I have been making scale models and miniatures for the better part of my life and I have the opportunity now to share my hobby and passion with others. I am interested in just about every genre and corner of making scale plastic replicas of Tanks, Airplanes, Cars, Ships, Sci-fi, Gundam, War Gaming Miniatures, you name it, I'll make it.
I already dislike it A LOT when you have to purchase extra kits (photoedge and detail and stuff like that)!!! Why are so many companies not making all inclusive kits? When I built my Bismarck, Hood and Scharnhorst, all the detail, photoedge and so on was not only inclusive, the models were designed in a way you had no other choice than to use the photoedged material. No removal of plastic needed. Aftermarket products... Yikes! And also the hull... I really dislike that the hull is basically already done. When I built my Bismarck, Hood and Scharnhorst, you had to really build the hull: assembling the keel plate, then install the ribs, then the planks on top of it. Grind it smooth. Fill the gaps, grind smooth again, add the second layer of planks, grind smooth, fill the gaps, grind smooth again... When the hull is already like this when you open the box, I feel betrayed. I feel like being robbed of half the building pleasure.. And what? The rigging is not shown in the instructions???
Looks like it could be an absolute beautiful model. I would have to go with the folded up, stored one just for the nuances of doing all the folded and open exposed areas from the joints. Love the review.
I saw this kit in person last year at the IPMS Nationals in San Marcos, and I agree- it is pretty impressive! I wish they would do the U.S. Navy version so I could do number 66, the one that participated in the Apollo recoveries, but Airfix said that wasn't likely.
Hi Brett, whilst this is not really my thing, it does look like a really nice kit. I'm trying not to sound so surprised but I haven't made a modern Airfix kit. They are priced over here (their country of origin, if not manufacture,) on a par with some Tamiya and others - I've even bought Eduard Profipacks for less. Do they really compete?
Thats interesting, here (in the US) Airfix kits are generally priced a little lower than their direct competition (For example the Airfix P-51D and Tamiya P-51D in 1/48 scale are within a few dollars of each other). As far as do they compete, well, thats a tough question to answer and really is a case by case basis. The P-51D example, I would pick the Airfix kit over the Tamiya kit. Its a far newer kit, more accurate with more options than the Tamiya Kit, but if you were to pick between an Eduard Spitfire Mk.I and a Airfix Spitfire Mk.I in 1/48 scale, I would choose the Eduard kit every time, even though it would be almost double the cost. That said, Modern Airfix kits (tooled within the last 10 years or so) have been steadily improving in quality, detail, and engineering. So, as a whole, no Airfix isn't a direct competition for the likes of Eduard and Tamiya yet, but they are easily becoming one of my more favorite manufactures .
@@HammerheadModelMaking Thanks for that, most grateful for your opinion. Maybe I should indulge. Out of curiosity I did a search for their 1/72 P51. The price ranged from £9 to £23 without post etc. the cheapest post and packing was £4. I didn't bother looking at actual Model Shops' pricing because there simply aren't any round here. Regards and have a nice one, Ian.
Hi buddy - nice review, i tried to build the 1/72 version of this kit - nightmare with the fit, but i think that was down to my lack skills 😂 - good luck with the build, cheers Liam
@@HammerheadModelMaking here's a quick mnemonic I just invented: "live and let livery". Though I guess that probably makes sense if you say it wrong, too!
Hello mr.Hammer!i must say,your passion for detail and accuracy is an shiny beacon,for all who admire our beloved hobby.i love your narration.you can be proud conquering that little gem.with all that pe and aftermarket purshase.i would like to give more than 1thumb up.because you deserve it .but I cant.thats a pain in the ass.thank you for sharing.with best regards and sticky greetings from sandy Brandenburg/germany.your fellow modellmate.christian
Wow! Most people just add FAKE DETAILS. Nonsense details that serves only to make it look complicated and detailed but which is nothing like the real thing.
Hi Brett. I have lost count how many Spitfires I have made over the last forty years plus of modelling. But none of them in 1/72 have had this much detail built in. Looks like a lovely little kit and of course you have worked your magic on it to produce a beautiful model, well done. Regards.
Lovely job! Galaxy riveting tools are very good. Btw Merlin engine exhausts were made of an alloy called Inconel which is oxidation and corrosion resistant. So the discoloration is mostly due to heating and cooling effects and exhaust residue rather than rust.
