I started building WWII planes in scale 1/72 in 1969, 13yo old then. In germany then , the most kits available were from Airfix and Revell. The kits came with an acrylic stand, you could use if you prefer building the flying version. Each plane was 1.25€ ($) then. I thought that was cheap and fit perfectly into my allowance program. Today, i still build kits,. tanks and planes in scale 1/35 and 1/32 respectively, and now I thought that stuff is expensive. But with watching your video, I changed my mind, after I have seen what effort there is and what expensive machinery is used. Sadly, in germany - and i think elsewhere too - the building enthusiasts are getting less and the shops are quitting. The internet has it all. Thanks a lot for the video.
Congratulations, very interesting video. As a modeler for the last 54 years, just watching the plastic parts and decals when opening the box has a unique magic to me. I keep some kits for many years before building them but open the box from time to time just to revive the magic. Thanks for sharing the video.
Hi Gary I am deaf and have to rely on subtitles but I think I got the gist having watched your video on your visit to airfix once again good and unusual video keep it up Dave from Spain
I apologise if you already know this Dave, but the 'CC' button bottom left (well, it is on my screen anyway😅) will display 'closed captions' on the screen. They're essentially subtitles although they are not 100% accurate because they use AI to translate the audio in to the printed word so there are amusing gaffs from time to time! Better than nothing.
I'll be turning 70 in 3 weeks, and been building since about 1961. Your video of the design process, with computers and LIDAR and 3D printers, gives me an even greater appreciation for the people who did this when I started out. They were artists and artisans, with skills that have largely been replaced. Yes, models like the original Airfix BP Defiant were widly inaccurate, but most of us wouldn't be able to make anything even that close, using the methods of the 1950s. [/nostalgia]
Yes, this is the same i was wondering, allways wanted to know how these marvelous kits were done, in these years, there is a bunch of equipment, tools, process that make it more faster and easily, like cad/cam, 3d scanner, 3d printing, as fundiebasher says, i will like to know how it was made in early years, in late 70s and 80s i started to build my first kits with my father, nostalgia and astonishment for thw work they did these years. great video.
Can you imagine how difficult this whole process must have been back in the 60's and 70's with no computers? Really makes me appreciate just how good of a job they did on the kits back then.... i'm amazed ANYTHING fit
The price of these kits (although beyond my means now that I am retired) is amazingly reasonable given the effort needed to create them. Thanks for sharing.
There are many kits coming from molds firstly made at least a couple of decades ago. That means the research has been already done and because this kit is sold all these years, it was theoretically paid off.Also, plastic, especially the recycled ones is really cheap. Thus, I believe that model kits are though expensive, because modelling nowadays isn't so massive as in the past. I've seen briefly on scalemates about what it used to exist in the past and nowadays one small fraction of these kits are sold.
@@ScaleModelAdventures It is a pity that all the value adding pastimes are no longer attracting the youth. It teaches many skills, even saving for goals, patience. I collect stamps - very cheap hobby (if of course you are not a serious investor). That is a totally extinct hobby.... how do we remedy this situation and contribute towards our children's stability? Every hour spent on a hobby is an hour not getting into bad situations. Blessings and best wishes.
Million thanks for the great video... One of the enjoyable part of my engineering life.. Started an injection molding factory, nearest town area in 2003.. to make bottles for various medicine suppliers.. Polyethylene, and PVC.. even last week, made a new mold for a new work, from my lathe facility, from a copper block.. a new chubby bottle..
Absolutely fascinating Gary to see what goes into the making of a model that l myself take for granted, l must say what did they do before computers when l used to buy my little Airfix kit in it's little plastic bag 🤣 great show 👍
Thanks Barry, it is an amazingly intricate process for something apparently simple, I mean, just a few bits of plastic, right? The designers tell me that the same attention to detail is required for a starter set as much as for a big “headline” kit.
Really really enjoyed this one, thank you Gary. My first peek into a model kit production facility. Didn’t realise so much time and effort from so many people goes into producing a kit. And I now understand why some state of the art kits can cost as much as they do. Kudos to Airfix as well for making this look into their factory possible and many thanks to everyone there who helped make my 1/24 Spitfire IX kit.
The guys at Plastech were brilliant, even let me go back to re-shoot a few clips. BTW they also make the Quickbuild vehicle range there so they've a good history of working with Airfix so let's hope more of the production comes back onshore. It's also good that Airfix are thinking of social media in planning these events.
When I was a teenager I worked in a local model shop in school holidays. Woolworths always got new Airfix model kits a month before the independent shops- We were told that they financed the new moulds and therefore had a head start on everyone else.
Brilliant content, I think we all take for granted the work that goes into making our hobby a reality and the manufacturers keeping them historic and on point to the scale we desire.
