Michael.Clegg20 hours ago
Comments
facebook
twitter
Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates, and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix.
In this week’s edition of Workbench, we will be marking the blog introduction of not one, but two new tooling releases, both of which represent an exciting new direction for the current Airfix range. With our 1/35th scale range of Military Vehicle kits already providing modellers with an impressive selection of subject matter to choose from, our design team have done something rather special with this traditional scale for armour modelling, by producing two new kit additions, but with a significant difference – these are both Quickbuild models. Featuring innovative design and spectacular detail throughout, we are proud to announce that our Quickbuild range now boasts the inclusion of both the famous Tiger I and its Battle of Normandy nemesis, the Sherman Firefly.
During almost nine years of posting our Workbench blogs, new Quickbuild tooling projects have featured with some regularity, with cars and other vehicles usually being the subjects covered, but never military vehicles until now. Clearly, these are vastly outnumbered by the number of traditional kit projects our design team have introduced to the range over the same period and are usually positioned as a ‘Fit the Box’ project as opposed to one of the popular scales associated with historic Airfix kits, however this time, we have something different to report.
This situation changed as we welcomed our first 1/35th scale new tooling additions to the Quickbuild range this week, scale examples of two of the most effective tanks of the Second World War and a significant first for the wider Airfix range. Now, modellers of all ages and abilities have the opportunity to build a model kit of these iconic WWII tanks in the same scale military modellers have held dear for many a year, but importantly, using a simple brick-based construction method which doesn’t require the need to use glue. In this latest edition of Workbench, our review sighting scopes have their crosshairs firmly fixed on our new Quickbuild pair and the first 1/35th scale model kits in the range.
Latest Quickbuild innovation makes tracks
The arrival of this latest tank pairing takes the Quickbuild range in an exciting new direction.
Now an established feature of any Airfix model kit range, our Quickbuild collection of models made their first range appearance back in 2013, with models of the Spitfire and Messerschmitt Bf 109 leading the way for what was an exciting, if slightly unexpected development for the brand. From those humble beginnings, these innovative models have continued to benefit from new tooling investment and can now boast an impressive selection of subjects which includes cars (both classic and contemporary), vans and utility vehicles, aircraft (both propeller and jet powered types), helicopters and tanks. In fact, with the finished models being impressively accurate representations of the machines they are based upon, there are now enough kits in this range to allow anyone to create a colourful model display in its own right, one which you can take apart and re-assemble as and when the mood takes you.
The range has benefited from the addition of several new model releases over the past couple of years, with motor vehicles dominating the attentions of our designers, with projects such as a new Ford Mustang GT, New Routemaster Bus and London Taxi all added to the range over recent months. The addition of the 1/35th scale Tiger 1 and Sherman Firefly definitely take the range in an exciting new direction, bringing even more design innovation, building fun and scale accuracy to a collection of models which are already established within the wider Airfix range.
Occupying a unique and vitally important position in the current Airfix product range, our Quickbuild models allow people of all ages (but more specifically, younger, and less experienced modellers) to enjoy the thrill of constructing a model kit, without the need to use either glue or paint, and without the need to have had prior modelling experience. An enjoyable and engaging introduction to the world of Airfix, these kits use a simple brick-based method of construction, with the coloured plastic push together components complemented by the inclusion of clear parts for windscreen/windows and rubber tyres for that added little piece of realism, on subjects where this is required.
Brick build construction, yet still 100% Airfix, the Quickbuild range is intended to be enjoyed by the younger, less experienced modeller, but not exclusively so.
Simply push together for a beautiful 1/35th scale representation of the most famous tank the world has ever seen.
Although the brick-based construction method has been designed to ensure the secure fit of parts, once the model has been completed, it makes for a faithful representation of the machine which inspired its range inclusion, with the beautifully clean lines of the model effectively disguising the push fit nature of the kit beneath. Because of this, an assembled Quickbuild model kit definitely does not look out of place when added to any display of models, with scale authenticity taken to new levels with the recent inclusion of our two new WWII tank models.
