Rosebud Kitmaster
Short-lived British plastic kit brand of railway models.
Rosebud Kitmaster was a brand of plastic assembly kits produced by Rosebud Dolls Ltd of Raunds, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom. Introduced in May 1959, the range quickly expanded to include 34 models of railway locomotives and coaches in OO, HO and TT scales, along with one motorcycle in 1:16 scale. The brand is noted for its short-lived but critically acclaimed production run, with assets later sold to Airfix Products Ltd in late 1962.
Quick Facts
- Producttype
- Railway model kits
- Currentowner
- Hornby (2007–pres.)
- Previousowners
- Rosebud Dolls Co. (1959–62) / Airfix (1962–2006)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Rosebud Kitmaster range comprised mainly British railway rolling stock, with a few other subjects. The 34 kits included individual locomotives and carriages, the Ariel Arrow Super Sports motorcycle, the Fireball XL5 rocket, and motorisation units such as a motorised bogie and a motorised box van. Three railway presentation sets were produced: P1 (100 Years of British Steam), P2 (Battle of Britain Set), and P3 (TT3 Royal Scot Set). The moulds were sold to Airfix in 1962, and later in 1982 the surviving tools were sold to Dapol Model Railways. However, not all kits were passed over; several were destroyed by General Mills/Palitoy at the Glenfield warehouse after Airfix's liquidation that year, making some Kitmaster kits extremely collectable and valuable, with prices for rare unmade models like the OO gauge LMS Beyer-Garratt reaching as much as £100.
Reader's Guide
The significance of Rosebud Kitmaster lies in its brief but influential presence in the model railway hobby. The range introduced a variety of prototypes, including British, European, and North American locomotives, as well as coaches and motorisation options. After the brand's demise, its tooling passed through Airfix and later Dapol Model Railways, which revived the Kitmaster name for new plastic construction kits and coach ranges. The loss of some moulds during storage at Glenfield created scarcity for certain models, driving collector interest. The brand's legacy is also seen in the re-issue of nine locomotives and the motorcycle under Airfix, and the continued use of the Kitmaster name by Dapol. The range's diversity and the rarity of surviving kits have cemented its place among collectors of vintage plastic model kits.
Did You Know?
- The range included a model of the Ariel Arrow Super Sports motorcycle in 1/16 scale as Kit No. 60.
- Some Kitmaster kits were sold in plain packaging by the Hermes Supply Company for a Nabisco Shredded Wheat promotion in early 1963.
- The OO gauge LMS Beyer-Garratt locomotive kit is among the rarest and can fetch up to £100 unmade.
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