NOTE!: Full Disclosure, I missed 6 reissues in the 2024 release (Scalemates had them classified differently, so they missed inclusion in the table), so the total releases for 2024 should be 32, not 27 - down 12% from 2024, not 17%. Unfortunately YT doesn't allow me to edit this without re-uploading a new video. Apologies for the mistake, I'll try to be more vigilant in future. Shout out to @Mos6510Models for bringing to my attention. My general feeling and commentary remain unchanged by this, however!
@CzechImp
8 ай бұрын
One of the biggest problems with anti-social media is that if you dare to sound the slightest bit critical of anything then you are berated and abused. You won't be offered a chance for rational debate, just shouted at!
@stephenwhelan2515
8 ай бұрын
Agreed. Harry Houdini released a video yesterday on the abuse he was getting recently and he is no shrinking violet.
@zigjib
8 ай бұрын
its a dissapointing release because the kits are boring as hell. I get that Airfix is UK based and wants to do UK aircraft..... but TF is a bulldog? imagine the board meeting? Ok gents and diversity hires, we are gearing up for a 2024 new tool releases. Now, we stick to UK themes, so I want to hear suggestions; Go! What about a new tool 1/48 Jaguar? People love that plane and it served a few different nations so there's options for different liveries. I like it but I want to put forward a new Tornado kit as a similar option. It's sorely neglected. On the same theme, there really isn't a good modern kit of the Harrier in 1/48. Thoughts? What about a beaufighter? The Tamiya one is getting a bit long in the tooth and the Revell one is a bit of a chore? What about an A20 Havoc? No guys, i have it.... what about.... a 1/48 Bulldog. You know, that super famous plane that everyone thinks of when they think about british aviation? Yes... YES.... LOVE IT! That'll have UNIVERSAL APPEAL, all the great dogfights and raids it was in! WHY DID WE NOT THINK OF IT!? FAST TRACK IT. GET IT READY FOR 2024 JANUARY, POST HASTE! This kit is THE kit, we are going to be MILLIONAIRES!!!!! SIR SIR I'M NOT FINISHED! What about a classic pairing. When I say to you, British Aviation, we all think BullDog.... but when I say Bulldog, what IMMEDIATELY jumps to mind? ...... Uh.... Shannon Class Life Boat? Exactly. OMG..... tool it up. The release is a bad release because the kits are stupid!!!! If they released another BF109 variant or a hurricane variant or a hellcat or something people might shrug and think it's not for them.... but the kits are dumb!
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Live the board meeting image!
@nheather
8 ай бұрын
I think the release isn't bad, it's just that there is nothing there for me. But my interest in Airfix is pretty niche - WWII (and years leading up to it) British aircraft in 1:72. If I did 1:48 I would be salivating over the bulldog. The Liberator looks very nice but not my niche. The Hampden is, but would have preferred a re-tool or an update - the problem with the Airfix Hampden is that the Valom (and AZ) while not great are much better than the vintage Airfix. A 1:72 new tool Hampden, Anson, Lysander, Whirlwind or Fairey Battle would have made my day. As it is, I don't think it is a bad release, just nothing really for me.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Do you think I've been fair when summing up all the pros and cons here? What do you think?
@chrisflowers6479
8 ай бұрын
I think it was a fair assessment in my opinion.👍
@RedtailFox1
8 ай бұрын
my personal theory is that people have been somewhat spoiled over the last few years of releases and thus anything that does not live up to prior years is 'bad' or 'disappointing'. I also think that some people are a bit thick (and my faith in humanity has been decreasing significantly watching the reactions of various modelers to this launch) and have selective hearing when it comes to announcements and I have seen multiple people acting as if the announced range is ALL that is coming from Airfix this year, despite multiple statements and interviews saying that there will be 'surprise releases' throughout the year. At the end of the day it was going to make some people really happy while disappointing others. As for me, I know that we likely will not be seeing any of the new releases here in Australia until well after they have hit the shelves in the UK as the 2022 stuff only hit the shelves just before 2023 started and the 2023 stuff hit the shelves just before Christmas.
@mikemontgomery2654
8 ай бұрын
I think you gave a more than fair assessment.
@AvArIeNmArKu4
8 ай бұрын
The only non new release that will surprise me would be tsr.2 in 1/48 and 72nd and a new tool avro arrow
@mikemontgomery2654
8 ай бұрын
@@AvArIeNmArKu4 I would very much agree with that.
