What was your very first Airfix/plastic kit?
Discussion
Just watching the excellent James May programme on Airfix and it got me thinking, what was your very first Airfix (or Frog or Revell or Tamiya.) plastic kit?
Mine was the Airfix 1/72 Boulton Paul Defiant in nightfighter paint scheme, supplied in the card/plastic bag combo. I remember I got glue all over the canopy/turret.
Willing to bet there might be a similar thread somewhere here but he-ho couldn't find it.
Mine was the Airfix 1/72 Boulton Paul Defiant in nightfighter paint scheme, supplied in the card/plastic bag combo. I remember I got glue all over the canopy/turret.
Willing to bet there might be a similar thread somewhere here but he-ho couldn't find it.
The Hypno-Toad said:
Mine was the Airfix 1/72 Boulton Paul Defiant in nightfighter paint scheme, supplied in the card/plastic bag combo. I remember I got glue all over the canopy/turret.
Airfix Spitfire. 2 Shillings from Woolworth some time in the late fifties.Not only did I get glue all over the canopy but also it spilled out over almost every other small joint, got on my fingers and then onto various surfaces. I then further ruined it with thick Humbrol plastic enamel (not waiting for coats to dry fully when applying a second camouflage colour) and finished off by tearing some decals
.The Boulton Paul Defiant followed ...... all I remember is fu(king up the turret and its gun
.OT but My first ever kit was a Veron solid balsa wood Mig fighter (also ruined - my excuse is that my parents wouldn't let me have a balsa knife
).I made my first control line aircraft in 1961 (it had an ED Bee 1cc diesel engine) and I smashed that up on my first attempt at flight!
I moved on to boats and still have (in the loft) my Veron rescue tender with a 5cc Miles Special diesel
.It's amazing how often the Defiant turns up as a first model. It must have had the lure of the "so wrong, it's right" variety (both as a kit and a real aeroplane).
My first Airfix kit was the Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter - bought around 1966 for 2/6 (they were more expensive in Ireland). It would have been in a poly bag with lovely Roy Cross artwork.
I would say Roy Cross did more to sell Airfix than any other factor. The demise of their sales was partly down to the fact that they removed his artwork from the bags and boxes in the early 1980s.
The current artwork on Airfix kits is the best it has been since the Roy Cross days.
My first Airfix kit was the Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter - bought around 1966 for 2/6 (they were more expensive in Ireland). It would have been in a poly bag with lovely Roy Cross artwork.
I would say Roy Cross did more to sell Airfix than any other factor. The demise of their sales was partly down to the fact that they removed his artwork from the bags and boxes in the early 1980s.
The current artwork on Airfix kits is the best it has been since the Roy Cross days.
Eric Mc said:
It's amazing how often the Defiant turns up as a first model. It must have had the lure of the "so wrong, it's right" variety (both as a kit and a real aeroplane).
My first Airfix kit was the Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter - bought around 1966 for 2/6 (they were more expensive in Ireland). It would have been in a poly bag with lovely Roy Cross artwork.
Quick theory on that, it was moulded in black so no need for painting. Just slap the decals on.My first Airfix kit was the Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter - bought around 1966 for 2/6 (they were more expensive in Ireland). It would have been in a poly bag with lovely Roy Cross artwork.
I seem to recall that the F-5A was my second kit. I think the Fairy Firefly was the third and that was when the paint came out.
Memory's a weird thing isn't it? I can remember this stuff but couldn't tell you what I had for lunch two days ago.
Eric Mc said:
It's amazing how often the Defiant turns up as a first model. It must have had the lure of the "so wrong, it's right" variety (both as a kit and a real aeroplane).
As a child back then, I had NO idea what was wrong or right, I probably liked it because itwas the kit with the most guns for 2 shillings
.My first was the Airfix US Navy Phantom in 1:72nd in 1976. Not sure how I came to have it as no one in my family had showed any interest in the hobby as far as I know, although Dad took the hobby up with me later and did some excellent OOB models.
Was glued (extensively) and painted white (extensively) but I believe the decals went on okay, I do remember that I thought the gloss white didn't look as good as the artwork but Dad said it was okay as the aircraft were rarely pristine (whatever that meant!).
I bought the same kit a few years ago hoping to do a better job but need a round toit.
Second was a ship of some description - I'm sure it was a British battleship which was about twice the length of my hand (aged 6) I stuck the hull and deck together and I think the larger of the guns but the other "minor" details were forgotten.
3rd was a tank - Tiger I think remember thinking it was okay.
Was glued (extensively) and painted white (extensively) but I believe the decals went on okay, I do remember that I thought the gloss white didn't look as good as the artwork but Dad said it was okay as the aircraft were rarely pristine (whatever that meant!).
I bought the same kit a few years ago hoping to do a better job but need a round toit.
Second was a ship of some description - I'm sure it was a British battleship which was about twice the length of my hand (aged 6) I stuck the hull and deck together and I think the larger of the guns but the other "minor" details were forgotten.
3rd was a tank - Tiger I think remember thinking it was okay.
I have a feeling that it was Tamiya Zakspeed Capri and I now have the same one in my stash to be built soon. I remember loads of glue monsters being made while I waited for my parents to get up on a Saturday morning. I also remember being very disappointed when Beatties forgot to put the glue in my bag one Saturday, I had to wait a whole week to build that one.
escort90 said:
sea harrier and sea king
Airfix only produced their first Sea Harier kit less than two years ago. You either have - started modelling within the last few years
actually built the Airfix Harrier GR1 or GR3
built the Matchbox Sea Harrier (which came out in 1982) or somebody else's Sea Harier (Esci/Italeri, Fujimi) which came out later in the 80s.
My first aircraft was anAirfix Yak 9d bought in good old Woollies - it was supposed to be a Spitfire but I looked at the label too quickly and didn't bother reading the name. I rectified that mistake the following week!
My first kit of all may have been a car though, as I seem to remember doing a Mini and a frogeye Sprite (again both Airfix) at about the same time. Have a Sprite in the stash now waiting to be built.
My first kit of all may have been a car though, as I seem to remember doing a Mini and a frogeye Sprite (again both Airfix) at about the same time. Have a Sprite in the stash now waiting to be built.
Gassing Station | Scale Models | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff