New Airfix 1/72 Hurricane IIc sprue shots

[Falkirk1298]

Mine arrived this morning. Here's a few preliminary sprue shots:

[Andre]

Detailing looks somewhat below the level of the RoG kit. Or is it just me..?

Incidentally, I've just got myself Airfix's 1/72nd Spitfire Mk IXc today, and it looks pretty decent.

Cheers,

Andre

[Chuck1945]

Thanks for the pictures. The enclosed main gear bay looks like a nice touch.

The recent 1/72 new tool releases from Airfix (Spitfires, Canberras, and now this Hurricane) lead me to believe either the Matchbox engraver came out of retirement or trained a replacement. While I have bought these kits, and am glad Airfix is jumping back into the model business - cant wait for the Bf 110 series - there certainly is nothing subtle about the panel line engraving on them.

[peebeep]

cant wait for the Bf 110 series - there certainly is nothing subtle about the panel line engraving on them.

More of the same with the 110 I'm afraid. The good news is that the new 1/48 109 has finely engraved panel lines and I think Airfix are gradually responding to criticism with respect to this. The expectation has always been that everything can be fixed overnight in respect of all the problem areas that are pointed out, the reality rather different, but if future releases turn out as good as the 109 looks everybody will be happy, eventually.

peebeep

[Learstang]

Thanks for the pictures. The enclosed main gear bay looks like a nice touch.

The recent 1/72 new tool releases from Airfix (Spitfires, Canberras, and now this Hurricane) lead me to believe either the Matchbox engraver came out of retirement or trained a replacement. While I have bought these kits, and am glad Airfix is jumping back into the model business - cant wait for the Bf 110 series - there certainly is nothing subtle about the panel line engraving on them.

Chuck, I think you're right about the engraved lines, but a few coats of paint should tone them down a bit. Otherwise it looks like a decent kit to me (I haven't bought it, so I'm just concluding from the sprue shots). I second your sentiment about Airfix getting backing into models - the more manufacturers the merrier! I am glad to see them coming out with some new (old) British subjects like the Spitfire, Hurricane and Canberra. Anyone for an Avro Shackleton MR.2 or MR.3?

Regards,

Learstang

[Matt Roberts]

I still think a big part of it is who the target audience is for thier product. 72nd WW II stuff, especially classic RAF stuff that appeals to the average modeler should sell well. For the rest of us who are 'advanced' it's not like we don't have tons of alternatives, Revell, Hasegawa, Sword, AZ, Academy....etc. I would trust Hornby to probably have the best hobby 'sense' of any company of the British market, this kit may be placed between the Corgi die cast and the $20+ 'serious' models as a target demographic.

The question I would ask is how does it stack up to the Hobbyboss Hurricanes, both assembly wise and finished product wise. I'm willing to bet that 99.5% of people who will end up buying this kit over the next 20-30 years won't lose sleep over 'trenches' or the tailplanes having a misshapen hinge line, or even that a Hurricane IIC was not the version that flew in the Battle of Britain!

If this Hurricane sells enough to help fund new tooled kits I am all for it. For the people who are losing sleep over it, remember Dragon has announced a new tool Hurricane Mk I for later this year.

I am looking forward to both reviews and possibly getting my hands on the new 48th 109E (and seeing how it stacks up against the new Dragon one!)

[caiotfjr]

I still think a big part of it is who the target audience is for thier product. 72nd WW II stuff, especially classic RAF stuff that appeals to the average modeler should sell well. For the rest of us who are 'advanced' it's not like we don't have tons of alternatives, Revell, Hasegawa, Sword, AZ, Academy....etc. I would trust Hornby to probably have the best hobby 'sense' of any company of the British market, this kit may be placed between the Corgi die cast and the $20+ 'serious' models as a target demographic.

The question I would ask is how does it stack up to the Hobbyboss Hurricanes, both assembly wise and finished product wise. I'm willing to bet that 99.5% of people who will end up buying this kit over the next 20-30 years won't lose sleep over 'trenches' or the tailplanes having a misshapen hinge line, or even that a Hurricane IIC was not the version that flew in the Battle of Britain!

If this Hurricane sells enough to help fund new tooled kits I am all for it. For the people who are losing sleep over it, remember Dragon has announced a new tool Hurricane Mk I for later this year.

I am looking forward to both reviews and possibly getting my hands on the new 48th 109E (and seeing how it stacks up against the new Dragon one!)

I agree with your points and think Airfix is in the right path...

However, I can't help to notice they really pulled Matchbox's "mad trencher" out of retirement...

[John Thompson]

Those panel lines do look excessive; however (and this fixation has got me into trouble elsewhere...), if they want something to work the "trenches" out of their system, a 1/72 Yak-1b with accurate shapes would be very welcome, regardless of the panel lines! :D

Otherwise, and to Airfix for getting back into the game so enthusiastically!

John

[Chuck1945]

My comments about panel lines and Matchbox's 'trencher' were intended to be more tongue in cheek, not absolute criticism of the new kits. I too am glad to see Airfix back in the mainstream once again, and, trenches or not, will continue to purchase these new releases as long as the shapes are essentially accurate.

I started modeling seriously about the time I got my BS and USAF commision back in 1967. My first overseas assignment was to the UK, spending a year just outside London at RAF East and also West Ruislip (HQ 3AF at the time). I cut my modeling teeth on Airfix and Frog kits so the revival of Airfix is great news to me.