@WAYNEMODELBUILDER
8 ай бұрын
I don't understand these fanboys. For example me personally I like TAMIYA , the kits are well made, instructions very clear and the scale is good depending on the model in question but if someone says TAMIYA is rubbish then I couldn't give a shit 🤣 we are all welcome to our personal opinions. I don't have shares in or own TAMIYA so who cares what people think as it's my opinion lol so not sure why some get butt hurt because you have your opinions too. As for airfix I am a fan of there bigger scale models such as the 1/24 spitfire but they seem to cater more for the smaller scales which I'm not a fan of so I was disappointed they don't do an equal amount of kits across all scales but I am allowed my opinion so my opinion is the launch wasn't great as in model scale variety
@mikemontgomery2654
8 ай бұрын
I largely agree with your assessment. I was pretty disappointed. The Chinook would’ve been much better as a 1/48, new tool kit. I’m not a vehicle modeller so, I’m not really even counting that in my assessment. I still think Airfix would do well to release a 1/32 range of aircraft, like the Meteor. The HK models has some glaring mistakes that Airfix should be capitalizing on.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Airfix have said that 1/32nd "isn't their scale", so I think you'll need to wait for the upcoming Revell Meteor for that.
@mikemontgomery2654
8 ай бұрын
@@MannsModelMoments which is sad but, such is life.
@michaeljdauben
8 ай бұрын
My modeling focus is 1/72 military aircraft of the post WW2 through modern period, so this years release didn't offer anything of interest to me. 🤷
@myk6694
8 ай бұрын
The rate ICM are launching top class products is astonishing
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Absolutely!
@NickAndrewsFaulkner
8 ай бұрын
Very fair and well analysed. None of the new releases excites me, however some of the re-releases and Vintage Classics do, pre-orders done!
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing!
@tonyruse6782
8 ай бұрын
No new 1.72. 176 scale milarty vehicles again and no new figures. When was the last new figures made by airfix ?
@IndyR999
8 ай бұрын
I thought it was a fair, balanced and informative review. From what I’m seeing ICM are turning out to be the new kid on the block that every other manufacturer should be looking over their shoulder for as they seem to be really varied in their releases and are backing this up with consistent quality.
@woofdogmeow2159
8 ай бұрын
I am wondering when Airfix will finally put out brand new 1/600 scale ships not just reissues.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
I wouldn't be betting my shirt (or in fact anything) on trying to predict that one!
@nickbrough8335
8 ай бұрын
@@MannsModelMoments Logic would be to switch to 1/700, 1/350 and 1/144 which are now the standard scales if they did. If they're serious they should be planning to release a Type 31 and Type 26 in 2025 and 2026 anyway.
@marklivingstone3710
7 ай бұрын
Agreed. As a kid I built just about every ship they released. A few years back I bought the 1/700 and 1/350 equivalents from Trumpeter of the same ships. Absolutely no comparison. When you buy the Airfix ships, when you finished building the ship, you have a cheap looking hunk of plastic that vaguely represents what they say it is. The trumpeter kits are more expensive BUT a delight to build, super detailed, very accurate and look great when finished (particularly in you add photo etch and wooden decking). Also comparing the Gunze 1/350 Lusitania to the Airfix 1/600 Mauretania (which with a lot of effort, after sale purchases and problem solving I managed to convert to a waterline Lusitania), again, I don’t know why Airfix even bothers trying to rescue what they’ve got, scrap it and redo it properly. Cheers.
@nickbrough8335
7 ай бұрын
@@marklivingstone3710 There is a very large age difference between Airfix 1/600 (from the 60s and 70s) and any other manufacturers you mention (let alone price differential). The only comparison you can really make is with the Type 45 destroyer in 1/350. Etch and resin replacement are available for that as well of course.
@markthomas5515
8 ай бұрын
Fair and good video. The other disappointment is the club kit. Which used to be a special exclusive, instead this year both are in the release line up, also the meteor from last year. Which they said would never go on general release. Thought they might have had a correctly tooled 1/48 Sea Harrier in the line up, as other manufacturers attempts a woeful.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Don't get me started on the Airfix Club....!
@bionicgeekgrrl
7 ай бұрын
Airfix club models are easily acquired cheap on ebay it seems, so the only real value is that discount and whether the modelling tokens appeal. Personally it doesn't feel worth it.
