That's Why I Hate The French

This is a tragedy:

Britain's last model-maker, Airfix, today went out of business as its parent manufacturer, Humbrol, called in the administrators.

The company founded in 1949 has struggled in recent decades as TV and the Internet ate into the market.

They've been bought out twice before but the final nail in the coffin may have been driven by the bloody French:

The fatal blow for Humbrol came with the insolvency last month of (1980s buy-out owner) Heller, which owns all the moulds for Airfix models. When Heller went under, Airfix was left without any kits.

"Airfix literally had no moulds as they were all sitting in France and the French refused to allow them to leave France. It would have taken two years to resolve," said Mr Brook.

So much for European union.

-- Nick