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Airfix Club Magazine 01
Airfix Club Magazine 01
Airfix Club Magazine 01
Issue 1 2007
FEATURE...SUPERMARINE
SPITFIRE Mk I
FEATURING:
- ILLUMINATED TIME
COLUMN
- LANTERN LIGHT &
TARDIS SOUND
EFFECTS
AIRFIX CAPTURES
DOCTOR WHO AND
THE TARDIS FROM
CYBERSPACE...
BBC logo © BBC 1996. Doctor Who logo © BBC 2004. Tardis image © BBC 1963. Dalek image © BBC/Terry Nation 1963.
Cyberman image © BBC/Kit Pedlar/Gerry Davis 1963. K-9 image © BBC/Bob Baker/DaveMartin 1963. Licensed by BBC Worldwide Limited.
www.airfix.com
Contents
Airfix...The Roadshow. Page 3
Editorial
Welcome to the new Hornby Airfix Club and the first
Model Build. RNLI Severn Class Lifeboat. Page 4 issue of our Club magazine.
The 2007 Airfix release Programme.
Whether you are completely new to the hobby or perhaps
Supermarine Spitfire MkI. Page 7
an existing subscriber to the former club prior to the
Falklands War 25 Years Anniversary. Page 8
recent Hornby acquisition of Airfix, we hope you will all
- Battle of Britain Memorial Flight,
enjoy the benefits associated with the new Club, including
- Canberra B(I)8,
- Hawker Siddeley/BAe Systems Nimrod. Page 10 the quarterly magazine and your exclusive
Wallace & Gromit & Doctor Who. Page 11 introductory Club Airfix model.
Airfix Mini Kits & Competition Time. Page 12
Consultant Editor: Susan Pownell Design & Production: DSP Limited Membership Organiser: Sarah Woodhouse.
2008 Subscription Fees: UK POSTAL Version £22.99. UK DOWNLOADABLE Version £14.99. EU DOWNLOADABLE Version £18.99. Rest of the World DOWNLOADABLE Version £20.99.
Cheques made payable to: Hornby Hobbies Limited. Visa, Access, Mastercard, Maestro & Switch accepted with valid expiry date. Club Address: Airfix Collectors Club. PO Box 25, Melton Mowbray,
Leicestershire, UK. LE13 IZG. Tel: 0870 062 4001. Fax: 01664 480 257. The Airfix Club Magazine is published on behalf of Hornby plc, Westwood, Margate, Kent CT9 4JX.
The Club accepts no responsibility for errors or ommissions or for views and opinions expressed by contributors to the magazine.
2 www.airfix.com
THE ROAD
SHOW
2007 was a very busy year and the Airfix team had taken the opportunity to attend a number of exhibitions -
Air Shows in particular - to promote the new acquisition and meet the many Airfix fans and hobbyists at the
same time.
RAF Fairford in Gloucester was one such venue on the occasion of the The National Railway Museum Open Day at Shildon in County Durham
Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) over the weekend of 14th and over the weekend of 11th and 12th August provided an unusual venue
15th July. The Airfix marquee proved a particular draw, situated alongside for an exceptional exhibition of Airfix models owned and displayed by
the company’s Roadshow truck, and the Airfix team had activities to Steve Donnelly from West Yorkshire.
suit everyone. Whilst Steve had some models for sale, there were several highly
Junior enthusiasts, under the instruction and supervision of the Airfix collectable mint and boxed pieces definitely not on offer, including the
team, were invited to an Airfix workshop, where they built and painted very first Airfix model ever produced, the Ferguson Tractor.
their own plane, before carefully transporting it home after allowing The construction kit was still in its original packaging with header card
both glue and paint to dry! boasting the contents as containing 50 components and cement. There
For adult model builders and collectors, the Airfix team were pleased to was also a 1:32 scale Beach Buggy in its illustrated box; a Bond Bug,
answer questions about the new Airfix collection on show, some models also boxed in 1:32 scale and an Ariel Arrow Motorbike.
