Here's the thing about Airfix from my 68 year old perspective. No one else had the selection of choices that Airfix had. Airfix kits were ubiquitous and readily available, even to someone whose allowance often consisted of finding loose change in street gutters. As an aircraft buff from an early age, I loved the fact that I could have some of my favorite planes in miniature. As I grew into my teens, I discovered Scale Modeler magazine and what other builders were doing with their kits. Wow, you can make these kits more accurate, or wow, you can convert them into different versions. Of course my early efforts were crude at best and more than a couple were never completed. But the entire time, I was honing those modeling skills. Like most of us, I pulled away from the hobby in my young and dumb and full of ...... years, but when I returned, I resolved to getting better and doing some of this scratch building and converting. Airfix (as well as other models of that era) are great examples of kits that can be used to create much better results than the original kit provides. I started by learning to improve cockpits and then moved on to using parts of different kits to get a result I was after. I still have an Otaki 48 scale F4U Corsair with a scratch built interior that uses parts from Monogram and Hasegawa to improve the kit. So where does this leave me today? Well I am not afraid to tackle nearly any kit, even the short release kits that require extraordinary effort to build. Why? Because of the variety it provides me. Nearly everything I build now, is used as an opportunity to improve the kit. I have a Lockheed Hudson I just finished, (on Imodeler.com), that started as a 1963 release Airfix 1/72 Hudson I. It needed quite a bit of improvement (in my opinion), but it's done now and I love having it on my display shelf. The only other choice for a Hudson is the MPM / Revell / Italeri release which also requires a lot of work. So the best reason to learn modeling skills, in my opinion, is that it opens up a world of choices in model kits, and gives me more opportunities to get better. Airfix kits (and other manufacturer's kits) provide this medium. And I don't have to get too upset if something isn't perfect (as long as I don't spend a fortune on the kit).

I'm 63 years old this May and I have so many Airfix plane kits to build I'm going to be building (happily) for years. And yes, I too can remember the bad (good) old days when you had to work to make something look correct and I think that's what's kept me coming back to model building.

For me as someone from the 70's it was airfix, matchbox and revell, for planes and tanks and of course soldiers.

Modern Airfix is right up with Tamiya standard. It helps with their Vintage Classic range of kits if you have a bit of nostalgia for them. Although I'd say modern sanding sticks, fillers and cements make the building process much easier than I remember it. I recently built the Airfix Sepecat Jaguar from 1994 release. You have to wrangle it together but it's one of my favourite builds because of the extra effort involved. I'm not sure how much it improved my brain though...I still wander into rooms and then wonder why I went there.

First kit I built entirely by myself, in 1971, when I was eight, was the Airfix Supermarine Walrus. A biplane amphibian, with a pusher engine. I had seen one in a book, and it's sheer weirdness blew me away. I saw that my local newsagent had an Airfix kit of one, and mum advanced me next week's pocket money to buy it. I made it on the dinner table, on top of several layers of old newspapers. Prior to that, if I was given a kit as a birthday or Christmas gift, mum or dad would have made it. If it was an Airfix 1/32 scale car kit, I might get a glance at the box, and dad would pounce on it - I remember him making the then modern Jaguar saloon: he obviously enjoyed making it, because he took ages over it, telling me that it would be ready 'soon'. He was good at them, too. It did mean though, I dreaded getting car kits, as I'd never get a look in. (Similar to Scalextric slot cars - my brother and I got a set one Christmas, but it took dad, an uncle, and the bloke from over the road two days to make sure it was 'safe'.) The Walrus went together beautifully, and I even managed to leave the propeller free, so it spun round when I blew on it. I have two now. One which will stay in it's original box, and a slightly more recent one, which I want to paint in pre war colours. But you are correct. Airfix kits could be thrown together in an hour or so, but if you put a bit of work in, you'd get something really nice to display. The only classic Airfix aircraft I can never recall building, is the little FIAT G91-R jet. I don't know why, but seeing some of the schemes it comes in, I think I should find one. Never that keen on Revell kits, other than their WW1 fighters, some of which were very good indeed.

l,m 70 so l remember when decals were called transfers and tubes of glue were bulky things you used to have to pierce with a pin . Airfix were the best with Revell , Monogram and Frog models favourites way back then . Good video Harry . Nothing like a trip down memory lane for us old codgers . Take care . Look forward to the next .

Woolies in UK in the 70s wonderland❤❤❤❤

In the 60s and 70s I grew up with Airfix and Matchbox. My Matchbox videos ( as Revell have re-poppped them, well the armour) are my most viewed videos. I am happily buying and building the vintage classis range from Airfix at present as it gives me so much nostalgia.👍👍😉

Here in Scotland, back in the early '70s, it was really only Airfix that was available, with an occasional Heller now and again. I was keen back in those days and built loads of Airfix kits. Cant say I did a fantastic job of building them, but it was fun while I watched Blake's 7 or the Tomorrow People on the TV. The funny thing is, even after all this time, I still remember every single one of them. Fast-forward 50 years, I am back and trawling model shops and Fleabay for those old kits of my youth, bypassing all "the new stuff" because they simply don't hold the same meaning for me as those old Airfix kits do. Present project, an old Airfix Hudson Bomber 1 that I remembered being a great kit to build. The reality today is, it's much harder than I remember it was, or maybe it was always that hard, but I simply didn't bother putting in as much effort back then as I do now. I spot the flaws, the misaligned parts and so on much easier than I used to because I didn't know any better in the '70s! Oh! I also remembered to avoid the old Airfix Heinkel H111 this time around. That was such a difficult kit back then, and likely even worse for me now. The new Airfix H111 is lovely though! Love the Revell version too. Wish I had these in the 70s!

