Airfix facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Airfix

Former type	Private (1939–86)
Fate	Acquired by Humbrol in 1986, until its closure in 2006, becoming a brand
Founded	1939
Founder	Nicholas Kove
Defunct	2006; 19 years ago (2006)
Headquarters	U.K.
Products	Scale model cars, aircraft, ships, commercial vehicles, military vehicles, railways
Brands	Kitmaster (1962–2006)
Owner	Hornby plc (2006–present)
Parent	Humbrol (1986–2006)

Airfix is a famous British company. It makes plastic scale model kits. These kits let you build miniature versions of real things. In the UK, many people call any plastic model kit "an Airfix kit," even if it's made by another company!

Airfix has created models of many different things. These include cars, airplanes, ships, and military vehicles. They also make trains and figures.

The company started in 1939. From 1986 to 2006, Humbrol owned Airfix. But Humbrol faced financial problems. Since 2007, both Airfix and Humbrol have been owned by Hornby.

History

Airfix was started in 1939 by a Hungarian businessman named Nicholas Kove. At first, they made inflatable rubber toys. The name "Airfix" was chosen to be at the top of business lists.

In 1947, Airfix began using a new method called injection moulding. Their first product using this method was pocket combs. In 1949, they got a special order. They were asked to make a small model of a Ferguson TE20 tractor. This model was made of plastic and put together by hand. It was given to sales people for promotion.

To sell more and make models cheaper, Airfix started selling the tractor as a kit. You could buy it at Woolworth's stores.

In 1954, a buyer from Woolworth's suggested Airfix make a model kit of Sir Francis Drake's ship, the Golden Hind. This model was made from a stronger plastic called polystyrene. To keep the price low, Airfix put the kit in a plastic bag. The instructions were printed on the paper at the top of the bag. This kit was a huge success! It led the company to design many new kits.

The first airplane kit, a Supermarine Spitfire Mk I, came out in 1953. An improved Spitfire Mk IX followed in 1958. It was made at a 1⁄72 scale. At first, Mr. Kove didn't think the airplane models would sell well.

Some model builders and former Royal Air Force (RAF) members wrote to Airfix. They pointed out mistakes in the 1/72 Spitfire Mk I model. One person who complained was John Edwards. He was so good at finding errors that Airfix hired him as their chief designer. Edwards helped create a more accurate Spitfire Mk IX model in 1955. He then led the design of many Airfix kits for 15 years.

Expansion

Airfix models from 1957

Airfix grew a lot during the 1960s and 1970s. The hobby of model building became very popular. The company started making models of old and new cars, motorcycles, and figures. They also made trains, military vehicles, ships, rockets, and spaceships. The range of aircraft models also kept growing.

Many other companies, like Matchbox, started making models too. Humbrol also grew, selling paints, brushes, and glue for models. Airfix even had its own magazine, Airfix Magazine, from 1960 to 1993.

In 1963, Airfix introduced a slot car racing system. They made cars that could steer. You could even convert some Airfix car kits into slot cars. The first set cost about £5 and had Ferrari and Cooper cars. It also had an 11-foot track. Airfix's slot cars were not as popular as Scalextric, and the company eventually stopped making them.

Most of Airfix's older military vehicles are considered to be OO scale (1⁄76). Later, they added some true 1:72 scale vehicle kits. This caused some confusion about the exact scale. Today, Hornby's packaging shows the correct 1⁄72 or 1⁄76 scale.

In 1962, Airfix bought 35 moulds from Rosebud Kitmaster. This gave them their first model railway locomotives and their first motorcycle kit. The 1960s also saw the start of a very popular line of 1⁄72 scale military figures.

In the mid-1970s, Airfix started making larger models. These included detailed 1⁄24-scale models of famous planes like the Spitfire and Harrier "jump-jet". This was a peak time for Airfix. They released up to 17 new kits each year. Airfix had 75% of the UK market, selling 20 million kits a year.

