HOW PLASTIC KITS ARE MADE from design to delivery - 1080pHD
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 มิ.ย. 2024
- Ever wondered how plastic kits are made? here I talk you through all the steps, from choosing what kit to manufacture all the way to delivery!
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00:00 Introduction
01:59 Choosing the subject
03:09 Research & Design
07:08 Manufacture
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Unbelievable. There must be nothing left of the methods used to prototype plastic model kits from back in the '60s and '70s. CAD drawings and 3D printing must have replaced all of the old methods.
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. 😅
yup, that's pretty much how we do it too!
I am very impressed with the level of care and attention paid to each pressing.
That was very interesting ,thank you for that .😊
Glad production is returning to the UK. We CAN do it!
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.
This is awesome. Thanks!!!
A pretty amazing process, I never imagined it was something so sophisticated.
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.
The mold making is the heart of the entire process!
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.
So awesome! Thanks for sharing Gary!
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.
Very interesting! Just wondering how they managed those initial steps before the advent of computers, scanners and 3D printers...
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.
One thing I would like to learn, is how plastic kit companies make chrome looking parts that really look like metal chrome.
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..
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!
Gives me new appreciation for the process that winds up in my display case, thanks!
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. 😎🇨🇦
Thank you excellent!!!
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.
Brilliant video Gary. I was always fascinated with the air bubbles in clear parts being so uniform with where they show up
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.
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
Excellent insight and presentation Gary... Always good to know how what we make is made... Thank you!
Very comprehensive - thanks. I particularly liked how you refused to call the frames "sprues"!
I try so very hard to remember that!
Very informative & enjoyable video Gary - great effort 👍
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!
A certain 'gap in the market' is represented by the Vickers Viking passenger aeroplane. I doubt we'll see it ever created as a model by Airfix.
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 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 .
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?
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.
A very interesting and informative video ,Gary . So much work involved . Thankyou .
Fascinating, thank you.
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.
Excellent work Gary - really appreciate your efforts!
Wonderful overview! Really interesting 😊
Excellent video, thank you
Excellent video!!
That was very interesting Gary, thanks for making this video
Impressive QC processes! Thank you for this insightful vid!
Brilliant work, Gary 👏 great explanation on the process
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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.
Nice one Gary!
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!
Excellent video Gary, very interesting 👍🏻🇦🇺
Great video
That was very informative video. Thank you sir
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!
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 👍👍👍👍
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...
Very informative
Thank you for a behind the scenes view of our ‘obby!!
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!
Thanks for posting this Gary. Really interesting to see how the kit in the box gets there in the first place.
Thanks Tony!
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.)
Great overview of what is involved.
Thanks for that Gary👍🏼
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...!
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...
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.
Very interesting
The price of Scale Model Kits has gone through the roof here in Aus. With the pieces being %50 recycled, obviously recycling does note work. Some of the 1\48 Aircraft kits can reach up to $200. Great Hobby once upon a time…….far, far away…..!!!
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.
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.
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...
I was always interested in how a model was created thank you.
I live very close to this facility a wonderful model shop opened next door
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!!
Interesting👍👍
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!
Giant leap from CAD to CNC :-)
The confidence to go down this route and investment is Huge! ❤
Excellent work son 👍
Cheers Joe!
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
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!!!
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
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!
Nice. I’m curious of how they used to be made before computers. I assume they were sculpted or carved and molds were pulled from that, but it must have been a nightmare.
With the use of different markings/liveries and for interesting subjects I wonder why civil airliners are so poorly reprresented especially in 1/200th scale. Hasegawa have reduced their selection but I would have thought there would be a market as a lot of modellers fly commercial aircraft and would enjoy replicating that experience. The markings of different airline companies can be updated to do further runs of the kit, enhancing the investment in production. My personal opinion is that there would be a good market for 1/200th scale A380, A340, A330, VC10, Boeing 707, Trident, with some ground equipment as additional purchases.
Imagine what they had to do for prototyping before 3D printing made it easy!
AMT car kits tooled in the 1960s come to mind, they're quite crude in the chassis and undercarriage details and things like shallow interior tubs but the bodies were always detail-perfect since most were commissioned by the automaker as a promotional item and their look as-built had to stand up to the scrutiny of the division's Sales Manager before the production order.
Thankyou Gary, a very informative video although the music made your commentary difficult to hear at times.
Who makes the most realistic f4u corsair and mustang kits
Great video Gary, much appreciated 🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻
A very interesting video, it's a complicated business. I enjoyed the video Gary, but I could have done without the background music (muzac). I think it was unnecessary and intrusive. I always look forward to, and enjoy your videos, especially Monday Matters and the amusing tenuous link to a song lyric.
I wonder why the boxes had different amounts of frames.
I do wonder how they did in the 70's, when i was young and glueing my first kit.
I am so surprised at the amount of 3D design that still goes into it. A part of me knew this from my experience in engineering, but until you see the work that goes into it, you don't really appreciate the amount of work cause a part of your brain says it should be easy cause you have a full size airplane (or truck or you name it) that you working from
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.
👍🏻