I admit I have a fetish for Airfix. Them and Matchbox. Now I hate the old Airfix kits for their terrible fit. But I have built the Mig-15, Spitfire IX and Hurricane IIC and all of these have been a real joy to build. Looking through their online catalog how can I tell what is new/retooled and what is old and just repackaged?

it can be hit and miss Aaron some of their old kits are being re-released with different markings but they're the same old molds the best bet would be get the catalogue as it tells you which ones are new tools the kits marked up as new for 2011 are just old kits which haven't been available for a while re-released again what genre of airfix kits do you build i could give you a rundown of their new kits as i've got the 2011 catalogue at hand Ant.

80% of what I do is ww2 stuff. Never done any ww1 really as I hear rumors of ww1 modelers killing people in their sleep who don't do rigging 20% in the odd jet that captures my fancy.

well new kits in 1/72 include:
A6M2b Zero (new tool)
Curtiss P-40B (new tool)
Spitfire Mk Ia (new tool)
Spitfire Mk I/IIa (new tool)
Spitfire PRXIX (new tool)
Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (new tool) (to a degree panel lines are recessed but appears the build up is the same as the old kit)
MiG 15 (new tool)
Spitfire Mk Vb (new markings unsure if it's new tool though parts count wise it appears to be old tooling )
Messerschmitt Bf 109E (again new markings same old tool )
Hawker Hurricane/Sea Hurricane MkIIC (new tool)
Spitfire MkIXc (new tool)
Hurricane Mk I (new markings same old tool though not that bad considering it's age )
F-86F Sabre (new tool)
Canadair Sabre F.4/ F-86E (M) (new tool)
Messerschmitt Bf 110 C-2/C-4 (new tool)
Messerschmitt Bf 110 E/E-2 Trop (new tool)
Harrier GR7a/GR9 (new tool)
Sea Harrier FRS1 (new tool)
Sea Harrier FA2 (new tool)
Vickers Valiant B.Mk I (new tool)

that's all the new 1/72 aircraft

That's a pretty comprehensive list. Thanks man. About half of those I want. The wife will not be happy.

dare i give you the 1/48 list lol
Ju 87-B Stuka (not sure if it's a new tool but heard rave reviews of it)
Spitfire MkIXc/Mk XVIe (Hi-Back) (new tool)
Spitfire MkI/MkIa/MkIIa (new tool)
Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1/E-3/E-4 (new tool)
Spitfire Mk XII (new tool)
Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1/E-3/E-7 Trop (new tool)
Seafire FR46/47 (not a new tool but still an impresive kit with recessed panel lines)
Seafire Mk XVIIc (new tool)
Sea Vixen FAW.2 (new tool)
Westland Lynx Navy HMA8/Super Lynx (new tool)
Westland Lynx Army AH-7 (new tool)
Agusta Westland Merlin HC Mk3 (new tool not available till 2012)
Spitfire Mk Va (Douglas Bader) (new tool)

that's the 1/48 line up Ant.

Their 1/48 lineup is more traditional with Spits and 109's, but Airfix tended to avoid 1/48 for a long time so I guess it makes sense that they are starting with stable ones. I have heard good things about the Stuka, Spit Mk1 and 109E's

i'm glad they're expanding their 1/48 range for years it was only the Spitfire Mk Vb, the Messerschmitt Bf 109-F, the Hurricane Mk I, The Mosquito NF II, and later the Spitfire F 22/24 and Seafire F 46/47 now it's becoming more expanded and with each subsiquent kit their tooling gets better and better for beginners and the super detailers out there wishing to go one step further. and at prices that won't break the bank Ant.

I teach a miniature arts/model kit program to kids. For several years with a charity to under privileged ones. I loved the newer Airfix for their ease of construction, decent detail and awesome price. I am working on the Spit IX JEJ and its like 10.00 Canadian. that's awesome for what I get.

it's not a bad kit a big improvement over the original Mk IX but i was diappointed in the cockpit being so sparse, but i managed to scrath build an adequate interior and with the pilot in place not much can be seen so was happy with it

I will concede the total lack of a cockpit is a problem, but like you said once the pilot is in then its not as bad. If this was a 20.00 kit or a 1/48 then it would be a bigger deal for sure.

i totally agree thankfully all Airfix's 1/48 spits have a good basic interior which is perfectly acceptable for OOB but also serves as a good starting point for those wishing to superdetail

I love Airfix as I think they are kid friendly. So many companies feel like they are making kits for the seasoned modeler and I do get it, but if we don't attract kids back into the hobby then its going to get a lot smaller. Airfix feels likes its trying to get kids to try kits again and I think that's pretty cool.

Though I do wonder where their brains were when they made building and especially airfield diorama sets in 1/76 scale.

1/76 is British OO scale, so they were made to match train sets.

Hi All,

The Cromwell is a new tool kit as are the QL's. These kits are quite good for the scale.

Just my thoughts

Brian

Ahh that makes more sense now about 1/76, though they don't seem to be following the train ideals as much now. I thought I saw some new 1/76 stuff coming unless its repackaging of older stuff.

Well many military modellers would repurpose model railway buildings, and there's loads of them wandering about the hobby shops of Old Blighty...