Susanna Viljanen

A whimsical option for a bit more modern tower is the 00 scale (1/76) Fordhampton Airfield by Gaugemaster. Granted, this is actually a model railroading item, but it is scale-wise compatible, and looks good if you desire for a post-WWII tower

>Vought F4U Corsair with folding wings. The old Airfix kit is dated, and the only folding >wing option, Heller (Smer/Mistercraft), is nasty to work with. > >I have not built any Corsairs yet but I do have several Tamiya ones. Tamiya is tough to beat. The keyword was "folding wings". Many modellers like the folding wings option - as with Swordfish, Wildcat and Kate - as it provides neat possibilities for dioramas and shadow boxes. I have struggled for weeks to get the Smer Corsair any good with folded wings. >Lockheed P-38F Lightning. The Airfix P-38J is horribly dated and inaccurate, and the >P-38F kit has some serious issues. Moreover, there are no quality kits of the early P-38 >models available. > >RS models does kit all of the Lightning types. I have built about a dozen of them with >many more to go. Not a simple kit for sure but certainly buildable. They are horribly expensive, and while they are buildable, they require considerable advanced skills (their fit is abysmally bad!) and they are not for an average modeller. Moreover, their availability is sporadic at best. > Bell P-39 Airacobra. The old Airfix kit is dated, and the Academy kit is horribly inaccurate. > >The new Arma kits are going to be tough to beat. I have a few in the pile to build , they look great so far. Again, they cost a lot of £$€. They are out of reach of an average modeller. I mean, paying 30+ euros for a single engine 1/72 propeller kit requires a certain dedication for the hobby. >Republic P-47D Thunderbolt. Preferably with both Razorback and Bubbletop options - >just like the old Jo-Han kit. > >I have kits from Tamiya, Hasegawa and Academy, You can see the results in my thread. >While Airfix could likely make a better kit, is it worth it with these other options? More worth than reissuing the old 1967 vintage Airfix kit :-( >Westland Lysander. No kits available in 1/72 scale. The old Airfix kit is sadly dated. > >Agreed, I do have 1 or two kits from Dora Wings but these appear to be out of circulation now. And it is also horribly expensive - 34 euros in a Polish website. >Handley Page Hampden. Old Airfix kit is sadly dated, and the AZ models kit is unavailable. > >I recently built a small group of Valom kits, I think they turned out OK, but they are not >simple kits, and the clear parts just don't fit unless you carefully tweak them. I found >myself sincerely wishing Airfix had the kits. AZ model and Valom are essentially the same >kit. I think AZ did try to repair the fit of the clear parts. Valom's availability is sporadic at best, and Hampden is the only missing RAF medium bomber on Airfix new issues' series. >Fairey Albacore. No kits available in 1/72 scale. A logical companion for Swordfish. > >Agreed, I enjoyed building the 10 or so Swordfish from Airfix, I would certainly add the >Albacore. The Special hobby kit is gone unless you wish to finance one. £39.99 at Kingkit - while they are available. We need a new and an affordable Albacore. >Douglas SBD Dauntless. The old Airfix kit is sadly dated. With perforated flaps, please! > >The new Flyhawk kits of the SBD-2 and SBD-3 are going to be VERY tough to beat by >anyone. Recently built 2 SBD-3s Again, the price and the availability. While Hobby Link Japan is a good and reliable provider, the availability of Flyhawk is sporadic and the prices are high. Add in the shipping and the customs duty, and you get easily into second thoughts. Conversion parts for Lancaster into Grand Slam bomber and/or Avro Manchester>I'd buy those ! There has been an Airfix issue of Grand Slam bomber, but it hasn't been available for years, but I presume the conversion part tools still do exist. Manchester has never been kitted, but a lot of the parts are the same as Lancaster, so only the conversion parts would be needed. Manchester was used operationally, 202 were produced and they produced one Victoria Cross, so it could be a viable release. Conversion parts for 1/72 Hawker Typhoon for "car door" variant>Totally onboard The good thing is that most of the parts are already there. Just new fuselage, canopy, three-blade propellers and smaller tailplane. Conversion parts for 1/72 Hawker Hurricane for Sea Hurricane and metal wing Mk.I>The new ARMA kits are going to be VERY tough to beat. I have built a dozen recent >ARMA kits of Hurricanes and Sea Hurricanes. >I really like the Airfix 1/72 Gladiator and wished that there were parts to convert it to Sea Gladiators. Sea Gladiator would be a simple conversion - just the carrier kit and the dinghy blister. The thing with the ARMA kits are (again) the price. While they are lovely, they are also expensive, and out of the reach of average modellers. >That said, I would be pleased to see Airfix be the go-to place for all things RAF and FAA. >Fairey Firefly, Battle, Halifax, Sterling, Hampden etc. I am delighted of course with the B24H though. I agree here. New Firefly (with both I and IV noses an option) and new Fairey Battle would be welcomed, as would be Hampden and Stirling. And I wouldn't mind Halifax or Lincoln either. Revell did an excellent job with Halifax, as did Italeri with Stirling, but why not Airfix as well?

