Airfix

[zenrat]

Any and ALL judgements about plastic model kits are entirely subjective.....................

Indeed and, in relation to the discussion at hand, contradictory when looked at objectively. Which is the crux of the matter in regards to using them when making major business decisions, because no matter the result, it'll still offend somebody. Modellers sometimes exhibit a weird form of entitlement accompanied by endless whinging.
🤣

 

[jcf]

What did he say? What did he say? (I don't have FB so can't view it)

I said:

Hi all!
I'm just going to throw a few ideas out there for Airfix (Hornby) to think about.
1)  Your 1/600 scale ships are old, most ship kits are now either 1/350 or 1/700, do you think it's time you reinvented Airfix ships & entered the naval scales world? If you do, might I suggest that you focus on British/Commonwealth & lesser known European warships as a starting point. The Black Swan class, for example, were extremely important during the Battle of the Atlantic but no-one makes a model of one. Another possibility is HMAS Sydney (I), to counter Revell's old SMS Emden. If you look further into it, you'll find a plethora of important, yet un-modelled, ships out there.
2)  You have, for many years, had a 1/72 Westland Scout which you have released in various formats. How about a 1/48 Scout/Wasp kit? I'm sure more people than me would buy one (or more).
3)  While we're on the subject of 1/48 scale ... I have a lot of modeller friends, many of them British, who are 1/72 scale builders and, despite wanting to remain loyal to the Airfix brand, are finding themselves being pushed away, with almost no new subjects or complete re-tools, and most of the catalogue in 1/72 scale being re-pops of ancient "classic" kits, the moulds of which should have been binned & re-tooled decades ago.
I'm primarily a 1/48 scale builder (of aircraft) BUT maybe it would be a good idea to create enough content for this loyal group AND for the younger demographic, who may not have the money to spend on 1/48 kits.
Anyway, preparing to be completely ignored, now.
'Bye!

Marvellous, are you also going to pony up the millions required to fulfill your vision of what Airfix should do?
🧐
🤣

[jcf]

Airfix

I would suggest that, if you can find the post, you write a response agreeing with it or at least "Like" it - the more positive responses it has the more chance of something happening.

Done and done! 😊👍. Airfix will of course totally ignore it because you also implicitly criticise their staid, unimaginative" "play it safe" attitude to kit production. "Innovation" seems to be an alien concept to them

Innovation in model kit production
is in the areas of the design, engineering and manufacturing processes, not subject matter. 

[Beermonster58]

Airfix

I would suggest that, if you can find the post, you write a response agreeing with it or at least "Like" it - the more positive responses it has the more chance of something happening.

Done and done! 😊👍. Airfix will of course totally ignore it because you also implicitly criticise their staid, unimaginative" "play it safe" attitude to kit production. "Innovation" seems to be an alien concept to them

Innovation in model kit production
is in the areas of the design, engineering and manufacturing processes, not subject matter.

,
 Innovation, by definition involves a new method, idea or product. Ergo, it covers subject matter as well.

[scautomoton]

The new Flowers range is fairly innovative. As is the use of LIDAR in recent years. So is the use of sliding/loose tooling in the injection process for some subjects. Arguably, Airfix are at the top of their game, or certainly maintaining parity with their peers. 

[Weaver]

Looks like the SR.N4 is next up: they just put out a short video showing one built up.

[PR19_Kit]

LOTS of bits in the SRN4 kit, maybe designed in the 'I've got more bits in my kits than you have' period.

[Weaver]

LOTS of bits in the SRN4 kit, maybe designed in the 'I've got more bits in my kits than you have' period.

276 parts according to the video.

I have the same fantasy thought with this as I do with my 1/144th Orlyornok ekranoplan: a competitor to the Isle Of Man Steam Racket Packet Company disgorging happy bikers at the TT. Same problem though: getting suitable 1970s-1990s 1/144th scale motorbike models. Most of the railways stuff is 1950s.

[PR19_Kit]

276 parts according to the video.

I have the same fantasy thought with this as I do with my 1/144th Orlyornok ekranoplan: a competitor to the Isle Of Man Steam Racket Packet Company disgorging happy bikers at the TT. Same problem though: getting suitable 1970s-1990s 1/144th scale motorbike models. Most of the railways stuff is 1950s.

Most of them in the umpteen skirt panels.

I'm going to get a re-popped one so I can do the much lengthened Super Four, which were called Mk 3s (Go figure....)

You can't build a Super Four from two stock kits as you need to convert them both to Mk2s first and that's a right rigmarole. Not quite sure what I'll do with all the bits left over..........

[zenrat]

I hope the SRN4 moulds are in better condition than the Rotodyne or 1/24 Mustang ones.  Because going on those two vintage classics if they need TLC they won't get it.

[kitbasher]

276 parts according to the video.

I have the same fantasy thought with this as I do with my 1/144th Orlyornok ekranoplan: a competitor to the Isle Of Man Steam Racket Packet Company disgorging happy bikers at the TT. Same problem though: getting suitable 1970s-1990s 1/144th scale motorbike models. Most of the railways stuff is 1950s.

Most of them in the umpteen skirt panels.

I'm going to get a re-popped one so I can do the much lengthened Super Four, which were called Mk 3s (Go figure....)

You can't build a Super Four from two stock kits as you need to convert them both to Mk2s first and that's a right rigmarole. Not quite sure what I'll do with all the bits left over..........

Hovercraft mash-up.

Or send them to Lee, he'll convert them into some random Blackburn 1944 design 😉

[jcf]

Not quite sure what I'll do with all the bits left over..........

Perhaps the Hoverlighter?

You cannot view this attachment.

[PR19_Kit]

That's a bit like a hovercraft version of TomZ's open deck freighter.   

[kitbasher]

New today from Airfix - Partfinder.




(don't forget today's date)

[NARSES2]

Saw that this morning.

I've ordered one