roy_fitzsimmonds Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Can anyone tell me what is NEW, apart from the fact it's now in a pack with a smaller tube of glue???It's still the SAME old awful kit - or am I wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Mock Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 What would you like to happen, Roy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidJC Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 I do note the wording 'This newly tooled Airfix Starter Set is ideal for beginners or as a gift, containing everything that you need to build the kit.' Unfortunately the description then goes on 'Please note image displayed is solely a representation of the finished kit.' That to me confuses the issue. Is it a new kit, or an awful kit being portrayed as this shiny new mould? I think the point being is that with the beautiful picture it's misrepresenting the fact it could be the awful 50+ year old kit. So I think roy_fitzsimmons is rightly seeking clarification - is it a new kit, or that from the 1960s? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 For the provenance of the kit, see herehttp://airfixtributeforum.myfastforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=778 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidJC Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 No, its not that hard to do homework, all of us here have access to the net, but if you were good enough to take the time to post the above, can I ask why you couldn't have just said 'yes it's a new tool' or 'no, it's the old kit'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MG Writer Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 It is a little unclear as to what has changed, if anything! based on the various comments. I guess the only way to be sure is for some kind soul to lay out the "old" and the "new" sprues alongside each other and compare the two. If Airfix have genuinely re-tooled using some different masters then all credit to them, although you'd have thought they might have made more of a splash about it. If it is a case of replacing worn out tools with new ones, but it all boils down to the same awkward fit and detail, then it would be nice to have this made clearer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmcabecadas Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 This kit need more than replacing worn out mouls with new one, but the expression "This newly tooled Airfix Starter Set is ideal..." don't mean is a new kit as mention just new tools. Regardless of new tools and better moulding quallity, the kit isn't as good as it should be according with today standards. Airfix could improve the kit just by replacing the old wheels with new ones, while keeping the remaining parts. When I look to this kit, and I own one, the wheels seems to me the worst part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MG Writer Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 If it was half as good as the artwork then it would deserve to fly off the shelves... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roy_fitzsimmonds Posted May 18, 2016 Author Share Posted May 18, 2016 My original comment stands.It 'appears' that the Aston kit is the same kit - not new.The starter packaging is new. My question was straightforward - is it actually a 'new' kit or just the old one, re-boxed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 Roy, if you bothered to click on the link I provided you would see that its the 1967 tool, and that answers your question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MG Writer Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 Such a friendly bunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidJC Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 Roy, if you bothered to click on the link I provided you would see that its the 1967 tool, and that answers your question.For pity's sake, why not just answer it for him/us? Why didn't you just say 'it's the 1967 tool' right from the start, why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roy_fitzsimmonds Posted May 20, 2016 Author Share Posted May 20, 2016 Well, my question was answered albeit not particularly politely.So Airfix - WHY advertise it as 'New for 2016'.It isn't new. It seems to me to be sheer word - chicanery on the part of Airfix.When a product is advertised as new, it's quite reasonable to assume the CONTENTS is new, not just the packaging! Well, we can keep hoping that Airfix will release some proper new cars at some point.The Jaguar XKR and Aston DBR9 were a nice bright spot in the past few years.Surely they could do it again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peebeep Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Well, we can keep hoping that Airfix will release some proper new cars at some point.The Jaguar XKR and Aston DBR9 were a nice bright spot in the past few years.Surely they could do it again?So the Fiesta and Mini were no good? The bottom line is in how many they sell. If retailers keep ordering (and presumably selling) the old DB5 kit, that's what Airfix will keep manufacturing. If the new kits are not selling particularly well you can kiss goodbye the possibility of new releases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmcabecadas Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Only "New tool" means is a really new product. Just "New" usually means the return of a old model, most likely included in a new set. The expression "New for XXXX", where XXXX is the year, is just the return of old and out of productions models. This is plain Airfixish language, known and spoke for several decades :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MG Writer Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Well, we can keep hoping that Airfix will release some proper new cars at some point.The Jaguar XKR and Aston DBR9 were a nice bright spot in the past few years.Surely they could do it again?So the Fiesta and Mini were no good? The bottom line is in how many they sell. If retailers keep ordering (and presumably selling) the old DB5 kit, that's what Airfix will keep manufacturing. If the new kits are not selling particularly well you can kiss goodbye the possibility of new releases.Yes, they will aim to sell what is selling. I get that. Trouble is that other kit makers (and I don't know how big they are vis a vis Hornby) ARE making and selling brilliant car kits; Revell, Heller, Tamiya, Aoshima and others. I doubt these other companies do what they do out of charitable concern! