In 2015, Airfix has surprised us with a number of new releases of scale models, which showing once again their ability to do us enjoy with Allies and Axis aircrafts, stars of the skies of World War II World (Allied and Axis) between 1939-1945. In 2015 Airfix has released the following eleven scale models:

1. Heinkel He.111 P2 1:72 - A06014

New for 2015, using our new 3D scanning technology, comes the amazing 1:72 Heinkel HEIII P2! Responsible for more damage from strategic bombing than any other aircraft during the Battle of Britain, this super high detailed aircraft has been designed with information never before used in Airfix model design and has produced fantastic results! “A wolf in sheep’s clothing”, this formidably fast medium bomber was at first masqueraded by the Luftwaffe as a commercial aircraft, when the intention was in fact for it to be converted into the enemy’s primary bomber during early stages of World War Two.

• 1:72 Scale Plastic Model Kit
• Construction and painting required. Paints, glues and brushes not included
• Skill Level 3 (where 1 is for beginner and 4 is for the more experienced modeller)
• Model Dimensions: L 230mm x W 312mm
• No of parts: 205

Kit Reviewed by Valiant (Conclusion).- This is a new tooling from Airfix and it joins their ever expanding series of Battle of Britain related kits in this anniversary year. A superb kit, their old one can be consigned to the 'nostalgia' file and we can only hope that the H-series is not long in being produced. Highly recommended, without reservation to all Luftwaffe modellers.

2. Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V 1:72 - A08016

The Armstrong Whitworth Whitely saw action right from the first night of WW2 when it dropped leaflets over Germany. It then went on to take part in the first bombing raids over German and Italian territories making the Whitley an integral part of the RAF's bombing offensive in the Second World War.

• 1:72 Scale Plastic Model Kit
• Construction and painting required. Paints, glues and brushes not included
• Skill Level 3 (where 1 is for beginner and 4 is for the more experienced modeller)
• Model Dimensions: L 312mm x W 356mm
• No of parts: 155

Kit reviewed by Valiant (Conclusion).- This is another new tooling from Airfix and who but them would produce a kit of such as this! Superb, not just the kit but the subject, who would have thought we would have a mainstream kit of the Whitley! The engineering approach of this kit shows how Airfix use the physical nature of the real thing to determine how they break down the kit, which is a sound approach and allows for good detail. An excellent product and one every RAF collection should contain. Let's hope the Coastal Command version is not too long in arriving. As with all new Airfix kits, buy it, build it (straight away), enjoy it!

3. Bristol Beaufighter Mk.X 1:72 - A04019

The Bristol Beaufighter "Beau" was a British long-range heavy fighter which had a long career serving in almost all theatres of war during WW2 as a night fighter and then as a fighter bomber.

• 1:72 Scale Plastic Model Kit
• Construction and painting required. Paints, glues and brushes not included
• Skill Level 2 (where 1 is for beginner and 4 is for the more experienced modeller)
• Model Dimensions: L 175mm x W 246mm
• No of parts: 120

Kit reviewed by Glen Porter on Hyper Scale (Conclusion).- Advantages: A big improvement over earlier examples of this model especially in the areas of the interior detail at a very good price. Disadvantages: As good as the interior is, it could have been so much better compared to some of Airfix’s recent releases, especially their Luftwaffe examples. I’m impressed. This is by far the best Beaufighter on the market and I don’t think we will see a better example for a long time. Yes, it could have been better but what is there is accurate and will lend itself to those who want to improve it. And who could argue with the price.

4. Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat 1:72 - A02070

The Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat was an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that began service with both the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy with high air combat kill-to-loss ratios. The Wildcat was built throughout the war to serve on escort carrier where larger and heavier fighters could not be used.

• 1:72 Scale Plastic Model Kit
• Construction and painting required. Paints, glues and brushes not included
• Skill Level 1 (where 1 is for beginner and 4 is for the more experienced modeller)
• Model Dimensions: L 120mm x W 159mm
• No of parts: 58

5. Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' 1:72 - A04058

With a much more powerful engine than that of the B5N1, the BN52 had several other modifications to streamline it. This aircraft is particularly known for its involvement in attack on Pearl Harbour and the sinking of the United States Navy aircraft carriers Lexington and Hornet.

