AIRFIX - Key Persons
Hello, my name is Adam French and you could say I am classed as a newbie, having joined last November and one of the most recent members to join the talented Airfix Team.
I am a Product Designer for Airfix but specifically on Quickbuild development. My role as a designer is to drive new projects from concepts right through to production handover. Since joining I have worked on various new Quickbuild projects but to name a few of my favourites would have to be the New F-35 Lightning II, The Ford Mustang 1968, and the Ford F-150 Raptor. These projects are unique in individual design and offer further development into the direction of Quickbuild design and expands what Airfix can do with future products.
Hi, I am one of the product designers for Airfix and I have been working here for coming up to 8 years. It really does not feel that long though, time has gone quickly! I always feel very fortunate working here, not only because of the history of the brand but also for the brilliant people I get to work with.
I have enjoyed every project I've been able to work on as they have all felt so different, each bringing new design challenges to overcome. One of my first projects here is still one of my favourites, the Mary Rose 1:400 was a simple starter kit project but it was great getting to meet some of the team behind raising the ship from the sea bed and learning so much about its design and history during the research phase.
Another project that stands out to me is the 1:72 B17. It was fascinating to research in detail how all the elements inside the fuselage came together, there was so much packed into that aircraft.
We unfortunately lost our beloved Brand Manager quite suddenly at the beginning of 2021. To pay our respects to a wonderful man who gave the best part of his life to Airfix, we wanted to include him here, as he will always be a member of the Airfix team. When asked to sum up his role within the team, Darrell had this to say:
"I'm Darrell Burge, and for my sins have the title of Head of Brand. I've been involved with Airfix professionally since April 1st (yes it's true!) 1988, but before that came from the era of hanging the aircraft models up with fishing line in my bedroom to then watch them "dogfighting" by the light of a safely hidden torch!
Many of you know the history of Hornby, but I came from a different branch of the British toy industry, the Mettoy Company Ltd. I started my working life at the Swansea plant aged 16, it was located on the Fforestfach Industrial Estate and I was employed as a management trainee, a three-year programme, with studies in the evening at a local college. It was a very intensive course, I spent time in every part of the business - toolroom, sales, accounts, computers, all of the production process, injection moulding, die-casting, maintenance engineering, design, electrostatic painting, vacuum metallising, distribution - every aspect of the business. One week I would be out selling, the next driving a forklift truck, then setting a mould, refurbishing a mould, designing a mould, preparing accounts, counting out wages, launching new products - if the company did it - I did it.
Little did I know all these years later that I would be the CEO of Hornby and watch on with pride as our skilled designers bring dreams alive.
I'm the graphic designer for Airfix, Quickbuild and Humbrol and I began here as a senior graphic designer for the Hornby Hobbies brand team seven years ago. However, for the last few years I have been part of the Airfix team exclusively. It's my job to design and layout all of the packaging and marketing materials including catalogues, ads and exhibition graphics.
Hello, my name is Martin and I have been the Airfix Development Manager for around 12 years. It's a very varied role, a typical day will probably involve some planning of future projects, design reviews and checking of artwork and samples. I also commission outside artworkers to do decal scheme artwork and box illustrations. In addition, I liaise with our manufacturer in India, making sure they have everything they need for production and I check the quality of preproduction and production samples.
Hi everyone, my name is Matt Whiting and my role in the Airfix team is Design Manager. As well as designing new model kits myself, I also work with the other designers to help research, offer advice and guidance on their projects and help with engineering the new injection moulds that produce the new kits, to make sure each model is developed to the same standard. I have been at Hornby in the Airfix team for 11 years, (but have been building model kits for many more!). During that time, I have been on some amazing research trips and met some fantastic experts and enthusiasts that have helped us make some great models. Highlights include visiting the Ulster Aviation Society collection when researching the Blackburn Buccaneer, and the Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection at Gaardermoen, Norway, where we were able to laser scan their very rare Heinkel HE111-P2.
Outside of the scale modelling world I'm a father of two budding modellers, keen road and mountain cyclist, dabble in running and have recently got into 1/10th RC Buggy racing with my son- can't wait for the race tracks to re-open!
My name is Paramjit Sembhi and I have been working at Airfix for just under 2 years. I enquired about a job at the Telford Model Show and sometime later I became an Airfix Product Designer while being a keen scale modeller for the past 10 years. I studied Industrial Design & Technology at Brunel University and I am an East London native. My main role in the company is to design model kits and due to me being a scale modeller, I apply my knowledge from the hobby to design a kit from a modeller's perspective.
Job Titles:
- Technical Illustrator ( and the Man Responsible for These Wonderful Illustrations )
Technical Illustrator (and the man responsible for these wonderful illustrations)
Hello, my name is Richard Petts, I am a Technical Illustrator and been working at Hornby Hobbies for 13 years. During this time, I have been producing the instruction booklets for our Airfix kits that are designed by our talented team of Product Designers. This is done by taking a CAD file and manipulating it in a 3D programme before doing the final stages in a desk top publishing programme.
I really enjoy building the first shots as I create the step by step illustrations at the same time. I must have built so many super models and it would be impossible to pick a favourite. I prefer the 1:48 scale, but I love the extreme amount of amazing detail in our 1:24 range, especially the radial engine in the hellcat.
Hi, my name is Sally and I am the Assistant Brand Manager for Airfix and Quickbuild. I joined the Airfix team almost two years ago having previously worked in the Purchasing department here for four years. My role varies daily from helping plan future ranges, catalogues, and more recently starting the Airfix Club again to loading vans going out on the road to several different shows.
I am Tom Alderman and I have been an Airfix Product Designer with Hornby Hobbies for just over three years. I joined the team back in August 2017 after graduating from Loughborough University's Design School. As one of the youngest members of the Airfix team I am at the forefront of developments within CAD/CAM design and am intrigued by the possibilities and advancements that this could afford the company and my design work.
When talking about favourite models, as a designer, I look for great design over a favourite subject or scale. Unfortunately, my favourite model has yet to be revealed; therefore, I can only tease of great things to come to the marketplace soon.