I'd haunted the blister pack rack of my local hobby store for years, and picked up most of my own purchases from that selection, eventually moving into the ESCI boxes. As finances slowly improved, my purchases got into the larger scales. I fell out of the hobby for a few years, but got back in about a decade or two ago. I like the old Airfix kits, warts and all, and picked up a couple of spare Typhoons when I learned that they were going to produce a whole new tooling. There are a couple of other old toolings that I quite enjoy, even if I haven't quite taken them to the point of being finished. It's the journey, not the destination. Those old toolings are so basic, that you really have to push your talents to give them something extra, and that's the charm of them.

Grew up in California, my dad worked for Northrup and his childhood was spent watching P-38's leave the factory at Burbank. I remember the early frog kits more than the airfix kits, and having returned to the hobby, I find the modern Airfix kits have a real modelers vibe about them. My gateway models were the 1/48 scale Otaki kits from the 1970's.

Your discussion on the development of modelling from crude balsa through the explosion of detail in the 70’s and 80’s then doldrums of the 90’s to the near “perfection” of today, you’re chronicling the changes in generations. And expectation. Older generations had to exercise imagination in play and entertainment. Current generations demand instant gratification, ‘virtual reality’ and external cognitive stimulation. In short, they can’t imagine and I do wonder if many can think, too, without instructions. Controversial? Demeaning? Wrong? Time will tell. But your message on cognitive exercise in later years is absolutely correct to the finest detail. Having 3 parents (joys of no-fault divorce) decline in care homes was painful to watch. Takeaway: Airfix or not, keep those little grey cells active as Hecule Poirot would suggest, too! 😉

You are so spot-on with your view, not only of Airfix, but with the whole approach to model kit building/assembling. You're absolutely correct when you say that your approach and attitude to the hobby really does depend on at what point you first experienced it, regardless of what age you were. If, like me, you were 8 years old in 1969, you joined the hobby with the technology and production standards of the 60s. If I joined now, at 62, my viewpoint would be completely different. In this instance, you can't put a young head on old shoulders! Specifically talking about Airfix, when they get it right, they get it REALLY RIGHT and no one - even Tamiya - can touch them for the overall experience of making one of their kits. Unfortunately, they've suffered - until recent times - with being 'too established'. They have a huge library of tooling going back years and they've struggled to fund replacing it with new tools due to the cost today. New companies only have one option when they bring a new kit out - new tooling - so, of course their product will be much more up to date in production technology. Yet some of these new companies have a lot to learn. I watched a video on Nigel's Modelling Bench recently where he spent several minutes pointing out how bad the ejector pin marks on a brand new tooling were - and how many there were! For all their shortcomings, something that is kept to an absolute minimum on new Airfix toolings. Really enjoyed your video - look forward to the next one.

Totally agree with you about the benefits of scale modeling as we age. Presently I’m 62 and have immersed myself back into sailing ship kits again. These were the kits that I was building back when I was a teenager and stopped modeling. Though I didn’t grow up building Airfix kits like you did (Aurora, Revell, & Monogram kits were my favorites) I do agree with you about the importance of problem solving/trouble shooting skills that come with these “vintage”kits along with a sense of nostalgia. I taught in public schools for 30 years and always tried to introduce scale modeling to my students. Besides problem solving, there was reading, following directions, and research involved with the hobby. Thanks for all that you do Harry👍🏻

Having both the skills and experiences of building models for the last forty years, I love rebuilding these old kits. You are right having to scratch build details, correcting shapes, sculpture new details it pure modeling bless.😊

I don't recall how old I was, but in the 1970s as a less than 10 year old, your choice was Airfix or Matchbox (in multi-coloured plastic) and I made both, in 1/72, OO/HO (or whatever scale that was called) or 1/600 scale. I don't remember that the fit was very bad although in hindsight there was a lack of detail and some accuracy (I expect). I also had the Airfix plastic tanks and soldiers (1/32 scale ?) to play with. Add that that Hornby Trains, Scaletrix and the odd bit Lego and Mecano. The kits were bought from the Toy Store (Airfix) or the Post Office (matchbox). NO wheels down kits in this days. Everything else started in the early 2000's when I got a hankering to build and paint a Tamiya Panzer III L. Modern Airfix is as good as anyone out there today

Great broadcast again harry. Airfix was great in the 70’s and made some quite off the wall kits, those and matchbox was the bread and butter of kits that we could afford. Maybe we’d get a Tamiya or an amt for a birthday or Christmas present. But then they were a rarity and very involved, so a long build and frustrating sometimes. Where as you knew an Airfix would give you enjoyment, no PE, no resin, plastic card, bits of balsa and stealing sewing thread from your mums needlework box, was the extent of added detail. Creation not assembly.

Built my first kit in donkey's years during lockdown, bought from a supermarket. It was like a time machine. Trimming the sprues, sniffing the cement, painting and weathering. Still hate canopy detailing and rigging 1:72 biplanes, love the rest. I go back to bagged Airfix kits in Woolworth's, pocket money buys after school on a Friday afternoon.

Hello mate as a old bugger like yourself I started building airfix kits in the 1960s I would spend my pocket money every week on a kit that would come in a plastic bag never bothered to paint them happy days mate since I retired last year I have rediscovered the joy of our hobby and love making the airfix vintage classic range happy modelling old boy and all the best to you and bask the cat from here in the UK 👍

69 next birthday, like yourself I grew up with Airfix. I went into wooden boats during the eighties and nineties, I got lucky. Retirement bought me the time, my daughter moving out bought me the space. I am still doing wooden boats, but will definitely be getting the two RNLI Lifeboats this year. Keep up the good work Harry.

