Has Airfix lost it?

[Airframes]

Me too! I've sort of got used to Airfix not being Airfix anymore, and, as you say Jan, an oufit run by £££ seeking Richard Heads who don't seem to care a flying whatsit about the customer or the product, as long as the current product run makes cash, sells out, and isn't replaced. But, when it comes to Humbrol paints, I could cry!
I'm glad you confirmed something for me Ian, as I had a suspiscion there might be at least a hint of cellulose in the current paints, wherever they are made now. They smell totally different and, as you've noticed, are either like rubber, or water, with a sort of slime in between! I've had the wrinkling effect happen too, in one case almost ruining a model I was building for someone. Only yesterday I used a tin of genuine Humbrol, presumably older stock, bought from an art shop a couple of days ago. What a joy! The normal, familiar smell, stirred without problem, mixed with other 'old' Humbrol easily, thinned without separating, brushed and sprayed like a dream. The 'new' stuff is, quite bluntly, total b*ll*cks, a definite second rate product, not worth using even as a filler! And you're dead right about the colour match also - I have at least three different 'new' Humbrol paints, where even the colours on the lids don't match, and what used to be a superb, bright silver paint, Humbrol No.11, is now a sh*te sort of metallic grey!
The sad thing is, even if the serious modellers in all of the UK pointed out to Airfix, or should I say Hornby, the problems and shortcomings, I doubt that they'd give a S**t !!
Frankly, I've given up hope of them ever making a serious comeback, no matter how many empty promises of Mosquitos and Vulcans etc.

 

[Matt308]

Airframes your "slimey paint" issue is not just a Humbrol issue. I have mixed paints (not Humbrol) that after they settled appeared that I had combined acrylics with oils. Settled, separated and rubbered up. Truly disappointing at $2 - $3 a little itty bitty bottle. About to make me run away from the hobby actually.

Made in China perhaps? Makes me wonder.

 

[ian lanc]

Anyone noticed with NEW humbrol paint tins are a THINNER metal and you can press the lid into the tinlet itself, thus' deforming the tin and not making it 'airtight'.

Production costs apply here again ! Thinner metal means cheaper production costs !!!
Yet look at the prices of the paint in some model shops i've seen a price range from 99p to £1.55p
yet the recommended price is £1.25p a tin, some model shops can get them for 45p a tin pepending
on how much they order from the trader, my local shop still sells them for 99p because he can still get
them for as cheap as they where in 1985 and has a big stock of them so theres no need to ' rip us all off '.

Humbrol paint brushes are also anther ' rip off 'some are as little as 5p a brush for the small ones, yet look how much we are charged 85p
yes i know the shop nrrds to make a bit of profit but come on, it's like bloody petrol over here in the UK ! Most of the revenue is TAX but thats a different story.



ian.

 

[ian lanc]

See what i mean about Airfix I've just opened up a new Lanc' kit and the clear parts are f*cking smashed ! this is because there allowed to move all over the place in the box

Even the actual big sprue parts have damaged the Decals

The parts where all over the place in the box and even one side window is missing, three damaged parts. Thankyou airfix.

WHATS WRONG WITH THEM GOING IN A PLASTIC BAG ? LIKE OTHER KIT MANUFACTERS DO

I wonder if Airfix knows about this thread

 

[Lucky13]

Should have the link emailed to them Ian! Hopefully get some answers.....on the other hand, who am I kidding!

 

[109ROAMING]

See what i mean about Airfix I've just opened up a new Lanc' kit and the clear parts are f*cking smashed ! this is because there allowed to move all over the place in the box

The lancaster kit I got about a year back and am preparing to build soon funnily enough looks similar

Tail end Charlies Turret actually is cracked in the exact same place too ,I've repaired it but it still looks Sh!t

someone in the back of the brain just called RAGE

 

[ian lanc]

Should have the link emailed to them Ian! Hopefully get some answers.....on the other hand, who am I kidding!

Just sent them a message via' their website about my SLIGHT problem
i'll see if they email me about the broken parts, then i'll be sending them a 'link' from this forum.

I've also just checked the rest of the kit guys and you won't believe this the fuselage halves are missing !!!! Both of them.

