Airfix now getting their ideas from Tommy's War

[Gra30]

You see Tom, many times "the boss" doesn't know what the employees do. Also "the boss" many times doesn't know what third party companies do.

With this, I mean that either that box can be an inside design but also that box design can be sub contracted to an image company that has an account specifically to do this. Many companies take the second option: More flexible costs and less human resources. It's unfair, but it is life!

Airfix is part of a corporation group that is listed in the London Stock Exchange. If I can suggest - you are the boss, so contact their boss

Here's the management board:

http://www.hornby.plc.uk/?page_id=4709


And expose your problem.

In the end, you are winning and Airfix is loosing: Airfix is promoting your products for free, recognizing your top quality and Airfix customers are flaming Airfix for ripping your stuff. I am pretty sure the guys on the top floor are not aware of this situation and will want to solve the situation with you and ensuring that INSIDE, this will never happen again.


I just imagine if it was me, taking this novelty in my desk!!! Take my suggestion - contact them - I'm positively sure Airfix will solve the situation accordingly in the form of advertising, partnership or similar, to common benefit!

I understand what you are saying, but Darren is only winning if he (Tommy's War) is recognised, which at present it isn't. Outside this community where Darren and his products are well known, they may not have a clue if not serious modellers. It is possible a unsuspecting customer who finds Tommy's War after purchasing the Airfix kit, MAY, even think it was copied from the box art. It is flattering but completely wrong from Airfix and the ball is certainly in Darren's court. If I have miss read you Blue Thunder then sorry, my point is Darren has all the cards and deservedly will win, but only when Airfix acknowledge they stole his vision. You say Airfix customers are flaming but they are a very different market audience that probably don't even know of this. The mock up box art was done by Darren and the original box art has no reference to a Tommy war.
After the modelling community being shafted by the big players so many times over the years it is nice to see a good guy and company being able to call the shots
I do agree that a light tread should be done though as it doesn't take long to airbrush out these days and Airfix may want that path if pushed too far, myself would prefer to see Darren getting a good lot of PR from this at least
Best wishes
Gra

 

[Tommys War]

Just a quick update

I've heard back from Airfix, I've got to say they handled this very decisively.

The artist has been contacted and the box art revised. The image has been withdrawn from the Airfix website and they have confirmed that no packaging had been produced. Once they have revised the box art they will produce the kit as normal.

So, just to come back on some of the points now its resolved.

Yes, it is highly flattering to have one of my images on Airfix packaging and it could have given me more publicity. However, Graham is absolutely right that it could have looked like I was copying Airfix.

Also, I had been contacted by one customer who had seen the image, got confused and thought that figure was included in the kit in plastic and therefore cancelled an order placed with me the day before for that figure.

So, I'm happy with the way Airfix have dealt with this, resolved completely to my satisfaction.

Although no free kits for me and my friends

 

[1969]

Although no free kits for me and my friends

Definitely not happy about that
Glad you got it sorted mate.
Steve

 

[Blue Thunder]

I understand what you are saying, but Darren is only winning if he (Tommy's War) is recognised, which at present it isn't. Outside this community where Darren and his products are well known, they may not have a clue if not serious modellers. It is possible a unsuspecting customer who finds Tommy's War after purchasing the Airfix kit, MAY, even think it was copied from the box art. It is flattering but completely wrong from Airfix and the ball is certainly in Darren's court. If I have miss read you Blue Thunder then sorry, my point is Darren has all the cards and deservedly will win, but only when Airfix acknowledge they stole his vision. You say Airfix customers are flaming but they are a very different market audience that probably don't even know of this. The mock up box art was done by Darren and the original box art has no reference to a Tommy war.
After the modelling community being shafted by the big players so many times over the years it is nice to see a good guy and company being able to call the shots
I do agree that a light tread should be done though as it doesn't take long to airbrush out these days and Airfix may want that path if pushed too far, myself would prefer to see Darren getting a good lot of PR from this at least
Best wishes
Gra

We are on the same boat here, Graham.

Darren wins perpetually. because in a "digital age" such as this, intel flows from here to Britmodeller, to Hyperscale, to Facebook, to whatever network of friends each has ... and today or in 2035 this episode is still registered in Darren's humorous image: When the big guys use what the small guys produce - that is the finest recognition they can ever make!