@neilandrews2797
8 ай бұрын
Well I cannot agree with your comments more. I went Meh! and Im a 56yo Aussie lost in Pommyland. So teenage lingo is not my thing What is my thing is 1/35 and 1/72 vehicles. And Aifix has let the side down there. Lat year we basically had one thing. The Ferret SC. Great that it was/is, where are the REST !. Come-on! Where are the rest of the WWII AC fleet, A Daimler ? A Humber ? Hell even a venerable Rolls AC would do. One Day someone, anyone will do a Monkey Harry.... whoops! I Mean a Marmon Harrington and I'm there. And this doesn't even begin on the Tanks that Airfix could bring out So, this year I looked anxiously for the 1/35 vehilc fleet and something to get my teeth into Nich, Nada, none. !! So I wait again for the suprise announcements, and know that there will be at least 2 more versions of a 109 or Spitfire to come (Oh and I have a LOT of Aircraft too............ So not just down on them per sae) I gave Airfix a C-. With LOTS of room for improvement Thanks for your brilliant work BTW
@glencwilson
8 ай бұрын
On reflection I wasn’t excited because most of the subjects were not ‘must buy’. The presentation was a bit flat and seemed to lack enthusiasm. Compared to other Hornby brand announcements Airfix seems as though they have been very productive.
@NOSHER
8 ай бұрын
I agree with your assessment.New subjects are what gets the glue flowing...not new versions of subjects already available...
@PeteCourtier
8 ай бұрын
I can hope Airfix will surprise release a 1/48 Jaguar or a Wasp helicopter this year
@harriergr7728
8 ай бұрын
When Airfix announced that they were releasing a 1:48 scale Bulldog, I naturally thought it was going to be the Scottish Aviation version that would go with their 1:48 Chipmunk. I don’t think Airfix seem to listen to their main core of modellers, I’m in my early 60’s and my main topic is the Cold War, I built all the WW1 and WW2 stuff as a kid so it doesn’t really interest me. The models that I’d buy in 1:48 and 1:72 would be the Jaguar (all variants) Tornado Gr1 and Harrier Gr1/3 (+T4). But what is really lacking for the Cold War era is the diorama sets in 1:72 (not that useless 1:76!) and a UK airfield HAS (I’ve got the Revell West German HAS). The only kit that I would probably buy from this year’s Airfix releases would be the Chinook (42nd Anniversary of the Falklands War?).
@BobMuir100
29 күн бұрын
Sorry for being late to the show, some how I missed it’s release! Brilliant video that shows what any clear minded person noticed after taking in the news. You are so correct in saying that Airfix could be/are coasting on the back of two good years!! I really enjoyed your stats and again the conclusions drawn are difficult to question. Is it me or did you ignore armour in this chart. I have been very critical about Airfix since returning to the hobby as I felt they should be a world leader not the rather second rate player they appeared to be, then two rather good years across many aspects of the business and I was silenced, however here we go again!! Are there any real grown up business people at Airfix? Two good years isn’t a brand changer and the effect could be easily lost. If Airfix are playing games by withholding news then that’s foolish, they just don’t have the market place trust right now, they need to blow us away at launch and surprise and please us during coming months. The anti Airfix feeling in the market is very firm, I mean folk buy and wear anti Airfix t-shirts! Dont do this Airfix!!! Bob England
@MannsModelMoments
29 күн бұрын
@@BobMuir100 that's a great summary!
@nigelmyall3204
8 ай бұрын
I think this represents a fair and balanced view. From my own perspective, the only new kit which appeals is the RNLI Shannon class lifeboat. I think it will do quite well because of the RNLI "launch a memory" campaign. I just wish it was in a bigger scale!
@scottmckibbon1293
8 ай бұрын
I wonder if the announcement was affected by Airfix's recent experience of having big delays in actual delivery of kits to stores? The Rotodyne didn't make store shelves until January 2024 despite being announced a year ago. Might be better to hold off if you know the kit won't make it out until 3rd or 4th quarter.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
I hope not, because that doesn't say great things about their own confidence in their 2024 supply chain!
@rotwang2000
8 ай бұрын
The Airfix renaissance has been a joy to behold, but I often ask myself if some of the new releases even make a single penny. Yes it may take time for a kit to crest that hill, but I wonder if they didn't pull back a bit with a limited release in the hope people will still pick up the backlog from previous years. That or they have some absolute stonkers coming up as further releases ...
@Lv-sl3rm
8 ай бұрын
I really hope that's where all the resources are going. Even if the subjects are disappointing, something Peter Oxley mentioned is that they're likely to be good kits. Look good, build VERY well, and be nice additions to anyone's collection.... ...but I want to see more put out there. I want to see a new tooled P-51D in 1/24. I want to see a 1/48 Sea Harrier. Maybe a Curtis Jenny, that was famous as a Barnstormer aircraft. Perhaps a new Fokker Dr1 and S.E.5a as a Dogfight Double representing Werner Voss and one of the many 5as during that landmark fight? And that's just aircraft. How about a Lancia Delta S4 in 1/43? A McLaren F1? Perhaps an M3 Halftrack in 1/35? Then ships. Yeah lifeboats are unique and cool in their own way, but I kinda want an HMS Glowworm kit. And I think you get it. What we did get will likely be good, but it's not a range that gets me that excited. The Liberator is awesome, but as a flagship? Ehhhhh....