Besides model kits, Airfix also made many other products. These included toys, games, dolls, and art supplies. In 1971, Airfix Industries bought parts of the struggling Lines Brothers toy business. This included the Meccano and Dinky Toys brands. This made Airfix the biggest toy company in the UK.

Decline, purchase by Humbrol

In the 1980s, Airfix Industries faced money problems. Other toy businesses owned by Airfix were losing money. Attempts to cut costs led to worker strikes. The value of the British pound also changed a lot, making it harder to sell products overseas.

Because of these problems, Airfix Industries went bankrupt in 1981. The company was then bought by General Mills. General Mills also owned a US car kit maker called MPC. The Airfix kit moulds were moved to a factory in France. For a while, Airfix kits were sold in the US under the MPC name. Some MPC kits were also sold in the UK as Airfix. Airfix even released MPC kits based on the Star Wars movies.

Airfix's share of the UK market dropped to 40%. In the US, where car kits were more popular than planes, it was less than 2%.

Four years later, General Mills decided to leave the toy market. They wanted to focus on making food. It looked like Airfix might stop making models. But then, Borden, Inc. bought Airfix. Borden also owned Humbrol. The moulds stayed in France, at the Heller SA factory. This made sense because Humbrol's paints and glues could be used with Airfix kits.

In 1994, an Irish company bought the Hobby Products Group, which included Humbrol and Airfix. They continued to operate under the Humbrol name.

50th anniversary

In 2003, Airfix celebrated the "50th" anniversary of its first aircraft kit, the Supermarine Spitfire. The celebration was actually two years early! The original moulds for that kit were gone. So, Airfix reissued a different 1⁄72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ιa kit. It came in blue plastic and looked like the original packaging.

Demise of Humbrol and acquisition by Hornby

Former Humbrol factory in Kingston upon Hull

On August 31, 2006, Humbrol, the parent company, went out of business. This happened partly because Heller SA, which made most of Airfix's kits, also closed.

On November 10, 2006, Hornby Hobbies Ltd. announced they would buy Airfix and other parts of Humbrol. They paid £2.6 million. Hornby relaunched the brands the next year. In 2008, Airfix's old factory in Kingston upon Hull was torn down.

Hornby era

Under Hornby's ownership, Airfix became strong again. Old model ranges were re-released. Airfix also started making several new kits each year. Most Airfix products are now made in India. The design and packaging are still done in the UK.

Ownership and production summary

Product lines

Airfix has made many different types of models over the years:

North American P-51D Mustang. Kit A01004 from 2012

Aircraft

These models come in different sizes, like 1:24, 1:48, 1:72, 1:144, and 1:300 scales. They cover planes from World War I to today. Airfix is probably most famous for its aircraft models. They even have "Dogfight Doubles" sets with two 1:72 models, usually one Allied and one Axis plane.

Rockets and Spaceships

These models are in 1:72 and 1:144 scales. The range includes the Lunar Module and Saturn V rocket. They also made some TV and film spaceships, like the Eagle Transporter from Space: 1999.

Boats

A small range of World War II boats in 1:72 scale. This includes the E-boat and Vosper MTB. They also recently added a modern British Severn Class lifeboat.

Famous Warships

These models are in 1:400, 1:600, and 1:1200 scales. They cover warships from World War I to modern times. The 1:1200 scale included ships from the "Bismarck chase".

Civilian Ships

A range of 20th-century liners in 1:600 scale. Examples include the Queen Elizabeth and QM2.

Classic Historical Ships

Models of ships from the 15th to 19th centuries. These come in small scales (around 1:600) and larger scales (from 1:96 to 1:180).

Cars

These models come in 1:12, 1:24, 1:25, 1:32, and 1:43 scales. The range includes old "Veteran" cars and modern ones. They also made models tied to TV and film, like the Monkeemobile.

