Hi, we're Airfix!
"Airfix is the oldest UK manufacturer of scale plastic model kits and has been producing kits for the mass market since 1952." You used to be able to find this sentence every where you would find Airfix- when asked who we were, this was our default response. Factually, it is correct. We are the oldest UK manufactuer of scale plastic model kits, but that's not why you should trust us with your hobby.
That explains what we do, but not why we do it.
Airfix is home to a team of people who work tirelessly; be it researching potential products, designing your favourite models, building and rebuilding to ensure perfection, writing blogs to keep you company in the quiet, laughing along with you on social media, supporting you on the forums or solving your problems on the phone.
We come into work every day ready to go above and beyond for our customers and our brand because we believe in it and all it has to offer. We think modelling offers a great escape from screens and allows you to 'switch off'. We have found love and laughter in sharing in your modelling memories; the greatests hits and the hardest misses. We feel immense pride watching you all rise to every challenge we present, without hesitation. And we love knowing that we're feeding creativity everywhere.
At Airfix, passion drives everything that we do. It ensures that our horizons remain broad and the skies will always be limitless. We refuse to simply rest on the laurels of being the oldest brand- we will always strive to be the best brand, above all, for you.
Our Brand Values
Empathy
In a world where you can be anything... be kind. This is a statement that we at Airfix, live and breathe, with everything we do. Over the years, we have proven that we're more than just a business, we're the foundation of a fantastic community; one which has welcomed every new employee and modeller with open arms. We're proud that the modelling community is inclusive, accepting and endlessly helpful- and we vow to mirror these attributes for as long as we're here.
Quality
We're learning every day how to be better for our customers and are completely committed to creating a quality product. We heard your feedback about our older tooling and have immortalised them in our Vintage Classics collection. By preserving the nostalgia of our previous tooling, it has allowed room for us to experiment and improve with the rest of the ranges. Whilst we're on a journey to create the perfect model, we welcome any and all feedback.
Integrity
Integrity is an incredibly important aspect of any successful business, but when you're dealing with such a wonderful community, it becomes even more vital that we continue to meet your expectations. We have always been a company that modellers could depend on but we want our fans and friends alike, to know that we will always be upfront and honest.
Passion
To put it simply, passion is the driving force behind everything we do at Airfix. Whether it's passion for the products, passion for good customer service, or just passion for making people happy, we have it in droves. It means that with everything we produce and send out into the world, we include a little piece of ourselves as well.
Fun
Modelling has always had something of a serious reputation, with the time and dedication it takes to put together the perfect model. We at Airfix however, don't believe in perfection when it comes to the build itself (just the product!). Sometimes the journey is more important than the destination and we believe that fun should be at the heart of every project.
Learning
People write in to us every day with memories about learning how to model with a parent, grandparent or best friend, and these moments are our bread and butter! Much like our models, we started from nothing but a set of good intentions and a will to succeed. We've learnt a lot of valuable lessons along the way (especially from all of you) and plan to continue evolving as long as you'll have us.
Meet the Team
Thomas Alderman
Product Designer
I am Tom Alderman and I have been an Airfix Product Designer with Hornby Hobbies for just over three years. I joined the team back in August 2017 after graduating from Loughborough University’s Design School. As one of the youngest members of the Airfix team I am at the forefront of developments within CAD/CAM design and am intrigued by the possibilities and advancements that this could afford the company and my design work.
When talking about favourite models, as a designer, I look for great design over a favourite subject or scale. Unfortunately, my favourite model has yet to be revealed; therefore, I can only tease of great things to come to the marketplace soon.
Darrell Burge
Head of Brand
1960 - 2021
We unfortunately lost our beloved Brand Manager quite suddenly at the beginning of 2021. To pay our respects to a wonderful man who gave the best part of his life to Airfix, we wanted to include him here, as he will always be a member of the Airfix team. When asked to sum up his role within the team, Darrell had this to say:
"I’m Darrell Burge, and for my sins have the title of Head of Brand. I’ve been involved with Airfix professionally since April 1st (yes it's true!) 1988, but before that came from the era of hanging the aircraft models up with fishing line in my bedroom to then watch them “dogfighting” by the light of a safely hidden torch!