@chrisflowers6479
8 ай бұрын
I agree a bit disappointing let's see what comes later on in the year. I think the B24 would be the only one I would be interested in out of them all.
@RichardMontgomeryYT
7 ай бұрын
I for one am loving the look of the new range.
@spamuraigranatabru1149
8 ай бұрын
I am very much looking forwards to... the quick build firefly. Hope some interesting stuff comes out later, will be interesting to compare this to Cobi's selection of 1:35th brick built vehicles
@barrywilliams259
8 ай бұрын
I agree, nothing there really interests me. I have to say that I primarily build 1/32 aircraft so Airfix does not fit that niche but I do dip a toe into 1/48 now and again and was hoping for something interesting, such as a FAA Spey engined Phantom to sit alongside they excellent Bucc. I find 1/72 just too small to have any interest to me.
@simongee8928
8 ай бұрын
I bought the Fw190 new release a while back. Very disappointed with the unnecessary rejigging of the parts over the original. I'll give Airfix another try but in whatever they have nearest 1.35 scale.
@simongee8928
8 ай бұрын
I did get the 1.35 scale K2 a while back and must admit it was a pretty good model. Only isseywas the rear doors; impossible to have part open because of the poor hinge attachments. It was either fully open or closed. Not very satisfactory. 😐
@dazza8798
8 ай бұрын
Maybe they are having a fallow year !!
@dergrunepunkt
8 ай бұрын
Airfix releases are always more or less what I know they will be. I'm not the target market for Arifix or most model companies since every time I see another WW2 subject, I scream; how many more Spitfires do we need!?; so that's my first bias, and the second is that I don't live outside the "world": that my country is not in US-Canada, Europe or Japan where WW2 was so important.
@FaronCollins-wallop
8 ай бұрын
I'm convinced they're going to do something big for the D-Day anniversary. But you're right about the catalogue.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Let's hope so!
@nickbrough8335
8 ай бұрын
@@MannsModelMoments Surely it would require a new range of 1/72 scale armoured vehicles (at least 5) at a minimum plus somethings in 1/35 (ie not just releasing Academy reboxes).
@jimbower9268
7 ай бұрын
Maybe I haven’t been paying attention to this side of modeling, but 1/43 seems like an odd scale for vehicles. Why not 1/48, so they can be compatible with aircraft in that scale?
@JDJLalor
22 күн бұрын
1/43 for road vehicles goes back to the 1960s. To my knowledge, and I'll happily stand corrected, 1/48 wasn't really a thing in Britain in those days, and I would guess that the scale was chosen more to fit in with O scale railways rather than with aircraft.
@JohnSmith-sl1my
8 ай бұрын
Just a little thing. I subed to this channel a while ago. And for some reason ive been un subed. Think utube are up to there tricks again.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Thanks for the heads-up...I think this happens a lot, unfortunately!
@matthall143
8 ай бұрын
I suspect what has caused this perception of division among model-makers is that Airfix have deliberately not given us their full releases for the year, as they did in 2023 with the ME-410. However, this creates two problems.....either a potential sense that the new range may be poorer than in the past and secondly, it creates disagreements within the Airfix community. Is this the full new range or not??? While I understand why Airfix may (and I say may) have chosen this as a marketing strategy, it's results are a bit fractious among Airfix collectors. I may be completely wrong, but I suspect we have not heard about all releases this year.
@nickbrough8335
8 ай бұрын
I think we should appreciate that delays can happen and press releasing a new release for 2024 that doesnt arrive until 2025 is not a good idea. Its a balance.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Well we KNOW that there will be more coming - that's not the issue. The issue is that tis initial announcement looks light compared tot he same partial announcement in 2023, and I don't see how they're going to make up the lost ground they seem to have ceded compared to their own benchmark.