My first model was an Airfix 1/72 Folland Gnat in red arrows colour. Yes it was a horror as far as the plastic was concerned but, when I opened it, one of the fuselage sides was broken in half, I guess something was dropped on it, but, I am a modeller and I had to improvise. I managed to get it together quite well. By today's standard, It was rough but I enjoyed it immensely and I was proud of it. That one kit led me to the Lightning, same scale, same manufacturer. I then went on and on from there. Here I am 45 years later and still enjoying it. Thanks for another great video Harry.

I started on Matchbox kits for planes and making ship models out of card, mainly because as I kid I did not have many funds. It was good times, It taught me how to read plans of ships.

You have hit the nail on the head.You are totally correct in what you say. Your personality and attitude is a blessing to us all. Thank you for being you. You have my full respect,you continue to educate us with your tips and tricks. You have boosted my confidence so much in the field of model kits 👍

Yes the memories, pocket money well spent. Thanks Harry. And I still build Airfix.

I'm a returning modeller from 35+ years off. I much prefer the building of the Airfix kits. Tweaking and making things fit

As someone who also started on Airfix in the sixties, I still build Airfix now. I also like older (cheaper!) kits where I have to adapt, scratch build and enjoy the challenge. Even the old East European kits with lots of flash and odd instructions, they are fun as well as annoying.

Airfix trainsets were brilliant. You bought three electric engines with different wheel formats but you could go buy the models of the locomotives and build the plastic chassis separate to the boiler and cabin. Instead of going the Hornby route of buying a collection of expensive engines, you could use the models and swap them out for a Flying Scotsman or a Mallard by clipping them to the motorised chassis and run them until you wanted a change. That way you got two hobbies in one, plus you got to build HO/OO scale models of village churches, shops, garages, stations, cottages and railside accessories all Airfix.

I used to build a lot of Airfix kits in the mid 1970's. Not built one since then ..until yesterday. I've now started on the 1/72nd scale Westland Sea King Helicopter. Looking forward to seeing how it goes.

I started building Airfix back kn the early 70's tried the odd Polisil, Frog, and Matchbox. Matchbox were ok, Yes a long came Tamiya and I got the AFV bug. Airfix went through a stage where the Male pins didnt match the female holes. My little stash is now getting a lot more Red boxes and I think Airffix are rapidly getting towards being at the top of their game. I have also revisited some of the Classic kits and I enjoyed building them, I'm an OTB builder once built they sit on a shelf so the cockpits are sufficient for me. Airfix seem to have a fantastic team and I think their enthusiasm shows in the final products

Challenging, Interesting and Engaging, I think this is what is important about model kits. Someone with unsteady hands and athritis in their fingers will find an 'easy to assemble' kit to be an enormous challenge just as someone with good manual dexterity and keen eyesight ( and/or a lot of magnification) can enjoy the challenge of the weathering and shading side of model painting. There's so many different ways they can be challenging for different levels of ability and different aspects of the kit building that people find more enjoyable.

I totally agree with you on this subject. Maybe its a reflection on society today as a whole whereby people expect everything to be perfect without having to work for it. I love seeing the scratch building that people do to improve 'basic' kits. I get a great sense of achievement when i'm able to add things of my own design & making.

The good old days of Airfix models , large tubes of glue you pierced with a pin and when decals were called transfers . Uncomplicated modelling . No photo esch ,complicated fiddley assembly where 2 parts would suffice where as now there are several and no after market parts and rivet counting to make sure the kit is accurate . Simpler days when along with Airfix there were Frog , Monogram and Revell kits to choose from . Good video Harry you made a 70 year old Pommie smile .

I definitely enjoy both types of kit. That effort you don't have to put into making the thing even fit together can be used to improve even further, the new well designed kit.

In 1988 , I was building the batlleship Richelieu from scrach at scale 1/100 as a remote control model. After the hull was nearly ready for paint, I was measuring it and came to the conclusion I had a problem with the fotocopier I used to duplicate the frames of the plan. The height of the hull was missing 1 cm. I've stoped that build and the unfinished hull ended in the bin. Edit : I went to Paris to the museum to take foto's of the model they had there and also to the ministry of the navy. I got meters of plans of the Richelieu and Jean Bart Before that I mainly sit Revell models which I liked a lot

So glad I came across your channel by chance. As I recently have rekindled my love and joy for modelling. Ps. I'm 66 and really just a big kid at heart.

Like your take on Airfix. Didn't build many models when I was young. Don't even.remember what make they were. After I retired I got into the hobby. I now have a small stash.

When I review kits on my channel, if the company clearly indicates the tooling date then I will be more lenient in my opinion if it has mould issues, flash etc. Airfix is one of these companies that has listened to the community and now includes the information we want to see on the boxes. Their modern kits are excellent and in my experience have only been let down by some QC issues in the factory (missing parts or short shots) but on the whole the quality is really good. Whilst they have improved so much they still give you a "basic" standard of model out the box and there is scope to add extra details etc if you want to - part of the reason they dont go as insane with their rivets like eduard for example

I have built kits since the 60's. Lots of Airfix, Heller and all the rest. They all teach a lesson. I don't care who the manufacturer is, they all produce a crappy kit or two, but I have never found anything unbuildable. If all you had to do is shake the box, what fun is that? Oh, and I am about 70 now, and still building. Thank you for your entertaining channel. Larry Landis

Started scale modeling as a kid in the mid-1970's. Loved the Matchbox kits, as well as Airfix in 1/72. Monogram had good kits by the standards of the day in 1/48. Along came Heller, Fujimi, Tamiya, LS, ESCI, Academy, etc. Every company has good kits as well as some kits that are not as good. By the 1990's I was building vac-form kits with white metal parts because it was the only way to get certain aircraft. Took a 25 year hiatus and came back to a highly-changed hobby. I don't build for competitions any more. I just build for fun. Working my way back up to vac-forms. I love the construction part of the build. Painting/decaling is my least favorite part.