My responsibilities are wide and varied, but it’s mostly to do with the commercial side of the brand, making sure that products are in the range for all the right reasons; mainly to satisfy our customer and fan base, plus of course to ensure the sales add to the profitable success of the business overall. I’m lucky to have quite an in depth knowledge of the history of the brand and its products, but also a full understanding of the great products we now bring to market, working with the dynamic team we have here in the Margate office."
Michael Clegg
Flight Specialist
For someone to whom Airfix model kits played such an important part of his teenage years, I sometimes have to pinch myself to confirm that I actually do now work for this historic hobby brand. Currently in my sixth year with the company, my role as Flight Specialist encompasses quite a number of varied duties, from helping with product research, to producing the fortnightly Workbench blog and a myriad of tasks in between. Who would have thought that a young man who spent so many of his formative years trying to convince his parents and relatives that Airfix kits were the only Christmas and Birthday gifts worth considering, would have the chance to play a part in the continuing story of this fantastic hobby brand? It’s funny how life turns out sometimes.
My Airfix highlights so far include being allowed to accompany our Lead Researcher on several aircraft scanning sorties in support of future new tooling projects and the opportunity to see how our current team of Product Designers turn subject suggestions into scale modelling reality. We are lucky to have some very clever people working with us.
Lyndon Davies
CEO
Many of you know the history of Hornby, but I came from a different branch of the British toy industry, the Mettoy Company Ltd. I started my working life at the Swansea plant aged 16, it was located on the Fforestfach Industrial Estate and I was employed as a management trainee, a three-year programme, with studies in the evening at a local college. It was a very intensive course, I spent time in every part of the business – toolroom, sales, accounts, computers, all of the production process, injection moulding, die-casting, maintenance engineering, design, electrostatic painting, vacuum metallising, distribution – every aspect of the business. One week I would be out selling, the next driving a forklift truck, then setting a mould, refurbishing a mould, designing a mould, preparing accounts, counting out wages, launching new products – if the company did it – I did it.
Little did I know all these years later that I would be the CEO of Hornby and watch on with pride as our skilled designers bring dreams alive.
Sally Donald
Assistant Brand Manager
Hi, my name is Sally and I am the Assistant Brand Manager for Airfix and Quickbuild. I joined the Airfix team almost two years ago having previously worked in the Purchasing department here for four years. My role varies daily from helping plan future ranges, catalogues, and more recently starting the Airfix Club again to loading vans going out on the road to several different shows.
One of my best memories so far here must be sitting in the cockpit of a Spitfire at RAF Cosford Air Show. After ordering model Spitfires for many years it was amazing to get up close and personal with a real one. All the projects we work on here at Airfix are amazing, but one of my favourite jobs is our ‘Make N Paint’ events. Its great to see such keen young (and a few older) modellers in the making!
Outside of the office I am a Mum to 11-year-old son Harvey who loves my job as he wants to be a pilot one day. I am also a little bit of an adrenaline junkie on the weekends racing a quad bike! 2020 has been a very peculiar year for everyone, I cannot wait to get back out on the road and see all our Airfix fans!
Adam French
Product Designer
Hello, my name is Adam French and you could say I am classed as a newbie, having joined last November and one of the most recent members to join the talented Airfix Team.
I am a Product Designer for Airfix but specifically on Quickbuild development. My role as a designer is to drive new projects from concepts right through to production handover. Since joining I have worked on various new Quickbuild projects but to name a few of my favourites would have to be the New F-35 Lightning II, The Ford Mustang 1968, and the Ford F-150 Raptor. These projects are unique in individual design and offer further development into the direction of Quickbuild design and expands what Airfix can do with future products.
Mark Holihan
Graphic Designer
I’m the graphic designer for Airfix, Quickbuild and Humbrol and I began here as a senior graphic designer for the Hornby Hobbies brand team seven years ago. However, for the last few years I have been part of the Airfix team exclusively. It’s my job to design and layout all of the packaging and marketing materials including catalogues, ads and exhibition graphics.
I really enjoy the challenges of the design work and try to keep the graphics both fresh and yet traditional.
Christopher Parker - Joy
Product Designer
Hi, I am one of the product designers for Airfix and I have been working here for coming up to 8 years. It really does not feel that long though, time has gone quickly! I always feel very fortunate working here, not only because of the history of the brand but also for the brilliant people I get to work with.