@ravensfootball52
8 ай бұрын
I think the chinook is cool but in a different scale. The b-24 is the only kit I’ll be getting. I’ve always liked bombers
@callenclarke371
8 ай бұрын
We need to understand it takes years for a company to earn ROI from a new-tool. I'm not a build-a-kit-in-a-week kind of guy. What's more important to me than how many new tools a company puts out is how much of their range has been recently tooled. I'd put Airfix on the front end of the list of companies actively developing new-tools of high quality. The quality on their more recent moulds is frankly astonishing. I think they're doing a good job.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
I don't disagree
@RandomPerson-bv3ww
8 ай бұрын
I get people disappointment but personally I only really work on 1/72 aircraft so Im really happy with the releases.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Fair enough!
@ken-vc8bf
6 ай бұрын
Totally agree with you. I am now 73 and have always been a great fan of Airfix since l was a child and purchased them for 2 shillings ( 10p in today's money.) While l have a collection of their planes l feel that they have just too many of them. I now like ships, cars ( 1:32scale ) and helicopters. I get these on eBay often at highly inflated prices. Also l have received several wooden kits from ROKR as presents and have even bought some myself. AIRFIX really does need more variety such as trains, motorcycles, famous buildings and more cars - their range of these doesn't even include a Rolls Royce or a Merc. Regards. Professor Ken.
@hondo1650
8 ай бұрын
I felt with the 2024 release there was no WOW! It was just OK. Previous years had at least one or more WOW! This is where the disappointment lies.
@nickbrough8335
8 ай бұрын
Great analysis. I do think Airfix is rebuilding after some (many) years of false starts and poor performance. However, there remains too many gaps in their range. I also have little to no idea what their strategy and focus is on. If it's a wide international range then there is years of new releases needed. Do they do armour/military vehicles or not. What about ship models ? What about non-modern car subjects (space, sci-fi etc). Reliance on the classic range is fine, but cant be the future of their core offering in military vehicles or ship modelling. Do they reflect a UK specific theme in which case there are very large gaps in both the Army and RAF coverage (ie Where is there 1/48 or 1/72 Typhoon, Tornado, Jaguar, Challenger, Warrior etc). I dont understand where and what they are aiming for based on their new releases. I do know they are trying to maximise the value for their new moulds, which is why we see a new version released every 12 to 18 months (and why I expect to see a overseas gannet marking or the ECM or AEW versions over the next 24 months). Thats also why they went for Bucanneer rather than Tornado as there is less competition out there, even though Tornado has much wider potential. However, I still think that they need to issue both a 1/48 and 1/72 Tornado.
@taggarz3656
8 ай бұрын
Not watched his channel before, but I had a video recommendation of one uploaded today (17th Jan) from Peter Oxley (Jan '24 modelling update). He gives you a shoutout and mentions this video in his when talking about the Airfix release (is about 15 and half mins into his video)
@billyaustin5317
8 ай бұрын
Nice, informative video 👍. I was a little miffed at the negative reaction the releases got at the time, but in retrospect I think I am biased because the 1/72 B-24 is a kit I have been crying out for for years, so that alone satisfied me at the time. Plus as a fan of interwar biplanes, I am very happy with the 1/48 Bulldog. Your video makes me realise that, looked at from a more holistic viewpoint, there have been a lot of parts of the market and fanbase that seem to have been missed this year...
@Deano084
8 ай бұрын
I'd like more and better car kits in a decent scale from any manufacturer. Probably comes down to rights for racecars and stuff. But the airfix announcement didn't appeal to me at all.
@jesperlykkeberg7438
8 ай бұрын
I´m a fan of the 1/32 scale. Unfortunately Airfix has nothing to offer. Last thing I bought was the 1/32 Bamboo House for a wild park zoo situated just outside the coastal village within my giant gauge 1 diorama. Shout out to ICM, Lukgraph, Revell, Siku, Britains, NewRay, Märklin and everybody else who keep 1/32 alive when Airfix won´t.
@taggarz3656
8 ай бұрын
Good video Alex I think I commented in one of your live streams last year that I do like Airfix's "surprise" releases but they have to be careful how many they do, as if they do too many they could create a core of customers who are demanding more and more "surprise releases". After seeing the January release figures in this video, if they continue this trend for next year than this could certain start to become a case. Personnally, I feel it's a bit disappointing compared to previous years. The Chinook is a kit which I might pick up, but defiantly won't be in a rush to get it. I think it's good that they are expanding their helicopter range, but as highlighted by you in this video after releases of the Spitfire 1:24, Bucaneer, Meteor, Anson, Katy Ambulance, Ferret Scout, Gannett etc the 3 "marque" kits being the Liberator (I know it was largely requested by groups), Chinook and Bulldog don't have the same level as excitement for me.
