Have Airfix FORGOTTEN those things called CARS?

[allan ford]

 There are surely sufficient manufacturers catering to to the car "market" are there not? Airfix will quite rightly concentrate on what sells best. I am sorry if the O P finds aircraft "boring" but then, I find cars even more so. One could use the same "why don't they" argument about anything of course. Maybe Airfix have "forgotten" about  A F V's (apart from a couple of recent kits) or, 1/144 airliners or, 1/600 ships or,1/144 rockets or OO/HO rolling stock or............................!??????? 😆

[allan ford]

 PS - Forgot to add that all of these boring aircraft kits actually sell in large numbers and generate a decent profit. If cars (and other pet subjects) don't, then you have your answer as to why Airfix are not producing new car kits

[MG Writer]

 PS - Forgot to add that all of these boring aircraft kits actually sell in large numbers and generate a decent profit. If cars (and other pet subjects) don't, then you have your answer as to why Airfix are not producing new car kits

I am not going to be drawn into the boring this or boring that debate; like many modellers of a similar vintage I have enjoyed building kits of aircraft, AFVs, space craft, historic figures and so on. Whilst I have no idea of the actual sales figures for their aircraft kits, I am sure it must be enough to sustain the investment in new tooling. They do offer a range of car kits and whenever I have visited somewhere like a Hornby retail shop, there have been loads of these car kits. The shame is that nearly all of them are either very old sprues dating from the 1960s or crude snap together kits. The contrast with, say, Tamiya, is striking: last weekend I came across a beautifully realised 1:24 scale kit of the very latest Mazda MX-5 sports car. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Tamiya and Aoshima focus primarily on Japanese subjects, but they also offer some superb European cars, even a handful of British ones. It would be nice if Airfix, the British kit maker which started many of us off, could enter the fray.

[Kenneth ONeill]

 PS - Forgot to add that all of these boring aircraft kits actually sell in large numbers and generate a decent profit. If cars (and other pet subjects) don't, then you have your answer as to why Airfix are not producing new car kits

I am not going to be drawn into the boring this or boring that debate; like many modellers of a similar vintage I have enjoyed building kits of aircraft, AFVs, space craft, historic figures and so on. Whilst I have no idea of the actual sales figures for their aircraft kits, I am sure it must be enough to sustain the investment in new tooling. They do offer a range of car kits and whenever I have visited somewhere like a Hornby retail shop, there have been loads of these car kits. The shame is that nearly all of them are either very old sprues dating from the 1960s or crude snap together kits. The contrast with, say, Tamiya, is striking: last weekend I came across a beautifully realised 1:24 scale kit of the very latest Mazda MX-5 sports car. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Tamiya and Aoshima focus primarily on Japanese subjects, but they also offer some superb European cars, even a handful of British ones. It would be nice if Airfix, the British kit maker which started many of us off, could enter the fray.

Not forgetting, of course, that the Japanese, German (and even Chinese) manufacturers have all done <b>some</b> classic British car subjects in 1/24 or 1/25 so there's clearly some sort of an international market for well moulded examples of major classics.

[Jonathan Mock]

 PS - Forgot to add that all of these boring aircraft kits actually sell in large numbers and generate a decent profit. If cars (and other pet subjects) don't, then you have your answer as to why Airfix are not producing new car kits

I am not going to be drawn into the boring this or boring that debate; like many modellers of a similar vintage I have enjoyed building kits of aircraft, AFVs, space craft, historic figures and so on. Whilst I have no idea of the actual sales figures for their aircraft kits, I am sure it must be enough to sustain the investment in new tooling. They do offer a range of car kits and whenever I have visited somewhere like a Hornby retail shop, there have been loads of these car kits. The shame is that nearly all of them are either very old sprues dating from the 1960s or crude snap together kits. The contrast with, say, Tamiya, is striking: last weekend I came across a beautifully realised 1:24 scale kit of the very latest Mazda MX-5 sports car. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Tamiya and Aoshima focus primarily on Japanese subjects, but they also offer some superb European cars, even a handful of British ones. It would be nice if Airfix, the British kit maker which started many of us off, could enter the fray.

Then again, one could subtitle this thread, "Have Tamiya and Aoshima FORGOTTEN those things called AIRCRAFT?"

