Latest Airfix range launch Blast Off

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

In what is always a hugely significant time for everyone here at Airfix, this week saw the announcement of our latest model kit range, with our website showcasing all the new model additions from Tuesday afternoon. As you can imagine, with so many people attempting to view the range by accessing the website at the same time earlier in the week, things did start to run a little more slowly than usual, but as we head towards the first post-launch weekend, things should be much more stable now. If you have yet to familiarise yourself with all the new models which will be tempting us all over the coming year, this weekend might be the ideal time to do so.

As this is the first Workbench blog published since range announcement, we will be taking this opportunity to have a closer look at all the latest models in the 2023 range, picking out one or two highlights along the way, but underlining the fact that as usual, there are so many interesting range additions that there can be no substitute for heading to the Airfix website and embarking on a 2023 voyage of discovery for yourselves. As each and every one of the new models has an interesting story behind it, this overview will be intentionally light on focused detail, however, as always, we promise to bring you all these juicy development details as we continue with our weekly blog schedule throughout the coming year.

Right then, let's get things underway on a new year of development blogs.

Airfix range benefits from further new tooling investment

All aboard for the latest new tooling addition to the Quickbuild range, as our designers go BIG and introduce the iconic Transport for London New Routemaster.

As everyone has to come to terms with the inevitable return to work following the excesses of the Christmas holidays, things never seem quite as bad for all of us in the modelling community, as our work return also heralds the impending announcement of a new Airfix model range, a time of great excitement for many people and a great way to step into any new year. As usual, the latest range announcement covers a full twelve month period and includes a host of new tooling announcements, recent additions to the range which will benefit from either the addition of new part frames or new scheme/decal options, in addition to the welcome return of some classic kit favourites. Interestingly, the new range also caters for everyone from the novice modeller right through to experienced campaigners and obviously includes the many casual modellers and those returning to the hobby which we find in between, but will hopefully include something to appeal to every modelling taste.

Many older readers will no doubt remember the thrill of obtaining the latest Airfix catalogue following its announcement back in the day and how this occasion would usually see us queueing up outside our local model shop on the Saturday morning following its publication, usually with several other like-minded enthusiasts waiting for the shop to open. Things are a little different these days and whilst owning a copy of the latest printed catalogue is still important to many modellers, the entire range can be inspected immediately following range launch, no matter where you are in the world, so long as you have access to a computer or mobile phone and the internet. Indeed, these days, it's likely that most people browse the catalogue and make their next build project selections using their mobile phones, something which is a real sign of the times. For us oldies, we will always prefer getting a printed catalogue in our hands, with the feel and smell of the catalogue being just as much a part of our modelling enjoyment as opening the box of our latest kit.

In reality though, range launch is, and always will be about the models and we are delighted to confirm that we have an impressive collection for your consideration this coming year. With the range benefitting from continued and significant ongoing new tooling investment, we are going to begin our range overview by looking at the newly tooled projects which will be joining the range in 2023.

Starting with our Quickbuild range, this large collection of impressive push together kits will welcome the inclusion of two existing models produced in smart new colours this year, in addition to marking the introduction of two significant new tooling projects to the range, both of which have strong City of London connections. Marking two of the most iconic vehicles found on the streets of Britain's capital, Quickbuild fans can look forward to the addition of a Transport for London New Routemaster bus and a classic London black Taxi to the range, a fascinating departure from our existing range subject matter. The New Routemaster will comprise of no fewer than 88 separate parts and even though it is constructed using the traditional push fit block and no glue system this range is famous for, it will still build into an attractive and faithful representation of this iconic vehicle. As we continue to provide more subject choice into the range, surely this year more than any other, Quickbuild has a model to suit any taste within its ranks and if you haven't done so already, this may well be the year to discover its many delights.

Our new Starter Set kit range will be able to boast the addition of a newly tooled 1/72nd scale Lockheed Martin F35B Lightning II, the latest 5th generation multi-role aircraft to enter Royal Air Force service.

Moving on to the new style of Starter Sets which have been such a hit with modellers since there introduction, this range can boast the addition of no fewer than FIVE newly tooled models this year, with two new Supercars, two classic vehicles and a scale version of the world's most important 5th generation stealthy multi-role combat aircraft. Supercar fans will no doubt be rushing to add both the McLaren 765LT and Lamborghini Huracán Evo to their growing model collections, however, they will also be sorely tempted by the classic lines of the debonair Aston Martin DB5 and the rugged no nonsense attributes of the Land Rover Series 1 Pick-up.

