Sales of German tanks and ships have also outstripped those of the Allies.

Analysis by the model maker Airfix has revealed that this year, German
kits have made up around 55 per cent of the sales of all kits relating
to the conflict. Around 1.4 million German replicas were sold, compared
to 1.1 million Allied kits.

Experts and modellers say the rise in sales of the Nazi war machines
reflects an interest in the more experimental technologies developed by
the Germans and the engineering superiority of many of their vehicles.

Luftwaffe planes now outnumber rival air forces in the top ten most
popular aircraft from the conflict, with five models, compared to four
RAF planes and one from the US.

The biggest selling German planes are the Messerschmitt Bf 109E, the
Focke Wulf 190D, the Junkers Ju87 Stuka, the Dornier Do17 and the
"Mistel", an experimental composite aircraft, in which a fighter was
attached to a bomber.

The most popular RAF planes are the Supermarine Spitfire, the De
Havilland Mosquito, the Hawker Hurricane and the Avro Lancaster. The P51
Mustang is the only US aircraft in the top ten.

In terms of tanks, sales of Nazi Panther and Tiger models far outstrip
those of the most popular Allied kits, the Sherman and Churchill tanks,
by a ratio of three to one.

German infantry are the most popular kits of figures, followed by
British Commandos and Paratroops.

The highest selling ship is a replica of the German battleship Bismarck,
with around 5,500 kits sold, compared to just 3,000 kits sold by the
second most popular, HMS Hood, which was sunk in a battle between the
two in 1941.

Of the smaller vessels, the German E-boat sells the same numbers as
British torpedo boat and an RAF rescue launch, despite being more than
twice the price.

John Tapsell, vice president of the International Plastic Modellers
Society (UK), said he was surprised by the revelation: "It does seem
slightly odd that the German kits outsell the Allied ones. It certainly
doesn't mean that lots of modellers sympathise with the German cause.

"I think it might be something to do with the typical British
fascination with the loser and also an interest in German engineering.
British soldiers in the war were in awe of the Tiger tank, for instance,
and that sort of interest has remained. The (German) uniforms also look
very smart."

Jeremy Brook, secretary of the Airfix Collectors Club, agreed.

"One shouldn't say it but there is something about the German uniform
and many of their machines, that makes them more attractive. Some of
their warships like the Bismarck are quite beautiful.

"Certainly, the German colour schemes are more exciting to paint than
the British ones.

"When I was a child in the 1950s, I always wanted German aircraft, tanks
and soldiers, but they were so much harder to come by then. Perhaps all
the German children wanted Spitfires and Hurricanes."

Although German kits are dominant in total global sales, in the UK –
which makes up more than 60 per cent of the company's market – the
Allies maintain a small advantage over the Germans, because of the
enduring popularity of the Spitfire.

It is the first time the company has conducted this sort of analysis.
Darrell Burge, from Airfix, said the surge in popularity of German
models, particularly tanks and figures, had started within the last ten
years.

"Across the hobby, there is no doubt that the German models now sell
more than the Allied ones. German subjects are far, far more popular and
that is increasing.

"Sales of German kits have really started to grow in the last ten years.
In the UK, sales of the Spitfire – with around 45,000 kits sold – only
just tip the scales in the favour of the Allies.

"German tanks are much better sellers than Allied ones. They are iconic
as the biggest and most brutal of the war. They were virtually
unstoppable. They were much better machines than the Allied ones.

"And a lot of the German aircraft were more experimental. There is a
mystique about so many of their war machines that has translated into
increased sales.

"The other factor in their favour is that in terms of kits, the Germans
are really the only Axis power. So if someone is building a battlefield,
they need Germans, whereas the Allies can be represented by the British
or Americans."

The company is now planning to bring out new German models, to meet
demand, including the Messerschmitt 110 aircraft, a new version of the
Me 109, the Junkers Ju88 plane, and a U-boat.

None of the Nazi models contain a swastika, because the symbol is banned
in Germany.

The firm sells 3.5 million kits a year and up to 15 per cent of its
sales are in Germany.

In 2006, the manufacturer was saved from going out of business by train
set maker Hornby, which bought the firm for £2.6 million.


Top ten most popular aircraft:

Supermarine Spitfire 45,000 kits sold

Messerschmitt Bf 109E 25,000

De Havilland Mosquito17,000

Focke Wulf 190D15,000

Avro Lancaster

Junkers Ju87 Stuka

Hawker Hurricane

P51 Mustang

Dornier Do17

Mistel

Hornby saves Airfix from a sticky end

By Ben Fenton
Last Updated: 1:52AM GMT 11 Nov 2006

Nobody could have guessed it, but the cavalry has arrived by train.

Airfix, Britain's most famous model kit manufacturer, was clinging on to life by its glue-encrusted fingers.

But help arrived yesterday in the form of a buy-out by Hornby, most famous for their model railway engines.

The saviours have promised to keep the most popular Airfix kits alive, but manufacture seems destined to be transferred to China and the new owners have made the ominous suggestion that new models adapted for the shorter attention spans of modern youth will be introduced.

The buy-out of Airfix's parent Humbrol, a company that employed about 40 people in Hull, will cost Hornby £2.6 million.

Frank Martin, Hornby's chief executive, said: "We are delighted to have acquired Airfix and Humbrol, both of which are iconic brands."

All the Allies had were plain 'ol airplanes that won the war...