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Latest Constant Scale reveals Roman secrets, Doctor Who delights – and a Joe 90 kit that never was

By John Freeman on October 18, 2020

The latest issue of Constant Scale, the journal of the Airfix Collectors’ Club is available now – and there are plenty of items of interest for comics, Doctor Who and Gerry Anderson fans, as well as avid modellers.

Constant Scale, the Club journal, is published four times a year and includes articles about the history of Airfix, its products and information supplied by former Airfix employees who are members of the Club.

Contributors to the magazine include downthetubes editor and contributor Jeremy Briggs, who has a number of articles in Issue 76, the new issue.

In this issue…

• Airfix’s Lost Joe 90 Kit: revealing that after the success of their Captain Scarlet Angel Interceptor kit Airfix considered a kit from Joe 90

• Behind The Scenes at Haldane Place: showing the photos from inside the Airfix factory that appeared in Battle/Action comic and Valiant annual

Airfix Romans Figures - Original — *Romans figure box art by Brian Knight*

“The Wolves of Gaul”, from Junior Quizzer, featuring art by Ian Kennedy

• Airfix Comic Strips in Junior Quizzer: detailing the comic strips based on Airfix kits and soldiers in the 1970s magazine, including “The Wolves of Gaul”, featuring art by Ian Kennedy, promoting Airfix “Romans” figures, alongside more adventure and humour strips

• Humbrol Badges: accurately dating the “Humbrol Enamel” and “Stick ‘Em Up With Britfix” badges through adverts

• Airfix and Doctor Who: considering Airfix’s Doctor Who connections through the 1970s New Artist sets, the 2000s kits and the plan for a Dalek kit around 1980 (an update of Jeremy Brigg’s downthetubes article).

• Opinion – The Sticky Subject of International Postage: discussing the cost of international postage rates on membership fees

• Constant Scale Issue 76 is available to members of the Airfix Collectors’ Club. UK membership is £20 per annum and details on how to join are available on the club’s website

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.