Editing Airfix (section)

== History ==
Airfix was founded in 1939 by Hungarian businessman [[Nicholas Kove]], initially to manufacture inflatable rubber toys. The brand name was selected so that it would be alphabetically the first in trade directories.<ref>May, 2009, p. 132</ref> In 1947, Airfix introduced [[injection moulding]], initially producing [[Comb|pocket combs]]. In 1949, the company was commissioned to create a [[Scale model#Examples of scale models|promotional model]] of a [[Ferguson Company|Ferguson]] [[Ferguson TE20|TE20]] tractor, moulded in [[cellulose acetate]] plastic and hand-assembled for distribution to Ferguson sales representatives. To increase sales and lower production costs, the model was sold in kit form by [[Woolworths (United Kingdom)|Woolworths]] retail stores.

In 1954, Woolworths buyer Jim Russon suggested that Airfix produce a model kit of [[Sir Francis Drake]]'s ''[[Golden Hind]]'', then being sold in North America as a '[[ship-in-a-bottle]]', made in the more stable [[polystyrene]]. To meet Woolworths retail price of two shillings, Airfix packaged the product in a plastic bag with a paper header that had the assembly instructions on the reverse. Its huge success led the company to produce new kit designs. The first aircraft kit was released in 1953, a model of the [[Supermarine Spitfire]] Mk I,<ref>May, 2009, p. 135</ref> followed by the Spitfire Mk IX in 1958, in {{frac|1|72}} scale, developed by [[James Hay Stevens]].<ref>Arthur Ward, ''The Boys' Book of Airfix: Who Says You Ever Have to Grow Up?'', Random House, 2009, {{ISBN|0-09-192898-2}}, {{ISBN|978-0-09-192898-8}}, ([https://books.google.com/books?id=sQqlOBvWzE4C&dq=James%20Hay-Stevens%20airfix&pg=PT50 page 49])</ref> This was a scaled-down copy of the [[Aurora Plastics Corporation|Aurora]] {{frac|1|48}} Supermarine Spitfire kit, although it is unknown if this kit was produced with authorization from Aurora.<ref name=JamesMaySpitfire>May, 2009, p. 142-143</ref> Kove initially refused to believe the product would sell and threatened to charge the cost of tooling-up to the designers.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}}

Airfix later received complaint letters from modellers and former [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) personnel regarding inaccuracies of the 1/72 Spitfire Mk I that were carried over from the original 1/48 Aurora model, particularly the BTK squadron code provided in the decal sheet (the code never adorned a Spitfire in real life, as it was used by a squadron operating the [[Supermarine Walrus]] amphibious biplane). One of the complaints came from modeller John Edwards, who was appointed as Airfix's chief designer after convincing the company that he could improve their aircraft kits. Edwards helped release a more accurate Spitfire Mk IX model in 1955, and he went on to direct the designs of Airfix kits in other ranges for another 15 years until his untimely death at the age of 38.<ref name=JamesMaySpitfire/>

=== Expansion ===
[[File:Airfix 57.jpg|thumb|right|Airfix models from 1957]]
During the 1960s and 1970s, the company expanded as the hobby grew. The range expanded to include vintage and modern cars, motorcycles, [[model figure|figures]] in both {{frac|1|76}} and {{frac|1|32}} scale, trains, model railway accessories, military vehicles, ships, rockets and spaceships, as well as an ever-increasing range of aircraft, most created at the scales of {{frac|1|72}} for small and military aircraft and {{frac|1|144}} scale for airliners. The growth of the hobby launched a number of competitors such as [[Matchbox (brand)|Matchbox]] and introduced new manufacturers from Japan and the US to the UK. During this period the Humbrol company also grew, supplying paints, brushes, glue and other accessories as an alternative to Airfix's own range. Airfix also launched a monthly modelling magazine, ''[[Airfix Magazine]]'', produced by a variety of publishers from June 1960 to October 1993. During the 1970s, an ''Airfix Magazine Annual'' was also produced; and Airfix books on classic aircraft, classic ships and modelling techniques were published by Patrick Stephens Ltd.