Two things will rarely if ever come together, superb flawless quality and insane fast production speeds. I previously worked in Automotive here in Michigan, USA. The companies that eventually fell and went under were the one that put quantity above quality. The 🇯🇵 Japanese took American production mindset and used it to produce the most precise model kits and Automobiles in their industries . Here in America, greed and hubris has taken a front seat and now our manufacturing processes are a joke ! I hope the Brit’s have great success with these fabulous kits ! Just keep it real and fun for the employees and success will be inevitable.
Very cool vid. I’ve always wondered how they do it when looking at sprue trees. This reminds me of an early 2000s “How it’s Made” video on Discovery Channel…when it was still decent. 😅
A great video and it is interesting to see the mould making and moulding process. The cost of making the moulds must be quite high. You mention that we don't make model kits but rather assemble them. I agree but back in the early 2000's a group of us did get involved in scratch building plastic models from sheets of polystyrene and the shapes you could get. I made a 1/16th scale Diamond T truck and a friend made a very good 1/16th Mk1 Spitfire. It takes ages but is very rewarding.
As someone who loves cruise ships, I am sad to see that they’re little to no model kits in existence. Thank you for creating this video and hopefully someday I’ll put this information to use and make my own cruise ship model kits for myself and others.
For cruise ships, you may want to look into the world of 3D printing. There are several nice models in approx. 1/1000 scale available. Of course, these are printable files, and not a "kit" so to speak, meaning that it must still be printed on a 3d printing machine.
Nicely done Gary! The more universal appeal, the length and the production quality of this offering should get a lot of views. It stands up as a documentary on its own
Awesome, really enjoyed the video. Found it interesting how they use high tech to model and make the parts. And low tech to package the model. Some times low tech is still the best.
Hi Gary, that was a fantastic video , as others have said,there is a lot involved in the process, it still amazes me that some of these modern day kit have issues, but then we do not live in a perfect world, best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia 👍👍👍👍
awesome video. It is really interesting seeing how models are made. with the advent of the scanning and high end machining, the models are far superior than years ago. thanks.
Thank you, I know I have asked you a couple of times about how the models are made. Lovely video, the only one out there telling the story that I am aware of. It’s the bit about being able to slice Tahoe model into parts and the EDM that were the missing links for me. Thx.
A fascinating insight into the production plastic kits. Well presented Gary. Thank you. Modern kits are getting so refined and sophisticated now one wonders how they'll evolve further, especially with computers to assist the engineers. Makes me realise that all credit must surely be given to mold makers of old. How did they manage without CAD? How did, for example, Hasegawa and Tamiya achieve such quality in their kits regarding precision of fit and surface detail over 40 years ago? Airfix attaining awards for their original 1/24th Superkits from half a century ago...... all without the aid of computers. Now, THAT'S skill!
Back in the day it was drawings, large scale wooden prototypes, pantographs to make the moulds, old school stuff! CAD and rapid prototyping must make it so much easier in many respects, especially making sure things fit, but brings with it the increasing possibilities for fine detail and complexity that was never possible before. Also advances in machining and in materials technology. It's an amazing thing for something a lot of people think of as a toy for kids.
@@garys_stuff Absolutely. These aids certainly do help in producing products of great refinement and quality. Subjects that were considered pipe-dreams only a couple of decades ago are now available for the modeller. It truly is a fabulous time for plastic modelling.
Absolutely fascinating, Gary. Despite all the modern computer-controlled mold cutters, CAD/CAM design, 3D printing, laser cutting,etc., it's amazing how much of production is still hands-on. It may be a hobby to us but it's very big business to the people who make the kits that show up on the store shelves. Thanks!
Excellent video Gary, just shows how much work goes into producing the kits. The bit that always amazes me is how clever the designer of the kits is in the way they get everything to fit together without compromising the look of the model .
When creating 3D models you also go through a lot of sources and blueprints to get a good idea about shapes and scale of the individual components. Years ago i created 3D models for the "X-plane" flightsim. I kind of recognise that part of the process.
I guess it depends on what you can get your hands on. I'm told that for the Bulldog they were able to copy all of the original blueprints because they are still archived by BAe Systems.
Dude, see how they 3DPrinted every piece for the prototype? As soon as the companies and customers are officially happy with production quality prints, the big companies can take all the $ they'd save without tooling, build printers and start building a digital .stl database of every plane part ever in every scale...
I know a tool maker from Scotland. He said it was a nightmare machining the molds for these model kits decades ago. With the technology today, it's too easy.
I think the tool makers would argue it's not easy. It might be easy to create a mould, but to create one to the very exacting standards demanded these days takes effort and skill.
Really enjoyed watching this :) It fills in the gaps from watching Paramjit et al on 'Hornby A Model World' in the design phase, and the YT videos (including yours and Matt's Gary) with your visits to Airfix.
There is also a YT video taken at the Italari factory a few years ago. The process was almost identical, albeit using an old press machine than the one Airfix got recently.