For a great many reasons, the design of a Quickbuild kit can be far more challenging than working on what most readers would consider to be a more traditional Airfix model kit and for the designer taking on the challenge, a very different mindset is required. The tooling moulds themselves can be extremely complicated to both layout and manufacture, often incorporating additional ‘side actions’ to create the unique parts required for a Quickbuild kit. As a result, the tooling costs associated with these projects can often end up being significantly higher than with other Airfix kits, just to heap a little more pressure on product designer emersed in their Quickbuild world for the duration. This is mainly due to the fact that each Quickbuild kit usually requires four or five separate moulds to be manufactured, as both different coloured parts and the clear components all require their own separate tooling moulds to be produced.
Obviously, with all the design effort and tooling expense these kits demand, we want as many people as possible to discover the delights of our Quickbuild model range. From a marketing perspective, it’s interesting to note that we have always seen significant sales spikes for these kits in the run up to holiday periods here in the UK, with the weeks leading up to the Christmas holidays always proving to be the busiest period for this range. As these kits make for perfect gifts and the ideal way to spend a little quality family fun time, Christmas is the time when most people come into contact with a Quickbuild kit and discover that there is much more to them than you might initially think. Whilst clearly aimed at the younger, less experienced and dare we say slightly heavier handed members of the modelling community, they can still be enjoyed by everyone and importantly, a Quickbuild kit is not just for Christmas!
Deconstructed Firefly, this new kit takes the Quickbuild range in an exciting new direction.
The long gun barrel marks this as a Sherman capable of taking on even the mighty German Tiger tank.
With the assembly of these kits not requiring either glue or paint, the fun starts as soon as you take the parts out of their packaging and after enjoying the building process, you have the option of taking it apart and enjoying the process all over again, possibly shaving a good couple of minutes off your fastest assembly time so far. Similarly, you might decide to allow it to take its place on a display shelf, or as part of a wider display of built models, because at the end of the day, these really do make for appealing model representations of the real thing.
Something which always continues to raise a smile amongst Airfix team members, is how it’s always interesting to see just how many Quickbuild models make it onto the individual displays of modelling clubs and special interest groups at the annual Scale ModelWorld show these days. Although much less time has been lavished on these particular builds, their inclusion may highlight the fun and enjoyment aspect of the hobby and must confirm their acceptance within the wider hobby. After all, modelling is supposed to be enjoyable and if we are to appeal to a new modelling audience, the fun side of the hobby is going to be paramount in gaining their interest.
Before moving on to take a look at the two new tank models which have joined the Quickbuild ranks over the past few days, we wanted to give one final illustration of where we see the appeal of the Quickbuild range and how these kits can be enjoyed by all.
One of the first events I took part in as a member of the Airfix team was at the Royal International Air Tattoo, where we arranged a spectacular display of models for visitors to admire and had our make and paint tables available for those who were feeling a little more creative over the weekend. At the entrance to our marquee, we also had a beautiful display of Quickbuild kits, but with everything else going on, these were simply left in their boxes for people to look at. We noticed during the morning that whilst most of the attractions we had on offer were receiving plenty of attention, the Quickbuild display was lagging a little behind, so a couple of us sat down at the table and started building the kits.
With design innovation throughout, this spectacular new tank pairing represents something very different for the Quickbuild range, with each featuring 154 parts as opposed to the average 30 – 40 parts which make up the earlier kits in the range.
This proved to be like a people magnet and before long, the Quickbuild display had a healthy crowd around it all the time and we moved away leaving all the assembly fun to be enjoyed by our visitors. It didn’t take long before we came up with our next brilliant idea – what about a speed build contest, kids versus dads! We definitely nailed it on this one and after requisitioning a flipboard, paper and marker pens, the contest was on. Probably becoming a little noisier than we had anticipated, the kids wiped the floor with their parents or guardians for the day and on the odd occasion were a dad emerged victorious, an immediate rematch was demanded, so that the normal order of things could be restored.
Importantly, everyone was smiling, people were assembling kits and other than the odd victory photograph, there wasn’t a mobile phone in sight. It was also quite astonishing to see just how quickly these kits could be build once bragging rights were at stake. From a subject perspective, since then, as well as all the beautiful car models the range can boast, we also have perennial Airshow favourites such as a Red Arrows Hawk, Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35B Lightning II kits in the range and as of this week, a couple of new heavyweight tracked additions. We all know youngsters love nothing more than a sinister looking machine and working features to get their hands on and even though our tank range of kits had been lagging behind somewhat when it came to Quickbuild subject choice, that situation has all changed now.
