wonwinglo

LONDON (Reuters) - Toy maker Hornby Group is interested in Humbrol, the maker of Airfix plastic tanks, planes and ships which is in administration, a source close to Hornby told Reuters on Friday.
"It is very early days yet and they will want to see what is for sale. But Airfix is an iconic brand and Hornby will want to see if it can be salvaged," the source said, adding Hornby would likely contact Humbrol's administrator to express its interest.
At 10:00 a.m., Hornby shares, which have risen fivefold over the past five years as it revitalised tired products, were unchanged at 227 pence.
On Thursday, British-based Humbrol, owner of the miniature military models, went into administration, saying its problems partly stemmed from a sales slump caused by children spending more time in front of their personal computers and televisions.
The company, which makes kits for assembling miniature war planes, passenger jets, Japanese infantry soldiers and historical figures such as Henry VIII, has fired 31 of its 41 employees, administrator Grant Thornton said.
Its intellectual property and brand names, which include Plasticine, Supercast and Young Scientist, are up for sale, the administrator said.
SCALING UP IN EUROPE
Separately, Hornby said on Friday it was buying Heico Modell, a privately owned German distributor of model train accessories, to expand into Europe's biggest market.
Hornby, best known for model railways and Scalextric racing cars, said it was paying a nominal sum for Heico but would take on net liabilities of 200,000 euros (135,000 pounds).
"Our strategy to establish a global model railway and slot racing business is well advanced and this is a vital move that will enable us to grow," Chief Executive Frank Martin said.
Heico has 1,200 active customer accounts with independent retailers throughout Germany. Its products include track-side buildings and a range of accessories for model railway wagons.
Hornby said the model railway market in Germany was estimated to be six times larger than in Britain.
Despite facing fierce competition from computer games makers for 20 years, Hornby thinks there is still a strong following for its products, saying recently the majority of its customers were middle-aged men.

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'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
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John

Anyone buying Airfix or Humbrol can't go wrong with such a strong name, Bush and Wharfedale both strong names in the electrical field and people still buy then, yet Bush went bust in the late 70's and Wharfedale the late 90's, and people still but them for the name.

Bluewavestudios

To be Honest,
I cannot think of a better name to take over the Airfix Brand, Hornby and Airfix have always been very British all throughout my childhood...Even some of my early Trains were Triang, then Triang-Hornby before the Hornby name took over but they have always been the same excellent quality. I note they are buying into the German train market too, The Germans are very big on Model Trains too and I will never forget those massive detailed layouts in the big department stores from when I was a kid living over there. I was 8 then but those layouts have stayed firmly etched in my mind. Of note too this was 1971/1972 and Graupner/Schluter also had their first scale R/C Helis in the shops too, Notably the Cobra and the Bell 212....I do remember the Cheyenne too.

I wish Hornby the very best of luck in their bid and to keeping the Airfix name alive.

Regards......Mark

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I'm Only Here Coz I'm Not All There !!!

porschenut

I was horrorstruck when i found out humbrol was going into admin. but the news of a name like hornby showing intrest is great news. It would be a shame, that after such a long time Airfix sould become a thing of the past. But i do think that the market is much more a minority among kids, and that only adults buy the kits. On the forums I'm a member of i have seen very few members building who are kids or teenagers.
EUAN (age 14)

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Capitalism has its ups and downs, David Bechams salary is a down point!

rjwood_uk

well Char is 17 and i am 20 but i class myself as just a kid. lol and so does Terry as well i think

Bunkerbarge

The trouble is Euan we need a lot more like you,
In my youth the majority of us were into plastic kits, model aircraft, gliders, building pushbikes etc.

Nowadays it is a rarity amongst youngsters. Even pushbikes are considered disposable and no-one bothers to build them from bits like I did.

wonwinglo

Someone once said something to me that made me really think ? 'Now look here lad I have an observation,you are like many of your ilke and age and the last ones that rolled your sleeves up and got yer hands dirty and stuck into an oily machine,self motivation lad ! thats what is sadly lacking these days' !!!
Well,I once rode from Newcastle to Coventry on a rebuilt Lambretta scooter with a Bambi sidecar,a long trip on such a machine,this entailed several stops on the way down to fix things like points that had welded themselves together,a front wheel bearing that got hot and needed to be packed with grease to continue the journey,an exhaust that needed welding by a friendly small garage, and a few soakings with rain,an epic journey for me at least,but loved every minute of it.
I take my hat off to all of the youngsters here on this forum,they are growing up in a far different clinical world than the one we once knew.
As they say,once you light a match and burn your fingers,you never do it again !

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'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/