Tour de Airfix

A few years ago I built Italeri’s Pegasus Bridge and their Horsa glider kits. Both sets came with what I thought were some really nice WW2 British paratroopers. I think they were originally Esci figures. I must still have a set of them in my stash, as there were far too many of them for me to use 😊 I had in my youth a set of Airfix’s 1:32 scale British paratroopers which I remember being quite excellent. What a shame I no longer have them 🤷‍♂️

I’m not getting this new fad of Airfix and others for producing coins. What’s one supposed to do with them? If, for example, Airfix were to produce a stand for our models with a slot in which to place the coin then may be I’d see some sense in them. 🤷‍♂️

Well recovered 👍

Ratch, inspired by your build I’ve decided to give mine a go. Having recently picked up this Bill Bellamy’s story of life as Cromwell Tank Commander with 7th Armoured Division, as is my way, I’m ready to immerse myself into his world!

I have personally never tried priming a whole kit first with a hairy stick/brush. I normally got away, in the dim and distant past and before I started using an airbrush, with giving the parts a good wash. Having found the primer to be generally thicker had always worried about losing some of the detail in the kit. Thinking about it, this would probably negate my approach of multiple very thin layers of paint. That said, one could always use a rattle can of primer paint. With care, this would quickly lay down a good adhesive surface for a nice bit of brush painting … just shows, there are many ways to skin this cat 😉

Good point, my apologies. I’ve never used any non-water based acrylics and nor would I ever want to. I would imagine the majority of us wouldn’t go looking for them either, but it’s a very valid correction to make 👍 It was my error in replying as I at first just typed “use the manufacturer’s supplied thinner” but then thinking of Humbrol/Airfix’s paints, and as we’re mainly focussed here on Airfix, I modified my response to include “water” in that we don’t have an Airfix thinner and was concerned that would have opened a whole new can of worms to someone new to acrylics 😉

Jon, as Acrylics are water based the most important lesson when painting on plastic, as our kits are, is to wash your kit first in detergent. This removed the residual oils from the surface that are left as part of the moulding process. The, from my experience, it depends is you are using a paint brush or air brush. My personal advice for starters would be: Paint Brush: Make sure the consistency of your paint is like that of single cream - not too thin, and not too thick. Use water or the paint company's thinner to thin if too thick. Paint at least 3 very thin coats, letting each dry to touch before applying he next. The first will look awful, the second marginally better and by the third you should get a good coverage. Paint colours differ, so you may get away with less coats or with some may even need more. Be patient. Leave your model 24 hours for the paint to cure before handling it, as you'll find it will easily scratch off even if dry to touch. Air Brush: Make sure the consistency of your paint is like that of milk - it needs to be thinner than brush painting. Use water or the paint company's thinner to thin if too thick. Apply a coat of primer before top coat. Not all recommend this, but I find the top coat adheres better and it means I need less of it. Leave your model 24 hours for the paint to cure before handling it, as you'll find it will easily scratch off even if dry to touch.

I've been searching for a WW2 NAAFI Wagon kit for a diorama I've been working on but can't find one ... I think this would be an interesting subject and one which would fit well with the recent Austin K2/Y Ambulance.

@Chris-548826 how did you approach this in the end? As you may have seen, I did go and paint mine 😊

Airfix 1:72 D-Day Air Assault kit A50157A which I have built to interpret ALG. B5/Le Fresne-Camilly, Normandy, France, home of Typhoon MN625 MR-B of No.245 (Northern Rhodesian) Squadron, 121 Wing, 2nd TAF, June 1944. MN625 was flown by Fg.Off. W Smith who, on 10 June 1944, was made famous as being the first Allied pilot to land at one of the Advance Landing Ground (ALG) airfields in Normandy. This is how the Squadron’s Operations Record Book recorded it: “At 0520 hours eight aircraft with R.P. and two fighters airborne to attack reported position of H.Q. Panzer Division. Intense flak of all types was encountered but despite this and much cloud the target was located and successfully attacked. F/O W.Smith was hit by flak and reported excessive vibration and much oil on the windscreen. He was instructed by W/Cdr. Green (who was leading) to put down on the ALG at Banville (B3/Ste Croix-sur-Mer) east of Bayeux. This he did successfully. He was met by a swarm of photographers and high officers who informed him that he was the first pilot to make a wheels down landing in France since D-Day. Apparently this honour was being saved for Air Vice Marshal Broardhurst who arrived some time later in a Spitfire!” On 17th June, the Advance Landing Ground (ALG) B5/Le Fresne-Camilly was to be 245 Squadron’s new home. This was the fifth airfield to be established in the British and Canadian sector of the Normandy landings. Only about four miles inland from the invasion beaches, it had only recently been freed from shell-fire which had come from German units dug into surrounding woods. The wire mesh strip or Square-Mesh Track (SMT), which I've included in the diorama, served as a runway over 5,500 feet long and ran from north to south along the plateau. Surrounding orchards were used to give cover for maintenance hangars and as dispersal points for aircraft requiring servicing. The observant may notice that I’ve used my Airfix Club kit/decals in this diorama as the one provided with the D-Day Assault kit were for Squadron Leader Stapleton's Typhoon of 247 Squadron which took part in the September’s Operation 'Market Garden'/A Bridge Too Far rather than June’s Operation 'Overlord'/The Longest Day 😉