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MG Writer Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 Bump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MG Writer Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 Just had a look at my small (A5 sized) 2016 Airfix catalogue... It says against the DB5 entry "re-issue, new colour". What's that all about then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roy_fitzsimmonds Posted June 3, 2016 Author Share Posted June 3, 2016 The plastic is white instead of grey... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peebeep Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 Trouble is that other kit makers (and I don't know how big they are vis a vis Hornby) ARE making and selling brilliant car kits; Revell, Heller, Tamiya, Aoshima and others. I doubt these other companies do what they do out of charitable concern!As I see it Airfix are almost entirely focused on their core genre, attempting to revive other, or introduce new genres is probably considered as either too much of a distraction, or beyond their current R & D resources. You quote other kit manufacturers doing cars and two things strike me. In the first it means there's quite a bit of competition to break through, secondly where's the problem? You don't have enough car kits to choose from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MG Writer Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 Trouble is that other kit makers (and I don't know how big they are vis a vis Hornby) ARE making and selling brilliant car kits; Revell, Heller, Tamiya, Aoshima and others. I doubt these other companies do what they do out of charitable concern!As I see it Airfix are almost entirely focused on their core genre, attempting to revive other, or introduce new genres is probably considered as either too much of a distraction, or beyond their current R & D resources. You quote other kit manufacturers doing cars and two things strike me. In the first it means there's quite a bit of competition to break through, secondly where's the problem? You don't have enough car kits to choose from?Fair points all, but to address your last question - there are lots of car kits, of course, but it would be nice to see some with a more British focus, which is where Airfix might conceivably have a role (and yes, that is just my point of view before Mr Grumpy pops up). The likes of Aoshima tend to focus on what are to western eyes fairly obscure seeming Japanese automotive subjects (although they have bravely dabbled in the MG and Triumph sports car fields). Revell have modelled the classic Mini, Blower Bentley, London Taxi and Jaguar E Type, whilst Tamiya have also modelled the classic Mini and various Lotuses. The duplication of such subjects as Mini and Porsche 911 probably reflects the same kind of conservatism that I guess prompts rival kit makers to plump for the same commercially attractive aircraft. Airfix can doubtless be applauded for choosing some unusual choices of aircraft in that context. So on the car front, wouldn't it be nice to see somebody making some attractive new kits... Such subjects as the Aston Martin DB5 (1:24 with chrome trim etc), maybe the MGB (the real thing sold very well in the USA) and some more esoteric subjects like the Mini Countryman, Morris Minor (van, saloon, Convertible, Traveller) and some racing subjects would be great. The French Heller company is good at offering French car subjects, even the Citroen 2CV and Renault 4. Maybe somebody has done the sums, and there isn't enough of a market for what I am suggesting, but it seems worth asking the question... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peebeep Posted June 21, 2016 Share Posted June 21, 2016 I hear that the Aston Martin is currently no. 2 in the Airfix best seller list. Regardless how good or bad a product it may be, sales are everything in manufacturing and the question why re-release it must surely be answered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roy_fitzsimmonds Posted July 7, 2016 Author Share Posted July 7, 2016 As Scalextric make the Aston Martin DB10, it would be great if they did the Airfix version too, as they did with the DBR9 and the Jaguar XKR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Grinter Posted July 9, 2016 Share Posted July 9, 2016 I've been working on this for a little while. Its really basic but I tried some bare metal foil for the first time. Amazing stuff. Really makes a difference Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZacYates87 Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 I bought one recently and the box - like that of the DH Comet I got recently - clearly has a note on the back saying "Kit design and mould copyright 1967". This is my first car kit but luckily I have loads of aircraft experience under my belt. By the time I finish it the kit will be in its 50th anniversary and Airfix is bound to announce a replacement! Were I a first-timer, though, I'd be put off by the flash and mould lines alone. It hasn't aged well. The tyres are awful too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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