2017 Models and Pre Ordering

[Ian Evans1707820035]

Following announcements from Airfix, that in 2017 they are to release 1/48 Supermarine Walrus, 1/48 Sea Fury, 1/48 P51 Mustang and then the 1/72 Me 262 and the FG.1 Phantom and now the B25 Mitchell.  Each time these announcements are made I have come to the site to Pre-Order them... however have been quite disappointed as I have only been able to order the Sea Fury and the Phantom as none of the others show up on the site at all...

Come on Airfix / Hornby get your act together

[Biggyinn]

Same , i have only managed to pre-order the sea fury , no sign of the others , given some 2016 releases are appearing in 2017 i wouldn't hold my breath!

[ntrocket88]

At least Airfix plans to release new kits you want to buy. The last new release I would/did buy was in 2011 (the superb 1/76 Cromwell Tank)! For Ship enthusiasts, I suspect the wait is even longer!

[barwick64]

 My opinion of Airfix releases next year are going to be very few as compared with previous years. Not many new tools and hardly any reissues. It wouldn't surprise me if the Catalouge has a lot less in it. Due to the financial difficulties that Hornby have had over the last year. Developement and Reasearch will most likely have been cut. We'll see what happens when the Full 2017 announcement is made.

[ian_rutland]

It looks like Hornby are moving steadily forward, though the Corgi brand doesn't seem as popular as it used to.

Airfix have been doing well, with a steady stream of really nice models.  One of the problems that I have seen, is that there are less model shops these days.  This certainly won't help.  Airfix had a Golden Age in the 60's with their link to Woolworths.  All the very latest kits as they came out and all at good prices.  The new kits, in the main, offer great value for money.

Maybe Corgi needs a rethink.  If it were me running the show, I'd try and issue a Corgi Classic range, utilising the old tools for some well remembered vehicles.  Reboxed in a similar manner to the old releases, but models and boxes would be marked with the Corgi Classics Logo.  If prices could be kept to a minimum via simplified manufacturing, these may do quite well.  

Corgi, more than most of the Hornby group, is under constant pressure from numerous imports of Toy Road Vehicles, pre-built aircraft and trams etc.  Maybe they need to offer something Old.

[ian_rutland]

I the Good Old Days,  Airfix and Corgi sold huge quantities to kids in the pocket money market.  Kids in the main, just seem to wand iPlayer vouchers and new phones these days, though a few are attracted by the lure of plastic.  When the assembly process extends beyond the ever shorter attention span of the child, the lure is disipated and the short interest fails.  Just general terms, and someone is still buying kits, but who?  It must be very hard to work out how to pitch sales to younger Would Be modellers.  The chances are, that most kits go to older people.  Look who is filling bags with kits at shows.  Also, look at how many people attend a show.  Usually one, or two hundred.  Threee hundred?  Not many when the cachment area holds 2 - 3 Million people.

I think that Airfix have the right feel for sales and produce popular subjects to suit all of us.  Corgi buyers seem to be getting older now.  Which kid wants a toy car when you can drive a high performance racer on your X-Box.   Toy cars are for the very young and the older collector, and the latter who would collect them all, has probably got them all, already.  It's tough in that line of business.

[Ian Evans1707820035]

I have been buying and building Airfix since the 1960's back when the instructions had a narrative to them... remember that?  I think with the advent of the 'New Tool' and Totally New models coming out in the last couple of years they deserve to do well...they seem to be trying to please modellers.  I also like the die cast aircraft that Corgi puts out but think they are very expensive even for the quality they represent... I have a friend who collects most of the Corgi limited editions but he buys them and keeps them in their boxes stashed away and thus I can't see the point in that.. With the Airfix kits at least there's anticipation on purchase, the challenge and pleasure of the build and options around diorama and display and yes some of mine will be committed to boxes... but with Airfix hands on pleasure (or sometimes otherwise) is derived from the cost of purchase whereas with Corgi, ceratinly where my mate is concerned, there is only the benign value of owning it and looking at eBay a dramatic reduction in those values if you try to recoup your money by selling.  I hope both Airfix and Corgi continue to thrive and grow and I'd like to help Airfix in that by showing support for releases and Pre-ordering all those which have been announced but it seems at present I can't...