already available but many others in prototype form prior to production Steve had one item which reputedly, Airfix had at one time denied making
later this year. Many of the Airfix kits on display reflected the real-life - the Ton-Up-Tony, comprising a motorcycle construction kit, packaged
versions flying all around us over the Show weekend, although definitely in a colourful box illustrating a speeding Tony heading for the M1! The
less noisy! Airfix logo is very clear on the box, so we must assume it did emanate
The mood was one of great enthusiasm, touched with relief, voiced by from the factory.
modellers that Airfix was once more back in safe hands and destined Any feedback from knowledgeable Club members
not only to continue but also to grow in future years. welcome!
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RNLI SEVERN 1
CLASS LIFEBOAT
4
Turning to Sea Vessels, also worthy of mention here, is the early 2007
release of the Code A07280 RNLI Severn Class Lifeboat. Modelled to 1:72
scale containing 189 pieces, the set also includes acrylic paint, brush 7
and adhesive.
The Severn Class lifeboat is the largest vessel used by the RNLI, with a range of 250 nautical miles
and a top speed of 25 knots. The first prototype was introduced in 1992 and the last Severn Class was
built in 2003, with the RNLI taking 46 of them for use around the coast of the UK and Ireland on a variety
of rescue missions.
The lifeboat, carrying a crew of six volunteer RNLI seamen, also carries a Y boat that can be launched
and recovered by a lightweight crane to enable rescues close to shore. The propellers are also protected
so it can take ground without damage.
The new Airfix Severn Class Lifeboat (A07280) is an exact 1:72 replica 10 /11
of this state of the art vessel and was developed with the co-operation
of the same engineers at the RNLI who designed the real thing.
Scaled at 1:72, not only does this kit complement the Airfix Westland
Sea King (A03043) RAF rescue helicopter, but it also matches other
1:72 marine subjects in the Airfix range like the German E Boat (A10280),
Vosper MTB (A05280) and the RAF Rescue Launch (A05281).
There are over 180 parts on the kit, which features lots of interior detail,
deck fittings, rescue equipment and communications antennae.
14
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1 Construction starts with the four-piece hull. By leaving the lower
section off, the model offers the option of a “waterline” model.
2 The bridge and upper structure requires each section to be
butt-joined. This is not a task to be rushed and careful alignment
and gluing the sections from the inside makes for a neat
assembly.
3 This minor sink mark - a result of the plastic cooling and
shrinking in the mould - is easily fixed with a dot of filler and
smoothed down.
4 Some of the parts ready for priming and painting before
2 3
construction can continue. Items that need to be painted the
same colour are fixed to postcards with double-sided tape.
5 Parts of the deck are being prepared for painting. One area has
already been painted and masked. Some details on the deck
have been airbrushed HU33 matt Black before the top coat of
HU27 Sea Grey is applied. This is known as ‘pre-shading’ and
is designed to add some subtle depth to final finish.
6 The deck has now been painted in HU27 Sea Grey and the pre-
shaded areas now just show through, given a weathered effect.
7 Various parts of the interior have now been painted and
assembled. There is a lot of detail here and it pays to spend
5 6 some time picking it out by dry-brushing in lighter shades to
add highlights. Items like the fire-extinguishers have been picked
on out in gloss Red to add a splash of colour.
8 The bridge was given a coat of HU28 matt Grey inside and out,
the latter acting as a good undercoat for the final finish of HU18
gloss Orange. This was airbrushed on in light coats, allowing
each to fully dry and lightly polished with a piece of kitchen
scourer material. Other items like the dinghy and upper deck
were also given a coat of orange at this stage.
9 After its coat of orange had dried, the actuating rams on the
crane were picked out in silver and given a wash of black.
10 The lower section of the bridge was masked off and given a
8 9 coat of HU15 gloss Midnight Blue. The upper bridge section is
also added at this stage.