Thank you for this very well made video. You don't often see something this concise on TH-cam. I guess it took quite some effort to keep it so refreshingly brief, especially when talking about something one is obsessed with. Does anyone know any good videos on pre-computer plastic kit design? That would be very interesting, too.
First of you segments I have watched. Superb. Thank you, this was very informative, well precented and not over powering or dumed down. I have subscribed so will be watching more as I have just got back into model assembling for the first time in 42 years.
Great video. Thank you. Will now look at a model kit in a more in depth way. Glad there is a substantial recycling aspect to production as I had wondered about this. Brill.
that was a brilliant explanation and demonstration... I was really interested in knowing the whole process. now it remains one question : how do they make the molds ?????
It was in the video (but only quickly) - they are made from blocks of steel by electric discharge machining. Sadly the companies that do it are in China so I can't get there to film them!!!
@@garys_stuff thanks it’s just got me thinking. Slide rules drafts men etc maybe clay models like the car industry ? I’ve seen videos on matchbox toy cars and it was quite involved .
@@vqey2 probably hard wood models but much larger, then reduced by pantograph to the milling machine. I't certainly how they did it at Scalextric so i can only assume it was similar.
Thanks for making this video. I've seen a few model factories in action, now. I'm always amazed at the amount of work that goes into designing the models. When people remark about how good the models come out, I always give make sure to give credit to the designers, because they did most of the work. I'm basically putting together a puzzle.
Superb video, very informative. I had no idea about the process of model making. Respectfully, might I suggest that you lower the volume on the music so that we might hear your voice better.
Thanks for this informational video.! I been building since 1970. Thoughout I thought of the machinists and mechanics that created he molds on those heavy blocks of steel.! Such and amazing people !!...Cheers!
Great video, I just found your channel and look forward to watching more builds. I worked in a molding shop for over 20 years, so seeing those presses brought back a lot of memories. If you're looking for feedback, I would rather watch without the background music, but I really enjoyed the production irrigaurdless.
I’d like to do something about box art, chat with Adam who does Airfix and Carlos Alonso who does KP and others for example. The guy who does the instructions for Airfix is really approachable too. I’ll definitely look into both!
@@garys_stuff. Enjoyed the video and a you tuber , Maxs Models has done a lot on box art. Also a fair bit with Mike Machet, an aircraft artist of significant renown. Thank you. Cheers
I know what you mean. But the bulk of the Airfix range is moulded in India, some in South Korea I think, the factory here is just for the 1/24 Spitfire. Airfix subcontract the mould manufacture too. If everything were to be in house, I think you'd see a more substantial factory!
Wow at the research needed for those things. I mostly built spaceships from anime, or fictional spaceships that are just designed be cool models without having a specific source. I imagine my Space Battleship Yamato model wouldn't need that kind of research, especially since the ship in the show is already an animated 3d model. These days I mostly build mechanical wooden models from Ugears, I feel better not contributing as much plastic plastic to the world, with the only plastic being in the packaging wrap encasing the box it comes in. The models don't have the same level of detail of course, with all the parts being laser cut in plywood sheets, but they still end up really pretty, and are designed in a way that doesn't require any glue. There is also a special satisfaction assembling a mechanical model and manage to put it together so actually works! I have built a pendulum clock with all the gears made of wood that actually works. (Though I don't actually use it because I can't handle the ticking even of a common modern alarm clock, and as you can imagine the ticking of a wooden clockwork is on another level entirely.) And I really like the spring powered Ugears six legged walking robot. You really have to make sure you sand any surface that is part of the moving mechanism really carefully (and rub them with candle wax) to minimize friction or the spring won't have the power to make it walk. Sanding all those cogs takes a while. (I got it working but not on the first try, I'm just lucky that it was even possible to get to the one surface I had forgotten to sand after it was assembled. If there is a drawback it is that it's nigh impossible to disassemble the model to fix it without breaking a lot of parts if you make a mistake somewhere in the process and don't catch it until later. The instructions are very good though.)
Intresting that the 2 images of the spitfire at 4.06 are the 2 seat Tr Mk9 trainer....maybe airfix have 1 finally planned......i know their sister company corgi have a die cast 1 coming....even have mine preorderd
You’ve whet my appetite; now I want to know this process before there were computers. How did Frog make their moulds for example? I look forward to your next video on that subject.
as a kid I must have made every machine used in WW2, Airfix 1/35 scale mainly, back then (50 years agao) a releasing agent was used to release the plastic parts from the moulds, I used to soak the parts in warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly with clean water. if I didn't do this the paints would not adhere to plastic parts properly and would eventually fall off with flexing etc, QUESTION. . Do you still have to wash the plastic parts before you assemble the kits, cheers,
Airfix recommends it in all of their instruction sheets - more a gentle wash in mild soapy water than a soak, and yes make sure you rinse them afterwards. This factory making the 1/24 Spitfire certainly does not use release sprays. I don't think even Airfix can vouch for the factories in India and elsewhere that mould the bulk of their range.
