Airfix High-Tech?

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ronbow
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Airfix High-Tech?

Post 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?
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Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Post by iggie »

I've got one, I think it's the 1/72 mig-29
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Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Post 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.
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Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Post 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.
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Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Post 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
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Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Post 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.
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Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Post 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?

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Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Post 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.
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Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Post by ronbow »

I am surprized that Airfix did not continue these and develop them more. Was that due to cost or bad sales?
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Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Post 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.
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Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Post 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.
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Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Post 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.

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Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Post 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 ;-)
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Re: Airfix High-Tech?

Post by PaulBradley »

No worries, Ratch - that's what we're here for! Between us, we can help record modeling history.
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