have to say I miss the old type instructions where they tell you what each part or segment is, even revell and Tamiya used to do it back in the 60's, educational as well, take care
It was the original premise by Nicholas Kove in 1939 when he started selling model kits, like the very first Golden Hind in a bag. A way to teach history and inform children about subjects they may not have been exposed to before. I still need information Sarah-Jane.
Having the wings of the O/400 in three parts was also because the actual aircraft had folding wings at those points so it' nice to give the modeller the option.
Always a hard topic comparing old and new Airfix. I for one still enjoy building the old Airfix fix kits. The new ones, I also enjoy but can also appreciate how different the old and the new is. Haven't built the Bulldog as yet but plan to at some point. Now a kit you might enjoy is the Airfix Avro Anson in 1/48. plenty of internal framing but with all it's glazing, plenty of detail can still be seen. As for the 0/400.....I patiently look forward to your build! Whilst I'm mainly an aircraft builder myself, the subject of ships is certainly one I look forward to in your videos. Best wishes to yourself and Bask. 👍👍
I find it funny. For years I have seen on forums people wanting more detailed models and that is what model companies have given us. Old kits are good for nostalga but I would not call them better and I am reminded of that everytime I do an Airfix 1/600 ship or 1/144 airliner. They just are not good for the most part. I am happy where modern tooling is going.
Not the topic of this video… I merely compare 2 bi-plane kits from Airfix with similar levels of complexity that are half a century apart. My premise is does CAD improve the enjoyment of building the kit. I clearly said this was not about detail, which we would hope would be better from CAD, but in so many cases I find it’s really not that much. We are also not talking about bad old Monogram, Pyro, Heller etc kits… just Airfix and how their focus seems to have changed from designing kits that are fun to build to now over engineered, over fiddly kits, with baldy done vague instructions that diminish the enjoyment of the hobby.
@@HarryHoudiniModels Also Harry, these old kits, because they are less detailed, allows for some scratch building fun. For, example, I added radio boxes, first aid kits and bomb sights to my old Airfix 70s Hudson kit, because there is a fair amount of glass around the cockpit, just from some odd junk I had laying around. That's the fun for me, trying to make it better and learning as I go. Old kits allow me to personalise my build more, make it my own way, if that makes any sense.
Yeah, the old kits were mostly good. There were some though that I never went near, like the B-17, they kept that old thing going way longer than they should have! All the good kits were ones that I thoroughly enjoyed. I still have them and might even display them when I move. I was tiny when I first saw that Handley Page 0/400, it was in an old catalogue, back when they'd show photos of the finished kits in them. That was great as it showed you what you could end up with. Happy days!
I never built the B-17, Lancaster of course, but no La’Merrycan aircraft from memory Roger. We watched the battle of Britain movie, James Bond, Sir Francis Drake, Dr Who and Thunderbirds. So those were the subjects I was interested in. I loved the old Airfix catalogues with a page of built and painted models on display. Wish I had kept them.
Hi Harry love the vids I recon that you should honestly have a vid we’re you having a chat because I think your a great comedian I know you can if you wanted to I always watch your videos not so much building but your chats and you really make us laugh 😀
I do the W.A.N.K. Workbench and New Kits chat. Also a T.U.G. The Unheard Gooch discussions. Plus my S.H.I.T Special Harry Info Talks…. so how much more chattyness do you need?
You are so right Harry and I think that Matchbox kits fit inline with your thinking too. Sorry Harry I got it wrong, my Bulldog is an old Inpact model bulldog in1/48, it took me some time to find it in the stash. lol.
I only discovered Matchbox plastic kits a decade ago. We only saw Airfix, some Revell, and just the beginning of the Asian kits when I first started scale modelling in the 60’s. Matchbox, Frog and others were unheard of down under. Now I do like Matchbox and have built a few of their aircraft. Good fit, fun models.
I totally agree with your premise. I have just spent a week assembling one of my fav vehicles in 1/35 scale. The SDKFZ10 halftrack. Well actually only partly assembling as the "thing" is probably going in the bin, parts or real. Esci took a reasonably complex chassis and turned it into a parts overkill. Far too many small fiddly little parts (side panels broken into three parts when one would do) to make assemblies that could have been molded whole. Then they added complication in the assembly order that meant when you finally got to the nexus points in the build you realise that the alignment of major subassemblies is wonky, even with dry fitting. Then I have designs on a modern 1/16 kit, Sdkfz 234 by Das Werk where they have accommodated those modelers who want complexity by fully molding the suspension as individual parts, and those who want simplicity by adding in single molded parts as well. A much more pragmatic and sensible approach IMO.
I like that idea by Das Werk and wished they had done it for their Schwimwagen I built a few months back. The over fiddly suspension, which also will never be seen, was just too much for my fat wombat fingers and old bandicoot eyes.
Although it's a rhetorical question, I'll say, yes. Some of Airfix's older kits - as much as Hasegawa's and Monogram's - are better than some of the most recent editions, because these are the result of true craftsmanship and engineering.
Great video. Like the insights you have from all your experience with kits, CAD, etc. Indeed the O400 is a great kit. I probably will try to find one. Fun Fun Fun.
