BBC2 Fri 7th Dec: Airfix - Britain's Next Top Model?
Discussion
Just got the heads-up about this on the Hannants mailing list. Looks interesting!
Airfix - Britain's Next Top Model?
Fri 7 Dec, 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm 30mins
Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/moneyprogramme
One of the most famous names in toys is back. After going bust, Airfix is being re-launched by toy giant Hornby. But will today's kids with their Xboxes and Playstations care? The Money Programme's Max Flint follows the team as they battle to make Airfix a success again. At the heart of the strategy is a new tie-in with Dr Who, but will the time lord toys be ready and on the shelves for the vital Christmas market?
Airfix - Britain's Next Top Model?
Fri 7 Dec, 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm 30mins
Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/moneyprogramme
One of the most famous names in toys is back. After going bust, Airfix is being re-launched by toy giant Hornby. But will today's kids with their Xboxes and Playstations care? The Money Programme's Max Flint follows the team as they battle to make Airfix a success again. At the heart of the strategy is a new tie-in with Dr Who, but will the time lord toys be ready and on the shelves for the vital Christmas market?
Should be worth a watch.
The interesting thing is, around the world, the model kit industry is at its most buoyant since the mid 1970s. I hope that the programme looks at Aitfix in the context of the kit industry as a whole and in the context of the products of its main competitors i.e. other kit manufacturers. My guess is, they won't. The media tends to tell the Airfix story in the context of the decline of kit building by children - and how other more sophisticated toys more or less doomed Airfix.
They tend to intimate that Airfix is the only or main kit manufacturer - which is, of course, nonsense.
We shall see.
The interesting thing is, around the world, the model kit industry is at its most buoyant since the mid 1970s. I hope that the programme looks at Aitfix in the context of the kit industry as a whole and in the context of the products of its main competitors i.e. other kit manufacturers. My guess is, they won't. The media tends to tell the Airfix story in the context of the decline of kit building by children - and how other more sophisticated toys more or less doomed Airfix.
They tend to intimate that Airfix is the only or main kit manufacturer - which is, of course, nonsense.
We shall see.
Eric Mc said:
Should be worth a watch.
The interesting thing is, around the world, the model kit industry is at its most buoyant since the mid 1970s. I hope that the programme looks at Aitfix in the context of the kit industry as a whole and in the context of the products of its main competitors i.e. other kit manufacturers. My guess is, they won't. The media tends to tell the Airfix story in the context of the decline of kit building by children - and how other more sophisticated toys more or less doomed Airfix.
They tend to intimate that Airfix is the only or main kit manufacturer - which is, of course, nonsense.
We shall see.
The interesting thing is, around the world, the model kit industry is at its most buoyant since the mid 1970s. I hope that the programme looks at Aitfix in the context of the kit industry as a whole and in the context of the products of its main competitors i.e. other kit manufacturers. My guess is, they won't. The media tends to tell the Airfix story in the context of the decline of kit building by children - and how other more sophisticated toys more or less doomed Airfix.
They tend to intimate that Airfix is the only or main kit manufacturer - which is, of course, nonsense.
We shall see.
The kits we develop are very technically advanced, enabling the modeller to build a life-like miniature of the real subject, we have found that when shown, kids and adults alike are fascinated.
You cannot hand down a computer game to the next generation to enjoy looking at, as it will be out of date within six months, same goes for iPods/phones etc – a beautifully executed model, be it wood metal or plastic, is something to enjoy forever, plus some look great on the mantelpiece.
The problem I've found with Airfix kits are that they are too basic. Kits form the likes of Dragon, Tamiya and Fujimi, although much more expensive, are light years ahead in terms of quality, fit and accuracy. Not much of a problem to kids perhaps, but they will move on to the bigger brands
It depends on what you want out of a model. I'm bashing together an ancient kit of a WW2 Martin Baltimore medium bomber. The kit dates from around 1968 and was originally released by the long defunct FROG company. It is VERY, VERY basic with virtually no interior detail at all. However, with a little bit of fettling and some rudimentary modifications I am sure it will make up into a decent representation of the real thing. The only alternative to this ancient offering is a MUCH more expensive but still hard work, limited run model from the French Azur company.