Sherman Firefly takes on the mighty Tiger 1
Normandy showdown on our dining room tables, these new Quickbuild tanks are something unique for the 1/35th scale military modeller.
In advance of posting this latest project update, we were again fortunate to have the expert input of our Design Manager Matthew Whiting, who told us that the idea behind this dual Quickbuild project was quite an interesting story. Over the course of several Airfix development meetings, the team started to discuss future subjects for possible inclusion in the range, with military vehicles being high on that list. On the back of these discussions, the conversation soon turned to how impressive it would be if Quickbuild design technology could be used to produce a military vehicle model which was in the same scale as the traditional 1/35th scale military modellers have long since adopted.
This could potentially have a great many benefits for the modeller, particularly if they have a military modelling father or sibling in the family and consequently, was a scale they were used to seeing people working with. Once they had finished their own 1/35th scale Quickbuild tank model build, surely their family would have no objection with it being displayed alongside their dad’s model collection, particularly if it was modelled in the same scale and really did look the part.
Importantly for the younger modeller, whilst the new tanks can hold their own when it comes to display authenticity, they also retain the play value which is such an appealing feature of the Quickbuild range and something which really did require some innovation during the design phase. In order to retain the appeal of these kits, the design of the new tanks was significantly different to those models which had gone before them and include a much greater part count than was historically the case with a Quickbuild kit. To illustrate this difference, the only other tank in the range, our Challenger Tank kit, comprises of 35 parts, whilst both of the new 1/35th scale tanks are made up of an impressive 154 parts.
This next selection of images illustrate how even though both the Tiger I and Sherman Firefly Quickbuild kits may feature brick based construction, but build into appealing representations of the famous Tanks which inspired their inclusion.
Both models could easily take their places amongst any collection of 1/35th scale armour models.
When asking Matt if this much increased part count created a problem when it came to the design phase of these new tanks, he told us that this didn’t really prove to be the case and how 1/35th scale was actually perfect for a project such as this. Clearly, the inclusion of more working features did prove time consuming, with the individually designed track links being the most challenging aspect of the design of both tanks. The design of each individual link, how they located securely with the next track piece on both sides and how the entire track assembly not only looked convincing, but was robust enough to allow hours of enthusiastic play, did require some innovative thought and clever tooling design.
Knowing what they were looking to achieve with these new kits, overcoming these challenges was the key achievement for the team, requiring the adoption of some different design techniques and as ever, a little trial and error in perfecting them. In order to ensure the correct replication and play effectiveness of the track links, the team had to accept a few design compromises along the way, such as making the tracks ever so slightly wider than intended, but also through testing, led the team to investigate the use of different production materials.
They eventually settled on an engineering grade of plastic which provided the track pieces with the strength, rigidity and pliability to allow the tracks to move freely when the assembled kit was pushed along in play mode, but could also be taken apart time after time should that be required. This track work innovation also extended to the toolmaker, who in order to check the viability of the track link design, produced a small trial tool to test the tracks prior to committing the technology to full final tooling.
As we might imagine, all this testing and innovation did take a while to perfect, but everyone in the team is delighted with how the new tank kits have turned out. Both kits have lots of moving parts and rolling tracks made up of individual parts which ensure maximum play enjoyment for those building them, and once assembled, also make for a pleasing and convincing scale model, one which wouldn’t look out of place amongst any collection of 1/35th scale armour models.
Hopefully, all the above will have interested you enough to take a look at these new 1/35th scale tank additions to the Quickbuild range, so let’s take this a step further and take a closer look at the two famous tank types which have been replicated.
Tiger I – The most famous tank ever produced
Despite the fact that tanks have been dominating the battlefields of the world for over a century in their various guises, there is one tank which has attained an almost mythical status over the years and even though it served during the savage land engagements of the Second World War, is still regarded as the most famous tank the world has ever seen in the eyes of many historians and enthusiasts. As deadly as it was imposing, when the Tiger I made its combat introduction on the Eastern Front during September 1942, it had no equal on the battlefield and must have struck fear into the hearts of anyone unfortunate enough to be in its path.
