Thanks for the message. This is one of the most anticipated 1/48 kits of the past decade (together with the Trumpeter Wellington). It has been announced a long time, I hope it becomes available soon as I lack Phil's talents to scatchbuild one.
I suppose that even if the model shows a 346 sqdn "Free French" markings (FM is specialized in French or French related equipments), most of the sales will be made abroad. So a bulk order from the Halifax gang could be a good advertising and may led to a discount.
When you see the battles to get an old "the other bomber we cannot name here" made by Tamyia in the 70's, I would say that the market for a 1/48 Halifax is quite huge, especially if they produce other Mk's or at list conversion kits (I would be interested by a MkII...).
I haven't found any feed back about the kit, but the latest productions from FM show a good level of quality. I'll try to find out soemthing about and I'll keep you posted.
By the way, I was in Snaith last week-end for the 51 sqdn reunion (if you can, go there and see the garden with the new memorial, it's just gorgious) and had the chance to saw "the other bomber" flying over my head. Fantastic for sure, but all were expecting an Halifax...
Well If I may quote our esteemed and higly rated (can I get a raise now Ian?)Ian Foster:
If you cannot get a Halifax then use a Lanc instead.
A 1/48 Hally has been long overdue (in any scale in fact) as have the other unsung types such as Hampden, Whitley, Stirling and Wellington (with a Trumpeter release of the latter being due later in 2005).
For instance, FM has issued a large range of more than unsung French planes and I hope that some other manufacturers will have a look on the bombers you mention.
As a matter of fact, I would be a good customer of that manufacturer as almost all this planes participated or played a role in my "favorite" raids.
Well there's an idea. Have been known to produce the odd kit or two in the past. May well look into this. Not quite sure how I feel about it finally coming out seeing as I have been scratchbuilding one for the last 3 years; should work a bit faster maybe. Still its good for everyone else. Will start work on a Hampden, Whitley and Stirling so that a kit will appear before I am finished. Hopefully the reference pics ( see come on get your photos out; no response!; for link) will be usefull.
Meant to be a bit tongue in cheek. Meant that if I did start a kit Tamiya would announce their own. Wouldn't do a whole kit. Conversions detail sets a possibility. Good work with the whitley project in flypast. A whitley in the flesh wow that would be cool.