[MG Writer]

 PS - Forgot to add that all of these boring aircraft kits actually sell in large numbers and generate a decent profit. If cars (and other pet subjects) don't, then you have your answer as to why Airfix are not producing new car kits

I am not going to be drawn into the boring this or boring that debate; like many modellers of a similar vintage I have enjoyed building kits of aircraft, AFVs, space craft, historic figures and so on. Whilst I have no idea of the actual sales figures for their aircraft kits, I am sure it must be enough to sustain the investment in new tooling. They do offer a range of car kits and whenever I have visited somewhere like a Hornby retail shop, there have been loads of these car kits. The shame is that nearly all of them are either very old sprues dating from the 1960s or crude snap together kits. The contrast with, say, Tamiya, is striking: last weekend I came across a beautifully realised 1:24 scale kit of the very latest Mazda MX-5 sports car. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Tamiya and Aoshima focus primarily on Japanese subjects, but they also offer some superb European cars, even a handful of British ones. It would be nice if Airfix, the British kit maker which started many of us off, could enter the fray.

Then again, one could subtitle this thread, "Have Tamiya and Aoshima FORGOTTEN those things called AIRCRAFT?"

Umm - no, not really http://www.tamiya.com/english/products/60788/index.htm

[peebeep]

That Tamiya F-16 was a re-release last year from a kit that was first issued in 2014. Their most recent aircraft release is the 1/48 F-14, so they're hardly prolific with aircraft subjects, you're more likely to get a car or motorcyle from Tamiya than other genres.

[MG Writer]

That Tamiya F-16 was a re-release last year from a kit that was first issued in 2014. Their most recent aircraft release is the 1/48 F-14, so they're hardly prolific with aircraft subjects, you're more likely to get a car or motorcyle from Tamiya than other genres.

That may be... but at least there was a (presumably decent) new kit in 2014. The balance is clearly different but I doubt that Tamiya tries to fob off its loyal customers with kits from barely altered fifty year old tooling.

[Ratch]

 So when was the last time you bought an Airfix kit MG? You haven't posted any here and you keep banging on about all the great stuff Tamiya do!

[Kenneth ONeill]

Ratch, I can't speak for MG, but the whole reason I haven't bought any Airfix car kits recently is that they're all 1:32 scale and I want 1:24 kits.

[MG Writer]

 So when was the last time you bought an Airfix kit MG? You haven't posted any here and you keep banging on about all the great stuff Tamiya do!

My goodness you are a grumpy old so and so! I have a loft full of Airfix kits and over the years made many - indeed I have correspondence I had with the old Airfix people in London back in around 1970 or so. I quote the likes of Tamiya and others out of frustration because they disprove the argument that there isn't a demand. Unlike others I don't decry the wonderful legacy of aircraft kits - I just feel sad that they don't address the sector I am really interested in. I don't feel beholden to you or anybody else in terms of posting photos of recent kits from Airfix- not least because there haven't been any. I come here mainly for the warm welcome and friendly discussion. 

[paul-muc]

This one for MG Writer

 

/media/tinymce_upload/1d1e5a04b72f6c9d88e608cf00e96e75.jpg

[Ratch]

 I'm sorry if I come across as grumpy, but it seems to me you don't have a good word to say about Airfix. If you have made any of their kits we certainly don't see them. Why not show us what bad kits Airfix make?

I prefer 1/600 scale for ships, but Airfix have told me they have no plans for any more in that scale. Given that the last 1/24 kit was released in 2004, I'd guess a similar decision has been made about that scale. Disappointing isn't it. I think Airfix missed a massive opportunity to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Waterloo by re-issuing their excellent 54mm figures, but they weren't prepared to do that either. I do hope that Airfix can become a broad church of subjects again, but it will take a sea-change to do it.

[peebeep]

That may be... but at least there was a (presumably decent) new kit in 2014. The balance is clearly different but I doubt that Tamiya tries to fob off its loyal customers with kits from barely altered fifty year old tooling.

Yes, the Tamiya 1/72 F-16 is the current go-to kit. Airfix are not doing cars, neither are they doing ships nor armour - as such. They're focusing on aircraft, for whatever reason and the raft of recent new releases are all excellent, in some cases ground breaking and go-to. They're running a business, not a private service for modellers who want this or that. It's not like you don't have plenty of options if you're building in genres other than aircraft, they're just not going to be in Airfix boxes.

