Airfix DeHavilland DH-88

[anton ryzbak]

I added this model to my "Pre-World War Two" colection, not for gaming but just because it looks so cool! More here;  https://antonswargame.blogspot.com/2023/10/redeemed-by-decals-building-airfix-172.html#more

[fred]

Very cool, indeed!

It is a bit sneaky how the big plastic model kit providers constantly re-box their kits so unless you check carefully you can be getting a really old and basic kit.

[carlos marighela]

Actually Airfix are usually pretty good in that regard. Older kits are identified as such on their website and the boxes usually wear the original artwork with the words 'Vintage Classic' beneath the logo, in case the difference between the artwork of their new issue kits and old ones is too subtle for customers.

[2010sunburst]

Best place to look is Scalemates.  Virtually all kits, of all scales, and their timelines are listed there. It’s really surprising how old some kits are.

[2010sunburst]

An example for the DH-88.  It’s older than me 
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/airfix-01013b-havilland-dh88-comet--554492

[carlos marighela]

Best place to look is Scalemates.  Virtually all kits, of all scales, and their timelines are listed there. It’s really surprising how old some kits are.

Agreed, Scalemates is always the best start point and they often have the instructions so you can see if you fancy the build before you buy it.  Having said that, the product timelines on Scalemates are far from perfect, it's not unusual to see kits that are nominally earlier renditions from other companies that are not the same kit in any way, shape or form save for the subject matter.

Some day someone should do a Scalemates for Warlord Games. List the original owner, the scale inconsistencies with other items in the range, price mark ups on the originals etc, etc. 

Very nice work of the DH-88 btw .

[SJWi]

I doubt if there is a commercially viable business case for Airfix to re-tool a lot of their old kits. However the box-art is superb. Nice to see them still available.

[fred]

Actually Airfix are usually pretty good in that regard. Older kits are identified as such on their website and the boxes usually wear the original artwork with the words 'Vintage Classic' beneath the logo, in case the difference between the artwork of their new issue kits and old ones is too subtle for customers.

But not in this case - and the scalemates link clearly shows many new boxes over the years for a very old mould. And Anton’s blog has a smart new red box.

Airfix aren’t the only ones doing this - browsing hobby craft, I’m always surprised how many of the Tamiya kits are ones I remember as a kid, and some of those weren’t new then.

Some day someone should do a Scalemates for Warlord Games. List the original owner, the scale inconsistencies with other items in the range, price mark ups on the originals etc, etc. 

This feels both funny and rather too necessary