Airfix introduce 'The most beautiful car in the world'

Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix.

Another dual blog post edition of Workbench awaits your inspection this weekend, as this time, we mark the impending release of two new kits, one a new tooling project which is the latest addition to our new breed of Starter Sets and the second, an impending addition to the Vintage Classics range, one which has an interesting development tale to tell. As usual, we will be giving each blog its own post presence on the Airfix website, however, each and every blog we have ever produced can be accessed by visiting the Workbench hub, which can be found on the Community Section of the website.

Our first update for this week takes us back into the world of Airfix Starter sets, kits which have an incredibly important role to play in the future of the brand and the latest new tooling addition to this range. Continuing our range of 1/43rd scale car kits, we look forward to the impending arrival of our scale representation of one of the most attractive and instantly recognisable cars in the history of motoring, the incomparable Jaguar E-Type and how this classic can easily hold its own when compared to contemporary supercar types. 

Following on from this, our second blog of the week will allow us to immerse ourselves in the wonderful world of Vintage Classics for a while, as we mark the impending return of a kit which has been away from the range for far too long. Not only will the Beagle Basset 206 be an extremely welcome addition to the 2022 kit range, but the story behind its return is one which highlights some of the perils which have to be overcome when re-introducing these Airfix classics to the range once more - we will be bringing you full details, as well as looking at the scheme option included with this kit.

It’s yet another double blog extravaganza for Airfix fans this Bank Holiday weekend.

Aerodynamic perfection on four wheels

Such an iconic shape, thankfully our Design Manager Matt had the be opportunity to scan a beautifully restored Jaguar E-Type at the outset of this new Starter Set project.

When it comes to British modelling heritage, many Workbench readers will no doubt share a similar attachment to the small bagged and cardboard blister pack Airfix kits from years past, kits which were our main route into this hobby and the ones which were most readily available to us during our formative years. At the time, these were the cheapest kits we could get our hands on and as the range of subject matter available to us was rather impressive, these kits accounted for a large percentage of the pocket money of millions of youngsters during that time and must have been incredibly successful products for Airfix as a result. Clearly, these little kits must have introduced so many people to the joys of modelling over the years that they have to be considered to be arguably the most important products in Airfix history, ones which sell in vast quantities, introduce people to the brand and provide much needed revenue for the continued expansion of the range - not bad for little bagged kits really.

Bringing this heritage forward to the current modelling scene, things have undoubtedly changed for Airfix and the wider modelling hobby over the past 50 or 60 years, however, the role played by the lower priced introducer kits remains the same and it could even be argued that they are more important now than they have ever been. As we are all currently excited about receiving our new 1/48th scale Buccaneers and 1/35th scale Austin K2/Y Ambulance kits, how are we going to let first time and novice modellers experience the joys of a little quiet modelling time in a world which had many more demands on their free time, or provide a range of appropriate kits for someone just looking to take on a quick and enjoyable build project for a couple of hours?

These significant questions have been challenging the Airfix design team over the past few years, who knowing how important these introducer starter set kits were to the future of the range, would regularly exchange ideas during their team meetings and how they could better serve this specific and rather important modelling audience. Speaking with our Design Manager Matthew Whiting, he informed us that as a group, they knew they could produce something which was much more appropriate for a new range of introducer kits, but as there wasn't a requirement for such a project at that time, took it upon themselves to come up with something of a proof of concept design for the wider business to consider, working on the project during lunch breaks, or even at home.

Utilising all the very latest advancements in design and manufacturing technologies, whilst at the same time intentionally designing the kits to be easier and more logical to construct than their famous predecessors, once the concept was ready, it was presented to business officials, who were suitably impressed with the concept. Unfortunately, for any new tooling project to be allowed to proceed, many parameters have to be satisfied and several important people within the business have to be plicated and at that time, it was considered that other projects had to take precedence, so the new starter sets were put on the back burner. Despite this, the team had proved the concept and this important modelling seed had been planted.