In 1963, the Airfix [[slot car racing]] system was introduced. Airfix produced cars with front-wheel [[Ackermann steering geometry|Ackermann]] steering and, later, conversion kits so that normal Airfix {{frac|1|32}} kit cars such as the [[Ford Zodiac]] and the [[Sunbeam Rapier]] could be raced. The first set had Ferrari and Cooper cars and an 11-foot figure-of-eight track: it cost £4/19/11d. Always in the shadow of the [[Scalextric]] range, the Airfix version attempted to progress with the higher-end Model Road Racing Company (MRRC) range but eventually the venture was abandoned.

Most of Airfix's older range of military vehicles, though sold as [[1:72 scale|{{frac|1|72}}]], are generally accepted as [[OO scale|OO]] or {{frac|1|76}} scale - the subsequent introduction of a small number of true [[1:72 scale|{{frac|1|72}}]] vehicle kits to the Airfix range created controversy regarding the exact scale. Hornby's new packaging shows {{frac|1|72}} or {{frac|1|76}} as appropriate.

In late 1962, the acquisition<ref>{{harvnb|Knight|1999|p=7}}</ref> of the intellectual property and 35 moulds of [[Rosebud Kitmaster]] gave Airfix its first models of railway locomotives in OO and HO scales and its first motorcycle kit; the [[Ariel Leader#Ariel Arrow|Ariel Arrow]] in {{frac|1|16}} scale. The '60's also saw the introduction of an extremely popular line of boxed {{frac|1|72}} scale military figures.

In the mid-1970s, larger scales were introduced, including detailed {{frac|1|24}}-scale models of the Spitfire, [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]], [[Hawker Hurricane]] and [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier|Harrier "jump-jet"]]. The mid-1970s were a peak time for Airfix. Releasing as many as 17 new kits a year, Airfix commanded 75% of the UK market with 20 million kits per annum.<ref>''The Boys Book of Airfix'' p 134</ref> Series 20 was limited for several years to the 1972 {{frac|1|12}} scale kit of the 1930 Supercharged [[Bentley 4½ Litre]] car, with 272 parts and the option of a 3-volt motor. In 1979 four motorcycles in {{frac|1|8}} scale were added to this series. The company also introduced an addition to the very popular [[toy soldier|plastic soldier]] boxed set line with a {{frac|1|32}} scale version.<ref>[http://www.airfixtoysoldiers.com/ Airfix Toy Soldiers]</ref>

During this period, as well as model kits, Airfix also produced a wide range of toys, games, dolls and art & craft products. It was still producing other plastic products such as homewares at this time. Airfix Industries acquired part of the failing [[Lines Bros|Lines Brothers]]' Tri-ang toy business, then in voluntary liquidation, giving it the [[Meccano]] and [[Dinky Toys]] businesses in 1971. This made Airfix the UK's largest toy company.

=== Decline, purchase by Humbrol ===
In the 1980s, Airfix Industries group was under financial pressure, there were losses in Airfix's other toy businesses, and attempts to reduce costs were met with [[industrial action]]. The pound strengthened from {{US$|1.56}} to {{US$|2.35}} in a matter of months, destroying export markets, because customers were unwilling to accept a 50% price increase for the same goods. The financial interdependency of the divisions of Airfix Industries forced it to declare bankruptcy in 1981. The company was bought by [[General Mills]] (owner of US automobile kit-maker [[Model Products Corporation|MPC]]) through its UK [[Palitoy]] subsidiary.<ref>May, 2009, p. 145</ref> The kit moulds were sent to their factory in [[Calais]], France. Later, Airfix aircraft kits were marketed in the United States under the MPC label and some MPC kits were sold in the UK under the Airfix name (an example being the {{frac|1|25}} scale vintage [[Stutz Bearcat]] kit originally produced as a tie-in to the ''[[Bearcats!]]'' television series). Airfix released MPC kits based on the [[Star Wars]] film series.

