Ten things Airfix need to Improve to be truly successful
Vložit
- čas přidán 7. 07. 2024
- What are the Ten things Airfix need to Improve to be truly successful? I think tackling the ten issues I raise in this video would go a long way to seeing Airfix get onto the same footing as its biggest competitors - join me to see if you agree, ot if you have different ideas.
Visit the Mann's Model Moments store for Airfix and other manufacturer kits and supplies: www.mannsmodelmoments.com/
Visit my Amazon Store for links to the products used in the videos: www.amazon.co.uk/shop/mannsmo...
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @mannsmodelmoments
Support the channel on Patreon - / mannsmodels
Beyond the Box Podcast: www.buzzsprout.com/49144/1256...
You can also watch my content on Odysee: odysee.com/$/invite/@Mann'sMo...
or Rumble: rumble.com/c/c-2451734
Subscribe - czcams.com/users/MannsModelM...
Follow on Instagram - @MannsModelMoment
Follow on Twitter - @MannsModels
Facebook Page - / mannsmodelmoments
Video Chapters
0:00 Introduction
1:49 Number 10
2:23 Number 9
3:15 Number 8
4:30 Number 7
6:02 Number 6
7:59 Number 5
9:00 Number 4
13:45 Number 3
18:00 Number 2
19:11 Number 1
20:32 Conclusions
21:48 Like, Subscribe & Share
Airfix,airfix model kits,airfix 1/48 sea king,airfix westland sea king,airfix sea king,1/48 sea king,Airfix 1/48 westland sea king,sea king,scale model,model kit,scale modelling,airfix sea king has.1,Airfix sea king has.5,Airfix sea king HU.5,sea king has 1,sea king has.5,sea king hu.5,sea king helicopter,airfix helicopter,airfix helicopter model kits,westland sea king,westland sea king airfix,westland sea king helicopter,westland sea king has, Airfix,airfix model kits,scale model,model kit,airfix 2024,airfix 1/24 spitfire,airfix starter set,airfix 1/72,airfix gannet 1/48,airfix buccaneer 1/48,airfix model kits planes,airfix model kits 2024,scale model building,scale model aircraft,scale models,airfix customer service,hornby hobbies,airfix models,airfix sea king,airfix model kits cars,airfix problems,airfix club,airfix club 2024,airfix outlet,airfix shop,airfix distributor
PIXABAY LICENSE CERTIFICATE
==============================================
This document confirms the download of an audio file pursuant to the Content License as defined in the Pixabay Terms of Service available at pixabay.com/service/terms/
Licensor's Username:
pixabay.com/users/penguinmusi...
Licensee:
u_ex8sb99phs
Audio File Title:
Sexy Urban Beat
Audio File URL:
pixabay.com/music/future-bass...
Audio File ID:
120564
Date of download:
2023-04-05 17:48:11 UTC
Pixabay GmbH c/o Lacore Rechtsanwälte LLP
Berliner Freiheit 2, 10785 Berlin, Germany
Pixabay is a user-contributed stock content website. The above-named Licensor is responsible for this audio file. Pixabay monitors uploaded audio files only to a reasonable extent. Pixabay cannot be held responsible for the acts or omissions of its users and does not represent or warrant that any required third-party consents or licenses have been obtained.
For any queries related to this document please contact Pixabay via info@pixabay.com.
==== THIS IS NOT A TAX RECEIPT OR INVOICE ====
Airfix,airfix model kits,scale model,model kit,airfix 2024,airfix 1/24 spitfire,airfix starter set,airfix 1/72,airfix gannet 1/48,airfix buccaneer 1/48,airfix model kits planes,airfix model kits 2024,scale model building,scale model aircraft,scale models,airfix customer service,hornby hobbies,airfix models,airfix sea king,airfix model kits cars,airfix problems,airfix club,airfix club 2024,airfix outlet,airfix shop,airfix distributor
Do you think I've covered the issues you see with Airfix as a company? What would you change about them if you had the chance? Let me know in the comments below...
Hi Alex, I've got a problem understanding your gripe with the No. 1 problem - the higher prices outside the UK. Just out of curiosity I took the Ferret kit as an example, and looked it up in your shop and on the Airfix website. I then compared it with the vendor list on Scalemates - and, boy, was I surprised. It turns out that I could get the kit for around the same price, or even lower, than in the UK. And I still can really get it, whereas it is sold out in the country where it is made (which is a laugh). So please tell me (and Airfix for that matter), why should a customer from the continent (to which you people are so obnoxiously proud of not belonging to 🙂) be keen on doing business with Airfix directly? Or did you only mean the B2B side of it?
@@MikeUSA67 All I can say is that you're lucky - I contacted several US friends to ask about US prices in the research on this video, and prices were consistently much higher - commenters on the video have confirmed this too. I will say this also highlights another point that shows #1 is still #1 - inconsistency. You get it at one price, three other people find it at three other prices. It also may be subject specific and that's just for ONE country. Now look at Europe - a much larger, closer and (potentially) more exploitable market and prices there are consistently higher. THAT is why international distribution is their #1 business restriction, because it's severely hampering expansion (amplified by the other points like #4 and #2).
Take Tamiya as a comparator - their kits are available globally at approximately the same price (give or take 5-10% variation due to retailers etc). Availability isn't an issue, and pricing is consistent. They have unbridled consistency of product, and those factors have driven them to their recognised position today.
@@MannsModelMoments Hmmm, I think I get it now. What you're saying is, that the overall experience a Tamiya customer gets is way more consistent because of their streamlined and strategic distribution system. Whereas the experience an Airfix customer gets more or less happens by happenstance, right? Thank you very much for for taking your time and explaining that in detail. I really should have had business economics rather than administrative science in university 🙂
@@MikeUSA67 No worries!
I just opened a brand new Hurricane 1/72 gift set. At least one of the paints is clearly dried out. Now brace yourself. There was another set of brand new pots, no glue, in a click lock baggy. I suggest Airfix is clearly listening to you and others. Keep up the pressure. And the great work.
It's sad that everything these days seems only possible 'on line', yet still incredibly expensive. I gave up on this particular hobby, not because I 'grew up' but because small town model shops mostly ceased to exist. Nothing compares to the pleasure of cycling into town to visit a real shop and either ordering or making a purchase then and there.
Hi, I've been building plastic sailing ships since 1963 and after decades, and can finally ask the big question, "Why do the modeling companies keep releasing sailing ships from molds that were made 65 years ago?" Airplane and car modelers get new model kits every year, and we sailing ship modelers have to contend with building the same old sailing ship kits that were developed 65 years ago. How about an Airfix 1/72 scale bomb vessel like the HMS Terror from the mid 18th century? Most of them were under 100 feet which would work well as a 1/72 scale model like the Airfix 1/72 scale Golden Hinde. And it would be something brand new for us sailing ship modelers.
I assume it's a far smaller market than that for planes and cars. But Chinese and Ukranian manufacturers are quite prolific, so never say never but perhaps not Airfix.
Ah! It's you! I often wondered who built the sailing ships.
Cost verses profit
Totally agree with Everything you said as being predominantly a sailing ship modeller too.
I would also say that modellers saying that sailing ships is a niche market that they need to do their homework first on this. There are Tens of of thousands of sailing ship modellers out there you only need to take note of Forums, Fb , CZcams etc.. to see the numbers. I am including in this Plastic and wooden ship modellers because most of us if not all have built plastic kits, but through decades that's why myself included have turned to wooden ship kits to build newer models than that supplied by Airfix 65yrs ago.
I love Airfix of the past because everything then was new to me as a kid, now there is absolutely nothing.
Monetary wise I will give you a small hint to what Airfix is losing out on and has been for some time, these are my own monetary values but on average can be sourced across all sailing ship modellers.