If you use primer before hand, there’s usually no need. Although I’ve had even the primer pull off with masking or solvents on some kits I did not wash.
Hi Gary I enjoyed that. Nicely produced and you were quite right when you wanted to wait and add something to your version. Nice one mate. Did you read my reply to you about ‘skip’ ads? Keep up the great work. Bob England
Very informative why don’t they have the scale at the end of the assembly line before they put the box top on though seems to me that would be the time to check the weight
All very well, but what about the days before computer aided design? Way back in the 1960's there were real model makers and draughtsmen. As a young lad I made my first airfix kit around 10 or 11 years old. It was the 1/72 scale Boulton Paul defiant aircraft. When finished there was more glue than plastic on it, however I was on the modelling stage from then on. Almost from that moment, my inquisitive mind realised that the plastic parts had to be made from a mould. I surmised that was where the real skill was. I did an engineering apprenticeship (and still working as an engineer) but never got into injection mould making, although I am familiar with the process and have visited several injection mould companies in my time.
Great video. I am fascinated by mass production, a fan of the Discovery Channel show "How It's Made" and I found your video highly informative and entertaining. Great explanation of the design, planning, and creativeness that is required to produce model kits and presented very well, sir. Thank you. I have subscribed to your channel and look forward to more great videos.
It is not surprising that good kits are costly. There is a lot of labor, planning and investment that goes into producing a model, especially a new product.
Can you do me a favor, can you send this video to Trumpter in China. They could really use the help in creating the build order on their instructions for their ship models, and maybe they might try building some of them before deciding on the final design. I know it is not earth shattering stuff, but concepts Trumpter do not see to be aware of lol
Very interesting - I had no idea of the process, or that it was so people intensive. Question - having been the victim of a massively warped Airfix 1/48 Meteor fuselage, ditto their Buccanner, how does that warpage happen?
I started building WWII planes in scale 1/72 in 1969, 13yo old then. In germany then , the most kits available were from Airfix and Revell. The kits came with an acrylic stand, you could use if you prefer building the flying version. Each plane was 1.25€ ($) then. I thought that was cheap and fit perfectly into my allowance program. Today, i still build kits,. tanks and planes in scale 1/35 and 1/32 respectively, and now I thought that stuff is expensive. But with watching your video, I changed my mind, after I have seen what effort there is and what expensive machinery is used. Sadly, in germany - and i think elsewhere too - the building enthusiasts are getting less and the shops are quitting. The internet has it all. Thanks a lot for the video.
Congratulations, very interesting video. As a modeler for the last 54 years, just watching the plastic parts and decals when opening the box has a unique magic to me. I keep some kits for many years before building them but open the box from time to time just to revive the magic. Thanks for sharing the video.
Fascinating! I had no idea why what I perceived to be “ a bunch of plastic in a cardboard box “ cost so much. I’ve learned a lot , thanks!
Hi Gary I am deaf and have to rely on subtitles but I think I got the gist having watched your video on your visit to airfix once again good and unusual video keep it up Dave from Spain
I apologise if you already know this Dave, but the 'CC' button bottom left (well, it is on my screen anyway😅) will display 'closed captions' on the screen. They're essentially subtitles although they are not 100% accurate because they use AI to translate the audio in to the printed word so there are amusing gaffs from time to time! Better than nothing.
Glad production is returning to the UK. We CAN do it!
I'll be turning 70 in 3 weeks, and been building since about 1961. Your video of the design process, with computers and LIDAR and 3D printers, gives me an even greater appreciation for the people who did this when I started out. They were artists and artisans, with skills that have largely been replaced. Yes, models like the original Airfix BP Defiant were widly inaccurate, but most of us wouldn't be able to make anything even that close, using the methods of the 1950s. [/nostalgia]
Yes, this is the same i was wondering, allways wanted to know how these marvelous kits were done, in these years, there is a bunch of equipment, tools, process that make it more faster and easily, like cad/cam, 3d scanner, 3d printing, as fundiebasher says, i will like to know how it was made in early years, in late 70s and 80s i started to build my first kits with my father, nostalgia and astonishment for thw work they did these years. great video.
Can you imagine how difficult this whole process must have been back in the 60's and 70's with no computers? Really makes me appreciate just how good of a job they did on the kits back then.... i'm amazed ANYTHING fit
I keep looking for info on how models were made prior to the computer, but haven't found anything yet. That's what interests me.
The price of these kits (although beyond my means now that I am retired) is amazingly reasonable given the effort needed to create them. Thanks for sharing.
Indeed. Watching the effort, they should be a lot more expencive.