Like FROG, Airfix over the years, have issued some models which no one else has gone near - especially of British subjects. So, if you want a late model Handley Page Halifax or a De Havilland Heron, Airfix is the only game in town.
I still enjoy building them and they are still very affordable.
Like FROG, Airfix over the years, have issued some models which no one else has gone near - especially of British subjects. So, if you want a late model Handley Page Halifax or a De Havilland Heron, Airfix is the only game in town.
I still enjoy building them and they are still very affordable.
Edited by Eric Mc on Wednesday 5th December 00:35
It seems the programme will concentrate on Airfix's Christmas offering, the possibly limited run of Dr Who, the TARDIS and his assistant. Here is a photo taken from Freema Agyeman's site:
According to the information I have heard, the run will only be of 5000 (which seems way too small for me). According to the box, it will retail at £24:99 and has a flashing light, sound effects and the police box will have an interior. Now, I know the buildup you see there will have been done by professional artists, but the thing that strikes me is how unlike 'Airfix' it looks. The characters actually look like the real actors for one thing, and the old Airfix wouldn't have had an interior. At first glance at least, it looks like a move in the right direction, with higher prices but more features and better quality. Fingers crossed.
I can't really see much of an opportunity for resin and photoetch parts with that particular kit, but I'm sure there is plenty of money waiting to be made by Hornby with multimedia upgrade kits, so long as they are good quality. As a Zadlet, Spitfires were fine but I much preferred the unusual kits, things like the cutaway SRN-4 and the Museum models (beam engine, 4-stroke engine etc). The more complex the better.
I know kids are still making models because the other day I nipped to the supermarket and there was a 10-ish year old lad in the back seat of his mum/dad's car looking through a kit he had obviously just bought. (The local model shop shares its car park with the supermarket)
Talking of ship building. A year or so ago I had a moment of Ebay madness and bought one of the Revell (ex Matchbox) 1/72 Flower Class Corvettes. After looking at photos of 'enhanced' models on the web, I decided that it wouldn't do the subject justice if I built it straight out of the box. Unfortunately, it seems that a full PE/resin upgrade might well cost in excess of £1000. Even at that there appear to be no interior detail upgrades available. So now I have lots of diagrams and photos, and am pondering whether it might no be easier to go the scratch built way with a proper metal superstructure. *Gulp*!
According to the information I have heard, the run will only be of 5000 (which seems way too small for me). According to the box, it will retail at £24:99 and has a flashing light, sound effects and the police box will have an interior. Now, I know the buildup you see there will have been done by professional artists, but the thing that strikes me is how unlike 'Airfix' it looks. The characters actually look like the real actors for one thing, and the old Airfix wouldn't have had an interior. At first glance at least, it looks like a move in the right direction, with higher prices but more features and better quality. Fingers crossed.
I can't really see much of an opportunity for resin and photoetch parts with that particular kit, but I'm sure there is plenty of money waiting to be made by Hornby with multimedia upgrade kits, so long as they are good quality. As a Zadlet, Spitfires were fine but I much preferred the unusual kits, things like the cutaway SRN-4 and the Museum models (beam engine, 4-stroke engine etc). The more complex the better.
I know kids are still making models because the other day I nipped to the supermarket and there was a 10-ish year old lad in the back seat of his mum/dad's car looking through a kit he had obviously just bought. (The local model shop shares its car park with the supermarket)
Talking of ship building. A year or so ago I had a moment of Ebay madness and bought one of the Revell (ex Matchbox) 1/72 Flower Class Corvettes. After looking at photos of 'enhanced' models on the web, I decided that it wouldn't do the subject justice if I built it straight out of the box. Unfortunately, it seems that a full PE/resin upgrade might well cost in excess of £1000. Even at that there appear to be no interior detail upgrades available. So now I have lots of diagrams and photos, and am pondering whether it might no be easier to go the scratch built way with a proper metal superstructure. *Gulp*!
Over the last two months, Scale Aircraft Modelling featured an article on a chap's enhanced detailing of the early 1960s Airfix Halifax III. It is an eye opener for anyone who thinks that an Airfix kit cannot make a good model.
