Spitfix at Cosford is a great success

Record breakers at Spitfix

The success of the inaugural Spitfix at the RAF Museum Hendon on 19th December 2009 took every one by surprise. What started as little more than an embellished Christmas book signing (The Boys’ Book of Airfix had been published a couple of months before) evolved into a full on model making event and was eventually awarded a Guinness World Record, the attendance being so large.

The triumph of the trail blazing Spitfix encouraged us to organise another. Because we had added more features like illustrated lectures, an opportunity to meet some celebrities from the world of scale models and trade stands and exhibitions, our second Spitfix was destined to be the pattern for future events.

The subject of this year’s bash was Airfix’s new tooling of its legendary Spitfire MkIX – RAF fighter pilot Johnnie Johnson’s famous Spit JEJ.

Aside from taking part in the Guinness World Record challenge at Spitfix, the other reason visitors flocked to the RAF Museum at Cosford was to meet an ‘Airfix legend’. Few have achieved celebrity status greater than artist Roy Cross. For 10 years Roy painted superb illustrations for Airfix.

Darrell Burge, Airfix’s Marketing Manager, was there to answer questions about current and forthcoming plans, too. It is always a bonus when Darrell is on stage as not only does he know what Airfix is going to produce next but also because Airfix fans have an opportunity to talk directly to the brand’s owners, Hornby.

Thank you to every one who attended and I look forward to seeing you all again. Together, we were record breakers!

For more information visit the Collecting Friends website at: www.collectingfriends.com

This news story was first published in the February issue of Collectors Gazette. To see which issues of Collectors Gazette are available to buy online, click here.