new-tool Airfix for 2026 at The Model Works show

 

January saw the second ever Airfix model show held at Airfix HQ in Margate, Kent. The show featured a table of Airfix new-tools for 2026 and participation from the local clubs, including East Kent, Gravesham and Shepway.  Here are the first views of the new Ju 52, Canberra and Jaguar T.2 on the Airfix stand including the 'new' Club Viggen kit, far left. The new Ju 52 with open doors, hatches and roof looks especially impressive - but then with a slated retail price of around £50 it certainly should be.

 

Model Day 2025 at the Kent Battle of Britain museum, September 13-14

a few photos of the display tables at the Hawkinge Battle of Britain museum model show that was held this weekend. Clubs exhibiting included East Kent Scale Modellers, Gravesham Model club and Shepway Military Modelling. Only the Shepway club were there on both days. Last time time I attended at Hawkinge was 2022. Highlights were Steve's Das Werk Sdkfz 251 in 1/16th and Ian's Tamiya F-4 in 32nd on the 'Silver surfers' table. I'll post some close-ups of the models in my next post..

from the Battle of Britain museum's own page; 

 "... We are pleased to report that the first day of the Autumn Model Show at the Kent Battle of Britain Museum Trust at Hawkinge (www.kbobm.org) on Saturday 13th September 2025 was a great success and despite the awful weather! The event was organised by our own in-house Model Club, the Shepway Military Model Society, (thank you lads and particularly Adrian Smith) and were joined by members of the East Kent Scale Modellers Club, Gravesham Modelling Club and Silver Surfers. They were all set up in the Stuart-Buttle and Lord Dowding Memorial Hangars and displayed a wide range of brilliant painted and created military aircraft, vehicles ad. Today, Sunday 14th September 2025 the Shepway Military Model Society were joined by our good friends from the Southeast Tanks Scale Model Club. This was the third season for the Model Show which the Shepway Military Modelling Club have organised on our behalf and from November 2023 this model club have been basing themselves from the Museum and using the No. 25 Squadron Mess and Tea Rooms to hold their monthly meetings in. What promises to be an excellent partnership between the Museum, Modelling Club, Museum Shop (which carries a large stock of Airfix and Eduard kits) and the No. 25 Squadron Mess and Tea Rooms..."

 

Airfix new tool Spitfire Tr. 9 twin seater 'DB-E' Elizabeth - Aero Legends, Headcorn, Kent

 

" Absolute genius idea by the Airfix marketing department - not only one of arguably the most popular type of aircraft in many scales that Airfix have ever produced , but now also tied in to a model that many people have been lucky enough to take a flight in , and can now build that model... Take a bow Airfix..

As seen on the Airfix stand at the Hailsham show earlier this month along with some pictures taken by Ben Lavender, Aero Legends volunteer and East Kent Modeller, of the two Tr.9s operated by Aero Legends from Headcorn airfield in Kent with 'Parky' Parkinson, Aero Legends senior Spitfire pilot signing one of Ben's photographs. Incidentally 'DB-E' Elizabeth does not feature on the Airfix decal sheet apparently but will be available soon as a decal option (Xtradecal IIRC) A single click to view full screen..

More on 19 Sqn Spitfires, Duxford, 1939

As one source puts it, " the operational history of the Spitfire began with No. 19 Squadron on 4 August 1938 at Duxford... " On this date Jeffrey Quill delivered the first operational Mk I K9789 to Duxford, nearly a year later than originally anticipated. By then the type had been extensively tested. The Spitfire was simple and easy to fly and had no vices. 

Fast forward to 31 October 1938 -  'press day' for 19 Sqn and the squadron's new Spitfires are all in the air, echeleon right behind CO S/Ldr Henry Cozens. Note the '19' on the tails. This was only on the a/c for a short time and was present on 31 October it seems. There then followed a period of intensive flight trials with Cozens - an engineering officer as well as pilot - keen to get 400 hours on the aircraft so that detailed inspections for wear/tear and faults could be carried out. 

Below; K9795, the 9th production Spitfire Mk. I in the markings of No. 19 Squadron photographed in the autumn of 1938. The aircraft is flown by Sqn Ldr Henry Cozens. During that time squadron letters were not yet assigned for the camouflaged aircraft and the unit temporarily used white-painted number 19 on the fin as a distinctive marking. These numbers appear to have only been used for a short period during 1938 and were later removed.

A good view of 'WZ- ' codes on 19 Sqn machines. Note in the image below one machine has only a single roundel painted on the wing uppersufaces and one aircraft has yet to have any roundels painted on - assuming that two roundels would have some stage have been painted on. In the second view below note the darker brown paint around the fuselage roundel where the outer circle has been overpainted. Also the curved demarcation (not along the panel line) between the upper camo colours and the black of the underside on the lower engine cowl.

A view of the airframes already painted in their camo schemes at the factory

Were the gun ports covered on 'pre-war' Spitfires - probably not. The covering of gun ports only occurred when it was found that cold air and altitude was causing them to freeze, gunnery pre war was done at lower levels, and were often in summer...And not much gunnery. So in all probability no red patches and open ports. This images tends to bear that out..

Note the aileron is still aluminium, and possibly the lighter smudge implies a retained aluminium painted wheel well. No gun patches.

Airfix 1:24th Spitfire IX by Les Venus

 

New Airfix 1:24th Spitfire IX superbly built and finished by Les Venus using the Xtradecal set to depict the well-known 451 Sqn machine 'BQ-S' MA 466. Colours are medium sea grey and PRU blue.

 

Airfix video announcement of forthcoming Spit IX 'super-kit' in 1:24th scale

 

Airfix video announcement of forthcoming Spit IX in 1:24th scale.

FB discussion following the Airfix 2022 product range announcements - including new tool Anson and Meteor in 72nd along with a new-tool Buccaneer in 48th scale - with Jonathan Mock, spencer Pollard and Drewe Manton - well worth a watch. A single click to view here 

new tool 1:72 nd Airfix Spitfire Mk. Vc build review (2) -finished

 

Shark-mouthed Spitfire Mk. Vc MX*P (ER180) of the 307th FS/31st FG, La Senia, Algeria, November 1942. In Dennis Kucera's 'In a Now Forgotten Sky', there is a photo of MX-P with Capt Arthur P. Holloway Jr of the 307th FS standing on the wing of this machine. 

According to Tony O'Toole's notes prepared when building the 48th Revell kit, it appears that this machine may still have had an RAF roundel on the lower surfaces...

new tool 1:72 nd Airfix Spitfire Mk. Vc build review (1)

 

Quick progress on the new(ish) Airfix Spitfire Vc. Note that you can avoid cowl seam issues by assembling the fuselage halves and inserting the completed cockpit 'tub' from below. Wing/fuselage join is good as is the rear fuselage/wing join. No filler used in this build.