Although initially marred by the usual teething problems new technology suffers with, the Tiger I immediately started to show its fearsome potential, using its highly effective sighting optics and accurate 88mm KwK 36 tank gun to take a heavy toll of Soviet armour. Capable of destroying enemy tanks at ranges which made it largely impervious to return fire, it became commonplace to hear reports of small units of German Tigers destroying in excess of ten times their number in enemy tanks during engagements, as their opposition rushed headlong towards the German tanks in a deadly hail of armour piercing shells, with only the amount of ammunition held by each Tiger limiting their destructive toll.
Indeed, if a concealed Soviet tank did manage to get close enough to fire its own gun against its terrifying adversary, their shells would invariably simply ricochet off the thick frontal armour of these armoured monsters, achieving little more than attracting the attention of the Tiger’s commander, who would immediately bring his 88mm gun to bear.
Despite its lofty position as arguably the world’s most famous tank, the Tiger’s undeniable aesthetic appeal helps to mask a number of fatal flaws with a design which never stood a chance against the industrialisation of modern warfare. Not content with producing the most fearsome tank ever seen on a battlefield, the German’s adopted a ‘no expense spared’ philosophy when producing the Tiger, using the latest technology and finest materials when producing these behemoths. Each individual tank was beautifully manufactured to exacting standards, but at production costs which were simply staggering and arguably ridiculous – four StuG III assault guns or at least two Panzer IV tanks could be produced for the price of a single Tiger.
These factors ensured that the loss of every individual Tiger would become something of a minor military disaster, as a Tiger could only be in one place at a time and its production robbed Panzer units of the replacement vehicles they desperately needed. The Tiger was also a complex and challenging machine to operate, with the engine, gearbox and running gear all requiring careful handling, and the simple process of transporting these 57-ton beasts from the factory to somewhere close to the battle zone posing significant logistical challenges.
Due to the width of the Tiger’s hull and the size of standard railway rolling stock flatbeds on which they were transported, each new Tiger required two full sets of tracks to be produced and supplied, a narrow set for transportation and a wider, operational set for use during combat. These tracks would have to be swopped over every time the Tiger had to be moved other than under its own power, and if redeployment was not that far away, the fuel required would create another problem.
Although the Tiger I went on to become something of a tank enigma, one which endures to this day, its design excellence and uncompromising manufacturing process would ultimately prove to be its armoured Achilles heel. With just 1,347 Tigers produced, they never stood a chance of stemming the inexorable tidal wave of Allied armour, but with their fearsome reputation ensuring they were hunted mercilessly until lying abandoned and disabled on the battlefield.
Underlining the enduring fascination the Tiger I still holds to this day, the famous Tiger 131 which is maintained in working condition by The Tank Museum, has become an armoured celebrity in its own right and attracts visitors from all over the world just so they can gaze on this magnificent original machine in the metal.
Sherman Firefly – Capable Tiger hunter
By the time of the D-Day landings and the Allied invasion of Normandy, the threat posed by German heavy armour was well known to Allied commanders, but they had a plan to deal with them. On days when the weather allowed, the combined Allied air forces would make short work of any Tigers and Panthers they spotted and on the ground, a new breed of Sherman tank had been developed to take on the Tiger, one which German tank commanders knew nothing about at that stage.
The ubiquitous Allied M4 Sherman tank was well known to the Germans and whilst its 75mm main gun was not to be underestimated in combat, it was not powerful enough to deal with the latest Panzer IV, Panther and Tiger tanks at anything but suicidally close ranges. With plenty of Sherman hulls available and their new 17 pounder anti-tank gun showing great promise, the British modified the turrets of some Sherman tanks to shoehorn the powerful new gun into the modified turret of the tank, with impressive results.
