
Going back to the original point, Revell do exactly the same with old kits, and we're bringing out more "new tool" kits each year than any of our competitors in order to bring the whole range up to date. But it is a double edged sword- you need enough of a range to keep the cashflow going in order to pay for the development of new tools which means getting as much as possible from older tooling that has already paid for itself. Old kits are being replaced- harriers, gladiator, swordfish, mustang, zero, typhoon, spitfires, Lancaster etc. but it all takes time.
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