Airfix 1/72 Sea King SAR Update #4 Life’s too short for this

Steve, I don't how deep the crack goes but in the past I have been able to buff out superficial ones with a three-way manicurists stick and then brush Pledge Floor Care over it.

Bugger! That's a pain in the arse!

Sounds very cunning. Put a tail on it and call it a weasle.  

Ouch! I have the same problem with my Kinetic's RG-31. I wait for a spare, that the guys form Kinetic sent to me very fast. But you have a plan and I'm waiting to see it and learn for the future.

Thanks again for suggestions fellas. I’m going to do this in the style of a helio I once saw at RAF Abingdon many moons ago in the 80’s. It had a flag draped over the nose glazing, okay it was a Gazelle but hey it’s my build 
I tried to find the photo for reference but it must be a slide and not a print, for those that remember such things!

Anyway while filling gaps tonight I found out why it cracked, the windscreen wiper arm protrudes from the bottom of the part and became caught under the nose as I put it together.
This happened because the upper instrument consul is glued to the top of the canopy, which wasn’t fitted when I dry fitted the clear parts. The consul pushes the whole assembly forwards   Beware if you build this kit.


While we’re talking about knocky off bits, Airfix has you install the lower aerials as you close the fuselage, so they’re going to be hit while you fill the gaps around the bottom hull..one down…


Airfix has also moulded another on the tail boom. It went first pass of the file   I have it to re-attach later.
Back to the bench.. more filler needed.

Nice idea!

Sounds like a good plan re the flag.

Found yet another issue with this kit, the rotors are all warped 


To be honest I’m getting more than a bit fed up with Airfix’s poor quality control.
On this kit the canopy was scratched , which I polished out as you do, before it cracked due to poor fitting parts.
The rotors are warped, which I could fix with warm water and effort but why should I need to on a modern tooling?

The A6M Zero had large sink marks in the wings.
The Ju-87 had a lot of flash, as did the Wildcat.

They seem to be trading on good-will but after the email I received from their ‘customer service’ when enquiring about purchasing
(yes purchasing I didn’t even ask for a free replacement part!) I can’t see that lasting much longer.

If fact I so insulted by their response that I’m contemplating selling all Airfix kits in my stash as I have no interest in providing Airfix with any more posts.

My bench time is valuable as I don’t get much so why should I waste it on poor quality kits from a complacent company.

To that end I’ve ordered a replacement kit for this GB from another manufacturer.

Rant over fellas 

That really sucks Steve.
I can understand your quitting this build, some things just need leaving before you waste more time
and finding more faults later.
You will however find more kit makers making the same mistakes nowadays. Takom are a prime example, their Panther
range and Jagdtigers are really bad for fit issues.
Miniart have been using a different plastic which badly deforms itself, see that T55-122 of mine.
I reckon we can only trust Tamiya, Trumpy, Meng, Italeri, RFM, Academy, Bronco, Eduard, Dragon (oldish),
AFV Club, 1/72 Hasegawa.
Anyway, I hope your new kit will be better and I wish to see it built and don't worry if it takes a little longer.
We aren't that strict on the finishing dates around here