Airfix RIP

[adrian roberts]

It was with great sadness that I read of the final demise of Airfix. It seems that the moulds were owned by the French firm of Heller, and it is Heller that had gone bust, but Airfix has not been in a healthy state for a while and owners Humbrol have pulled the plug.

Of course there are other kit manufacturers, but Airfix played a huge part in my personal development, having been a modeller from the age of 11, and in the lives of thousands of others. The company increased my conciousness of WW2, not just the machinery but the values and ideals of the time. (Of course not all kits were WW2, but in reality this was the company's core business).

I've never lost the modelling bug; I now build ships from scratch rather than kits. But now there will be even less to tempt youngsters away from their PlayStations to do something not dependent on instant gratification. (Mind you, I'm a fine one to talk, I'd complete my models a lot quicker if I didn't spend so much time on the internet).

I am somewhat concerned as to whether Humbrol paints will still be available, but as I understand it Humbrol owned Airfix so hopefully will not go down with it.

Adrian

[Owen]

Airfix.
Happy memories.
Is there anyone out there who DIDN'T have at least one of their products?
Most of my soldiers died with a match and a can of WD40 from Dad's garage.
Homemade flamethrower. very dangerous.

[mahross]

Not all is lost. The last thing I heard on the various modelling forums is that Hornby may well be stepping in with a resue plan.

Ross

[von Poop]

Hornby, is exactly what they need, can't see the brand dying, had it's troubles before and people still use 'Airfixes' as a generic term for kits.

Airfix & Heller were simply too late to wake up and compete with Dragon et al. Their recent excellent TSR2 kit & suchlike couldn't compensate for the mass of their catalogue looking distinctly ropy in comparison to more modern manufacturers...and the same price. Nostalgia's nice but it's been damaging to Airfix.

I'd be pleased if Hornby gave them the same treatment they very succesfully gave model Railways recently, ditch the awful 60's moulds and get some innovation and competition going.

Airfix Collector - Airfix Kit Catalogue Model Release By Year

Cheers,
Adam

(I also was a devotee of the WD40 can )

[Paul Reed]

They did try to revive a couple of kits recently with a Sherman Crab and a Chruchill Croc flamethrower, which were two old kits with new molded parts. This approach would work for any new venture, I am sure.

For many of us Airfix kits were foundations of our interest in WW2, so it is a sad day indeed.

[lancesergeant]

Hope they do keep the Airfix name above water. I must of built every ww2 ship and aircraft as well as bren gun carrier and chieftain tank.
Saying that the cost of models hasn't helped their cause, four or five quid for a 1/72 is not exactly pocket money prices. There' s also the glue it is a wonder the politically correct let them use glue in case they use it for personal use if you know what I mean. Ever the cynic.

[Paul Reed]

Most places won't sell the glue to minors, and it has also had a rather odd smelling substance put in, to prevent people sniffing it; unless they like the odd smelling stuff anyway, of course...

[Kitty]

Okay, i put my hands up to having two airfix models on top of my bookcase, and three more in boxes for the day I can remember exactley what order i need to put the damned things together.
Sorry to see it go down the pan, I hope Hornby do step in.

[morse1001]

For many of us Airfix kits were foundations of our interest in WW2, so it is a sad day indeed.

My interest was sparked off by a model of a spit f21. I wonder what would have happened had it been a churchill or sherman tank?

[von Poop]

If It had been that 1961 Churchill kit you'd probably have sworn heavily at it looking like a 205mm gun's hit it even when perfectly assembled, given up models, taken up drinking and gurlz and still joined the RAF due to having an unexplained but deep dislike of things with tracks.