Airfix Kits

After the huge success of Scalextric in the early sixties, many established companies wished to take part in this new business known as slot cars, so new brands saw the light during the sixties. Among them Revell Raceway, Fleischmann Auto Rallye (often referred to as FAR), Märklin Sprint and Airfix Motor Racing. A few years later the cash cow effect was over, and the new brands struggled to survive. Already in 1963, on the wave of success, Airfix Motor Racing made a take-over of the slot car racing firm Model Road Racing Cars Ltd (MRRC). This little article will cover the six small buildings and accessories, which were offered within their range. - 5063 Press Box - 5064 Racing Pit - 5065 Grand Stand - 5089 Spectators / Track Officials - 5100 Event Board - 5101 Timekeeper´s Hut by Holger "Slaasshh" Thor As Airfix was one of the world biggest manufactures of static plastic kits, it came as no surprise when they released their slot car program, first known as Airfix MotorAce, with their narrow greyish blue track pieces and kit cars, that kit buildings and accessories would be included in their program as well. During Airfix Motor Racing´s relative short lifetime on the market, the above six kits were introduced. All were made of white plastic parts, which had to be painted and glued together, except for the 5089 Spectators / Track Officials set which including 12 figures just had to be painted.

The original old Airfix bags. From the top 5063, 5089, 5064 and 5100 (series 2)

All kits, except 5065 Grand Stand, were presented in the small plastic bags, which in my youth were so characteristic for all Airfix set in the low end of the price table. On top of the bag the instruction sheets were folded. The first series of these instruction sheets had a rather primitive pencil drawing, where the second series was more artistic in style and artwork, painted by the famous Airfix artist Roy Cross. These were marked "series 2" on the front.

5065 Grand Stand was the largest set, and five figures were included, four of them being seated. It was presented in a card box. In my 1966 Airfix Motor Racing catalogue they mention a set called 5102 Timekeeper´s Hut / Event Board. This seems to be a combined set of 5100 and 5101. Unfortunately there is no photo. As far as I can figure out, this set was never released. I have the 1968 catalogue as well, and in this there is no mention of 5102.

Scene from Le Mans 1974 and MRRC MC-5063 + MC-5065. Seen in comparison with the Scalextric range of buildings, the re-released original Airfix buildings from MRRC seems rather small.

Compared to buildings and accessories from Scalextric, the Airfix items seemed rather small and tiny. But as it was the same case concerning their cars and track pieces, the Airfix range as a whole fitted nicely together. Maybe more 1/35 than 1/32 to scale.

MRRC MC-5064 with an Airfix 5070 Auto Union Type C 1936 in front (right) and Scalextric MM/A.203 Owner´s Stand and Pit with Pink Kar CV-033 Auto Union Type C "Bernd Rosemeyer" 1936. Please note the difference in size both between the buildings and the cars.

In 1999 the re-awaken MRRC re-released these six kits and combined them with four sets of figures from their own original range. These new sets just got a "MC-" in front of their original article numbers, so Airfix Motor Racing 5063 Press Box became MRRC MC-5063 Press Box etc. Only exception being Airfix Motor Racing 5089 Spectators / Track Officials renamed as MRRC MC-5089 Racing Figures.

Scene from Le Mans 1979 and the original Airfix 5065. Since this was a boxed set, I took the liberty to open the box, paint and glue the parts together and display it on my layout.

Scene from Le Mans 1975 and MRRC MC-5101. This, the largest of the original buildings, seems to fit in a little bit better.

The original card box from Airfix 5065 (series 2)

So far I have managed to find all Airfix sets in mint boxed/bagged condition, except for 5101. To be honest, inspired by writing this little article, I have just won 5101 on eBay from a Finnish dealer. As soon as I have it in my collection, a photo will follow. Since I got the MRRC versions as well, I have chosen not to open the original Airfix bags, and kept them closed in a collectors point of view. The newer MRRC versions are therefore on display on my layout.

Addition Here it is. The original Airfix kit bag 5101 Timekeeper´s hut. Adding this photo to my little Airfix article gives me a good opportunity to correct a minor mistake. The print "Series 2" on the front of my 5100 Event Board kit has nothing to do with a second version and the paintings of Roy Cross. It simply tells, that this kit is a bit larger then the others, and therefore has a higher retail price as the smaller (series 1) kit bags.