This is odd !

[Alan 45]

You raise a very good point there Patrick , people of our age know about the iffy kits so we can accept them but knew comers to the hobby would be put off by old airfix kits

There has been great strides made to improve kits what with after market stuff and so forth but sadly airfix came along to late to realise the potential this has , don't get me wrong the new tool stuff airfix are doing now can rival the tamiya's but there is not enough new tool to put it amongst the best yet

[Guest]

I think Edgar is right. I can not see the problem. Airfix actually tell you on their site which are new toolings so us experts have no reason to be upset.

As far as kids are concerned I think that which ever kit they get is a plus for the world of model making.

Having 4 Grandsons of my own I had a stint where they came over of providing a model for them to build. The eldest was 12 the youngest 6. They all made a good fist of making the models. 2 asked me for paints so they could take the models home and complete them which they did. Now on their shelves 4 years later. But quite frankly the results, the little dears, would hardly have benefited from a new tooling as opposed to a re-boxed.

The teenagers who are good at model making should no have any problems just as we experts they will get through it and produce a good model. Then they will moan and have a lot to say about Airfix reboxing and what a poor show. But they will be pleased as we are and put it on the shelf : achieved.

Recently my son and future daughter in law, while we were in Greenwhich together, bought me a plate with a Walrus (some say ugly) sea plane. I manage to get a model of it and pleased I did. An old model probably reboxed by Revell. But who cares I will enjoy building it. Probably lots of moans and plenty of filler but I doubt at the end of the day it will look any different from a new tooling to an old hack.

Looking at what some of these old "Hacks" are going for on Ebay and the like it is perhaps worth buying them and waiting. Seems the model making market has joined the antique and collectibles scene.

Laurie

[Guest]

That's fine Laurie, but my point remains that it's deceitful to repackage something old that wasn't very good 40 years ago!

If someone went to buy a ' new ' VW Golf for instance & ended up with a 1974 Mark I, I'd imagine there would be some gnashing of teeth!

And not everyone looks at websites or has a friend or family member who is involved in the hobby. My point is about the majority who buy from a LMS or Amazon & don't have the detailed product information available. They see the lovely box, perhaps they've heard that Airfix have produced new kits & the idea that an ill-fitting 40 year old monstrosity is contained within never crosses their mind!

How many of the old kits would be sold if the box stated its original release date? The fact also remains that anyone will have an easier time building a well made kit than one that needs copious amounts of filler.

[Guest]

I think you will find that reboxing of old kits is a practise regularly undertaken by all model kit manufacturers so let's try to avoid yet another Airfix beating session.

[Guest]

I think you will find that reboxing of old kits is a practise regularly undertaken by all model kit manufacturers so let's try to avoid yet another Airfix beating session.

I'm not beating Airfix / Hornby Richard - if I were, I'd hardly be buying their kits! I know some manufacturers do this, although I've yet to find a Tamiya or Dragon kit in

a new box ! But then even Tamiya's 70s kits build as well as modern ones - at least that's true of armour kits.

[Guest]

I wish I could get my body reboxed. It would make me very happy.

Laurie

[Guest]

I know of Tamiya reboxings, just updated box art over the years, and I'm not sure if Dragon have been around for long enough as yet.

I also think it is important to remember that Airfix have picked themselves up from very nearly extinction to the point where they are producing kits to certainly match the orientals. They have to build up the company slowly to get to that point and refreshing old mouldings with new transfers, box art and additional sprues is a cost effective way to achieve that. If they started out by only producing new toolings they wouldn't have lasted five minutes.

This is exactly the same challenge Triumph was faced with when that company was brought back to life. The only way they could achieve this was by developing a single engine and then using it in exactly the same format across a number of different frames. Nowadays they have got the company to the point where they can compete with the Japanese on the sports bike arena, something that would have been scoffed at a few years ago.

I also think it is worth reminding people that Airfix put a lot of time effort and money into bringing modelling to the younger generation by attending shows and giving kits to youngsters as well as running build workshops and tutorials, all given freely. They also offer bulk numbers of simple kits such as 1/72nd Spitfires to groups to purchase very cheaply to enable youth groups, schools etc. to hold build competions. I don't remember ever seeing Tamiya or Dragon doing that.

I have nothing but respect and admiration for Airfix for getting themselves back to where they are today and they are probably already responsible for encouraging significant numbers of young modellers into the hobby, who we would not otherwise have seen. I agree no-one is perfect and all companies make mistakes and some don't even go about correcting them very well but overall, with everything being taken into consideration, I think Airfix do a very good job.

[Alan 45]

I'll tell you what tamiya or any other kit maker don't do , they don't put new on a rebox !

[Guest]

This is an interesting read;

http://www.militarymodelling.com/forums/postings.asp?th=99728

[Guest]

My final word on the matter & addressed to Richard as he has singled out my words in my previous posts.

A Tamiya rebox is as rare as hens teeth. I notice the one you found was of a little known or built Italian tank! And it really doesn't matter because irrespective of when they were made, Tamiya kits go together so well!

That's one of the reasons that Airfix got into trouble - their perceived quality didn't match the competition. Far Eastern manufacturers ate up big chunks of their market.

The fact that they've come back so well is to be applauded & celebrated. It can only be good for the industry & hobby.

As for Tamiya or Dragon not attending UK shows - do they need to? Their customer base worldwide is secure, unlike Airfix. And both companies, especially Tamiya have worked tirelessly to promote their products & modelling in general in their home countries - something we benefit from as greater sales allow for more investment. That's how well-run companies prosper, by using revenue to allow for inward investment - not by disappointing customers with old tired kits in fancy new boxes.

However, as I said before, it's just my opinion.

[flyjoe180]

Actually, Tamiya are quite prolific in re-boxing Italeri kits of various genres. That tank is just one example. At the end of the day if you want to buy a kit do the research first, it is either new tool or it isn't; it will either meet your expectations or it won't. If you buy on a whim you run the risk. That is why these forums are so good, you can ask before committing. Or you can read the hundreds of reviews online to make an informed decision. Either way the original question has been answered in this thread.