Airfix has announced its working on a 1/24 scale Hellcat F6F-5

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Thanks!

Oh, Lord. WHY does Airfix hate me so much?!

Michael

Oh, oh my! Oh my! My precious! This must be a cruel joke! Maybe I will awake from this awesome dream to my ho-hum drudgery life. Breath, just breath. If I book my plane ticket now, can I be there to buy the very first one (hundred)?

New tool? Is there one already that I'm not aware of?

I'm really hoping they'll do a 1/24th Skyraider eventually.It would look totally awesome in that scale!

look here....
https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/news/workbench/airfix-new-tooling-announcement-for-scale-modelworld-2018?utm_campaign=2227320_Airfix%20-%20Workbench%20Grunman%20Hellcat%20Announcement%20-%20Week%2032%202018&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Hornby%20PLC&_%24ja=tsid%3A71284&dm_i=2DJZ,1BQM0,7KYWWO,4B7J9,1

Well poop, I was hoping for a new tool 1/32 Hellcat, guess we'll have to leave that to Tamiya or Hasegawa. Why does Airfix insist on 1/24th scale? I must admit, I'd be tempted if it was an F6F-3, which is one of my all time favorite aircraft, but this big 1/24th model just doesn't fit in well with my smaller 1/32 WWI and WWII aircraft. Guess I'm just getting spoiled in my old age. Hey Airfix, ever thought of panto-graphing your 1/24th stuff down to 1/32? It's ironic to me that Airfix insists on 1/32 for its automobiles and military kits, but 1/24th for it's famous aircraft...oh well...
VR, Russ

Nicely played, Airfix, nicely played.

Didn't see that coming at all.

A surprising yet welcome choice all the same that raises several interesting questions.

Surprising because: it's in a theatre that Airfix have not previously released a 1/24 kit in before (the Pacific); its use by only 3 air forces with only 2? main variants limits the number of boxing's able to be got from this tooling, ( honestly I thought a P40 was in line for the 1/24 treatment given the large number of operators, number of variants and it's operational history).

Welcome because: it has no real direct competition, (which is good because its success helps Airfix continue to operate); the subject matter is a superlative fighter from the PTO; it's a topic that appeals to the largest market on Earth (the US).

The questions it raises are:

1. If the rumors are true that the CAD was ready to go in 2014 then that means it only takes around 18 months to prep a 1/24 design, given its proximity to 2013's Typhoon. Accordingly if the new CEO was the one who secured the funds for the tooling, does this then mean Airfix could in theory, release a new 1/24 kit every 24~36 months?

2. If it's a success & HH return to profit does that mean a new 1/24 kit sooner rather than later?

3. With this foray into the PTO what can we expect from Airfix next? A Corsair perhaps? The aforementioned P40? A Zero?

Consequently being an Aussie of British descent, would I buy one? Initially, I was luke warm to the idea, but given the Typhoon was a game changer for Airfix, & this kit looks to be a step up again, I am certain it will be added to my collection in the not too distant future.

Finally, my hopes are still for a new tool 1/24 Spitfire MkI or IX in the not too distant future, because, yes I am one of those modellers who refuses to fix up old kit when there's newer & better to be had, like the F6F and Typhoon!