Avro Lincoln has seen actually bang-bang combat in both RAF and Argentinian air forces. It could be a probable subject in 1/72. Much of the tooling used for Lancaster and Shackleton could also be used for Lincoln.

Now as the 2024 news have been published, it is time for 2025 wish list. Vought F4U Corsair with folding wings. The old Airfix kit is dated, and the only folding wing option, Heller (Smer/Mistercraft), is nasty to work with.Junkers Ju 88 A-1/A-4/C-6. The only still missing major Battle of Britain participant on either side of the conflict. Can we also have conversion parts for a nightfighter?Lockheed P-38F Lightning. The Airfix P-38J is horribly dated and inaccurate, and the P-38F kit has some serious issues. Moreover, there are no quality kits of the early P-38 models available.Bell P-39 Airacobra. The old Airfix kit is dated, and the Academy kit is horribly inaccurate.Republic P-47D Thunderbolt. Preferably with both Razorback and Bubbletop options - just like the old Jo-Han kit!Westland Lysander. No kits available in 1/72 scale. The old Airfix kit is sadly dated.Handley Page Hampden. Old Airfix kit is sadly dated, and the AZ models kit is unavailable.Fairey Albacore. No kits available in 1/72 scale. A logical companion for Swordfish.Douglas SBD Dauntless. The old Airfix kit is sadly dated. With perforated flaps, please!Grob G-115 Tutor. I am pretty certain many modellers would see this trainer kitted. Bubbling under: Conversion parts for Lancaster into Grand Slam bomber and/or Avro ManchesterConversion parts for 1/72 Hawker Typhoon for "car door" variantConversion parts for 1/72 Hawker Hurricane for Sea Hurricane and metal wing Mk.I Not likely to happen, but still a wish: Avro Lincoln. This would be the missing link between Lancaster and Shackleton. Conversion parts for Bristol Bulldog Mk. IV. Would enable to build a Winter War BU.Supermarine Walrus. With decals of HMS Belfast reconnaissance plane.

SSGT Sarkis Bartigian must be smiling somewhere :-) The real "Dragon" had the cylindrical Emerson bow turret, but a nice Lib nonetheless. SSGT Bartigian was a professional artist, and he painted at least five B-24s of his unit: "The Dragon and His Tail", "Michigan", "Cocktail Hour", "It Ain't So Funny" and "Mabel's Labels". Does anyone know any others? http://www.usaaf-noseart.co.uk/images/planes/bartigian-dragon-bw.jpg

I wonder if there will be a conversion set for Bulldog II into Bulldog IV? Finnish Air Force Bulldogs were of the latter model, and FinnAF was the only air force which flew Bulldogs in anger - and scored victories with them. Two Finnish aces, SSGT Valio Porvari and SSGT Lauri Lautamäki of LeLv 26, scored their first victories on Bulldog. One Finnish Bulldog, BU-59, survives.

Me too! I already do have several Microscale, Aeromaster and PYN-up Decals sheets with really interesting B-24H markings. One of the first I will be building is "The Sharon D" flown by Col. Leon D. Vance, Congressional Medal of Honor.

Here a picture of the B-24H "Valiant Lady". http://www.b24bestweb.com/valiantlady-v2-1.htm The tail markings are those of 15th Air Force, 485 Bomb Group, 831 Squadron. The upper part of the tail and the saltire are yellow, while the lower part of the tail and the square are black.http://www.b24bestweb.com/images/B24/VALIANTLADY-V2-1.JPG

Does anyone have an idea which other markings will the B-24H have? I checked out the B-24bestweb.com about "Corky Burgundy Bombers", but which other version will there be?

