The KeilKraft handbooks are little gems, well worth collecting and preserving for posterity, especially as the kits are no longer in production. If youve been collecting them, you will no doubt have noticed that its quite difficult to tell if you have a complete set. Some have the year on them, some have two years, some years there were no handbooks and others have no dates at all. What I have tried to do here is provide a reference guide for the collector of what I think is the complete set. The information presented is based on my own observations over many years of collecting, and as far as I can tell is complete, but of course theres always the chance that something hitherto unseen will turn up one day. Thats just part of the fun of collecting. If you know of other handbooks or publications that arent mentioned here, we would be pleased to hear from you (note this article doesnt cover the trade price lists). Of course there are many other kinds of KeilKraft memorabilia to collect such as the single sheet leaflets, the trade price lists and of course the kits and accessories themselves. Some of these items changed over the years and the information in the table below can be used to date those in your collection. For example, the leaflets can be dated by looking at the price of the Junior Flying Scale Kits as this changed almost every year. Other clues include the address, KeilKraft moved from Hackney road to Wickford in 1955 and then on to Lancing in the mid-late 1980s. I hope you find this article of help in your quest to collect them all.
Reference Summary of KeilKraft Handbook Publications
Year Price Pages JFS Kit Price Featured Plans Notes 1946 1/- 48 - Bantam HLG (p28 -29), Scorpion & Strato Baby (reduced) 1947a 1/6 56 - Bantam HLG (p28 -29), Scorpion & Strato Baby (reduced) First edition 1947b 1/6 56 - Bantam HLG (p28 -29), Scorpion & Strato Baby (reduced) Revised summer edition. 1948 9d 40 - 1949 9d 48 - Pirate (not full size) 1950 1950 - 51 6d 90 - Imp Jetex 1951 - None published 1952 1952 - 53 1/3 98 3/8 1953 1953 - 54 1/3 102 3/6 1954 - None published 1955 9d 48 3/6 1956 9d 56 3/9 1957 1/3 56 3/9 1958 1/6 64 3/9 Imp - Jetex 1959 1/6 64 3/9 Flicka - Hand Launched Glider 1960 2/- 72 - Marine models catalogue 1961 2/- 60 4/2 Cyclone - Control Line 1962 - None published 1963 2/- 90 4/6 1964 - None published 1965 2/6 90 4/8 1966 - None published 1967 - None published 1968a 2/6 90 6/3 First edition 1968b 2/6 90 6/3 Second print (possibly the same) 1969 3/6 90 6/4 Gnat - Jetex 1970 - None published 1971a 3/6, 17p 90 45p 9/0 Dual currency edition 1971b 20p 90 45p 9/0 Decimal edition 1972 20p 90 44p 8/10 Mustang - Control Line 1973 - None published 1974 - None published 1975 50p 90 75p 15/0 1976 - None published 1977 - None published 1978 - None published 1979 95p 96 1.95 - 1 19 6 Katie - Hand Launched Glider 1980 ? 40 - Harry Butler RTP Catalogue 1946 1947a 1947b 1948 This one has a wonderful intro- This edition introduces some new In the revised introduction the With a new format, slightly duction written by Eddie Keil models, the Contestor, Competi- development of a powered flying stiffer cover and better quality himself. With typical post war tor, Rover, Slicker and Hornet. wing is mentioned, but it seems paper, its surprising there arent modesty he apologises for not be- This must have been a time of en- this was never produced. The more of these still around. We are ing able to produce enough kits thusiastic development and charismatic control line Phantom introduced to the Scout biplane as he was busy building Mos- change as they felt the need to now makes its debut appearance and Stuntmaster control line quitos for the War effort! A range publish a revised edition later that in a splendid full-page advert and models. This issue contains some of rubber powered flying scale year. A hand-launched glider quickly becomes a best seller. great photos of the original Phan- models is introduced, comprising called the Bantam is the free full The Contestor, Competitor and tom prototypes, the Southerner a Lysander, Mustang, Typhoon, size plan included in this and the Eaglet trio make their appear- and Playboy models. Tethered Thunderbolt, Spitfire V, Firefly, previous edition. Although not ance. Many kits are advertised in cars make their first and last ap- Piper Cub, Zero and FW 190. I listed in the 1946 edition, on page full-page spreads in these first is- pearance as catalogue items, as have never seen any of these for 2 there is a photo of a model de- sues and they really show the does the Atlas model yacht. Gal- sale anywhere. (See the end of scribed as a modified Eaglet models off nicely. It makes you leon kits are introduced and the this article for a picture of this with a petrol engine installed and want to rush out and by them, range of engines expands to in- range of models.) Does anyone seemingly decorated in pseudo which is exactly what an advert clude Mills, NORDEC and E.D. know if there are any still in exis- Military colours. However it should do. Jetex 100 & 200 motors along tence? looks more like a Bandit to me with the Skyjet 100 & 200 kits nice though. quietly appear.
