DESIGNING A DE HAVILLAND MOSQUITO MODEL KIT

THIS EXCELLENT VIDEO takes us behind the scenes to show the thought process behind creating a state of the art model kit, here the Airfix 1:72 scale De Havilland Mosquito.

AIRFIX INCOMING 2014: D-DAY 70th ANNIVERSARY NEW-TOOL KITS

2014 looks like being a vintage year for Airfix, with a range of new-release and new-tool subjects in various scales. Here we look at some kits designed to partner with the D-Day landings that commenced on June 6, 1944.

AIRFIX 1:24 SCALE MOSQUITO BREAKS COVER AT IPMS SHOW

Report: Mat Irvine
The UK branch of the IPMS (International Plastic Modellers Society) held its annual National Meeting at the International Conference Centre, Telford the weekend before last. There were two main halls, plus a slightly smaller one used for the competition area. The main halls were packed with trading stalls and club stands, which incorporated SIGs (Special Interest Groups) the ‘Interests’ of which ranged widely - Korean War, seaplanes, NASA, Wallace & Gromit and much more besides.

One of the show's prime interests for aircraft fans was the sneak peak of what has to be the most anticipated model kit ever - the Airfix 1:24 scale de Havilland Mosquito. Airfix Product Manager Trevor Snowdon talked kits with customers, while in front of him stood the ‘wooden wonder’ (well, plastic in this iteration) itself, a Mosquito in part-assembled test-shot form. And very nice it looked, with pale-grey parts laid out around. The box was there too, and really showed off the excellent design trend exhibited by Airfix these days - brightly attractive for general buyers, yet clean-looking and serious for experienced ones. Just right.

The Airfix 1:24 scale Mosquito will be available shortly. Meantime, other Mosquito kits are available here.

The pictures show, top to bottom:
1 Box-art for the initial version of the Airfix 1:24 scale Mosquito.
2 Test-shot of the Mosquito on display.
3 Trevor Snowden, Airfix Product Manager and one of the driving forces behind Airfix since the Humbrol days, discusss models with a customer.

SMN note:
Mat Irvine took many pictures at the IPMS show, and we’re planning to release these in Freeebook form for you shortly. There are many tasty items, so keep checking for the Freeebook release.

AIRFIX 1:24 SCALE MOSQUITO BUZZES CLOSER

Probably the most eagerly awaited 2009 kit is the 1:24 scale de Havilland Mosquito from Airfix. We’ve had tantalizing ‘it’s coming along’ dripfeeds through the year, but now the on-sale date is actually in sight.

Glimpsed in the online newsletter of the Collecting Friends website (founded by Airfix expert and author Arthur Ward) is a nice little pic of TV presenter James May of TV’s Top Gear fame. And there, on top of a Bentley box, is... the Mosquito. And what a clean machine it looks too. Very nice, so pre-orders in now folks - it looks like a winner. IWOOT.


The pictures above show:
1 Factory-fresh Mosquito lineup during World War II.
2 James May (left), Arthur Ward, and the Mosquito.

James May picture courtesy Collecting Friends.

Visit Airfix here.

If you can’t wait to build a Mossie, some other kits and bits to go for are here.

Visit Collecting Friends here.

Airfix 1:24 Mosquito video update

Wow! Progress on the Mighty Mossie gets more and more interesting, as Airfix moves towards an on-sale date with this big, beautiful bird.

This Airfix video, based on the manufacturer's digital data, shows the components self-assembling in animated form, and it's just about the most compelling movie I've seen in a long time.

If this is a realistic taster for the real thing, we aviation model fans will be queuing round the block later this year.

There's no sound on the vid, but don't let that stop your enjoyment.