This combination proved extremely effective, with tests showing the new Sherman Firefly was capable of destroying any German armoured vehicle it came across at reasonable ranges, including the feared Tiger I. As Allied armour rumbled inland from the D-Day landing beaches, the scene was set for a mighty clash of armour which could eventually decide the outcome of the war – how would the Allies great armoured hope fair against their feared adversary?
With the number of Firefly’s available to armoured units being limited at that time, they were usually deployed in small units consisting one Firefly to four standard 75mm armed Shermans, and as more German tanks began to fall to this strange new variant of Sherman, even the much vaunted Tiger I, enemy tank commanders soon learned that the longer barrels of the Sherman Firefly meant trouble for them and would always attempt to knock these tanks out first during any engagement.
The German’s fear of the Firefly was confirmed when captured enemy troops told their interrogators that their own tank commanders and anti-tank units had received orders to identify the long-barrelled Shermans and take them out wherever possible. As the tank battles continued to rage across Normandy, the Firefly’s destructive secret was out, and crews needed to be told. The information gleaned from German prisoners was relayed back to divisions fighting in Normandy and Firefly commanders were instructed to disguise the extra length of their guns by any means possible.
This was initially achieved using local foliage or spare camouflage netting to obtain the desired effect, but later would also include the clever application of paint to create something of an optical illusion. If the crew could give the impression that their Sherman was equipped with a standard 75mm gun, the valuable seconds gained by this misidentification could prove the difference between life and death in a combat situation.
The Firefly’s gun was so long that it did cause some operational problems for crews, as it protruded well outside the profile of the tanks hull. When operating over uneven terrain, or if obstacles such as trees, buildings and telegraph poles were to either side of the tank, great care had to be taken to ensure the gun didn’t hit anything, becoming stuck or suffering damage. The situation had to be continually monitored by every member of the crew and possible hazards relayed to the driver, even whilst potentially under fire.
The flash from the muzzle of the gun after each round firing was so spectacular that both gunner and commander had to blink at the moment of firing, because if they didn’t, the temporary blindness it caused would otherwise prevent them from seeing the damage inflicted on their target, a potentially dangerous situation. Outside the tank, the flames which spurted from the muzzle break at the end of the barrel after firing each round were also rather spectacular, so much so that after only a couple of rounds, they ran the risk of setting fire to any trees or foliage that may be concealing their position.
Some sources even go so far as to claim that the spectacular muzzle flames of the Firefly were the reason for the Firefly’s name, but we aren’t sure about that, so will leave readers to research this particular fact for themselves. Despite the fact that the Sherman Firefly proved to be the nemesis of German Tigers, it still only had the standard armour protection of a normal M4A4 Sherman and was therefore extremely vulnerable to being hit by enemy armour. It was therefore still important that Sherman Firefly crews managed to get the first shot in during any engagement, so as not to provoke the wrath of enemy Tigers and Panthers.
Around 1900 Sherman Fireflies would be deployed across the battlefields of Europe following their Battle of Normandy introduction, with these tanks earning the reputation of being the outstanding Allied tank of the Second World War, from the perspective of destructive capability.
Representing an exciting new direction for the Quickbuild range, both the Tiger I and Sherman Firefly represent the very pinnacle of plastic modelling design expertise at this time and despite adopting the brick-based construction method these kits have become synonymous with, build into extremely appealing 1/35th scale representations of these famous tanks. You may even persuade your dad to allow you to display yours as part of his model armoured vehicle collection.
Both our Quickbuild Tiger I and Sherman Firefly kits are available now.
We are afraid that's all we have for you in this latest edition, but we will be back next Friday with more project development updates and the very latest Airfix kit exclusives. In the meantime, we are always keen to hear your views on all things Airfix and in particular, any thoughts and opinions you may have regarding our Workbench blog. If you would like to drop us a quick line, could we please ask that you use our workbench@airfix.com email for all correspondence.
To re-visit any of the Airfix blogs we have produced over the past seven years or so, please head to our main Workbench hub, where you will find our entire blog back catalogue and all the Airfix design projects we have already covered.
.JPG.5215291ed53d1e26da19aeaa0e4146ec.JPG)
.jpg.04fc09c5b33001c51cac4a28d65cadcb.jpg)
.thumb.jpg.be5580842a11593b051319c249d760ad.jpg)