[MG Writer]

This one for MG Writer

 

/media/tinymce_upload/1d1e5a04b72f6c9d88e608cf00e96e75.jpg

Ooh you tease

[MG Writer]

 I'm sorry if I come across as grumpy, but it seems to me you don't have a good word to say about Airfix. If you have made any of their kits we certainly don't see them. Why not show us what bad kits Airfix make?

I prefer 1/600 scale for ships, but Airfix have told me they have no plans for any more in that scale. Given that the last 1/24 kit was released in 2004, I'd guess a similar decision has been made about that scale. Disappointing isn't it. I think Airfix missed a massive opportunity to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Waterloo by re-issuing their excellent 54mm figures, but they weren't prepared to do that either. I do hope that Airfix can become a broad church of subjects again, but it will take a sea-change to do it.

In my time I made loads of kits - most car kits and, in their time, there were Airfix ones among them. I made most of the 1:32 cars, starting off with the 4.5 litre Bentley and then the "modern cars" like the Lotus Cortina, Mini,  MG 1100, Maxi,  Capri, Marina, Maserati and others. When I wrote to Airfix at Haldane Place I was asking them for a Ford Cortina MkII! Then I progressed to the 1:24 kits when they appeared, such as the Aston Martin DB6, prewar Lincoln and ultimately the 1:12 scale Bentley, complete with motor. Then, thanks to some excellent model shops (all long since gone), I discovered the joys of Revell, Pyro, Monogram, AMT and, in due course, Tamiya and Fujimi. But all through this my first kit build experience had been with dear old Airfix, and I was frankly sad that they had seemingly almost abandoned the car market (there were some highlights like the 1933 MG K3 Magnette, Porsche 917 and 1933 Alfa Romeo). Heller came along and got into bed with Airfix and their appetite for European (mostly French) cars made me feel optimistic for a time. Then there were the Gunze Sangyo based car kits and the lovely ex-Aoshima MGB. Nowadays, the present day Airfix seem content to give us a token offering of a couple of presumably ex-Scakextric car kits and rehashes of the Aston DB5, Jaguar E Type and so on. What rubs salt into the wound is that over next door in the Hornby household at Scalextric, they have made some fantastic 1:32 scale cars, with more on the way. So the parent company (also owners of Corgi) do know a bit about car kits. So like you, I suspect, I have been interested in Airfix for longer than I care to remember (my very first kit was a Supermarine Spitfire and Messerschmitt dogfight double) but I have become frustrated in my dotage.

[MG Writer]

That may be... but at least there was a (presumably decent) new kit in 2014. The balance is clearly different but I doubt that Tamiya tries to fob off its loyal customers with kits from barely altered fifty year old tooling.

Yes, the Tamiya 1/72 F-16 is the current go-to kit. Airfix are not doing cars, neither are they doing ships nor armour - as such. They're focusing on aircraft, for whatever reason and the raft of recent new releases are all excellent, in some cases ground breaking and go-to. They're running a business, not a private service for modellers who want this or that. It's not like you don't have plenty of options if you're building in genres other than aircraft, they're just not going to be in Airfix boxes.

Up to a point I agree. But my choice is mostly from a pantheon of Japanese, American or German subject matter (French and Italian too). Aircraft subjects seem to be much more varied to my eyes. I will give my business where I can to the companies who will cater for me. I am sorry that isn't Airfix...

[Ratch]

In my time I made loads of kits - most car kits and, in their time, there were Airfix ones among them. I made most of the 1:32 cars, starting off with the 4.5 litre Bentley and then the "modern cars" like the Lotus Cortina, Mini,  MG 1100, Maxi,  Capri, Marina, Maserati and others. When I wrote to Airfix at Haldane Place I was asking them for a Ford Cortina MkII! Then I progressed to the 1:24 kits when they appeared, such as the Aston Martin DB6, prewar Lincoln and ultimately the 1:12 scale Bentley, complete with motor.

Looking at the range of cars that have appeared over the years there are these Airfix original toolings...