I started with Airfix in the mid 60’s, I never have had a break from modelling either. Airfix was excellent back then, it encouraged you to learn skills and didn’t realise it, when I did Revell I hated the dark green plastic, for me it made it difficult to see detail on it, I knew of Tamiya in the 60’s but no way could afford them, I tried the odd Frog kit as well but Airfix was the main focus. Being a builder of race cars and bikes I don’t build airfix now as they really don’t do my genre, a couple in the intsy wintsy small scale is all. On the other side of the coin as it were, some of the race car liveries give me brain ache just working out the order to apply them, one of the latest builds had 400 decals :) luckily I don’t mind decaling, building is the best bit and painting the worst for me, take care and model on

I really like the new airfix kits. The fit and details are very nice. Of course the old kits are a different story.

I agree with you, Harry. I grew up with early airfix, learning modelling skills by fettling and adding to airfix kits. It stood me in great stead for a life in engineering and my three latest models. Revell 1/72 Flower Class Corvettes, all 3 are also RC conversions. One has been built only from what comes in the box and just a few corrections, the other two are much more like scratch builds to enhance accuracy and better represent the real ships. I don't think I would have attempted this had I not had a similar modelling background to what you described. Big love from the UK.

As a 62 year old flatulator I understand your arguement and perspective. The true fun lies in the challenge.....

I am 60 now Harry and i was brought up on Airfix. When young (10 ish) our local newsagent used to have the old airfix bagged kits pinned up out of reach. Never a rich family (in terms of money) but my pocket money bought me a basic 1/72 bagged kit, a cheap paintbrush and a jar of paint. Do you remember those triangular glass airfix paints? One of my memories (again when i was about 12) was wanting the 2 stroke airfix engine kit our local post office had. We were off on summer holidays and mum/dad said if it’s still there when we get home and you still have your holiday money then you can buy it. Those 2 weeks we had in Scarborough could not go quick enough :-) when we got home i still had my holiday money (mum/dad used to put some aside through the year for my brother and me) and it was straight up to the post office/newsagent before it shut to get that kit. Probably made a hash of it but as a pre-teen did i ever enjoy my model building. Now in my later years i have been able to track down that same kit and it’s in my pile of classics very much like you have on your shelf Harry.

Harry I've just retired recently I'm starting to get back into model making again now I have time to enjoy the hobby , youngsters now have lost something as they want things perfect without having to use their brains. Regards Sean 😅

Goooood morning from New Brunswick...Gawd I hate this town, hate the snow, and most of all I hate that there's no model shops anywhere near me. But on to the Airfix subject... I love and hate that company. I've built good, fun kits, and some that didn't get to completion because whoosh, out the window... the 1/72 Walrus was one of those. Horrible little bass-turd. On the other end of the scale was the Lancaster Mk2. Man, what a beautiful kit. I did one for a friend who recently passed away, as the plane his grandfather flew during the war. Now, I'm hitting the point where I'm having to be really selective about buying, since I don't have the space to display them and don't want to build-and-toss. They're too pricey. I would love to do a fleet of Lancs, as I actually worked on the one that's on outside display in Greenwood, Nova Scotia. The post-war RCAF versions are of special interest... anyway, my dog farted so I better put her outside...

I started modeling in about the early 1970's here in the US. The stores that I got most of my kits from were drug stores, K Mart and places like that. These stores pretty much only carried amt, revell and monogram models. I had no idea that there were models from other countries such as airfix Tamiya excetra until the early 1980,s. So like you with airfix the kits that I built most were AMT kits mostly because I was big on commercial trucks. So that in a sense was my airfix. I love the fact that round2 has brought back a lot of the AMT kits. I didn't see Arfix until the 1990's which I bought 5 of there white boxed 1/24 scale wwll fighters. Any I agree with you these older kits are challenging and a lot of fun. Love your channel. Keep on modelin😊

Hello Harry, i am mostly into Shipmodels of different materials: plastic, wood and sometimes paper. It all startet in my youth, with revell- and airfix-kits. Still today, i love the old airfix sailing-ships. In my stash, there is the Airfix Victory, the Bounty and some other Ships from Revell and Heller, also some Wooden-Kits. I am currently working on some wooden- (DeAgo Vasa, Krick Revenue-Cutter Alert) and plastic-ships (Revells Blackpearl). About two weeks ago, in my basement, i find again another old airfix-Bounty, that i have started building many years ago. Inspired from the Ship Craft Book "Bounty HM Armed Vessel 1787" by Kerry Yang, i startet to rework this model with the color-scheme in this book, which maybe could be the more likely coloring from the royal navy. But i am not a rivet-counter. I try to enhance this model witch some scratch building parts. The reworking and this not so usual color-scheme of the Bounty makes a lot of fun to me. And this is all about! I like your videos very much, specialy from the Sailing-Ship-Models. Sometimes it is hard for me to understand your australian-accent, only with my german-school-english. But anyway, your videos are interesting and inspiring to me. Keep up the good work and thank you for sharing! Greetings from Germany!

Hi Harry Airfix in my opinion is like life it gives you happiness,laughter and pain and you hnow what it’s fantastic

Totally agree with this. I started with Balsa wood kits then discovered Airfix, Frog and Heller plastic models. Also built Revell and Hawk. I have a good size stash ov vintage Airfix and Frog. They take me to my happy place!

You absolutely nailed it, Harry. 'Nuff said.

They seem to be getting better and better . Just wish they could bring out a 1/200 Warship of WW1 or 2 at a sensible price.

I know what you mean, and I'm from Gen Z. I get more satisfaction from building than painting, and Airfix models are great for that; particularly in the conversions. I'm currently switching the superstructure and chassis from the Vintage Stug 3 and Panzer 4 tanks to make a Stug 4 and Panzer 3 K- it's all just research and surgery to make it fit! And a basic paint scheme to prevent it going pear shaped.