I have this in a red box issue It's been in my stash for quite a few years now, and although I haven't started it, I'm still excited by it and still want to give it a go. The only thing with the modern instruction is that Airfix say the dihedral is 14 degrees which sounds a bit excessive should be about 4 degrees. The other innovative thing with the kit is the rigging of the main wings being done while assembling the wings. I think it was ICM that have recently done something similar with one of their 48th bi-planes. Well Airfix were doing this way back in the 1960's. Pity they haven't continued with it with their 48th scale and on some of their 72 scale bi-planes like the sword-fish. I'm looking forward to your comments on making this monster WW1 bomber. you mentioned the size, this aircraft is almost the size of a B29 so you're going to need a big shelf to show it off when finished. I also have the Roden 1/72 Gotha G. V. which to be honest scares the hell out of me, but I know it can be built as photos have been published of completed kits. If you want an example of vague instruction just take a look at many or the Roden kits the Gotha and Bristol Fb2 fighter being prime examples. It's a pity Airfix couldn't put a copy of the original old instruction together with the new ones to give these vintage kits a bit more authenticity. Thanks for another informative and entertaining video.
I had the Roden Gotha but shyed away from it at the time.. you are right about the 4 degree dihedral, even the Germans knew that. upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Handley_Page_O-100_type_drawing.jpg
It seems they have strayed far off the path from the original fun kits I built in the 60’s and still seek out to build now. Guess I won’t be buying any new tool Airfix from now on. Maybe I am just not their focus demographic anymore. I am simply too old.
@@HarryHoudiniModels Don't say that, Harry, it's the old codgers like us, I think, that are also buying kits these days because we remember the fun we had as kids doing them decades ago. I think there is room for both kinds of scale modellers, both new and er...not so new!
Another cracking video, if I weren't a railway modeller, I'd crack on with kits - there's plenty in the loft, I may not get to build 'em, age wise, it seemed only yesterday I was 6 yrs plus and building some of them. I started work on the Matchbox Large Scale Spitfire and Monogram Mustang, aged 14yrs, saved them for later, life got in the way. Bloody scary really. I digress. My friend is a long in the tooth, CAD Jockey, design engineer, did his time as a pattern maker. He has worked in; motor industry, aviation, shipping, motor racing, commercial vehicles, passenger buses/coaches, fire engines etc etc, has lap top will travel. He's noted that many young CAD Jockeys now are disinterested and/or clueless about the subject matter. In addition, we've noted at Hornby, Scalectrix, Airfix, a similar malaise. Add in, at times, clueless management there too, who snatch defeat from the jaws of victory all too often. The perfect storm and part of the reason why instructions (they used to have old school/outside help), design etc has gone awry? In hindsight, living in blighty in 2024? Looking back at the 1970s and 1980s? A darn sight better than what we have now!! ✌️✌️💜💜👍👍😊😊
Wait, are you saying you still have those Matchbox Spitty and Monogram Mustang still sitting from way back then? Please consider digging them out. They deserve it, if you can make the time for them. 🙂
They can be but its down to the kit......just like there are jems and dogs of kits today so it was back then......a while ago i finished the 1/72 Airfix NA-39 Buccaneer from 1975 (same age as me) and it was an absolute jem to build
Yes mista Jaws that was a great kit in its day, and even the new tool Airfix Buccaneer is an enjoyable kit, I built it a few years back. But the 2024 Airfix Bulldog was such a shock and disappointment from Airfix.
@@HarryHoudiniModelsi have heard from a few others that have also had the same problems with Bulldog that had Harry........have tat recent Airfix Buccaneer (navy version) in the stash too
Hello there mate I was looking at the bulldog but after watching your build I don't think I will bother i have plenty in the stash to get on with anyway like you say the old airfix kits from the 1960s 70s were great the instructions described what the parts were I also remember building that Handley page 0/400 back in the day airfix should re-release it as a vintage classic I would like to build it again anyway mate all the best from here in the UK and happy modelling everyone 👍 🍺🍺
100% agree Harry. I love my old Airfix kits, which is why I was camped out on Fleabay to try and get some old favourites of mine from the '70s. I've not tried any of these new CAD kits Airfix does yet. I do have both the Shannon and Severn class lifeboat kits that I bought direct from Airfix, because they said some of the money on the sales goes to the RNLI, these are, I think, CAD kits like your Bulldog. The Shannon is a starter kit, so I'm expecting that to be straightforward. The Severn is bigger and more complex, though, so now you have me worried! Anyways, thanks again for another informative and fun video and, for what it is worth, I would like to see you build the HP 0/400. Bi-planes are fun because of the rigging, so you should feel right at home. I just did a little 1/72 Po-2 bi-plane from ICM. Tricky little thing it was, but doing the rigging taught me lots. 🙂 Finally, any chance of doing any old Matchbox kit reviews, Harry? I have a few and I love em.
It can depend if the kit was one of those reboxings the American owners did in the 80’s-90’s when Airfix wasn’t a British business any longer and the new others just pushed profit over product. A lot of those kits are rubbish, but not truely made by Airfix.