Generally, most Airfix kits are accurate in outline and are a good basis for a decent kit. You have to remember that their kits range over nearly five decades of production and accordingly, there will be great variety in the style and ease of build depending on their age. There is no doubt that some of the range should be retired gracefully - noteably clunkers like their late 50s 1/72 moulding of the Spitfire MkIX and the similar scale and vintage Messerschmitt Bf110. On the other hand, their 1/72 Spitfire Vb is generally reckoned to be the most faithfull replica of the Spitfire out there, with all the subtle curves very well replicated.
They had early mouldings of their new 1/72 Nimrod on display at Telford a few weeks ago and it certainly looked every inch the modern kit - including its price. It will cost nearly £40.00.
There recent troubles were not so much caused by lack of model building children, but more with problems arising from their link with the French Heller side of the business. Both Heller and Airfix kits are back in production, so someone thinks they are still valid operations.
So, I think there is definitely a place out there for Airfix. They do some unique kits which are generally not too expensive.
Generally, most Airfix kits are accurate in outline and are a good basis for a decent kit. You have to remember that their kits range over nearly five decades of production and accordingly, there will be great variety in the style and ease of build depending on their age. There is no doubt that some of the range should be retired gracefully - noteably clunkers like their late 50s 1/72 moulding of the Spitfire MkIX and the similar scale and vintage Messerschmitt Bf110. On the other hand, their 1/72 Spitfire Vb is generally reckoned to be the most faithfull replica of the Spitfire out there, with all the subtle curves very well replicated.
They had early mouldings of their new 1/72 Nimrod on display at Telford a few weeks ago and it certainly looked every inch the modern kit - including its price. It will cost nearly £40.00.
There recent troubles were not so much caused by lack of model building children, but more with problems arising from their link with the French Heller side of the business. Both Heller and Airfix kits are back in production, so someone thinks they are still valid operations.
So, I think there is definitely a place out there for Airfix. They do some unique kits which are generally not too expensive.
chris watton said:
You cannot hand down a computer game to the next generation to enjoy looking at, as it will be out of date within six months, same goes for iPods/phones etc – a beautifully executed model, be it wood metal or plastic, is something to enjoy forever, plus some look great on the mantelpiece.
Hmmm... I've about 75 very nicely constructed Frog, Revell, Airfix, and Hasegawa (etc) kits in my Mother's loft. She want's rid, and I don't want to chuck or burn. Tricky. But I don't think plastic kits don't make great heirlooms, they seem to get brittle and then just fall apart.Frog Mitchell III anyone? Or Whitley? Free to good homes.
It actually wasn't that bad - but it did concentrate on the areas I thought it would. Not a single mention of any other kit manufacturers. It is strange that their main competitors didn't get a mention. After all, if you were making a documentary about Asda, at some point in the programme I am sure you would mention Tescos, Sainsbury's or Morrisons.
Still, any coverage of the plastic kit industry on mainstream TV is a result. Up until Airfix's problems,the hobby existed ina neither world virtually unknown to the "non-afficianados".
Still, any coverage of the plastic kit industry on mainstream TV is a result. Up until Airfix's problems,the hobby existed ina neither world virtually unknown to the "non-afficianados".
Trouble with the Nimrod kit is they are doing it in a very limited run.
I think pretty much all of them have been snapped up on pre-order before they've even hit the shops
Total madness if you ask me as it will be popular, as no one markets a 1:72 Injection molding Nimrod at the moment.
I think pretty much all of them have been snapped up on pre-order before they've even hit the shops
Total madness if you ask me as it will be popular, as no one markets a 1:72 Injection molding Nimrod at the moment.
I am sure that these "limited run" models will be re-released (possibly in a different version) within a couple of years. That is the way most model manufactureres operate these days. They release X thousand editions of a prticular moulding at any one time and then withdraw it for a few years.
RichB said:
Zad said:
Well that was an informative programme. Not
Well I thought it was an interesting programme. Does anyone have any idea why Airfix had to go and measure up the Tardis and Dalek when the BBC and The Mill both have definitive dimensions and CAD models for both? The programme did at least explain why the models of the Dr and Martha are so good (they used external artists and the BBC had to approve them).
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