Harry I am a similar age to you and grow up on Airfix and Matchbox both were always a pleasure to build they may not have been well put together by me but I still have a soft spot for Airfix. I still have some 80's Airfix kits in the stash they may be built one day

I built a BF-109, and an F?A-18 from Airfix, wont say I'll do another Hornet, but I'll happily do another 109. The Airfix 109 was my first "proper" model, as most prior were pre-painted or basic assembly.

Hey Harry ! I have to agree with you 100% on this one, I don't understand those that whinge and whine about flash.........c'mon people, removing flash and sanding down stubs and all that is just part of the process, it's what makes modelling fun. As for Airfix, unfortunately my first experience with Airfix was in the late 80's early 90's so not a great introduction, I spent many years thinking that Airfix was total crap. I remember reading somewhere, probably a modelling magazine, that Airfix had improved greatly, so I decided to try one. I tentatively bought a more modern Airfix kit and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I have a wide variety of kits (close to 600) in scales, manufacturers and subjects in my stash, and can proudly say that there are more than a few Airfix kits in there too. Don't want to piss you off Harry, but I do have quite a lot of Tamiya kits as well, mostly 1/24 scale cars though. Anyway Harry, it's good to see you looking more cheerful and happy ! Carry on mate !

I find myself in agreement with you. My earliest memories of Airfix relate to the poor fitting parts and the amount of work and skill required to get decent results. From dissolving plastic in glue to make filler and hours of sanding to scratch building one's own cockpits. Like you, I also started out making Balsa Aircraft. I confess to being somewhat disappointed with my latest build, because the parts fitted perfectly.

Well, 'Arry, mate... Speaking as an 80's kid Airfix had some real dogs in the kennel back then. The Wellington, Fiat G-50, Harry Tate.... The Halifax III reissue in black plastic from that era was absolute rubbish. Built them all, pissed me out of my wits at the time. Then, as you say, you grabbed the Heracles, the Ford Trimotor, the Tiger Moth and the Auster AOP. You expected the same level of vituperation. But, no. They were reasonably detailed models and a joy to build. The British Vosper, RNLI and MTB boats were beautiful. Clunky in detail, but beautiful. The Sopwith Pup still is a valid kit even today, with some tender care, I love it. My take these days is "Build the darn thing. You've seen worse." Great video. Cheers.

I think my first Airfix kit was in the late 60s as a kid in Sydney - it was Captain Cook's H.M. Bark Endeavour... before I progressed to many many aircraft, but that was interrupted by Revell's large scale Cutty Sark. I've recently bought the same (unmade) Revell kit in its original box, but a Kit I always wanted when I was a kid making the Endeavour was the Airfix companies model of the ship the Wasa. I was able purchase an original kit from its first release period and are amazed still at the quality of the mouldings of the hull, particularly the rear stern castle. As we know these days the actual colours of the stern castle are very different from what it was when the kit was produced - an absolute riot of colour. I look forward to making it.

Here in Germany it was Revell. But today, while Airfix really developed in creating new kits and building up this ‚classic‘-product-line, Revell fuc*ed up completely.

I broke my arm when I was 11 my dad went to our local model shop and bought me the 1/24 scale spitfire still remember that kit took heaps of work to make it all fit but it made the six weeks go by

Yeah Airfix was my start, I've come along way from glueing plastic together i the 60,s and I still biuld the occasional Airfix but now its all about adding detail which is my buzz and I hope keeping my brain sharp. But I agree it the process that keeps you brain fit. Keep going Harry I do like your chats. You'll alway get a thumbs up for this kind of vid

I built Airfix, Matchbox, Heller, Italeri, Monogram, AMT and Tamiya when growing up in the mid-late 70's and early 80's. These days I pick up those I built as a cheeky monkey and those I wanted but couldn't, never mind raised panel lines, anything and everything to escape back to simpler times! 😉 Might even try one of them FROG kits....😉😆😂

I had 60's Airfix hanging from my bedroom ceiling when I was little. It wasn't till I was older and I took them down and dusted them that I realised they weren't the best 60's kits. Series 2 Mossie and the old prototype Buccaneer were the worst. The first kits I got were some I found at a car boot sale. They were produced by Airfix but blind bagged and given away as part of an orange squash promotion. There was a Sea Hawk, P1127 (Prototype Harrier), A4 Skyhawk and a Jet Provost. I made a pig's ear of them and they all got scrapped. The first Airfix kit I did a proper job on was a Spitfire. That and all the kits that followed are still around. Nowadays, my eyes are buggered and I can't see a damn thing up close without my specs! I need magnifiers to even do 1/35. Maybe one day I'll get used to them and could give something smaller a fair go. Never say never..............

I grew up on Revell and Monogram here in the US; much preferred Monogram. Monogram aircraft actually had very good pilot figures, especially in their mid-70s to 80s releases. Airfix was around, usually as MPC releases, especially the Profile Series with 3 choices of markings! I really want to like the new Airfix, but they have been disappointing - especially the 1/72 Sea Kings; over simplified and lacking some prominent details, though the HAR 3 did have the RWR antennas fitted to post war Falklands aircraft. I kind of see Italeri as similar to Airfix. They aren't shake-and-bake, but they can be made into decent models. They also have a more diverse range - i really liked all the helicopters that came out in the 90s. They have also been modifying the 1/35 Land Rover kit since it was first released in 1980, though a new one, especially a 110 Defender, might be warranted.

