BBC 2 Now Airfix

On first reading the thread title my original thought was ‘Great, now we may actually get some decent productions from them.’:)

This might explain why the moulds were in France. I wondered about the same thing. From Wikipedia of all places but probably right!

Decline, purchase by Humbrol

In the 1980s, the plastic kit modelling hobby went into a rapid decline. Some think this was due to the rise of computer games, others that new manufacturing techniques such as precision diecasting took away the market for toys, where a person was less interested in the construction and finishing of a model, but simply wanted to play with the finished product, others the declining birth rates leading into smaller generations and declining numbers of potential enthusiasts. However, the decline may simply be a side effect of large increases in the sticker price of plastic models following the oil crisis of the late ’70’s which led to high inflation as well as an increase in the price of plastics. This also may explain why the emphasis of the modelmaking hobby is today on adults rather than children.

Due to large losses in Airfix’s other toy businesses, even though the model business was still profitable, Airfix was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1981. The company was bought by General Mills (owner of rival US kit-maker MPC) through its UK Palitoy subsidiary, with the kit moulds being quickly shipped to its factory in Calais, France.

Four years later, General Mills withdrew from the toy market to refocus its efforts on its core food manufacturing business. At one point it looked as if the Airfix range might die out, but eventually, in 1986, it was bought by the Hobby Products Group of Borden, Inc., who had tried to buy the range in 1981. Borden were also the owners of British model company Humbrol. The moulds remained in France but were relocated to the Group’s existing kit manufacturer, 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.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airfix)

Chris

Good to see they’ve got all the moulds back. What the hell were they doing in France, anyway?

One part of Airfixs up and down history, was their ownership by Humbrol.

I presume the “French Connection” is Humbrol.

I mentioned the programme on the Humbrol Hunter thread ..

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?p=1189808#post1189808

Good to see Newark managed a short appearance..

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Now the gliding club have moved the overflights are getting lower and lower!

Amazing.

I honestly hadn’t known about the prog when I posted my thread yesterday. Quite a coincidence!

Good to see they’ve got all the moulds back. What the hell were they doing in France, anyway?

I hope the make a success of the business and the name survives.

Very smart management, a half hour of your product advertised on BBC2 for nothing— Super.
Great to see Airfix back in business, sales were always high during time of recession and IF we go into one next year it could be good for their business, however I feel that Hornbys have the business head to make it a winner again.

Paul