• 1:72 Scale Plastic Model Kit
• Construction and painting required. Paints, glues and brushes not included
• Skill Level 2 (where 1 is for beginner and 4 is for the more experienced modeller)
• Model Dimensions: L 142mm x W 214mm
• No of parts: 107

Kit reviewed by Valiant (Conclusion).- Airfix just keep rolling along with their impressive series of new tooling, this Kate be no different. Another superb kit from Airfix, they are really racking these up in 1/72nd of late. Your choice for years has been the ex-Mania tooling that Hasegawa has issued since 1979 or the even older Nitto one from the 1960s, so it is great to have a top quality new tooling at last. It will certainly go nicely alongside their new Zero and one can only hope that Airfix might consider a few more IJAAF/IJNAF subjects in the future. Buy it and build it, you certainly won't regret it.

6. Bristol Beaufighter Mk.X Focke-Wulf Fw190 - 8 Dogfight Doubles Gift Set 1:72 - A50171

"Black Friday" - a term given by surviving Allied aircrew to the disastrous attack on a German Destroyer Z33 in February 1945. Bristol Beaufighters were intercepted during the attack by twelve of the Luftwaffe's Fw190 fighters. The Beaufighters suffered heavy casualties but still managed to shoot down four of five of the German fighters over the Fjords of Norway.

• 1:72 Scale Plastic Model Kit
• Construction and painting required. Paints, glues and brushes not included
• Skill Level 2 (where 1 is for beginner and 4 is for the more experienced modeller)
• Model Dimensions: Bristol Beaufighter Mk.X: L 125mm x W 145mm and Focke-Wulf Fw190 - 8 : L 175mm x W 246mm
• No of parts: : Bristol Beaufighter Mk.X: 53 parts and Focke-Wulf Fw190 - 8 : 120 parts

7. Battle of Britain - 75th Anniversary Gift Set 1:72 - A50173

Set includes: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IA; Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3; Hawker Hurricane Mk.I; Heinkel He 111 P-2; Display stand

• 1:72 Scale Plastic Model Kit
• Construction and painting required. Paints, glues and brushes not included
• Skill Level 2 (where 1 is for beginner and 4 is for the more experienced modeller)
• Model Dimensions: L 340 mm x W 240 mm
• No of parts: 179

8. Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.1 1:72 - A02069

Often maligned as a failure, the Boulton Paul Defiant proved its effectiveness as a night fighter during the Blitz by shooting down more enemy aircraft than any other type. Built as a "turret fighter" and often mistaken for Hurricanes by the Luftwaffe the Defiant pilots proved themselves in the skies over southern England during the Battle of Britain.

• 1:72 Scale Plastic Model Kit
• Construction and painting required. Paints, glues and brushes not included
• Skill Level 1 (where 1 is for beginner and 4 is for the more experienced modeller)
• Model Dimensions: L 159mm x W 166mm
• No of parts: 60

Reviewed by mademodeller (Youtube):

Kit reviewed by Mark Davies on Hyper Scale (Conclusion).- Advantages: The best 1/72 Defiant by far, optional canopy and rear decking positions, good quality decals, attractively priced. Disadvantages: Crude instrument panel decal, the ailerons have thick trailing edges that are hard to remedy, and the main wheels are possibly a little undersized. I have raised a few nit-picking points, but overall this is an excellent kit and easily the best Defiant in “The One True Scale”. Its outline shape appears to be very good, and it has nice surface treatment with more than adequate interior detail (aside from the ugly instrument panel decal). The engineering of ailerons makes correcting their overly thick trailing edges impossible to remedy without damaging their nice surface detail. Barracudacast, a brand I respect, indicate that the kit’s main wheels are undersized; for now I leave it to readers to decide. There is always room to improve, but this latest release from Airfix shows that they are firmly on the right track. Their new tool Defiant is a fine kit, and clearly superior to MPM’s, plus great value too. I have no hesitation in highly recommending it.

9. Junkers Ju87 B-1 Stuka 1:72 - A03087

The Junkers JU87 or Stuka, was a two-man ground attack aircraft and dive bomber which first to the skies in 1935. The Stuka is famous for delivering the single most deadly assault on British territory in history on the afternoon of 4th July 1940 when thirty three of them sank the 5,500 ton anti-aircraft ship HMS Foylebank in Portland Harbour.

• 1:72 Scale Plastic Model Kit
• Construction and painting required. Paints, glues and brushes not included
• Skill Level 2 (where 1 is for beginner and 4 is for the more experienced modeller)
• Model Dimensions: L 153mm x W 192mm
• No of parts: 110

10. Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I 1:48 - A05126

The Legendary Supermarine Spitfire was used by the RAF and other allied forces during World War Two. It was also produced in greater numbers than any other British aircraft and was continuously produced throughout the whole of the Second World War.

