Airfix:  Celebrating 50 Years of the Greatest Plastic Kits in the World is a coffee table book for plastic modelers.  In its 192 pages, Arthur Ward treats the reader to Airfix's varied history, focusing his narrative on the model kit side of what was once a well-diversified company. 

In keeping with the coffee table book format, this work is profusely illustrated with photos of kits, the people behind Airfix, and box art-lots and lots of box art.  The accompanying text documents Airfix's growth in the modeling world, providing personal anecdotes along the way to highlight the "human" side of the business.  The book also touches on the lost molds, such as the HO scale SAM missile, and hints at what might have been in terms of subjects Airfix investigated, but never produced.  The book closes with a list of each plastic kit Airfix produced by year and a short collector's list of the most valuable Airfix kits.   

The author's pro-Airfix bias is obvious.  He focuses on certain pieces of the Airfix story and glosses over other elements (such as when the company went into receivership), resulting in a shallow and incomplete history. Probably the most frustrating aspect of the book is its disjointed nature. Stories started in one section are picked up later in other sections, making it a challenge to piece them together.  The result is a product that seems more amateurish and enthusiastic than balanced and professional. 

Despite its shortcomings, Airfix:  Celebrating 50 Years of the Greatest Plastic Kits in the World is still a nice book.  It provides the reader with insight into plastic modeling world, introduces many of the key individuals behind the company's success, and is full of excellent photos.  It has certainly given me a deeper appreciation for the kits and the company and is a welcome addition to my modeling library. 

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