With such an important idea already now out in the open, it didn't take long before the question of a new range of starter sets was raised again and thanks to the work already done by the team, all they had to do was to decide on the kit subject matter for inclusion in this new range. From the outset, the team wanted to make sure the range benefitted from the diversification Airfix is traditionally famous for, including the aircraft and tanks many find so irresistible, but also a range of supercars which might appeal to a younger audience and are always so heavily requested by our network of model retailers. Importantly, whilst each kit had to be easy, logical and enjoyable to build, there should be no compromise on subject accuracy, so that every completed model could proudly take its place amongst any model collection, a rewarding first experience for the novice modeller in any family.

The result of scan day, accurate shape files of an E-Type Jaguar which Matt was able to refer to during the design phase of the project.

Matt's skeleton model file, which represents the result of many hours of work, with many more to come.

The design software is capable of producing beautifully appealing images of the impending model, something to get us all a little excited. This iconic sportscar is the latest addition to a new breed of impressive Starter Sets.

As Workbench readers will no doubt be fully aware, this new range of kits is now quite established within the range and can already boast the inclusion of a Spitfire, BAe Hawk T.1, Tiger I and Sherman tanks, in addition to the recently added Bugatti Chiron and Pagani Huayra supercars and they are about to be joined by another new addition. Presenting modellers with a 1/43rd scale kit representation of arguably the most 'Super' of supercars, the latest impending addition to our Starter Set range is the classic Jaguar E-Type, a true icon of the motoring world.

With its sweeping curves and sporty appearance, the Jaguar E-Type is without doubt one of the most famous cars in the history of motoring and one which was described by the famous car designing supremo Enzo Ferrari as the most beautiful car ever made - well, he should know! Incredibly, despite being one of the most famous supercars of all time and attracting widespread acclaim from all the most important personalities in the industry, the car's designer remains relatively anonymous, despite the fact that his famous creation is still familiar to millions of people all over the world. Malcolm Sayer was more of a mathematician and aerodynamicist than a car designer and before joining the Jaguar company, had worked at the Bristol Aeroplane Company improving the aerodynamic effectiveness of such aircraft types as the Blenheim and Beaufighter.

Following the end of the Second World War, he went to Iraq having accepted a position at Baghdad University, where he would meet a professor who helped him to recognise the mathematical relationship to the structure and formation of curve shapes, something which would serve him well in the years to come. In 1951, he returned to the UK and took a senior engineering position at Jaguar, who were quick to recognise his unique skillset and to utilise this on the design and production of a new breed of British sportscars, ones which were capable of challenging the pre-war racing dominance of Ferrari and Mercedes.

Later involved in the design of an incredibly successful series of British Jaguar racing cars, he brought many design and construction techniques over from the aviation world to their manufacture and invented complex curve plotting formulae which are still used in modern CAD software to this day, a fact which was not lost on our designer Matt.

More CAD imagery which prove the new model is 100% Jaguar E-Type, one of the most distinctive cars in the history of motoring. Surely this beauty can still hold its own against the world's current crop of supercars, particularly when it comes to timeless style.

This image shows some of the internal detail Matt managed to incorporate into his Jaguar E-Type design.

Matt told us that from his research, it was apparent that Mr Sayer hated being described as a stylist, as his only concern was to produce the most aerodynamically efficient cars for the job at hand, functionality over aesthetics - thankfully for the motoring world, these two things symbiotically went hand in glove. His car designs have been described as having a feline quality, or due to his earlier career, being like road going Spitfires without wings, both of which underline the beauty of his designs. Recognised as a master of his craft, it was said that he uniquely blended science and art to produce timeless shapes of exceptional and enduring beauty, something akin to scientifically produced works of art. When reading such accolades, it is perhaps understandable why the Jaguar E-Type is still considered a motoring icon and can hold its own against any modern supercar when it comes to looks and appeal.

Based on Jaguar’s Le Mans winning D-Type racing car, the E-Type sports car had racing DNA combined with extremely competitive pricing and a claimed 150mph top speed, this led to it quickly becoming a 1960’s icon. The earliest cars, or series one machines as they have become known and replicated with this new Starter Set kit, were produced between 1961 and 1967, utilising two different engine variants, 3.8L and 4.2L options. Over 22,000 E-Types would eventually be sold. Jaguar produced the E-type in various body options including a 2+2 coupe, the limited edition ‘Lightweight E-Type’ and the low drag coupe along several other beautifully desirable variants.

