Constant Scale issue 90, the latest issue of the Airfix Collectors’ Club’s journal, pays tribute to Airfix box artist, and Club President, Roy Cross, who passed away the day after his 100th birthday in April.
Roy had worked on British comics prior to Airfix, including covers and cutaways for the original Eagle and covers for its junior stablemate Swift.
Issue 90 was originally held back to celebrate his 100th birthday, but, with his sad passing shortly afterwards, has become a tribute issue.
Editor Jeremy Brook, who met Roy on many occasions, pens the tribute and remembers his many box art contributions from (appropriately) his first Airfix illustration, the Dornier Do-217, on the front cover to his last, Prinz Eugen, on the back. The Prinz Eugen photos are of Roy’s original painting and include close-ups of the detail within the artwork.
The centrespread is the full original image of the Boeing B-29, Jeremy’s favourite piece of Roy’s Airfix career, which he focusses on in the tribute and also includes an image of its pencil line Master Tracing.
Issue 90 is 32 A4 pages long with 12 in full colour and, in addition to the Roy Cross tribute, includes:
• Airfix Fiat G.91 Blueprint: Jeremy Briggs compares a 1959 dated draft production blueprint to the final version of the Series 1 kit
• HMS Ajax to HMAS Sydney: David Welsh details his modification of the Vintage Classic World War Two light cruiser into the RAN warship lost to a German merchant raider
• Stash Vs Collection: Jeremy Briggs opines on the often fraught decision for the modeller – to build or to keep
• Modifying Military Vehicles: Richard Thorpe highlights his Airfix AFV collection with many photographs and details the modifications he has made to the various kits to change their variants
• Airfix Model World: Jeremy Briggs details the fall off in the magazine’s 2023 ABC sales figures, which reveal a small drop of 5% for its print sales, but almost 75% for its digital edition
• Roland C-11 Restoration: Geir Hansen photos show his restoration of an original bagged version of Airfix’s biplane kit
• Plus Jeremy Brook’s reviews the latest selection of new, rereleased, Vintage Classic and Quick Build kits from Airfix.
Constant Scale is only available from the Airfix Collectors’ Club. There are four issues per year included in the annual membership, plus printed and electronic copies of back issues are available for members to purchase. The club also produces the Kit List, a complete listing of all Airfix kits produced which is now on its sixth edition, and the Toy List, a complete listing of all the toys, games and crafts that the original Airfix produced up to its receivership in 1981.
The club subscription for 2024 has not changed from 2023 and is £20 UK, £30 Europe, and £35 ROW. More details about the club and how to join are available on its website – airfixcollectorsclub.co.uk
Remembering Roy Cross
Roy Cross passed away on the 24th April after a short illness. You can read his obituary here in his official site.
“Roy was and forever will be an important part of our history, inspiring many modellers over decades through his incredible illustrations,” Airfix said in a statement.
“Our thoughts go to his family during this difficult time.
“Fly on, old friend.”
• Constant Scale issue 90 is only available from the Airfix Collectors’ Club. Back issues, both print and e-copies, are also available. The club subscription for 2024 has not changed from 2023 and is £20 UK, £30 Europe, and £35 ROW. More details about the club and how to join are available on its website – airfixcollectorsclub.co.uk
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.
Categories: Art and Illustration, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Magazines, Merchandise, Other Worlds
Roy Cross’s box-top artworks were simply spectacular. One wonders just how many Airfix kits were sold on the basis of his wonderful illustrations and this has provided yet another avenue of nostalgia to collect the various box-top changes over the years. They don’t make them like they used to!
Gerald Edwards