Airfix's market share reduced to 40% of the UK market (2.3 million kits) though it had 75% of the German market. In the US, where automobile kits were more popular than aircraft, it was less than 2%.<ref>Ward, 2009, p. 135-6</ref>

Four years later, General Mills withdrew from the toy market to focus on its core food manufacturing business. At one point, it looked as if the Airfix range might be discontinued with no new toolings released from 1986 to 1987.<ref>May, 2009, p. 255</ref> Eventually around this time, it was bought by the Hobby Products Group of [[Borden, Inc.]], which had tried to buy the range in 1981. Borden was also the owner of [[Humbrol]]. The moulds remained in France but were relocated to the group's existing kit-manufacturer, [[Trun, Orne|Trun]]-based [[Heller SA]]. This was a logical acquisition since Humbrol's paints and adhesives could be used to complete Airfix kits and the Heller factory was under-utilised.

The Hobby Products Group was sold to an Irish investment company, Allen & McGuire, in 1994 and continued under the Humbrol name.

=== 50th anniversary ===
In 2003, Airfix celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first aircraft kit, the Supermarine Spitfire. The celebration was two years early because of an incorrect 1953 date commonly accepted at the time. As the moulds for the original kit were long gone, Airfix reissued its {{frac|1|72}} Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ιa kit in blue plastic. The kit also included a large Series 5 stand (the moulds for the smaller Series 1 stand having been lost) and a copy of the original plastic bag packaging with paper header.

=== Demise of Humbrol and acquisition by Hornby ===
[[File:The former Humbrol Factory - geograph.org.uk - 865800.jpg|thumb|right|Former Humbrol factory in [[Kingston upon Hull]]]]
On 31 August 2006, parent company Humbrol went into [[administration (insolvency)|administration]], 31 of 41 employees being made [[redundancy (law)|redundant]], largely because of the collapse of Heller SA, which still manufactured most of Airfix's kits.<ref>{{cite web|first = Vik | last = Iyer |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article623642.ece |title=Airfix model firm goes into administration |publisher=Times Online |date=August 31, 2006 |access-date=2010-06-08}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> On 10 November 2006, [[Hornby Railways|Hornby Hobbies Ltd.]] announced it was to acquire Airfix and other assets of Humbrol for £2.6 million,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hornby.com/news-events/news-story-1,1,HNS.html |title=Acquires Assets of Airfix Humbrol&nbsp;— News & Events |publisher=Hornby |date=2006-11-10 |access-date=2009-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519005417/http://www.hornby.com/news-events/news-story-1,1,HNS.html |archive-date=2009-05-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and relaunched the brands the following year. In 2008, Airfix's former factory in [[Kingston upon Hull]] was demolished.

=== Hornby era ===
Under the management of Hornby, Airfix was revitalised. Old ranges were re-issued, and Airfix launched several new kits annually. Most manufacturing of Airfix products is in India, while design and packing is in the UK.

=== Ownership and production summary ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Period !! Ownership !! Main manufacturing base !! Comments
|-
| 1939-1981 || Airfix Industries Ltd, UK || Haldane Place, Wandsworth, London, UK || Collaboration in later years with MPC (USA) and Gunze Sangyo (Japan)
|-
| 1981-1985 || General Mills Inc, USA through CPG Products Corporation || Miro Meccano factory, Calais, France || Range largely shared with MPC (USA) also owned by General Mills.
|-
| 1986-1994 || Borden Inc, USA through Humbrol Ltd || Heller factory, Trun, France || Many Airfix kits were reboxed Heller kits, also owned by Humbrol.
|-
| 1994-2006 || Allen & McGuire, Ireland, through Humbrol Ltd || Heller factory, Trun, France || Many Airfix kits were reboxed Heller kits, also owned by Humbrol until 2006. Several Japanese and Chinese kits reboxed too.
|-
| 2006- || Hornby plc, UK || Outsourced to India || Focus on self-produced kits. Limited reboxing.
|}