@akula9713
8 ай бұрын
I bought the Airfix Tiger 1 in 1/72 scale last year. I found that it was dimensionally incorrect in many areas, had an amazing lack of detail. A cheap tool, poor construction design. Since then I’ve bought a Vespid Tiger 1, twice the price, but the detail, the photo etched, the instructions. A real kit! In comparison the Airfix kit to me is a plastic blob. I like Armour and naval subjects, in this respect they disappoint every year.
@dergrunepunkt
8 ай бұрын
Revell where I live is very important, and the fact they rebox so many models is particularly appreciated, manufacturers like Hasegawa ignore my country and region and Revell does not, that way we have access to models from all those manufacturers that otherwise we wouldn't.
@johntreloar8203
8 ай бұрын
Fair analisis Alex, the 2024 releases don't do much for me, hopefully Airfix have a few really good surprise releases for later on in the year.
@bionicgeekgrrl
7 ай бұрын
One thing you might find interesting is that modellers found the 2024 hornby announcements rather lacklustre and quite a number of disappointing comments occurred. The difference between the hornby ranges and the airfix ranges is where they are made, currently China and India/uk respectively. At their recent shareholder meeting they announced plans for moving model railways to India. I wonder if this has already been happening and whether a reduction in capacity for airfix kits has occurred as a result?
@paulmoore6345
8 ай бұрын
Airfix sister company Hornby has had a very similar 2024 range. Very limited.
@sonosoloio
7 ай бұрын
the most important thing is that the cost of the kits is low and that they are easy to build, in the best Airfix tradition that has made me love it since the 80s and this also applies to other companies, those that obviously want to sell and try to attract new customers among today's kids. trumpeter, dragon and all the others with kits made up of thousands of pieces and absurd decompositions of the various parts can be bought by the masochists of this hobby. P.S. the name of the Italian company is ITALERI not ITALIERI
@ralphhathaway-coley5460
8 ай бұрын
To be fair the Bristol Bulldog would be well known by a certain group of aircraft enthusiasts, given the important part it played in Douglas Bader's story; that is the only reason I knew of it. 🧐
@bionicgeekgrrl
7 ай бұрын
I have not built a model aircraft kit for many years as i didn't have the time or space. I ended up with model railways as my main hobby until my other half started getting interested in warhammer. However the d day pack feels like a decent option for returning to this type of modelling. I want the v bombers really, but no idea where I'd put them.
@stephenwhelan2515
8 ай бұрын
A very insightful review of the Airfix 2024 lineup. And backed up with good statistical analysis! I was firmly in the 44% category. My biggest disappointment was no re-release of the season vixen. But then again I’ve been disappointed like this since 2022 so the agony is now fairly acceptable at this stage. I did preorder the Shannon boat, the chipmunk and the Belvedere and after a lot of thought, eventually added the bulldog.
@jabonorte
8 ай бұрын
UK is going into an election year and we're worried about what's in Airfix's manifesto?
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Of course! I think we're more likely to be able to influence them than politicians!
@NeilMicklethwaite1812
8 ай бұрын
Totally fair and objective Alex - Airfix have got to better their own benchmark
@naram6137
8 ай бұрын
where is the poll ?
@MannsModelMoments
7 ай бұрын
In the community section
@babylonsburning1
8 ай бұрын
Great analysis. I also thought that the Airfix releases were disappointing.
@ibidesign
8 ай бұрын
I would imagine it's impossible to please most of the people much of the time. Tooling and marketing costs are so high these days that I'm sure that limits the volume and subject diversity of new kits that a company like Airfix can produce.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
And yet they've done it successfully in other years....
@ronaldbyrne3320
8 ай бұрын
I can’t fault your numbers and your analysis, Alex. If Airfix’s 2024 surprise releases can “get the glue flowing” in many modellers these coming months, I think many will forgive the shortfall in their new-tooled releases. Airfix may be holding its cards close to its chest to prevent another Katy incident, and I hope that is why we didn’t get our socks blown off last week. 🤞🏻 Personally, I’m still hoping for a 1/48 or new 1/72 Halifax, or thereabouts. 😊
@ClonesDream
8 ай бұрын
What's the Katy incident?
@ronaldbyrne3320
8 ай бұрын
@@ClonesDream Airfix announced that a K2 ambulance kit in 1/35 scale would be released and coincidentally Gekko released its model of the K2 before the Airfix one hit the market, if I am remembering it right.
@nickbrough8335
8 ай бұрын
@@ronaldbyrne3320 Yes. Was the Gekko model such a large seller though that it "stole" Airfix sales ?
