The Wonderful World of Airfix Models Quiz

Answer: Hungarian

Born in 1891, Nicholas Kove (birth name Miklós Klein) came from the Hungarian village of Anarcs. Changing his surname initially to Köves (pronounced Kurvesh), Kove served as a cavalry officer in the Austro-Hungarian army during World War One, where he was captured by Russian forces and interned in a prison camp near Korea.

Escaping, Kove returned home to Hungary, and served a short time as an assistant minister under the communist government of Béla Kun.
When Kun's government collapsed, Kove made his way to England via Algeria, Barcelona, and Milan when the Spanish Civil War broke out.

In London, Kove established Airfix (so the name would be initially placed first in a toy catalogue) producing inflatable, rubber toys. After World War Two, Kove was amongst the first manufacturers to introduce injection moulding machines to the UK, initially making plastic combs. With the assistance of Ralph Ehrmann and John Gray, Kove moved into making plastic models in the early 1950s.

Kove passed away in 1958 - a few weeks after his wife had died. Kove did live long enough to see the company he founded become a public company in 1957.

Answer: Tractor

The first model produced by Airfix was Ferguson TE20 tractor - intended as a promotional model for Ferguson sale representatives. This was comprised of Cellulose Acetate parts, and produced in kit form to be assembled for Ferguson. To reduce costs, and make the model more obtainable to the public, Airfix began making the model in kit form to be marketed in Woolworths.

It was a buyer for the department store Woolworths (Jim Russon) that persuaded Nicholas Kove to make a model of Sir Francis Drake's ship - the Golden Hind - as Airfix's first official model kit to be sold specifically to the public.

Answer: Polystyrene

Having first used Cellulose Acetate to make their first model (the Ferguson TE20 tractor). Airfix then switched to the more stable polystyrene to make their model of the Golden Hind.

Polystyrene is an aromatic polymer (derived from styrene) and can be either in solid or foamed - the latter often known as expanded polystyrene and used for packaging. With a low melting temperature, polystyrene can be easily moulded and coloured into various shapes, formed in an injection moulding machine.

To assemble an Airfix model, polystyrene cement can be utilized which breaks down the polymer bonds by the use of a weak solvent, thus temporarily melting the polystyrene before the solvent evaporates and the bonds reform. It is important not to use too much solvent when assembling a model kit make from polystyrene as not to damage the mouldings. The use of polystyrene though does have drawbacks, given it is an inert polymer and slow to biodegrade.

The model depicted in the image is that of a Douglas A-1 Skyraider, a ground attack aircraft that saw service during the Korean and Vietnam war for the Americans, along with serving in numerous capacities for the Royal Navy, French and Swedish air forces. Ironically, even the Vietnamese used Skyraiders after the Vietnam war, making use of those taken from South Vietnam forces at the end of the war.

Answer: Yes

Initially, Airfix first moved into making models for model railway enthusiasts in the early 1960s, purchasing moulds and stock from Rosebud Kitmaster Ltd.
It was in 1975 though, that Airfix began selling ready to run models for the OO scale model railways. This later became known as Great Model Railways in 1979.

Despite better detailing than Arifix's main rivals - Hornby - along with a better controller to allow running more than one train on the same track, Airfix stopped production in 1981, selling the rights to make their models to Palitoy, who then sold them on to Bachmann and Dapol. Dapol ironically then sold out to Hornby, who now owns the Airfix brand.

Airfix did continue making models kits for model railway enthusiasts for a while and the magazine they founded, "Model Trains", still exists - now known as "Model Trains International".

Answer: It is a 1:1 scale model

Built for the TV series, "James May's Toy Stories" the Spitfire in the image is a 1:1 scale model, based on a model Airfix produced. Built of fibreglass - and reinforced with metal - the model was built by Gateguards in Cornwall. This company produces replica aircraft to replace actual ones used as gate guards, given that Spitfires can be worth more than Ł1 million pounds, even if not in flying condition.

The model arrived at Cosford in 2009 in kit form - in the same way Airfix models are produced on sprues. It was later assembled by children and presented to a waiting crowd of World War II veterans and the children's parents. Since the model was a 1:1 scale model of an Airfix kit, it was also entered into the Guinness book of records as the worlds largest Airfix model to be constructed.

On a side note, the model of the pilot featured in the image is one that James May actually posed for, having had a mould taken of his face.