Edited March 6, 2010 by Chuck1945

[Richard M]

Airfix are expanding their research and development team and working with new manufacturers, the evolution of the kits being produced is dynamic. The kits released now started in development over a year ago, since then the level of refinement and detail has been greatly improved. The kits being designed now by the team are definitely superior, the first examples of which will be the 1/48 Spitfire and 109.

Hornby is investing seriously in Airfix, long gone are the days when it was just Trevor and his tape measure. They have a very ambitious release programme, but are working hard on the quality of the kits, which is why some of the announced 2010 kits have been pushed back to 2011 to avoid compromising their quality.

Best

Rich

[Learstang]

Airfix are expanding their research and development team and working with new manufacturers, the evolution of the kits being produced is dynamic. The kits released now started in development over a year ago, since then the level of refinement and detail has been greatly improved. The kits being designed now by the team are definitely superior, the first examples of which will be the 1/48 Spitfire and 109.

Hornby is investing seriously in Airfix, long gone are the days when it was just Trevor and his tape measure. They have a very ambitious release programme, but are working hard on the quality of the kits, which is why some of the announced 2010 kits have been pushed back to 2011 to avoid compromising their quality.

Best

Rich

That is good news indeed, and I wasn't joking about the Shackletons. I would love to see a new tool Shackleton MR.2 and/or MR.3 (I realise it'd be a bit much to combine them in one kit, unfortunately) and there are probably a few other modellers who would also love to see that. Whilst I'm dreaming, how about an Argosy (either the biplane or turboprop monoplane would be great) or a Comet. All in 1/72nd scale, God's scale, please. Also a Lincoln, a Perth, the Saro Princess...

Regards,

Learstang

[rav_pl]

Airfix failed another opportunity to get some money from me. They failed recently with Spitfire, Bf 109 and Hawk and now with Hurricane. I don't like it when someone think I'm so pumped mug so I will buy anything if it just has a famous name on the box. I started HobbyBoss Hurricane and although it requires some improvements, I'm really satisfied with it (project suspended for a few months because of job 500 miles from my workbench).

In Poland we often face poor quality kits. Polish kits of Sukhoi Fitters, Mi-2 and Sokol helicopters, many kits of MasterCraft company and some others are interesting, but totally missed in quality. However, they are usually the only kits of the subjects, so despite of poor quality they are the best. They are also relatively cheap. But for a couple of years I rejected to buy that crap. I'm sorry when I see that a company like Airfix follows the path of garage-based manufacturers from Eastern Europe. Even when Eastern ones are getting better (especially the Czech ones), an Airfix is getting worse. What's going on here? I didn't grew up on Airfix kits as British modelers did, but I respect Airfix' tradition. And I don't understand, why Airfix is trying to destroy it itself.

[Chuck1945]

Airfix failed another opportunity to get some money from me. They failed recently with Spitfire, Bf 109 and Hawk and now with Hurricane. ...And I don't understand, why Airfix is trying to destroy it itself.

How are these failures? Well the 109 was a failure for anyone who wanted to at least correct the horrid way they did the gun breech bulges on the original 109, but not all sure why you are complaining about the Spitfire and with only the photos to go by, the Hurricane doesnt look bad either. The Airfix Spit IX is far more accurate shapewise then the Hasegawa Spit IX.

[agboak]

I would recommend the Airfix Spitfire Mk.IX, but only in the absence of anything better. It is excessively basic and has its share of accuracy niggles. The Hasegawa is better tooled, and better detailed, but less accurate. The Hurricane however is worse, and better kits are available. You can read my comments on Britmodeller. I didn't get the 109, but have yet to hear anything good about it.

What is frustrating about the new Airfix WW2 1/72 kits is that Airfix can and have done better - they are mindlessly copying old errors and introducing new ones of their own, rather than actually looking at the original subjects, their own previous kits and their competitors. They have said that they do not consider 1/72 as a scale for serious modellers - which may explain the basic nature but not the errors (other than just not caring).

[Jonathan Mock]

They have said that they do not consider 1/72 as a scale for serious modellers - which may explain the basic nature but not the errors (other than just not caring).

I'm curious - in the interest of accuracy (its a modeller thing, indulge me) where and by whom has that been officially stated?

Edited March 10, 2010 by Jonathan Mock

[Steve N]

I have to say those trenches are enough to turn me off (besides I already have a couple Hasegawa Hurris and a Revell AG kit in The Stash anyway.) After wading through the New Airfix Hurricane thread over on Britmodeller, one thing sticks out in my mind..that the same company controls Airfix and Corgi. I wonder, could the excessive panel lines on the Hurri and Spit IX be so they can use the same basic molds (or at least the CAD data) for model kits and diecasts?

SN

[peebeep]

(or at least the CAD data) for model kits and diecasts?

Sharing of data is quite feasible, although there would be different CAD/CAM files for die-casting and injection moulding, assuming they are using CAD/CAM. That being the case it would still be possible to edit the files for injection moulding, so that the finished effect isn't quite so agricultural. My guess is that management is only prepared to spend so much time/money in assuaging the requirements of the likes of us and that the product is targeted at a rather less discerning market.

peebeep