Airfix

[Weaver]

This is interesting - I got an e-mail from Airfix a few days ago, which I've only just read, which says that the forthcoming Space Shuttle kit is a new tool.

Be interesting to see how it comapres to the "default" Revell kit.

[zenrat]

Some, yes, like the Bond Bug and Islander had new clear parts. Most of them, no.

Do you mean Beaver, rather than Islander?

That was what really annoyed me about the Belvedere - if anything needed new clear parts to transform it, that was the one.

The Auster got new clear parts.

[Weaver]

Some, yes, like the Bond Bug and Islander had new clear parts. Most of them, no.

Do you mean Beaver, rather than Islander?

That was what really annoyed me about the Belvedere - if anything needed new clear parts to transform it, that was the one.

The Auster got new clear parts.

YES - quite correct.

If only they would put the Islander out again (assuming they don't accidentally box it with a Skyvan fuselage, of course...)

[Weaver]

@Weaver, if they have given you the pointed version, I am willing to swap the fuselage halves for the laser nose with you if you like. It would save me from backdating the nose to make an M version.

Gondor

I havn't forgotten this offer by the way, but I'm waiting for a bit to see what, if anything, Airfix do about this.

[Charlie_c67]

Shrinkifying a mould from one scale to another is a bit more complicated that hitting the "scale?" button. The size of the parts changes, but the minimum thickness of the moulded plastic doesn't, so, for instance, cockpit walls get relatively thicker, and cockpit interiors therefore have to be adjusted or they won't fit. It's not that it's impossible, just that it's a fair bit of work.

Oh yes I'm aware of that, though in this day and age with CAD modelling, AI and CNC milling I'd imagine it to be a bit easier to do.

That said, I used two of those picture to stl on-line AI things last night. The results were... interesting shall we say!

[Mossie]

Some, yes, like the Bond Bug and Islander had new clear parts. Most of them, no.

Do you mean Beaver, rather than Islander?

That was what really annoyed me about the Belvedere - if anything needed new clear parts to transform it, that was the one.

It was the Auster I was thinking of. I believe the Islander got new clear parts a boxing or two ago? That's what got the brain cells tangled.

[Beermonster58]

Some, yes, like the Bond Bug and Islander had new clear parts. Most of them, no.

Do you mean Beaver, rather than Islander?

That was what really annoyed me about the Belvedere - if anything needed new clear parts to transform it, that was the one.

The Auster got new clear parts.

YES - quite correct.

If only they would put the Islander out again (assuming they don't accidentally box it with a Skyvan fuselage, of course...)

Fortunately, I've got three Skyvan kits but, I'm not paying the stupid second hand prices being asked for the Islander. These two items must be the most requested for the Vintage Classics  and, every time Airfix asks for suggestions, they both feature in many requests but, Airfix seems oblivious

[The Rat]

That was what really annoyed me about the Belvedere - if anything needed new clear parts to transform it, that was the one.

Ugh, don't remind me. And that canopy on the Bristol Superfreighter, which is really the only bad part on the kit if I recall correctly. All it would take is about an extra millimetre on the bottom.

But not to worry, I'm sure that a new release of some mark of Spitfire will save them!   

All joking aside, they have been spectacularly successful in one area which nobody expected: they have made a lot of modelers dread Spitfires. 

[Weaver]

Interesting development: the Jaguar is back on pre-order again, as if they've run out of stock. I wonder if that means that all their stock has been shipped off somewhere to be fixed in some way, or if they're waiting for a batch of correct fuselages to come in?

[jcf]

Some, yes, like the Bond Bug and Islander had new clear parts. Most of them, no.

Do you mean Beaver, rather than Islander?

That was what really annoyed me about the Belvedere - if anything needed new clear parts to transform it, that was the one.

The design, engineering and mould creation for new Belvedere clear parts, and ensuring
that they fit the old kit fuselage, would probably cost more than the old moulds are worth.
Not worth it for a limited re-pop.

[Weaver]

Some, yes, like the Bond Bug and Islander had new clear parts. Most of them, no.

Do you mean Beaver, rather than Islander?

That was what really annoyed me about the Belvedere - if anything needed new clear parts to transform it, that was the one.

The design, engineering and mould creation for new Belvedere clear parts, and ensuring
that they fit the old kit fuselage, would probably cost more than the old moulds are worth.
Not worth it for a limited re-pop.

Could have said that about the Bond Bug and the Auster though...

[PR19_Kit]

Specially for the Bond Bug, the 'glass' for all four windows is flat and they could have just provided some clear sheet to cut out!

[zenrat]

...I've got three Skyvan kits but, I'm not paying the stupid second hand prices being asked for the Islander. These two items must be the most requested for the Vintage Classics  and, every time Airfix asks for suggestions, they both feature in many requests but, Airfix seems oblivious

Maybe they've lost the moulds.

[NARSES2]

...I've got three Skyvan kits but, I'm not paying the stupid second hand prices being asked for the Islander. These two items must be the most requested for the Vintage Classics  and, every time Airfix asks for suggestions, they both feature in many requests but, Airfix seems oblivious

Maybe they've lost the moulds.

That or damaged beyond repair.  When they started on the "Vintage Classics" range there was an article either in the Airfix Magazine or "On-Line" about just how many moulds had gone missing or been damaged beyond repair over the years. Some still turn up in odd places, but many more are still AWOL.

[jcf]

Some, yes, like the Bond Bug and Islander had new clear parts. Most of them, no.

Do you mean Beaver, rather than Islander?

That was what really annoyed me about the Belvedere - if anything needed new clear parts to transform it, that was the one.

The design, engineering and mould creation for new Belvedere clear parts, and ensuring
that they fit the old kit fuselage, would probably cost more than the old moulds are worth.
Not worth it for a limited re-pop.

Could have said that about the Bond Bug and the Auster though...

Neither of those required a total redesign and reengineering of the clear parts, which is what would be needed to eliminate the join that causes all of the grief. Plus it would have to be at least three parts due to the bulged sides of the canopy and the limitations of injection moulding.
Not worth it due to it being reissued to a limited nostalgia driven market.