With just a single aviation subject added to the range this year, we had to make sure it was a significant one and in contemporary aviation terms, it really doesn't get any bigger than the Lockheed Martin F35B Lightning II, the latest and most capable aviation addition to Royal Air Force inventory. Although referred to as the Lightning II, this 5th generation aviation powerhouse is actually the third aircraft to carry the Lightning name in RAF service, after the wartime P-38 and Cold War English Electric fighters, both classic aircraft types in their own right. The F-35B takes Britain's aviation capabilities to a new level and with the aircraft destined to be in service for many years to come, this fantastic new kit surely has future Airfix classic written all over it and we certainly expect many people to be picking one up during the busy summer Airshow schedule. The new F-35 kit actually makes three entries in the 2023 range, but we will come on to the other two kits in good time.

Moving on to our standard kit ranges, the launch of our 1/48th scale Blackburn Buccaneer S.2C/D kit last year really did cause something of a stir and whilst many Workbench readers will have already added an example or two of this fabulous model to their built model displays or kit stashes, we did feel like it needed a little company on the deck of which ever carrier you decided to model your example on. Bringing modellers a 1/48th scale example of one of the most distinctive and unusual aircraft to ever appear on the deck of a British carrier, our new Fairey Gannet AS.1/AS.4 tooling may come as a surprise addition for some, but is definitely amongst the most requested new tooling projects suggested by modellers over the past few years. From a design perspective, the challenges this new kit presented its designer with cannot be overstated and we very much look forward to bringing you these details when we embark on our Workbench development journey in forthcoming editions.

A new tooling project of real stature, the Fairey Gannet has to be considered one of the most distinctive aircraft to ever see service on a British aircraft carrier and will be a popular addition to the 2023 Airfix range. The illustration shown here is a computer rendered image produced from the Gannet's design files.

An aircraft which must surely be considered one of the most distinctive types to have ever seen Fleet Air Arm service, the Fairey Gannet was as capable as it was unique and was significant as the only post war military contract to be won by the famous Fairey Aviation Company. Arguably the most unconventional Fairey designed aircraft to enter full production, the Gannet was developed in response to a 1945 Royal Navy requirement for an advanced carrier-based turbo prop powered anti-submarine hunter killer, one which was rugged enough to withstand the rigors of operation at sea. Intended to counter the recent expansion of the Soviet submarine fleet at the start of the Cold War era, the Gannet was equipped with all manner of the latest electronic detection equipment and if an enemy submarine was detected, it could be marked, tracked and if necessary, attacked, using bombs, depth charges, rockets and air-launched acoustic torpedoes.

One feature of the Gannet which helped to give it a unique appearance was its adoption of powerplant, the innovative Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba. This arrangement saw two gas turbine engines mounted side by side in the nose of the gannet, sharing a common gearbox, but both operating independently, each engine driving its own coaxially mounted, contra-rotating propeller. In addition to this, the engines could run on kerosene and even diesel fuel, which were safer to handle and less refined than traditional aviation fuels. This arrangement provided Gannet crews with more than enough power for carrier operations, with the reassurance of two engines when embarking on long ocean patrols. Once in flight, the pilot could shut down one of the engines to conserve fuel and whilst this would reduce the Gannet's maximum speed, it would extend its loiter capabilities. Usually, a pilot would alternate engine use during a long patrol, running each engine for around an hour before swopping to the other engine - the engine mounted on the port side drove the front propeller.

Another unique feature of the Gannet's design was its bi-folding wing system, something which was designed to allow this large aircraft to operate safely and to be stored aboard one of the Royal Navy's relatively small aircraft carriers. When a pilot engaged the wing unfold, this ingenious system not only prepared the wings for flight, but also automatically connected all flight control systems, hydraulic connections and fuel pipes to the main system, without any ground crew intervention. All these distinctive features and innovations had to be replicated in scale by our designer, as he embarked on his mission to immortalise this unusual aircraft in the Airfix range, a kit which will surely tempt many a modeller into the world of scale British naval aviation subject matter.

Ferreting about, this latest edition to our 1/35th scale Military Vehicle range adds some welcome post war subject matter to the range and will hopefully be the new tooling shape of things to come. 

The other new tooling projects joining the range in 2023 both come in our 1/35th scale Military Vehicle range, although it has to be said that their isn't a track or high calibre main gun between the pair of them. In reality, if we are being completely honest, only one of the new models qualifies for the description of completely new tooling, but as the other is such a significant modification to an existing tooling, that I'm going to include it anyway. As one of the most successful post war light armoured vehicles to enter production, the Ferret Scout Car saw widespread service with British and Commonwealth forces from the 1950s onwards and in its reconnaissance role, protected its occupants from small arms fire in the execution of their important duties. Indeed, later derivatives of this vehicle actually took part in the Gulf War of 1990, marking these as a hugely successful series of vehicles.

