Workbench Edition 383 | Space exploration in kit form – we’re ready for Blast Off!
Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates, and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix.As the world prepares to celebrate Space Week, there really could only be one subject for this latest edition of Workbench, an edition which really could be described as being out of this world. Unquestionably the most impressive machines ever conceived by man, space launch vehicles represent the very pinnacle of man’s technological prowess, not to mention how they utilise the most powerful engines ever created. With the launch sequence itself being a sight so spectacular that it captivates billions of people each and every time, is it any wonder that space travel and exploration remains as arguably man’s most impressive achievement to date.International Space Week sees the world celebrating the latest advancements in science and technology, not only in relation to space exploration, but also how this technology eventually finds its way into everyday life for much of the world’s population, stimulating ever more impressive advances in all manner of fields. Those fields include computer design and manufacturing processes which allow model companies to produce beautiful scale representations of the most impressive spacecraft to have ever left the surface of the earth, and on to new adventures amongst the stars.In celebration of this latest Space Week, our newly tooled SLS Artemis kit has now been released and has already been joined by our classic Saturn V kit, with the pair about to be welcome our Space Shuttle onto the modelling launchpad, each on presented in 1/144th scale and each one an iconic kit representation of man’s ultimate desire to explore beyond the stars.As countdown to Space Week enters its final stages, we’re heading for the stars in this latest edition of Workbench.
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Workbench Edition 382 | Vintage Jaguar kit and Airfix classic
Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates, and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’re expecting several new Vintage Classics kit releases to arrive in our warehouse, as we move towards welcoming the final kits from the current range as we head towards the back end of the year. This seemed like the ideal opportunity of us to offer a little Workbench update support in this latest edition. Announced as a heritage addition to the Airfix range back in 2018, the enthusiast support for the Vintage Classics range has been nothing short of incredible, and whilst these kits may not always share the tooling finesse of a modern design project, they do possess modelling heritage and hobby nostalgia by the absolute bucket-load. The kit we’ve selected for review this time around is a classic release which first appeared in an Airfix range back in 1970, an impressive new kit to match the exciting new international jet collaboration which was in its trials stage at that time, the Anglo-French SEPECAT Jaguar. Back then, the kit was marketed as the BAC Jaguar, but represented the pinnacle of model kit design and manufacture at that time, as we’re sure many a Workbench reader will attest to. We will be featuring the Jaguar in this latest nostalgia fuelled update, but have already scheduled the Puma HC.1, British Army 4 ton truck and Lockheed Hudson for future inclusion, by which time, we hope to have a full suite of built model images available for our blog update use. So, it’s one of the best loved Airfix kits of one of the best loved RAF aircraft of the Cold War era for your delectation in this latest edition of Workbench and a case of collaboration áeronautique avec nos amis d’outre-Manche.
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Workbench Edition 381 | The Luftwaffe’s ‘Wolf in sheep’s clothing’
Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates, and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix. After last weekend’s bumper Battle of Britain 85th Anniversary edition and Hawker Hurricane linked feature in Airfix Aerodrome, we’re taking things just a little bit easier this week for a number of reasons, mainly scheduling and holiday related. That being said, there is no let-up with regard to Workbench exclusives, as we have an appealing new selection of built model images to bring you this time around. As we continue to retain a subject link with the Battle of Britain, or at least with one of the aircraft types which contested this aerial dual, we will be revisiting a subject covered just a few weeks ago, not just because we now have built model images which weren’t available at the time of previously posting, but because the kit is now in stock and available, and is in our opinion, unquestionably one of the most appealing kit releases of the year. Our latest Heinkel He-III kit release presents this famous bomber in H-6 torpedo carrying variant configuration, however, modellers looking to produce a scale tribute to the Luftwaffe’s most famous bomber currently have TWO individual kit options available on the Airfix website. We will be including details of both kits and their featured scheme detail options in this latest update. We have double Heinkel He III kit release updates for you in this latest aviation ‘Wolf in sheep’s clothing’ edition of Workbench.
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Airfix-Workbench | Battle of Britain 85 – Honouring more than the ‘Few’
In a year which has already seen the world commemorating and celebrating several significant WWII anniversaries, this year’s Battle of Britain Day commemorations will be marking 85 years since the pilots of Fighter Command repelled the incessant Luftwaffe attacks against British targets, including day and night attacks against London.With Britain standing alone, and Europe firmly under the heel of the Wehrmacht, the summer of 1940 would see a nation preparing to face an onslaught the like of which had never been seen, a fight for its very survival, along with that of the free world at that time. With the English Channel acting as a natural barrier to invasion, German military planners knew they would have to rule the skies over Britain, if a risky amphibious assault against the country had any hope of success, but with the Luftwaffe sweeping all before it during the early months of the war, and with overwhelming odds in their favour, surely such a victory was only a matter of time.On this side of the Channel, Britain prepared to defend everything they held dear, and whilst the Battle of Britain is often championed as the ‘Few’ facing the many, what the Luftwaffe and German forces were up against was an entire nation, a Britain steadfast in its resolve, and ready for the challenge ahead.In this latest edition of Workbench, through the medium of scale modelling, we will be attempting to highlight how the Battle of Britain was much more than just Spitfires against Messerschmitts, and how this aerial struggle proved to be pivotal in the wider context of the Second World War, with many different facets making significant contributions.It's Battle of Britain anniversary weekend in this latest edition of Workbench.
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Airfix- Workbench | British Army Cold War equipment trio a diorama creator’s delight
Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates, and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix. We have something very different to the norm in this latest edition of Workbench, as we will be featuring no fewer than THREE impending model kit release additions to the current range this time around, with this trio of models all linked by both scale and subject matter. In fact, each of the models featured will be of great interest to those readers with a passion for creating engaging diorama scenes, particularly those with a leaning towards British Army operations during the post war/Cold War era. With their rugged, go-anywhere, no-nonsense reputation, several variant incarnations of the classic Land Rover design have seen extensive British Military service over the years, with many thousands of these fantastic vehicles going on to wear the military colours of Britain’s armed forces. In addition to featuring our scale tributes to this magnificent series of support vehicles, our third subject is a lightweight, modern field gun system which was designed to provide British forces with a highly mobile field artillery piece, one which was effective enough to bring down meaningful suppressing fire against enemy positions quickly, but also to be light enough to be transported either by helicopter, or towed by 1 tonne Land Rover vehicles. We’re all on rapid deployment duties with the scale modelling version of the British Army, in this latest edition of your weekly Workbench blog.
From the world of Airfix, dive into “Workbench”, the audio companion to Airfix’s beloved Workbench blog. Each episode brings the workshop to your ears, with a deep dive into everything from exclusive model reveals and technique spotlights to candid chats with the creators behind the builds.🛠️ Exclusive Insights – Hear firsthand from Airfix designers and developers about the process behind your favourite kits, ✈️ Model Spotlight – Explore the story of each release, whether it’s a revived classic like the Blenheim or the latest Avro Anson kit🎧 Community Chats – Join conversations akin to Sprue Talk, offering deeper insight into the wider modelling scene!Whether you're tweaking paint layers or planning your next diorama, “Workbench" delivers expert guidance, creative inspiration, and the stories that bring scale modelling to life—anytime, anywhere!