Airfix: model railway brand

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Airfix is a model railway manufacturer based in Hampstead Road. It was founded in 1939. It is part of Hornby. Model Rail Database catalogues 104 Airfix models, covering 7 locomotive classes, 6 coach families and 14 wagon classes, made between 1976 and 1983, in OO scale. Model Rail Database lists 1 person who held a post at Airfix.

Airfix in the catalogue

Years of production 1976–1983 (recorded for 89% of its models)
Scales OO
Models catalogued 104
Locomotives 17
Coaches 27
Wagons 60
Classes modelled 7 locomotive classes, 6 coach families, 14 wagon classes
Limited editions 2

These are counts of what this catalogue holds, not a complete history of Airfix.

Explore Airfix

Timeline

  1. Founded as Airfix Products by Nicholas Kove
  2. Works at Haldane Place, Wandsworth, County of London, England
  3. Launched the Trackside series
  4. Came under the ownership of Airfix Industries
  5. Launched rolling stock kits Disputed

    Wikipedia gives 1960. Vintage Airfix gives 1961, with the Tank Wagon and Cement Wagon.

    Sources disagree about this event.

  6. Bought the Kitmaster moulds and assets from Rosebud Dolls

    Late in 1962. Wikipedia's Airfix page counts 35 moulds.

  7. Launched ready-to-run railway models
  8. Moved production of wagons to Charlton, South East London

    5-plank and 7-plank wagons were made there from 1978, and the Siphons from 1979.

  9. Works at Charlton, Greenwich, Greater London, England
  10. Launched the Great Model Railways (GMR) brand
  11. Sold tooling to Palitoy

    Ramsay's says the UK tools went to Palitoy via Humbrol.

  12. Entered receivership

    Vintage Airfix says January 1981. Wikipedia's Airfix page says Airfix Industries declared bankruptcy that year.

  13. Moved production of kits to Calais

    To the Miro Meccano factory in Calais, France, under General Mills.

  14. Left the ownership of Airfix Industries
  15. Came under the ownership of General Mills

    Bought in 1981 through Palitoy, General Mills' UK subsidiary; Wikipedia's ownership table says through CPG Products. General Mills announced in January 1985 that it was leaving the toy business. Kenner Parker, the spun-off toy business, then listed Airfix kits in its catalogue. The sources found don't say who owned Airfix until Hobby Products Group bought it in 1986.

  16. Left Haldane Place, Wandsworth, County of London, England (works)
  17. Left Charlton, Greenwich, Greater London, England (works)
  18. Entered liquidation (Airfix Products Ltd)

    Liquidators discharged in 1987.

  19. Left the ownership of General Mills

    Bought in 1981 through Palitoy, General Mills' UK subsidiary; Wikipedia's ownership table says through CPG Products. General Mills announced in January 1985 that it was leaving the toy business. Kenner Parker, the spun-off toy business, then listed Airfix kits in its catalogue. The sources found don't say who owned Airfix until Hobby Products Group bought it in 1986.

  20. Moved production of kits to Heller SA

    To Heller's factory at Trun, France.

  21. Came under the ownership of Hobby Products Group
  22. Left the ownership of Hobby Products Group
  23. Came under the ownership of Hornby

Connections

Ownership

Model making

Supply

  • Supplied by Bachmann Trains, from 1977

    American 4-4-0s from Bachmann's range, used in Airfix's 1977 train sets.

Clubs

What Airfix made, by class

Locomotive classes (7)

Great Western Railway (3 classes, 6 models)
London, Midland & Scottish Railway (2 classes, 6 models)
British Rail (1 class, 3 models)
Freelance (1 class, 2 models)

Coach families (6)

Great Western Railway (4 families, 14 models)
London, Midland & Scottish Railway (1 family, 10 models)
British Rail (1 family, 3 models)

Wagon classes (14)

British Railways (5 classes, 32 models)
London, Midland & Scottish Railway (2 classes, 12 models)
Great Western Railway (4 classes, 10 models)
London & North Eastern Railway (2 classes, 4 models)
Southern Railway (1 class, 2 models)

People who held a post at Airfix (1)

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