1949 1950 1952 1953
This is a particularly nice hand- This handbook introduces the This issue sees the introduction of The Topper and Dolphin gliders book and very hard to find, espe- Pixie semi-scale free flight rubber purchase tax and the new Junior are introduced. The Spitfire, and cially in good condition. There model. The Piper Cub is now the Flying Scale Series, initially Hurricane are finally added to the are many fine photos, including a only remaining flying scale comprising 14 rubber powered rubber powered Junior Flying great one of Eddie Keil and his model from the original series. planes of 1621 span, one glider Scale Series. The Javelin, beautiful Falcon. Other pictures We are introduced to the Stunt and 6 Jetex powered models. All DH110, Avro 707 and Super- include an early Skystreak proto- King, the Chief A2 Glider and were priced at a modest 3/8 and marine Swift were also added to type and a fabulous photo of the Skystreak series. There is a which replaced the earlier series the Jetex Junior Flying Scale Ernie Webster hard at work in his great article on the development completely. This range was sub- range. By this stage the how to workshop building models. Nice of the Skystreak. The Slicker gets stantially expanded in the coming articles in the handbooks are be- work if you can get it the caption a fabulous full-page spread ad- years and must have introduced coming quite comprehensive and says! Too true. The Skyjet 50 vertisement, listing a string of many young modellers to this well worth reading. model is introduced. trophy wins over four years. fine hobby. 1955 1956 1957 1958 Cover price reduced to 9d but The rather splendid cover on this Back to landscape format again, This handbook introduces the now only 48 pages. KeilKraft issue shows the Pacer Class B but for the last time. The rather new Hurricane Mk.2c plastic as- move from Hackney Road to new Team Racer against a backdrop curious cover picture almost sembly kit and announces that factory in Wickford. There is a of a chequered flag. 3/6 Flying seems more old fashioned than this will be followed by a Sop- nice article about the new factory Scale kits now priced at 3/9. previous years. The Phantom with Camel, a Stuka and a Chip- in the August 1955 edition of There is a nice drawing of the Mite was introduced. KeilKraft munk. The Stuka and Chipmunk Model Aircraft Magazine. EeZe- new Wickford factory on page 1. began marketing plastic assembly never appeared though. The cover BILT Sedan and Sportster intro- Lots of nice photos including an kits with the introduction of the picture for this issue was later duced along with Aerokits boat early Phantom with no cockpit, new Highway Pioneers classic used on the box art for the plastic kits. several of the Mk1 Ranger, two car kits from Gowland. This was kit of the Sopwith Camel. A pictorial articles showing how to in response to the increasing vastly expanded range of plastic build the Dolphin and the Spit- popularity and availability of kits appears, though none from fire. plastic models. Airfix curiously.