On B-24 kits: There are exactly 2 (two) in 1/72 scale: Academy and Hasegawa. Both cover the B-24D and B-24J models. Academy has also noses for PB4Y-1 and B-24M - both crude. Academy has severe inaccuracies and Hasegawa is horribly expensive. The old Airfix 1/72 B-24J is a toy. It is both crude, inaccurate and bad to build. Revell 1/72 B-24D has not been in production since late 1970s. There has never been a B-24H in any scale nor any manufacturer. The Academy kit sold as B-24H is actually a B-24J. The difference is the nose - and it is easy to detect. A B-24J painted and decalled as a B-24H stands out inaccurate like a sore thumb. Most modellers (me included) HATE metal finish, and most J model Liberators have been finished on natural metal, while most H model planes are olive drab / neutral grey, providing also flashy unit markings and nose arts. I have waited for 20+ years for a new B-24H kit in 1/72. My prayers have been finally answered.

YAY!!! My prayers have been answered - 1/72 B-24H Liberator!

Got my copy today at Pienoismallimarketti, Helsinki, Finland. My first impression is YAY! Airfix has really exceeded itself, this way surpasses Italeri and Matchbox (he he) and is even better than the Fine Molds release. This is a winner. The decals are for two Zerstörergeschwader 26 (ZG26) aircraft. One is for the 11th Staffel (squadron) plane and another is for the Stab (Staff flight) of II Gruppe (group). (Each Geschwader consisted of 12 Staffeln divided on four Gruppen. Each Gruppe and the Geschwader itself had a Stab flight.) My intention is to build the aircraft of Eduard Tratt, the highest scoring Zerstörer ace. The markings of his individual aircraft are available on the Xtradecal sheet.

Yay! Airfix just announced a bolt out of the blue - 1/72 Me 410 Hornisse. This is simply excellent news! Airfix has never had it, the Fine Molds kit is horribly expensive and available only in Japan, and the Italeri kit hasn't been availabe in years. If the quality and accuracy is anyhow similar as that of the Airfix usual new releases, the Hornisse will be a winner. Will it have the decals for the highest scoring Hornisse ace, Eduard Tratt?

All in 1/72 - some do already exist, albeit the toolings are dated, inaccurate or toyish and not for a serious modeller. Consolidated B-24H Liberator with Ford nose. There is no B-24 kit in any scale with the Ford nose available. Moreover, the old Airfix kit is a dated toy - not for a serious modeller.Vought F4U Corsair with folding wings. The old Airfix kit is dated, and the only wing fold option, Heller, is nasty to work with.Junkers Ju 88. The only still missing major Battle of Britain participant on either side of the conflict. Can we also have conversion parts for A-4 and a nightfighter?Lockheed P-38F Lightning. The Airfix P-38J is horribly dated and inaccurate, and the P-38F kit has some serious issues. Moreover, there are no quality kits of the early P-38 models available.Bell P-39 Airacobra. The old Airfix kit is dated, and the Academy kit is horribly inaccurate.Republic P-47D Thunderbolt. Preferably with both Razorback and Bubbletop options - just like the old Jo-Han kit!Grob G-115 Tutor. The trainer of the 2000s.Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter. Another unsung workhorse - both in the military and civilian sectors. There are many outré paint schemes for skydiving jump planes!Brewster F2A - with nose options for both Finnish Air Force (F2A-1) and Royal Air Force (F2A-2)Douglas SBD Dauntless. The old Airfix kit is sadly dated. With perforated flaps, please! Bubbling under: Conversion parts for Lancaster Grand Slam and/or Avro Manchester. Both could be used with the existing Lancaster kits.Fairey Battle. The old Airfix kit has serious issues, and since there is 1/48 Battle, why not 1/72 as well?Douglas A-20 Havoc/Boston. The old Airfix kit is from the 1960s, not for a serious modeller, and the MPM and Highplanes kits are no more in production.Handley Page Hampden. Since Whitley and Wellington have been made, why not the third medium - Hampden - as well? The old Airfix kit is from the 1960s, and dated.