Give me a rope and a beam QUICK

ian

 

[Lucky13]

Just sent them a message via' their website about my SLIGHT problem
i'll see if they email me about the broken parts, then i'll be sending them a 'link' from this forum.

I've also just checked the rest of the kit guys and you won't believe this the fuselage halves are missing !!!! Both of them.
Give me a rope and a beam QUICK

ian

You've GOT to be kidding me!!

 

[ian lanc]

You've GOT to be kidding me!!

Nope i'm not kidding you this takes the bloody biscuit and are taking the p*ss, i've sent a message about it

ian.

 

[Lucky13]

To be honest, should I be buying a Airfix kit anytime soon (want the TSR-2 for a Swedish version), I wouldn't be surprised if I end up with a completely empty box.....
Or, just the decals and instructions and no plastic!

 

[lesofprimus]

What an absolute bunch of bullshit... Sounds like Airfix is really trying to put themselves out of business...

That pic u posted of the clear parts Ian is discraceful...

 

[Heinz]

Damn Ian thats rough mate!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Jeez, I must be the lucky on, my two Tornado kits, though crappy kits are complete plus more though I must confess, neither box had a bit of clear wrapping in it.

Just sent them a message via' their website about my SLIGHT problem
i'll see if they email me about the broken parts, then i'll be sending them a 'link' from this forum.

I've also just checked the rest of the kit guys and you won't believe this the fuselage halves are missing !!!! Both of them.

Man that is bad Ian, how the hell can quality control let something like that pass, that's assuming they have QC. I hope your email gets a reply and that you can get your problem sorted.

 

[Airframes]

That really is bad! It does point towards Airfix outsourcing their production - their QC and replacement policies used to be second to none in the 'good old days'. Remember the little slip of paper in the kit packages, used to request replacement parts? It was send to Haldane Place, London, and you'd get the parts virtually by return!!
It certainly does appear that Airfix is now just name, and no longer the company it was, in any form. And I don't mean just a change of ownership - I think it's a case of buying-in some product lines, and putting the Airfix name to them, as opposed to manufacturing, or have them manufacture under contract. It's taking 'badge engineering' a little too far!!

 

[ian lanc]

Do you mean this sort of slip Terry I kept this which was i my airfix Lanc' 1st moulding, that protoype lanc' i built a bit back, The punched out dots where done by the packer and inspector, so if any parts where missing the packaging could be traced back.

Airfix did away with this in the late 70's then started to punch/stamp the inside of their boxes to trace back quality control. Oh nothing yet from Airfix about mt complaint.

 

[Lucky13]

Those at and those that run Airfix today, need to look back at the history of their proud company and L-E-A-R-N! This is NOT how you run a business today!

 

[Airframes]

Totally agree with you Jan. And Ian, they still had the slips as late as the 1990's at least. There was one in my 1/48th scale Buccaneer kit, bought around 1997, which I used to obtain the missing clear sprue. (Actually, it might have been in the kit, and lost in a house move!)

 

[109ROAMING]

Those at and those that run Airfix today, need to look back at the history of their proud company and L-E-A-R-N! This is NOT how you run a business today!

I can only add they all need a good kick up the backside

That really is bad! It does point towards Airfix outsourcing their production - their QC and replacement policies used to be second to none in the 'good old days'.

Ah the 'good old days' the days of matchbox airfix and frog being made in England

Where do airfix manufacture the majority of their kits nowadays? I brought one of their new beaufighters the other month that was made in india , pretty sure the Sunderland I have is made in france.

Just curious if anyone knows

 

[javlin]

It sounds like England is doing the same thing as the US sending there manufacturing overseas because the price of labor at home or people just do not want to so that kind of work anymore.Then people wonder why we are at almost 2X pts on unemployment,I know a little politcal in a way but the truth.I would bet that even with the higher labour here in the states that Revell of America could do some good moulds for the US market make a profit and still be cheaper than than Asian circle companies alot cheaper.Just got to wonder if the market has enough buyers?

 

[Lucky13]

Feel sorry for those that used to work for this company in its glory days, what it must feel like for those, having these money hungry "know it all's" ruining a great company and for what?