Introduction
Among the many battlefield accessories and structure kits released by Airfix over the years, the Airfix Strongpoint stands as one of the most iconic and enduring. Part of the company’s HO/OO (1:32 scale) Battlefield Series, this set was designed to provide a fortified position for soldiers in dioramas or tabletop battles. Combining bunkers, trenches, gun emplacements, and barbed wire, the Strongpoint encapsulates the gritty realism of static warfare — from World War I trench lines to World War II defenses, or even Cold War-era outposts.
With its modular design, compact layout, and numerous small accessories, the Strongpoint offers hobbyists a versatile addition to their military setups. It encourages creativity in layout, painting, and scenery building — ideal for those constructing miniature warzones or historically inspired battlefields.
Historical Context and Usage
While the Strongpoint isn’t based on a specific historical location, its components mirror fortifications used in many global conflicts. Strongpoints have been key features of static defense systems throughout the 20th century and earlier. These were fortified positions — usually self-contained and heavily armed — used to hold off enemy advances or serve as a command post.
Situations where strongpoints were essential include:
- World War I trench warfare, where reinforced positions were common in No Man’s Land and near command trenches.
- World War II Atlantic Wall defenses, especially along the Normandy coastline.
- Eastern Front dugouts and defensive nests used by both German and Soviet forces.
- Cold War era training facilities, mock-battle environments, and jungle outposts.
Airfix’s Strongpoint draws visual cues from many of these, combining trench systems, pillboxes, and barbed wire to create a comprehensive defense complex.
What’s in the Box?
The Airfix Strongpoint comes molded in military green or grey polystyrene and is typically unpainted. It was released originally in the 1960s and has seen various reissues. The box art alone is a vintage treasure, usually showing brave soldiers manning the defenses under heavy attack.
Contents typically include:
- Concrete Bunker / Pillbox: A reinforced structure with gun slits, offering protection against incoming fire.
- Trench Sections: Straight and curved trench pieces designed to connect and encircle the central bunker.
- Gun Emplacement: An open, sandbag-reinforced pit for heavy weapons like machine guns or mortars.
- Sandbag Walls: Defensive sections that can be added around the trenches or used as stand-alone barricades.
- Barbed Wire Fences: Curved wire and post sections, representing a physical and psychological barrier.
- Ammunition Crates and Supplies: Scatter items to decorate the strongpoint realistically.
- Baseplates: Optional plastic terrain that helps tie the scene together.
The pieces can be arranged flexibly, allowing modelers to build a linear trench line, a circular fortress, or integrate the strongpoint into larger dioramas.
Assembly and Painting Tips
The Strongpoint is a relatively easy kit to assemble, with snap-fit or glue-joined components. However, the true magic happens during the painting and detailing phase.
Suggested Painting Guide:
- Bunker and Trenches:
- Basecoat: Grey or Olive Drab.
- Drybrush: Light grey or tan to bring out texture and simulate dust.
- Weathering: Use a brown wash for mud stains and black for burn marks or soot.
- Sandbags:
- Use khaki, beige, or green tones.
- Apply a dark brown wash to settle into recesses and simulate grime.
- Barbed Wire:
- Paint in metallic steel with light rust effects.
- Add weathering powder or brown wash at the base to show where it’s sunk into the mud.
- Accessories:
- Paint crates in wooden browns or military greens.
- Use decals or hand-paint stencils to simulate ammo markings or supply labels.
Custom builders often mount the set on a hardboard or foam base, building up terrain around the trench with sculpting paste, sand, and static grass. Some even simulate snow, swamp, or scorched earth depending on the scenario.
Diorama and Wargaming Applications
The Strongpoint is highly adaptable. It can serve as the centerpiece for a diorama or a functional objective in a tabletop wargame.
1. World War I Trench Warfare
Recreate the grim stalemate of the Western Front, where soldiers endured horrific conditions in reinforced trenches. Use British, French, and German 1:32 figure sets and position them in the Strongpoint, defending against an artillery barrage or gas attack.
2. Normandy Beach Defense
Combine the Strongpoint with Airfix’s Coastal Defence Assault Set to simulate a section of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall. Defenders can be entrenched behind the bunker, awaiting the Allied D-Day invasion forces.
3. Eastern Front Dugout
Paint the Strongpoint in earthier tones and add snow effects to place it somewhere near Stalingrad or Kursk. Use Soviet infantry attacking the position from multiple angles, with a tank looming nearby.
4. Cold War Checkpoint or Firebase
With slight modifications, the Strongpoint can be used as a Vietnam-era firebase or jungle position. Add modern accessories like radios, aerials, and camouflage netting.
Pairing with Other Airfix Kits
The modular nature of the Strongpoint means it can be seamlessly combined with other Airfix battlefield kits for a full campaign layout.
Recommended Companions:
- Airfix 1:32 Infantry Sets (German, British, US, Soviet)
- Airfix Anti-Tank Gun or Field Gun Sets
- Airfix Vehicle Kits – Half-tracks, Jeeps, Sherman or Tiger tanks
- Airfix Coastal Defence or Jungle Outpost – Adds environmental variation and structures
- Resin or MDF Buildings – Use to expand into a village or base
These combinations allow you to recreate battles ranging from North Africa to the Russian Steppes, or even build your own fictional scenarios.
Educational and Historical Value
For educators and history enthusiasts, the Strongpoint kit offers a tangible way to explore:
- Military engineering and defensive tactics
- Conditions of trench warfare
- Impact of fortifications in modern conflict
- Technological evolution of field defenses
Students can study layouts, consider strategic implications of trench design, or create historical reconstructions for classroom presentations.
Collector Appeal and Legacy
The Strongpoint, while less flashy than tanks or aircraft kits, has remained popular due to its nostalgic value and usefulness in scene-building. Vintage boxed sets from the 60s and 70s fetch good prices on online auctions, especially if unassembled.
Collectors value the Strongpoint not just for its historical feel, but for its compatibility with other vintage Airfix kits. It’s an essential part of any comprehensive Airfix battle scene and remains a sought-after piece for those reconstructing dioramas from their childhood.
Final Thoughts
The Airfix Strongpoint may be small in footprint, but it carries enormous potential. It invites builders to imagine the soldier’s view from behind a sandbag, scanning the horizon for the enemy. It lets history buffs recreate some of the most grueling conditions in military history, and it offers wargamers a functional, thematic centerpiece for skirmishes and sieges.
Whether you’re painting your first model or recreating a decades-old battlefield from memory, the Strongpoint is a sturdy, atmospheric, and iconic part of the Airfix landscape. A miniature bastion of creativity, nostalgia, and storytelling, it’s a must-have for any serious enthusiast of 1:32 scale military modeling.
