It is kind of funny because mine and my brothers first kit was the revell Me262 and p51 dog fight set in 1/72,made in lockdown in 2021,in March,so this brings back some memories,so Thanks!
you should get the airfix P51D and Me262 set. unlike this set in the video it uses the old tooling from 2012 which is miles better. amazing value, highly recommend that one if you want to build the same two planes but with actual good qualty
I suppose they wanted to pick something that could be "simple" to design that didn't immediately replace the G6 version (which is also a really simple kit by today's standards)
Thanks for the heads up on this kit, much appreciated. Sad about the P-51 tail wheel, as Airfix has come a long way in the past couple of years. I'm presently working on the P-51D and having a blast with it.
I normally think quite highly of Airfix, but this has been one of the biggest disappointments from them in the last few years. Which, I suppose in the grand scheme of things is not a massive problem compared to other companies, but still not quite the standard we have come to expect from them
Yeah I’ve built the p51 as a starter set. I had to do some alterations to make it historically correct. But the 109 is a dream of a kit to put together 😊
I do believe you're right,the tail wheel of the P51 should also be retracted and the pilot did looked out of scale,otherwise not bad looking for starter kits.Thank for posting!
Thank you for your honest review. I will probably buy the Bf 109F-4 at some point, but only because I support Airfix, which has been a part of my life for many years. New P-51D, no thanks. My support has limits. It would be nice to have a review of Airfix' Bf 109G-6 for comparison with the Bf 109F-4. I dare you🥳😘
@@ModelMinutes You are right except I don`t think many will consider "the huge canon bulge" in front of the canopy to be perfect. It is a serious mistake bigger than even the mistake on the Airfix Vulcan in its time😂
@@plasticalchemist my uncle Tom Banks MC used to meet my father and I at Barking station on a Saturday before we all headed to the Boleyn Ground just about every fortnight and he would always bring me a dogfight double. I miss both my dad, 38 years and Uncle Tom 24 years despite the passing of the years.
@@MichaelCampin I know the feeling my friend, mine passed 30 years ago and still miss him. I have built the spitfire with the 109 with the spitfire shooting down the 109, they build a treat
I'd bin the tube cement immediately. I haven't used it since the early 1980's. I find that it's generally more trouble than it's worth. Same too, for the acrylic metallics. I have never found any that cover as well as enamels. That P-51 tail wheel is annoying, but not a huge problem. I do wish, though, that Airfix would make the late variant of the 109, the 'K', with the streamlined 'Galland' canopy. It's possibly my favourite version. They do keep churning out the 'G' - it took them ages, in the past, to make a Battle Of Britain 'E' variant.
The E model was one of their first new toolings and there's been far more releases of it than the G model kit. There's surely at least 500 different decal sets with BoB options for it as well. Hell, get an Xtradecal sheet (72-118) for example, and you have 7 different options with a 110, JU87, JU88, and He111 to boot.
The glue is stupidly thick and it's not hard to make a mess by pressing the tube a bit too much so I can see why someone wouldn't like it. That said, It's still perfectly usable in my opinion. Works pretty good for larger parts where you don't have to be careful, and very small ones that need to stay in a certain position, something that thin glues like Tamiya won't do as well.
My nephew got an Airfix starter set recently, and the cement was as gloopy and stringy and rubbish as it had always been. I lent him a bottle of Tamiya Extra Thin cement, and his first ever Spitfire kit came out beautifully. The only time I remember the cement being good, was when the Airfix stuff smelled of oranges, in the mid 1970's. I built a Douglas Invader with it. But as soon as Liquid Poly cement became more easily available, that's what I used.
