Rosebud Kitmaster

Rosebud Kitmaster was the brand name of a short-lived but critically acclaimed, range of plastic assembly kits manufactured in the UK by Rosebud Dolls Ltd of Raunds, Northamptonshire. Introduced from May 1959, the range rapidly expanded to include 34 models of railway locomotives and coaches in OO, HO and TT scales and eventually, one motorcycle in 1/16 scale. The assets of Rosebud Kitmaster were sold to Airfix Products Ltd in late 1962. Nine locomotives and the motorcycle were later re-issued under the Airfix brand.

The range comprised mainly British railway rolling stock but there were a few kits of other subjects. The range consisted of 34 kits of individual locomotives or carriages, a model of the Ariel Arrow motorcycle, the "Fireball XL5" rocket, parts to motorise the railway kits (using a motorised box wagon supplied pre-built, or a motor bogie) and three railway presentation sets:

• P1: 100 Years of British Steam - this included kits of Stephenson's Rocket, the Stirling 8' Single locomotive and a Coronation class locomotive in 00 scale.
• P2: Battle of Britain Set - this contained a Battle of Britain class locomotive and three BR Mark 1 coaches in 00 scale.
• P3: TT3 Royal Scot Set - this contained a Royal Scot class locomotive and four BR Mark 1 coaches in TT3 (3mm = 1 foot) scale.

Some of the moulds for the kits produced by Rosebud Dolls Ltd under the Kitmaster name were sold on to Airfix Products Ltd in 1962 and later on to Dapol Model Railways. However, not all of the kits passed over and several were lost. As such, some Kitmaster kits are extremely collectable and can be very valuable to a dedicated collector. Although unsold, recently (August 2010) an unmade kit for the 00 gauge LMS Beyer-Garratt locomotive was offered for sale on an Internet auction site for over £100.

Before its demise, the company announced the introduction of a number of kits that never knowingly entered production, including the LNER Flying Scotsman.