As the first major project for one of the newest members of the Airfix design team, we are very much looking forward to interviewing him and bringing you all the stories from behind this project and how he safely negotiated his introduction into the Airfix design world, in a forthcoming edition of the blog. The second new addition to the range is the ubiquitous British Army 30-cwt 4x2 General Service Truck, a kit which boasts 174 parts and marks the important supply and replenishment roles which are so crucial to the success of any military operation.

New parts and schemes unlock new modelling opportunities

As one of the most attractive RAF aircraft to ever see service and one which was involved in an incredible incident in central London back in 1968, this latest release from our 1/48th scale Hawker Hunter tooling will be a popular addition to the range.

As our designers perfect their latest kit masterpieces, there are often opportunities where they can add little innovations to their designs, and the option to include different versions of the subject to be modelled, by producing additional frame parts for future use, something which is now a feature of every new range launch. This year, we have some real heavyweight contenders in this arena, not least of which is the 1/48th scale Buccaneer kit released only last year. In a development which will be headline news to many modellers, this year's release includes a host of additional parts to allow the Buccaneer’s Royal Air Force service to be recognised and the configuration in which this mighty maritime beast ended its British service career. Also allowing some very different colour schemes to be featured, this will surely be amongst the highlights of the 2023 range and a kit many of us will be picking up in due course.

When talking about British aviation classics, could there possibly be an aircraft which was easier on the eye then the Hawker Hunter and if there was, why aren't we aware of it? Again in 1/48th scale, or beautiful Hawker Hunter tooling now benefits from additional parts to allow the later FGA.9,FR.10 and GA.11 variants of the jet to be modelled, with this new kit also including three attractive new scheme options which will grace any display of built models. The lead scheme presents a Hunter which famously flew under Tower Bridge in 1968, as a protest to continuing defence cuts and the MoD not commemorating that year's 50th Anniversary of the formation of the Royal Air Force. We are so excited to see all your diorama builds of that particular incident in this larger scale in the months ahead - perhaps this might be a project for Scale ModelWorld 2023!

In 1/72nd scale, our recently released Mosquito tooling returns with additional parts to build the Photo Reconnaissance XVI variant of the aircraft, a role for which this speedy twin was ideally suited. Featuring new decal options to finish your model as either a PR Mosquito operating in the colours of an RAF or a USAAF unit during WWII, we are expecting this to be a particularly popular addition to the range, as the Mosquito continues to hold such fascination for so many modellers and aviation enthusiasts, not to mention the fact that this one really is a bit of a looker!

By far and away the largest section of any new range announcement are the kits which are making their highly anticipated return to an Airfix range, along with those benefitting from the addition of new scheme and decal options with their return. These feature in almost every section of the new range and are too numerous to list on an individual bases within this range overview, so we recommend you head for the Airfix website and discover the full details of the 2023 range at your leisure this weekend, taking in everything from Messerschmitts to Mustangs and all those model kits in between.

As our scale modelling tribute to this year's 80th Anniversary of the Dambusters Raid, our new 1/72nd scale Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II has been paired with our Avro Lancaster B.III (Special) Type 464 provisioning kit for this RAF No.617 Squadron modelling tribute. 

Before moving on, we would just like to draw readers attention to two more 2023 model releases which feature our newly tooled Lockheed Martin F35B Lightning II, both of which see the kit paired with other 1/72nd scale model kits in our Gift Set range of models. 

This coming year will mark the 80th anniversary of the famous Dambusters raid against the great dams of the Ruhr Valley and as the Royal Air Force will surely be intending to mark this occasion with a flypast on the anniversary date itself, things have changed quite a bit since they attempted to do the same five years ago on the 75th anniversary. On 17th May 2018, I joined the throngs of people clinging to a Derbyshire hillside overlooking the Derwent Dam, in the hope to seeing the BBMF's Lancaster PA474 flying over the dam in formation with an RAF No.617 (Dambusters) Squadron Tornado GR.4. Unfortunately, the runway crosswinds at RAF Coningsby were just too strong and prevented the Lancaster from taking off, so our long vigil proved to be in vain.

Hopefully, conditions for this year's anniversary flypast may be a little better and we might actually see something fly, however this time, 617 Squadron traded their Tornados for smart new jets and we might be lucky enough to see the Lancaster flying in formation with one or more of the unit's Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning IIs. Let's keep everything crossed for May.

For our own modelling tribute to the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters raid, we pre-empt the completion of this flying tribute later in the year by combining our new 1/72nd scale F-35B Lightning II tooling with our Avro Lancaster B.III (Special) Type 464 provisioning kit, which is obviously the first time we have paired these kits together. Representing different eras of Royal Air Force strike capability, as a Gift Set offering, this kit will come complete with the glue, paint and brushes, everything you will need to build and finish these beautiful models. 

