Ahoy mates!

Check out this new 1/72 release from Airfix.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
~Gator

Thank Kenny this is one I have to get.

Oh just in case you didn't know the crews of the RNLI are all unpaid volunteers and the RNLI relies on donations.

Ciao
Luciano

Gator,
Thanks for the heads up. Looks like a great kit, talk about being dedicated to what your doing, volunters, that pretty darn cool.

I got one a few weeks ago. It looks like a lovely kit. Has an interior too.

I could post some unbuilt pics tomorrow if you want.

[edit] They retail for around £15.

That would be great Murdo.

Hi Kenny

Just a slight but important correction - it is the Royal National Lifetboat Institution - not connected to the Royal Navy.
As Luciano says the whole shebang is funded through charitable donations and the lifeboat men are all volunteers with day jobs. True heroes.
The kit looks good, i have looked round the real thing a few times (when not at sea they have open days to help raise money) and they are seriously nice bits of kit (no pun intended).

Sorry for the delay chaps, here are the pics and description of the Airfix 1/72 RNLI Severn Class Lifeboat.

There is a 30 page instruction manual with very clear, sharp drawings and a page of colour pictures of the real McCoy. There are four sprues contain about 150 parts and a clear sprue for windows. The plastic is very reminiscent of Evergreen and Plastruct. It’s reasonably soft and doesn’t seem brittle at all.

There is virtually no flash and I didn't notice any ejector marks where they could be seen. There is a lot of nice surface detail and some of it is quite intricate but in my opinion it is a little on the soft side and will require careful painting so as not to obliterate it. A combination of decals is used to make the individual Lifeboat you want. I'll be doing 17-18, the Stornoway Lifeboat.

This looks like it could build into a really classy, lovely model. Especially if someone brought out a PE set for it.

Box lid


Main Deck








A combination of decals is used to make the individual Lifeboat you want.



Showing interior and exterior drawings









The bow thruster is a 1" long tube with a propeller inside it, very cleverly done.



An example of the soft detail. It would be better and really easy to sand this hatch down and scratch a new one.





MAN! I've just realised how much modelling time this write up and pic taking took up!

Thanks Murdo!

I bet some 1/72 aircraft pe harnesses would dress up those seats.

No doubt!

This could be a really spectacular kit. I'm hoping it has been done in a way that will allow the cabin / superstructure to sit on top so it can be removed to show the interior.


By the way, it's hard to show just how unique and voluntary the RNLI is. It has no connection to any British Government organisation! Be it the UK Government or the Royal Navy or anything!

It is a totally volunteer run, volunteer supported organisation.

They rely totally on volunteer donations to support this work.

It really is amazing! Help them out and support them! I always do!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_National_Lifeboat_Institution