I have the full set of airfix historic figues henry the viii was the only one i built as a kid cant wait to make them all

With such a diverse market from shake and bake Tamiya to short run kits from the likes of Valom (built a Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer from them. Little bit of work but enjoyable), there's something for everyone's tastes. There's also so many things to take into account. I probably would baulk at paying a lot of money for a poor ill fitting kit with a lot of parts but certainly don't mind getting my teeth into what is now termed a "Vintage Classic" from Airfix. Another point is that youngsters nowadays aren't used to working at something to get a result and perhaps need something "easy" to encourage them to stay in the hobby. We sometimes forget that without people coming into the hobby, businesses like Airfix will cease to exist. As always thoroughly enjoyed the video! 👍👍

G'Day Harry being a pom I grew up on Airfix started with the usual Spitfires and Hurricanes but I love having a go at everything they did back then planes tanks ships spaceships and thanks to you I started building Airfix again. Only now I have a few skills to make them the way I wanted to back in the day, but never could. I now go out my way to find the older kits to build. Long live Airfix. 😀

Another good video Harry. Thanks My early Airfix experience dates back 60 years in the Uk. I'm 71 now in Canada where hobby shops still sell the old kits. I don't mind. In my formative years I loved the Airfix 20mm soldiers. Eighth Army v Africa Corps and ACW Union v Confederates. Great value boxes. I recall getting a Sunderland which was a monster kit for me at the time. Not sure why I painted it green ??? But it was fun. Keep up the good work.

Agree here Harry. My experiences also except for the balsa wood kits. I had one but never built it. I built all the Airfix 1;72 planes. I’m looking forward to the Bristol Bulldog in 1/48. I hope it’s not a Redbox. Thanks for posting.

I am soon 66, and really relate to the theme of this video. I have a 40 year old kit of an Airfix 1/72 Mosquito I found half-built when I visited England in December last year. I had no idea I had kept it. I was in the process of giving it a bulged bomb-bay. Even then, I was thinking "this kit it close, but quite what I want so I'll kitbash and scratch build it to more in line with what I have in mind". Along with that kit I found an Airfix Short Sunderland that my late father had started. I cant help adding stuff to my models. One time, I bought an Airfix skeleton to use as a starting point for a Ray Harryhausen Hydra tooth child. I lost the kit, but have always had a dream of doing a full conversion, frown and all.

I'm American and the first time I ever bought an Airfix kit was when I visited London in 1992. I found I little hobby shop and bought a 54 mm Polish Lancer and French Napoleonic Infantryman. They both built up into beautiful figures that I still have today. Growing up in the U.S. during the 70s and 80s Revell and Monogram kits were similar in build quality to Airfix kits. Many had fitment and accuracy issues but they were great to build nonetheless. I agree with you that they keep the brain active.

Friendly greetings from Londinium Britannica, Harry. I turn 61 this week so when you use the word CONTEXT, I so understand you, the context of Then and Now. I'm 70% through building Then an Now Airfix B-25 Mitchell (old tool vs new tool) bloody enjoying both kits for what are, NOT the great vs crap mindset!! Got myself a new-vintage 90's factory sealed B-24 Liberator for when Airfix release the new tool this year, can't to do the same again. p.s. your to old to play with Willy😉

Good on you, Harry! I built a huge number of Airfix kits when I was first building models...starting in the late 50's and on into the mid-70's. At that time Airfix had about the best range of kits around, specially in aircraft and sailing ships. I still remember all those kits very fondly. I also built the other common kits of the time, such as Revell, Frog, Lindberg, Monogram, Pyro, Heller, Italeri, and so on. But Airfix was probably number one when it came to aircraft and ships. Now, of course, I buy all the incredible stuff that's out now and it's totally detailed and fits perfectly...which I do like...but here's the thing: Airfix itself makes kits like that now! Their new kits fit like a dream and are beautifully detailed in every way. So, I guess if one wants a bit of nostalgia....then one can build one of those old kits from way back when we were kids. Sometimes I do that too.

Hi Harry. I research the subject of each kit I start and see where the kit falls short. This gives me a benchmark of what areas could do with super detailing. Even if it is just getting the ailerons to pivot on a bit of brass wire, or wiring and hose details missing from an engine bay. This gets the old brain juices flowing. With the new Airfix super kits the details all there but the tolerances between parts fitting has been thinned down to the point of just a layer of paint between parts can stop the kit from going together properly. This creates new issues that can make the difference between displaying your kit with panels off to see all the lovely details and glueing the kit together, panels and all, and only you know what efforts you have gone to on the fiddly bits inside. The money shot is presenting a finished kit to a friend, then seeing their faces as you peel away close fitting panels to reveal loads of hidden details. Everyone is familiar with a Spitfire but not everyone has seen the inner machinations. It is always possible to add that little extra to a kit and that is where I enjoy the headaches. Love ya topics mate. Keep it up.

I was born in 1955 and I grew up with Airfix. I had every tank, warship, and aeroplane (and all the 1/72 soft plastic figures) by about 1969. I loved building and painting them, even though i was not very good at making or painting. I moved away as academia took over. I bought some in recent years but heart issues and arthritis mean i cannot make them. I now have several hundred ok quality die-cast models. My father made wooden flyable models including a flyable compressed CO2 gloster meteor.

I have a friend who has just retired and he is no longer able bodied enough for the vintage vehicle restoration he used to engage in. I realise there can be a stigma of model kits being toys and 'just for kids' so it was enormously helpful that I was able to show him a highly detail painted Warhammer model that I built. He knows that I have repaired chassis, cut and shut panels, worked on engines and custom painted vehicles so he knew I wasn't been patronising suggesting he try model kits. In his case it would be stuff like Willys jeep and vintage trucks and unlike working on the actual vehicles, it takes less physical ability, takes up less space, costs a lot less money but can be just as interesting and engaging.