Answer: Beam Engine

Part of what was known as the, "Museum Series" the beam engine was part of a four model set that also included a four stroke engine, a paddle steamer engine, and a model of Richard Trevithick's 1804 locomotive.

Although initially powered by an electric motor and gears, when reissued in 2009, these parts were omitted from the beam engine and Trevithick's locomotive.

The first beam engines appeared in the early 18th century, developed by Thomas Newcomen. They were first utilized for pumping water from coalmines, but their design made them inefficient. The engineers, Thomas Watt, Jonathon Hornblower, Arthur Woolf and William McNaught all added various components which helped make Beam engines more efficient.

Along with pumping fluid, beam engines were designed to drive machinery on what became known as a rotating beam engine, where the connecting rod one end of the beam drove a flywheel via a crank as depicted in the image.

Answer: Hawker Hurricane

Designed by Hawkers chief designer Sidney Camm, the Hawker Hurricane became the unsung hero of the Battle of Britain, shooting down more planes for the RAF than the more famous Spitfire.

The first Hurricane flew in late 1935, designed to replace the aging bi-plane fighters that the RAF were using at the time. Although a monoplane, the Hurricane still retained a fabric covered fuselage reminiscent of bi-planes - as opposed to the stressed metal fuselage of the Spitfire.

This gave it an advantage in combat, giving ground crews an easier task to repair minor battle damage, simply by gluing a new piece of fabric over any bullet holes. This was in opposition to the Spitfire, which needed damaged panels drilled out, and new ones riveted into position.

In addition, more Hurricanes were available to the RAF during the Battle of Britain, giving it nearly a 2:1 kill ratio against the more agile Spitfire. However, in the long term the Hurricane had a less adaptable airframe than the Spitfire. As such, the Hurricane's airframe was sometimes difficult to update. Hurricanes though did gain success in another role though as a ground attack aircraft, carrying bombs, along with cannons during the North African campaign during World War II.

Answer: Ford Escort

Production of the Mk 1 Ford escort (depicted in the image) began in the late 1960s, ending with the Mk VI - which replaced by the Ford Focus in 2004. Built as a replacement for the aging Ford Anglia, the Ford Escort made it's debut at the Brussels Motor Show in 1968. Construction for the Escort took place at Ford Halewood plant in England and Genk in Belgium before production from Genk was transferred to Saarlouis in Germany. In addition, production also took place in Australia, New Zealand and Israel, either using kits, or building the car themselves.

The early Ford Escorts were also used in motor sport, mainly rallying - a motor race that took place on public and private roads over a range of different road surfaces.

The Mk III saw a major design change in the Ford Escort, with the addition of a hatchback to the range of saloon, estate along with small vans based on the car. The saloon version of the Escort eventually became known as the Ford Orion. Although production ended in 2004 with the Mk VI, Ford has reintroduced the Ford Escort to the Chinese market in 2014.

Answer: Yes

Introduced in 1963, Airfix branched out into making slot car racing sets, with cars featuring Ackermann steering geometry that allowed the car to steer around corners. Later on kits were introduced by Airfix that allowed their 1/32nd scale model cars to be adapted to be raced.

The venture ultimately failed though for Airfix, despite trying to link itself to Model Road Racing Company to produce a higher quality range of cars and accessories. In addition, Airfix also faced stiff completion in the slot car racing market from Scaletrix.

It is with some irony that Scaletrix now is owned by the same company as that which own Airfix and Hornby.

Answer: RMS Titanic

Built by Harland and Wolff, the RMS Titanic was the most important ship of its type when construction began in 1909. Built in conjunction with its sister ship Olympic, the Titanic required a new dry dock to be built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast.

In 1911 the Titanic was launched and fitted out, ready for service in 1912. Even before that fateful night (on April 14th, 1912) when it struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic ocean, the Titanic had already claimed the lives of eight people who were either working on the ship itself or in the dockyard workshops.

Among the many people who were lost during the sinking of the Titanic was the naval architect. Thomas Andrew who designed the Titanic and its sister ships Olympic and Britannic.

The sinking of the Titanic lead to certain requirements applied to passenger ships such as sufficient life boats for all the crew and passengers, and a permanently manned radio communication. In addition, it was further agreed upon that the firing of red rockets from a ship would also be seen as a sign that a ship was in distress or need of help.