Hornby Hobbies develops, manufactures and supplies hobby and toy products for a global market. With a collection of truly iconic brands spanning model railways, slot racing, die-cast models and plastic model kits.

 A Brief Hornby Hobbies History

Hornby Hobbies’ journey began back in 1901 in Liverpool. When founder Frank Hornby applied for a patent in 1901 to protect an invention he called Improvements in. Toy or Educational Devices for Children and Young People’. This became Meccano, and in 1964, Hornby and Meccano bought by a rival company, Tri-ang. Hornby Railways became independent again in the 1980s. And has continued it's legacy as one of the most iconic companies in Britain.

The Beating Heart of Margate

Hornby has been a famous fixture in Margate, Kent, since 1964 when Tri-ang acquired the company. The impressive Hornby factory site at Margate constructed by Lines Brothers Limited in 1953 as a purpose built. State of the art model production facility for Rovex Scale Models Ltd and their world famous Tri-ang Railway system. The new factory housed the technical, experimental and development departments of the company. In addition to a limited manufacturing capacity for their brand of Tri-ang model railways.

Hornby Hobbies’ Most Iconic Brands

Hornby is a household name and is famous as the UK brand leader in the model railway hobby.  The company’s founder was Frank Hornby. (1863 - 1936) who applied for a patent in 1901 to protect an invention he called. ‘Improvements in Toy or Educational Devices for Children and Young People’.  Nobody then could have imagined how this product would influence the model railway hobby that we know today. Frank Hornby, granted his patent and soon put the invention into production under the name ‘Mechanics Made Easy’.

Now simply called "Hornby", the company justifiably retains the position it has held for more than 50 years. As Britain’s leading model railway manufacturer.

Scalextric is the ultimate motor racing system

Scalextric is the ultimate motor racing system for all ages. Where miniature cars race against each other on special track. Getting their power from a slot in the middle of each lane (you will sometimes hear Scalextric called slot racing). Invented, Fred (B F) Francis, the very first Scalextric, made in Havant, Hampshire in 1956. In 1968, Hornby Hobbies acquired the company and was instrumental in shaping it into what you see today.  

Airfix is the oldest UK manufacturer. Of scale plastic model kits and has been producing kits for the mass market since 1952.  Air-fix produces a wide range of kits aimed at all types of scale modellers with subjects such as.

military aircraft

civil aircraft

ships

galleons

cars

space

figures

dioramas

military vehicles

Airfix founded in 1939 by Nicholas Kove

Airfix founded in 1939 by Nicholas Kove, a refugee from Hungary who originally manufactured rubber inflated toys. After trading hands and designs many times. In 2006 Hornby Hobbies Ltd bought both the. Airfix and Humbrol brands and have dedicated to their revitalisation ever since.

Founded in 1919 as the Humber Oil Company, Humbrol initially supplied bicycle oil for Hull's growing army of cyclists.  In 1935, however, the company asked to produce paints for renovating cycles and came up with Art Enamel. Since Humbrol, founded in 1919 the brand has been under several owners. In November 2006, the Humbrol and Airfix brands were acquired Hornby Hobbies Ltd. Where they sit alongside some of Britain’s best-loved toy and hobby brands.

Hornby model railways

Scalextric slot racing

Corgi die-cast models

Corgi's famous model vehicles captured the imagination of millions of baby boomers and, what were once simply toys for boys. Now highly sought-after in the expanding collectables market. The Corgi brand created the Mettoy Company of Northampton which first started to produce colourful, pressed metal toys in the 1930s.  It bought Hornby Hobbies in 2008. Today, the majority of Corgi cars, trucks and buses produced as once-only Limited Editions. And often sold out within weeks of release. 

Hornby Hobbies Present

Today, Hornby Hobbies ltd is home to 15 collectible and scale model brands. The company has had the opportunity to expand internationally. Working with brands from France, Germany, Spain and Italy and partnering with stockists all over the world.

Hornby Hobbies has prioritised its accessibility, ensuring that our much loved and loyal community has been able to grow into online spaces such as. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and our forums, to continue connecting over their shared passion like never before.

With our long history of embracing change, promoting creativity and connecting with you. We are very much looking forward to another 100 years. The best is yet to come.

Hornby Railways is a British model railway brand. Also owns Airfix and Humbrol.

Indus miniatures will be producing 28mm miniatures for "War in India". We will be covering from 1650 to 1850 but some of the figures could be used for earlier or later periods. We will be producing elephants, camels and artillery. These figures are being sculpted to be compatible with most other 28mm ranges on the market now.

IronGateScenery produce 3D Printed Scenery & Miniatures, company based in the United Kingdom. IronGateScenery have new products being released all the time.

All of our models are compatible with games such as:

Gangs of Rome

Kings of War

Dungeon & Dragons

Frostgrave

Lord of the Rings

Battle of Pelennor Fields

to name a few.

With the release of Kings Mountain’s second group of model soldiers, the Over Mountain Men, we have introduced the idea of “headless” figures. All of the models (and all of our future releases) have been sculpted to accept any one of the hundreds (Yikes!! Hundreds!!) of separate heads that Kings Mountain offers. We have over 250 different heads available right now, with more to come. Separate heads for model soldiers is not a new idea, but it is one that fits perfectly for early American frontier figures. With these bodies and the various heads you can make French and Indian War frontiersmen, Couer de Bois, American Militia and on and on. The same for the AWI, War of 1812 and even the Alamo.

I invite everyone to send in pictures of what they have done with the minis and will post them on the CUSTOMER'S PAGE. Full credit will be given. In fact, now is a good time to ask this. If you see one of your photos on the site, please send me an email to claim credit. I lost all of the saved emails concerning the photos when the site crashed. I remember that Mick, from down under, sent me the photo that introduced this website. What a great picture ! It really captures the essence that the Highlanders exhibited throughout the War.

So, take a minute and browse through our pages. Our first release, the Southern Theater Highlanders, was a huge success and really pushed me into making more model soldiers. The second release, was an attempt to portray the Over Mountain Men, who fought so brilliantly at Kings Mountan and Cowpens.

It was a natural progression to move onto the Southern Department of the Continental Army and I have done that. too. I am happy to announce that the long awaited Continentals and the Dismounted Dragoons are finally ready for release.

There are 16 action poses, to go along with 8 Command poses, for the Southern Continental Infantry.

Additionally, 8 Dismounted Dragoons have joined the battle, bringing the total to 32 new poses for you to enjoy. All 32 new poses accept the more than 250 heads that are available. This will allow you to customize your armies to fit your needs.

Laser Craft Art with many years of gaming experience and many years of not finding the buildings and gaming supplies I wanted to use I've taken the plunge and started my own ranges.

Our first ranges  will include 10mm and 15mm Adobe style buildings to accompany Lancashire Games new 10mm ranges.