The History of the Airfix Catalogue
The illustrated leaflets prior to 1962
The first “real” Airfix catalogue appeared in 1962 – see 1st Edition cover photograph later. Before that Airfix produced frequent kit lists – sometimes every month. Printed in simple duo-tone, these flimsy and very rare publications were the earliest illustrated kit listings from the manufacturer.
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The various price lists
In conjunction with the Catalogues, Airfix also issued periodic Price Lists. These often went inside the main catalogue or were available separately. The price lists referred to the main catalogue pages, and are of particular interest for several reasons – 1. They listed kits sometimes not shown in the main catalogue. 2. They announced new kit availability, and are therefore a more accurate guide to the first release date of a kit and 3. They contain some wonderful fantasy art-work, as they were often published before the real art-work was available. In some years, more than one price list was published.
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1974 Price List. Features – Locomotive kits marked as Limited Availability; Collectors Series of museum engines now had an optional electric motor available as part number 09399-4 (price 30p); The famous HO/OO polythene ready-made Elephant Gun (09782-2) at 12p! |
1969 Price List. Features – The very rare Attack Force Set, 1661; some very strange box-top artwork as shown below. |
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A 1968 Price List. Features – The original James Bond autogyro; The Ariel Arrow motorcycle as a Series 1 plastic bag. The Chippie character is NOT part of the price list, but is a later hand-drawn addition! |
A later 1968 Price List. Features – significantly fewer kits than the earlier price list (left) and a noticeable price rise! |
The Catalogues from 1962 to present
Note that in the early 1980s (the Palitoy years) many of the Catalogues were “trade” and aimed at the retailer. Several Catalogues also contained details of display stands and some catalogue numbers referred to boxed assortments of kits etc.
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And a couple more for the Collector – two F.W.Woolworth’s catalogues, and a very attractive 1977 Price List…
