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Airfix High-Tech?

Posted: June 29th, 2017, 10:00 pm
by ronbow
Has any one got or seen these before?




Image

This is the only one I have seen found it in a charity shop for £3.00. Dose any one know any history on these kits, are there any others in there inventory and what happened to them?

Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Posted: June 29th, 2017, 10:20 pm
by iggie
I've got one, I think it's the 1/72 mig-29

Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Posted: June 29th, 2017, 10:31 pm
by JamesPerrin
Yes there was a handlful of these kits from the lates 80's IIRC. I remember there was also a Harrier GR7 and Tornado. I think it was a failed attempt to bring old tools upto then modern standards to compete with what was coming out of Japan.

Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Posted: June 30th, 2017, 5:19 am
by VMA131Marine
The 1/48 Ju 87B was another, but it appeared in the Heller range. It had a nice set of unspatted metal landing gear.

Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Posted: June 30th, 2017, 9:33 pm
by Ratch
Airfix issued the following kits in the Hi-Tech series:
17001 Ferrari 250GTO
17002 Triumph TR2
17003 Austin Healy Sprite
from 1991-2
22001 Jaguar XK-E in 1992
10005 Harrier GR7
10006 Tornado
10007 Fulcrum
10008 Spitfire Vb
10009 F-15A/B Eagle
from 1992-4

Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Posted: June 30th, 2017, 10:22 pm
by ronbow
I haven't started it yet or opened the bags , but it looks like there is quite a bit of flash on the mouldings and the brass etched parts are just that brass! The white metal parts need cleaning up a bit too, but it should build up in to a nice model. I have ordered some cockpit details from Eduard.

Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Posted: July 1st, 2017, 12:19 pm
by mattbacon
Ratch wrote:Airfix issued the following kits in the Hi-Tech series:
17001 Ferrari 250GTO
17002 Triumph TR2
17003 Austin Healy Sprite
from 1991-2
22001 Jaguar XK-E in 1992
10005 Harrier GR7
10006 Tornado
10007 Fulcrum
10008 Spitfire Vb
10009 F-15A/B Eagle
from 1992-4
I wonder what the source of the "Hi-Tech" bits was for the aircraft? The four cars are all Gunze Sangyo kits which could already be had in a version with white metal, etch etc in their original issues, so no problem there. Sadly, although Airfix released the Jag in the version with a full engine, they didn't with the 250GTO, despite the fact that there is a Gunze box that has everything in it.

I don't know if Airfix commissioned the metal parts for the aircraft, or "bulk purchased" existing Airwaves and/or Aeroclub parts and put them in the box... anyone?

best,
M.

Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Posted: July 1st, 2017, 2:01 pm
by PaulBradley
Unfortunately, Ward's book on Airfix has no mention of the Hi-Tech range.

In addition, to the kits listed above, Airfix issued a 1/72 Hi-Tech RAF/NATO Weapons kit in 1992, and Heller released an equivalent France/US/OTAN (NATO) set, presumably at the same time. Each contains a number of sprues of bombs and missiles with decals and a PE set for enhanced detail. I have both sets, as yet unused. The mouldings are little crude by modern standards, but usable, especially on older kits.

Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Posted: July 1st, 2017, 8:31 pm
by ronbow
I am surprized that Airfix did not continue these and develop them more. Was that due to cost or bad sales?

Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Posted: July 1st, 2017, 9:06 pm
by VMA131Marine
mattbacon wrote:
I wonder what the source of the "Hi-Tech" bits was for the aircraft? The four cars are all Gunze Sangyo kits which could already be had in a version with white metal, etch etc in their original issues, so no problem there. Sadly, although Airfix released the Jag in the version with a full engine, they didn't with the 250GTO, despite the fact that there is a Gunze box that has everything in it.

I don't know if Airfix commissioned the metal parts for the aircraft, or "bulk purchased" existing Airwaves and/or Aeroclub parts and put them in the box... anyone?

best,
M.
The photoetch definitely looked like it was done by Airwaves. But it was not a pre-existing set and I don’t think they have been released separately since.

Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Posted: July 1st, 2017, 11:38 pm
by Saxon
They did a NATO weapons pack too http://www.oldmodelkits.com/jpegs/Airfi ... aponse.JPG;

I've always been confused by photo etch and it actually puts me off buying a kit rather than appealing to me. Especially in the case of armament, seems a little overkill. Pardon the pun.

Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Posted: July 2nd, 2017, 10:46 am
by Colin at Freightdog
The metal parts for the aircraft kits were made by Dave Buttress (ex-DB conversions) at CMA Moldform in Birmingham. I remember him mentioning when we spoke about my Blue Max pewter parts which they still cast for me.

I had a Heller Rafael prototype in 1/48 along the same lines, the metal parts were well very well cast, but mostly the same as the plastic parts with no additional detail.

I suspect the metal in the car kits came from Gunze Sangyo as they were originally produced like that.

Colin

Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Posted: July 3rd, 2017, 3:48 pm
by Ratch
PaulBradley wrote:In addition, to the kits listed above, Airfix issued a 1/72 Hi-Tech RAF/NATO Weapons kit in 1992
Hi Paul, I missed that one because I didn't have it listed as Hi-Tech on my list :oops:
It was listed (incorrectly) as 04041 in the '92 catalogue, but issued as 05041 from '92-'94 ;-)

Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Posted: July 4th, 2017, 2:31 am
by PaulBradley
No worries, Ratch - that's what we're here for! Between us, we can help record modeling history.