Airfix kit - advice

Matt Sayle

Matt Sayle

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Right, winter is drawing in and I have no racing to occupy me anymore :( haha! so I am looking for something to fill my time!

When you buy one does it come with all the paints?

Which one would advise is best for a complete novice? I am looking at the Aston Martin DBR9, Spitfire or Red Arrows :)

Thanks,
Matt
 
Well Matt from what I can remember the box`s usualy have a skill rating on it, from beginer to expert or whatever.
 
as far as i can remember, paint is bought seperatley
 
The intructions should list all the paints that you require
 
KelV6 said:
The intructions should list all the paints that you require
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Yeah it has a list under the kit on the website but i didnt know if that was incase you required more then was provided with the kit!

Looks like it is going to be about £20 for the Aston Martin one..... woop :D
 
I remember doing The spitfires and red arrows when I was a kid, did a battleship too, that was fun!

My girlfriend lives near the old Airfix & Humbrol factory on the outskirts of Hull, so I drive past it every weekend, very sad - I miss seeing the big Spitfire.
 
Airfix are now nowhere near as good as they were I would be looking at the Revell kits, bit more expensive but worth it
 
Herb said:
I remember doing The spitfires and red arrows when I was a kid, did a battleship too, that was fun!

My girlfriend lives near the old Airfix & Humbrol factory on the outskirts of Hull, so I drive past it every weekend, very sad - I miss seeing the big Spitfire.
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I used to deliver their paper and inks many moons ago, pity such a nice building is decaying
 
i have the RNLI one, it came with some of the paints but there not the branded ones and wont cover all of the plane if your doing more than one coat, i found hobby shops will sell the humbrol ones seperatly fr about a pound each and will cover most of the models,

as for dificulty rating just go as high as you can, i did a level 4 in just over 5 hours, the painting took a bit longer but i didnt find it very challenging :(
 
For assembly I'd recommend using Mekpak and a brush rather than polystyrene cement.. it will make for a neater finish and it's easier to control. Acryllic paints have also improved if you're not wanting to use enamels.. but for something like the Aston Martin spray paints will give the best result, but take some time to master. Combat aircraft and vehicles generally have matt finishes and are easier to get a reasonable result using brushes.

There are some beginner kits that come complete with paints, usually simpler models with fewer small parts.. something easy to get started with. You'll certainly find a Spitfire or Hawk amongst the beginner ranges.
 
Herb said:
I remember doing The spitfires and red arrows when I was a kid, did a battleship too, that was fun!

My girlfriend lives near the old Airfix & Humbrol factory on the outskirts of Hull, so I drive past it every weekend, very sad - I miss seeing the big Spitfire.
Click to expand...

Those were the days :lol: As a 7 to 8 year old, there was always one part of the instructions I could not get right. "Only use a small amount of glue" :gag:
 
Happy days, then putting fishing line round the wings and bluetacking them to ceiling!!

Should you paint the parts first then assemble, or paint when together? I think I used to paint small components 1st then the big ones when it was together?
 
cambsno said:
Happy days, then putting fishing line round the wings and bluetacking them to ceiling!!
Click to expand...

:lol: Had to be done !!

Whatever you get Matt we want pics when it's done :D
 
Takes me back a few years, well, more than a few really...............!

I built a lot of the 1/72 WW2 aircraft and a couple of WW1 models, and some warships, but the most difficult were the Revenge and the Victory. Took me quite a while - I was probably about 14 - because I painted everything very carefully.
 
No paints in the box and the ones they recommend don't match the actual colours used on the aircraft - if you're doing WW2 aeroplanes, which as a bloke, you should be...lol
You can do lots of research getting the exact colours and squadron-markings right (I'm still building a Messerschmitt Bf109 staffel - with E, F, G-6 and G-14 so far - and had great fun researching all the Luftwaffe RLM colours so they'd be exactly right...also you have to alter the hues slightly to account for the decrease in scale...oh yes...lol)
 
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I was in Sainsburys today and Airfix have brought out a new modelling magazine which might be of interest.

Hobbycraft chain of stores seem to do a wide range of Airfix & other manufacturers kits. Also got a good choice of paints and accesssories.
 
The Bentley 4 1/2 is the kit to go for.

Some of the smaller kits come with the paints required but probably not enough of any of the clours.

The Tamiya 1/32nd scale used to be more accurate as far as scale but the German vehicles were always way better and more interesting to build than the Allied ones.
 
Prefer tamiya kits myself
done lots over the years, take your time and paint the bits before assembly
Agree with mekpak and brush rather than the tubes
gives a much better finish

some pics of mine on flickr I think:thumbs:
 
Some kits come [or came? ] complete with paints.

I'd recommend you start with Lego though........

:exit:
 
My messerschmitts are all Hasegawa 1:48 scale - some I have still on back-order as the company only make them in batches - almost no-one keeps stock any more...
Got loads of 3rd-party resin inserts for cockpits and stuff...

I think I'll buy another Airfix 1:24 FW190 though, now that I have some room again...lots of scope for customising...
 
I have to admire a man who three or four weeks away from becoming a father still thinks he's going to have time for building a model FW190 :lol:
 
Arkady said:
My messerschmitts are all Hasegawa 1:48 scale - some I have still on back-order as the company only make them in batches - almost no-one keeps stock any more...
Got loads of 3rd-party resin inserts for cockpits and stuff...

I think I'll buy another Airfix 1:24 FW190 though, now that I have some room again...lots of scope for customising...
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Rob, have you got any sources for 1:32 (or 1:48) aircrew figures? preferably early-flight or WW1 era? I've been picking up odd ends for a kit-bash but I need the crew figures to help with determining the final cockpit dimensions (it's a flight-of-fancy kit-bash). Not being in the modelling scene I'm finding lots of niche suppliers but none of which supply what I'm looking for.
 
Alastair said:
Rob, have you got any sources for 1:32 (or 1:48) aircrew figures? preferably early-flight or WW1 era? I've been picking up odd ends for a kit-bash but I need the crew figures to help with determining the final cockpit dimensions (it's a flight-of-fancy kit-bash). Not being in the modelling scene I'm finding lots of niche suppliers but none of which supply what I'm looking for.
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Yeah, Hannants are usually my first port of call as well...
 
Arkady said:
also you have to alter the hues slightly to account for the decrease in scale...oh yes...lol)
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Oh I remember dealing with people like you...

"I want to return this model, it's supposed to be 1/76 scale, but I've measured the radiator grill and it's 1/78.5..."

:bang::lol:
 
Start with a Kinder Egg kit!!:D
 
You've just reminded me that I had one tucked away in the garage! It does come with
the paints.
I'll have to get around to building it one day.

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Kev.
 
Always get a decent paintbrush too.

I remember setting up dogfights on string hanging from the ceiling......don't forget to sand the parts down too, to make a really good finish.

Anyone watch james may build a full size spitfire last year??
 
Gawd, that Vulcan kit has awful box-art, compared to Airfix in its heyday.
 
I used to love builing Airfix kits as a kid - planes hanging all over my ceiling etc

My eldest daughter watched James May build the big Spitfire and decided she wanted a model kit.

We ended up with a Viking ship with about 150 oars and shields.

I stopped short (just) of jumping on it but it did remind me of how much my own dad had to watch over me.
 
I have a Tamiya 1/48th Fairey Swordfish sitting waiting to be built(actually it's my second, I cocked up the first) and a 1/48th Lavochkin LA7 by Gavia. I just never seem to be able to find the time or the space to build either of them.
 
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