1959 1960 1961 1963
This issue sports a lovely colour- In 1960, KeilKraft decided to This issue was printed in the First of the 6x 8 90 page ful picture (front and back cov- concentrate heavily on supplying same format as the 7 x 9 format handbooks, a size that re- ers) of the ever-charismatic Spec- the needs of the marine modeller Aeromodeller magazine, so that it mained for all but the last of the tre control liner. There are also and this issue contains only ma- would stack neatly with your col- series. The Mercury range of kits some nice colour pictures on the rine modelling items and articles. lection. The Junior Flying Scale and accessories is now included inside covers, the 1/72nd plastic It is however a seriously compre- kit price has now risen to 4/2 due along with the WEN-MAC RTF Hurricane in the front and the hensive issue and well worth hav- to inflation. There is now a heavy plastic control line models. The Swan & Cygnet EeZeBILT Boats ing in your collection. It remains marine modelling content and the Junior Flying Scale kit price has at the back. The foreword is all the one and only KeilKraft ma- EeZeBILT boat range has ex- now risen to 4/8. The new Mk.2 about Balsa - sanded balsa in rine models catalogue, although panded. The catalogue section Ranger appears for the first time fact, which KeilKraft have now there are one or two marine mod- now includes the Contest kits due to Class A Team Race rule started producing. The range of elling leaflets out there. It would range of aircraft and the Super- changes, but no mention is made marine modelling accessories has appear that KeilKraft chose not to quick 1/72nd scale card model of this in the handbook. An an- now been greatly expanded. Re- print a model aircraft handbook railway buildings now make their nouncement was made in the member to read the comments this year, and so even though this first appearance. January 1962 Aeromodeller how- from satisfied customers in these issue only covers boats, it proba- ever. handbooks, there are some real bly belongs in the 1960 slot. gems. The free plan in this issue is the Flicka contest chuck glider, a neat clean design. 1965 1968 a & b 1969 1971a This edition has some interesting Radio control is becoming very On the cover, a superb Hawker Here we have a picture of Dave (though very small) photos of the popular now as the technology Fury at the 1969 Southend Gala. Hughes holding an Outlaw (new inside of the Wickford factory at improves. Consequently there is a Its not a KeilKraft model but it version) converted to multi radio the front. They give a good idea large RC content in this issue, makes a great front cover! On control, once again at the of the scale of the operation. The both kits and equipment and the page 6 there is a photo of a chap Southend Annual Gala (Leigh cover shows a young chap hold- cover features a KeilKraft In- holding a Marquis and a call for Marshes in the background). ing a Phantom Mite whilst watch- truder in flight. Digital propor- photos of built up KeilKraft mod- There is a nice cover story article ing his chums start up a Spectre. tional control is starting to els with a reward of two Guineas on page 29 covering the conver- This appears to be the one fea- emerge. Superquick have now in- for those selected. The Phantom sion. The cover price is given in tured in the catalogue with its dis- troduced a range of 1/32nd scale and Champ are now available as both decimal and Sterling, as this tinctive diamond colour scheme. slot car trackside buildings, Deluxe kits, which include an was when the currency was about A large range of Mercury kits is which today are as rare as hens engine, fuel, propeller, dope, to change. The prices in the cata- now included in the catalogue teeth. This edition was so popular sanding sealer and brushes a logue are all decimal and I imag- section. that they had to do a second print fantastic present for some lucky ine there was a lot of head run. modellers! scratching going on at this time.
1971b 1972 1975 1979
This was re-issued with a modi- David Rawlins on the cover with David Rawlins on the cover A complete range of Harry Butler fied cover price in decimal only an Elmira, also designed the free again, its been 3 years since the kits and accessories is introduced and slightly increased. The con- plan in this issue a neat little last issue and his hair has grown a in this issue. The prices are tents remained unchanged control line Mustang. There is a bit. Harry butler writes about printed on a separate sheet this though, including the decimal great article on building a Mar- electric RTP models and Rex year, each one is dated, so there conversion table. quis with many excellent photos. Boyer writes in depth on RC. may be several versions. 1980 This was probably the last KeilKraft publication. Although not strictly a KeilKraft handbook it contains a comprehensive cata- logue of Harry Butler RTP kits and accessories. It also suggests converting KeilKraft Junior Fly- ing Scale series, EeZeBILT, and Super Scale series kits to RTP. It has no date or cover price so its quite difficult to place