Airfix Aston Martin DB6 - classic kit whats in the box

[djflyer]

Some recent postings about the DB6 inspired me to post a "whats in the box" pictorial of the Airfix DB6.  I had never heard of Airfix doing 24th scale kits so when this one came available I grabbed it quickly.  You can see from the box they also did a Toyota 2000 GT, which ties somewhat to another car used in a Bond movie, although that one was a custom built roadster.  Having never seen the MPC kit, I cant say if they're related, but MPC did label theirs as 25th scale.

The box showed the affects of age, but the contents had never been touched.  (The instructions were still folded tightly like they had never been out of the box). Supposedly the "Bond" DB5 tools were modified into this kit, which certainly looks to be the case having both kits.  The chassis looks the same other than the addition to the wheelbase along with the required mods to the roofline and tail section.  Otherwise, almost all the remaining (non-Bond) parts are identical.  

 

 

 

[MrObsessive]

I have this kit (MPC) and indeed those parts look very familiar. One quibble I do have with the kit is the body shape itself. While not bad at all, there's something about the DLO that seems off to me. It appears a bit low and perhaps could stand to be raised a scale inch or so.

When I'll build it is anyone's guess, but I also have the MPC James Bond Aston builder which I'd probably restore first.

[Mark]

MPC's Toyota 2000 GT kit was the roadster version of the Airfix kit.  MPC never issued the coupe version.

The 1:1 roadster was a one-off deal (constructed for the 007 movie) but the MPC roadster kit was not issued as a James Bond item.  The female figure from the Airfix Bond issue was included in MPC's kit.

[djflyer]

Interesting that MPC issued a roadster and never the coupe.  I wonder if they created their own tool for the body or modified the Airfix tool?  I have the "non-Bond" release of the coupe (same box type as the DB6) and detail is about the same level as the Aston.

I had some discussion with fellow poster Matt B regarding corrections needed on the DB6.  Consensus was the side window area needs to be enlarged/shape corrected, the rear window lies to flat, and the tail needs to be extended back a few mm.  The windshield header might also need to be raised, but not certain until the windshield is test fit.

Edited June 2, 2019 by djflyer

[dbostream]

Thanks for the photos. Wish they would reissue this and the Toyota 2000 GT.

[highway]

6 hours ago, MrObsessive said:

I have this kit (MPC) and indeed those parts look very familiar.

While I don't have this particular kit, I do know Airfix and MPC did have a relationship in the late 70s or early 80s. I have a 1981 issue MPC Dodge D50 4x4 and I've found pictures online of it with the same box art except for the MPC being replaced by Airfix. 

[Snake45]

10 hours ago, djflyer said:

Interesting that MPC issued a roadster and never the coupe.  I wonder if they created their own tool for the body or modified the Airfix tool?  I have the "non-Bond" release of the coupe (same box type as the DB6) and detail is about the same level as the Aston.

I had some discussion with fellow poster Matt B regarding corrections needed on the DB6.  Consensus was the side window area needs to be enlarged/shape corrected, the rear window lies to flat, and the tail needs to be extended back a few mm.  The windshield header might also need to be raised, but not certain until the windshield is test fit.

Looks to me like the entire side window upper line needs to be raised into the roof, and then of course the door/window frames would have to be rebuilt. 

 

4 hours ago, highway said:

While I don't have this particular kit, I do know Airfix and MPC did have a relationship in the late 70s or early 80s.

They had a relationship even before that--late '60s or very early '70s. On at least two different occasions MPC tried to market a line of Airfix 1/72 airplane kits--the first time with added chrome "customizing" parts, the second time with box art and decals tied to airplanes shown in the old Profile monographs. 

[Mark]

MPC issued some Airfix 1/32 scale sports car and vintage car kits in the Sixties and Seventies also.  (One vintage car, the Darracq, is closer to 1/25 scale.)  Airfix also issued some MPC car kits (Mako Shark, '67 GTO) in England.

I've got an MPC catalog from the early Eighties that shows the Aston Martin as a reissue in their series of Cannonball Run kits.  It never appeared though.

[Mike999]

9 hours ago, Snake45 said:

They had a relationship even before that--late '60s or very early '70s. On at least two different occasions MPC tried to market a line of Airfix 1/72 airplane kits--the first time with added chrome "customizing" parts, the second time with box art and decals tied to airplanes shown in the old Profile monographs. 

I remember those. The "customizing" aircraft kits with chrome parts were just goofy. But I liked some of those "3-in-1" Profile kits. Like the A-26 Invader with 3 different markings, and parts to build either a glass-nose or gun-nose version. I saw one of those for $5.00 at a kit swap meet and grabbed it.  This was after the modern and much better Italeri 1/72 scale Invader came out. The Airfix Mad Rivet Maker really went to town on that kit, and it's notorious for fit...issues.  But the nostalgia factor alone made it worth 5 bucks.

And from the Box Art Hall of Fame...the British model company FROG released a few AMT kits in its home market.  Note that Daytona is a dirt track, and the Galaxie appears to be racing with a black vinyl top.

[Snake45]

22 minutes ago, Mike999 said:

the British model company FROG released a few AMT kits in its home market.  

And here, AMT reissued some FROG 1/72 airplanes, about the same time MPC was selling the Airfix ones with the chrome junk. AMT's airplane line also had some from another company few American modelers had heard of at the time--Hasegawa. 

[Junkman]

15 hours ago, dbostream said:

Thanks for the photos. Wish they would newly tool this and the Toyota 2000 GT.

FTFY

[Junkman]

1 hour ago, Mike999 said:

And from the Box Art Hall of Fame...the British model company FROG released a few AMT kits in its home market.  Note that Daytona is a dirt track, and the Galaxie appears to be racing with a black vinyl top.

In true British banger racing fashion, it also goes around the track clockwise.

Edited June 2, 2019 by Junkman