I have just finished loading up the On Line Store for the site and it has been a major task. There are quite literally hundreds of items in there for sale. There are all different types of models as well as numerous accessories, modelling paints, brushes etc etc.
If you wish to go to the store and check out what is in there just click on the page link at the top of this page marked On Line Store. Please rest assured that all the items in there are kept up to date with availability and all payments for anything you decide to buy is all made through the Amazon Fully Secure payment system. The best way to find what you are looking for is to type in your query and it will bring back any items which match with your search query.
If you are trying to find something go and have a search in the store. There are just too many things to list so spend some time in there and see what grabs your attention.
The Airfix business was started in the 1930’s by a man called Nicholas Kove who was a Hungarian refugee. He first formed the company by making inflatable toys created from rubber. He initially selected the name Airfix because the toys were in reality filled with air to help to make them ‘fix’
He experienced some success using these kind of products however the real success story of Airfix did not truly come about till just after the 2nd World War. After the war finished Kove began to produce plastic combs and to assist with this process introduced a plastic injection moulding machine.
The company were contacted in the late 1940’s by Harry Ferguson the maker of the Ferguson tractor. This individual inquired if Airfix could develop a compact size model of his tractor to help his salesmen in showing off the tractors which were for sale. It is a lot simpler to have a small scale model than a genuine life size tractor when attempting to tout for business !
At first there had been difficulties producing the tractor but following trial and error it was found that it was in fact a lot easier to make up the tractor in a series of smaller individual components and then basically have them fixed together by individual employees.
These kits turned out to be especially popular and an arrangement ended up being made between Airfix and Ferguson in order to make it possible for Airfix to market the actual kits as toys rather than business advertising items. It was pretty apparent that there seemed to be a market place for this particular sort of toy so Airfix begun to promote the Airfix Model Kits as an unmade kit together with assembly guidelines.
These kits turned out to be quite successful and Airfix were shortly approached by the Woolworths store to discuss business. This deal was struck and Airfix began to make affordable small scale models for Woolworths. One of the very first of these models was a small scale version of the Golden Hind which was introduced in 1952. The Woolworths sellers then requested Airfix to broaden the actual range of model kits they were able to create and after that the future path of the firm had been set. They started to increase their range of Airfix Model Kits and it was in 1953 that one of their most well-known models was developed the ever popular Spitfire Aeroplane.
Airfix continued to develop and expand during the 1960/70’s as the modelling hobby increased in popularity. The collection had by now widened to include a lot of different kinds of models such as military vehicles, trains, figures, modern day and old-fashioned cars, rockets,spaceships, several classical ships, and motorbikes. They were to prove extremely popular for youngsters as well as adults and presented a reasonably inexpensive but nevertheless interesting hobby, which, if the particular person was interested they might build up into a considerable collection.
However things were to take a turn for the worse. In the Eighties the plastic modelling hobby went into decline and a variety of causes were offered as the reason why. If anyone truly knows the answer is certainly not clear, but it may well be simply that the market interests had changed and together with the development of the new computer type video games, individuals interest shifted. As a result of this big change along with other factors the company were forced into bankruptcy. After this the firm was taken over and sold on several occasions through the 1980/90s.
However the good news is that the company are currently within the actual ownership of the Hornby manufacturer and things are looking a great deal brighter. In recent years they have released various new Airfix model kits. In fact during 2009 they unveiled over one hundred new Airfix model kits.
So it seems like the coming years are hopefully going to prove very busy for the Airfix company.
