Airfix - The Roy Cross Archive

[Stargazer]

[ Had put this in the wrong section... Still don't know where it belongs, but if it's misplaced, could a moderator please move it to its proper place? Thanks in advance!!! ]

A great collection of original artwork for Airfix boxes was put up for auction in April 2010 at Vectis Auctions Ltd. There were sample printer's proof box lids, original rough sketches and non-selected/refused artwork. All fascinating stuff! I've only included aircraft here, but there are also a handful of boats, cars and bikes. Estimated prices range typically from £70 to £150, although some go further up. However, there is no indication as to how much the items went for in the end.

NOTE: all pictures are available from the site in larger size.

[PR19_Kit]

That one of the Rotodyne would look REALLY good over my mantlepiece! I wish I'd have known about this a year ago......

[NARSES2]

Great find, some lovely stuff there, nostalgia overload 

[rickshaw]

He really could draw and paint.   Interesting the big "NO" on the Blenheim one.  Obviously someone didn't share his tastes.

[Mossie]

I remember reading that Roy would produce several sketches to a brief and that the marketing guy would pick his favourite.  One guy in particular would write on the sketch, usually THIS ONE for the one he wanted, NO for the one's he rejected.  I think it was rare for him to have to go back to the canvas.  You can see in Stargazers initial post several slightly different sketches, on the linky there's several with THIS ONE or NO written on them.

Shame G for George is smudged, that's a beauty.  Some lovely stuff there.

[lancer]

Beautiful. Is it just me or is there more life and atmosphere in Roy Cross' artwork that there is on the new sigital artwork that adorns the Airfix boxes of today?

[McGreig]

Is it just me or is there more life and atmosphere in Roy Cross' artwork that there is on the new sigital artwork that adorns the Airfix boxes of today?

I agree. At the risk of repeating myself (see my post on the Worst Box Art thread) and boring everybody rigid, the new Airfix artwork is often flat, unrealistic, dark, lacking in atmosphere and is (in my opinion) generally unappealing. The aircraft don't stand out from the background and there is often very little contrast between the colours. Even the more eye-catching ones still look flat and dull in comparison to Roy Cross (or Shigeo Koike or Roy Huxley for that matter).

[Stargazer]

Maybe because they were drawn by someone who had been grown up with the stuff and seen the aircraft for real, and not just in photographs, flown some of them... Aircraft are not just about calculations and math. They are about metal, leather, rubber, oil, kerosene, blood, sweat and tears... They appeal to all our senses. If a computer generated image doesn't touch us anywhere near a genuine pencil or paint artwork, maybe it's because paint, pencil, ink, graphite are real-life materials, they are alive, and so they can best convey the raw power and excitement conveyed by the machines. What mattered on these old covers was not the accuracy of every detail so much as the power, the impact it had on young buyers' imagination. Today we have every perfect CG representation we can think of, but they often lack soul.

[Mossie]

I'd disagree.  The recent artwork is very dynamic & harks back to that older era, they're no longer afraid to show aircraft shooting down others or bombing.  The modern artwork is actually very striking & any difference is just a matter of style.  CGI is with us now wether we like it or not & it's come on along way, it's capable of as much expression & vibrance as traditional art forms & in some senses conveys things better.

[Army of One]

Oh.....some of my childhood explained.......I used to love the Airfix box art......amazing stuff..!!! I like some of the new stuff as well......

[Nigel Bunker]

ironically, for some of the earlier kits, Roy Cross' artwork was more accurate than the kits in the box.

[NARSES2]

I'd disagree.  The recent artwork is very dynamic & harks back to that older era, they're no longer afraid to show aircraft shooting down others or bombing.  The modern artwork is actually very striking & any difference is just a matter of style.  CGI is with us now wether we like it or not & it's come on along way, it's capable of as much expression & vibrance as traditional art forms & in some senses conveys things better.

Understand where you are coming from Mossie. I love the old Roy Cross stuff (most of it anyway. Even he had some off moments, where his exceptional talents slipped a little) but some of the new stuff is excellent. Particularly agree with the fact that they are "no longer afraid to show aircraft shooting down others or bombing". Yes in comparrison to some of the old stuff it can look a little "flat" but it's a vast improvement on the sterile stuff that was the norm a few years ago.

Still at the end of the day art and it's appreciation is all down to the eye of the beholder - ones mans meat etc.

[Army of One]

ones mans meat etc.

Blimey... ...I gotta watch out at the next exchange....?