Skybirds

Background

The kits were intended to educate their assemblers about the aircraft and were designed to be built similarly to real aircraft construction. They were supposedly approved by 'educational and air-minded organisations'. Subjects ranged from First World War to Second World War military aircraft, plus a number of inter-war period civilian types. The company endorsed the foundation of clubs specifically for model-making, which together formed the Skybird League.

The League had its own magazine published four times a year. Photographs of completed models could be submitted into competitions for display in the windows of the Hamleys toyshop in London. Customers marvelled that a photograph of a properly finished model looked identical to the original article, a feat somewhat easier to achieve in the 1930s due to monochromatic photography.

The kits encouraged photographers to experiment with scale and trickery to make the model seem more like an actual vehicle. Modellers were also encouraged to produce a diorama of their completed vehicle, setting it amidst scratch-built accessories. During the Second World War, modelling became a vital part of morale for children, who could participate within the dogfights above them during the Battle of Britain. It is possible that model making popularised the Supermarine Spitfire, despite it being statistically out-performed and out-numbered throughout the conflict by the more-successful Hawker Hurricane.