Firstly this is not a review as such but a discussion on Airfix, a company that I have been rather hard on in the past.
I have just received from John the new 1/48 Airfix Buccaneer
Previously Airfix have used that horrible soft plastic, prone to warping and shrinkage. Their parts were not as cleanly moulded as many other brands, needing a lot of clean up. The engineering and design of their newer kits was excellent though, just let down by that horrible plastic.
Now though that seems to be in the past.
This new Buccaneer has a harder, better plastic. It seems almost to be Tamiya standard and the parts look to be cleanly moulded. The detail is very fine and there are none of the trench-like surface detail we have seen in the past. No short shots either.
All in all the Buc is an impressive package.
If all future kits are produced like this then I suspect Airfix reputation will sky rocket. It will be a while until I build this model and the proof will be in the eating but, compared to the last two Airfix kits I have had, the 1/48 Blenheim and 1/24 Hellcat this really is a massive improvement.
One final thought. This kit was made in India, though of this improved plastic. Their next major release, the 1/24 Spitfire IX is being made in the U.K. so it will be interesting to see just how that stacks up.
Fingers crossed that it is now onwards and upwards for Airfix
Just a few pictures of sprues
I have just received from John the new 1/48 Airfix Buccaneer
Previously Airfix have used that horrible soft plastic, prone to warping and shrinkage. Their parts were not as cleanly moulded as many other brands, needing a lot of clean up. The engineering and design of their newer kits was excellent though, just let down by that horrible plastic.
Now though that seems to be in the past.
This new Buccaneer has a harder, better plastic. It seems almost to be Tamiya standard and the parts look to be cleanly moulded. The detail is very fine and there are none of the trench-like surface detail we have seen in the past. No short shots either.
All in all the Buc is an impressive package.
If all future kits are produced like this then I suspect Airfix reputation will sky rocket. It will be a while until I build this model and the proof will be in the eating but, compared to the last two Airfix kits I have had, the 1/48 Blenheim and 1/24 Hellcat this really is a massive improvement.
One final thought. This kit was made in India, though of this improved plastic. Their next major release, the 1/24 Spitfire IX is being made in the U.K. so it will be interesting to see just how that stacks up.
Fingers crossed that it is now onwards and upwards for Airfix
Just a few pictures of sprues
