Help for Heroes and...., ahem,.. Airfix
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Help for Heroes and...., ahem,.. Airfix
Calling all (and if this isn't too sexist) Dads.
Have a look at this. Go on, you know you want to and you can help H4H at the same time!!
Time to wean the kids off computer games?!?!
Have a look at this. Go on, you know you want to and you can help H4H at the same time!!
Time to wean the kids off computer games?!?!
October 2009 – Airfix, the UK’s oldest manufacturer of scale plastic model kits, has launched a fundraising initiative to raise money for the Help for Heroes charity.
The charity was launched in September 2007 to provide better facilities for wounded British serviceman and women. As part of the initiative celebrities have been asked to build and paint their own individual Airfix Spitfire model. Upon completion all the models will be auctioned on ebay with all the proceeds donated to the Help for Heroes charity.
Darrell Burge, Marketing Manager, Airfix, comments: “This year Airfix is celebrating its 60th anniversary and we wanted to mark this important landmark with a fundraising initiative. Many have experienced the damage and consequences of war and for this reason we felt very strongly about teaming up with the Help for Heroes charity. We are delighted that so many high profile personalities have agreed to help, for what is a very worthwhile cause”.
Piers Morgan, David Jason, James May, Will Carling, Linford Christie and Frank Lampard are just a few of the top names who have offered to lend their services to the campaign.
The charity was launched in September 2007 to provide better facilities for wounded British serviceman and women. As part of the initiative celebrities have been asked to build and paint their own individual Airfix Spitfire model. Upon completion all the models will be auctioned on ebay with all the proceeds donated to the Help for Heroes charity.
Darrell Burge, Marketing Manager, Airfix, comments: “This year Airfix is celebrating its 60th anniversary and we wanted to mark this important landmark with a fundraising initiative. Many have experienced the damage and consequences of war and for this reason we felt very strongly about teaming up with the Help for Heroes charity. We are delighted that so many high profile personalities have agreed to help, for what is a very worthwhile cause”.
Piers Morgan, David Jason, James May, Will Carling, Linford Christie and Frank Lampard are just a few of the top names who have offered to lend their services to the campaign.
But which Airfix Spitfire?
I had 2 - one was the 2/- (that's 10p to digi-yoof) 1/72nd scale released in around 1955. I think it was a Mk1. It came in a poly bag - complete with the clear rectangular stand of that era. Mine was thrown together with rather more enthusiasm than skill! About 15 years later, I also built one of the 1/24 scale Spitfires Airfix released in around 1970. It was nothing like as much fun though.
Sounds like a great competition; my money is on James May's model!
Presumably these days kids would need safety glasses, work boots and mesh gauntlets and to build their models in a positively ventilated workroom? And any parent permitting a child the use of a Swann-Morton craft knife and/or Humbrol 77 polystyrene cement would probably be up in front of nuLabor's state nannies for exposing their progeny to avoidable safety hazards.....
I had 2 - one was the 2/- (that's 10p to digi-yoof) 1/72nd scale released in around 1955. I think it was a Mk1. It came in a poly bag - complete with the clear rectangular stand of that era. Mine was thrown together with rather more enthusiasm than skill! About 15 years later, I also built one of the 1/24 scale Spitfires Airfix released in around 1970. It was nothing like as much fun though.
Sounds like a great competition; my money is on James May's model!
Presumably these days kids would need safety glasses, work boots and mesh gauntlets and to build their models in a positively ventilated workroom? And any parent permitting a child the use of a Swann-Morton craft knife and/or Humbrol 77 polystyrene cement would probably be up in front of nuLabor's state nannies for exposing their progeny to avoidable safety hazards.....
Last edited by BEagle; 15th Oct 2009 at 07:53.
Just another erk
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Used to make them when I was a kid, and looking at the celeb's named, well I'll go with them, they to me are celeb's, Is david Jason doing a 3 wheeler...
Beags - As if you have pulled the spotter from my inner soul - the Spit Mk 1 wasnt made by Airfix (dont ask me how I know that after all this time) But I seem to remember that Airfix they only made Spits with three Prop blades - the Mk 1 had only two.
....Out from the closet at last!
....Out from the closet at last!