Ah yes, that was the Battle of Britain Typhoon 😊

Just seen this on Facebook! A brand new specially painted Eurofighter Typhoon has this morning been revealed with a D-Day inspired livery originally worn by a Hawker Typhoon & is sporting the letters FM-G FM was the lettering of Royal Air Force 257 Squadron & the last aircraft wearing FM-G was flown by Sqn Denzil Jenkin This would be a great scheme to finish this kit in 😊 Image credit to the RAF Typhoon Display Team

Nice one Dominic! I made the Airfix Starter Kit of this brush painting with the little pots of paint supplied, probably close to 10 years ago. I really need to give it another go as it’s looking somewhat tired and out of place with my later airbrushed models. 😊

I am blown away by the size of this collection. Where do you keep them all, such that they are safe from damage and natural weathering?

Wow 😮 That really surprises me. Have you tried removing it yet with some acrylic thinner? Please keep us posted. Not seen the reaction you’ve had before.

Yes, these were rapidly constructed following the D-Day landings and moved across Northern France following the advancing Allied troops. They were unable to use the vacated French airfields as they had been bombed and so large areas of farmland were cleared and laid with temporary runways. I like the way Airfix have provided in their moulding tree stumps, as I remember reading that many a wood was cleared to make way for these forward airstrips.

Goodness, which company's varnish is this? I've had a good old Humbrol rattle can of varnish crackle my paintwork because it went on too 'hot' but have never seen such an effect as you have experienced. I would get some thinner on a cotton bud as quick as possible and see if you can carefully remove it as an art restorer may tackle the varnish on an old master. Failing that, a light sanding and a repaint would probably work, although you'd need some new decals for roundels. It may be that it's one of those things you'll have to put down to experience and if pennies are available, you have another go. I often find my second build of a kit even more fun as I know what's coming up! As for recommended varnishes, if as I you use acrylic paints, then I can't recommend Vallejo's matt varnish enough. It brushes and sprays on beautifully and unlike others, I've NEVER had any issues with it. The standard recommendation, however, tends to be to stick to one manufacturer, i.e. use the varnish that your paint provider supplies. This way they, in theory, shouldn't conflict. I find that once you find a manufacturer you like, and you build up a stock of paints, you rarely switch and so others on this forum will no doubt have other recommendations.

I think I'm right in saying that HMS Belfast played a role ... https://uk.airfix.com/products/hms-belfast-a04212v

This is Airfix's 75th Anniversary 1:72 D-Day Air Assault Set A50157A which I'm finally getting around to building as my offering to commemorate this the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. I've already built the aircraft, Airfix's excellent kit of Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib ... and the Airfield Utility Vehicles of Standard Tilly, Bedford MWC and BSA M20 motor cycle. I am now working on the base, which I've secured to a frame and while awaiting the glue to dry, I've made a start on the RAF figures. It always surprises me just how long painting these little figures take and how careful you have to be in handling them before the acrylic paint cures, as it so easily gets brushed off. The RAF Brass / Officers ... The Aircraft Armourers ... The Dispatch Rider who wishes he'd taken the BSA! I'll share more as I progress.

I loved building this kit .. indeed all the Airfix Mustangs are great!

Many reasons: I just personally can't get on with large decals in general, I find they don't stick well to irregular curves and tear too easily I find that the stripes either overlap or at worse don't join underneath On the Spitfire, no hole is cut in the decal to fit over the camera thus requiring a bit of knife blade action On occasions I've found the white too opaque such that you see the camouflage markings beneath And finally, I find it easier, more rewarding and more realistically looking to paint them ... panel lines like paint better than decals

My D-Day Duo are done ... loved the Typhoon but found the Spitfire underwhelming. I really don't understand why, after all these years, no one has produced a 1:72 Spitfire with the same quality as Airfix has has produced with their Typhoon. On a positive point, I'll probably use at least this Typhoon, and may be the Spitfire, in the D-Day Air Assault diorama, they being much more accurate subjects for "The Longest Day" than the "A Bridge Too Far" Typhoon supplied with that kit 😉 ... So in the words of Walt Disney "That's All Folks! ..."

The completion of my Airfix D-Day Duo Club Spitfire PR.XIX is getting closer to joining the Typhoon! D-Day stripes masked and painted … don’t think I’ll ever use decals for these again … and all other decals applied 😊

Although both B-24 J … here’s a nice illustration of the different turrets used I’d still go with the Airfix kit 😉

Wow! That’s amazing 🤩 My great uncle was a gunner on a British B-24 in the closing years of the war, so I’ve been attracted to the Liberator ever since hearing of his stories when I was a boy. Last year I had opportunity to serve as a guide at my local US Navy Airfield Museum from where B-24s flew hunting submarines over the Atlantic. We had videos running continuously in the museum and the one which has been embedded in memory is of a walkthrough the aircraft in flight. That walk along the ‘bridge’ between the bombs must have been an experience!