Could a car look any better than this?

The box artwork produced for this new kit clearly illustrates why the Jaguar E-Type is still regarded as a timeless design classic and still one of the most desirable classic cars in the world.

In adding to the growing range of new Airfix Starter Set kits, could their possibly be a more striking, more iconic and quintessentially British subject than the Jaguar E-Type? Taking its place amongst the two modern supercars already in the range, when the three built models are displayed together, the Jaguar most definitely does not look out of place and it could even be said that the more modern pair pay more than a little homage to the design philosophies of Jaguar's Malcolm Sayer.

From an Airfix perspective, the E-Type has quite a story to tell in the lineage of this new breed of starter model kits, as this was actually the proof of concept project the team worked on several years ago and the one which opened the door for this new range of introducer products to enter development, even though it is being released some time after the first kits hit the market. In this regard, the E-Type is actually quite a special kit, something of a pioneer product and the blueprint for an incredibly important series of new kit projects, ones which surely have a major role to play in the very future of the plastic modelling hobby in years to come. With more kits already in development, it somehow seems important that we acknowledge the significance of this latest addition to the range and how their is much more to its back story than simply replicating one of the most famous cars of all time.

From a designers perspective and bearing in mind the legacy Jaguar's designer Malcolm Sayer left behind for the world of modern computer aided design professionals to use, Matt told us that there was quite some pressure in tackling this famous subject. Not only would he have to get the iconic shape of the car right in scale, he would have to do so designing a kit with a lower part count and one which had simplified construction, when compared to a traditional Airfix kit. He was also conscious of the fact that he would be paying his own small tribute the legacy of a man who whilst remaining relatively anonymous to most people, had a significant impact on the world of design, so he really wanted to do this justice. 

To help him accurately replicate the stunning shape of the Jaguar E-Type, Matt and the team were able to visit a specialist engineering company in East Sussex, where they had arranged to scan a beautifully renovated example of the car. This company take original E-Types and restore them to exacting standards for discerning new owners, bringing them up to modern standards whilst retaining their classic heritage. Scanning a real car helped Matt to check every aspect of the car's design and how each iconic shape relates to the ones it comes into contact with. From checking the overall proportions to replicating the finest design details, this trip proved invaluable in producing this latest Airfix scale tribute and one which can be enjoyed by modellers of all ages and abilities.

Simply stunning, a computer rendered images produced using the new Jaguar E-Type design files, once which are particularly easy on the eye.

Time for a little artistic impression. Company photographer Michael has taken a built sample model of the new kit and given it an appealing twist. Novice modellers or expert, the new Jaguar E-Type will be a stunning addition to the Airfix model range.

As we have already seen, the design of the E-Type was more about aerodynamics and functionality, as opposed to traditional styling, which Matt told us does throw up the odd challenge from his perspective, with some shapes not being exactly what they might at first seem to be. Illustrating this point, the oval opening at the front of the car which is such a distinctive feature of the E-Type is actually an incredibly complex collection of subtle curves and in design, was unexpectedly discovered to have some quite flat sections at the top and bottom, something which would have been incredibly difficult to replicate accurately without the benefit of scan data. 

The new Jaguar E-Type Starter Set has been designed specifically as a hard top to enable it to conform to the design parameters required by this new breed of kits. Had the car been designed as an open convertible, the owness would have been on the modeller to paint and detail the interior, something which could have made the build more challenging, however this way, all the detail is in there should you decide to bring it out, but you are under no pressure to do so and the built model looks great without it. Indeed, a quick look at the impressive instruction booklet shows that the interior is actually made up of only three parts, even though Matt has managed to incorporate lots of impressive detail into his design.

Other noteworthy features include the distinctive wheels Matt recreated for the kit, which whilst having a solid core for inherent strength, also feature lots of impressive raised detail, which can be picked out with a little dry brushing to really make the spokes and hub detail stand out.

