Why Airfix are Heading in the Right Direction- The 1:76 RAF Vehicles Set

[Braille Dave]

This was the second kit I built after returning to the hobby- I would say that they are impressive, crisply-moulded, well-designed kits.

The choice of subject was clever- The RAF had 6 different bodies on the MW, and that doesn't include some of the specialist bodies the army put on the chassis. As an illustration, I've got two of these sets in my stash (as well as 4 of the Bomber resupply set!) for conversion.

Anyway;

The Bedford MW

/media/tinymce_upload/88772c54481b9161e67cf6de8178c1ba.jpgI finished this as a mid-1942 example, in Khaki-Green and Tarmac. The colours were mixed using Mike Starmers guides. If I have one criticism of Airfix, it would the humbrol colours- none of them match the correct original colours, of any vehicle.

 

/media/tinymce_upload/fde198a5f1067fa6cb49436138b137d3.jpgI added some wing mirrors from plasic and wire.

 

/media/tinymce_upload/7e8a04da1f17da433a055c450c990eab.jpgAirfix have really captured the character of the original.

 

The Standard DC 10cwt Utility

/media/tinymce_upload/9da0eeb627cb2b4d2ac648428e1565ce.jpgUsing  the Standard DC 10cwt Utility from the kit, I produced the Standard FB Light Ambulance, a common sight on RAF bases.

 

/media/tinymce_upload/b6b0e31558abc381d2d3acaafbec3195.jpgAs you can see this meant producing a new rear body and roof.

 

/media/tinymce_upload/90ef964250556852feee71402f158208.jpgI added a new grill, to represent the later austerity version, and a searchlight. And painted it in the then obligatory Khaki-Green. 

[Jonathan Mock]

This was the second kit I built after returning to the hobby- I would say that they are impressThe choice of subject was clever- The RAF had 6 different bodies on the MW, and that doesn't include some of the specialist bodies the army put on the chassis. As an illustration, I've got two of these sas 4 of the Bomber resupply set!) for finished this as a mid-1942 example, in Khaki-Green andIf I have one criticism of Airfix, it would the humbrol colours- none of them match the correct original colours, of any vehicle.

S. ;-) 

/media/tinymce_upload/fde198a5f1067fa6cb49436138b137d3.jpgI added some wing mirrors from plasic and wire.

 

/media/tinymce_upload/7e8a04da1f17da433a055c450c990eab.jpgAirfix have really captured the character of the original.

 

The Standard DC 10cwt Utility

/media/tinymce_upload/9da0eeb627cb2b4d2ac648428e1565ce.jpgUsing  the Standard DC 10cwt Utility from the kit, I produced the Standard FB Light Ambulance, a common sight on RAF bases.

 

/media/tinymce_upload/b6b0e31558abc381d2d3acaafbec3195.jpgAs you can see this meant producing a new rear body and roof.

 

/media/tinymce_upload/90ef964250556852feee71402f158208.jpgI added a new grill, to represent the later austerity version, and a searchlight. And painted it in the then obligatory Khaki-Green. 

 
 

[Jonathan Mock]

If I have one criticism of Airfix, it would the humbrol colours- none of them match the correct original colours, of any vehicle.

 

That's a good point, the lack of proper British military colours is a gap in the Humbrol range, more so when you consider how much of the range now needs them. Mixes tend to be too off-putting for beginners and inexperienced modellers, hence approximate matches listed in the Humbrol range - but approximate not exact.

[vimal_indrasoma]

 ... bur why aren't the RAF vehicles in the same scale as the RAF planes, eh? Time for some standardisation, methinks.

[Braille Dave]

Actually these are just repacks of parts of the Bomber Resupply Set which is listed as 1:72 

....and it could just be me misreading the box....

[iloveairfix]

If I have one criticism of Airfix, it would the humbrol colours- none of them match the correct original colours, of any vehicle.

 

That's a good point, the lack of proper British military colours is a gap in the Humbrol range, more so when you consider how much of the range now needs them. Mixes tend to be too off-putting for beginners and inexperienced modellers, hence approximate matches listed in the Humbrol range - but approximate not exact.

i normaly use Tamiya  for my paint, and it works very well for me.

[Braille Dave]

Tamiya has the same problems as all the other paint manufacturers- If you're modelling any british vehicle from any period. 

It's a very involved subject, but generally speaking with the demise of WEM there are only two colours in the entire pantheon of paints that actually approximate british military vehicle colours. Revell SM361 is roughly Nobels Light Green G3, a colour used up until about 1941-ish. And Revell 09 Anthracite which equates to Nobels Tarmac No4- Used from about 1941 until roughly mid-1943.

....That's it. 

....Oh and Humbrol 250- which equates to british army desert sand from gulf war 1- No good for RAF vehicles of the period, though. The RAF in GW1 used a light sand colour. 

Don't make the classic Humbrol/ Airfix mistake of thinking that 29 Dark Earth is the same as SCC2 (Standard Camouflage Colour-2); the standard base colour from late 1942 to 1944. SCC2 was browner.

The other big thing is people assume that the RAF just used aircraft paints for their vehicles;  They didn't- there is a substantial body of evidence that indicates that the RAF were holding camouflage paints (Nobels; same as the army) at vehicle maintenance units, as war stocks, from about the time of the Munich Crisis. In fact some RAF units, the ones slated for field deployment, actually camouflaged vehicles on charge around that time too. RAF vehicle supply contracts actually specified Khaki-Green No3 from about early 1939! So some RAF vehicles never wore Blue-Grey either.

 

It's a shame really; If memory serves me correctly, Airfix's own paints were far more accurate than Humbrols. Certainly the RAF Blue-Grey (darker than Hu96- more suitable for vehicles) Anyone remember them? 

[Sgt.Squarehead]

 If it were a 1/76 set they would be heading in totally the wrong direction.

 

Fortunately it is a 1/72 set so their direction is true.....Even if their labelling is as bad as always.

 

Seriously Airfix get a grip, scale is important to most modellers you know.....While we're at it, suddenly deciding to describe your ancient 1/76 Sherman thing as a M4A2, apparently on a whim (it actually just about resembles an early production M4), is beyond ridiculous.....Do you even have a copy of Hunnicutt at Airfix Towers?  If not I'd strongly recommend you invest in one.