Superquick

Superquick Models is a British brand of printed card construction kits used principally to create buildings and related structures for model railway layouts. The range was launched in 1960 by Donovan Lloyd, an artist and illustrator, and has remained associated with affordable, readily assembled representations of British railway, village, suburban and industrial architecture. Manufacturing has traditionally been carried out entirely in the United Kingdom. The brand's main product proposition is a printed sheet mounted on card and supplied with die-cut or otherwise prepared components. This approach makes the kits less expensive and less labor-intensive than many moulded plastic alternatives, while allowing printing techniques to reproduce brickwork, stone, roofing, signage and other surface effects with considerable visual sharpness. Superquick's commercial model has emphasized volume production, broad appeal and competitive pricing rather than exact reproduction of named buildings. Its subjects generally evoke the architectural vernacular of British towns, villages and suburbs, particularly the railway and provincial environments familiar to hobbyists. The principal ranges are organized by subject. Series A focuses on railway buildings and infrastructure, including platforms, stations, signal boxes, goods sheds, locomotive facilities, water towers, footbridges, bridges and a railway terminus. Series B covers country-town and rural subjects such as pubs, shops, banks, houses, farms, police stations, schools, garages, hotels, bus depots, market buildings and fire stations. Series C consists of low-relief buildings intended for the edges or rear of layouts, while Series D provides printed brick- and stone-textured paper. The kits have generally been suitable for both OO scale, approximately 1:76, and HO scale, approximately 1:87. Earlier products were also issued in British TT scale and in a 1:32-scale motor-racing range associated with Scalextric layouts. Superquick became especially prominent among British railway modellers from the 1960s through the mid-1990s. The kits were often the first structures purchased by beginners, giving the brand a lasting place in hobby culture. Some experienced modellers criticized the designs as visually familiar or clichéd, particularly when low-relief buildings appeared repeatedly on layouts. The company also attracted criticism over the rationalization and redesign of parts of the range during the 1970s, when some older, more characterful subjects were replaced by plainer or more standardized buildings. Nevertheless, discontinued kits remain collectible, and the range's continuity has preserved many of its original model numbers and subjects. Ownership changed in 1992 when PEMS Butler Ltd took over the range through a subordinate company that had previously been dedicated to exporting it. The business expanded the catalogue with additional railway, village and industrial subjects while retaining the established design language and volume-oriented pricing policy. In June 2016 ownership moved to Brickwall Works Ltd. A distribution change took effect in January 2011: instead of supplying model shops and other retailers directly, the brand began using specialist hobby distributors. Together with an increase in UK VAT, this contributed to noticeable retail price increases, although the kits remained positioned as relatively inexpensive products. Beyond the hobby trade, Superquick has appeared in popular media. Its buildings were used in the title sequence of the UK television programme Homes Under the Hammer, and a large quantity of models was constructed for the sixth episode of James May's Toy Stories. The brand has also appeared in film and music-video contexts, including The Life and Death of Peter Sellers and Landscapes' video for “Einsteins a go go.” These appearances reflect the recognizable visual identity of Superquick's printed buildings and their wider association with miniature British streetscapes.

