Humbrol

I'm a bit annoyed today since I learned last night that the company that makes the paints I use for my wargaming miniatures and models, Humbrol, which owned the model manufacturer Airfix and was in turn owned by Hobby Products Ltd has gone into receivership.

In its heyday Airfix bought Meccano and the Dinky Toys brand, as well as other specialist toy companies. But in 1981 changes in toy trends forced it into bankruptcy and it was bought by the US company Palitoy.

A complex series of sales and divestments followed, culminating in Airfix becoming part of Borden Corporation subsidiary Hobby Products Group alongside paint manufacturer Humbrol and kit manufacturer Heller of France. Hobby Products Group was sold on again, Heller became independent but closely allied with Humbrol and Airfix, and in July this year, went into administration.

Heller holds the Airfix moulds so lack of supply bounced back at Airfix, and with Humbrol also making losses, Hobby Products Group called in administrator Grant Thornton on September 1.

Grant Thornton has high hopes of selling Airfix. First into the frame has been Hornby which has declared an interest, but as yet has not approached the administrators. Hornby is currently in an acquisitive mood, announcing last week that it is buying into the German market with the acquisition of Heico Modell, a privately owned German distributor of model train accessories. Coincidentally Hornby's chief executive Frank Martin at one time worked for Humbrol. Link.

I'm seriously hoping that Humbrol paints survives this crisis since I have hundreds of miniatures that need painting and I don't like the limited ranges of acrylic paints that are the only alternative, and which are rather difficult to get a hold of in Denmark anyway! Humbrol enamal paints, in their cute little tins, have always been a part of my life, from the earliest memories of building grotty little models and its both a useful tool and an icon of my life that is now facing extinction.