Helllo mr.mini!thats a nice fastdish for in between.a fastdish is allways good 4ur mojo. there shouldnt be any problem handeling the kits.i appreciate your efforts.with sticky greetings from Brandenburg germany.your modellmate.christian
Very fair review, the tail wheel doors and pilot on the Mustang are irritating. I bought both as separate kits and have started the 109, no dramas so far. I haven't unpacked the Mustang yet, but hope it is a little less flimsy and better moulded than the classic kit. I will be painting them with some of the new Mig ATOM paints which on first use seem to adhere well and dry very matt. Best wishes, Nick
technically yes? though the G6 was by far the most common. Both the F4 and the G6 were pretty far outclassed by the mustang in 1944. The G10 and K4 could match the mustang's performance, but their numbers were limited.
@@robmarsh6668 Correct. The BF109 F-4 in this kit is flown by the "Jagdgruppe Ost "and thats a training-unit for new pilots or pilots which changed from Bombers etc. to fighters or for pilots which were wounded and they have refresh their flying conditions.
This is completely off topic, but can you make a video about your top 10 models that you wished existed? I don't know if that interests you or is on brand, but I know person there are so many planes that I wish had a kit represented for them, or at least a kit that you could actually find/afford.
the airfix mustang in the fighter doubles me 262 is a better quality pylons for drop tanks separate , panels for undercarriage and tail wheel loose so you can choose what option to have why they alter things when its good and make it a backward step will mystify me specially as cost is serious money these days glad I saw this won't bother with this kit
Yes, that is the 2012 tooling, and whilst that one does also have some issues (thin parts that snap, a bit of flash and the really weak landing gear legs) it does come with more options
Doing mottling by hand isn't that difficult. I use drybrushing to do fades/blends and mottling on my builds that require it due to not having or wanting an airbrush set up. The results are pretty darn good ^.^
Whilst I’m not denying mottling can be done by hand, personally with my own skills, I find I can get better results with an airbrush. My hand painting results never look as good
I was tempted to get this but the issues with the Mustang put me off so I got the Spitfire/BF109 set instead even though that has the exact same decals as the other starter set spitfire. I wish Airfix would just put a tiny bit more thought into these sets but overall they are a decent price for two model kits and I do like the shadow stands.
The G6 (to my knowledge) was just an updated version of their very old tooling - the parts are virtually identical just with more modern features such as recessed panel lines
I do chuckle because the original dog-fight doubles were mystifying. Me109 versus…Beaufighter? Mig-21 versus Cessna O2 Skymaster? At least this pairing seems reasonable.
109 is what you would expect as a nice simple kit to build, but that P51 is a let down. Compromising details for simplicity is one thing, but it really limits the appeal. Forcing the drop tanks to be used and moulding in the gear bay doors I do not like. Same goes for the tail wheel. Ending up compromising the kit to save a couple of pieces spoilt the P51. I'll take the older version please.
They updated the 70’s tooling in the early 00’s. Same parts just now with recessed details and a little better mould quality, but the part design seems the same
Just to be clear 100 hour coupons is equal to 1 US dollar. You would have to buy 100 of these kits to get $2 dollars off your next purchase lol. Ridiculous but I love these kits, great rainy afternoon fun. The club points add up over the years, I think after 20 years of collecting these I can get a free $12 kit.
Cant speak for the 109 as i havent built it but the new p-51 is piontless as airfix themselves have an older starter p-51 which has more and dare i say CORRECT options still in the range....in fact if i didnt know any better and you showed me the 2012 tooling next to the 2024 tooling i would swear the 2012 is the new one and the 2024 is the old one
technically I think the older tooling would be classed as a "gift set" these days - but the red tails version has been available in Aldi/Lidl a few years on the trot over the holiday periods. I know which one I would be picking if I wanted to keep my options open
Hi Matt. Does it say on the box that they are "starter" models? I would be really upset if I bought a kit, or a DD, expecting previous Airfix quality, only to find it contained one of the "dumbed down" starter models. I think Airfix have dropped the ball a bit with this "dumbed down" approach. I still remeber my first kit, aged about 8 or 9, an Airfix Spitfire MKIX. I didn't have paint but I simply followed the instructions and got a very acceptable result without any difficulty. As an aside the instructions were much better in those far off days, before Airfix copied the Revell style of instructions. I doubt I was any more specially talented then than 8-9 year olds are now, so why do they need "dumbed down"? I wonder whether the beginner will be quite so satisfied with it after a little while as they might with a propper model. Obviously it is a comercially decision for Airfix, but I do wish they would put a nice prominent label on the box so that we know its a simplified less ultimately satisfying kit.