Motorcycles

Models in 1:8, 1:12, 1:16, and 1:24 scales. This includes bikes from the 1960s to modern racing bikes.

Trains and Trackside Accessories

An assembled and painted Airfix "Rocket" kit

These are in 1:76 scale. The range includes a few kits that used to be from Kitmaster. The moulds for these kits were later sold to Dapol.

Military Vehicles

1:76 scale T-34/85

These models are in 1:32, 1:35, 1:72, and 1:76 scales. Airfix was the first company to release small-scale military vehicles in 1960. They also made "Military Vehicles sets," like the "RAF Refuelling Set." These sets had accessories for building dioramas.

Diorama sets

These sets create World War II scenes in HO/OO scale. The "Battlefront History" series included vehicles or aircraft kits and figures. They also had science fiction dioramas like the "Rampaging Scorpion." Recently, new Airfield Sets have been released. These include aircraft, military vehicles, and figures.

Figures

These figures are in 1:76, 1:72, and 1:32 scales. Most are military figures. They come in sets, with subjects like World War I and World War II infantry. These figures are made of polythene, a soft plastic. Some vehicles and buildings were also available.

Multipose Figures

These are 1:32 scale figures from World War II. They are made of polystyrene and can be put together in different poses.

Collector Series

These were 54 mm plastic kits of single figures. They included figures from the Battle of Waterloo and the English Civil War.

Historical Figures

These are 1:12 scale models of famous people from history. Examples include Elizabeth I and Henry VIII. They also made a James Bond and Oddjob kit.

Wildlife Series

These were 1:1 scale models of British garden birds. They showed birds like two bullfinches on a branch.

Dinosaurs

A small range of kits of prehistoric dinosaurs, like the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Museum Series

A small range of motorized engines. This included a Beam Engine and an 1804 Trevithick Locomotive. Newer versions of these kits do not include the motor.

Robogear

These are science fiction wargaming models.

Doctor Who

Models related to the Doctor Who TV series, including the TARDIS.

Engineer

Models of moving engines with clear parts to show how they work.

Airfix also made some Card Construction kits for their Airfix Railway System. These were included with some train sets. They also made structures like the "Airfield Control Tower."

Box art

Many artists have created the pictures for Airfix kit boxes. The most famous is Roy Cross.

Model railways

In 1962, Airfix bought the moulds and stock for the Kitmaster railway range. Airfix changed these models to work with their own railway models. Only ten of the Kitmaster locomotives were released under the Airfix name.

From 1975 to 1981, Airfix also made ready-to-run models of British railway stock. These were in OO gauge (1⁄76.2 scale). Their models were more detailed and accurate than those from other British companies like Hornby. The range of products grew quickly. Airfix also offered a system that let you control multiple trains on the same track.

Airfix also made many plastic kits for railway stock and scenery. Some of these, like the footbridge and engine shed, became very well known to railway modelers in the UK.

The brand name changed to Great Model Railways (GMR) in 1979. However, the Airfix name was still used. Airfix left the model railway business in 1981. The models were sold to Palitoy, which made the Mainline range. The old Airfix moulds were later sold to Dapol Ltd and then to Hornby. Hornby still makes 4 mm/ft scale models from the Airfix mouldings.

Video game

In 2000, EON Digital Entertainment released Airfix Dogfighter for Microsoft Windows. This game featured computer versions of Airfix's World War II model aircraft. Players could choose from over 15 planes, like the German Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet.

The game had 20 missions. Players could play 10 missions as the Axis and 10 as the Allies. You would fight through a house from the 1950s. Your goal was to destroy enemy planes. You could also collect glue packets for healing, new model kits, and paint to customize your aircraft. Pilots battled enemy model aircraft, U-boats, warships, tanks, and fortresses. Players could even design their own fighting emblem and battle maps. The game was also a way to advertise, as the paints shown were Humbrol, and the kit upgrades showed real Airfix packages.

See also

In Spanish: Airfix para niños