I don’t doubt that Airfix will be back, and hopefully the Canberra, lifeboat, and Nimrod will come through too. I want to positive view, and, hopefully Messrs.Hornby will buy Airfix and invest in new kits. So…imagine that Hornby are reading this. What would you say to them? What would you want to see from a re-born Airfix?
I’m going to start with a few things:
Offer premium kits, with, as per Eduard’s Profipack, and Italeri’s painting guides
Offer the older kits as, say ‘Classic’ kits, but not aimed at kids, please!
Bring in new ‘Hobby Boss’ style easy build kits for kids
Launch that cancelled 1/24 Gloster Gladiator
Bring in some new boxings of classic British bombers, maybe even 1/48? We need a new Sunderland for example, and who better than Airfix to launch it?
Keep that pretty good website too!
If a mould is at the end of it’s life, maybe have a runout special edition? Let modellers know it’s the final run, and possibly charge a wee bit extra for the last mouldings? Then, never use the mould again!
I’d also suggest to a prospective buyer the following:
Re-tool some classic subjects to modern standards, ie., new molds of archetypical Airfix subject matter. In this category I’d list the Auster Antarctic, BN Islander, Supermarine S6.B (though the original molds were pretty good!), the SAAB Draken, De Havilland Comet, Boeing 314 Clipper and others.
Maintain the good stuff: SRN-4 Hovercraft, Saturn V, 1:24 Harriers and Mustangs; C-130, 1:48 jets, and so many more.
Re-issue old stuff that’s not been seen in a coon’s age: Saturn I, SRN-1 hovercraft, Angel Interceptor, etc.
Keep the packaging and instruction sheets up to modern expectations, give us top quality decals, and continue with the program of superb new moldings. Airfix has the capacity to be competitive – when I opened the box of their Mk. 47 Seafire my jaw dropped, the moldings were the equivalent of Hasegawa, and that’s good enough for anyone!
May I suggest that they limit thier distributors. One UK and one US only. By doing so it it can control costs associated with production, shipping the product out is very expensive, even if the distributor picks up the cost. This is part of what makes the retail costs so high.
Then make them a sort of limited run. For example, the 1/24 Gladiator w/Eduard details will be issued in lots of 1K over a three year period with the first 1K to Hannats only, in 07 then the next 1K in 08 to Squadron only, then in 09 500 ea. to Hannats and Squadron and the molds will be retired.
A 1/48 Stirling would be a nice addition to the RAF fleet currently available…
Had never heard of the planned Gladiator. Had read somewhere that they were once considering a Mosquito in the scale. That would have been something to behold.
The Airfix footballers were released with the kids in mind & from what I read, were quite a good seller. Not sure how the Wallace & Grommitt stuff fared though.
Agree with the comments They make sense. Fingers crossed that Airfix survives
They had a club for kids a one time, but they could do something for adults like allowing club members to preorder a month early or producing a limited special edition of a kit (with different decals or a bonus figure) available before it’s big release as a member only release.
Points and redemption offers could be good too. Use a graduated scale to determined point value on the box and then how many points each kit is worth. Maybe even making boxart t-shirts available for points. I’d mess with points. I’m the kind of person with those get ___ stamps and get a free___ cards in their wallets. (two at the moment) The number of wrappers I redeemed for Decipher trading cards was huge. The goodies were shipped in a case sized shippind box and in a few smaller mailing. I’m always saving for something and it would encourage kids. They don’t always have the money to buy, but they can use points to get stuff for a little money, plus didn’t you like getting mail as a kid.
Damn shame about Airfix. I was hoping that they might survive to fight another day!!! I first started in this hobby with Airfix kits, and now I am trying to buy them!!! I was after a TSR-2, but cannot find one!!! I could not pre-order one due to financial woes back then, I just hope that some other company gets the moulds and re-releases them!! Vale Airfix, thanks for starting me off in this hobby!!![:D]
I was in my local modelshop this morning and the owner was saying that he had heard that there are 4 parties interested in Airfix. They are Hornby, Revell and 2 others. I guess only time will tell but I think its safe to say Airfix, Humbrol etc will be back
A Revell takeover would probably be best, as long as they don’t ship the molds accross any major oceans.[:)]
But seriously, I tink Revell is the only company that has the funds and stability to ensure the survival of the Airfix brand. It would be all well and good if a British company took over, but I doubt that Airfix would last too long before another financial difficulty comes it’s way. With Revell, they are garunteed a stable plaform for redevelopment and continued prosperity, in addition, the Revell brand of inexpensive models is a natural fit for Airfix’s old molds, so it’s good for everyone.