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Monogram/Airfix history

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  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Philippines
Posted by nkm1416@info.com.ph on Thursday, November 6, 2003 1:42 AM
For me I think it is nostalgia. That's what where we started as modelers and it gives us good memories. Would you believe I miss the silver plastic of Airfix kits?

As a young modeler, I thought all the kits were perfect. I was even apprehensive when sanding that I might alter the kit's dimension. The Airfix bombers belong to that era in modeling when a good representation of the line of the actual aircraft is good enough. They were 'top of the line' during their time. Modeling now has dramatically changed to very very serious attention to every detail that can be added internally and externally.
  • Member since
    April 2014
Posted by r13b20 on Wednesday, November 5, 2003 6:33 PM
as far as Airfix goes....there is another thread for this. look for " airfix update!" I haven't started it yet but I have their 1/24 p-51d and it looks good to me. opinion is subjective so go with what you like and is available and what you can afford. just don't be scared to try other kits.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 5, 2003 2:29 PM
hobs701,

Quality now varies very much kit to kit as opposed to mfgr. to mfgr. While Tamiya and Hasegawa are usually high quality, some of their older molds are of equal or lesser quality than some very old monogram stuff. Your best bet to find a quality kit is to ask the folks here on this forum or in the hobby shop about a specific kit you are interested in. Most likely a few people here have built it and can tell you if it is any good.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 5, 2003 1:45 PM
My first kit was a 1/72 revell Fokker Tri-plane when I was 5. Not to mention most of my first models were old 1/72 Airfix and Monogram offerings. They got me started and now I'm building Hasegawa, Tamiya and still Monogram and Airfix and am pretty good at this hobby. I would say If it weren't for those simple early kits I wouldn't have had the chance to progress. You guys got me reminiscing of my green (yes, green!) Airfix TBD Devestator...Big Smile [:D]. By the way, do any of you remember the Monogram Snap-Tite P-51, P-40, ME-109 and B-26? Every Christmas when I was little I baffled many a mall Santa by asking for "a little Messerchmitt and P-40"Sleepy [|)]. My Dad airbrushed and of the 109's for me and it looked really sharp. I'm going to get a 1/48 scale G6 and am going to put the same paint scheme on it that the Snap-Tite carried years ago.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Lyons Colorado, USA
Posted by Ray Marotta on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 8:45 AM
As a kid back in the mid fifties, we built Monogram for "working features" such as
retractable landing gears and dropable bombs. The kits had minimal detail and
had the decal positions molded into the plastic. We built Revell for good "detail"
One name I haven't heard for quite a while is Renwall. They did Military models such
as the 75mm Skysweeper AA gun and the Honest John rocket. They were pretty
complex . Car models were the AMT "customizing " kits with lots of stick on chrome louvres and flame decals. Lots of fun with little to no detail.
Ray

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 8:19 AM
I started out on Monogram and Revell. They're great for beginners (I played with most of mine when I was a kid and they held up pretty good) but if you ever have the extra bucks, buy a Tamiya or Hasegawa kit. If only to see how well a model can be manufactured. You'll be pleasently surprised.Smile [:)]

-fish
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Bicester, England
Posted by KJ200 on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 3:41 AM
Airfix are still going strong.

Range is fairly large, and extremely diverse, covering alot of more obscure aircraft, such as the Hampden.

Detail wise the kits vary quite a bit, and some are plain awful, but set against this is the very low, in the UK at least, price compared with the Japanese kit manufacturers.

I can remember building a 1/72 FW190 from Airfix 20 years ago, and being impressed that it has a seperate wheel bay insert, with all the relevant detail.

With a little bit of work you can acheive an excellent model from most Airfix kits.

Karl

Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF

  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: Canada
Posted by sharkbait on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 3:21 AM
Anyone remember the 1960s Hawk ( I think they were taken over by Testors ) P-51 , CF-104, T-33 and CF-5 that were basically chrome they were great kits and were the first I ever built with Canadian Markings. Great fit and minimal painting.
Back then it was 1/48 Monogram fighters, 1/72 Airfix bombers and Lindberg ships.
Monogram had I believe a line of 1/32 jeeps, half tracks and even landing craft - fun at the beach.
Can't remember how many different "Rat Patrol " jeeps we built but from 20 yards with a .22 the casualty rate at the sandpit was high. The good old daze!
Spray paint in a can was high tech.

You have never been lost until you've been lost at Mach 3!

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 1:08 AM
They still have decent kits, ocasionally excellent.
Revell has merged with Monogram in the Us and produce some stunning kits.
Italeri of europe is good and the jap team of hasegawa and tamiya top notch.
for rarity and good detail czech and polish kits come into play.
in general a new better world.
your old kits are a fortune now....do not underestimate them.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Monogram/Airfix history
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 3, 2003 8:01 PM
Hello from a (finally) wet Iowa. Just had a question for you WWII airplane modelers. I was building a lot of Monogram and Airfix models in the 60s and always felt (at least as a beginner) that they were quality kits. I've enjoyed catching up a bit here of late, I see Monogram isn't held in such high regard these days.

Kind of curious as to a couple of things. Would you agree that those Monogram kits of WWII navy planes in their navy blue colors were really nice beginner kits? I have a couple of F4F WIldcat kits from Monogram recently and disappointed in the grey color. I realize I will paint anyway, but kind of miss that colorful blue. I'm showing my inexperience here, but wonder what some of you think.

Also, as a young modeler, I thought the Airfix bombers were quite detailed and well made...I don't see them out there, and assume they got bought up a long time ago. Still wondering if that type of kit is "top of the line" as I thought back then, or was that just because those were mostly what was available! As a kid, I didn't like most Revelle's, Aurora, or Lindberg (at least as far as aircraft).

Anxious to hear what you might think.

Matt
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