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
No, and it was obviously already in development because it takes a lot of time to make a tooling and gear up production etc, so it wasn't like Gecko were "listening in" on the announcement and racing to "beat them"! This sort of thing just happens sometimes where more than one company identifies the same gap in the market at the same time.
@ronaldbyrne3320
8 ай бұрын
@@MannsModelMoments good point Alex.
@jeffholt9437
8 ай бұрын
An excellent video - thank you. I guess it'll take something like a 1/24 Angel Interceptor or 1/72 Stingray Submarine to put the fire back under Airfix this year.........😊
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
That would be cool!
@TheSkorzak
8 ай бұрын
I think printed catalogs are outdated and don't fit in this century as announcement for a hole year. They are a nice reminder for old days or my childhood. But nowadays the internet is our catalog and it changes every day; probably. So it will be a surprise and as a fan I will wait every month for new releases. Does anyone of you still have a printed catalog? I am 60 and those catalog days are long gone.
@The_Male_Modeller
8 ай бұрын
I really enjoyed this video, great analysis. Speaking personally I don't like monthly announcements or surprise announcements. I like to know who's bringing out what each year so that I can plan my purchases. Which is why I look forward to Airfix's annual announcement. I've been wondering if my disappointment comes from an anti-climactic feeling or just genuine disappointment.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Well said!
@Flingwing24
8 ай бұрын
I have to agree. Only the Chinook (I have history) and the lifeboat....err....float my boat....and I don't generally build ships (but I live by the sea and have the Severn class). Sadly, although I will build most things and I am not tied by scale, I am exe AAC and Army aviation may as well not exist. My biggest "shitty" moment was purchasing the Takom Apache Guardian (after enquiring whether there would be other versions....radio silence) only to see the AH1 pop up just after buying the E. I suspect many companies depend on tricking us into dipping our hands and stashing rather than planning. Personally I am leaning slowly towards Eastern Europe with ICM, Super hobby, IBG and Arma really putting in the hours. Some of the IBG 1:72 kits are jewel like, Arma likewise.....they can have my money. Liberator....Great but why? What about an iconic British bomber like the Halifax? I suppose a 1:48 Westland Scout or Beaver AL1 is out of the question.... Great video, I believe Airfix are still dependent on s name....Tamiya need not panic
@Flingwing24
8 ай бұрын
I have to agree. Only the Chinook (I have history) and the lifeboat....err....float my boat....and I don't generally build ships (but I live by the sea and have the Severn class). Sadly, although I will build most things and I am not tied by scale, I am exe AAC and Army aviation may as well not exist. My biggest "shitty" moment was purchasing the Takom Apache Guardian (after enquiring whether there would be other versions....radio silence) only to see the AH1 pop up just after buying the E. I suspect many companies depend on tricking us into dipping our hands and stashing rather than planning. Personally I am leaning slowly towards Eastern Europe with ICM, Super hobby, IBG and Arma really putting in the hours. Some of the IBG 1:72 kits are jewel like, Arma likewise.....they can have my money. Liberator....Great but why? What about an iconic British bomber like the Halifax? I suppose a 1:48 Westland Scout or Beaver AL1 is out of the question.... Great video, I believe Airfix are still dependent on s name....Tamiya need not panic
@Flingwing24
8 ай бұрын
I have to agree. Only the Chinook (I have history) and the lifeboat....err....float my boat....and I don't generally build ships (but I live by the sea and have the Severn class). Sadly, although I will build most things and I am not tied by scale, I am exe AAC and Army aviation may as well not exist. My biggest "shitty" moment was purchasing the Takom Apache Guardian (after enquiring whether there would be other versions....radio silence) only to see the AH1 pop up just after buying the E. I suspect many companies depend on tricking us into dipping our hands and stashing rather than planning. Personally I am leaning slowly towards Eastern Europe with ICM, Super hobby, IBG and Arma really putting in the hours. Some of the IBG 1:72 kits are jewel like, Arma likewise.....they can have my money. Liberator....Great but why? What about an iconic British bomber like the Halifax? I suppose a 1:48 Westland Scout or Beaver AL1 is out of the question.... Great video, I believe Airfix are still dependent on s name....Tamiya need not panic
@peterfindlay2756
8 ай бұрын
I think you have been very fair with some excellent statistics.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Thanks!
@brdm2rkh
8 ай бұрын
wonder if they thinking of release for the 80th D Day annivessary
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Let's keep our fingers crossed!
@siamodyssey
8 ай бұрын
You always do a great job 👏🏼 Thanks
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Thanks!