I understand where you're coming from, the reason I build models is to have the assembled model so that I can drool with excitement over having something I've wanted but also the build itself is a large part of the enjoyment. Last year I finished an Airfix Boomerang, an old kit and this one was an original found in a scrapheap of my partner's son's old stuff from childhood. I also built an Airfix Spitfire Mk1a in 1/72 scale and it was a new tool kit. I have to say that he Spitfire blew me away with lovely detail particularly in the cockpit which I left visible with no pilot and an aftermarket canopy with the Malcolm Hood open. I also have an Airfix 1/72 Hurricane (new tooling) to build as well as ANOTHER Airfix boomer but his time a re-release. I think perhaps there is an argument for both sides of this story. I have an aftermarket flying panel for the Boomer because there is nothing but a pilot in this kit so.....swings and roundabouts I think. Perhaps it's a kit dependent thing.
Hiya Harry, hope you're well. Firstly, as always mate, its an absolute joy to watch your video's! I love your passion and excitement for the hobby, its completely infectious! Although, this passion doesn't cloud your judgement (in my honest opinion) and you always make perfect sense (mostly!) I have to totally agree with you on this one though. I grew up with Airfix and Matchbox in the late 70's, early 80's and I have to admit, everything made sense. You built the model in a logical way, with clear instructions. And everything had a definition, you knew what parts were called and you learnt about the model as you built it. One of the reasons my love of military history, aircraft etc grew as my love of the hobby grew. Since ive come back to the hobby after maybe 30 years, ive mainly bought classic and vintage kits from my youth as the newer kits don't hit the mark like they did growing up. You build an old kit, the newer ones fall together (well.... obviously not all of them!) It's sad but I enjoy my old Airfix and matchbox builds far more than a Tamiya or a Revel. And please build this kit Harry! Im glad Becker doesn't want it! Great vid Harry thanks. Take care 👊
I think Becker just drops off his unwanted Airfix kits to me so I review then buy them. I’m like an Airfix rubbish dump LOL. But one mans trash is another mans treasure Bobby.
With the 0lder kits it is very much a mixed bag. The H/P 0400 was one of their better ones as well the B-26 and a few others. If you (or me) have built a few you know some (older) ones lack detail or have over simplified detail but it doesn`t stop me from building and enjoying them.
Although I build a few aircraft kits back in the 60’s Michael. By mid decade I started building ships and that’s pretty much all I made from then on. A lot of my memories are of the lovely, well made and nicely detailed, plus still mostly unique to this day, Sailing Ship kits from Airfix.
What you’re saying makes a lot of sense Harry. I.E. what’s the point of having all these modern technologies that can produce super detailed kit parts but can’t make it painless for people to build the kits eh? I guess nobody is test building these kits after the CAD/CAM and moulding guys do their jobs. 😅
I wonder Ronald.. Unless the CAD guys forewarn the assemblers of any tricky bits, but forget to tell the instruction designers. I have had one guy comment who makes instructions for Airfix 3rd party. If that is their way of getting them done no wonder they are vague and inaccurate. Not being done in-house!
@@HarryHoudiniModels that’s very possible Harry. 🤔 In the old days there was none of this “distributed manufacturing” and everything was being done in one location, making all of it easy to oversee and keep track of.
Looks still great for its day but the proof of the pudding is in the eating! Will you tackle all the rigging? Some pilot figures would be nice. I agree sometimes Airfix miss the mark but they will always have a core base of fans who grew up with Airfix. Today there is just so much competition out there especially from China who seem intent on dominating the modelling market as so much else! Good luck look forward to the build!
True they look great in the box, but I have had enough experience with Airfix kits, and some recommendations from other modellers, plus a lot of building bi-plane experience under my belt. It should go well. How hard can it be Mike?
@@HarryHoudiniModels having seen several of your builds, I am sure it will go together well with all your experience. I am put off bi-planes by all the rigging and I still haven't found a fool proof way to tackle it. Another thing that puts me off a lot of newer models is the excessive amount of p/e but that's an issue for another day! Good luck!
Hi Harry love the channel, being doing models since the later 60's just started Airfix new release Shannon Class Lifeboat, STARTER SET?? Having all the same problems you encountered with the Bulldog. If someone had given this to me as a first kit I would probably never do another one, what are Airfix thinking?
I think one of the issues is expectations. Some modellers dont want to fettle their kits. They want perfect out of box experience. Others want realistic surfaces and rivt count. Me? Im in between. Im happy to do some fettling and love recessed panel lines. But hate excess retro repairs or work to get siple fit to happen. I am working on a Heller 1/48 Mirage 2000 at the moment. Panels lines are very soft and shallow, fit of wings its DREADFUL. Fit of parts is AWFUL, one side tight the other a gap you could call a back alley. Decals ars so thick, too. It's not a pleasant kit. But im perservering. A good example is the new Airfix tool 1/72 AVRO Vulcan. It looks gorgeous and i want one...but it has a super detailed cockpit, engineers deck etc....and once built you have a rats peehole to see it through!
Greetings from Brazil! I hate to disagree with you, Harry, but you're talking through your admiral’s cap. Kits today are much better than in the old days (and I note you refer to the 1970s and 1980s molds and don’t mention the earlier stuff) in all respects: mold, boxing, decals, instructions). I especially fail to understand your infatuation with the old style instructions. They cram too many steps into one, are unclear and depend on a very decent knowledge of English (including technical terms which a 9-year old English boy might not include in his vocabulary). For the international market, this is a disaster. Since Airfix was traditionally very centered on UK and ex-colonies, this probably did not matter at the time, but today is simply unacceptable purely for economic reasons. Keep up the good work.
