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A brief look at the history of England;s most famous kit model brand, Airfix. Sources: Forty Years of Airfix Models Sixty Years of Airfix Models By Jeremy Brook Scale Models International October 1994 J.C. Carbonel Article provided by Sergey The Book of Airfix by Arthur Ward
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Number 8 in my Model Company Overviews and yes this one is on Airfix. History, Full range and maybe some things that may jog your memory if you over 30 years old or more.
Under their latest owner, Airfix has been doing some of the highest quality releases they have ever done. I really need to pick up a 24th Mossie and a Typhoon. I liked Matchbox's eclectic subjects like the 32nd Lysander and Tiger Moth. I don't think anyone else has jumped up to do another Stranraer. I think Revell Germany owns the Matchbox tools now.
One only recently gone maker I'd really like to see back is Wingnut Wings. They had a large line of 1/32 WW1 kits that are probably the best that will ever be and those that are available are very dear. Hope someone will get them going again.
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Factory tour of PlasTech where the New Airfix 1/24 Spitfire Is Being Made I was invited by @OfficialAirfix to join them at the Factory where their new Spitfire is being manufactured.. This tour will show how scale model kits are made. In this video, we're taking you on a tour of the Plastech Factory, where the 1/24 Spitfire model is made. This is a fascinating tour that will show you how this Brand New 1/24 Spitfire model is made.
If you're a fan of Airfix Models , then you'll want to check out this Factory tour! This tour will take you through the different stages of the model's production, from seeing the tooling to finished product. This is a fascinating tour that will show you how this Airfix model is made.
Plastech is a Company that creates tooling for injection mouldings and has partnered with Airfix to produce, pack and ship the new Airfix 1/24 Spitfire Mk.IXc.. I show you the tool room, mould room and the packaging area where this Airfix Spitfire Super kit (and quick build range) are brought to life and ready for us scale modellers to build.. This video goes into every thing from the tools, to how the boxes are designed to be specific for the airfix spitfire.
Huge thanks to Mark from Plastech for the tour www.plastch.com
And The Airfix Team, Dale Luke Chris and Brooke! for inviting us for this Airfix Press day
Two attempts at complete listings that I'm aware of were The Collectors Value Guide For Scale Model Plastic Kits by John W. Burns (I have the sixth edition from 1994) and more narrowly Plastic Aircraft Kits Of The Twentieth Century (And Beyond) by the same author (the most recent update I have is from 2006-2007). I believe there was also an analogous British publication from the mid Seventies, but I can't locate it at the moment.
Start or fuel your model hobby with Airfix. The home of model aircraft, model tanks, cars and more. Iconic model kits designed in the UK, showcased worldwide.
Britain’s best loved model making company, home to four iconic brands, Hornby, Airfix, Scalextric and Corgi, opens its doors to reveal how their dedicated team of designers strive to shrink a new generation of mighty machines.
I had a look around the Airfix site today for auld langs yne and noticed something we ALL need to know. The Spitfire that Douglas Bader was flying on the he was shot down, had a secret piece of equipment. It had an ejector seat. No wonder he managed to escape and I have Airfix to thank for this knowledge.
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Little know fact
The 1960s to 1980s was golden age for Airfix sales because of Movies and TV series.
Allot Special effect teams build models for Dr. Who, Gerry Anderson productions and Movies.
They took what they got in Shop mostly Airfix, MatchBox or for Model train diorama
and made from Scratch new Model in process called Kit-bashing
Movie production like ALIEN or Moonraker used extensively Airfix and others
to cover the surface of Nostromo and Drax Spacestation, the USS Discovery-1 or USS Valley Forge.
How ever in 1990s change SFX drastic with CGI Models for TV and Movies
there was no need for massive buy of Model kit anymore...
What brought allot model kit companies bankruptcy.
I have the 1/24 Airfix Mossie and Spitfire. Got to the point which means they are valuable in the box but not when built. Heirloom.
I had a response ref the problem I had with ejecting from a Spitfire,
"Hi Mike,
Thank you for getting in touch and for bringing this product copy to our attention.
I’ve reviewed the copy highlighted and do not see an issue with it. The term ‘eject’ was and is regularly used when removing oneself from an aircraft, ejector seat or not. (hopefully though, with a parashoot!!). When reading through the copy I did notice a mistake with the aircraft that will be included in this special boxing, so thank you for bringing this to my attention.
We are looking at ways we can best offer ‘aftermarket’ parts via the brand to offer modellers the option to build lesser know aircraft types. This could be via the form or resign or 3D printed files. We have also discussed the possibility of offering 3D print files via Airfix.com at no extra charge.
All the best in modelling!
Kind regards,
Dale Luckhurst
Head of Brand – Airfix".
I still disagree, how can you eject from anything without an ejector seat?
Little know fact
The 1960s to 1980s was golden age for Airfix sales because of Movies and TV series.
Allot Special effect teams build models for Dr. Who, Gerry Anderson productions and Movies.
They took what they got in Shop mostly Airfix, MatchBox or for Model train diorama
and made from Scratch new Model in process called Kit-bashing
Movie production like ALIEN or Moonraker used extensively Airfix and others
to cover the surface of Nostromo and Drax Spacestation, the USS Discovery-1 or USS Valley Forge.
How ever in 1990s change SFX drastic with CGI Models for TV and Movies
there was no need for massive buy of Model kit anymore...
What brought allot model kit companies bankruptcy.
Kitbashing. I believe Derek Meddings was the first to use this technique on a regular basis starting with Fireball XL5 in 1962. His protege Brian Johnson took that knowledge when he joined 2001 (as well as other assistants who went on their own). George Lucas visited Johnson while he was on Space:1999 and was able to see the FX work in production. Meddings stated kitbashing was to help save time and money detailing the various vehicles and props. Airfix kits were a mainstay. One of their favorites was this train bridge kit (photo from a book on models):
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