The plastic itself is dirt cheap... The accuracy and reliability and the entire injection moulding process is incredibly expensive
There are many kits coming from molds firstly made at least a couple of decades ago. That means the research has been already done and because this kit is sold all these years, it was theoretically paid off.Also, plastic, especially the recycled ones is really cheap. Thus, I believe that model kits are though expensive, because modelling nowadays isn't so massive as in the past. I've seen briefly on scalemates about what it used to exist in the past and nowadays one small fraction of these kits are sold.
@@ScaleModelAdventures It is a pity that all the value adding pastimes are no longer attracting the youth. It teaches many skills, even saving for goals, patience. I collect stamps - very cheap hobby (if of course you are not a serious investor). That is a totally extinct hobby.... how do we remedy this situation and contribute towards our children's stability? Every hour spent on a hobby is an hour not getting into bad situations. Blessings and best wishes.
Million thanks for the great video...
One of the enjoyable part of my engineering life..
Started an injection molding factory, nearest town area in 2003.. to make bottles for various medicine suppliers.. Polyethylene, and PVC.. even last week, made a new mold for a new work, from my lathe facility, from a copper block.. a new chubby bottle..
Absolutely fascinating Gary to see what goes into the making of a model that l myself take for granted, l must say what did they do before computers when l used to buy my little Airfix kit in it's little plastic bag 🤣 great show 👍
Thanks Barry, it is an amazingly intricate process for something apparently simple, I mean, just a few bits of plastic, right? The designers tell me that the same attention to detail is required for a starter set as much as for a big “headline” kit.
Really really enjoyed this one, thank you Gary. My first peek into a model kit production facility. Didn’t realise so much time and effort from so many people goes into producing a kit. And I now understand why some state of the art kits can cost as much as they do. Kudos to Airfix as well for making this look into their factory possible and many thanks to everyone there who helped make my 1/24 Spitfire IX kit.
The guys at Plastech were brilliant, even let me go back to re-shoot a few clips. BTW they also make the Quickbuild vehicle range there so they've a good history of working with Airfix so let's hope more of the production comes back onshore. It's also good that Airfix are thinking of social media in planning these events.
@@garys_stuff Yes, a huge shoutout to the Plastech guys too.
When I was a teenager I worked in a local model shop in school holidays. Woolworths always got new Airfix model kits a month before the independent shops- We were told that they financed the new moulds and therefore had a head start on everyone else.
Nice video Gary! I had to wait for the video to come up again to comment. It came up as private after I watched it! Thanks for sharing. 😎🇨🇦
Yes, sorry peter, had to re-render it as I'd forgotten the 'subscribe' button!!!
@@garys_stuff no problemo. I knew it would come out again. Again, great video, lots of good content. 😎🇨🇦
Brilliant video Gary. I was always fascinated with the air bubbles in clear parts being so uniform with where they show up
I am very impressed with the level of care and attention paid to each pressing.
Very informative & enjoyable video Gary - great effort 👍
Great video Gary thank you. I worked in injection moulding for over 20 years so knew all about that part, but the design process is fascinating.
Excellent insight and presentation Gary... Always good to know how what we make is made... Thank you!
Brilliant content, I think we all take for granted the work that goes into making our hobby a reality and the manufacturers keeping them historic and on point to the scale we desire.
Two things will rarely if ever come together, superb flawless quality and insane fast production speeds. I previously worked in Automotive here in Michigan, USA. The companies that eventually fell and went under were the one that put quantity above quality. The 🇯🇵 Japanese took American production mindset and used it to produce the most precise model kits and Automobiles in their industries . Here in America, greed and hubris has taken a front seat and now our manufacturing processes are a joke ! I hope the Brit’s have great success with these fabulous kits ! Just keep it real and fun for the employees and success will be inevitable.
A very interesting and informative video ,Gary . So much work involved . Thankyou .
Very good idea to do this. I’ve always wondered 🎉
Very cool vid. I’ve always wondered how they do it when looking at sprue trees. This reminds me of an early 2000s “How it’s Made” video on Discovery Channel…when it was still decent. 😅
A great video and it is interesting to see the mould making and moulding process. The cost of making the moulds must be quite high. You mention that we don't make model kits but rather assemble them. I agree but back in the early 2000's a group of us did get involved in scratch building plastic models from sheets of polystyrene and the shapes you could get. I made a 1/16th scale Diamond T truck and a friend made a very good 1/16th Mk1 Spitfire. It takes ages but is very rewarding.
Very nice to learn all about it :-) Thank you sir.
Very comprehensive - thanks. I particularly liked how you refused to call the frames "sprues"!
I try so very hard to remember that!
As someone who loves cruise ships, I am sad to see that they’re little to no model kits in existence. Thank you for creating this video and hopefully someday I’ll put this information to use and make my own cruise ship model kits for myself and others.