Prices for EACH wooden sailing ship kit that I have actually purchased are between £150 - £500 and I have built or in stock/wip are about 14 kits which to the plastic kit modellers may not seem much, but the Cost is what Airfix is losing out on per kit. Also and Airfix plastic sailing ship kit retails for roughly £40 from Airfix which is only a quarter of the lowest priced wooden kit gives you a better idea the kind of money Airfix is neglecting.
Airfix's loss is another companies massive gain that's why these wooden ship companies such as Amati, Artesania latina, Billings boats, Caldercraft, Corel, Dusek Mamoli, Mantua, Panart, Occre, Sergal, Victory models, Vanguard models, Maris stella, Ships of Pavel Nitkin, Trident models, Modellers Dockyard etc.. are all still in business.
Don't wait on some company to make subjects you like. 3D printers are more affordable now, get one and you will have a whole new world to explore at your leisure.
Here in the States, Airfix is almost an afterthought. Some planes have been well received lately, such as the Fairy Gannett and a few other British types that lacked any good alternatives, such as the Buccaneer, Vulcan, and Meteor. Outside of some British subjects, they have been beaten to the punch by numerous Far Eastern and European companies. Their armor kits are not taken seriously by any armor modeler that I know of, and most of their ships are not up to today's standards. Airfix needs to be more nimble and do subjects that are currently underserved and that would have international appeal.
The Airfix 1/35 armour kits, with the exception of the Cromwell and the Ferret are all Academy kits. Most of these are reasonably well regarded so I’m not sure what you mean by “not taken seriously” unless people are unaware of the link.
They're getting better. Their 1/48th P-40B was great, and no doubt the best one out there in 1/48th. Some others that are really good are their 1/48th Spitfire, Hurricane, P-51, and Boulton-Paul Defiant. Their newest 1/48th Gannett looks top notch. I'm mostly a 1/48th aircraft modeler, so I can only speak for those.
Spot on Alex,being a expat living in Germany i do not buy alot of Airfix kits at the moment.But this is not due to shipping costs only,but one sided selection.
Can't wait for this. The more I look at other kits, Airfix are definitely falling behind, and they shouldn't be as it's their forte! Let's see what you've got.
As a French modeller, my favorite subject in aviation is... the Royal Air Force of the WW2 ! That's why I often buy Airfix kits. Really happy to see they have released some very nice new kits, but I hope they will go on to replace their old moulds.
Generally speaking, I find that most manufacturers release the same subjects. I notice that as soon as I want to build a particular plane, I have to find an old kit, and it is often an Airfix.
Very good points..Airfix would do well re-tooling some of their older kits.!.Airfix release some great British classic aircraft but some need updating..Why let another company release a new kit that Airfix has before.So Airfix could go back and update with new moulds and come out winning.!
All the best from the U.K and happy modeling.!🇬🇧🇫🇷❤️🇪🇺👍
@@themajesticmagnificent386 Thank you :) I would like Airfix to make a new Handley Page Halifax for example, and it is a shame that it is Italeri, and not Airfix, which has released a new Stirling.
@@jerrymail If they had sense. they'd have a 5 yea plan to release a couple of new WW2 classics in 1/72 and 1/48 a year to have a complete range of WW2 British aircraft. They could expand that to French and Italian. They dont need to announce this as a plan, just a long term goal. There is so much potential to create loyalty and demand, by having a structure to work around imo.
They make plenty of infrastructure for their model railways, so a move into the more diverse diorama market, especially for SIG's, would be welcome.
Well done for posting this. Many brits with channels say nothing bad about Airfix. I stopped buying Airfix apx 4 years ago. Main reason being poor quality of moulding. Nearly every kit had a issue, warpage, shrinkage, short shots. Sometimes 1 of the above or all. This is OK if its on a 30 year old kit costing 3.99 BUT it's not. It's on the latest kits, these kits are greatly engineered with top detail but poorly moulded. Apart from the moulding issue, you have the cheap plastic and the throw it all into 1 bag. Airfix can not be this stupid and not know if these easy to fix issues, so it must be a penny pinching issue. Unless more is said by us modellers nothing will change.
I recently bought the Airfix 1/35 Ferret Mk2 kit. Top marks for choice as this is a kit with very wide appeal in this scale. The kit itself was a mixed bag, it went together well but the detail was sketchy. There was some nicely done fine detail, but this was spoiled to a large extent by thick and bulky looking hull front access door and the four armoured window / ports on the upper hull. But the worst part was the toy like rear hull air intake grill, this was very poorly done. I am an experienced modeller and corrected the parts, but I should not have to do this, most other kit companies get it right. Prices should be more consistent, I am in the US but got my kit cheaper from China, with lower postage than domestic.
I've got to agree about the rear engine deck grills on the ferret, when I first saw them I thought they had been miss moulded ! It's a shame because the rest of the kit is quite a fair effort for the price 🤔
@@johngreen-sk4yk I was a big fan of Airfix as I started building them in the early 1960s. They produced some really nice kits like the 1/32 Military vehicles which were never popular as everyone was building in 1/35. I was excited at the "New Tool" 1/35 Cromwells, but the kits we got were copies of the 1990sTamiya kits, with screwed-up wheels! Now the Ferret with its issues, it seems Airfix just cant get it right after 70+ years of kit production!
When I was a kid in the 1970’s were the bigger brand for model kits here in NL. Nowadays I don’t see their kits on shop shelves anywhere. Ordering anything from the UK into Europe is a pain and usually takes two weeks or more. I buy kits from an online store in Poland it takes about four weekdays for them to arrive and that’s the cheapest option.
Also I like Eduard, Tamiya, or Hasegawa, ICM a lot better. I have looked at recent Airfix kits that have attractive British subjects such as the Hawker Sea Fire but I couldn’t be persuaded to buy.
British subjects ? Well, we did win the war!!!!! 😊
Seriously, as a scifi modeller, it always amazes me to see the big companies all releasing the same kits (Spitfires, Tigers etc.) - did Airfix really need to release a new Chinook?
You are deluded. We (Australians, Canadians, Poles, Czechs, South Africans, French, Indians et al) won the Battle of Britain, but the Yanks won the war. Just as the Yanks didn't win the Great War, but in their delusion, think they did.
The worst bit about "another spitfire" was every CZcams model maker thought they'd be original and do a multipart build video, Airfix, then that Kiwi one. My God! What a borefest that all became. Fair play to Gary for doing a pink one and Greg for holding off. That said, every man and his dog has Seakinged and Gannetted now with little being brought to the party except the Seaking chicken coop which broke the monotony of that one (can't remember who did it but it was excellent; think he was a Brummie, maybe). I think captain crazy fingers is still on part nineteen of his unboxing video on that one... Yawn.
@@intothenight756d47 I was being (or attempting to be) humerous Chris - you obviously take your comments as seriously as you (presumably) take your modelling! Chill and paint a Gundam ☺
@@typhoon2827 I like Greg's builds too - would still watch him doing a Spitfire!
They should offer more non-British marking/paint schemes, such as the commonwealth forces who used the various planes for their own services. There is a little parochialism in all of us & it'd be nice to get kits where there's an Aus, Canada, NZ, India etc. option.
Couldn't agree more - especially when manufacturers like ICM do this!
It sounds as if Airfix/Hornby are still looking at their 'hey days' and this will not work, it is people like yourself they should be talking with, but they need to listen to what you would have to say, bedt regards from a Kiwi living in Australia
A great video, good to see a professional appraisal. I grew up on Airfix, having watched it resurrect itself it’s a shame to see it ‘flounder’. As an advertising man myself I have one additional thought to consider, as all your points are bang on I believe. Experience has thought me that brands are driven the companies motives which is often hidden behind corporate speak, a bit of digging and you sometimes find that the investors heart really isn’t in it plain and simple. No matter how hard management try, without the investors heart behind it, it will always miss reaching its full potential. This MAY be the case here, everything the team at Airfix is doing shows passion and effort, I get the sense that the hidden powers that be don’t have that. As wise minds often say, if you want the answer-follow the money. I wonder how many of Airfix’s investors grew up on Airfix like many of us.