Consolidated B-24H Liberator with Ford nose. There is no B-24 kit in any scale with the Ford nose available. Moreover, the old Airfix kit is a dated toy - not for a serious modeller.Vought F4U Corsair with folding wings. The old Airfix kit is dated, and the only wing fold option, Heller, is nasty to work with.Junkers Ju 88 A-4. The only still missing major Battle of Britain participant on either side of the conflict. Can we also have conversion parts for a nightfighter?Lockheed P-38F Lightning. The Airfix P-38J is horribly dated and inaccurate, and the P-38F kit has some serious issues. Moreover, there are no quality kits of the early P-38 models available.Bell P-39 Airacobra. The old Airfix kit is dated, and the Academy kit is horribly inaccurate.Republic P-47D Thunderbolt. Preferably with both Razorback and Bubbletop options - just like the old Jo-Han kit!Westland Lysander. No kits available in 1/72 scale. The old Airfix kit is sadly dated.Handley Page Hampden. Old Airfix kit is sadly dated, and the AZ models kit is unavailable.Fairey Albacore. No kits available in 1/72 scale. A logical companion for Swordfish.Douglas SBD Dauntless. The old Airfix kit is sadly dated. With perforated flaps, please! Bubbling under: Conversion parts for Lancaster into Grand Slam bomber and/or Avro ManchesterConversion parts for 1/72 Hawker Typhoon for "car door" variantConversion parts for 1/72 Hawker Hurricane for Sea Hurricane and metal wing Mk.I

Would Eduard perhaps lease the tools?

(from Facebook group "Fantasy Kit World")

Yup, Grumpy - you are right. The A-4 came in service only in 1941. But the differences are not too great - different wingtips and only one dorsal machine gun instead of two. But that would also make it easier to provide a nightfighter version as they usually had only one dorsal machine gun. So we could have parts for BoB Ju 88 A-1, post-BoB Ju-88 A-4 and a nightfighter :-)

Any 1/72 and 1/76 ground vehicles, both armour and softskin. Most of the old Airfix H0/00 scale kits are reasonably accurate, and make good models for 20 mm scale wargaming. The Cold War era tanks, such as Centurion, Chieftain and Sheridan, would be welcomed, and the Crusader hasn't been around for a while.

It is utterly unlikely we will ever get 1/72 Manchester. It is an obscure topic, not known outside the UK and it won't sell well. What we could get, however, is a conversion part set for the existing Lancaster kit. But since 1/48 Anson has just been made, a new tool 1/72 Anson could not be impossible. And yes, the old Airfix Fairey Battle dates to 1967, is horribly dated and horribly inaccurate, so a new Battle kit would be a nice treat. The MPM kit has been out of production for two decades.

Hello fellow modelaholics, here is my 1/72 wishlist for 2023 for new toolings: Consolidated B-24H Liberator with Ford nose. There is no B-24 kit in any scale with the Ford nose available. Moreover, the old Airfix kit is a dated toy - not for a serious modeller.Vought F4U Corsair with folding wings. The old Airfix kit is dated, and the only wing fold option, Heller, is nasty to work with.Junkers Ju 88 A-4. The only still missing major Battle of Britain participant on either side of the conflict. Can we also have conversion parts for a nightfighter?Lockheed P-38F Lightning. The Airfix P-38J is horribly dated and inaccurate, and the P-38F kit has some serious issues. Moreover, there are no quality kits of the early P-38 models available.Bell P-39 Airacobra. The old Airfix kit is dated, and the Academy kit is horribly inaccurate.Republic P-47D Thunderbolt. Preferably with both Razorback and Bubbletop options - just like the old Jo-Han kit!Grob G-115 Tutor. The trainer of the 2000s.Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter. Another unsung workhorse - both in the military and civilian sectors. There are many outré paint schemes for skydiving jump planes!Brewster F2A - with nose options for both Finnish Air Force (F2A-1) and Royal Air Force (F2A-2)Douglas SBD Dauntless. The old Airfix kit is sadly dated. With perforated flaps, please!

I would certainly like to see Helldiver, Lysander or Ju 52/3m republished.

Here a museum piece of the Finnish Coast Guard - OH-MVM at Kotka Maritime Museum. The painting scheme is simple - high visibility Yellow with a Black cowling ring and fuselage stripe. The floats are natural aluminium with Red tips and markings. I wonder if the Frog/Novo Swordfish floats and struts will do?

And it seems there is another FinnAF machine coming - 1/72 DHC Bever. Both the Finnish Air Force and the Finnish Coast Guard have used Bevers, and it has also been in private use. Thank you Airfix guys XXXXX !

Yay!!! The Vintage Classics bring us 1/72 Fiat G.50 - a rare rarebit - and close to the hearts of all Finnish Air Force fans! Would it be too much to ask you decals for a FinnAF machine? The painting scheme could be either the original Italian scheme, the Finnish dark green/black/light blue scheme - or the Finnish post-war scheme with roundels? Several Finnish machines sported ample scoreboards - the top scoring Finnish Fiat pilot was W/O Oiva Tuominen, who scored 26 of his 43 kills on Fiat.