For cruise ships, you may want to look into the world of 3D printing. There are several nice models in approx. 1/1000 scale available. Of course, these are printable files, and not a "kit" so to speak, meaning that it must still be printed on a 3d printing machine.
Excellent work Gary - really appreciate your efforts!
Nicely done Gary! The more universal appeal, the length and the production quality of this offering should get a lot of views. It stands up as a documentary on its own
Thanks Paul, I hope so!
Awesome, really enjoyed the video. Found it interesting how they use high tech to model and make the parts. And low tech to package the model. Some times low tech is still the best.
Hi Gary, that was a fantastic video , as others have said,there is a lot involved in the process, it still amazes me that some of these modern day kit have issues, but then we do not live in a perfect world, best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia 👍👍👍👍
Wow, it is an amazing process! Have you met any of the Lucky Buggers who get to put the model together? Tough job however someone has to do it.
awesome video. It is really interesting seeing how models are made. with the advent of the scanning and high end machining, the models are far superior than years ago. thanks.
Excellent! Thanks. I was wondering how much it costs in engineering and prototyping to bring a model like the Spitfire shown into production.
Thank you, I know I have asked you a couple of times about how the models are made. Lovely video, the only one out there telling the story that I am aware of. It’s the bit about being able to slice Tahoe model into parts and the EDM that were the missing links for me. Thx.
A fascinating insight into the production plastic kits. Well presented Gary. Thank you. Modern kits are getting so refined and sophisticated now one wonders how they'll evolve further, especially with computers to assist the engineers. Makes me realise that all credit must surely be given to mold makers of old. How did they manage without CAD? How did, for example, Hasegawa and Tamiya achieve such quality in their kits regarding precision of fit and surface detail over 40 years ago? Airfix attaining awards for their original 1/24th Superkits from half a century ago...... all without the aid of computers. Now, THAT'S skill!
Back in the day it was drawings, large scale wooden prototypes, pantographs to make the moulds, old school stuff! CAD and rapid prototyping must make it so much easier in many respects, especially making sure things fit, but brings with it the increasing possibilities for fine detail and complexity that was never possible before. Also advances in machining and in materials technology. It's an amazing thing for something a lot of people think of as a toy for kids.
@@garys_stuff Absolutely. These aids certainly do help in producing products of great refinement and quality. Subjects that were considered pipe-dreams only a couple of decades ago are now available for the modeller. It truly is a fabulous time for plastic modelling.
Wonderful overview! Really interesting 😊
So awesome! Thanks for sharing Gary!
Absolutely fascinating, Gary. Despite all the modern
computer-controlled mold cutters, CAD/CAM design, 3D printing, laser cutting,etc., it's amazing how much of production is still hands-on.
It may be a hobby to us but it's very big business to the people who make the kits that show up on the store shelves.
Thanks!
Excellent video Gary, just shows how much work goes into producing the kits.
The bit that always amazes me is how clever the designer of the kits is in the way they get everything to fit together without compromising the look of the model .
A pretty amazing process, I never imagined it was something so sophisticated.
When creating 3D models you also go through a lot of sources and blueprints to get a good idea about shapes and scale of the individual components.
Years ago i created 3D models for the "X-plane" flightsim.
I kind of recognise that part of the process.
I guess it depends on what you can get your hands on. I'm told that for the Bulldog they were able to copy all of the original blueprints because they are still archived by BAe Systems.
Really interesting. I thought it was a automated production.
👍🏾
I wish there was a model company that focused specifically on obscure planes. I know there is a market for this among the modeling community.
There are loads of companies that make more obscure planes and unfortunately, the market is small so they tend to be limited run and/or lower quality.
Dude, see how they 3DPrinted every piece for the prototype? As soon as the companies and customers are officially happy with production quality prints, the big companies can take all the $ they'd save without tooling, build printers and start building a digital .stl database of every plane part ever in every scale...
I know a tool maker from Scotland. He said it was a nightmare machining the molds for these model kits decades ago. With the technology today, it's too easy.
I think the tool makers would argue it's not easy. It might be easy to create a mould, but to create one to the very exacting standards demanded these days takes effort and skill.
Really enjoyed watching this :) It fills in the gaps from watching Paramjit et al on 'Hornby A Model World' in the design phase, and the YT videos (including yours and Matt's Gary) with your visits to Airfix.
There is also a YT video taken at the Italari factory a few years ago. The process was almost identical, albeit using an old press machine than the one Airfix got recently.
Fascinating, thank you.
Thank you for this very well made video. You don't often see something this concise on TH-cam. I guess it took quite some effort to keep it so refreshingly brief, especially when talking about something one is obsessed with.
Does anyone know any good videos on pre-computer plastic kit design? That would be very interesting, too.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. I'll ask around bout the days pre-CAD...
Thanks for posting this Gary. Really interesting to see how the kit in the box gets there in the first place.