I'm actually working on a vintage Airfix Hercules, and I can say "HELL, NO", the older kits aren't better. The only reason I picked it up at the museum kit shop the other day was the price, $25 Cdn compared to $75 for the (not much better) Italeri kit. I don't have high expectations...
To be fair the Heracles is 1/144 scale which is tricky no matter old or new. And bi-planes have always been fiddly. So if your comparison is to a 1/48 scale Tamiya Spitfire then you are trying to compare apples with oranges. Point of reference and experience are important factors when saying a kit is better or worse.
@@HarryHoudiniModels this is the 1/72 version with the missile and launcher. I've built a few dozen of the Italeri kit in 1/72, and two Zvezda 1/72 kits, so yeah, I can say the Airfix one is the worst by a long shot...
The old Monogram and Revell kits had similar instructions to the Handley Page... written out step by step, told you what the parts were so you learned a bit while building. Today they try to make everything "international" with instructions in 120 languages, so all they do is use exploded drawings with bizarre "international symbols" telling you what to do. I like the picture of a clock, indicating you are supposed to let something dry. Guess it's ray cyst to print only in English.
You would think with all the instant translation technology available these days Airfix could produce any instruction in any language for any market. Just ask figgin Google to translate!
Horses for courses as they say. It should be fun to build is what you say Harry and I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy building the new Bulldog kit so I have to disagree with you on this one.
All I have seen are paid for reviews, where of course they must say they enjoyed it. Surprisingly there have been quite a lot of comments in the 4 videos I have made about the Bulldog, where other modellers have not enjoyed the build at all, even before my protestations.
@HarryHoudiniModels not a paid review at all as I have never done one. Don't get me wrong, I like the Airfix Vintage Classics as much as the next person but I don't have anything against the latest CAD Airfix kits as they are damn good. Of course, if anyone doesn't like "shake and bake" kits then that is absolutely fine.
Todays grey recycled plastic is garbage. It doesn't glue together well and solvent just disolves it. Also doesn't take paint too well. The old plastics are far superior.
I did struggle to get Tamiya Thin to adhere to the Bulldog plastic. Resorted to Revell Contacta for most of the build. But yes, nothing beats the old Airfix plastic. I love it too.
gimme an older kit anyday one where you actually do modelin unlike modern kits where everything fits together with perfection of .0000001mm no clean up no fillin just shake n bake
Attention Span Instructions! Don't do any Splaining to Me! I want to construct this thing,even if it means Sloping glue all over it,and gluing it to my self as well as Haphazardly together! Oh Hell! Let Me just buy the Pre-assembled Diecast version!
have to say I miss the old type instructions where they tell you what each part or segment is, even revell and Tamiya used to do it back in the 60's, educational as well, take care
It was the original premise by Nicholas Kove in 1939 when he started selling model kits, like the very first Golden Hind in a bag. A way to teach history and inform children about subjects they may not have been exposed to before. I still need information Sarah-Jane.
Excellent video and you're so right I love those old instructions and the way you learn what things are as you build, superb!
Glad you enjoyed it Steve
Hi Harry, Thank you for this review/comparison. The Handley page is a beautiful plane and kit, I must resist to the temptation.
You know you want one……. hehe
Airfix was fun and great teaching hobby
as was the original intention of the product back in the 50s.
Thanks Harry, i like old Airfix too except the old 1/72 Defiant, it was challenging to a ten year old back in the day.
Have to agree with your comment. That old Defiant was one of the few Airfix kits I didn't enjoy building at all as a youngster. 👍
I never built the Defiant back then, in fact after some Spitfires, a Messy Spit, and a Lancaster, I pretty much just build ships.
@@acfnugget7880 then, I tried building it 10 years ago and realised it wasn’t all my problem. The new Defiant in 1/72 and 1/48 I can recommend.
@@acfnugget7880 then, I tried building it 10 years ago and realised it wasn’t all my problem. The new Defiant in 1/72 and 1/48 I can recommend.
Having the wings of the O/400 in three parts was also because the actual aircraft had folding wings at those points so it' nice to give the modeller the option.
I did not know that Darren… thanks for the info.
Always a hard topic comparing old and new Airfix. I for one still enjoy building the old Airfix fix kits. The new ones, I also enjoy but can also appreciate how different the old and the new is. Haven't built the Bulldog as yet but plan to at some point. Now a kit you might enjoy is the Airfix Avro Anson in 1/48. plenty of internal framing but with all it's glazing, plenty of detail can still be seen.
As for the 0/400.....I patiently look forward to your build! Whilst I'm mainly an aircraft builder myself, the subject of ships is certainly one I look forward to in your videos. Best wishes to yourself and Bask. 👍👍
Thanks Nugget… be a while before I tackle the 0/400. I really just build ships, but these pesky aircraft keep flying into my hobby room.
Love your honest reviews Harry. Always fun hearing what you think of these kits
Thanks onixfiero… I call em as I see em… no favouritism.
