AirportsEd

It looks great - and way beyond anything I'll ever be able to do! Where do you even start on such a build? Ed

All three look good. I see the wings on your BOAC Concorde are white while those on Ratch's build on the other thread are grey. Both look nice but I'm curious to know if the kit's instructions have them as white or grey...perhaps the colours suggested on the original instructions differ from those of the Vintage Classic issue?

Well done. I haven't seen that kit for decades. Back in the 70s my cousin had the real thing and back then is seemed like the coolest thing in the world!

A wise move! Nice end result...

So even the new (donated) set shrivelled up?

I must admit that I have only seen two of the programmes, but I enjoyed them both. Given that I haven't seen all of them, I'm probably not the best judge of whether Airfix has received enough overall coverage, but it was good to see the designer at work on the Spitfire starter kit.

I remember the prototype Concorde decals being tricky in the 70s! Was yours an original kit or one of the new Vintage Classics?

I love BOAC colour schemes, even the one that never happened! Did you find the wrap around decals tricky on the nose? I still have mine to do... Ed

Many thanks, DD and Paul.

Any idea when they are due to go on sale? I guess Lidl will have them again too...

I will be interested to see how you get on with those wrap-around decals on the nose...they do look like a challenge.

Yes, MTB, ASR and E-Boat in the 'Classics' range would be great. Would like to see HMS Iron Duke re-released again too.

Does anyone know when the 2022 range will be announced?

Yes, easily my phavorite RAF Phantom scheme too...

I am very tempted to invest in one or two of these memory lane models. I haven't seen inside the box yet, but as you have bought two, I presume that you think they are worth the hefty price tag...?

That's the kind of biplane model I like...no wire rigging required for the wings! Nice work...

Thank you all for your replies. As Hugo points out, the decals / mask could be done for virtually nothing in terms of a price rise, but I doubt the same can be said for ‘invisible’ internal detail. I think everyone is in favour of cockpit detail, if you can see it on the finished model. I wonder what the cockpit inside the new tool Vulcan will be like as it will be difficult to see inside the finished kit. I know that a steady hand, masking tape and patience can deliver good results, but I still think that a professionally produced mask (of the quality Airfix would be capable of producing) would be a bonus to most people who want to try and make a ‘proper job’ of it, especially when you are dealing with the more complicated canopy frames (as T2B mentioned). Having pondered the choice while standing in my local model shop this month, I chose the last two kits I bought because they came with a mask, but still did not cost any more than the alternative kit. I have only just returned to making kits after an exceptionally long break and I know you will never please all of the people all of the time, but I do think that this would be a relatively straightforward way for Airfix to ‘up its game’ without massive investment.

I can hear those R-R Darts howling!

I have mixed feelings about the potential 'extras' that could be included in Airfix kits. I would like to see seatbelts included in kits where you would actually be able to see them clearly on the finished model. Most of all though, I wish they would include canopy masks (to make up for my lack of skill!) Obviously, this would add to the price of the model, so I wouldn't consider putting masks or seatbelts in starter kits. However, as Airfix has gone to the trouble of including extra internal details on some kits that are invisible when the model is complete (e.g. new build Wellington), perhaps that time / effort / expense could have been spent on helping to improve the chances of a potentially better external finish. Or perhaps simply leave the 'invisible' bits out and sell the kit £1 cheaper?

Looks great...must admit that that is my favourite RAF Phantom colour scheme. Did you use any after market pieces or is it straight out of the box? Ed

I hadn't thought about the problems that could be caused by the corrugated surfaces! I'd bet that many of the real things were hand painted too.

Is that the original 1960s kit? I wondered how well it went together as I think even the latest release hasn't been on sale for a decade or so. Swastika aside, any big issues with the kit? Ed

Is that straight out of the box, or did you use extras? Looks good either way...

I'm surprised that there is a mask available for such a relatively rare kit...am tempted to invest in Bv-141 and a Fw189!

Looks great. I remember making that kit (badly!) in the 1970s. I presume you had to hand paint the canopy frame? I guess there are no masks available...