does anyone here make plastic 'Airfix' kits?

[cooljules]

Just curious, i do, like most men i did as a kid, then stopped, but i took it back up when i broke my back in the mid 90's, i couldnt do anything else for a year as no movement in lower half of the body. so passed time away.

i still do it, from cars, to tanks, to planes, soldiers etc, large, small.

At the moment doing the 1/24th Airfix Sea Harrier FRS1, to be completed for the 30th Aniv of the Falklands war, and when its completed auctioning it off with all profits going to the Royal British Legion. Its a very poor kit, having been released in the 70's (and toyish with movable jet nozzles) so adding much extra detail and resin and metal improvements. its pretty large!
this is a FB link to the model and work im doing on it........
Facebook
I like to make models of WW2, but also planes i have actually seen, and having been in Germany i lot, i make models of those often, i have some models displayed in E German museums.

I usually have a few different models on the go at once.

Anyway thats it, as i said just curious who else makes models...

 

[Nolly]

Takes me back a bit. Remember the spitfire being my first airfix kit at the age 12.
2 bob I think it cost.

 

[n brown]

i had a great collection once,all planes hanging off the ceiling,then one day i rigged a zip line from my bedroom window tied a banger to a spitfire and it slid down and exploded about halfway down. so satisfying i did the lot!oh the fun i used to have in my forties

 

[Teffy]

Reminds me of my son who used to spend hours putting together models of tanks and big guns then he'd pretend to blow them up and set fire to them. Bless his little heart. Not surprising he ended up joining the Royal Artillery. However, I know lots of grown men make models, some of them are far too large and expensive for kids. I think it's a lovely idea to auction it for charity.

 

[Yogihughes]

I too, used my weekly pocket money to buy and make Airfix kits in the early 60s.
BUT, 2 days ago I perused the contents of a Model? shop in Glasgow and was ASTONISHED at the price of todays kits.
Airfix kits were on sale anywhere from £20 to £99 (the ones that I looked at anyway).

Also I had a quick look at their diecast models of cars, I used to have a large collection of these (2 favourites were Studebaker Goldenhawk and a Mk2 Jaguar).
Well, I was really bowled over seeing the various colours of the humble Mini car and all these were on sale for £49.95 and upwards.
I know children are somewhat spoiled with extra pocket money nowadays but I am sure that all these models on display are now being collected by adult collectors and come to think of it, not many children were in evidence in the quite crowded store. Lots of couples in evidence though!

 

[cooljules]

I too, used my weekly pocket money to buy and make Airfix kits in the early 60s.
BUT, 2 days ago I perused the contents of a Model? shop in Glasgow and was ASTONISHED at the price of todays kits.
Airfix kits were on sale anywhere from £20 to £99 (the ones that I looked at anyway).

Also I had a quick look at their diecast models of cars, I used to have a large collection of these (2 favourites were Studebaker Goldenhawk and a Mk2 Jaguar).
Well, I was really bowled over seeing the various colours of the humble Mini car and all these were on sale for £49.95 and upwards.
I know children are somewhat spoiled with extra pocket money nowadays but I am sure that all these models on display are now being collected by adult collectors and come to think of it, not many children were in evidence in the quite crowded store. Lots of couples in evidence though!

yeah not so much pocket money prices! airfix have just brought out a new 72nd fairy swordfish but at 12.99! its very very nice though. Airfix have kits at over a hundred quid (and sell well) but i try to get a large one, and then completley work on it with extra detail from books etc. its the same with hornby etc prices are so high. mid you, humbol little tinnlets of pain are at least £1.60 each!!!!!!!!!!!!! you can buy a model for 15quid, but with glue and paints etc that can easily be another 35quid.....

its usually adults who buy them though as you say. my GF got me one for xmas, a nice large scale opel blitz at £25, but with the extra figures, bits needed it will come to over 70, but then it will take me at leats 6months....so not bad. i dont go boozing in pubs, i dont gamble, i dont do drugs..... just eat and make models lol

(she said to me.............I HOPE YOUR NOT TAKING ANY MODELS TO RIBBLEHEAD!!!!)

 

[Nick7]

Hi,
I do of sorts, not plastic but balsa. I fly radio controlled fixed wing. Been doing this for a good many years, visiting a number of the shows around the country in the summer months. Find all the various skills required in building kitting out and flying is a good way to relax, particularly in a club environment. The camper comes in for the many overnights.
Regards,
Nick

 

[DRS]

If anybodys interested there is a model engineering exhibition on at Alexandra Palace London 20-22 Jan. This will have alsorts of models being exhibited and for sale.

 

[james pond]

manic modeller

i make quite a few these days, mostly 72nd ww2 jobbies ; eveerythingfrom fighters to 4 engine bombers. currently obsessed with italian aircraft. i always do research on t'net and build a specific aircraft flown by a named pilot. occassionally i get asked to make one by a relative of a person who flew/maintained/built such an aircraft in their day as a memento, failing that, i finish them in unusual colour schemes and markings. not everyone knows our gov't sold canberra bombers to peru, that nicaragua flew american mustangs or iraq used british gladiators against our own gladiators in the 1941 anglo/iraq war ; bet nobody here even knew there had been one! and i guess few care. horses for courses as they say. it is surprising though how popular modelling still is, only have to take a look at ebay, as i write this there are 75,765 kits for sale, even the wife has caught the bug.