Personaly they should release the stands for aircraft models....and im NOT talking about the crappy clear stands....in the instructions for smaller kits they show a stand that looks like the stand that comes with the dogfight doubles although it only holds 1 model.. the instructions CLEARLY say it's available seperatley when in fact that stand is NOT available.
My advice for the collecting of their flying hours is save them up and donate them to models for heroes .
100%
yes, as a USA modeler this is what I am going to do.
i work at Marcway models in sheffield and i agree with everything you say in this video 100%
Alex, great insight and coverage of Airfix today. I hope they do tackle some of these issues as I’m sure as a British company, we would all like them to thrive and bring us even better kits. All we can do is watch this space and see how they progress over the next few years. 🤞
As a asian moved from asia to uk, may be i can share some opinions. To me, Airfix is trying to make a reputation that Airfix = UK topic, Airfix new products like SeaKing, Ferret has highly welcomed as their unique and served in commonwealth (even it is expensive in asia). So i think they trying to setup something like “if i go Uk topic, go Airfix” as separated market sector, also it make them avoid direct compete with high priced state of the art molding in Tamiya and medium priced but more variety like Korean Academy or plane specific Hasegawa, soivet/russia line in ex-Red counties, Italy line in Italeri (Nice MC202), although there is a question that Commonwealth is large enough to feed them or not. In UK, I can see Airfix is trying to re-build the model generation from snap kit to starter kit, they can easily found in Museums gift area, sometime in supermarket or art shop, those kids will become major consumer in next 10-20 years (Can airfix last for long?), Airfix also quick learn from other companies which tricks is doing minor version changes or replacing a new decal (You know which company), so they can use the same injection mold (most expensive part) and keep their product has some thing new, drawback is need to clean out those stock or make it limited-run (In certain point, it has collectable value on ebay, but it become a temptation for you to keep buyng, wife hate that).
My ideas? Always new mold is a heavy investment, so they are clear that try to be unique and isolate from international direct competiton (Yes, not another 1/35 Tiger1?). In 90s (even 2000), domestic model company will repack licensed models from other countries (Now Tamiya still line up and repack Italeri and add their own figure set), may be this can apply to Challeger (New parts for Challenger4?). 2. How about line up with publisher to make premium kits bundle with reference? For those UK topic references easily found WH Smiths are not available and expensive in other places of the world (You simply not know this existance of them if no one import them). 3. May be Airfix expand their boundary to other non-traditional topic ? For example: Snapkits in Teletubies, Pony, AmongUs or Minecraft?
For Airfix club, my impression is the department lack of resource and they still testing what to do, also p&p cost is high and involving customs clearance (import tax in customer country), that's my impression on why they are UK focused (High running cost). I can share that for some Japanese company, they also has club for their domestic people only (Member must be local phone or the registration not supporting non-Japanese address), or their international memebership is a trim-down without local goodies, this raised a new grey area business for local people onbehalf oversea fans to trade with local supplier and export the local-only member goods to oversea, alhough this may violate the T&C.
Thanks for the input, it's certainly the way it seems for me, but I do think that limits them for the future.
About non-traditional topics (or licensed properties for that matter), Airfix used to do a lot of non-traditional subjects such as birds, royalty, saints, human anatomy, etc.
They did have a few licensed kits as well, the last ones I can remember being for Aardman properties.
Some interesting hot takes. I like the cheap 1/72 kits to practice on. But I can agree with point 2 (and touched on in 5) on quality control issues. The MiG-17F I recently built on my channel had some terrible fit issues despite being a 2019 tooling. It was pretty disappointing, but the model still turned out okay with more extra effort than I planned to invest initially.
As a modeller living outside the UK, I can vouch for all your points in the video concerning this matter Alex, especially the bit about paying a huge premium for any Airfix kit here. I do not expect to pay a similar price as buying Airfix in the UK, but having to fork over double or even triple the suggested UK retail price is too painful. This and manufacturing-quality issues are what Airfix most needs to address, in my opinion.
I have been building Airfix kits since around 1970 and I love the brand. My real love though, is for classic car models and there are not many in the current range. I would welcome some of the old ones making a comeback, even if the moulds are a little tired. I cannot be the only one who would like to see more 'non-aircraft' kits added to the range. This omission has been driving me reluctantly to other brands.
I agree. And it's one area where Airfix could really do something with its UK focus! The modelling demographic is such that British classic cars of the 70s and 80s are right bang in their sights, but sadly there are very few. The Japanese manufacturers naturally focus on boring Japanese models, and ditto the Americans. So come on Airfix, there's a golden opportunity and an almost totally untapped seam of interest there, I think!
Agree with all his points.
At my local hobby store the 1/48 Sea King has just arrived.
$130 Australian Dollars (£67.50).
A very good, well thought out, and well delivered break down of perceived problems, with ways to improve going forward (not often the case these days!) And from a "model shop" owners perspective too. Hopefully Airfix will see this video, take note and use your insights to improve their position in the market If you don't get taken on as a consultant by Airfix, then their board/owners need to sell the business and move on to something else.
I live in Australia and the postage is ridiculous I order things from the UK all the time and postage nowhere as much so it can be done if they could be bothered
As a UK customer that just restarted the hobby in the last 12 months, things I'd like to see Airfix do.
1. Less of a focus on WW2 and more cold war and beyond stuff.
2. More international stuff
3. Look for gaps in the market like a new SR71, U2 or F35-C or the J20 as mentioned.
I understand the spitfire mark 1 probably helps keep the lights on but do an unexpected new kit now and again.
Hornby do the same stuff with their model railway side in terms of the retail side of things. This makes them unpopular with retailers and one of the biggest recently closed down due to trading conditions generally.
As for the QC, Hornby have a habit of poor qc for their railway items, though they are currently made across multiple factories in China. They have announced plans to move the railway items to India over the coming years.
Hornby have a long standing financial difficulty and they have been on the verge of going bankrupt several times and they are still onto recently doing better, but still precarious.
Well I know a lot of the poor practice is Hornby-level rather than Airfix-level, which also means it's easier to change if Hornby want to, since it's mandated at the highest level. It also means it's unfortunately less likely to get that leadership mandate
They've not announced plans to move the railway lines to India. Just the Airfix Quick Build from Sussex to India.China has the model railway manufacturing skills, India does not yet.
Have you seen that Frasers Group (Mike Ashley) have taken a holding worth about 9% in Hornby?
Frasers statement includes "we look forward to exploring opportunities to further leverage our scale in retail logistics and distribution."
Yes - hopefully it helps!
Im a US builder. I love Airfix… they cemented me as a customer with their customer service. However…. It is frustrating the price difference. I watch a lot of you Brit CZcamsrs and I hear your prices, I pay just about double. I recently ordered a Pazer IV H. I originally wanted to go with the new Airfix… but it was the same price as the Rye Field. The Rye field looked to be a much better kit, so I went with them. I don’t mind dropping $50-60 on a kit but I get the best kit available for that price. The VC line here runs between $30-40. Which with some of the issues surrounding the VC’s just seems to be too much.
Then there’s the Airfix club and flying hours which are useless to me. Im saving my flying hours to send to that UK charity. Models for hero’s or whatever it’s called, I forget off hand.
One thing i think they do get right is the classic line
I really enjoyed this, as an Australian the markets completely make sense. Airfix make good kits, they need to adapt.
I live in Spain, usually while shopping i am not even looking at airfix kits. For some reason it developed an image of cheap poorly done products (which does not have to be true) 🤷🏻♂️
I’m in NE France on the German border. The modellers here on both sides of the border think the same. My friends are surprised by the quality on post 2010 Airfix moulds.
But they’re too expensive for what they are and it’s difficult for suppliers to get hold of Airfix.
The railway modellers won’t even touch Hornby!!!
