Airfix GB feeler.

I was just out in the garage and noticed a 1/72 Airfix Me-109 poking out of the stash.Had to grab it.

If it's pre-70's I can't play. Too many 70's kits already in the stash.

So if i say pre 1970's airfix? Or should i just open it up to airfix in general? Everything from 1950's 72nd to new millennia 24th?

I'm in for a classic Airfix, er fix.

Generally speaking, most of the classic 72nd releases are still considered fairly accurate in shape/outline.  Only does the detail, and now age of moldings, cause them to lose favor.  Until their own new tool Spitfire Mk Ia, their older tooling was still considered the best value, because it's shape and accuracy was better than Tamiya's and the price low enough to justify aftermarket PE, canopy and other goodies.

I'll rummage through the stash...

Tim

I've got a good 8-10 vintage Hellers that I picked up from the same source. And the ones I have are all really nicely done, mostly European jets. Whoever started that stash (estate sale through a second-hand shop) had a really good eye for the nice kits. (I salute you sir, wherever you are! ) I'm probably fine with the actual Airfix boxings anyway though.

Certain Heller and MPC boxings might qualify too if you've got any of those.

I think I've only got 3-4 (older ones), that I remember anyway!

Lol - I think I've got enough to do my own GB - maybe around 8-10 kits if I dig deep enough.

Hey, those crazy jets practically fly themselves, hit the cruise control & place hands on knees! Anyway, I've got several options in the stash that I'd like to build. I'll probably put the list up here & have the gang vote on them for me! ;)

Hmm- from memory, the later jet guys were "hands on knees" and the WW2 guys were crotch grabbers.

HA! They're both in the "keep your hands on your lap and don't touch anything" pose...

Your Magister had the later style "jet" pilots? - large-ish heads, skinny legs (slightly spread), and forearms and hands laid out along the thighs (hands almost on knees)? 

Or did it have the "classic" jet pilots, head turned slightly left, left forearm along the side of the thigh, right arm bent at the elbow and sticking straight out in front, with the legs tightly together with the right foot slightly forward?

(Yes, guess who grew up with Airfix kits. )

Phil_H

...

Vance's Magister mentioned above dates, I think, from somewhere around 1976 and is, as noted, reasonably finely detailed for its size.

...

Yep, it's a slightly newer release than I am!

Actually, the quality started to improve in the mid-70's when they began to move away from the "forest of rivets", retractable landing gear/movable control surfaces toy-like  kits and started to add details like moulded instrument panel detail and subtle raised panel line detail.

For example, the mid-70's vintage B-26 is quite a nice kit, albeit with movable tail surfaces. Arguably, this kit stood up pretty well and was only recently bettered by the Hasegawa release a couple of years ago.

Vance's Magister mentioned above dates, I think, from somewhere around 1976 and is, as noted, reasonably finely detailed for its size.

If you want "old school" look at something like the Beaufighter TF Mk.X which dates from somewhere about 1958. The moulds for this kit have been run for so long, the framing on the canopy moulding has all but disappeared.

At one time, some kits (before the advent of moulded IP's and IP decals) included a crude representation of the IP printed on the instruction sheet, to be cut out and glued onto the flat featureless IP. 

I'm not seeing the one from the 'net that you posted. (%$#%$^ filter at the office!) I'd suggest "the logo from the box you are building" just to verify how old your particular kit is. Maybe everyone gets the same text underneath though.

And as far as blobs of plastic goes - that Magister that I posted the pic of earlier... was a shockingly good kit! The tiny little pitot tubes and rear-seat periscope were kit-supplied, landing gear were very nice (although I left them off to pose in-flight), the raised details & panel lines were consistent & looked to-scale according to pics I could find and - perhaps the real shocker - those are the original kit-supplied decals. I left them in a sunny window for 3-4 weeks to bleach out the yellowing, used a little micro-sol & all was well. My biggest complaints about the whole thing would be thick glass, sorta-blobby pilots, and questionable cockpit details. (They were well-molded, but suspiciously consistent from one side to the other!)

So I guess the question is, does it have to be a lemon of a kit, or any old Airfix so long as it's 1/72?

Seems to be a bit of interest.

2 options for badge bases.

Current airfix logo.

Random one i found on the net.

four cheaper dam*** airfix in the stash (out of mythological sm-79 i'll never build)

intrested but will join later

Yeah some of their newer stuff is fantastic.

My dad (just turned 61) took one look at my stash of airfix kits "built that when i was 12, built that one too, youve got your work cut out for you"

That was sorta my idea. what can you do with a crappy kit. 

Scorpiomikey

 

 

I wanted to stick with the early 72nd because theyre such crappy kits. Was hoping to see what people could do with a horrible lump of plastic lol.

I dont have a huge amount of experiance with airfix kits. but at what point did airfix become decent kits?

Gotcha - I'll watch from the sidelines then!

I've likened Airfix to Jaguar in the past. Both British. Both with legacies of questionable engineering and build quality. Both universally liked in a sort of nostalgic sense. And both making a comeback of late.

I know Airfix's reputed "best kit ever" was the Spitfire F.22, which I believe was boxed around 1995. Several of their newer kits (Bf 109E, Spitfire XII) are drawing favorable reviews as well. 

DoogsATX

Don't build 1/72, but if you free up the scales and vintage, I've had my eye on some of their Griffon Spits..

I wanted to stick with the early 72nd because theyre such crappy kits. Was hoping to see what people could do with a horrible lump of plastic lol.

I dont have a huge amount of experiance with airfix kits. but at what point did airfix become decent kits?

Did someone mention Airfix? I´m in! Propably with Skyhawk.

I'm definately in for sure.I just ordered me a Walrus.

bondoman

I've got just the thing; a Supermarine S6B Schneider Cup racer in 1/72, in a blister pack on a card with the $ 1.00 price tag on it...

You've had that since 1975/76 ??

I'll go in with a 1/72 Walrus.

Don't build 1/72, but if you free up the scales and vintage, I've had my eye on some of their Griffon Spits..

Sure, always a fun time. You might include Heller reboxes as well.

I've got just the thing; a Supermarine S6B Schneider Cup racer in 1/72, in a blister pack on a card with the $ 1.00 price tag on it...

This one might be fun...

I know I've got something to add to this one. (Darnit - I should have held off on that Magister until now!!

(Unrequested recent Airfix build pic here....)

You know, as soon as I clear up some other GB's. keep me posted & add me as a maybe.

I'd be in on this one.