Old Airfix Assault Sets, Aircraft, Tanks etc.

[dr_gn]

Decided it was time to recover my old Airfix Coastal Defence set and model tanks, soldiers. aircraft etc., from my parent's attic, after about 35 years:



"Can I look in one of those boxes?" was the predicatable response from the boy.

30 minutes later:









That was 2 days ago, and he's still playing with them. Seems like even against a PS4, and an infinite supply of Star Wars Lego, the old stuff still cuts it. I think Airfix have re-released some of these sets - they do still look good.

[Dan_The_Man]

Looks ace, can I come round to play ?

[dr_gn]

Dan_The_Man said:

Looks ace, can I come round to play ?

I doubt you'd get anywhere near at the moment.

[wolfracesonic]

I had the Coastal defense set and the Gun emplacement set. I don't remember getting the AFV's on the front of the Coastal gun defense set box in the actual contents though. Woz I robbed, or were they there just for 'Illustration purposes'? Never the less, many happy hours spent playing with them.

[RichB]

my brother and I used to set up our armys at each end of the room and then in turn, each take aim at them with marbles. Objective being to skittle your opponents lot over first!

[dr_gn]

wolfracesonic said:

I had the Coastal defense set and the Gun emplacement set. I don't remember getting the AFV's on the front of the Coastal gun defense set box in the actual contents though. Woz I robbed, or were they there just for 'Illustration purposes'? Never the less, many happy hours spent playing with them.

Yep, you woz robbed. The big sets had two sets of soldiers, some tank traps, three tanks and a DUKW. The tanks were a soft polythene type material similar to the soldiers.

[dr_gn]

Cant wait to see what he makes of the old Matchbox "Counter Attack" set:

[Kaelic]

I loved playing "soldiers" with these sets. So many great memories digging up the back garden making it into a mini "somme"

Is it bad I want to buy some more now and do some landscaping

Anyone remember the set which was africa based the pillboxes fired flat plastic discs which were at a perfect height to mow down ranks of soldiers advancing upon them?

[wolfracesonic]

E

dr_gn said:

wolfracesonic said:

I had the Coastal defense set and the Gun emplacement set. I don't remember getting the AFV's on the front of the Coastal gun defense set box in the actual contents though. Woz I robbed, or were they there just for 'Illustration purposes'? Never the less, many happy hours spent playing with them.

Yep, you woz robbed. The big sets had two sets of soldiers, some tank traps, three tanks and a DUKW. The tanks were a soft polythene type material similar to the soldiers.

Maybe not robbed after all! A bit of research brings up this



which is what I probably had, the gun emplacement sans AFV's. Not sure I would have used them though: A WW11 German coastal defense battery being attacked by a Centurion, and an M48? NO!!!!

[dr_gn]

wolfracesonic said:

E

dr_gn said:

wolfracesonic said:

I had the Coastal defense set and the Gun emplacement set. I don't remember getting the AFV's on the front of the Coastal gun defense set box in the actual contents though. Woz I robbed, or were they there just for 'Illustration purposes'? Never the less, many happy hours spent playing with them.

Yep, you woz robbed. The big sets had two sets of soldiers, some tank traps, three tanks and a DUKW. The tanks were a soft polythene type material similar to the soldiers.

Maybe not robbed after all! A bit of research brings up this



which is what I probably had, the gun emplacement sans AFV's. Not sure I would have used them though: A WW11 German coastal defense battery being attacked by a Centurion, and an M48? NO!!!!

Yeah, but that's not the assault set. The structures were sold separately too - you can see the Pontoon Bridge and Gun Emplacements in my box photo don't show any vehicles etc. They only contain the main model.

[wolfracesonic]

I'm confusing myself now. Defiantly had the gun emplacement, no AFV's and the Coastal defense fort, no AFV's (I think). If you sit the coastal defense fort atop a huge mound of papier mache spread over some chicken wire, it resembles the 'Guns of Naverone'

[Zad]

Currently at Argos: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2...

Complete with added outrageous price thanks to the tiny pots of paint and iffy glue.

[Eric Mc]

It's great to see old Airfix stuff being used as the makers intended.

[dr_gn]

Zad said:

Currently at Argos: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2...

Complete with added outrageous price thanks to the tiny pots of paint and iffy glue.

I dunno - even if you forget the paints, £50 seems borderline OK to me. The fort itself still looks the part, and the vehicles and landing craft are pretty good kits in their own right. Airfix always did the small scale armour pretty well IMO. I've got most of their RAF sets in the stash to build again, this time with more care.

[Murph7355]

Are you going to rebuild/detail them?

[dr_gn]

Murph7355 said:

Are you going to rebuild/detail them?

No way! Despite my OCD, and the fact they've been safely tucked away for several decades, these are still to play with. I think it's best to leave them alone and let them get broken.

For some strange reason the boy couldn't be persuaded to involve his own model aircraft builds in this battle...and I've already had to repair a few of mine. All good fun though, loving it! Even considering getting The Guns of Navarone to watch.

I noticed I'd still got a Hurricane, FW190 and Bf109 intact. I might take a picture of these next to my latest attempts. There's quite a big difference in quality after nearly 40 years, but despite this, no difference in satisfaction once complete IIRC.

[perdu]

Talk about memory lane huh

Those Churchill tanks weren't they brilliant?

I wish they'd done them in the polystyrene versions

Well done letting him enjoy them as they should be, I'd quite like playing with them myself too

Great toys