Thanks Tony!
Great and interesting video Gary! I learnt a lot from watching it! Thanks for the upload
First of you segments I have watched. Superb. Thank you, this was very informative, well precented and not over powering or dumed down.
I have subscribed so will be watching more as I have just got back into model assembling for the first time in 42 years.
Welcome back to the hobby! Hope you get inspiration, or at least entertainment, from my other videos!
Great video. Thank you. Will now look at a model kit in a more in depth way. Glad there is a substantial recycling aspect to production as I had wondered about this. Brill.
Gives me new appreciation for the process that winds up in my display case, thanks!
Brilliant work, Gary 👏 great explanation on the process
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that was a brilliant explanation and demonstration... I was really interested in knowing the whole process. now it remains one question : how do they make the molds ?????
It was in the video (but only quickly) - they are made from blocks of steel by electric discharge machining. Sadly the companies that do it are in China so I can't get there to film them!!!
The mold making is the heart of the entire process!
This was so well explained that Airfix should be using this as a gneral introduction when people visit them
Thanks Matt - I hope Dale from Airfix is reading that!
This is how Airfix and others do it today , but I’d love to know how it was once done before all the computers and other electronic aids came along
Maybe if they've got some of the older stuff there I'll see what I can do...
@@garys_stuff thanks it’s just got me thinking. Slide rules drafts men etc maybe clay models like the car industry ?
I’ve seen videos on matchbox toy cars and it was quite involved .
@@vqey2 probably hard wood models but much larger, then reduced by pantograph to the milling machine. I't certainly how they did it at Scalextric so i can only assume it was similar.
@@garys_stuff that would make sense
Thanks for making this video. I've seen a few model factories in action, now. I'm always amazed at the amount of work that goes into designing the models.
When people remark about how good the models come out, I always give make sure to give credit to the designers, because they did most of the work. I'm basically putting together a puzzle.
Superb video, very informative. I had no idea about the process of model making. Respectfully, might I suggest that you lower the volume on the music so that we might hear your voice better.
Excellent video Gary, very interesting 👍🏻🇦🇺
That was very interesting ,thank you for that .😊
Thank you for a behind the scenes view of our ‘obby!!
If one has the World of Airfix book it has a great explanation of how models used to be done.
I will look for a copy...
Thanks for this informational video.!
I been building since 1970. Thoughout I thought of the machinists and mechanics that created he molds on those heavy blocks of steel.! Such and amazing people !!...Cheers!
Excellent video, thank you
Great video, I just found your channel and look forward to watching more builds. I worked in a molding shop for over 20 years, so seeing those presses brought back a lot of memories. If you're looking for feedback, I would rather watch without the background music, but I really enjoyed the production irrigaurdless.
Thanks man! Yes, don't think I'd use the music like that again!
Very good and informative. Would have liked to hear how the box art is designed and how the instructions are arrived at.
I’d like to do something about box art, chat with Adam who does Airfix and Carlos Alonso who does KP and others for example. The guy who does the instructions for Airfix is really approachable too. I’ll definitely look into both!
@@garys_stuff. Enjoyed the video and a you tuber , Maxs Models has done a lot on box art. Also a fair bit with Mike Machet, an aircraft artist of significant renown. Thank you. Cheers
Hi Gary, very interesting video but I always imagined it to be a bigger operation than that ya know in a big factory & everything 🤔🙂
I know what you mean. But the bulk of the Airfix range is moulded in India, some in South Korea I think, the factory here is just for the 1/24 Spitfire. Airfix subcontract the mould manufacture too. If everything were to be in house, I think you'd see a more substantial factory!
Great overview of what is involved.
Thanks for that Gary👍🏼
Great video
Wow at the research needed for those things. I mostly built spaceships from anime, or fictional spaceships that are just designed be cool models without having a specific source. I imagine my Space Battleship Yamato model wouldn't need that kind of research, especially since the ship in the show is already an animated 3d model.
These days I mostly build mechanical wooden models from Ugears, I feel better not contributing as much plastic plastic to the world, with the only plastic being in the packaging wrap encasing the box it comes in. The models don't have the same level of detail of course, with all the parts being laser cut in plywood sheets, but they still end up really pretty, and are designed in a way that doesn't require any glue. There is also a special satisfaction assembling a mechanical model and manage to put it together so actually works! I have built a pendulum clock with all the gears made of wood that actually works. (Though I don't actually use it because I can't handle the ticking even of a common modern alarm clock, and as you can imagine the ticking of a wooden clockwork is on another level entirely.)
And I really like the spring powered Ugears six legged walking robot. You really have to make sure you sand any surface that is part of the moving mechanism really carefully (and rub them with candle wax) to minimize friction or the spring won't have the power to make it walk. Sanding all those cogs takes a while. (I got it working but not on the first try, I'm just lucky that it was even possible to get to the one surface I had forgotten to sand after it was assembled. If there is a drawback it is that it's nigh impossible to disassemble the model to fix it without breaking a lot of parts if you make a mistake somewhere in the process and don't catch it until later. The instructions are very good though.)