Capt'n H, you have my 👍 vote, build the biwing kit...just for the sheer fun of it‼️
I will but not until some ships and other aircraft kits are completed Mike
I find it funny. For years I have seen on forums people wanting more detailed models and that is what model companies have given us. Old kits are good for nostalga but I would not call them better and I am reminded of that everytime I do an Airfix 1/600 ship or 1/144 airliner. They just are not good for the most part. I am happy where modern tooling is going.
Not the topic of this video… I merely compare 2 bi-plane kits from Airfix with similar levels of complexity that are half a century apart. My premise is does CAD improve the enjoyment of building the kit.
I clearly said this was not about detail, which we would hope would be better from CAD, but in so many cases I find it’s really not that much. We are also not talking about bad old Monogram, Pyro, Heller etc kits… just Airfix and how their focus seems to have changed from designing kits that are fun to build to now over engineered, over fiddly kits, with baldy done vague instructions that diminish the enjoyment of the hobby.
@@HarryHoudiniModels Also Harry, these old kits, because they are less detailed, allows for some scratch building fun. For, example, I added radio boxes, first aid kits and bomb sights to my old Airfix 70s Hudson kit, because there is a fair amount of glass around the cockpit, just from some odd junk I had laying around. That's the fun for me, trying to make it better and learning as I go. Old kits allow me to personalise my build more, make it my own way, if that makes any sense.
Yeah, the old kits were mostly good. There were some though that I never went near, like the B-17, they kept that old thing going way longer than they should have! All the good kits were ones that I thoroughly enjoyed. I still have them and might even display them when I move. I was tiny when I first saw that Handley Page 0/400, it was in an old catalogue, back when they'd show photos of the finished kits in them. That was great as it showed you what you could end up with. Happy days!
I never built the B-17, Lancaster of course, but no La’Merrycan aircraft from memory Roger. We watched the battle of Britain movie, James Bond, Sir Francis Drake, Dr Who and Thunderbirds. So those were the subjects I was interested in. I loved the old Airfix catalogues with a page of built and painted models on display. Wish I had kept them.
@@HarryHoudiniModels Yeah, I wish I'd kept those old catalogues too. Halcyon days!
Hi Harry love the vids I recon that you should honestly have a vid we’re you having a chat because I think your a great comedian I know you can if you wanted to I always watch your videos not so much building but your chats and you really make us laugh 😀
I do the W.A.N.K. Workbench and New Kits chat. Also a T.U.G. The Unheard Gooch discussions. Plus my S.H.I.T Special Harry Info Talks…. so how much more chattyness do you need?
If you join Patreon or RUclips Members then you get to Live Chat with me on those shows unique for paid members. From $1 USD a month.
Always an Outstanding video and presentation.
Good on you matey
I'm looking forward to this build. Harry! Handley Page did some lovely even elegant, lookin biplanes. 😎
Don’t hold your breath.. it may be a while. My list of kits to finish is growing exponentially Shane.
@@HarryHoudiniModels i know it will be a while. but you'll get around to it eventually. 😜
You are so right Harry and I think that Matchbox kits fit inline with your thinking too. Sorry Harry I got it wrong, my Bulldog is an old Inpact model bulldog in1/48, it took me some time to find it in the stash. lol.
I only discovered Matchbox plastic kits a decade ago. We only saw Airfix, some Revell, and just the beginning of the Asian kits when I first started scale modelling in the 60’s. Matchbox, Frog and others were unheard of down under. Now I do like Matchbox and have built a few of their aircraft. Good fit, fun models.
@@HarryHoudiniModels Yep they sure are
I totally agree with your premise. I have just spent a week assembling one of my fav vehicles in 1/35 scale. The SDKFZ10 halftrack. Well actually only partly assembling as the "thing" is probably going in the bin, parts or real. Esci took a reasonably complex chassis and turned it into a parts overkill. Far too many small fiddly little parts (side panels broken into three parts when one would do) to make assemblies that could have been molded whole. Then they added complication in the assembly order that meant when you finally got to the nexus points in the build you realise that the alignment of major subassemblies is wonky, even with dry fitting. Then I have designs on a modern 1/16 kit, Sdkfz 234 by Das Werk where they have accommodated those modelers who want complexity by fully molding the suspension as individual parts, and those who want simplicity by adding in single molded parts as well. A much more pragmatic and sensible approach IMO.
I like that idea by Das Werk and wished they had done it for their Schwimwagen I built a few months back. The over fiddly suspension, which also will never be seen, was just too much for my fat wombat fingers and old bandicoot eyes.
Although it's a rhetorical question, I'll say, yes. Some of Airfix's older kits - as much as Hasegawa's and Monogram's - are better than some of the most recent editions, because these are the result of true craftsmanship and engineering.
You are getting my point Bill… craftsmanship…. not just Computer Aided Disaster
Great video. Like the insights you have from all your experience with kits, CAD, etc. Indeed the O400 is a great kit. I probably will try to find one. Fun Fun Fun.
Thanks for watching Eugene.