technically no, they do not indicuate that it is a "starter set". But it is known that the models that come with the shadow stands are all part of the specially designed - beginner friendly range - to which these toolings belong. If you buy the starter set Mustang you will get the same tooling with the tailwheel that can't be raised
It is kind of funny because mine and my brothers first kit was the revell Me262 and p51 dog fight set in 1/72,made in lockdown in 2021,in March,so this brings back some memories,so Thanks!
@@KGmodels pity Revell are basically rubbish.
I’ve got their Me262, it looks pretty good. If it’s the same Mustang I’ve built though, that’s one of their worst models 😢
you should get the airfix P51D and Me262 set.
unlike this set in the video it uses the old tooling from 2012 which is miles better. amazing value, highly recommend that one if you want to build the same two planes but with actual good qualty
@ModelMinutes,well out of me and my brother,I built the ME-262,so I guess I got the better kit 😆,and unlucky for my brother…
Nice to see an F-4 but I think a later model 109 would be more representative match-up.
Yes it should be a G-6, G-10 or even a K model.
I suppose they wanted to pick something that could be "simple" to design that didn't immediately replace the G6 version (which is also a really simple kit by today's standards)
Thanks for the heads up on this kit, much appreciated. Sad about the P-51 tail wheel, as Airfix has come a long way in the past couple of years. I'm presently working on the P-51D and having a blast with it.
I normally think quite highly of Airfix, but this has been one of the biggest disappointments from them in the last few years. Which, I suppose in the grand scheme of things is not a massive problem compared to other companies, but still not quite the standard we have come to expect from them
Thanks for the review, have a great weekend.
Thanks, you too!
Yeah I’ve built the p51 as a starter set. I had to do some alterations to make it historically correct. But the 109 is a dream of a kit to put together 😊
Thanks for the info!
I do believe you're right,the tail wheel of the P51 should also be retracted and the pilot did looked out of scale,otherwise not bad looking for starter kits.Thank for posting!
Thank you for your honest review.
I will probably buy the Bf 109F-4 at some point, but only because I support Airfix, which has been a part of my life for many years.
New P-51D, no thanks. My support has limits.
It would be nice to have a review of Airfix' Bf 109G-6 for comparison with the Bf 109F-4. I dare you🥳😘
I built the G6 many years ago. A perfectly fine model to build by the early 00’s standards, but somewhat lacking in detail and finesse today
@@ModelMinutes You are right except I don`t think many will consider "the huge canon bulge" in front of the canopy to be perfect. It is a serious mistake bigger than even the mistake on the Airfix Vulcan in its time😂
You got to love this dog fights
It's definitely a better value way of getting kits
@@plasticalchemist my uncle Tom Banks MC used to meet my father and I at Barking station on a Saturday before we all headed to the Boleyn Ground just about every fortnight and he would always bring me a dogfight double. I miss both my dad, 38 years and Uncle Tom 24 years despite the passing of the years.
@@MichaelCampin I know the feeling my friend, mine passed 30 years ago and still miss him. I have built the spitfire with the 109 with the spitfire shooting down the 109, they build a treat
I'd bin the tube cement immediately. I haven't used it since the early 1980's. I find that it's generally more trouble than it's worth. Same too, for the acrylic metallics. I have never found any that cover as well as enamels.
That P-51 tail wheel is annoying, but not a huge problem.
I do wish, though, that Airfix would make the late variant of the 109, the 'K', with the streamlined 'Galland' canopy. It's possibly my favourite version. They do keep churning out the 'G' - it took them ages, in the past, to make a Battle Of Britain 'E' variant.