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Need to go the whole hog:
Build an early 70s Airfix 1/72 Lanc (Q for Queenie, IIRC), an ME 109E and a FW109, all painted in the style of a 9 yr old (badly) and generate your own Battle of the Ruhr (artistic licence as this 9 yr old was unaware that the day fighters didn't get involved). String them all up from your bedroom ceiling in some form of circling visual fight and set fire to the German fighters with a bunch of Swan Vestas. The liberally applied glue goes v quickly, the Nazi fighters become engulfed, burn thru' the cotton holding them up, fall on the bedroom floor (no carpets in those days, we 'ad it tough) and nearly burn your family's house down. Get a thrashing from your Dad for being an arsonist and unable to explain that you were only trying recreate history, but proudly afterwards lie in bed, watching a gently swaying (draughty windows - like I said we 'ad it tough) soot-blackened Q for Queenie safely head home to Blighty, her brave Air Gunners with another 2 claims.
Airfix Spitfires - they're for girls and little fingers. Unless you've built an Airfix Lanc (or B-17, B24, Halifax, Stirling, Wellington) you'll always be a little suspect and probably a 5th columnist.
SP
Build an early 70s Airfix 1/72 Lanc (Q for Queenie, IIRC), an ME 109E and a FW109, all painted in the style of a 9 yr old (badly) and generate your own Battle of the Ruhr (artistic licence as this 9 yr old was unaware that the day fighters didn't get involved). String them all up from your bedroom ceiling in some form of circling visual fight and set fire to the German fighters with a bunch of Swan Vestas. The liberally applied glue goes v quickly, the Nazi fighters become engulfed, burn thru' the cotton holding them up, fall on the bedroom floor (no carpets in those days, we 'ad it tough) and nearly burn your family's house down. Get a thrashing from your Dad for being an arsonist and unable to explain that you were only trying recreate history, but proudly afterwards lie in bed, watching a gently swaying (draughty windows - like I said we 'ad it tough) soot-blackened Q for Queenie safely head home to Blighty, her brave Air Gunners with another 2 claims.
Airfix Spitfires - they're for girls and little fingers. Unless you've built an Airfix Lanc (or B-17, B24, Halifax, Stirling, Wellington) you'll always be a little suspect and probably a 5th columnist.
SP
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Nice work there SP.
However, my attempt at disrupting the industrial heartland from the attic window failed ,especially when the engines were stuffed with tissue paper and soaked in lighter fluid. The sight of 'S for Sugar' diving into the garden pond as she belched black smoke was unforgettable!!
Made from an impressive first foray into video film using the old mans behemoth of a camera (late 70s!).
Unfortunately, neither activity was given authorisation from Home Command and a subsequent interview with the Staish resulted in some Cpl Punishment!!
However, my attempt at disrupting the industrial heartland from the attic window failed ,especially when the engines were stuffed with tissue paper and soaked in lighter fluid. The sight of 'S for Sugar' diving into the garden pond as she belched black smoke was unforgettable!!
Made from an impressive first foray into video film using the old mans behemoth of a camera (late 70s!).
Unfortunately, neither activity was given authorisation from Home Command and a subsequent interview with the Staish resulted in some Cpl Punishment!!
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Ah Yes.................whilst I always looked on in awe at the 1/24 Scale model of the Spit (Well beyond my financial capabilities at the time!) I had to make do with the rather splendid "Dog-Fight Doubles" series...............The best was the ME110 and Spitfire, which came along with the black "A" Frame stand and enabled you to recreate the perfect attack profile. Its hard to believe that such simplicity would entertain us!
I think my first ever attempt was the Stuka, which after several paint jobs (Desert, Temperate and Arctic schemes), perished in a mid air collision.
To this day I still smile when I think of the small airfix tins of paint and the familiar "Duck Egg Blue" .................... Happy Days. I do hope it proves to be a successful venture.
SJ
I think my first ever attempt was the Stuka, which after several paint jobs (Desert, Temperate and Arctic schemes), perished in a mid air collision.
To this day I still smile when I think of the small airfix tins of paint and the familiar "Duck Egg Blue" .................... Happy Days. I do hope it proves to be a successful venture.
SJ
In fact the exact mark of Spitfire represented by Airfix's BT-K has been the subject of anorak debate for over 50 years:
Airfix never included a mark number in the original 1950s kit, it seems, although the later 1/72 scale model was a Mk IX coded JE-J.
If anyone has an original 1955 kit, they're now worth hundreds of pounds to collectors.
Airfix never included a mark number in the original 1950s kit, it seems, although the later 1/72 scale model was a Mk IX coded JE-J.
If anyone has an original 1955 kit, they're now worth hundreds of pounds to collectors.
Last edited by BEagle; 15th Oct 2009 at 21:30.
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I built the 1/24 Spitfire at around the age of eight, and sadly rushed it, resulting in
a streaky finish on the cammo, not to mention paint all over my hands (I could
wait until a part was dry, before assembling it).