• 1:48 Scale Plastic Model Kit
• Construction and painting required. Paints, glues and brushes not included
• Skill Level 2 (where 1 is for beginner and 4 is for the more experienced modeller)
• Model Dimensions: L 192mm x W 232mm
• No of parts: 149

Kit reviewed by florymodels (Youtube):

Kit reviewed by Brett Green on Hyper Scale (Conclusion).- Advantages: High level of detail; accurate; many useful options including two-bladed fixed-pitch Watts, three-bladed Rotol and de Havilland propeller assemblies, alternative antenna and windscreen styles and separate cowl bulges; straightforward construction; clever engineering for parts such as windscreen mounts; crisp and fine surface detail. Disadvantages: Weak join for main undercarriage legs. This is an excellent kit. Kudos to Airfix for offering a brand new tool 1/48 scale Mk.I considering their previous effort was only as recent as 2007. Detail is very good, surface textures are crisp and restrained and, having already finished the similar Mk.V last year, there is no reason to expect that ths one won’t be a straightforward build. This now joins the Airfix Spitfire Mk.Vb as the best of their types in 1/48 scale.

11. Hawker Hurricane Mk1 1:48 - A05127

The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that became renowned during the Battle of Britain, accounting for 60% of the RAF's air victories throughout the battle. More than 14,583 Hurricanes were built by the end of 1944 and were unusually flown by both Allies and Axis.

The Airfix Hawker Hurricane is a different kettle of fish altogether, with examples available in 1/72nd, 1/48th and 1/24th scales – for the purposes of this feature, I am just going to look at one of the latest Hurricane models available, which has already proved to be an incredibly popular kit.

A05127 is a magnificent New Tooling example of the Hawker Hurricane Mk.I and is presented in the larger 1/48th scale. It is a superb example of the current quality of Airfix model tooling and incorporates all the modern production technologies available to the Airfix designers and allows the modeller to produce a really accurate representation of this most famous RAF fighter.

The kit allows the modeller to finish their model as either a No.501 Squadron machine, from RAF Kenley, or a No.605 Squadron Hurricane, from RAF Croydon. Again, as with the Typhoon F.2 kit we discussed earlier, this Hurricane has proved to be a spectacular success and is not currently available on the Airfix website. You can register your interest to be informed when new supplies arrive, or you could always raid your local model store to see if they still have any kits available on their shelves. Either way, you will be getting your hands on an excellent Hurricane kit, which looks even better when combined with the new 1/48th scale RAF ground crew set.

• 1:48 Scale Plastic Model Kit
• Construction and painting required. Paints, glues and brushes not included
• Skill Level 2 (where 1 is for beginner and 4 is for the more experienced modeller)
• Model Dimensions: L 200mm x W 255mm
• No of parts: 127

Kit reviewed by florymodels (Youtube):

Kit reviewed by Genessis Models (Youtube):

Kit reviewed by Brett Green on Hyper Scale (Conclusion).- Advantages: High level of detail; subtle surface textures including fabric rear fuselage; accurate; useful options including Rotol and de Havilland propeller assemblies, straightforward construction; includes open gun bay option; bonus parts - tropical filter and arrestor hook. Disadvantages: Leading edge machine gun openings not drilled out; windscreen mirror not included. This is a gorgeous kit. Airfix’s new Hurricane Mk. I is easily the best of its type in 1:48 scale; and probably the best of any variant of any injection moulded Hurricane in any scale. It is accurate, features better fabric effect than the Hasegawa kit, and will also be easier to build thanks to its absence of inserts and straightforward parts breakdown. The Airfix offering is also barely half the price of the Hasegawa and Italeri kits in the UK. We can only hope that Airfix sells a bazillion of these to bankroll the rest of the RAF Battle of Britain line-up in 1:48 scale!

Kit reviewed by Valiant (Conclusion).- An excellent kit, not superb because those ejector pin marks are just downright annoying. The detail and fabric effect is vastly superior to any in this scale that have gone before it and so it is one that we recommend to all modellers. Well done Airfix, how about a Defiant in this scale now?

Kit reviewed by Greg Wise, IPMS# 4437 (USA) (Conclusion).- I highly recommend this kit to anyone; it’s easily a 9 out of 10 on the Greg-O-Meter. I would like to thank Airfix, Hornby and IPMS for the opportunity to present this fine model kit.