The E model was one of their first new toolings and there's been far more releases of it than the G model kit. There's surely at least 500 different decal sets with BoB options for it as well. Hell, get an Xtradecal sheet (72-118) for example, and you have 7 different options with a 110, JU87, JU88, and He111 to boot.
If you haven't used a product since the 80s why do think that it is still the same? Surely a product would be much different in 40+ years?
The glue is stupidly thick and it's not hard to make a mess by pressing the tube a bit too much so I can see why someone wouldn't like it. That said, It's still perfectly usable in my opinion. Works pretty good for larger parts where you don't have to be careful, and very small ones that need to stay in a certain position, something that thin glues like Tamiya won't do as well.
My nephew got an Airfix starter set recently, and the cement was as gloopy and stringy and rubbish as it had always been. I lent him a bottle of Tamiya Extra Thin cement, and his first ever Spitfire kit came out beautifully.
The only time I remember the cement being good, was when the Airfix stuff smelled of oranges, in the mid 1970's. I built a Douglas Invader with it. But as soon as Liquid Poly cement became more easily available, that's what I used.
@@codyfrench7668 - I said in the past. I have nine 109E models in front of me now, including one in bits on the back of a 'Queen Mary'.
Helllo mr.mini!thats a nice fastdish for in between.a fastdish is allways good 4ur mojo. there shouldnt be any problem handeling the kits.i appreciate your efforts.with sticky greetings from Brandenburg germany.your modellmate.christian
thanks very much!
Very fair review, the tail wheel doors and pilot on the Mustang are irritating. I bought both as separate kits and have started the 109, no dramas so far. I haven't unpacked the Mustang yet, but hope it is a little less flimsy and better moulded than the classic kit. I will be painting them with some of the new Mig ATOM paints which on first use seem to adhere well and dry very matt. Best wishes, Nick
I hope you enjoy those new paints! I'm yet to experience them myself
Were F-4s still around when P-51Ds were?
technically yes? though the G6 was by far the most common. Both the F4 and the G6 were pretty far outclassed by the mustang in 1944. The G10 and K4 could match the mustang's performance, but their numbers were limited.
@@dennizkucuk835 109Gs came in in summer '42. I can't believe any frontline unit had F-4s but maybe it's from an OTU or something
@@robmarsh6668 I can believe some had them but they would be exceedingly rare by 1944 yeah.
Airfix seem to think so
@@robmarsh6668 Correct. The BF109 F-4 in this kit is flown by the "Jagdgruppe Ost "and thats a training-unit for new pilots or pilots which changed from Bombers etc. to fighters or for pilots which were wounded and they have refresh their flying conditions.
Another great review.
I'm surprised at Airfix with the P-51
You and me both!
This is completely off topic, but can you make a video about your top 10 models that you wished existed? I don't know if that interests you or is on brand, but I know person there are so many planes that I wish had a kit represented for them, or at least a kit that you could actually find/afford.
that's an interesting suggestion!
the airfix mustang in the fighter doubles me 262 is a better quality pylons for drop tanks separate , panels for undercarriage and tail wheel loose so you can choose what option to have why they alter things when its good and make it a backward step will mystify me specially as cost is serious money these days glad I saw this won't bother with this kit
Yes, that is the 2012 tooling, and whilst that one does also have some issues (thin parts that snap, a bit of flash and the really weak landing gear legs) it does come with more options
Im thinking of buying the starter set of bf109 just to see what the toolings like
It’s the same as the one here, generally looks pretty reasonable
I like the bf 109 F -4 , I am going to buy a few of these kits.
Doing mottling by hand isn't that difficult. I use drybrushing to do fades/blends and mottling on my builds that require it due to not having or wanting an airbrush set up.
The results are pretty darn good ^.^
Whilst I’m not denying mottling can be done by hand, personally with my own skills, I find I can get better results with an airbrush. My hand painting results never look as good
@@ModelMinutes it does take practice, just like any skill does ^.^
I was tempted to get this but the issues with the Mustang put me off so I got the Spitfire/BF109 set instead even though that has the exact same decals as the other starter set spitfire. I wish Airfix would just put a tiny bit more thought into these sets but overall they are a decent price for two model kits and I do like the shadow stands.
