Airfix - Britain's Next Top Model?

Post by **Moggy** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 10:13 am

Airfix - Britain's Next Top Model?
By Maria David
The Money Programme

Will today's youth fall for Airfix's retro appeal?

One of the most famous names in toys is back, after going bust.

Airfix has been bought by model train giant Hornby, which plans to rebuild the brand.

But will today's Playstation generation even notice?

Generations of school children grew up in the 50s and 60s gluing and painting Airfix model planes, from the iconic Spitfire and Lancaster to the Messerschmitt and Fokker - then hanging them from their bedroom ceilings to re-create the Battle of Britain.

Airfix was started in 1939 by Hungarian emigre Nicholas Kove.

It made air-filled toys, but really took off after World War II when it began manufacturing model kits of Spitfires.

"Children aspired to being fighter pilots," says toy historian Arthur Ward. "But if they couldn't be fighter pilots, they would make an Airfix kit of a Spitfire."

BBC News

Iron Mike · Post by **Iron Mike** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 3:35 am

That would be nice wouldn't it? I first stumbled across Airfix at the C&M 5 and dime store in my home town. The MiniMen were 50 cents a box and I've still got hundreds of them in bags.
The models were priced just right at 39 cents each. I bought a Stuka, Spitfire, Me109 and a Tiger Moth the first tmie around. My favorite was the Hudson having seen Errol Flynn's "Desperate Journey" earlier that Saturday I bought about 4 of them at 49 cents each. Man those were the days. I kept the box art from them too.
Now if they can be priced reasonably they may have a chance. I know that the low cost got me hooked.

Post by **Moggy** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:56 am

Of course I used to have them hanging from the ceiling

RAF_Dumoulin · Post by **RAF_Dumoulin** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 3:23 pm

Hello,

Well ... first plastic glued (a lot of glue ..lol not enough wit the little green poush...) in 1960 ... glup

Me109 in a little plastic bag

Brand : Airfix .....
BTW ... Airfix drawings and explainations sheets drive me to lexicons for translate the instruction ... so I hown Airfix to push me to learn english

(the Beattles also ..lol)
Cause no more place when I moved in my own walls (and wife also ...) ..all my collection(a lot of Airfix) go as donnation to the Royal Air Museum of Brussels

My last one was the 1/24 Spitfire (a master piece of Airfix!!)

Regards.

Gus.

Wudpecker · Post by **Wudpecker** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:01 pm

Think of it--- our own Gus Dumoulin's aircraft is now in a museum.
A man of history!

RAF_Dumoulin · Post by **RAF_Dumoulin** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 6:12 pm

Hello Wuddy,

Yes .. LOL !!
BTW ..for collect the planes ..they send a truck (a MAN if I remember well) of the BAF ...
One petty officer and two privates (women)
They put all in cardboard boxes with protections sheets with great care.
They spend a whole afternoon

Only the army spend money for futilities like that

They don't worry ...as finally ..I'm the taxpayer ROFL

Regards.

Gus.

Iron Mike · Post by **Iron Mike** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:53 pm

Just a few reasons that grabbed me as a 12 year old. Be patient a lot of content follows.

Note the prices!

RAF_Dumoulin · Post by **RAF_Dumoulin** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 8:45 pm

Hello,

Unfortunately ..have no more any models or boxes ..but still have few catalogs of Airfix and few of their mags

BTW .. I glued all those above also

Great Airfix classics ......

Regards.

Gus.

Col. Gibbon · Post by **Col. Gibbon** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:20 pm

Check out the links

http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q118 ... hotos/atf/

Iron Mike · Post by **Iron Mike** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:19 pm

The box art is what first got my imagination. I see that the USA versions had a totally different set of art. The "soft" covers I put up are direct import versions, the Craft Masters were done in house? Note the battle damage on most of the covers. Thanks for the glimpse into the Brit modeling past. BTW I've still got about a dozen more covers but won't pur them up unless ya"ll want them.

Post by **Moggy** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:04 pm

BTW I've still got about a dozen more covers but won't pur them up unless ya"ll want them.

Please do!

Iron Mike · Post by **Iron Mike** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 12:55 am

Sorry guys with the 15 hour days lately I've no been keeping up with postings. I'll try to get the other covers scanned in the next day or so.

Iron Mike · Post by **Iron Mike** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:15 am

Hey guys here are most of the boxes. I've missed one or two but that cant be helped. The stains are from smoke damage. A reminder of the fire that destroyed my model collection and home in 1976. BTW, the last three frames are from boxes that still hold the unbuilt kits. Neat.

Wudpecker · Post by **Wudpecker** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:33 am

Remarkable you were able to save those from such a disasterous fire, Mike.
Maybe it's me, but the small momentos seem imporatant.

Post by **Moggy** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:14 am

Graet collection!

Thanks Mike.