On a similar vein, I also tried to build the cross channel hovercraft at about this
time, ruining this model too by trying to speed up paint drying times with a hair
dryer. About six years ago, I saw this same model in a model shop and had to
buy it (wanting to re live the childhood aim to build it). It is still in it's box, about
ninety percent completed. I must get round to finishing it one day.
*anorak mode on*
I must confess to still building models (from the box and scratch built), mostly in
1/72 and 1/32.
At least the H4H entrants won't have to attempt full DPM uniforms!
*anorak mode off* THE GUILTY SECRET IS OUT!!
a streaky finish on the cammo, not to mention paint all over my hands (I could
wait until a part was dry, before assembling it).
On a similar vein, I also tried to build the cross channel hovercraft at about this
time, ruining this model too by trying to speed up paint drying times with a hair
dryer. About six years ago, I saw this same model in a model shop and had to
buy it (wanting to re live the childhood aim to build it). It is still in it's box, about
ninety percent completed. I must get round to finishing it one day.
*anorak mode on*
I must confess to still building models (from the box and scratch built), mostly in
1/72 and 1/32.
At least the H4H entrants won't have to attempt full DPM uniforms!
*anorak mode off* THE GUILTY SECRET IS OUT!!
Wasn't James May's programme on BBC2 good tonight!
A 1/1 scale Airfix-style Spitfire built by 13 year old children - who actually seemed to enjoy the experience!
A 1/1 scale Airfix-style Spitfire built by 13 year old children - who actually seemed to enjoy the experience!
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I could never work out why 1/72 models couldn't fly!!! 
.....although they did seem to do it pretty well underwater (i.e. the bath - yes, I know, we all did rather suspect things in bath water 
)
.....although they did seem to do it pretty well underwater (i.e. the bath - yes, I know, we all did rather suspect things in bath water )
Originally Posted by Rigga
Beags - As if you have pulled the spotter from my inner soul - the Spit Mk 1 wasnt made by Airfix (dont ask me how I know that after all this time) But I seem to remember that Airfix they only made Spits with three Prop blades - the Mk 1 had only two.
....Out from the closet at last!
....Out from the closet at last!
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String them all up from your bedroom ceiling in some form of circling visual fight and set fire to the German fighters with a bunch of Swan Vestas.
Help for Heroes
This company is organising a footy match at the Madejski Stadium, Reading on thu 12 Nov; England v Rest of the World. Tickets avaialble via the Reading FC website (I can give you a phone number if you want). Plenty of seats available (in fact too many so please support this cause even if you don't like footy)
Thread Starter
I have to admit that in my long distant youth I used to run a bit of fishing line from my bedroom window to the bottom of our garden. Then with a bit of bent paperclip to hold aircraft models that had fallen out of favour onto the fishing line, models would be launched down the fishing line....................
with one of those small bangers that used to be so popular (God knows how much gunpowder they contained in those days) stuffed inside. Then we watched in anticipation to see how far down the line they would get before exploding and showering the garden with wings, bits of fuselage and shattered canopy.
However if you want a bit more of a challenge then there is the new Airfix Mosquito, over 600 parts
. Somewhat outside the average "pocket money range" even for today's "yoof" I suspect.
with one of those small bangers that used to be so popular (God knows how much gunpowder they contained in those days) stuffed inside. Then we watched in anticipation to see how far down the line they would get before exploding and showering the garden with wings, bits of fuselage and shattered canopy.
However if you want a bit more of a challenge then there is the new Airfix Mosquito, over 600 parts
. Somewhat outside the average "pocket money range" even for today's "yoof" I suspect.
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Originally Posted by TheWizard
Nice work there SP.
However, my attempt at disrupting the industrial heartland from the attic window failed ,especially when the engines were stuffed with tissue paper and soaked in lighter fluid. The sight of 'S for Sugar' diving into the garden pond as she belched black smoke was unforgettable!!
Made from an impressive first foray into video film using the old mans behemoth of a camera (late 70s!).
Unfortunately, neither activity was given authorisation from Home Command and a subsequent interview with the Staish resulted in some Cpl Punishment!!
However, my attempt at disrupting the industrial heartland from the attic window failed ,especially when the engines were stuffed with tissue paper and soaked in lighter fluid. The sight of 'S for Sugar' diving into the garden pond as she belched black smoke was unforgettable!!
Made from an impressive first foray into video film using the old mans behemoth of a camera (late 70s!).
Unfortunately, neither activity was given authorisation from Home Command and a subsequent interview with the Staish resulted in some Cpl Punishment!!
Funnily enough, that was one thing I never managed to blame on my sister!!