11 The walkway on the top was masked off and sprayed HU27
Dark Sea Grey along with the anti-slip decking. The windscreen
wiper motor housings above the windows were given a couple
of coats of HU34 Matt White. The window frames were also
picked out at this stage with HU11 Silver and a fine-pointed
paintbrush.
12 With the hull already primed it was painted HU19 gloss Bright
Red and HU15 gloss Midnight Blue, providing a gloss finish
ready for the decals.
13 The railings at the rear were painted HU28 matt Grey and given
12 13 a wash of thinned matt Black paint to add some shadows to
the detail. The various inner handrails and other deck fittings
were all cleaned up and given a coat of HU22 gloss White.
14 The control surfaces at the back - not unlike the flaps on an
aircraft - were painted HU11 Silver and, once dry, given a light
wash of Black water-based paint to add some depth and pick
out the detail.
15 The side railings were painted HU21 gloss Black. The detail here
can be highlighted with some gentle dry-brushing.
16 HU34 matt White was also applied to the bases for the railings
on the deck. A pointed brush is the best tool for this job. Adding
the railings is best done with a pair of tweezers. Care needs to
15 16 be taken here not to damage the delicate parts.
5 www.airfix.com
17 Similarly, the davits are also to the deck.
18 The kit decal sheet offers serial numbers and lifeboat station
names for every Severn Class lifeboat in the RNLI, including
the reserve vessels. Decals work best when applied to gloss
continued... finish, the smooth surface helps them adhere better, making
the varnish surround on the decals disappear, so the gloss
paints needed for the colour scheme help here. The decals
are very thin so care is needed in their application. The
red/yellow strip that curves around the hull is best floated
into position with a paintbrush and plenty of water and then
blotted dry with a price of tissue. Some spare striping is
provided in case of an accident. With the decals applied the
model can be given a final sealing coat of varnish. The actual
finish of the Severn Class Lifeboat is gloss but in 1:72 scale
it may be better to give it a coat of satin varnish for a better
“scale effect”.
20 The final details to be added are the clear parts to the upper
bridge and the communications
21
Aerials which finish the model off. Due to the high number of
parts, often very small and delicate, and the need to paint
sections of the model ahead of assembly, this is a kit more
suited to the experienced modeller and is not a project to be
rushed. Given time and care, the kit builds into a fine replica
that pays tribute to the brave men and women of the RNLI
who risk their own lives for ‘those in peril on the sea’, and
20 21 which Airfix is proud to support.
6 www.airfix.com
THE
2007 PROGRAMME
Highlights of key Airfix models released to date.
AIRFIX RELEASE
SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE Mk I
Under Airfix Code A05115, this 1:48 scale model After much refinement, the Air Ministry ordered 310 of the aircraft in 1936.
of the Spitfire has 64 pieces, including By the outbreak of WWII, nine squadrons had been equipped with the Spitfire,
modification options. It represents the Mk I which which saw its first combat in October 1939 when it shot down a German
first went into service with the RAF No.19 (F) bomber attacking shipping off the coast of Scotland.
Squadron based at Duxford in 1938. The early The performance of these early Spitfire variants was impressive. Its top
Mk I had a two blade fixed pitch propeller, an speed, according to an RAF statement in 1939, was logged at 362 mph at
unarmoured windscreen, a flat canopy and a a height of 18,500 feet. It could climb to 11,000 feet, fully armed, in 4.8
straight radio mast. minutes. A remarkable flight by Supermarine test pilot Jeffrey Quill at the
time, logged a flight from Le Bourget to Croydon Airport in just 41 minutes.
