Classic Kits: Collecting the Greatest Model Kits in the World from Airfix to Tamiya

Summary

A tour-de-force on the history of scale kit modelling from around the world, in the nostalgic style of the bestselling Airfix Following the success of Airfix, Arthur Ward takes a nostalgic look at the wider history of model kits from worldwide manufacturers over the last 75 years. In the same style as his first bestselling book, Classic Kits is illustrated with scores of colour photographs of kits, box tops, books, magazines and ephemera from manufacturers such as Airfix, Revell, Monogram, Frog, Aurora, Esci, Heller, Tamiya, Hasegawa, Fujimi, Matchbox, Eaglewell, Merit, Matell, Bandai, Italeri -- all giants in the miniature modelling world. Model kits are one of the most popular areas in collectibles, commanding high prices at auction, and this is a much broader and more international treatment of the subject, enabling a comparison between different types of kits and their historical development. Although drawing on a wealth of material produced by manufacturers around the world, Airfix fans are also catered for as a great deal of rare and collectible pieces will be featured, not included in the previous book. Contents 1) Survivors: VE Day & pre-war kit companies like FROG (Flies Right Off the Ground) & Skybirds 2) Injection moulding: The polystyrene revolution 3) Across the water: The impact of American giants like Aurora and Monogram 4) Tally Ho Chaps! Reliving the Second World War 1950-1970 5) Rising Sun: The impact of Japanese manufacturers 6) Kit Gazetteer: A round up of collectible models from around the world