@williamr3840
2 ай бұрын
I think the 2024 range is pretty good. Airfix make great models! :0)
@MannsModelMoments
2 ай бұрын
Well, each to their own
@williamr3840
2 ай бұрын
@@MannsModelMoments That's right! :0)
@stuwellard
8 ай бұрын
Have i missed somethign in your data? Have you counted all other kits that they have in their staple range rather than focusing on the new announcements, re-releases. This data is critical to accurately analise whether this is a poor announcement or not dont your think? i.e there are currently 77 Aircraft military range, 51 in military vehicles at the time of comment. Yiou would need to compare what they had in the staplpe range as well as new announcements for accurate data.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
That's not true! Do they announce their "staples" every year? NO! Also comparing Airfix to other Manufacturers does not compare favourably for Airfix....they have quite a small active range compared to others
@c123bthunderpig
8 ай бұрын
Airfix is resting on the laurels thinking they are still number one. For aircraft models the only kit I saw of interest was the B-24 otherwise Airfix is lazy and doesn't want to seriously look at investing in new molds or looking at current demographics The competition is eating their lunch right now and they don't care. Their marketing and design staff are too young and have no experience. Distributors and hobby shops don't support them either. I've got enough Airfix kits in my stash to keep me busy until they get their act together.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
I don't believe that's true. Airfix have been releasing more new kits than many of their peers (as shown in the 2022/23 data), and their research is first class - as good or better than anyone else's They're not perfect, but I don't think criticising their age or experience is correct or helpful. As for the comment on distributors and hobby shops "not supporting them", that's utter rubbish and should in fact be phrased in the opposite manner - Airfix should be supporting their outlets, not vice-versa!
@c123bthunderpig
8 ай бұрын
@@MannsModelMoments you wanted an opinion from the model community I gave mine , do you work for AIRFIX? Model shops DON'T support Airfix here in the USA, BECAUSE THEY DONT STOCK THEIR PRODUCT. IT'S OK IF YOU DISAGREE I CANT FORCE YOU TO BE RIGHT !
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
@@c123bthunderpig You can't force me to be right when I already am ;-) Hobby Shops not stocking Airfix is more likely a matter of import supply (Airfix's responsibility, not independent shops) than them having something against Airfix - that's how trade works, you know? Why would a trader stock Airfix if it's a PITA and he makes less money on it compared to Hobbyboss, Tamiya or Academy? Manufacturers want good global representation, then it's for them to sort that out - other companies have.
@c123bthunderpig
8 ай бұрын
@@MannsModelMoments first of all the force to be write comment is satirical. Ironically your responses are confirming my negative comments on Airfix. Hobby shops in USA don't stock Airfix because their products don't sell because there are a plethora of model manufacturers offering better variety and higher quality kits. It has nothing to do with international exchange policy worked out by Airfix. In your recent post you actually admit there are better kits available than Airfix available to model shops. With their current business model, AIRFIX just doesn't sell. I order from overseas companies all the time that provide excellent turnaround , good kit pricing and competitive shipping rates. If you don't want opinions on your videos then do not solicit opinions. You're definitely not defending Airfix's global marketing position very well.
@dergrunepunkt
8 ай бұрын
One consideration that we, the average modeler, never do is that Airfix has a limited production capacity and cannot add 40+ models to their factory and keep up with the demand they already have; my guesstimation/understanding is that Airfix has their own production lines and only sells their own models, unlike Revell and also does not have the production capacity of say Trumpeter/Hobbyboss or even the Tamigawas of the world.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Airfix production is outsourced (like many other model companies), so this isn't true. I was also pointing out that their releases aren't matching prior years, not asking for a big hike in output, just more rounded and balanced
@adandap
8 ай бұрын
I think if I was in marketing at a model company I'd really learn to hate my customers. No matter what they put out there will be a crowd of people lining up to complain about it. Airfix is in business to make money for Airfix and I reckon they're probably the best placed to know how to do that.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Well if you were marketing in a model company then yout JOB is to PLEASE your customers....to listen to the MARKET (the clue is in the name). If you think that a scientific analysis is "complaining", then there's nothing more I can say
@phil9884
8 ай бұрын
42 is the answer to life the universe and everything! Check your Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
@MannsModelMoments
8 ай бұрын
Glad someone picked up on this! 😀
@fabrizioferrari4571
8 ай бұрын
Condivido il pensiero su ICM. Quello che fa onore a questa azienda è il fatto che, nonostante la guerra, non si siano fermati a causa della stessa (cosa che invece, qui in Italia, fosse accaduta, si sarebbe bloccato tutto). La vita va avanti, certo, e bisogna saper reagire, rimboccarsi le maniche e avanzare.
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