Airfix
Airfix is a British toy manufacturer, especially of model kits made of plastic. The brand belongs since 2006 to Hornby Railways.
History
Airfix was founded in 1939 by Nicholas Kove, a Hungarian refugee. First, plastic toys were manufactured in extrusion blow molding. In this method, parts are filled with air, the air is so fixed as it were in part (English to fix). Kove was also convinced that a name was conveniently, by appearing in the company of each list in the front. Therefore, the name Airfix was chosen.
After the end of World War II Airfix was one of the first companies ( for the production of plastic combs ) instituted the new injection molding process. In the late 1940s, asked Harry Ferguson Harry Ferguson Limited, if Airfix could produce a model of his tractor, which was needed for distribution. Since there were problems with the casting mold, the model parts were produced, which were then assembled by workers for the finished model.
The model proved to be very popular, and received from Airfix Ferguson permission to distribute it under their own company name. In order to lower the selling price, the models were eventually sold with instructions you can build yourself.
From 1952 Airfix models were sold through the department store chain Woolworth and so conquered the mass market. Since Airfix in the UK the first supplier of model kits of plastic was, the brand name is there received as a general term for such models in the language.
In the 1960s and early 1970s Airfix grew, as the popularity of plastic models grew more and more. The product range mainly comprised kits, partly finished models of aircraft, ships, vehicles, figures, model trains and accessories, in particular a range of model paints.
Sales in West Germany ran across the " Plasty Toys Inc. " in Neulußheim, which was taken over completely by Airfix 1980. This also Zinngießformen and Wild West and knight figures came into the Airfixprogramm.
The late 1970s and in the 1980s the model market broke a strong, which is attributed to different reasons. Plastic was expensive due to higher oil prices, assembled models were comparatively cheaper, and by the Pillenknick the customer base had become smaller. Since the other divisions of Airfix made big losses, the company was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1981. Airfix was acquired by General Mills, shifted production to Calais in France. The figure and shape program of the German subsidiary, which also fell into bankruptcy in 1981, has been set.
After General Mills in 1985 abandoned the toy industry in Europe, Airfix 1986 was sold to the " Hobby Products Group" from Borden, which included even the French and the British brand Heller Humbrol. The tools of Airfix were relocated to Trun in the department of Orne, the headquarters of Heller.
1995 Borden sold the " Hobby Products Group" including Airfix to the Irish Holding " Allen McGuire ", which led them further under the name " Humbrol ". About the Group Heller- Humbrol insolvency proceedings have been opened in 2006 in France. The brands Humbrol and Airfix was bought by the British Toy Group Hornby Hobbies, which is under the leadership of former Airfix chief Frank Martin. Since then, Airfix was systematically rebuilt. A large part of the old program is back in stock, and there are regularly again real novelties.
Products
Airfix model kits continue to be sold for ships, planes, tanks and other, but also Dioramas Theme Sets to popular characters such as Wallace & Gromit and Doctor Who.
Computer game
2000 appeared the computer game " Airfix Dogfighter " which had to take up his airplane in the living room against a variety of classic Airfix models of planes, tanks and warships of the players. The title is reminiscent of the Dogfight Series from Airfix, in the two sets of aircraft of World War II (eg, Messerschmitt Me 262 and Mosquito ) were offered together. The kit was accompanied by a double column, on which the models could be mounted so that they ( dogfight german colloquial) the impression of an air duel awakened.