The other kit pairing which benefits from the addition of our new Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II tooling in 2023 is our Then and Now Gift Set which combines the Lightning with a Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc kit. Charting the development of single engined, single seat aircraft in RAF service over the past eighty years or so, this kit will allow modellers to clearly see the relative size difference between the two aircraft types and is surely destined to be a scale representation of a display pairing which will be thrilling crowds at future Airshow events across the country. Again, this new kit is scheduled to be available before this summer's Airshow programme gets underway and is therefore surely destined to become a popular purchase for many looking for an appropriate keepsake of their day.

Resurrecting Airfix kit classics

Classic in every sense of the word, our Fairey Rotodyne kit was the most heavily requested model Workbench readers told us they would like to see joining the Vintage Classics range - your wish is our command!

As the Airfix brand can boast such a rich history in the world of modelling and hobbies, millions of people around the world will have come into contact with our model kits and product branding over the years, meaning that for many people, the nostalgia of Airfix can be just as important to them as the introduction of costly new tooling projects. When we introduced our Vintage Classics range back in 2018, we were confident that resurrecting a selection of classic Airfix kits would be a talking point for many modellers, but could have never imagined just how popular the range would actually become. Now a major feature of every Airfix range launch, there is as much excitement within the hobby about which classic Airfix kits are about to delight modellers of a certain vintage, whilst at the same time captivating a new generation of modellers, as there is about seeing which newly tooled models will be joining the range for the first time.

To underline this unexpected modelling phenomenon, back in late 2021, we included a feature within an edition of the blog which asked readers to suggest which classic Airfix kits they would like to see re-appearing as part of a future Vintage Classics range and we were simply staggered by the size of the response. If we were in any doubt as to how Airfix kits played a role in the formative years of many current blog readers, we had the position clarified in no uncertain terms following publication of the feature, because we were absolutely inundated with reader suggestions - it was actually quite a humbling experience.

Each and every respondent had several classic suggestions to bring to our attention, with many also going on to describe why the models in their list had such significance to them and how they would love to have a go at building them once more. Collating the several hundred e-mails we received helped us to compile a list of favourites and it's interesting to see how many of these suggestions have now successfully made it into the 2023 range, with one kit worthy of particular mention. At the very head of this list of suggestions, the iconic Fairey Rotodyne appeared on many a list received, which is rather surprising when considering that just a single prototype aircraft ever took to the skies.

Undoubtedly one of the most spectacular products of the post war British aviation industry, the distinctive Fairey Rotodyne was a revolutionary large compound gyroplane which held great promise for both worldwide inter-city medium air transportation, in addition to possessing numerous military applications during the late 1950s. The impressive looking Rotodyne featured jet powered main rotor tips which operated during vertical take-off and landing, hovering and transition to forward flight, before a pair of Napier Eland turboprops were engaged for forward flight. Despite successfully completing over 350 test flights, just a single prototype aircraft would be built, before the withdrawal of government funding tragically consigned the Fairey Rotodyne the aviation history books.

Making a distinctive and thoroughly fascinating addition to any built model collection, the Rotodyne proudly takes it place within the latest Vintage Classics model collection and is joined by several others which featured highly on our 2021 poll, including a Great War aviation Dogfight Double and the spectacular 1/24th scale Junkers Ju87B Stuka. When it comes to Airfix, it isn't just the new tooling projects that have modellers clamouring to increase their model stash holdings.

With so many new models to discover, it really is time for you to stop reading this blog and to head over to the Airfix website, so you can take a more considered look at all the models in the latest Airfix range, both classic and contemporary. It's only natural that we will all have our own particular favourites, but as long as we have a couple of models which will be of interest to you, then the Airfix team will take some comfort in that. All we have to do now is to see each and every one of them through to release and from a Workbench perspective, keep readers fully updated on all the very latest project development updates as they proceed there. We will be doing our level best to deliver on our side of that bargain, but as this is the first post range launch weekend, we hope this overview edition of the blog has helped to highlight one or two kit introductions which might be of interest to you over the coming months.

If you would like to see the recently posted video presentation of this week's range launch, please use this link to take you to our official YouTube channel, where our Brand Manager Dale Luckhurst takes us through all the new model kits in the 2023 Airfix range.

That's another edition of Workbench in the history books, but we will be back next Friday with our first project development update edition for the year. In the meantime, we are always keen to hear your views on all things Airfix and in particular, any thoughts and opinions you may have regarding our Workbench blog. If you would like to drop us a quick line, could we please ask that you use our workbench@airfix.com email for all correspondence. 

To re-visit any of the Airfix blogs we have produced over the past seven years or so, please head to our main Workbench hub, where you will find our entire blog back catalogue.
 
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Please join us for more Airfix updates next week and thank you for your continued support.

Airfix Workbench Team