I have this in a red box issue It's been in my stash for quite a few years now, and although I haven't started it, I'm still excited by it and still want to give it a go. The only thing with the modern instruction is that Airfix say the dihedral is 14 degrees which sounds a bit excessive should be about 4 degrees. The other innovative thing with the kit is the rigging of the main wings being done while assembling the wings. I think it was ICM that have recently done something similar with one of their 48th bi-planes. Well Airfix were doing this way back in the 1960's. Pity they haven't continued with it with their 48th scale and on some of their 72 scale bi-planes like the sword-fish. I'm looking forward to your comments on making this monster WW1 bomber. you mentioned the size, this aircraft is almost the size of a B29 so you're going to need a big shelf to show it off when finished. I also have the Roden 1/72 Gotha G. V. which to be honest scares the hell out of me, but I know it can be built as photos have been published of completed kits. If you want an example of vague instruction just take a look at many or the Roden kits the Gotha and Bristol Fb2 fighter being prime examples. It's a pity Airfix couldn't put a copy of the original old instruction together with the new ones to give these vintage kits a bit more authenticity. Thanks for another informative and entertaining video.
I had the Roden Gotha but shyed away from it at the time.. you are right about the 4 degree dihedral, even the Germans knew that. upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Handley_Page_O-100_type_drawing.jpg
I'm with you. I struggle with most of the modern Airfix kits. Either the plastic is too soft or the engineering is too complicated.
It seems they have strayed far off the path from the original fun kits I built in the 60’s and still seek out to build now. Guess I won’t be buying any new tool Airfix from now on. Maybe I am just not their focus demographic anymore. I am simply too old.
@@HarryHoudiniModels Don't say that, Harry, it's the old codgers like us, I think, that are also buying kits these days because we remember the fun we had as kids doing them decades ago. I think there is room for both kinds of scale modellers, both new and er...not so new!
Another cracking video, if I weren't a railway modeller, I'd crack on with kits - there's plenty in the loft, I may not get to build 'em, age wise, it seemed only yesterday I was 6 yrs plus and building some of them. I started work on the Matchbox Large Scale Spitfire and Monogram Mustang, aged 14yrs, saved them for later, life got in the way. Bloody scary really. I digress.
My friend is a long in the tooth, CAD Jockey, design engineer, did his time as a pattern maker. He has worked in; motor industry, aviation, shipping, motor racing, commercial vehicles, passenger buses/coaches, fire engines etc etc, has lap top will travel. He's noted that many young CAD Jockeys now are disinterested and/or clueless about the subject matter.
In addition, we've noted at Hornby, Scalectrix, Airfix, a similar malaise. Add in, at times, clueless management there too, who snatch defeat from the jaws of victory all too often. The perfect storm and part of the reason why instructions (they used to have old school/outside help), design etc has gone awry?
In hindsight, living in blighty in 2024? Looking back at the 1970s and 1980s? A darn sight better than what we have now!!
✌️✌️💜💜👍👍😊😊
This explains a lot! Thanks for watching Muso
Wait, are you saying you still have those Matchbox Spitty and Monogram Mustang still sitting from way back then? Please consider digging them out. They deserve it, if you can make the time for them. 🙂
They can be but its down to the kit......just like there are jems and dogs of kits today so it was back then......a while ago i finished the 1/72 Airfix NA-39 Buccaneer from 1975 (same age as me) and it was an absolute jem to build
Yes mista Jaws that was a great kit in its day, and even the new tool Airfix Buccaneer is an enjoyable kit, I built it a few years back. But the 2024 Airfix Bulldog was such a shock and disappointment from Airfix.
@@HarryHoudiniModelsi have heard from a few others that have also had the same problems with Bulldog that had Harry........have tat recent Airfix Buccaneer (navy version) in the stash too
@@HarryHoudiniModels thats a great buccaneer kit too....have it in the stash
Hello there mate I was looking at the bulldog but after watching your build I don't think I will bother i have plenty in the stash to get on with anyway like you say the old airfix kits from the 1960s 70s were great the instructions described what the parts were I also remember building that Handley page 0/400 back in the day airfix should re-release it as a vintage classic I would like to build it again anyway mate all the best from here in the UK and happy modelling everyone 👍 🍺🍺
100% agree Harry. I love my old Airfix kits, which is why I was camped out on Fleabay to try and get some old favourites of mine from the '70s. I've not tried any of these new CAD kits Airfix does yet. I do have both the Shannon and Severn class lifeboat kits that I bought direct from Airfix, because they said some of the money on the sales goes to the RNLI, these are, I think, CAD kits like your Bulldog. The Shannon is a starter kit, so I'm expecting that to be straightforward. The Severn is bigger and more complex, though, so now you have me worried!
Anyways, thanks again for another informative and fun video and, for what it is worth, I would like to see you build the HP 0/400. Bi-planes are fun because of the rigging, so you should feel right at home. I just did a little 1/72 Po-2 bi-plane from ICM. Tricky little thing it was, but doing the rigging taught me lots. 🙂
Finally, any chance of doing any old Matchbox kit reviews, Harry? I have a few and I love em.
I built all my Matchbox kits bar a tiny Aston Martin Ulster which is a work in progress that I used to take to Model Club meetings.
Some old Airfix was good. The Jetstream and Meteor for example were jems. But others were horrors, well beyond the skills of many modellers.
