Category:Airfix Railway Construction Kits

The Airfix Railway Construction Kit range was very well regarded, and allowed model railway owners a comparatively cheap way of building up their layout displays, either for static locos and rolling stock to be parked on sidings, or as rolling rolling-stock to be used as part fo actual runnign trains.

The range launched in 1960 with a couple of simple wagon types, and gradually grew, getting a significant boost in 1962 when Airfix bought the tooling and rights to the Rosebud Kitmaster – this became the basis of further kits and the Airfix Railway System range of ready-built locos and rolling stock, starting with the Airfix version of the Kitmaster Prairie Tank Locomotive model, which appeared in 1963.

The Airfix Trackside range of polybagged kits (1956-) already allowed the construction of trackside buildings and accessories.

1960 launch text

AIRFIX Products Ltd., already Europe's largest manufacturer of scale plastic construction kits, are extending their range to include model railway rolling stock.

The new kits, which will appear from the end of June, conform to 00 and H0 gauges and, despite their low price of XXX, each possess detail and accuracy hard to find in ready made rolling stock many times the price.

Airfix rolling stock kits may be made up either as Display Models or as fully working units of a scale railway layout, and are fitted with a plastic coupling similar to the N.M.R.A. type. Provision has been made to enable all British Commercial Couplings to be fitted to this chassis.

The first two Airfix Series 1 00 and H0 gauge kits to be introduced are of a British Railways Tank Wagon finished in the colours of Esso and a Prestflo Cement Wagon in the livery of the Cement Marketing Company.

— , -, , Airfix Magazine, , July 1960

1976 promotional text:

Airfix Railway Construction Kits are renowned for their quality, attention to detail and outstanding value for money. To the fascination of building a famous steam locomotive or a simple piece of rolling stock there is the added thrill of seeing these models incorporated in a working layout. For a very small outlay long freight trains can be built up of just mineral wagons, or petrol tankers or even cattle trucks. Make more of your Airfix Railway System by building Airfix Railway Construction Kits.

— , Airfix, , Airfix Railway System, , 1976

See also:

• Rosebud Kitmaster kits – the basis of part of the Airfix railway range.