Over the years, Airfix kits have been distributed in America by several different companies, including MPC (Model Products Corporation). MPC are best known for their car kits, and later Star Wars models. Airfix also sold some MPC kits in Britain, in Airfix boxes.
MPC replaced the Airfix name with their own logo. Many of the kits were given new artwork, new decals, and in some cases, even new parts. The aim being to offer kits that would appeal more to American buyers.
These US-market kits were not sold in Britain or other countries, where normal British-issue models were available. This means that the US-release kits, which American modellers saw every time they walked in to a model shop, are rare and exotic items to those familiar only with the British versions.
These US Airfix kits are very poorly covered, and hardly rate a mention in the various books on Airfix models, which only cover the British versions. Nothing on the significant differences that often existed between British and US issues of the same kit.
Scalemates only list the US issues under Airfix, and not under AHM, Craft Master, MPC, or US Airfix.
Among the Airfix kits that MPC distributed were the 1/32nd scale Modern and Veteran Cars. Most MPC cars were 1/25th scale.
By the late 1960s and early 1970s American modellers were used to car kits including extra parts so the vehicles could be built stock, race, or custom. The 1/32nd scale Airfix models did not include such parts, and most did not have any alternative parts at all. For those that did, it was mostly top up or down, or different grilles.
MPC decided to give six of the Airfix Veterans a sprue of customising parts, drag racing wheels and tyres, and a decal sheet. 'Build it Stock Vintage...or Wild Drag !' said the boxes. These MPC kits are dated 1970/71 by Scalemates.
The kits were sold in cardboard boxes with lift-off lids in America, at a time when Series 1 car kits were still being sold in plastic bags in Britain.
There are not too many MPC catalogues to be found on the internet, but The Internet Archive has the 1971 edition, which shows all six of the Airfix drag racers. They were not listed in the 1973 edition.
All the cars were moulded in white plastic, with one or two drag parachutes in white or light grey plastic; a chromed sprue of extra custom parts - mainly for the engine, exhausts, and wheel centres; black 'rubber' tyres; and a decal sheet.
The first three kits had a sheet that was common to all three, with the numbers black 8 and red 17, and various coloured stripes. The second batch of three kits each had their own unique decal sheets. The second wave kits also had a plastic roll bar, moulded around the brake parachute.
The box top showed the Wild Drag version, while one side showed both the stock and drag versions. The drag version on the side was a different colour to the one on the top. The other side showed the range of alternative parts, both stock and custom. The kit number was displayed only on the ends of the box.
The boxes all carry a plain MPC logo, with no mention of either Craft Master or General Mills. The 1971 MPC catalogue has the MPC/General Mills logo on the back cover, but not on the boxes.
The boxes fall in to two groups, and it seems they were released in two groups of three. This appears to be confirmed by an old MPC sales leaflet, which only shows the last three kits. So the others must have already been available.
The 1904 Darracq, 1911 Rolls Royce, and 1907 Lanchester Landaulette are identified by their proper names, and have the car displayed on a two-colour oval background, with a coloured border. These boxes have kit numbers with a -100 suffix, meaning the retail price was $1.00. Later boxes have a plain white oval, and kit number with a 2- prefix, and a -125 suffix, meaning they sold for $1.25.
The 1912 Ford Model T - 'T' Bomb, 1905 Rolls Royce - Rolls Runner, and the 1926 Morris Cowley - Piping Hot, have all been given new names, and the cars are displayed on a plain white box top. The kit number is displayed on its own, without a price suffix. Later boxes have a 2- prefix, and -125 suffix, matching the kits in the first batch. These second batch boxes also show the first three kits on one side of the box, in place of the panel showing the various kit parts.
1002-100, later 2-1002-125 - 1904 Darracq
1003-100, later 2-1003-125 - 1911 Rolls Royce
1004-100, later 2-1004-125 - 1907 Lanchester Landaulette
Some of the instruction sheets for this kit incorrectly say 1904 Lanchester, while others correctly say 1907 Lanchester.
1008, later 2-1008-125 - 'T' Bomb 1912 Ford Model T
1009, later 2-1009-125 - Rolls Runner 1905 Rolls Royce
1010, later 2-1010-125 - Piping Hot 1926 Morris Cowley Roadster
Ten photographs, all from Worhtpoint.
Paul Adams
from New Zealand
Ah yes, the infamous MPC/Airfix Wild Drag kits! An amazing concept, poorly done… as I can attest to! I just this week finished the T Bomb, and will send it along to Moonbase - a completely shocking model! SFZ
ReplyDeleteThank you. An even weirder line were the WW2 and modern aircraft with a sprue of custom chrome parts from around the same era.
ReplyDeleteYour T Bomb is a wonderful model of a bizarre subject. What were they thinking at MPC ?
They were thinking, “Sales at all costs!” These kits might have looked good to distributors or retailers, and with the cool box art illustrations, even the consumer, but when you opened the box, you soon realized what you were in for! SFZ
DeleteThere's something wonderful about hot rods and dragsters. For a time they were kings, the very centre of sunshiney American culture it appeared to us the in rainy old UK! These are great models Paul. I would have enjoyed having them as a kid.
ReplyDelete