Ian
How about bringing manufacturing back to the U.K.? I’m sure it can be done better here, apart from the decal sheets of course. Another idea, how about an Australian Mk.21 Beaufighter, simple addition parts and some very nice decals?
That would be cool...and is possible as we saw with the Spitfire....but it does have its own issues. Capacity, pricing and so on....I think it's unlikely as Hornby seems to also be moving train production to India. I think I'd opt for a middle ground and strengthen the Academy relationship and have them tool more - I haven't yet seen QC issues on the 1/35th scale Airfix armour....better QC whilst keeping reasonable production costs from a manufacturer in the same industry....certainly as a short-medium solution, anyway.
It’s purely down to the cost of labour. Back in 1999, we evaluated the cost of manufacture of one of our products. Labour costs were as follows. USA$7.50/hr, U.K. $12.50/hr, Saint Lucia $1/day! China $0.01/day. In China you paid the factory owner a set fee for the month, regardless of the quantity produced. Labour costs were tiny. End result, the US, U.K., and Saint Lucia plants closed.
@@akula9713 which is incredibly short-sighted. How much money are Airfix wasting in customer care support and free replacements, as well as list revenue due to brand damage? That's why they need to get hold of the QC issues or accept higher production costs to benefit longer term growth and reduced support costs
@@MannsModelMoments That example was for a typical disk thermostat often found in kettles, and various other appliances. In the 2000s I worked in electronics, same result, if there was a significant labour content element in an assembly, China was 40% cheaper. What did we do? We designed the assembly to have as many machine placeable components as possible. If the assembly was 90% auto inserted, 10% manual then the costs were the same, even taking sea freight into account. How did we further improve on quality? Optical recognition systems! For Airfix to do this would mean considerable investment, and bringing plastic injection moulding back in house. They are, in my opinion a small company lacking in resources, financially and skill wise, to compete in a world wide market. Your graphic showing the demographic breakdown of the customer base was interesting, as it clearly shows that the younger generations are not getting into the hobby as many of us did in the 1960s or 1970s. I used to be a senior manager in a Japanese multinational, and love analysing companies that have issues. Retired now.
An well measured video i think, and I agree with the club needing updating for the modern age. I still had to send off a cheque for P&P to get my "free" kit with my flying hour coupons - i know people even my own age don't know how to write cheques and I even had to google it just to make sure I was doing it right as I hadn't written one myself since 2009 lol
I would like to get a 3D printer. On the HMS Victory, I have spent well over $1000.00 on 3D printed parts designed for the 1/84 scale Victory. It would definitely be advantageous to own my own printer, but I want Airfix to succeed too. Offering new accessory kits for their large scale sailing ships would be something Airfix could offer all year every year.
The Elgoo Saturn 2 8k is only £350
I think Airfix needs a complete overhaul. It still resonates as kits for kids, which although was commendable at its prime, is now not their customer base. Yes some kids do buy, but they also buy from other manufacturers and most of us in older years would recommend other brands today for accuracy, quality and better bang for the buck for a starter.
Revell got themselves out of this hole by their alignment with Dragon kits reboxed and their new range of kits, the U Boats being a great example.
Airfix should up their game, a high price mark for a nostalgic name doesn’t sway anymore when the quality is, in many cases, sub par!
I was hoping for Airfix stepping up to the plate for the Royal Navy. It would seem that Airfix would blow away the other companies if they offered something completely new like a Royal Navy bomb vessel in 1/72 scale. Just think of all the variations in rigging. Airfix could design one mold for the hull and then offer it as a brig, a top sail schooner, or schooner depending upon which bomb vessel or rocket vessel Airfix produces.
One bugbear of mine (and it's not just Airfix) is that modern models rarely come with a pilot figure. The after-market isn't adequate, and what is there is too expensive. So let's see a comeback for the humble pilot please! (I generally model wheels-up btw).
Few kits do.....of any brand.
As a US customer, I heartily agree with your No.1 point - Airfix's distribution to the US is DREADFUL, and the prices are so much higher than in the UK. It can be MONTHS before new Airfix stuff reaches these shoes, and when it does, prices work out at over 50% higher than UK retail. Yes, I know international shipping is slow and expensive, but Airfix really needs to do better if they are to have more impact in this country.
Well, I will caveat that - it's either slow OR expensive. I can get a kit to you within 3 days (ask John Alec Scale Modelling), but it's expensive - adding about 50% to the cost....but if you ship a pallet through an established channel it should be slow but not that expensive...so yeah, I don't know what they're doing!
That seemed like a well-informed and balanced critique. You could split those things into short term (which they could do almost immediately), medium term, and longer term.
Long term, things like choosing a less parochial set of subjects for future kits and improving overseas distribution.
Medium term, working with suppliers to improve quality control.
Short term, doing more to support the current distribution channels. Make it easier to order product. Avoid deep discounting on your direct sales channel (or make the same deals available to your retailers). Maybe even have introductory/small retailer discounts to help grow your distribution network?
Absolutely!
When I was a kid Airfix kits tended to be the ones I got, at least for starters, before I went into Italeri or Revell. The reason was usually a broader field of subjects to chose from. I think this is something that limits Airfix to this day. They have a considerable focus on quite a small array of aircraft, which tend to be the usual WW2 planes, while some of their more varied kits are very old and can be frustrating to work with (and others never get any attention). It'd be nice for them to broaden their catalogue beyond mostly British aircraft or the same types. I would've loved to see a new tool 1/48 Jaguar, for instance, or to do some older versions of modern jets in the old two tone scheme of the 80s, rather than the greyer later models. Just for a bit more variation in subject matter.
There is a huge gap in the market for really nice new 1/48 Jaguar, Tornado, Eurofighter, F-35 without silly raised panels, Lightning, Mirage F1 to 2000, F-111, Harrier, F-15C, 1/72 B-58, SR-71. These are the planes that people in their 30s saw flying around as kids (not the B-58 buts it's just too cool) at airshows and zooming past their homes and want to build imo. Oh and 1/350 HMS Queen Elizabeth/POW.
Kids can't afford the hobby and haveTikTok, but the generation of 30-40 has some time and money available, so they want to make the kits of stuff that they like, then their own kids can be introduced to the hobby.
I think the really old tool stuff should be abandoned or sold at huge discounts to make it so a kid (parent) could buy one for a £5-10 and knock it together and shoot it with air guns. I built these kits as a kid and never needed "beginner" snap together kits that cost almost the same as a proper kit.
I wish they would produce 1/24 scale model cars to give Revell a run for their money. There are many classic models from years gone by that aren't German, Japanese or American.
I really hope Airfix watch this!
You forgot the dreaded dried-up paints in their Starter Sets which must have put off a lot of beginners.
Well tbf this is not a uniquely Airfix problem - Italeri are the only company that actually supply decent paints with their starter kits - it's just a shame about the kits they supply!
@@MannsModelMoments Well tbf also, Italeri are not a company for people just getting started in the hobby. I have been building there kits for a few years now and find them good,just need more work. Plus they have a good selection.
There was a conversation with Airfix on another channel about this. They openly said that they have a lot of stock of these pints and won't replace them until they've been cleared..
Why, so they can file a lawsuit?!
@@lakesexplorer6744 Who?
Very good points based on your experience.
As a consumer, quality control is probably the main issue. Have had a kit with one frame missing and another duplicated. Was dealt with quickly but why not try to avoid that hassle? Others like classic boxings have damaged parts. Improving packaging and QC should reduce the costs in rectifying issues. You do need to check every kit to make sure it is OK when you get it.
Some kit prices seem fine, the Sea King and 1/24 Spitfire for example appear affordable and almost a little under priced whilst others like the Vulcan and Buccaneer appear pricey in comparison.. Some of the subject choices are maybe too niche which will limit appeal. Not doing both versions of the Gannet for example.
Within Hornby, Airfix seems to be a decent brand. Hornby railways though appear to have an excessive profit margin especially and QC issues. Maybe recent management changes will take a little while to filter down and take effect.