Superquick began in 1960, when Donovan Lloyd launched a range of printed card buildings for model railway layouts. Lloyd had trained as an artist and illustrator in the late 1930s, and the brand's visual character reflected that background: architectural forms were simplified into attractive, reproducible illustrations rather than engineered as exact scale copies of individual buildings. The initial range included railway subjects, country-town buildings and products in more than one scale. The manufacturing method was central to the brand's identity. Printed artwork was applied to fine paper, mounted on card and prepared so that the modeller did not have to cut every component from raw sheet material. Specialized printing gave the surfaces a level of brick, stone and architectural detail that plastic kits of the period could not always match. Printing in volume also enabled Superquick to keep prices low and address a large general market instead of only specialist collectors. The early catalogue included British TT railway kits, OO-related railway and town subjects, and a 1:32 motor-racing series. TT products were eventually discontinued, probably during the late 1970s, and surviving unmade examples became sought after by collectors. The standard packaging format later settled around 320 by 200 millimetres, although early packs used other dimensions. Superquick sales grew strongly in the late 1960s, and the kits became a familiar starting point for British layouts. Their popularity also produced criticism. Some leading modellers regarded the repeated appearance of Superquick buildings as a cliché, especially where low-relief structures dominated the rear of a layout. The company also rationalized and redesigned parts of the range in the 1970s. Older buildings were replaced by newer, often squarer and plainer designs while model numbers were sometimes retained. The loss of certain original subjects, including an earlier Elizabethan cottage design, was particularly regretted by enthusiasts. The low-relief C3 modern shops and flats kit was discontinued after its last appearance in the 1985 catalogue. In 1992 PEMS Butler Ltd took over the range through a subordinate company that had been responsible for exporting it. The new ownership added railway, village and industrial subjects but maintained the established visual style and the policy of supplying affordable printed kits. Later additions included a station master's house and crossing keeper's cottage, coal tower, ash plant, railway hotel, bus depot, market house and country fire station. Some modellers questioned whether certain post-1992 industrial and main-line subjects suited the branch-line layouts most associated with Superquick, although the company reported that some of these newer kits sold strongly. Distribution changed in January 2011, when supply moved to specialist model-hobby distributors rather than direct delivery to model shops and other retailers. A contemporaneous VAT increase also affected retail pricing. In June 2016, ownership moved to Brickwall Works Ltd. The brand has continued to trade as a British-made model-kit range, retaining many long-running subjects and adding later products such as bridge and tunnel entrances and a stone-built goods shed. Superquick's cultural visibility extends beyond specialist hobby retail. A selection of its buildings appeared in the title sequence of Homes Under the Hammer, with small modifications including chimneys covered with representations of British currency. Many Superquick buildings were constructed for the sixth episode of James May's Toy Stories. The kits have also appeared as visual props or destroyed miniatures in entertainment productions, including The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, and the Railway Terminus Building appeared at the beginning of Landscapes' “Einsteins a go go” music video.

• 2022

  Stone-built goods shed introduced

  [1]Superquicken.wikipedia.org

  A7.1, a stone-built goods shed, was added to the railway series.

• 2016

  Brickwall Works becomes owner

  [1]Superquicken.wikipedia.org

  Ownership transferred to Brickwall Works Ltd in June 2016.

• 2013

  Three bridge and tunnel entrance kits introduced

  [1]Superquicken.wikipedia.org

  Red-brick, blue-brick and stone versions were added to Series A.

• 2011

  Distribution moved to specialist hobby distributors

  [1]Superquicken.wikipedia.org

  Superquick ended its direct-supply model for retailers and adopted dedicated model-hobby distribution.

• 1992

  PEMS Butler takes over the range

  [1]Superquicken.wikipedia.org

  PEMS Butler Ltd assumed control of Superquick through a subordinate export company and began extending the catalogue.

• 1991

  B31 village school added

  [1]Superquicken.wikipedia.org

  A village school was introduced into Series B.

• 1990

  A9 footbridge added

  [1]Superquicken.wikipedia.org

  The A9 footbridge expanded the Series A railway infrastructure range.

• 1985

  C3 low-relief kit last catalogued

  [1]Superquicken.wikipedia.org

  C3 Modern Shops & Flats made its last appearance in the 1985 catalogue before being discontinued.

• 1970

  Major range rationalization

  [1]Superquicken.wikipedia.org

  A number of original designs were replaced or redesigned during the 1970s, while some model numbers were retained for successor kits.

• 1970

  TT-scale products discontinued

  [1]Superquicken.wikipedia.org

  The British TT-scale railway kits were discontinued in the late 1970s and later became collectible.

• 1963

  Low-relief Series C introduced

  [1]Superquicken.wikipedia.org

  The Series C low-relief range began with buildings intended to line the backs and edges of model railway layouts.

• 1960

  Superquick range launched

  [1]Superquicken.wikipedia.org

  Donovan Lloyd launched the Superquick printed-card model building range, initially spanning several formats and scales.

Affordable, accessible British printed-card architecture for model railway and miniature-layout builders, combining volume production with detailed printed surface effects.

• Model railway buildings and infrastructure · 1960

  Series A Railway Series

  The core railway range includes platforms, country and terminus stations, island-platform buildings, locomotive sheds, signal boxes, goods sheds, water towers, footbridges, bridges and tunnel entrances. Later additions include a station master's house, crossing keeper's cottage, coal tower and ash plant. The A10 Railway Terminus is described as the largest kit and has remained in the range from the original launch period.

• Town, village and rural buildings · 1960

  Series B Country Town Series

  Series B provides free-standing buildings for country-town and rural scenes. Subjects include inns, shops, banks, detached and terraced houses, farm buildings, police stations, supermarkets, cottages, schools, garages, hotels, bus depots, market houses and fire stations. The range contains both original 1960s designs and later replacements or additions developed during the 1980s and after the 1992 ownership change.

