In June 2026 Airfix released a set of new boxings of a variety of kits. An Aston Martin – which was formely a starter set. Their newer tooled Hawk in Red Arrows livery (with only the starter set decals), a Land Rover, Gazelle…and then this. To say it was a random selection is kind, but this kit was the weirdest of all the choices.

The DH.88 is infamous within modelling circles. It’s not a popular kit – it’s a messy kit. The details are minimal and the moulding is dated. The cockpit is filled in with two spheres representing two pilots. It doesn’t look great, but you can cut it out. Failing to do anything to this area, however, leaves you with a canopy piece that doesn’t really fit. I cut mine out a fair bit and still ended up with an ill fitting piece.

The construction is quite quick. I was live streaming mine whilst I was building it and I was super optimistic initially. But by the time I was putting the propellers in place I realised how poorly constructed it was and my passion dropped off. The props just freely moved around and the undercarriage – whilst fine once it’s glued in place – is just a really odd construction style (hence nowhere does it this way now).

The nose should have a light on it, so I sanded mine down and used some Glue and Glaze by Deluxe Materials. The decals are good as they’re by Cartograph. Mine were a bit wobbly – but that’s user error not decal error.

Painting is simple – it’s just red and then metal and black for undercarriage and propoellers. The canopy is hard though as there is no guidance – it’s just a smooth transparent piece. I hand painted mine and cleaned it up with a cocktail stick. It isn’t the neatest but it was the best I could do.

And that’s where I find this kit hard. It’s not a kit I enjoyed but the end result looks…fine. I can see why people said this ‘isn’t a big deal’ as a £7 kit from Lidl. But the issue isn’t that it was re-released. Vintage Classics are clearly denoted as old and potentially not as good kits. This wasn’t though.

On Lidl’s site this was a starter set. In person it’s a construction set. It’s also sold in the middle aisle or kids section. It is sold and positioned as an affordable kit for new starters or returning hobbyists. And most people who make models are closer to my skill level than the exceptional models we see at shows – it’s a hobby and mindfullness. So providing such an unfun experiance to those people won’t create returning hobbyists or customers. They’ll bin it and move onto another hobby or trend.

I hope Airfix learn from this, but I fear the worst. The new boxart for their Douglas Barder set is in the similar style (see both boxes below).

It feels we are in a transitional era for Airfix. Whilst I don’t hate the art style, it isn’t as good as the classic watercolour styles and seems more ‘toyish’ on a hobby that should be for all from kids to adults. Gone is the combat, urgency, and elegence. In is the AI-adjacent cartoon style. Whilst it has a art deco flair to it like posters of your, it has a lot of weird choices, lines, and colours that have led many to accuse it of being AI. I’ve been informed from other content creators that Airfix confirmed it is not (at least for the Lidl box) but it’s an odd choice given the current trends.

Finally I’d like to clarify that the Lidl boxes do state the year of manufacture on the back. Unlike modern Heller boxings though this is eye catching or obvious to a newbie. I’m confused why this was done when they already have vintage classics and Starter Sets that would’ve been much more sensible and clear choices even within Lidl.

Buy or Fly

They’re now re-selling online from £10-15.00. My advice? Save a bit more and go for the Clearprop version. It’s a more satisfying build and builds a much nicer model. The Airfix one comes with rubbish pots of paint and a mediocre brush. It’s just not really worth it in my honest and humble opinion, even though I have really liked seeing mine sat on a shelf.