1/32 1902 de Dietrich 1966

1/32 1904 Darracq 1956

1/32 1904 Mercedes 1962

1/32 1905 Rolls Royce 1956

1/32 1907 Lanchester 1957

1/32 1910 Model T Ford 1956

1/32 1911 Rolls Royce 1955

1/32 1912 Ford Model T 1968

1/32 1923 Morris Cowley 1959

1/32 1926 Bullnose Morris Cowley 1966

1/32 1930 Bentley 1956

1/32 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 1969

1/32 Aston Martin DB5 1967

1/32 Aston Martin DBR9 2010

1/32 Austin Healey Sprite Mk.I 1961

1/32 Austin Maxi 1971

1/32 B-Type Bus 1962

1/32 Beach Buggy 1972

1/32 Bond Bug 1971

1/32 Bugatti 35B 1976

1/32 Dennis Fire Engine 1964

1/32 Ferrari 250LM 1968

1/32 Ford 3 litre GT 1969

1/32 Ford Capri 1971 re-tooled to 1/32 Krackle Kat 1980

1/32 Ford Escort 1970

1/32 Ford Escort (Snap) 1983

1/32 Ford Fiesta RS WRC 2012

1/32 Ford Lotus-Cortina 1965 re-tooled to 1/32 Kansas Kruiser 1980

1/32 Ford Zodiac 1963 re-tooled to 1/32 Night Prowler 1980

1/32 Jaguar 420G 1969

1/32 Jaguar E-Type 1963

1/32 Jaguar XKRGT3 2010

1/32 Maserati Indy 1973

1/32 Mercedes 280SL 1968

1/32 MG1100 1964

1/32 MGB 1966

1/32 MG K3 Magnette 1977

1/32 Mini Cooper S 2011

1/32 Mini Countryman WRC 2013

1/32 Morris Marina 1972

1/32 Morris Mini-Minor 1962

1/32 Porsche 917 1972

1/32 Porsche 935 1983 *

1/32 Porsche Carrera 6 1967

1/32 1/32 Renault Dauphine 1961

1/32 Sunbeam Rapier 1961

1/32 Supercharged Dragster 1983

1/32 Triumph Herald 1967

1/32 Triumph TR4A 1966

1/32 Vauxhall Prince Henry 1971

1/32 Vauxhall Victor 2000 Estate 1969 re-tooled to 1/32 Rebel Rouser 1981 *

1/32 Vauxhall Viva 1965

1/32 Volkswagen 1200 1964

1/24 Aston Martin DB5 1966 * re-tooled to 1/24 Aston Martin DB6 1969

1/24 Bugatti EB110 1993

1/24 Jaguar E-Type 1966 *

1/24 Peugeot 905 EV1 1993

1/24 Toyota 2000GT 1970

1/20 Ferguson Tractor 1949

1/12 1930 4.5 litre Bentley 1971

 

This one originating from Scalextric

1/32 Vodaphone McLaren Mercedes MP4-21 2008 *

 

These from the USAirfix franchise

1/24 Camaro Z28 1981 *

1/24 Camaro Ultra Z 1981

1/24 Custom Corvette 1981

1/24 Custom Mustang 1981 *

1/24 Mercedes 230SL 1966 *

1/24 Mustang Cobra (Snap) 1981 *

1/24 Turbo Firebird 1981 *

1/24 Turbo-Vette 1981 *

 

And the remainder re-boxed products from other companies

Aoshima

1/24 MGB 2001

1/24 Toyota Rav 4 2001

 