One big thing they do have is that the Airfix designers and staff have a real passion and pride in what they are doing. You can see that from the launch videos and announcements.
Completely agree!
All excellent points Alex, I will be interested to see how Airfix respond to them. I am in the UK and of a certain age that I was brought up building Airfix kits with very little alternative bar Revell, so have like a lot of people a certain affinity to them.
Well I don't think Airfix will respond to them specifically, I'm just hoping that someone in corporate responds in some manner....but I'm not holding my breath!
Good video agree with all of it, have enjoyed most of the new tooling models but I feel where Airfix are missing a trick is in the lack of inclusion of say photo etch little add ons like chain string wire to give the average modeller the bit extra in box to improve your model. Sure you can get aftermarket but all of the other manufacturers include the basics.
All your points are valid. I'm an Australian and I thought about joining the Airfix club, but as you pointed out not worth it. Also the price/ value ratio is too high.
I've also not joined this year - I have the pin, remove before assembly tag, stickers and a poster, and kits are widely available at Airfix club prices outside of the Airfix website. So the main benefit is the club kit, which is super subjective and if you wait a year Airfix releases it anyway...so where's the value?
If you do another one of these for Tamiya, May I suggest having a website that doesn’t look like it’s from 2002?
Do you mean Tamiya's website, or mine?
@@MannsModelMoments Tamiyas website
@@MannsModelMoments Tamiya
@@jaws848 yes, Tamiya has an awful website - but then it doesn't generally use it as a webstore....
@@MannsModelMoments Flaw #2
They have certainly improved in a number of areas i think, there's always room for more though.
Some of their issues can probably be traced to who was in charge at hornby at a given time and their views on where airfix and other brands fit alongside the railway items.
Also, in one of your podcast episodes with mos you mentioned the 1/76 vs 1/72 vehicle scales. The 1/76 vehicle scale will always be a better fit for hornby than 1/72 as it matches the scale for 4mm:ft model railways, OO is not a scale however, it is a gauge and a historical compromise at that. The old OO/HO label should never be used as they are not the same other than the track. Ho of course being 1/87 scale. Also military subjects are rather popular amongst railway modellers, and the small number of military wagons sold sell rather well. Trains4U/Cavalex make the more modern warflat wagons with trains4u making a range of 3d printed vehicles suitable for the wagons in 4mm scale with 2mm and 7mm (1/43 scale) planned.
4mm to a foot makes me irrationally angry. I could see 1:25/50/75/100/250/500/1000 or the easily divisible 12 based ones (even if they are based in inch to feet). Matching metric with Imperial is weird.
@@mycatistypingthis5450 it is one of the historical things where there were international scales, which Britain didn't adopt. In the case of 4mm scale, the europeans and americans went with 3.5mm/ft and called it HO (or Half O) and the scale was 1:87, but in Britain, our loading gauge is smaller, so we had a problem with motors in the 50s being too big for 3.5mm to work, so 4mm was chosen instead. However they went with the HO track gauge, hence the oxymoron of OO/HO branding through the 60s and 70s by the likes of Airfix and others. Its typically just referred to as OO gauge rather than 4mm these days (the scale is 1:76.2 however). Similar is true for the other scale/gauges of UK model railways, O is 1:43.5 or 7mm/ft, N is 1:148 (europeans use 1:160) or 2mm/ft and so on. This disparity with the US and Europeans has meant our model railway market has been somewhat of a niche.
Weird as it sounds it is what has stuck for model railways. You'll see a combination of 4mm, 1:76 or OO gauge (the true gauge is actually 18.83mm rather than the 16.5mm used by 4mm/OO commercially, this standard is known as P4 and requires the track being hand built) used. Thankfully the OO/HO combo labeling has dissapeared these days as that really was a mess and typically used for figures and vehicles.
If you think UK postage is bad, try living in Australia. Here, we have to order - wait for it - 250 POUNDS worth of kits to qualify for free postage. It used to be half that, but was sent to the new insane level several years ago.
It makes pre-ordering kits almost impossible unless you can get enough people together to bulk order the one kit, as free postage won't work for multiple pre-orders.
Without free shipping, it's cheaper to just buy it locally, or simply not bother, since many other large manufacturer's kits can be bought here cheaper than the Airfix offering.
Airfix's benefit to the Hobby are the Subjects they release. Im not British, however I do like the fact they deal with those subjects.
Their downfall is the mold process and QC.
I'm in the middle of the Sea King and it has shown they've come along way. However they used massive attachment points to eliminate Short Shots. You can tell different people worked on different aspects of the kit. Some things are well done, others not so much.
Leave everything off the kit if there are different versions in the box. Let us attach them. Removal of such items is a pain. Antenna should be drilled out for attaching, not filling divets if they arent used, etc...
They've come along way though
It didn't work, as the example I received was short shot!
Amazing. They must have a contract with India since they keep using them. Luckily my kit was ok which tells you QC isn't all that great when issues continue to surface hit and miss@@MannsModelMoments
Airfix once upon a time used to be an international brand, the name synonymous with plastic modelling here in Australia. Today I consider it a UK focussed brand in every respect. Worst of all, the pricing isn't commensurate with either comparative product or the market. Hence 1/32 & 1/48 Hasegawa, Tamiya, Eduard, Zvezda & Revell all feature more in my aircraft stash than Airfix. In armour, their 1/35 Academy rebox line doesn't even get a look in over Tamiya, Dragon, Zvezda & Trumpeter.
Interestingly, here in the UK Hasegawa kits very expensive. I’m not sure if this is the same as the Airfix effect but in reverse!
@@iannicholls7476 I don't source Hasegawa locally. Single line distro price gouging loaded. Direct from an etailer in Japan even with high postage is a lot cheaper!
I build different brands as well, I think airfix ones are pretty good. And if a particular kit is suspect in some areas, I quite like the challenge. Thanks for the video.
It has always amused me with Airfix. They release a kit, you look at it and think, why? For example, the two most famous passenger ships of the 1910s were the Titanic and the Lusitania………so they released the Mauretania, of course. Years ago, an English company (Airfix) releases aircraft with a (tenuous) connection to the Battle of Britain. So, did they release the Spitfire Mk1, no, they released the MkIX . Did they release the Heinkel III P1, no, they released the H20. Aside from Revell, most model companies are now releasing ship models in either 1/700, 1/350 or 1/200 scales……..so Airfix is sticking with 60 year old castings of ships in 1/600. They need to take a good look at what is hitting the market from Trumpeter and Very Fire, they would realize they are fast becoming irrelevant in the market . I am aware of the price difference but, most modelers are ok with paying a higher price for a quality mould, good fitting, accurate model.
I joined the Airfix Club this week, I have a large amount of flying hours so thought why not. I’m quite disappointed with the range of kits I can get with the hours, I fancied some 1/35 armour but I can’t claim any of it. This is despite the armour being cheaper than the larger aircraft kits in the scheme.
Yeah, exactly. Watch my video on the Airfix Club for 2023 to see how to get the best value from your flying hours
It just isn't worth the outlay sadly.
The exclusive models are fairly easy to get second hand. And you will probably save 10% or more with 3rd party retailers.
It has the same problems that the hornby club for model railways has too. They have about 5 across their UK brands alone, one for 4mm, one for the new tt:120 range, one for scalectrix I think, one I think for corgi and the airfix one. They would be better off merging them and using the hornby points instead of the flying hours by letting you submit your retail receipts as proof of purchase.
Devensega you just reminded me of another point about the Airfix Club. IMHO the club kit shouldn't be a kit at all, but a /voucher/ to buy any kit to that value, or add money to it if you want a more expensive kit. At the moment the club kit is only an aircraft; pointless if you like anything else.
@@julianmhall Either a voucher or a monthly amount of hornby points which equate to a given value you can get off. Also they really should give club members free postage on all orders (effectively like how a lot of streaming services work by disabling adds if you buy premium etc). Alex's point about non-UK value is also rather valid too I think, they should partner with 3rd party retailers in other regions and offer them to distribute on their behalf.