After 2 minutes I know exactly where you're coming from mate

Another interesting and thought provoking video, Harry. It's very tempting to respond with a cheeky, "OK, boomer" ;) but, instead, I seem to have written an essay. I'm Gen X (I think, born 1976). As I was into cars, my first taste of kits was Monogram and Tamiya, as both were fairly easy to get in local shops (South East England). Oh, if only I'd known how lucky I was. When I tried some Airfix 1:32 cars, they definitely felt like a step down in quality. Back then, I just wanted to get things built and painted as quickly as possible, so the results were variable. I still have a few of those models, which I keep as a way to see how far I've progressed. After something like a 30 year gap, I returned to the hobby back in 2020 (for some reason I had lots of spare time back then...) and I've built more in the past four years than probably the forty before that. From Aeroplanes to Tanks and from Airfix to Tamiya. For me, I prefer when the supplied parts fit together in the appropriate place. I especially admire those kits where parts will pretty much only fit in the correct place. I don't mind having to do a bit of sanding or trimming to make stuff fit, but I prefer to direct my energy towards adding detail. For example, one of the first kits that got me back into the hobby was a Tamiya 1:24 Honda Prelude XX, which I'd made a half-hearted attempt at starting a few years earlier. There were two main deficiencies with this kit; the first that I noticed was that a lot of engine bay detail was simply absent. For whatever reason Tamiya hadn't bothered to produce a lot of the pipes and parts that should have been there. So I ended up checking photos and videos in order to add a lot of the wiring and plumbing (including the windscreen washer bottle) that should have been there. Also, and this was a rare mistake for Tamiya, the mounting for the front bumper was in the wrong place, if installed "correctly" the bumper would be way out of line with the front wheel arches. This was fairly easy to fix, but far less satisfying than the much more fiddly engine-bay work as it's the sort of thing that you think a kit manufacturer should get right. Also in 2020, my team at work bought me the Airfix 1:32 Jaguar E-type. I'd built one of those in my youth, so I had an idea of what to expect, except that the poor thing was covered in flash. But, thanks to some online advice, I fabricated a few pieces to correct some of the details, I spent ages on the body; sanding away mould lines and filling seams (but, In fairness, the E-type is probably one of the most difficult shapes to mould) and the result is incredibly satisfying. But even simple kits can pose interesting challenges. When you study the instructions and look at the parts, you try and work out for yourself whether to paint before or after assembly. To work out what bits must be painted before others. To try and make sure any holes are drilled or panels cut before you find that you've metaphorically painted yourself into a corner. That's the great thing about this hobby, there is no right way to do it. If you want to count the rivets, and then correct your model so that you have all the right rivets in the right order, great (if you just want to criticise other people's work for not having the right number of rivets, however, you can shut the fudge up). If you want to build it out of the box, slap the decals on without paint and enjoy it that way (or not even bother with the decals), go for it. If you want to ignore the painting instructions and decorate the model in your favourite colours, go wild (although you may want to make sure that you tell people that this is what you've done). It's a creative hobby, so create stuff.

I believe the Airfix P-40B is the best P-40 in 1/48 scale. I would especially love to see a 1/48 scale P-40E "Aleutian Tiger" kit. I built the old Revell 1/32 scale version in the 70's.

I also started on Airfix kits and have a fondness for the kits they were a brilliant way into the hobby and the range was massive and relatively cheap the old bagged kits were 20p and the big boxed kits like the B29 were only a few pounds when I started building them and they were about as good as it got (HE177 aside). Your point about being more involved with the kits from the 60’s and 70’s is true about most of the kits an available at the time even tamiya weren’t that great . I used to have a fondness for italeri kits from that time which could be pick up well into the nineties for a few pounds and with a bit of work could be built into a good model . My problem with some of these kits today which are still in the range along with re boxing old kits from other manufacturers is you can pay the same price for them as a new tool which I kinda resent.

Shepard Paine's diorama of a crashed B-17G using the Monogram 1/48 kit released in 1975, the in colour, two page of his build that was included in the kit had a major impact on what could be done with modifying a kit and change how I built models. Modellers have a spectrum of choice. Want a challenge? Build like Rojas-Bazan. As manufactured kits go, Rye Field models and the latest generation of Tamiya 1/32 are examples of Lego like assembly builds that do not need further embellishment to be impressive. Until kits have one to one detail of a vehicle/aircraft/ship, there is opportunity to put extra effort into creating and exercising the mind. My latest challenge was to build/modify/correct; 1/18 Hobby Boss FW190-A5 and a 1/24 Kinetic P-47D Razorback and the old Frontopolar Cortex of my brain had a good workout. The outcomes are posted on my channel. As always, great topic Harry.

Hi Harry less of the old I’m 61 ha hahaha I built airfix models in the early seventies it set me up to be an engineer always making things some foreigners in it ha ha ha glad for your vids always make me laugh 😀

In my experience, there is no right or wrong way to experience our hobby. Some like Airfix, others like Revell or Tamiya, some only build this brand or that , some only build ships or planes, some only build RAF models, or even only BF-109s. And that's all okay. As long as you enjoy it. I prefer to build ships and planes myself, the brand doesn't really matter to me. Also, this preference doesn't stop me from building something different every now and then, everything is possible and that's the beauty of our hobby!

I enjoy both the old Airfix kits and the new ones. The new ones aren't pure shake and bakes, but they do go together well. I think the main difference is the level of detail that opens the door to scratch building. With the old kits the challenge is to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. With new kits it's about turning a silk purse into a golden locket.