Doyusha

1/24 Aston Martin DB5 2001Eidai Grip

1/32 Ford C-900 & Trailer 1980

1/32 Ford Tractor and 30 foot trailer 1981 *

1/24 BMW M-1 1981

1/24 Corvette 1992

1/24 De Tomaso Pantera 1981

1/24 Ferrari Dino 1980

1/24 Ferrari Rainbow 1992

1/24 Lamborghini Countach 1981

1/24 Lamborghini Jota 1992

1/24 Lotus Esprit 1992

1/24 Maserati Boomerang 1981

1/24 Maserati Bora 1980

1/24 Renault Alpine 1981

1/16 Lamborghini Countach 1982

Gunze Sangyo

1/24 Austin Healey Sprite Mk I 1991

1/24 BMW 3.5 CSL 1981

1/24 Datsun 280Z 1980

1/24 Datsun 280ZX 1981

1/24 Ferrari 250GTO 1991

1/24 Ferrari Boxer 1980

1/24 Jaguar XK-E Hard-Top 1991 *

1/24 Lancia Stratos 1980

1/24 Mazda RX7 1981

1/24 Mustang Cobra 1981

1/24 Porsche 934 1980

1/24 Porsche 935 Turbo 1981

1/24 Triumph TR2 1991

1/24 Triumph TR-7 1980

Heller

1/43 Citroen Xsara T4 WRC 2001

1/43 Ford Focus WRC 2002

1/43 Jaguar XJS 1998

1/43 Land Rover 1998

1/43 McLaren F1 2001

1/43 Mini 1998

1/43 Mitsubishi WRC 2002

1/43 Peugeot 206 WRC'00 2001 *

1/43 Peugeot 206 WRC'03 2004 *

1/43 Peugeot 307 WRC'04 2005

1/43 Subaru Ev2 Asphalt 2003 *

1/43 Subaru Impreza WRC 2001

1/43 Williams F1 2001

1/24 Alfa Romeo 1991

1/24 Bugatti T50 1991

1/24 Citroen 2CV 1992

1/24 Citroen Xsara T4 WRC 2001

1/24 Ford Focus WRC 2003

1/24 Jaguar E-Type 1991 *

1/24 Mercedes 170 1991

1/24 Mercedes 500K 1991

1/24 Mitsubishi WRC 2002 *

1/24 Peugeot 206 WRC 2001

1/24 Peugeot 206 WRC Safari 2004

1/24 Porsche 928 S4 1992

1/24 Refrigerated Trailer 1992

1/24 Scania Eurotruck 1992

1/24 Subaru Impreza WRC 2002

1/24 Trailer 1992Italeri

1/24 Ferrari Daytona 365 GTB/4 1992

1/24 Lamborghini Countach LP500S 1992

1/24 Mercedes 300SL 1992Lindberg

1/24 Firebird Type K Sportwagon 1981 *

MPC

1/25 1914 Stutz Bearcat 1978

1/25 1927 Lincoln Roadster 1975

1/25 1932 Chrysler Imperial 1978

1/25 1983 Corvette 1983 *

1/25 '27 Lincoln Roadster "Gangbusters" 1966 *

1/25 '28 Lincoln "Gangbusters" 1965

1/25 '29 Ford Woodie 1966 *

1/25 '32 Chrysler "Gangbusters" 1966 *

1/25 '65 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 1965

1/25 '65 Dodge Monaco 2+2 Hardtop 1965 *

1/25 '67 Dodge Charger 1967

1/25 '67 Pontiac GTO 1967 *

1/25 '67 Ford Mustang Fastback 1967 *

1/25 Bad Company 1982

1/25 Black Belt Firebird 1982

1/25 Blackbird 1982

1/25 Brute Force Dragster 1982 *

1/25 Burnout Bird Firebird 1982 *

1/25 Camaro Indy Pace Car 1983

1/25 Chevrolet Cavalier 1982

1/25 Chevrolet Mako Shark Mk IV 1967 *

1/25 Dust Devil 1982

1/25 Firebird 1982

1/25 Ford Express 1982 *

1/25 Ford J-Type GT 1967

1/25 Ford Mk IV 1982

1/25 Freedom Rider 1982

1/25 Ground Shaker 1982 *

1/25 Mount'n Goat Jeep 1982 *

1/25 New Car 1984 *

1/25 Night Stalker 1982

1/25 Rolling Thunder 1982

1/25 Saddle Tramp 1982

1/25 Sidewinder 1982

1/25 Squad Rod Nova 1982

1/25 Swamp Rat Jeep 1982 *

1/25 Thunders Truck 1982

1/25 Toyota Supra 1983

1/25 Wild Breed Mustang 1982

1/20 Class Act Vette 1982

1/20 McLaren Mk 8D 1982

1/20 Sabre Vette 1982

1/16 Shelby 427 Cobra 1982

1/16 Turbo Blackbird 1982

1/12 Christie Fire Engine 1982

Tsukuda

1/24 Lotus Elite 1980 *

1/24 Maserati Merak SS 1980

 

Not that many original Airfix toolings in the wider picture, and mainly 1/32.

[roy_fitzsimmonds]

Or even this set...?

/media/tinymce_upload/5dbe47fc4169123afcc2d618bb9c2faa.jpg

[Kenneth ONeill]

Even in 1/32 scale (although I'd rather the D-type was blue and the F-type green).