In the end, the story has a happy ending, but I feel if it was me, the guy running Airfix ... I would "airfit" things differently. Not in the form of donating kits ... but in the form of a partnership: I see in Tommy's War exquisite range several opportunities unmissable in these times that the world is celebrating 100 years of WWI.

But ... in this world I can't find two guys deciding exactly alike! Pity ...

 

[Gra30]

Glad it is resolved Darren and they admitted their had stolen your product, even if by mistake. The fact you are happy is the main thing
Also with you Blue Thunder, combination of 2 fine products does open many possibilities, at least in this instance recognition has been rightly given to Darren without plagiarism
Best wishes

 

[kagemusha]

One up for the good guys

Ron

 

[Watford]

The Bloody Cheek!

 

[Pilgrim_uk]

This might not be a case of the big boys being nasty as I used to do this. Once had a job to create posters for a well known electrical retailers. (I'm not a graphics designer or anybody that talented) Just somebody who knew how to use DTP programs well enough. The upshot was I use to steal ideas from the ole tinternet all the time to get posters out. (also sneaking a few wee jokes into them as well).

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

However, I could also be an opportunity missed! .. If you had said give accreditation to the standing figure, to your company on the box! .. A big free advert for you!

Mark

 

[Adrian Cowdry]

I am adding my two penneth here - I want the Bill Bus to do a dio with some Tommy's War figures. The fact that they used the TW officer is sheer laziness as the figure would not be included and would lead many unsuspecting to think it was.

Airfix have done the right thing and applause to them - but surely there is an opportunity for them to add some greatness to what we all know will be a primitive kit from eons ago. The Old Bill Bus was out when Darren was a twinkling in his dads eye - certainly the addition of a TW figure will up the quality and the artist who cobbled the image together must certainly subconsciously realised this.

Airfix you are missing an opportunity here to bring some quality to a very aged kit. And if you do not add TW figures then at least send a few freebies to Darren for "stress and disorder, rights infringement and general bad form"!

In all seriousness Airfix when you display your Bill Bus at Telford this year get some TW figures on the stand as well.

 

[Tommys War]

Thanks Ade, the box art has been changed and I'm more than happy with how it was handled by Airfix.

I'd rather the whole thing was forgotten to be honest, I don't want to have anything to do with Airfix or any association with them. I'm at pain to stress that Airfix were fine with the whole thing and were as outraged as me that the artist (who was a freelance) had simply been lazy.

However, there was something of a backlash from people who in their minds were being 'supportive' of Airfix and it's led to a few issues, some rather nasty emails and threats against me and my family. Nothing at all to do with Airfix as a company, but the internet is full of odd people.

So, I've drawn a line under the whole thing.

 

[Adrian Cowdry]

Darren

I will cease to comment suffice to say that there seems to be a bunch of people we can dub the Airfix Orcz - that hold a banner up and shout from the rooftops that Airfix are the best. My first comments were said with tongue in cheek - however I do think that Airfix would benefit from offering to purchase a bunch of your figures and making a limited edition release of the Bill Bus.

Airfix are nothing if not honorable we all know this, they are in a market that is competetive, I may have reservations about their kits and their releases but as I say they are honorable and for you to be satisfied is certainly the issue. The artist they used (spotty youth who can use photoshop) was indeed lazy - for Airfix to jump on it in the fashion they did is good news.

But to have some outside characters causing you concern I have nothing but contempt. There is a faction on the internet as I say the Airfix Orcz, that seem to think the centre of the universe is Airfix. Check out some of the AR types on Britmodeller.

I am not saying this for your sake here Darren but for any interested parties - Darren is one of the most honorable chaps in this industry/hobby without the likes of him the benchmarks would not be so high. He has a right to defend his items and Airfix have been very honorable acknowledging their mistake.

Mountains have been made out of smaller molehills - those who think Airfix have been bashed please understand they haven't but they are big enough and ugly enough to deal with such matters on their own without anyone making stupid remarks to Darren

 

[Mark Dollery]

Well, I can certainly back up what Adrian has stated! Darren's a top bloke with inscrutable standards!
enough said now & let's let it lie....
Mark D

 

[Adrian Cowdry]

Absolutely.

See you at Figure World Darren.