The kit also contains the parts to convert the aircraft into a Mk IA of the
The Spitfire’s development saw many upgrades, notably the Mk II with an
Battle of Britain period, with De Havilland three-blade variable pitch propeller;
improved Rolls-Royce Merlin 45, 1470 hp engine, which became available
or by using the additional decals, a Mk IIA of No. 118 Squadron RAF, which
in 1940, although not many Squadrons were allocated the aircraft until after
had the three-blade variable pitch propeller with a blunt spinner.
the Battle of Britain. The Mk V entered service in 1941, giving the RAF
The Supermarine Spitfire was the brainchild of R J Mitchell, whose improved power as well as much greater armament facilities.
development job it had been to provide a British contender for the
Spitfire development ended in 1946
extremely competitive Schneider Trophy – an annual air speed competition with the Mk 24. However, since R J
in which many countries – notably the USA and Italy took part. The result Mitchell developed the Mk I, ten years
of his engineering expertise was that Britain subsequently won the Trophy on earlier, there had been no less than
several occasions, a fact which did not go unnoticed by the Air Ministry of forty variants of this valiant little
the time, who were looking for a fighter monoplane to replace bi-planes such aircraft.
as the Gloster Gladiator, Gloster Gauntlet and Fairey Swordfish, used hitherto.
Sadly, R J Mitchell died from cancer in 1937 and did not live long enough
The first Spitfire, built with a Rolls-Royce Merlin III 1030 hp engine, flew in to see what a remarkable contribution the Spitfire and her wartime
1936 from Eastleigh Airport, close to the Supermarine Works on the Solent. crews made to the freedom of Great Britain.
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Autumn 2007 Airfix Releases • Autumn 2007 Airfix Releases
With the shorter days and darker evenings now apparent– in the UK at least – and the
return to our autumn and winter indoor hobbies, we hope to whet your appetite with
some of the highlights from the new Airfix series of kits, which are promised between
now and the end of the year. Some of them would make an admirable addition to those
seasonal gift lists, either for self-indulgence or a hint to family and friends!
8 www.airfix.com
Autumn 2007 Airfix Releases • Autumn 2007 Airfix Releases
authentic camouflage markings. The fantastic collection contains six aircraft from both the British
and the Argentinean Air Forces, namely:
9 www.airfix.com
Airfix commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the
Battle of Britain
Memorial Flight.
2007 marks the Golden Anniversary of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, comprising
the three iconic British aircraft of WWII. – the Avro Lancaster B Mk I, the Supermarine
Spitfire Mk IIA and the Hawker Hurricane Mk IIC.
The BBMF was formed at Biggin Hill in 1957 and 50 years on, the sight and droning sound of the
trio with the Lancaster centre-stage, flanked on either side by the Spit and the Hurricane, never
fail to bring a lump to one’s throat. The BBMF echoes a nation’s dogged determination and
aspirations and continues to inspire generation after generation, whilst evoking pride, gratitude and
remembrance of the huge sacrifices made by the young pilots during WWII. The BBMF is so popular,
from fly-pasts on Royal and high profile public occasions to appearances at air shows, that the
voluntary crew fulfil over 800 individual aircraft events each year at
over 250 locations. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is based
permanently at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
10 www.airfix.com
Wallace & Gromit
There are many Airfix releases either available now or
coming out shortly, which will appeal particularly to our
younger Club members and provide hours of fun
constructing not only land, sea and air transport but also
your favourite characters from the large and small screen.
You can construct your very own Wallace and Gromit, together with Anti
Pesto Van, as seen in the movie Wallace & Gromit and the Curse of Were-
Rabbit. The 1:72 scale kit, under Code AN1102 contains the Anti-Pesto
Van, the two figures of the intrepid pair, 13 acrylic paints, a brush and
glue. There are 92 pieces.The model of the van features rubber tyres,
opening and closing doors, turning wheels and is pre-painted in the same
colour as in the film, so there’s no need to paint the whole van.
There is also the Wallace & Gromit Collection kit, number AN1100 which
includes some of the vehicles from their film ‘A Close Shave’– the
aeroplane, motorbike and sidecar as well as the Wallace & Gromit figures.
