New Roy Cross book

I heard somewhere that the removal of swastikas was not “PC” but so that the kits would be legal to sell in Germany. I suppose it didn’t make sense to print two sets of packaging bearing in mind that the existing ones were multi-lingual anyway.

On the other hand, painting out explosions, bombs, firing missiles and burning aircraft is definitely PC. It’s probably to avoid “glamourising” war, but in effect it makes it all seem far too clean. I find it amusing (and rather sad) that in the Bit-o-Lace artwork you can still see the reflections of expurgated fire.

Anyone know if there is a similar book for Ken McDonagh who was the ‘other’ Airfix artist for box artwork ??

Arc

Thanks Sage, you’ve just saved me £25.

I was going to email Airfix asking about this as I was interested in the book, but only if they were the original pictures (complete with any original hakenkreuz). I hate pc censoring, but I suppose if I ever see it at a knock-down price I’ll give in, but not until then.

Its a good book but one thing is a major dissapointment and thats the main pictures of the box art seem to be taken from recent transparencies produced for re-releases of the kits and not the original artwork as every German aircraft / ship is Swastika-less.
I assume its because the original art wasnt available to photograph rather than a concious decision on the publishers part as some of the smaller non published works & preliminary sketches sport them.
To me It makes the book come across as a bit “incomplete”, or am I being too harsh ?

Seems a lot of the original paintings were more or less just thrown away. Crying shame.

http://airfixcollecting.forumup.be/viewtopic.php?t=1381&mforum=airfixcollecting

Oh, I had read about this book and got the impression that the whole idea was to publish the original artworks :confused:

I agree with you and am suprised that its the newer versions of the artwork that has been printed. IIRC the cover has the B-17 “bit o’lace” on it complete with Me-109’s etc?

A vital part of my growing up – my son buys 1/72 airfix kits now and only yesterday I was looking at the 112 sqn P-40 Kittyhawk box and recalled the “original” with the ground vehicles being attacked etc.

Given that the “commando” library comics are being reprinted complete with non PC text etc, I’m curious as to why this artwork is not as per original.

I grew up admiring the Roy Cross (and Huxleys’ Matchbox work) work on Airfix boxes, that does sound like a disapointment. I haven’t seen the book but will definately have to get a copy.