It can depend if the kit was one of those reboxings the American owners did in the 80’s-90’s when Airfix wasn’t a British business any longer and the new others just pushed profit over product. A lot of those kits are rubbish, but not truely made by Airfix.
It's Becker's Kit. Oh goody; says Harry. I'll just do a couple of things on the Hadley Page. Opps, I build it.
LOL… I actually resisted the temptation to glue anything this time, then he gave the kit to me. Lesson learned. Glue anyway!
I understand where you're coming from, the reason I build models is to have the assembled model so that I can drool with excitement over having something I've wanted but also the build itself is a large part of the enjoyment. Last year I finished an Airfix Boomerang, an old kit and this one was an original found in a scrapheap of my partner's son's old stuff from childhood. I also built an Airfix Spitfire Mk1a in 1/72 scale and it was a new tool kit. I have to say that he Spitfire blew me away with lovely detail particularly in the cockpit which I left visible with no pilot and an aftermarket canopy with the Malcolm Hood open. I also have an Airfix 1/72 Hurricane (new tooling) to build as well as ANOTHER Airfix boomer but his time a re-release. I think perhaps there is an argument for both sides of this story. I have an aftermarket flying panel for the Boomer because there is nothing but a pilot in this kit so.....swings and roundabouts I think. Perhaps it's a kit dependent thing.
thanks for commenting Potrzebie
Hiya Harry, hope you're well.
Firstly, as always mate, its an absolute joy to watch your video's! I love your passion and excitement for the hobby, its completely infectious! Although, this passion doesn't cloud your judgement (in my honest opinion) and you always make perfect sense (mostly!)
I have to totally agree with you on this one though. I grew up with Airfix and Matchbox in the late 70's, early 80's and I have to admit, everything made sense. You built the model in a logical way, with clear instructions. And everything had a definition, you knew what parts were called and you learnt about the model as you built it. One of the reasons my love of military history, aircraft etc grew as my love of the hobby grew.
Since ive come back to the hobby after maybe 30 years, ive mainly bought classic and vintage kits from my youth as the newer kits don't hit the mark like they did growing up. You build an old kit, the newer ones fall together (well.... obviously not all of them!) It's sad but I enjoy my old Airfix and matchbox builds far more than a Tamiya or a Revel.
And please build this kit Harry! Im glad Becker doesn't want it!
Great vid Harry thanks.
Take care 👊
I think Becker just drops off his unwanted Airfix kits to me so I review then buy them. I’m like an Airfix rubbish dump LOL. But one mans trash is another mans treasure Bobby.
🎵I like Big Boats and I cannot lie!🎵
Very eloquent lyrics…
People like a kit for many different reasons.
They certainly do love…
I call it the CAD flex - new tech and people wanting to show off how brilliant they are without caring about the end user.
Sadly I think you hit the nail on the head..
With the 0lder kits it is very much a mixed bag. The H/P 0400 was one of their better ones as well the B-26 and a few others. If you (or me) have built a few you know some (older) ones lack detail or have over simplified detail but it doesn`t stop me from building and enjoying them.
Although I build a few aircraft kits back in the 60’s Michael. By mid decade I started building ships and that’s pretty much all I made from then on. A lot of my memories are of the lovely, well made and nicely detailed, plus still mostly unique to this day, Sailing Ship kits from Airfix.
@@HarryHoudiniModels Good choice model on.
Have they let you out again?
Becker probably thought you'd end half building the kit for the review again so he gave it to you! 🙂
I think you are right ;)
What you’re saying makes a lot of sense Harry. I.E. what’s the point of having all these modern technologies that can produce super detailed kit parts but can’t make it painless for people to build the kits eh? I guess nobody is test building these kits after the CAD/CAM and moulding guys do their jobs. 😅
I wonder Ronald.. Unless the CAD guys forewarn the assemblers of any tricky bits, but forget to tell the instruction designers. I have had one guy comment who makes instructions for Airfix 3rd party. If that is their way of getting them done no wonder they are vague and inaccurate. Not being done in-house!
@@HarryHoudiniModels that’s very possible Harry. 🤔 In the old days there was none of this “distributed manufacturing” and everything was being done in one location, making all of it easy to oversee and keep track of.
Yes build it please
On my list Viking
Looks still great for its day but the proof of the pudding is in the eating! Will you tackle all the rigging? Some pilot figures would be nice. I agree sometimes Airfix miss the mark but they will always have a core base of fans who grew up with Airfix. Today there is just so much competition out there especially from China who seem intent on dominating the modelling market as so much else! Good luck look forward to the build!
True they look great in the box, but I have had enough experience with Airfix kits, and some recommendations from other modellers, plus a lot of building bi-plane experience under my belt. It should go well. How hard can it be Mike?
@@HarryHoudiniModels having seen several of your builds, I am sure it will go together well with all your experience. I am put off bi-planes by all the rigging and I still haven't found a fool proof way to tackle it. Another thing that puts me off a lot of newer models is the excessive amount of p/e but that's an issue for another day! Good luck!
Have you looked at the Accurate Minitures kits? Think you will like their instructions too, pity they have gone out of business.