I have enjoyed every project I’ve been able to work on as they have all felt so different, each bringing new design challenges to overcome. One of my first projects here is still one of my favourites, the Mary Rose 1:400 was a simple starter kit project but it was great getting to meet some of the team behind raising the ship from the sea bed and learning so much about its design and history during the research phase.
Another project that stands out to me is the 1:72 B17. It was fascinating to research in detail how all the elements inside the fuselage came together, there was so much packed into that aircraft.
Richard Petts
Technical Illustrator (and the man responsible for these wonderful illustrations)
Hello, my name is Richard Petts, I am a Technical Illustrator and been working at Hornby Hobbies for 13 years. During this time, I have been producing the instruction booklets for our Airfix kits that are designed by our talented team of Product Designers. This is done by taking a CAD file and manipulating it in a 3D programme before doing the final stages in a desk top publishing programme.
I really enjoy building the first shots as I create the step by step illustrations at the same time. I must have built so many super models and it would be impossible to pick a favourite. I prefer the 1:48 scale, but I love the extreme amount of amazing detail in our 1:24 range, especially the radial engine in the hellcat.
In my spare time I love to draw and paint, particularly wildlife in pastels.
Martin Ridge
Development Manager
Hello, my name is Martin and I have been the Airfix Development Manager for around 12 years. It’s a very varied role, a typical day will probably involve some planning of future projects, design reviews and checking of artwork and samples. I also commission outside artworkers to do decal scheme artwork and box illustrations. In addition, I liaise with our manufacturer in India, making sure they have everything they need for production and I check the quality of preproduction and production samples.
I derive enormous satisfaction and pride from leading a development team that successfully strives to constantly improve Airfix kits and the experience of building them.
Paramjit Sembhi
Product Designer
My name is Paramjit Sembhi and I have been working at Airfix for just under 2 years. I enquired about a job at the Telford Model Show and sometime later I became an Airfix Product Designer while being a keen scale modeller for the past 10 years. I studied Industrial Design & Technology at Brunel University and I am an East London native. My main role in the company is to design model kits and due to me being a scale modeller, I apply my knowledge from the hobby to design a kit from a modeller’s perspective.
One of the great perks of the job is that outside work I get to build models that are in development and we then take them to model shows to show to the community.
Matt Whiting
Design Manager
Hi everyone, my name is Matt Whiting and my role in the Airfix team is Design Manager. As well as designing new model kits myself, I also work with the other designers to help research, offer advice and guidance on their projects and help with engineering the new injection moulds that produce the new kits, to make sure each model is developed to the same standard. I have been at Hornby in the Airfix team for 11 years, (but have been building model kits for many more!). During that time, I have been on some amazing research trips and met some fantastic experts and enthusiasts that have helped us make some great models. Highlights include visiting the Ulster Aviation Society collection when researching the Blackburn Buccaneer, and the Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection at Gaardermoen, Norway, where we were able to laser scan their very rare Heinkel HE111-P2.
Outside of the scale modelling world I’m a father of two budding modellers, keen road and mountain cyclist, dabble in running and have recently got into 1/10th RC Buggy racing with my son- can’t wait for the race tracks to re-open!
Airfix History
Where it all began...
Our story begins in 1939, London. With the world on the cusp of war, Hungarian refugee Nicholas Kove created the first iteration of Airfix, a company which at the time manufactured rubber inflated toys.
Kove had become a keen businessman in the years since he’d left Hungary so when it came to choosing a name for his new venture, he combined the process of fixing air into products, with his belief that all successful companies should have their names at the beginning of business directories. Thus, Airfix was born!
The last 70 years...
Airfix is the oldest UK manufacturer of scale plastic model kits and has been producing kits for the mass market since 1952. Although you might know us best for our iconic aircraft models, the last few years have been a journey of discovery and exploration for us in terms of branching out into other products.
Since teaming up with Humbrol, we’ve really focused on arming our modellers with everything they might need to create their own little world. We’ve found great success with our own plastic figures, buildings, and diorama kits. We’ve even taken on the challenge of replicating some of history’s most beautiful ships and vehicles, resulting in an incredibly diverse range of products.
Perhaps one of our most exciting ventures has been the development of the Quickbuild brand, a range of brick-based models with no glue or paint needed! It’s been the perfect introduction to modelling for many beginners looking to join our community and is expanding all the time!