For some time now I've been saying this will happen. Tamiya will release a scale model kit of the Spitfire Mk IX in the big 1:32nd scale. This is great news for scale modellers who for the first time will have an accurate and easy to build kit of this historically important Spitfire mark.
AI will be expanding their range of 1:32nd Spitfire decals to cater for this kit. I predict this kit will not only be a 'best seller' for Tamiya but set a new record for 1:32nd scale kits.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Pacific Spitfires update
Updated Pacific Spitfires site with much more to follow in the months ahead.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Airfix Mossie
It seems the Airfix 1:24th scale Mossie release date has been delayed to November/December 2009, just in time for X-mas. Airfix has a rather chequered reputation these days as a result of producing and re-releasing poor quality kits. This is a far cry from their heyday of the 60's and 70's when whatever they produced was quickly bought by children and young teenagers who accepted without complaint even the most indifferent quality kit.
There's a good chance this BIG Airfix kit will meet the expectations of most scale modelers and not fall into the 'Hopeless' category like their awful Spitfire IX kit in 1:48 scale released a few years ago. Whoever was responsible for this should have had their services terminated!
James Brayshaw has completed for AI the decal artwork for 8 Mossie's which includes a/c from both the European and Pacific theatre. We've been very lucky in getting exclusive access to some material that has allowed us to produce what will be the only accurate RAF/RAAF Mossie decals.
Given the cost of the kit is pretty high our projected sales will be 'lower than the low'. Initially I thought I'd buy 4 kits and build three for clients who wanted a completed model with unique markings (throw away the kit decals!). I've since had second thoughts and declined the work as the thought of having a production line of three kits on the go to be completed within a defined timeframe was just too much. Repetitive production line work isn't my bag. I also felt a little uncomfortable about not having seen the kit; it maybe more of a handful than anybody expects but I hope I'm wrong, don't you?
There's a good chance this BIG Airfix kit will meet the expectations of most scale modelers and not fall into the 'Hopeless' category like their awful Spitfire IX kit in 1:48 scale released a few years ago. Whoever was responsible for this should have had their services terminated!
James Brayshaw has completed for AI the decal artwork for 8 Mossie's which includes a/c from both the European and Pacific theatre. We've been very lucky in getting exclusive access to some material that has allowed us to produce what will be the only accurate RAF/RAAF Mossie decals.
Given the cost of the kit is pretty high our projected sales will be 'lower than the low'. Initially I thought I'd buy 4 kits and build three for clients who wanted a completed model with unique markings (throw away the kit decals!). I've since had second thoughts and declined the work as the thought of having a production line of three kits on the go to be completed within a defined timeframe was just too much. Repetitive production line work isn't my bag. I also felt a little uncomfortable about not having seen the kit; it maybe more of a handful than anybody expects but I hope I'm wrong, don't you?
Friday, July 10, 2009
New Spitfire book
Spitfire aces of Burma and the Pacific by Andrew Thomas is the latest addition to this well known 'aces' series of books from Osprey Publishing. As usual with books in this series, they provide a general overview of the aircraft's operational use in the theatre rather than concentrating only on individual aces as the title of the series implies.The book contains 96 pages separated into 6 chapters, 4 of which cover the RAAF's use of the Spitfire in the Pacific and the remaining 2 chapters the RAF's use of the Spitfire in India and Burma. The text in each chapter describes the operational use of the Spitfire and includes excerpts from combat reports to give a pilots perspective of aerial combat. There's a good number of bw photos throughout the book that help illustrate the text.
The centre section has 9 pages of full colour 'profiles' that show the array of markings displayed on Spitfires in RAF and RAAF service. The profiles were prepared using an airbrush and paint on illustration board. This is very unusual as most aircraft profile artists long ago swapped the airbrush for sophisticated computer programs that give a photo-realistic look to the image.
On the cover is a dramatic painting showing Flt LT Foster from N0. 54 Squadron shooting down a Mitsubishi 'Dinah' on 6 February, 1943. Although I don't think it detracts from the impact of this beautiful painting, its worth noting that the markings on the Spitfire are somewhat inaccurate. Pacific Spitfires many years ago provided for the very first time details of the camouflage and markings for this historically important aircraft. This was followed by the inclusion of the aircraft in an Aero Imageworks decal which provided even more detail on its appearance. Its a shame the artist didn't buy the decal or join Pacific Spitfires before he put brush to canvas!
The book is fine for someone who knows little if anything about the Spitfires operational use in the Pacific War.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Latest AI decal orders sent out today
If you pre-ordered 'Spitfires in the Antipodes' Part 4, it is in the post this week. More on this popular decal series later.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Spitfire decal ‘controversy’ (storm in a tea cup)
Our 'Spitfires in the Antipodes' Part 3 has certainly caused some comment but for a reason nobody expected. The decal itself has not been the centre of discussion, its all about what was written in the accompanying booklet. As AI customers would know, AI set a new standard in the level of detail and quality of scale model decal instructions. It's gratifying to see many other decal producers and kit producers have followed our lead producing decal instructions that go far beyond a simple (and inaccurate) decal placement diagram!
The decal booklet accompanying 'Spitfires in the Antipodes' Part 3 simply stated the circumstances as they were at the relevant time. A more detailed and comprehensive discussion wasn’t included due to space restrictions in the booklet and secondly, it really wasn’t appropriate. This was after all a booklet accompanying a decal, it was never intended to be a complete history of the squadron and its C.O.
Much of the comment is also making reference to my letter to the editor contribution in an aviation magazine, Flightpath (worth buying btw ;)). Whilst the letter was a ‘full pager’, it isn’t a complete history by any means. The letter and booklet were not written in such a way that hidden meaning can be extracted by ‘reading between the lines’. I’ll go into the details in an article I’m currently preparing for Pacific Spitfires. Given the article will be published soon there’s little point going over the issues here.
'Spitfires in the Antipodes' Part 3 is currently unavailable as I’m concentrating my efforts on new decals. I’ll probably make it available at a later date when time permits.
The decal booklet accompanying 'Spitfires in the Antipodes' Part 3 simply stated the circumstances as they were at the relevant time. A more detailed and comprehensive discussion wasn’t included due to space restrictions in the booklet and secondly, it really wasn’t appropriate. This was after all a booklet accompanying a decal, it was never intended to be a complete history of the squadron and its C.O.
Much of the comment is also making reference to my letter to the editor contribution in an aviation magazine, Flightpath (worth buying btw ;)). Whilst the letter was a ‘full pager’, it isn’t a complete history by any means. The letter and booklet were not written in such a way that hidden meaning can be extracted by ‘reading between the lines’. I’ll go into the details in an article I’m currently preparing for Pacific Spitfires. Given the article will be published soon there’s little point going over the issues here.
'Spitfires in the Antipodes' Part 3 is currently unavailable as I’m concentrating my efforts on new decals. I’ll probably make it available at a later date when time permits.
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