As we always do when talking through a new kit design project with its creator, we like to ask them what aspect of the kit they think modellers will be most impressed with when building it and in this case, Matt told us he thought this would probably be the overall appearance of the completed model. Lots of model manufacturers have tried to accurately portray this motoring classic over the years, with varying degrees of success, but in his opinion, this kit is a really nice representation and importantly, one which just looks right on the display shelf. He is pleased with how the E-Type has turned out and hopes modellers will share his opinion that it is a fitting modelling tribute to an icon of the motoring world. 

The new Jaguar E-Type Starter Set is inbound to our warehouse now and should be available during the early part of September, so if you want to examine Matt's tribute to this classic British sports car, you won't have to wait long now.

New Starter Sets - Designed for modelling enjoyment

A looker from any angle, the impressive new Jaguar E-Type Starter Set. 

Before we end this latest project update, it is worthwhile revisiting some of the other impressive features of these new kits which make them such a significant addition to the range and why they are particularly suited to the novice and first-time modeller. Whilst retaining the levels of detail Airfix have become famous for and building into faithful representations of the subjects they are based upon, these new kits have been specifically designed to appeal to modellers with limited or even no prior modelmaking experience. We want them to be fun and rewarding and at the end of the experience, proudly take their place on your display shelf, even holding their own against kits built by other modellers in the household. 

In addition to designing these kits for novice success, the new modeller is supported through every stage of the build process when they refer to the instruction booklet, which has been redesigned as a collaboration between the designer and our illustrator, to provide the clearest possible build guidance for them to follow. Even though these kits have been designed to go together in a simple and intuitive manner, the modeller is given further guidance and support when referring to the instructions, ensuring they are never left guessing at any point and knowing exactly where they are within the build process. It could even be argued that these new instructions are almost like a modelling dot-to-dot, providing a visual reference point of where you are with the build and where you will need to go next.
 
All the kit parts are numbered in the order you will come across them during construction process, with the instruction illustrations clearly showing a silhouette of the part in question and where you will find it on the sprue frame. Next, the modeller is given clear guidance on how these parts go together and significantly, when each part has been used, how it is removed from the part tree illustration in the next stage, removing the possibility of confusion and leaving the new modeller in absolutely no doubt where they are with the build. The instruction illustrations also show the modeller when and where they need to apply glue during construction (which is much less than we used to need during our early modelling exploits back in the bagged kit days), in addition to providing the usual painting and decal placement guidance.

Every new model design project has to progress to the prototyping stage, where all the computer work can be assessed in kit form and allowing the designer to make changes where he deems necessary.

In effect, what we are hoping to achieve with these new Starter Sets is to design a model kit which would be easy and enjoyable to build, and to provide visual support throughout a first build experience, almost as if the designer who created the model was looking over the modeller's shoulder, showing them how the model should go together at every stage of the build process. Perhaps even more importantly than this, we wanted to give first time modellers the confidence to simply open the box and have a go at modelling, even if this was their first time and to have fun doing so.

Finally, providing yet another level of support for the novice modeller, the kits also include a separate ‘Before you start’ sheet of handy modelling tips and guidance, again featuring the extensive use of visual aids and showing all the things which might be useful to know before embarking on this first build. As long as they manage to negotiate their first model kit build quickly and efficiently, ending up with a model they are pleased with, then our new Starter Set kits have achieved what they set out to do. The ultimate aim is for them to enjoy the experience and if flushed with this first success, hopefully come back for more, but always associating the experience with it being a fun thing to do.

You never know, it will be a challenge, but we might just be able to prove to some that there is enjoyment away from a mobile or tablet computer screen, if only for an hour or so. Come and join the modelling fun!

The newly designed instruction booklets are intended to guide the modeller through a build process which may very well be their first tentative foray into the world of modelling.

The sight of things to come, who wouldn't want a model of the iconic Jaguar E-Type on their display shelf?

One to look out for, we won't have to wait long now to sample Matt's latest design handiwork.

That’s all we have for you in this particular edition, but we will be back with more project updates for you next week. As always, we are interested to hear your views on all things Airfix and particularly in relation to our Workbench blog, so if you ever feel like dropping us a quick line, please use our workbench@airfix.com contact e-mail address.
 
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Airfix Workbench Team