new-tool Airfix Wessex HC 2 in 1/72 -what a disappointment!

 

Disappointed is not the word. Two kits purchased, two entire sprues missing!In each case Sprue B -floor seats etc was missing. Both boxes had two 'D' sprues, making the kits unbuildable. A £23 kit that can't be built. Fuming. Following straight on from the Jaguar fiasco (Vintage Classic - wrong kit in the box) it would seem that quality control issues are back with a vengeance for Hornby/Airfix. Both the Wessex kits were in sealed bags inside sealed boxes! For no purpose whatsoever. Well I've contacted customer services, got an automated response (!) and am frankly not hopeful of a quick or satisfactory outcome. They never (ever) came through on the Blenheim (missing canopy part). Simon on britmodeller who lives in Australia was kind enough to come up with a replacment Blenheim part! And its not just the Wessex of the recent Airfix releases. As Thomas on the ATF said, some modellers were missing the clear sprue from the Stalwart. He was missing 'only' the tailgate. It came after about two weeks once there were spare Stalwarts to part from. A single piece missing I might have been able to cope. But we're talking a whole sprue here. And no, it wasn't just a one off, two boxes with the same defect. Is the reputational 'hit' worth the price of using cheap foreign labour? DaveCov on the ATF; 

 " I have just inspected my Wessex boxing. It is the same batch number as that posted by FalkeEins. With trepidation, I opened the sealed bag and looked through the frames. Thankfully, Frame B was there..." 

 Airfix spares have subsequently responded to my rather angry email with their standard automated response; - they will sort and send spare parts - if available - within 21 days. They don't say what will happen if no spares are available. Nor did they apologise for putting out dud kits. - the retailer (RAF Manston History museum shop) has emailed and offered to let me exchange my defective kit for another on the shelf..

Below; latest Airfix release is the Wessex HC.2 in 1/72nd. Trouble is, one of the five main sprues was not in the box, while there were two 'D' sprues..

Building the Airfix Sepecat Jaguar in 1/48th (part 5) - reference pics of the gear bays and legs

 Finished painting the airframe.

'Black-basing' the airframe prior to application of the AK Real colors 'Desert Pink'  proved to be a complete waste of time. I was very impressed though with the AK paint and used in conjunction with 'Mr Color Levelling Thinner' proved to be a revelation..(..to me at least..)

Next; dealing with the gear bays and undercarriage. Assembling the legs can be pretty tricky at first sight. Note the 'ring-like' attachment point on the long inner strut is canted. Make sure you position it the correct way round otherwise it will bow just like it does on Gary's build! And a shout-out to the model channel 'Hobby Wan Kenobi' or whatever it is he calls himself - why on earth do all that masking around the gear bays? Paint the bays and then use the kit gear doors to 'mask' them by just positioning them in place closed up.

Close up of the gear legs on the Manston example, and, bottom, detail views of the gear bays. Airfix's colour call-out for the legs - Humbrol 27 - is rather too dark in my view. Overall though Airfix have done a fantastic job on this part of the kit.

Port main gear bay looking towards the rear of the aircraft and, bottom, looking directly into the starboard bay. Note inner faces of the main gear doors are not in zinc chromate..