Quote from: Beermonster58 on May 18, 2026, 01:52:18 AMI get why they won't includes the parts because the whole idea of the Vintage Classics was to produce the kit in original colour scheme.
However, they are offering a totally new colour scheme /decals so, would it really have been  so difficult to update the moulds to include the appropriate parts?

I'm sure economics might have played a part and, I have no idea about how difficult it might be  to revise a mould so, hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I could answer that one 😊

You can't really "update" the mould because for the two schemes you need 3-blade, 5-blade and 7-blade props, so it's extra parts, not modified ones. What you'd have to do is make a new extra mould with the props in it, which means doing a whole new task of mould design and production (something like what they did with the Exocets in the updated HMS Amazon kit). That would be a lot more outlay to be recouped on the already somewhat high RRP.

I think the suggestion that people are making is a good one: sell 3D-print files for the people who've got the printers, and 3D-print the props themselves for people who haven't. Watching their videos, Airfix seem to have a pretty young workforce, so it might be that they've just honestly got an exaggerated idea of how many people have 3D-printers.

Moulds are by far the most expensive part of creating a model kit. The existing moulds are likely not large enough to accommodate a bunch of extra parts, so you'd have to add a new mould, which easily runs tens of thousands of pounds. That's a lot of kits you have to sell to recoup the investment.

Quote from: Weaver on May 18, 2026, 04:20:44 AM

Quote from: Beermonster58 on May 18, 2026, 01:52:18 AMI get why they won't includes the parts because the whole idea of the Vintage Classics was to produce the kit in original colour scheme.
However, they are offering a totally new colour scheme /decals so, would it really have been  so difficult to update the moulds to include the appropriate parts?

I'm sure economics might have played a part and, I have no idea about how difficult it might be  to revise a mould so, hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I could answer that one 😊

You can't really "update" the mould because for the two schemes you need 3-blade, 5-blade and 7-blade props, so it's extra parts, not modified ones. What you'd have to do is make a new extra mould with the props in it, which means doing a whole new task of mould design and production (something like what they did with the Exocets in the updated HMS Amazon kit). That would be a lot more outlay to be recouped on the already somewhat high RRP.

I think the suggestion that people are making is a good one: sell 3D-print files for the people who've got the printers, and 3D-print the props themselves for people who haven't. Watching their videos, Airfix seem to have a pretty young workforce, so it might be that they've just honestly got an exaggerated idea of how many people have 3D-printers.

😊👍. Suspected that might be the case. To be honest, given the already high r r p, I'd grudge paying even more to complete ANY kit that should also (personal view) actually include the parts necessary to complete all the options offered.

However, that's perhaps for a different discussion. 😉😂

Quote from: Hobbes on May 18, 2026, 12:39:40 PMMoulds are by far the most expensive part of creating a model kit. The existing moulds are likely not large enough to accommodate a bunch of extra parts, so you'd have to add a new mould, which easily runs tens of thousands of pounds. That's a lot of kits you have to sell to recoup the investment.

Fair point 😊👍
With the r r p of the kit already on the high side, I'm disinclined to pay even more just to complete it but, that's a personal choice.

It'll be interesting to see how far Airfix go down the "accessories" path. They've started to produce masks and 3D printing could be a big step forward when it comes to getting up dates to existing kits etc.

Lets just hope their finances are strong enough to explore that path.

3D print to order would surely be feasible?

Although once they release the file they'll be out there anyway for anyone to print anyway.

Quote from: Beermonster58 on May 18, 2026, 09:12:47 PM

Quote from: Weaver on May 18, 2026, 04:20:44 AM

Quote from: Beermonster58 on May 18, 2026, 01:52:18 AMI get why they won't includes the parts because the whole idea of the Vintage Classics was to produce the kit in original colour scheme.
However, they are offering a totally new colour scheme /decals so, would it really have been  so difficult to update the moulds to include the appropriate parts?

I'm sure economics might have played a part and, I have no idea about how difficult it might be  to revise a mould so, hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I could answer that one 😊

You can't really "update" the mould because for the two schemes you need 3-blade, 5-blade and 7-blade props, so it's extra parts, not modified ones. What you'd have to do is make a new extra mould with the props in it, which means doing a whole new task of mould design and production (something like what they did with the Exocets in the updated HMS Amazon kit). That would be a lot more outlay to be recouped on the already somewhat high RRP.

I think the suggestion that people are making is a good one: sell 3D-print files for the people who've got the printers, and 3D-print the props themselves for people who haven't. Watching their videos, Airfix seem to have a pretty young workforce, so it might be that they've just honestly got an exaggerated idea of how many people have 3D-printers.

😊👍. Suspected that might be the case. To be honest, given the already high r r p, I'd grudge paying even more to complete ANY kit that should also (personal view) actually include the parts necessary to complete all the options offered.

However, that's perhaps for a different discussion. 😉😂

I don't know if the Pink Aviation aircraft ever had the 3-blade props while it was in that colour scheme. If it did, then you technically don't need any extra parts to complete it, you're just limited to the earlier part of it's service.

Quote from: zenrat on May 19, 2026, 05:51:05 AM3D print to order would surely be feasible?

Although once they release the file they'll be out there anyway for anyone to print anyway.

I think it's ARMA Hobby who are going down that path. You can either buy accesories which have been 3D printed or buy the file to print yourself.  Probably find that if you go down the print yourself route that there's a limit on the number of prints ? Possibly even 1 ?

I don't understand why Airfix aren't doing what some other manufacturers are doing ... Doing the 3D printing in-house or by sub-contractors to put in the kits. 

Quote from: Old Wombat on May 19, 2026, 06:05:31 AMI don't understand why Airfix aren't doing what some other manufacturers are doing ... Doing the 3D printing in-house or by sub-contractors to put in the kits. 

Maybe because their finances are so precarious just now that they can't afford the sub-contractors or do it in house?

Quote from: NARSES2 on May 19, 2026, 06:01:00 AM

Quote from: zenrat on May 19, 2026, 05:51:05 AM3D print to order would surely be feasible?

Although once they release the file they'll be out there anyway for anyone to print anyway.

I think it's ARMA Hobby who are going down that path. You can either buy accesories which have been 3D printed or buy the file to print yourself.  Probably find that if you go down the print yourself route that there's a limit on the number of prints ? Possibly even 1 ?

Which is understandable from a commercial point of view, except what happens when the print fails? It happens more often than you think, even with resin...

I don't know that the files could be limited in this manner. The end user would receive a .STL or .obj. then they have to create a sliced file for the printer. Once that file exists it can be uploaded to the printer whenever the user desires.

Quote from: scautomoton on May 20, 2026, 03:46:50 AMI don't know that the files could be limited in this manner. The end user would receive a .STL or .obj. then they have to create a sliced file for the printer. Once that file exists it can be uploaded to the printer whenever the user desires.

I don't know if they can be limited, and am more than happy to bow to someone who understands these things better than me. I was making an assumption based on some commercial principles, and like all assumptions not based on sound knowledge it could well be wrong.