Honestly Phil I mostly build ships these days… it’s Becker’s bad influence giving me these aircraft kits to review.
I'm only here for the banter and WANK....
-What's that....?
-Oh, wrong video....?
-I do apologise!
I may do a T.U.G. later this month, just to pull one off, so to speak.
Hi Harry love the channel, being doing models since the later 60's just started Airfix new release Shannon Class Lifeboat, STARTER SET?? Having all the same problems you encountered with the Bulldog. If someone had given this to me as a first kit I would probably never do another one, what are Airfix thinking?
I have heard that the Shannon was a troublesome kit. Might have to get one and compare to the old (well only 2 decades ago) Severn Lifeboat kit Dean.
Oh no! I just got this kit! 😔
I think one of the issues is expectations. Some modellers dont want to fettle their kits. They want perfect out of box experience. Others want realistic surfaces and rivt count. Me? Im in between. Im happy to do some fettling and love recessed panel lines. But hate excess retro repairs or work to get siple fit to happen. I am working on a Heller 1/48 Mirage 2000 at the moment. Panels lines are very soft and shallow, fit of wings its DREADFUL. Fit of parts is AWFUL, one side tight the other a gap you could call a back alley. Decals ars so thick, too. It's not a pleasant kit. But im perservering.
A good example is the new Airfix tool 1/72 AVRO Vulcan. It looks gorgeous and i want one...but it has a super detailed cockpit, engineers deck etc....and once built you have a rats peehole to see it through!
Rat’s pee hole you say… the mind boggles on how you know it’s dimensions Rich?
Greetings from Brazil! I hate to disagree with you, Harry, but you're talking through your admiral’s cap. Kits today are much better than in the old days (and I note you refer to the 1970s and 1980s molds and don’t mention the earlier stuff) in all respects: mold, boxing, decals, instructions). I especially fail to understand your infatuation with the old style instructions. They cram too many steps into one, are unclear and depend on a very decent knowledge of English (including technical terms which a 9-year old English boy might not include in his vocabulary). For the international market, this is a disaster. Since Airfix was traditionally very centered on UK and ex-colonies, this probably did not matter at the time, but today is simply unacceptable purely for economic reasons.
Keep up the good work.
Yes you are right, these days Airfix must cater for an international market. But I do miss those old imperialist instructions Jose.
I'm actually working on a vintage Airfix Hercules, and I can say "HELL, NO", the older kits aren't better. The only reason I picked it up at the museum kit shop the other day was the price, $25 Cdn compared to $75 for the (not much better) Italeri kit. I don't have high expectations...
To be fair the Heracles is 1/144 scale which is tricky no matter old or new. And bi-planes have always been fiddly. So if your comparison is to a 1/48 scale Tamiya Spitfire then you are trying to compare apples with oranges. Point of reference and experience are important factors when saying a kit is better or worse.
@@HarryHoudiniModels this is the 1/72 version with the missile and launcher. I've built a few dozen of the Italeri kit in 1/72, and two Zvezda 1/72 kits, so yeah, I can say the Airfix one is the worst by a long shot...
The old Monogram and Revell kits had similar instructions to the Handley Page... written out step by step, told you what the parts were so you learned a bit while building. Today they try to make everything "international" with instructions in 120 languages, so all they do is use exploded drawings with bizarre "international symbols" telling you what to do. I like the picture of a clock, indicating you are supposed to let something dry. Guess it's ray cyst to print only in English.
You would think with all the instant translation technology available these days Airfix could produce any instruction in any language for any market. Just ask figgin Google to translate!
Horses for courses as they say. It should be fun to build is what you say Harry and I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy building the new Bulldog kit so I have to disagree with you on this one.
All I have seen are paid for reviews, where of course they must say they enjoyed it. Surprisingly there have been quite a lot of comments in the 4 videos I have made about the Bulldog, where other modellers have not enjoyed the build at all, even before my protestations.
@HarryHoudiniModels not a paid review at all as I have never done one. Don't get me wrong, I like the Airfix Vintage Classics as much as the next person but I don't have anything against the latest CAD Airfix kits as they are damn good. Of course, if anyone doesn't like "shake and bake" kits then that is absolutely fine.
What are you going to do when you become an old bugger like me😮
What do you mean when? I am in the middle of my 7th decade already!
@@HarryHoudiniModels 75 . Well damn . I'm young at 70
Todays grey recycled plastic is garbage. It doesn't glue together well and solvent just disolves it.
Also doesn't take paint too well. The old plastics are far superior.
I did struggle to get Tamiya Thin to adhere to the Bulldog plastic. Resorted to Revell Contacta for most of the build. But yes, nothing beats the old Airfix plastic. I love it too.
gimme an older kit anyday one where you actually do modelin unlike modern kits where everything fits together with perfection of .0000001mm no clean up no fillin just shake n bake
You are not wrong there Sammy Dog… maybe we are just getting too old? Get off my lawn kids and turn that bloody music down I am trying to have a nap!
Attention Span Instructions! Don't do any Splaining to Me! I want to construct this thing,even if it means Sloping glue all over it,and gluing it to my self as well as Haphazardly together! Oh Hell! Let Me just buy the Pre-assembled Diecast version!
LOL you crack me up Mace