@@bionicgeekgrrlI had another thought about the voucher / Flying Hours, pretty much the same as your suggestion of the Hornby points. As I suggested keep track online of a customer's points (whatever they get called) and just add an equivalent of say a Scale 2 kit to the number of hours on their balance. Far cheaper than manufacturing and distributing kits, and cheaper than printing and distributing vouchers. The customer gets what they want, /and/ the company saves money. I see no down side here.
I'm from Italy and i really wanna buy some Airfix set but...damn, they cost me double of the prices here. It's so sad :/
Another very informative video that Airfix should be showing to their board members before dishing out the bacon rolls and tea. I agree with everything you said and and every bullet point was on target (Yes - the pun is very intended). There was a time when making models was "doing an Airfix" but now there are many other manufacturers out there ... but most are not make their own kits as most seem to reboxing kits from moulds by other manufacturers. As I look around my room I can see 61 models on display. About 70% are airfix, 20% are Revell and the others are Academy (there is 1 Italeri kit - once bitten, twice shy) and it is all a sea of blue white red roundals and green and brown camo - with the exception of 1 shelf. It's all bright Red (That1:48 Chipmunk was not as easy as it looks and doesn't look like it's a 1:48 model) . I'm bored with green and brown. I want some colour on display. I have a Bell X1 (Revell), A North Sea Trawler (Revell), A Dauntless and Hellcat - Midway colours - (Academy). A Manx Norton (Italeri - when you want a Manx there is only one). Can you see a pattern emerging. Come on Airfix, less of the Camo and a bit more of colour in the range (and I don't do cars. If I wanted car models, I would buy Diecast). One last thing - MisterCraft - WHY????
Colours! Why so few airliners? Why stick to 1/144th which can be quiet large? Hasegawa had a good range at 1/200th which is manageable for 747s, A380s etc. How about injection molded civil aircraft kits of subjects that are unique - surely there is a market for that. Example a 1/48th Beechcraft King Air B200 or B350 (military, civil, private - so many options) a popular aircraft with no decent injection molded sample on the market, or a 1/200th 707-320, DC8 (-63 with -73 engine option). I don't want to see yet another Bf109/Spitfire/F16 - try something different. With shipping: How about a 1/350th Jack-Up Vessel for windfarm installation? Airfix need to be bold in my opinion. Good video with valid points which I have used to give my unrelated feedback so thanks.
Very thought provoking! I see their issues in two parts, one as a modeller and the other as a business focused problem. I think we've all experienced the quality control issues, which should be expected in any kit. BUT, at the price we pay for these kits it's not acceptable, nor unreasonable to expect the extra quality control checks to stop this. Equally, the Airfix customer service issues is just as bad in my opinion. On a couple of occasions where I've had to request new parts, because of quality issue's, it has been a very uncomfortable experience. I don't mind giving the batch details etc., fair enough, it's when your asked where did you purchase it from that gets me. What does that matter.. On the other hand, my first contact with them was to get the instructions for the Walrus kit, they could do enough for me, hard copies and pdfs..
Regarding the business problems, I agree that it shouldn't be difficult to source good wholesalers within those areas, it's a no brainer really. There doesn't seem to be any impetus on this though and I think that's to do with the current senior management. One last thing, on the credit front, they do have the process wrong - again this is a 1990's process. Any proper checks can be made through numerous information providers to check liquidity and should this not be available, the pro-forma route is reasonable, but not for 6 orders.. As a Credit Manager I find it embarrassing that a company in the 21st century still employs this draconian process.
Anyway, sorry to drone on, great video as always, keep up the good work..
I‘m a massive Airfix fan, but as an American, Hornby can be incredibly frustrating. I tried preordering some kits back in late 2020, and I was only just told that they could be shipped. Obviously it was just too late so I canceled it. That said, there are even some items that you can only buy on the UK Airfix store, like the D-day Fighters gift set. It just feels kind of like they don’t want my business.
I don't bother with the Hornby USA website - too expensive and poorly stocked. New moulds take many months to show up, as in your experience. Hornby/Airfix's international presence is very much an afterthought.
As a modeler of over 50 years since my dad made me the first red arrows gnat I have built many of the kits in the airfix range over the years. My issues with Airfix are the type of kit they produce , I know they used to have the 'series 1' range for beginners but the 'snap fix' type they do now to me shouts despiration and lack of seriousness for the hobby I understand they are trying for a younger market but these just strike me as toys. Where are the sci-fi and space kits they used to make like the Eagle transporter or starcruiser 1 , the orion from 2001 or the soyuz? I also agree with your comment on the TSR2 needing some love as my farther worked on the engines for this plane I would dearly love to build a definative one but everytime I look at my 1/48 one I dispair.
The #4 area you believe Airfix needs to improve upon is UK subjects Focus. I actually think that’s a strength. Where else can you get an English Electric Lightning, a Blackburn Buccaneer, a Fairey Gannet, Bristol Bulldog, Avro Anson, Bristol Blienheim, Hawker Sea Fury, and a BAC TSR-2 in 1/48 scale? I’m a U.S. citizen and find British aircraft subjects very intriguing. They are so different than anything else out there. Besides Airfix, not many model companies make the unusual British subjects in the scale of my choice. Right now I’m working on the Buccaneer S.2 C/D in 1/48 scale. My only gripe is that the fit could be a bit better. I had to do quite a bit of sanding to make sure panels fit flush at the attachment points. Panel lines could be a bit deeper, finer and crisp. The plastic is also still pretty soft, although that’s getting better too. Other than that, it’s not a bad kit. So, if I’m honest I have to say I love that Airfix focuses on the unusual UK subjects.
Well, you CAN'T get a EE/ BAC Lightning or TSR2 in 1/48th from them (been oop for years), and whilst I agree these kits are all good, they're not giving Airfix wider appeal in other markets to grow larger.
A very insightful video. Thanks.
@@iannicholls7476 you're welcone
Great vid, very on point. Where do I start? I probably won't be able to bring up all the points that really need to be addressed from a modeler's bench perspective. I've been a dedicated 1/72 scale modeller since 1966-67 or so and yes my first kit was an Airfix baggie Yak9D in god's scale 1/72nd. I'm shocked at how Airfix "no longer listens" when you tell them something is not right with one of their kits (the 2012 1/72 A-4B or 1/72 MkXIX Spit for instance) or what you want released as a kit subject in what scale. Airfix used to have a great and varied catalogue of kits that were focused on subjects from around the world which not only has NOT been updated with better moldings but have been ignored and the original subject molds relegated to the "Classics" which seems to mean "beware, might contain missing/misshapen bits" further damaging the brand. What is difficult is having new kits released here with stupidly high prices that I cannot hope to afford or more to the point cannot find to buy so I don't buy them. How does this help them?? It is hard to be loyal when it appears your fave model company's focus is somewhere else.
Kits are too expensive these days. Airfix will die unless it reduces its prices. If kids can't afford a kit, Airfix will die when the last of us older guys goes to the graveyard. Gone are the days when I could buy a bagged kit from Woolworths for my 2/6 (half a crown) Saturday pocket money. A small kit, such as your Yak or my Hawker Typhoon, costs pennies to manufacture. A starter kit ought not to cost as much as a new tyre for my car.
So true. I can't believe the prices of new kits down here. I mean $60 + for the new 1/72 Airfix Beaufort, same for the B-25, $90 and upwards for the B-17G and way over $100 - 150 for the Vulcan, Victor, Valiant. The 1/48 stuff I have no interest in is also seriously over priced. Airfix is killing itself when I should be the best.@@raypurchase801
Im in the US and got back into the hobby with Tamiya kits and a little from Eduard. I got one Airfix kit and it was a really frustrating experience. The fit was terrible, instructions were unhelpful, couldn't get the fuselage to aling for anything. Really turned me off from the company, which is a shame because they have some interesting subjects.