A vast majority of kits that I've built during the past 50 years, have been Airfix (Even though my current build is a FROG). I've got more pleasure from a kit that likes to 'fight me', than a kit that puts itself together (Tamiya, I'm looking at you). It's true that Airfix has really upped their game with their new tools. However. I'm a big fan of their Vintage Classic range. One part is nostalgia. The other part is paying penance for when I build them badly years ago.

after watching your video I found myself gazing at all of my completed models. and you know what? my favs are those kits that fought me all the way to completion. my number 1 favourite is the airfix baggy kit of the harrier prototype the P1127 kestral!

the 'Willy' comment caught me off Guard ... Spat my drink all over the the monitor .... Howling with Laughter :)

Great video again matey, I am a young lad in the world of Scale modelling and was never around for the original airfix kits, I started in the tail end of the 90's But still may favourite airfix kits are the 1/24 planes from the 60's and 70's, you have seen what i have done with them, I am not too bothered about painting and weathering i care more about the engineering inside them. Any way keep up the cracking work

Well done sir and your message is spot on. I enjoy watching and listening, working on the thinking bit as I just turned 75😮. As yet to decide what I want to do when I grow up but think my years as a CAD jockey were nearest the top. I have gone overboard on building a stash and so far I have replaced a missing prop on a old mahogany Corsair. Painted at least 3 times and decals maybe 5 times but it is on the plane and from arms length looks ok, which is great for me. Thank you for filming and sharing your wisdom. I appreciate it as well as that stuff from the other Aussie Mr Becker. Good lads, be well and cheers mate.

I got to laugh in the seventies I used to do all my math in the old way working it out my self then one of my co workers got me a calculator I thought I don’t need it because working it out for myself keeps my brain busy ha haha Harry go for it

Im happy there is variety. My preferance is Airfix. The new Gannett is great but my most fun are the vintage classics. I dont like hours of doing interior details that you can not see on a finished model.

Brilliant video Harry! Totally agree with you! I haven’t built an Airfix kit since 1979 (I think it was their Me109E, 1/24 scale) so tomorrow I shall buy their 1/48 Fairy Gannet and give that a bash! Love the channel! Greeting from the Netherlands. 😊

Hey Harry 'me not so old cobber'. I grew up on Airfix, Matchbox and some Revell kits. Like you said I never really saw or had any Tamiya kits until just recently. They all have a place in the hobby. I have got some old and rare kits over covid on ebay mainly and some of them are not any where near the engineering standard you get now. I love them any way and it reminds me of the early days as a kid.

I feel bad for you,cause you never got to build a Tamiya twin motorized remote control 1/35 Tiger I or their sdkfz 7 motorized halftrack. Had a brother who worked with computers and he put led’s for headlights and one in the muzzle break for a gun flash. Even set one up with a motorized turret. Forward was right transverse and reverse was left. You might say it was more of a toy than a model kit but still had to assemble it. Had great fun terrorizing dog and cat with them of have a friend build a remote control t-34 and have them drive all over the kitchen table playing demolition derby. This all ended in the latter 80’s and all kits remained static after that. Remember building a Pz IV in the nineties and still see a place inside the hull to bolt down the twin motored drive unit even though now they were static. Every once in awhile ,I see such a kit on sale on eBay. Often selling for over $100 even though opening bids were cheap. Many of us remember such kits and that’s why they go for so much. Would suggest you buy one with many tank models to choose from and see how enjoyable the hobbie was back then from an American point of view. Remember buying my first Stug three from a hobby store up town. Even remember old Jewish couple who owned the store. Was young dum and full of *** back then and never gave it a thought but actually feel ashamed now a day’s . May they rest in peace.

100% agree with everything you said in this video 👍

As I approach 60, I’m torn between the nostalgia of plastic models, and the lack of relevance to my present life. I hadn’t considered that building them would help keep my mind sharp as I hurtle toward my dementia years. So maybe I’ll take it up again, after all.

I love all the model kit manufacturers, but I started with Airfix kits a lot of people started with a Spitfire me been different I started with a Hurricane. I have a fondness for Airfix because of that and always will, so I'll keep making them and yes they keep my brain what's left of it going.😵👍

Harry What about the vague approximations that were FROG? And hooray for Matchbox! And flashes in my mind of "The Four Yorkshiremen" when you wax lyrical on days of yore. 🙂 Yes, yes, yes, I pressed the buttons. Hooroo from down in Adelaide. (Oh and Italeri, I like them too. Well actually I like lots of model companies. Good on them for catering to my madness).

A good point you have there, sir. I am currently in the final stages of building the recently-tooled, molded in India, Airfix B-17G in 1:72nd scale. And boy, how Airfix has changed! The last time I had built an Airfix kit had been almost thirty years ago. A time of white boxes, flashy sprues and MUCH simpler molding. I do miss the classic kits, and I find it awesome that they bring back some of those under the "vintage classics" label. And I totally agree with the "keeps the brain working" argument. The problem is, back in the day when those kits were the norm, so to speak, I did't have access to decent tools and supplies to make them look decent in the end. Don't get me wrong, I had lots of fun building them at the time. But I grew up in southern Brazil during the 80s. The only hobby shop in town was actually a blend of bookstore, office supplies store and toy store that happened to have a modelling corner running some balsa and plastic kits, some basic enamel paints and brushes, and that's it. Wonderful memories, I still dream of the place... But no putty, no acrylics, no airbrush and compressor - at least not on my local hobby shop, and not on my budget. I do appreciate older kits for the modelling ingenuity they command. I recently happened to come across a pristine 1:72nd Ki-43 Hayabusa by Revell-Kikoler (Kikoler used to make Revell kits locally in Brazil back in the day) on an online flea market and I just had to get it.. It's a piece of emotional memory that I first built when I was 7 years old and now I'm gonna build again, out of the box. But my point is: newer kits, combined with decent equipment and techniques, give me something I never had when I was younger: the ability to have it looking more like the actual subject I'm fasicnated about than a collection of pieces that fit poorly together. So I won't dissmiss them entirely. Great video as always.