The kit, contains 89 pieces, comes with 11 acrylic paints, brush and glue.
FEATURING:
- ILLUMINATED TIME
COLUMN
- LANTERN LIGHT &
11 www.airfix.com
NEW AIRFIX MINI KITS
For those of you just starting out in the Airfix hobby, a series
of Mini Kits is now on sale.
With a small number of parts to be glued together and with components pre-painted, you
can achieve a great result in a relatively short space of time.
The models are highly detailed 1:100 and 1:144 Scale aircraft. The WWII collection of
fighters in the series comes with a display plinth with the aircraft description and the
fighter pilot’s name.
COMPETITION TIME
We have one example of the evocative A10600 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight sets to give
away to the winner of our Issue 1 competition. This memorable prize will go to the first
person whose correct entry is drawn from all those received on the closing date of 29th
February 2008.
All you have to do is answer the following questions:
1. Name the two key German dams successfully breached by the RAF 603 ‘Dambusters’
Squadron on the night of 17th May 1943, using the Barnes Wallace ‘Bouncing Bomb’.
2. What was the code name of the Operation?
3. Only two Lancasters are still flying in the world today. One is part of the BBMF at RAF
Coningsby in Lincolnshire. In which country and exact location is the second one kept?
4. The 50th Anniversary Lancaster is decorated in ‘The Phantom of The Ruhr’ decals and
features the colours of two RAF Squadrons. Name the two Squadrons and the position Rules of Entry 5. The competition is not open to employees of
of their colours on the Lancaster. 1. The winner will be the first all-correct entry selected Hornby Hobbies, their agents or families.
at random on the closing date of 29th February 2008. 6. No correspondence to be entered into in conjunction
Put your answers on a postcard with your name, address and Club membership 2. Limited to one entry per current member of the with the competition.
Airfix Club. 7. No cash equivalent is available.
number and send to Airfix Lancaster Competition, PO Box 25, Melton Mowbray, 3. Duplicate entries will be disregarded. 8. The Airfix Club accepts no responsibility for entries
4. The results of the competition will be announced in lost or damaged in the post.
Leicestershire, LE13 1ZG, UK. Issue 2 of the Airfix Club magazine and the winner 9. Entries defaced or altered will be disregarded.
notified by post. 10. The judges’ decision is final.
The closing date for the competition is 29th February 2008.
You will have read in this issue of the Airfix Club magazine that a fantastic new Doctor Who
series of Airfix kits is coming out shortly. We have an example of each of the new Doctor
Who kits to give away to one lucky winner in our first Junior Airfix Competition.
The competition is open only to junior members aged 14 and under. The Doctor Who
sci-fi series first hit the TV screens in 1963 and since then there have been ten actors
who have played Doctor Who over the years but he has always been accompanied by
his trusty time machine the ‘TARDIS’. But what do the letters in the name ‘TARDIS’ actually
stand for?
Rules of Entry. 5. The competition is not open to employees of
You need give all six words that begin with the letters ‘TARDIS’, so get your thinking caps 1. The winner will be the first all-correct entry selected Hornby Hobbies, their agents or families.
on. Please see rules of entry for more information. at random on the closing date of 29th February 2008. 6. No correspondence to be entered into in conjunction
2. Limited to one entry per junior member (aged 14 with the competition.
Put your answers on a postcard with your name, address, Club membership number years and under) of the Airfix Club. 7. No cash equivalent is available.
and most importantly your age and send to Airfix Doctor Who Competition, PO Box 25, 3. Duplicate entries will be disregarded. 8. The Airfix Club accepts no responsibility for entries
4. The results of the competition will be announced in lost or damaged in the post.
Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE13 1ZG, UK. the Issue 2 of the Airfix Club magazine and the winner 9. Entries defaced or altered will be disregarded.
notified by post. 10. The judges’ decision is final.
The closing date for the competition is 29th February 2008.
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