Oh yes! The Mary Rose suffered the same fate as the Wasa. I think Airfix offers a starter kit of the Mary Rose in 1/400 scale. The smaller scales are hard to do extreme detailing unless you rig the models with angel hair and an electronmicroscope. The wood model companies offer the Mary Rose in larger scales such as 1/50. Plastic sailing ship models are faster to build, but need to be large so that we can tie our square knots properly. There are so many sailing ships that Airfix could develope in a large scale. It would be new and very unique compared to other companies if Airfix offered the Mary Rose in 1/72 scale.
Being British focused for subjects is fine, but I'd like airfix to be aware of the commonwealth countries.... Prime example with the 1:48 Westland SeaKing... theirs is really not a lot needed to turn the kit into a Mk.50 Royal Australian Navy Version and the RAN has had a couple of different paint schemes in the past and Airfix could possibly even do a memorial paint scheme for 'Shark 02' crash incident in 2005.
I believe the German mk.41 could possibly be built from the 1:48 scale kit with minimal added parts.
A fairey Firefly in 48 could be done with Australian colours, colours for Australian and German fairey gannets... Australian Beauforts......
Need I go on? and continue the "Hey Australian Aircraft exist..." theme
Airfix 1:48 Scale Fairey Gannet AS.1/AS.4 price in the US including shipping- $150. Can't even find it in the US
A well thought out video, Alex.
Shipping has gone bonkers in about the same 25/30% ratio everywhere. About the QA issue - and after having worked on differents projects with India - is that they just don't care. A nod, establishing the workframe for the operation and standards to achieve, reassurance of proper operational procedures and one week later you get the same subpar result.
"Give us the money, here's the product. It doesn't meet the QA standard? Too bad for ya. We did the job; now that the prduct is sitting in your warehouse it's your problem, not ours"
Which begs the question. Why so many Airfix kits are shipped and sold to the public with these faults? If nobody is doing QA in India, the last line of defense is Airfix's own warehouse. Who's doing the QA over there? Some mutant marra as irresponsable as the Indian factory? Does Hasbro present the same injection issues? If not, the manufacturer has clearly taken the piss out of Hornby and cashing in good money for subpar products. And Hornby just doesn't seem to care because money is still flowing in. Until people get sick and tired of flawed kits and tell them to take a hike for good.
Just my two cents on what seems to be a well established trend by now.
Cheers.
Sadly, there is NO QC process in the UK - I get kits as a retailer directly in their shipping boxes from India, unopened. They ship from India to the UK and then out to customers or retailers - that's it. I imagine the Indian factory does better QC for Hasbro because they're huge, whereas Airfix is filling in time between Hasbro injection moulding runs
I can't join the Airfix club, because I am located in the USA, but I can access Hornby USA website, so they already seem to have a presence here at least. I have built and loved Airfix since the 1970s, I have even requested missing parts for kits with success. I agree unlike with Tamiya I fell like I get the scraps being here in the US.
As a brit i have given up on airfix... especially since brit youtubers get captured by airfix and showered with special provilages and gifts. I am friendly with a few of them so dont want to call them out as i like them as people.. and you are mates with them too glad you dont mind at least being honest.... i feel airfix is for 60s to 70s kids .....that are now in 50' - 60's. I grew up in the 80s/90s so i wasnt alive in the glory days so have no nostalgia for airfix.... and this is there big issue they do not bring new people to the brand. Modern kids do not care about spitfires and more spitfires. 😂
I am still salty they advertised a peugeot 205 was comming and never arrived ... especially since it was a rebox waited a year.. so just got the heller instead.. i really wanted them cartograf decals lol😅
Being way out here in Califorinia, I paid $1300.00 for the 1/84 HMS Victory wooden model kit, plus hundreds of dollars more for after market products to upgrade my Victory model. I'm always searching for after market products for all my Airfix sailing ship products. Could that be something Airfix could do? One example is the 1/72 Golden Hinde kit does not include a small boat. Airfix could offer upgrade kits that could include figures, small boats, blocks for rigging, deck furniture such as scuttlebutts, and the appropriate tools to service the guns. There are a ton of these accessory kits in the 1/35 scale military world.
Good video.
Thanks!
I guess i bought 1 Airfix kit in the last 20 years!The 1/72 Me 262 Nightfighter!And it was 25 Euro!Normaly too expensive!I wouldnt have bought it ,but iam a 262 FanThats all!Greetz from Germany!
In my opinion, this was a well thought out article from an experienced author. Hornby/Airfix would be wise to take further action. If I was part of management, I would be enquiring whether the author was free for coffee sometime next week.
Dear Mr Mann,
Your point about production quality is a repeated theme amongst many companies who employ contract manufacturers. Tamiya I suspect, have their own production facilities and therefore have complete control over the whole process. Airfix do not and the lowering of quality may very well be down to a lack of employee “buy in” from those who work in the factory.
I would point out also that outsourcing production will inevitably lead to stock shortfalls, particularly when predicting volumes is so hard. Contract manufacturers won’t hold A/F stock and A/F won’t order for anything more than “pre-ordered” volumes plus a small (I guess) over volume. It’s a sort of “sword of Damocles” situation that may not alter until A/F invest in their own production.
I wonder what you think about this?
Regards,
Z
I think you're broadly correct. The production facilities are on contract - they make x 1000s of a kit and send it to Airfix - they don't care about anything other than fulfilment, and as I mentioned, their other contracts (like Hasbro) are SO much bigger that Airfix need them more than they need Airfix, so how much notice are they really going to take about an Airfix complaint? You're right that Tamiya has it's own production facilities- it's very common in Japanese companies (having worked for one, I've direct experience)
To be fair, Japanese model companies like Tamiya and Hasegawa sell direct to the public in Japan as well, but these sales tend to be when they have their own booth at hobby shows like Shizuoka Hobby Show and Tokyo Hobby Show.
That's an excellent video - thank you! Their was one MAJOR MAJOR point that you didn't really expand upon - the inconsistency between kits e.g. You can buy say two kits sitting next to each other in the store. One coud be a new mould say 2023 and the other could be a re-release of a kit made from a mould from the 1970s. The new mould is likely to be great - the old one, well is probably covered in flash and about as current as Richard Nixon's presidency. I have been caught out by inadvertantly buying these turkeys several times now. The consequences - I am an avid fan of Scalemates and unlucky for Airfix, I don't touch their stuff anymore - way too inconsistent and way too expensive for my needs (I live in the Republic of Irealnd and not somewhere like Maldova)
Well I think this is more a problem for manufacturers like Revell and Italeri, and one of the things that Airfix are doing right - they at least tell you the old kits are old (with the Vintage Classics label)...now of course there are some "red box" kits floating about from the pre-VC era still on model shops shelves, but that's not really the fault or responsibility of the current management - they can only control what they are doing, not change the past!
Thank you indeed for your reply - appreciated. It was about six years ago that I was caught with at least two planes that were made from old molds. nothing indicated thst they were old. I have noticed that in recent years Airfix have been marketing their tanks under the "Classic" which is consistent with what you've said. I;ve never had any problem with Revell in this regard
Here, here, here. As a Brit I have grown up with Airfix as most, but never understood the business model, excuse the pune. As remarked ref the production quality, with the recent Bond bug re-issue, just one of a few EG the short or missing parcel shelf when it was eventually released, but similarly the original kit was OK & maybe some people wanted one for nostalgic reasons. But & a big but. Why oh why did they re release the so called classic range. It's almost like admiting they had run out of ideas of where to go next. I think the company re-release the kits from yester year was a mistake not realising that it could damage the remaining reputation with the younger generation if they compared to another manufacturer who produce the same subject for less & in some cases better quality.
I personally feel very frustrated they keep so few of their old miniatures sets in print. This in stark contrast to Italeri that only seem to remove something from their catalogue when the molds get damaged for something.