Nice video,Gary, it would be useful, to show the mold making process.
Sadly that takes place in China and I don't have the budget...!
Nice one Gary!
Intresting that the 2 images of the spitfire at 4.06 are the 2 seat Tr Mk9 trainer....maybe airfix have 1 finally planned......i know their sister company corgi have a die cast 1 coming....even have mine preorderd
Great video sir. Next one will be about the same subject but how they did it in 70s without all that fancy tech, right?
It would be interesting if they have any of the old masters around, but not sure they have any of the cutting tools any more...
This is awesome. Thanks!!!
You’ve whet my appetite; now I want to know this process before there were computers. How did Frog make their moulds for example? I look forward to your next video on that subject.
as a kid I must have made every machine used in WW2, Airfix 1/35 scale mainly, back then (50 years agao) a releasing agent was used to release the plastic parts from the moulds, I used to soak the parts in warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly with clean water. if I didn't do this the paints would not adhere to plastic parts properly and would eventually fall off with flexing etc, QUESTION. . Do you still have to wash the plastic parts before you assemble the kits, cheers,
Airfix recommends it in all of their instruction sheets - more a gentle wash in mild soapy water than a soak, and yes make sure you rinse them afterwards. This factory making the 1/24 Spitfire certainly does not use release sprays. I don't think even Airfix can vouch for the factories in India and elsewhere that mould the bulk of their range.
If you use primer before hand, there’s usually no need. Although I’ve had even the primer pull off with masking or solvents on some kits I did not wash.
I was always interested in how a model was created thank you.
Excellent video!!
That was very informative video. Thank you sir
Very interesting! Just wondering how they managed those initial steps before the advent of computers, scanners and 3D printers...
That was very interesting Gary, thanks for making this video
My old Forman used to work at Airfix using a pantagraph to engrave tank track moulds a very precise job ???
Think there is still one at Margate that was used by the Scalextrix designers.
Awsome video gary love the different video keep it up cant wait to see the next monday matters as its my fav part of the week ❤️❤️❤️
Glad you enjoyed it Harry!
Hi Gary I enjoyed that. Nicely produced and you were quite right when you wanted to wait and add something to your version. Nice one mate.
Did you read my reply to you about ‘skip’ ads?
Keep up the great work.
Bob
England
Glad you enjoyed it Bob. I did see that reply and I found out how to do it!
@@garys_stuff Great. so you on max earnings then!!!
We may not always share the same view, but I will always be trying to help you and not harm you!!
Very informative
Interesting video,just wish they would put the decals in after all the sprues to cut down on decal damage like dents and the like.
God ;oint, I will ask them about this. Often the decals are put inside the instructions but not always and not in this Spitfire!
Excellent work son 👍
Cheers Joe!
Was just talking to my brother about this process with my brother. Now I know. Tx.
Very informative why don’t they have the scale at the end of the assembly line before they put the box top on though seems to me that would be the time to check the weight
Thankyou Gary, a very informative video although the music made your commentary difficult to hear at times.
All very well, but what about the days before computer aided design?
Way back in the 1960's there were real model makers and draughtsmen.
As a young lad I made my first airfix kit around 10 or 11 years old. It was the 1/72 scale Boulton Paul defiant aircraft. When finished there was more glue than plastic on it, however I was on the modelling stage from then on. Almost from that moment, my inquisitive mind realised that the plastic parts had to be made from a mould. I surmised that was where the real skill was.
I did an engineering apprenticeship (and still working as an engineer) but never got into injection mould making, although I am familiar with the process and have visited several injection mould companies in my time.
I think they still have an original pantograph engraver at Margate, possibly from the Scalextric archive?
yup, that's pretty much how we do it too!
Thank you excellent!!!
Great video. I am fascinated by mass production, a fan of the Discovery Channel show "How It's Made" and I found your video highly informative and entertaining. Great explanation of the design, planning, and creativeness that is required to produce model kits and presented very well, sir. Thank you. I have subscribed to your channel and look forward to more great videos.
It is not surprising that good kits are costly. There is a lot of labor, planning and investment that goes into producing a model, especially a new product.
About £300,000 apparently!!!
Can you do me a favor, can you send this video to Trumpter in China. They could really use the help in creating the build order on their instructions for their ship models, and maybe they might try building some of them before deciding on the final design. I know it is not earth shattering stuff, but concepts Trumpter do not see to be aware of lol
Very interesting - I had no idea of the process, or that it was so people intensive. Question - having been the victim of a massively warped Airfix 1/48 Meteor fuselage, ditto their Buccanner, how does that warpage happen?