I was at the IPMS-UK Nationals this weekend . Airfix had a stand there under the banner of their new owner Hornby .News is all the moulds are coming back to the UK.A deal has been done with the receivers of Heller , and so far 5 Truckloads have been delivered to Hornby . This company have revitalised their model railway business by identifying their customers as primarily adults and upgrading the products they offer .Unfortunately they are manufactured in China , but the quality is so good I don't think they could do it in the UK at the price .
They did have on display the test shots for the RNLI Lifeboat in 1/72 scale ,which is being done in co-operation with the RNLI and I must say I was most impressed .It included a lot of fine interior detail.It's more than likely that US modellers have never heard of these craft and the RNLI ,but this side of the pond they are very highly regarded .Vessel is a high speed offshore rescue craft about 60 feet long. They hope to have this on sale within 3 months.If they could go to offer coastal forces craft to this standard ,it would answer many a prayer . About 40 years ago , I made a kit of an older type of lifeboat made by the Frog company .It was very good , my modelling wasn't, and I always wanted another ago. Never saw it again , rumours were that collectors prices were about £60 . I saw on a dealers stand at the show a kit made by the Russian firm ALANGER that looked like a reissue of this old gem ,and on opening the box lo and behold it was . A 1/48 kit of the RNLI Caister Lifeboat for £15 .Only thing missing were the 3 or 4 crew members in oilskins . Lifeboat modellers look out.
This is actually my first post on the Forum ,hope I haven't bored you.