Airfix announce new tool ME-262 'Schwalbe' for 2017

[SBO]

Just read about it on the workbench blog:

http://www.airfix.com/uk-en/news/workbe ... nts-begin/

I am sure this will prove a popular announcement! What are your initial thoughts? The part I find most intriguing are the wheels - they look like they have a proper tread in the computer rendered images, and I am wondering if Airfix will provide them in rubber. Either way, the kit itself looks really good! I wonder what the price will be?!?

[JamesPerrin]

I would guess it will be a series 2 kit and so is under £10

[iggie]

Excellent choice by Airfix!

[Kevan Bailey]

Wonder if they're planning a 1/48........?

[Gadfly]

Sounds good....

A 1/48 kit would have some tough competition the Tamiya kit is very good and the Hobby Boss 262 variants are also pretty good.

[CementNotGlue]

The old Airfix 1a really did not capture the shape. I have memories of 'replacing' it with the Revell one, which I was happy with. A Walter Nowotny option please Airfix! Even an FuG 218-226 radar array for a night fighter version?

[Chuck E]

Another for my list of Models for 2017.

I can see my stash getting another major clean out very soon.

[Eric Mc]

Definitely a must-have kit for me too. I do have at least one Revell 1/72 262 in the unbuilt pile and it's probably the best 1/72 262 kit around at the moment (I have no details as to how good the Hasegawa kit is and anyway, that will be too expensive).

In days gone by I've built the original Airfix and Revell kits as well as the Heller night fighter variant. The Heller kit is quite nice too - but does feature raised panel lines, being of the 1970s.

I'm sure the Airfix kit will raise the bar for small scale 262s.

[bobblelink]

I built the Revell one a few years ago and it was very nice- I can't see myself rushing out to buy this one, as I have no 262 sized gap in my collection; although building it as an Avia Turbo might be fun.

[jamesaw]

I'm in for 2-one for me and one for the boy. May need to stock up on nose weights.

[ShaunW]

This is great news as I'm a bit of a '262 fan and if the kit retails at £10 or under, all the better! (I'm still waiting for a new F-4 Phantom though Mr Airfix!!)

[feanor]

Ayup...

Best Airfix news this year. I was wondering what people thought of the current Mossie too, as a modern one would be very very nice. I would be interested to see a prototype if there will be one at Telford.

[CementNotGlue]

I'm still waiting for a new F-4 Phantom though Mr Airfix!!

Was there much wrong with Airfix's F-4B/C/E/J? Regret not having got the Israeli version on my modelling table.

[Eric Mc]

I think the basic shape of Airfix's Phantom was OK but it extremely simplistic in some areas. It's biggest omission is the window that is included in the canopy framing between the front and rear cockpits.

As for a new 1/72 Mosquito, that indeed would be nice but I don't see one for a while yet. Most of Airfix's replacement toolings cover subjects that they had originally modelled in the late 1950s or early 1960s - at a time when kits were fairly basic. With a few exceptions, Airfix have left alone those kits that they designed and built from around 1972 on - which were designed to fairly good standards The main drawback of that era kits is not poor accuracy but raised panel lines and sometimes simplistic internal detail.

The Airfix 1/72 Mosquito was released in the mid 1970s and, at the time, replaced their early 1960s tooling - and was a vast improvement over that earlier kit.

[Gregers]

The 262 looks good from those pics but I must admit it's not one I'll be rushing to buy. To be honest I know my tastes are a little esoteric in places so I'll leave out most of my 'must haves' like a nice new F16XL, but a new DH Chipmunk would be nice. For more mainstream subjects giving the P47 Thunderbolt, Hawker Tempest (MK's 2 and 5 please) and something between wars like the Hart/Hind etc family the treatment would be great.

All the best.

Greg