This is odd !

[Alan 45]

I was looking about for other 1/24 aircraft and I came across this

http://www.airfix.com/aircraft/1-24-scale-military-aircraft/hawker-siddeley-gr-3-av-8a-1-24.html

Now I have this kit and the date for release of this has already past and to my knowledge this has always been available

Could airfix have got this all wrong or is there a new tool out there somewhere mixed in with the old ones ?

[Guest]

I think it's the usual Airfix job of re-boxing the old kit!

[Alan 45]

I thought that but I bought mine in that same box back in July or August , the date given for this release is the 17th October

I'm baffled , I doubt very much there is a new tool to be released and this is probably a wrong date but strange none the less

[Guest]

Having thought on it, I reckon airfix have added a few parts to make the AV8 version. I'm sure the original was just the GR3?

[Alan 45]

I think it's the other way around Patrick because the extra nose is for the GR3 but the old one could well have been a GR1

[Guest]

Fair enough! I'm not a Harrier expert - I just know it goes up & down

[Alan 45]

Fair enough! I'm not a Harrier expert - I just know it goes up & down

Ooo matron I only know because I have the kit mate I'm no expert either infact I don't know very much about any of my builds

[Guest]

My recent experience with Airfix brings no further surprises.

I would be surprised if they could themselves untangle this new web of intrigue.

Laurie

[Guest]

Well as much as I'm against Airfix doing the rebox thing because I believe

it to be a short-sighted policy, their knew tool kits are a delight!

The 1/72 Typhoon is beautiful & one of the nicest kits I've made.

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

They have been putting "Coming Soon" on a lot of the kits they have sold off on there "Last chance to buy" section just before they reduce them, so it may be worth keeping an eye out.

Adrian

[Alan 45]

I'll keep an eye out on there

[flyjoe180]

According to Scalemates https://www.scalemates.com/products/product.php?id=100325 ikit A18003 has been out since 2010 in that boxing. Strange, maybe it will be re-released yet again.

[Alan 45]

Thanks joe I new I wasn't going mad

[Guest]

I think it's the usual Airfix job of re-boxing the old kit!

And why is that particularly reprehensible? Your alternative is to scratchbuild, or pay a (probable) small fortune on E-bay. Airfix (the company, not Hornby) always had a policy of allowing kits to "lie fallow" for 5 years (at least) before reissuing (not reboxing) them, and it should be no surprise that Hornby might do something similar; they are in this business to make money, and, if they see that there is a desire for the reappearance of an old kit, they'll do it. It's called filling a gap in the market.

The kit was first issued as a GR.1, to celebrate the winning of the New York-to-London part of the 1969 Daily Mail Transatlantic Air Race, and also as an American AV-8A. Since then it's been reincarnated as a GR.3 and FRS.1 Sea Harrier.

If Hornby's reissue sells well (or preferably sells out,) it pays to remember that it's those sales which will pay for new-mould kits like the Tiger Moth, Defiant and Typhoons

[Guest]

And why is that particularly reprehensible? Your alternative is to scratchbuild, or pay a (probable) small fortune on E-bay. Airfix (the company, not Hornby) always had a policy of allowing kits to "lie fallow" for 5 years (at least) before reissuing (not reboxing) them, and it should be no surprise that Hornby might do something similar; they are in this business to make money, and, if they see that there is a desire for the reappearance of an old kit, they'll do it. It's called filling a gap in the market.If Hornby's reissue sells well (or preferably sells out,) it pays to remember that it's those sales which will pay for new-mould kits like the Tiger Moth, Defiant and Typhoons

My problem with this practise is that it deceives the customer. A kit from the 70s that isn't particularly good put into a shiny new box will only lead to disappointment, especially if the buyer/recipient is someone new to the hobby.

You might say that people should do their research prior to purchase. However, mums & dads buying these kits for a child's birthday or Christmas present aren't aware of these issues, so they're taken in by the presentation & box art.

The result is an unhappy kid who decides that model making isn't for him / her. And that's where our hobby loses serious money if there's no new generation coming along.