The shadow stands are a good addition, but I wish they had put a "plug" in the kit to fill the hole if you didn't want to use it
I'm glad the F-4 isn't the same tooling as the G-6 that Airfix produced because that one wasn't the best BF109 I have built...
The G6 (to my knowledge) was just an updated version of their very old tooling - the parts are virtually identical just with more modern features such as recessed panel lines
I do chuckle because the original dog-fight doubles were mystifying. Me109 versus…Beaufighter? Mig-21 versus Cessna O2 Skymaster? At least this pairing seems reasonable.
yes, there were some odd choices
109 is what you would expect as a nice simple kit to build, but that P51 is a let down. Compromising details for simplicity is one thing, but it really limits the appeal. Forcing the drop tanks to be used and moulding in the gear bay doors I do not like. Same goes for the tail wheel.
Ending up compromising the kit to save a couple of pieces spoilt the P51. I'll take the older version please.
Does Airfix even have a new G-6? Last review I saw was the same kit I built in the 70's.
They updated the 70’s tooling in the early 00’s. Same parts just now with recessed details and a little better mould quality, but the part design seems the same
Just to be clear 100 hour coupons is equal to 1 US dollar. You would have to buy 100 of these kits to get $2 dollars off your next purchase lol. Ridiculous but I love these kits, great rainy afternoon fun. The club points add up over the years, I think after 20 years of collecting these I can get a free $12 kit.
You only need 16 coupons to get a series 1 or 2 kit, and seeing as the set shown here came with 2 tokens, you only need 8 of these kits, not 100
I’ve got the one with the spitfire
nice!
Why put out a ETO Usaaf fighter without noseart?
🤷♂️
Cant speak for the 109 as i havent built it but the new p-51 is piontless as airfix themselves have an older starter p-51 which has more and dare i say CORRECT options still in the range....in fact if i didnt know any better and you showed me the 2012 tooling next to the 2024 tooling i would swear the 2012 is the new one and the 2024 is the old one
technically I think the older tooling would be classed as a "gift set" these days - but the red tails version has been available in Aldi/Lidl a few years on the trot over the holiday periods. I know which one I would be picking if I wanted to keep my options open
Hi Matt. Does it say on the box that they are "starter" models? I would be really upset if I bought a kit, or a DD, expecting previous Airfix quality, only to find it contained one of the "dumbed down" starter models.
I think Airfix have dropped the ball a bit with this "dumbed down" approach. I still remeber my first kit, aged about 8 or 9, an Airfix Spitfire MKIX. I didn't have paint but I simply followed the instructions and got a very acceptable result without any difficulty. As an aside the instructions were much better in those far off days, before Airfix copied the Revell style of instructions. I doubt I was any more specially talented then than 8-9 year olds are now, so why do they need "dumbed down"? I wonder whether the beginner will be quite so satisfied with it after a little while as they might with a propper model.
Obviously it is a comercially decision for Airfix, but I do wish they would put a nice prominent label on the box so that we know its a simplified less ultimately satisfying kit.
technically no, they do not indicuate that it is a "starter set". But it is known that the models that come with the shadow stands are all part of the specially designed - beginner friendly range - to which these toolings belong. If you buy the starter set Mustang you will get the same tooling with the tailwheel that can't be raised
Nice review, would be good to see 1/48 scale reviews from other manufacturers..
I’ve got a Dora wings, icm and Tamiya kit in 1/48 to review at some point
It looks great 👍 😮
there are some good elements, but I am still unhappy with the point about the landing gear
Oh no, not another P-51D, no one ever has thought of making a model of that plane, surely not airfix with their like 8 versions on and off market now.
Possibly one of the most popular subjects for a model kit, almost every company has their own version in some way or another
👍👍
Bf 109 F-4 (1941/1942) and P-51 D (1944/1945) do not match in time!
The f4 stopped existing after 1942?
first lol
nice!