My top 10 Airfix Vintage Classics wish list – Aviation
I have to start this blog with a confession, I’m an Airfix Fan Boy, well closer to middle age than boy! So putting together ‘My top 10 Airfix Vintage Classics wish list – aviation’ seemed like an obvious blog post.
Airfix were my models of choice growing up in the 70’s. In the 80’s and 90’s I had found Matchbox kits and the occasional exotic Japanese manufacture. But the bulk of my builds would have been Airfix, followed by Matchbox.
Each year, Airfix tease us with brand new releases, which is fantasic. They also do re-runs of some of their older kits, in the guise of ‘Vintage Classics’.
So I thought it would be fun to put together my top 10 Airfix Vintage Classics wish list – aviation (that hints at another list at some point).
In no particular order, the list is:
1. Bristol Belvedere

First released in 1959, this is not a kit that I have ever made. But it fits in well with my Cold War theme and will have been one of those kits that I would have loved as a child, but it was out of my pocket money range. Airfix don’t have many helicopters in their range at the moment, so this would make a nice addition.
2. De Havilland Chipmunk

3. Hawker Hunter F.6

A kit from 1960. Now this one I have built in the past and in the Black Arrows scheme. I’m surprised that Airfix don’t currently have this in their line up, as it would make a great addition to their Cold War section of their site. I do wonder, now that Airfix have their own 1:1 version of a Hunter, if we will see this re-released in 2022?
4. SA 330 Puma

5. Scottish Aviation Bulldog

6. Westland Scout

First released by Airfix in 1966, and I do remember trying to build this as an 8 year old. Needed some help from my dad if I recall correctly! The Scout and Wasp are 2 helicopters that have been neglected by model companies, so it would be great if Airfix would re-release this little kit.
7. Westland Lynx

8. Saab Draken

9. Saab Viggen

10. Bristol Bloodhound

“If Only” addition – SAM-2

Final thoughts
In an ideal world, all the kits above would be created as new models. But I guess Airfix are not in a position to create new molds for all their vintage kits. I do like that Airfix make it clear which kits are from their Vintage Classics range. Also I think they are quite smart with their marketing of these kits. They appear have worked out who their customers are and who to market them to, i.e. me, the middle aged model maker who looks back with nostalgia on their childhood model making.
Fingers crossed that some of my wish list is released over the next few year.