Who is running the company? Modellers or accountants? Learn from Boeing's troubles (Engineers v accountants) - accountants are trouble when they get too embedded in deciding what the market is and how to run a company.
I've had trouble with airfix replacing broken / missing parts...especially as they're actually kits still in their range...which for me is unacceptable, you pay for a kit,you expect it to be all good,but they just seem to fob you off,don't get me wrong I like their kits and I've had some parts replaced.... but it's the current range stuff they seem not to carry spares, the ask for receipts and box numbers, most of the time receipts get binned..but they require both...I agree with the flying hours,that's very 1970s, and the way the hobby points work, sometimes negates them
I have never had a reply from their customer services / spare parts dept when i needed parts replaced...
@jaws848 I've had a couple of bits...on older kits, but new ones...nothing,always get the automated response though, I get the feeling they've got your money..and aren't really bothered
@@garyhunt4032 while i can only speak for myself and could be wrong i get the impression that if you live outside the U.K. they couldn't care less (im in Ireland).
@@garyhunt4032 i bought the Mig-17 and the decals were missing....sent them an email and never heard back....on another occasion i bought the P-40 starter set and the insteuctions,glue,paints,paint brush and decals were ALL missing....again i emailed them and again never heard back from them
I've had the same. Provided the receipts and box number for a 1:72 Vampire to be told that they don't have spares. When I advised them that it was available at Airfix direct, they told me it was a 'different company.' In the end they advised me to go back to the model shop I had originally purchased it from three years earlier! I buy far less Airfix now.
Thinking about Airfix, the only thing I wish they would do differently is not to ignore 1/32 scale. I love it that they do 1/24, but why ignore 1/32?
I get that Airfix has challenges with freight, but they have to get a handle on this. The price of kits in Australia for Airfix is over the top in many cases as one example. Why can't Airfix setup distribution centers in locations around the world and ship their kits to them and from there to customers (online sales) and retailers. Those same distribution centers could be used for other Hornby product ranges as well of course. Making a kit in India, and then shipping it to the UK, to only turn it around and ship it to Australia for example, makes absolutely no sense. Same goes for Hornby trains made in China.
Speaking of prices the 1/72 vintage classic Harrier Gr1 is €30.00 euro in my local shop...no idea why as the other vintage classic kits are a lot cheaper in the same shop....and no,there is no way i'm paying €30.00 euro for a 1/72 vintage classic kit.
I'm right there with you on the Jaguar. I've been mithering them for it on most of their Instagram posts for months.
Did I miss something??
@MannsModelMoments nah I think you pretty much got it covered. The EE lightning is also desperately looking for some fresh love in 1/48th. The Eurofighter too as the old revell kit is showing its age now.
I would like airfix to be a uk company with uk manufacturing but covering the world in subjects and availability & price. There are still many uk subjects out there to do as well but lets do a mix and match and of items used in other places.
Absolutely! Appealing to larger markets is essential to boost their sales and profitability, further driving the wheel IMHO
There is no point of me being in the Airfix Club living in Australia! The cost of shipping is 50 pounds for a small model.
I’m in the U.S. usually wait until I have a sizable order before I order from the Airfix website. Once I’ve exceeded the free postage threshold for the U.S. (£200) then my cost is less than buying in the UK because of the 10% club discount and not having to pay VAT. The club can be made to work for non-UK customers you just have to think a little bit strategically.
That's a pretty high price to pay for a single kit order though, and you're mistaken about the VAT - unlike US sales tax, it's baked into the price shown -for example the UK Gannet price is £54.99 (approximately $70)- no extra tax on top. The US price is $74.99...so even with the club discount you're paying almost the same as UK list price, and MORE than UK Club member price
.
@@MannsModelMoments when you set the shipping address to a U.S. location on the Airfix order system it deducts the 20% VAT. Hannants and ModelsForSale also deduct VAT. So, with free shipping I can easily beat what UK buyers pay and there are no import tariffs on kits in the U.S. or extra delivery charges. It works well and there are enough new kits I want that it pays to just wait until I can either put together a large order or make a combined order with friends.
The Gannet without VAT comes to £45.83 less another £4.58 for the club discount so £41.25 (US$52.20)
I'm happy that Airfix chooses the British subjects that it does. After all, if Airfix didn't produce them then what other major kit company would? Heller produce a large number of French subjects, Revell choose mainly American and German subjects and the Japanese companies (especially in the area of cars) concentrate on their own country's products. Airfix isn't perfect by any means but to create a range of international subjects, as you suggest, would mean going "head to head" with the larger (and better financed) companies and the British-centric modeller would lose out.
Could do with a larger scale Typhoon Euro fighter too
You must come back to the E.U. or negotiate some conditions related to export taxes, fees and shipping...
Oh god yes please!!
I find the Heavy British content a good thing. I am from the US so having a large selection of British subjects is nice to have but that means if I want a British plane I look at Airfix if I want a US plan I will look at other companies. That means to me Airfix is niche product. For example I can not find a single F6F Hellcat from Airfix. There seems a real lack of US aircraft even those that the served in the UK like the F6F. I admit I am an Airplane fan but I looked and cars available from Airfix. I can not find a single MG, Triumph, or Lotus. That is just odd to me but maybe cars are just not a thing in the UK.
I think what you've said exactly demonstrates the points I've made - a "niche" manufacturer is forever limiting their wider success - especially one that isn't fully exploiting that niche
Totally agree. I love Airfix, British brand, seem to making money. Seems Airfix are building in failures in their business with their current business model. Been a victim of short shot myself but only a small part that didn't matter, but the number of occurrences is unforgivable. Hope that Seaking wasn't buttoned up before the short shot nose section was noticed. QC Airfix? Unfortunately being driven by Hornby priorities doesn't help. Now if they just re-release the Gerry Anderson Starcruiser 1 all will be forgiven lol.I will get to your shop one day Alex.
9:07, adding to this, I feel like when airfix does a lot of german stuff, it sort of seems like they have an almost propaganda opinion in depicting the aircraft on the box art, like with the 1/48th Bf109e depicted it crash landing, while the He-111, Ju-88, and Do-17s all had one boxing where they were being shot down or damaged by a british aircraft, and the newest bf109E-4 in 1/72 has been caught on fire by a spitfire, so on and so forth. Now I am certainly not some wheraboo neo you-know-what, but airfix seems very pro british, and it seems all a little too excessive, and only appealing to the UK market. Anyway thats just me ranting, and I hope we can see some more international subjects. *hint hint USMC 1/72 F-35B*
Good spot!
Prices have escalated very quickly and out of control. In my local store I can opt for the Airfix bf-110 E for €22 or the Eduard one for the same price The Me 410 goes up to €29, the Finemolds one for €26. I love Airfix, I have been building their models for almost 30 years, but compared to the competition (revell, Itareli, hobby boss, etc...) they have lost competitiveness
Airfix wouldn’t even get off the ground if it was started today. I believe they’ve settled into themselves and are either lacking investment or lacking enthusiasm. The name Airfix has such a strong brand ID that even today everyone knows what they do, but they’re antiquated and need dragging into the modern world.
I love sci-fi models and I go straight to Bandai or Revell. Airfix need to expand into ever changing markets and make themselves appealing to a broader range of modellers.
I believe their range appeals to an ever dwindling market and it’s only going to go one way for them unless they change.
Great analysis. Coming across as the wise uncle, I hope Airfix take your advice.
I really think that Hornby’s financial concerns are restricting Airfix too.
They need more European PR too as they don’t have a particularly good reputation due to the factors mentioned by you and also because they’re being judged on older mouldings.
I do want see Airfix succeed 😊
Ian
Lost in France
focusing on good guy subjects is refreshing next to all other manufacturers cranking out wehraboo slop
What??
Really enjoy these videos Alex, for me they have an enjoyable educational Open University-type vibe which is brilliant 👍🏼