Containing 24 parts, this kit has been listed as 'skill level 1', but it is a bit more complicated than that. Delighted as I was to obtain this model after all those years, I was disappointed at how time and memory have altered the moulds. The instructions are 4 illustrated 'exploded' steps, which show construction clearly enough. One quibble I have is the box art says that the DH88 was designed and built for the 1934 England-Australia race, which it was, but I am sure that this particular machine won its class in the race, hence all the interest, is this PC at work? The overall winner was a Douglas DC2 of KLM, I think.                

The wings and tailplanes are solid, and the fuselage has the cockpit and crew moulded in. The wings are certainly heftier than I remember, and there is a bit of shrinkage at the wing roots. This leaves gaps when the wings are joined to the fuselage, as with the assembled engine nacelles to the wings. This didn't matter too much in the old days, when things were simpler, no filler, no model comps, no colour TV!, and the kits were moulded in the colour of the original aircraft, in the case of the DH88 red, but now it is the usual grey plastic. Any gaps show up easily, and there are gaps. However, wanting to get the model finished for an event in Cupar, Fife, I got on with it, building like the old days when we did some minor corrections and tidying up but left the kit more or less untouched.    

I found an old Airfix stand in the spares box, which meant I could ignore the undercarriage meantime. Cleaning up the fuselage join lines but ignoring the wing/fuselage joint I brushed on some Tamiya red acrylic which dried quickly with a nice shine. Some silver on the props and brown for the crew and it was ready for the transfers (oops, sorry, decals!). Now the wing registrations have the correct split below where they go between the nacelle and the centre section. I think in the old kit they were complete to go outboard of the engines and I was wishing I had done this as the letters tried to straddle the gap between wing and fuselage. The fuselage stripes and name had gone on nicely, adhering well to the shiny surface and allowing prodding to get them lined up correctly. The wing reggies adhered well but I found that round some of the letters there was an irregular blotch of white. Hoping this was the adhesive I finished off placing all the markings. When they dried the white blotch was still there round the main letters, a bit of a disappointment to say the least.                
              
However, no time to weep, let the markings dry and then it was a coat of Humbrol gloss poly from a spray can. I find that the only two good Humbrol spray cans are the clear varnishes, matt (which can cover a multitude of sins) and gloss. The markings had been left overnight but perhaps were not completely dry as there was some slight crazing on the wing reggies, but this was only noticeable close up. Next to fit was the canopy, and it was one of those that touches where it fits. Some white glue as a bead all round and it was popped on, with another coat of varnish when it dried. Add the props, the engine nacelles are none too good at the front and the prop 'shafts' rather long, test them and trim them before pushing them into the props from inside the nacelles.    

Placed on the old stand and looked at as a piece of nostalgia for the top of the TV or shelf the model certainly brings back the magic of the old days and I can see why the DH88 has been a popular subject for models, paintings and replicas with its striking appearance and colours, and the box art is superb. At the model event at least one person thought it was a new die-cast, so it did ok. I have seen the original at Old Warden, England, before it was restored to full flying condition and this kit does capture the look, so all in all and despite everything, highly recommended for nostalgia freaks!             

Among the latest kits are transforming 'bots' which tie in with the new Airfix website. Other new kits are retreads, but none the less welcome for that. There is a series of beginners kits with paint, glue and brush, which includes a mixture of new and old kits, the DH 88 is in this release. Not all new kits are new, but there is a P-51D, FW 190a and F4u Corsair in 1/48, with a couple of airliners in 1/300, ex-Tiger economies? Other retreads are the Avro Anson, but now with markings for an Australian Airforce machine and an all yellow Canadian version (strangely the Canadian markings are not mentioned on the box) as well as the Dutch RAF 321 Sqdn markings. The canopy has not been changed, and is probably incorrect for the earlier Coastal Command aircraft. Also re-released is the Lockheed Hudson, this time with extra markings for 'The Spirit of Lockheed Vega Employees', great! This aircraft was used by 269 Sqdn after they left RAF Montrose and went to Iceland. The quality of the decals is excellent and includes some extras that the originals missed out such as w/t marks etc. Again, highly recommended. This is all in the new 50th anniversary catalogue, well worth the £1.99 it cost me at local supplier Van Werninck Studio.