Royal Navy deal gives Airfix exclusive access to designs

Airfix, the model kit brand, has signed a licensing deal with the Royal Navy, which will give it access to exclusive content and non-sensitive plans and designs.

It is the first time the model maker has agreed a formal deal with the Navy, although it already has relationships with parts of the RAF, including the Red Arrows.

The Royal Navy crest will now appear on the packaging of a number of Airfix products, and the company says it is hoping to agree similar deals with the Army and wider RAF.

The first product to be released under the new deal is a commemorative Falklands sea harrier plane. The model will come with pilots’ logs, photographs and technical data sheets from the Navy squadrons that saw action in the conflict.

The Hornby-owned brand also plans to release new editions of two of its biggest selling models, battle cruiser HMS Hood and aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, featuring materials made available as part of the licensing deal.

Darrell Burge, marketing manager for Airfix, says the launch of the special editions this summer will be supported by an ad campaign.

He adds: “The deal gives us access to historical archives and technical data, and we are using that to enhance the modelling experience.”

Lt Cdr Paula Rowe, of the Royal Navy, says the deal is “the start of a long relationship between the Navy and Airfix”, and adds that there will also be exclusive products.

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