• Low-relief layout buildings · 1963

  Series C Low Relief Houses

  Series C is designed for the rear or edge of a model railway layout, where shallow structures can create the impression of a deeper street or town without occupying much baseboard space. The range includes hotels, offices, restaurants, cinemas, post offices, shops, Regency-style buildings and red-brick terrace fronts, backs and corner shops. C3 Modern Shops & Flats was discontinued after the mid-1980s.

• Printed modelling materials

  Series D textured paper

  Series D consists of printed brick- and stone-textured paper intended for use in model-building and layout construction. It complements the architectural kits by allowing modellers to finish, adapt or scratch-build structures and surrounding scenery.

• British TT-scale railway kits · 1960

  TT Railway Series

  The original TT range was produced at approximately 1:100 scale and included a platform, station, signal box and goods shed. These kits were discontinued in the late 1970s and are now collectible when unmade examples appear on the secondary market.

• 1:32 motor-racing buildings · 1960

  MR Motor Racing Series

  The MR range was designed for 1:32-scale motor-racing layouts and included racing pits, a control tower and a marshal's hut. A Dunlop Bridge is thought to have existed only as a preproduction model.

• Homes Under the Hammer title sequence

  United Kingdom

  Superquick buildings featured in the title sequence of the UK television series Homes Under the Hammer. The miniature streetscape used a selection of the brand's vernacular structures, with small visual modifications such as chimneys carrying representations of UK currency.

  Outcome. The appearance gave the brand exposure beyond specialist model railway circles and reinforced its association with recognizable British miniature architecture.

  Source
• James May's Toy Stories model-building project

  United Kingdom

  A large quantity of Superquick buildings was constructed for episode 6 of James May's Toy Stories.

  Outcome. The project provided prominent television exposure for the kits and demonstrated their use in building a large miniature environment.

  Source

• 2022

  Add stone-built goods shedProduct launch

  Background

  The range continued to preserve long-running railway subjects while adding alternative architectural treatments.

  Action taken

  A stone-built goods shed was introduced as A7.1.

  Aftermath

  The new kit extended the goods-shed options within Series A.

  Source

• 2013

  Launch bridge and tunnel entrance variantsProduct launch

  Background

  The railway range needed additional scenery and infrastructure components compatible with its established British layout subjects.

  Action taken

  Superquick introduced red-brick, blue-brick and stone bridge or tunnel entrance kits.

  Aftermath

  The additions broadened the infrastructure options available to Series A users.

  Source

• 2011

  Move from direct retail supply to specialist distributionStrategy

  Background

  Superquick had historically supplied model shops and other retailers directly as part of its low-price commercial policy.

  Action taken

  From January 2011, supply was routed through dedicated model-hobby distributors.

  Aftermath

  Retail prices rose noticeably in the period, alongside a coincidental UK VAT increase, although the kits remained positioned as competitive products.

  Source

• 1992

  Expand the range after the PEMS Butler takeoverStrategy

  Background

  PEMS Butler Ltd took over the range and inherited a product family built around printed British railway and town architecture.

  Action taken

  The new owner added railway, village and industrial subjects while retaining the original design approach and competitive volume-production policy.

  Aftermath

  Some enthusiasts questioned the suitability of certain newer main-line and industrial subjects for typical branch-line layouts, while the company indicated that some additions sold well.

  Source

• 2022

  Stone goods shed added to Series A[1]Superquicken.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  A stone-built goods shed was introduced under the A7.1 designation, extending the railway infrastructure range.

• 2016

  Superquick ownership transferred to Brickwall Works Ltd[1]Superquicken.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Leadership change

  Ownership of the Superquick range moved to Brickwall Works Ltd in June 2016 as part of a generational transition in the business.

• 2013

  Superquick adds new bridge and tunnel entrance kits[1]Superquicken.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Red-brick, blue-brick and stone bridge or tunnel entrance kits were introduced into the Series A railway range.

• 2011

  Superquick changes distribution model[1]Superquicken.wikipedia.org

  Pricing

  From January 2011, the brand moved from direct supply to model shops and other retailers to distribution through specialist model-hobby distributors. The change coincided with a UK VAT increase and contributed to higher retail prices.

1. 1Superquicken.wikipedia.org