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Airfix is a British company known for making plastic scale models. Back in
the 1960's, they also released a building toy called Betta Bilda. It was
advertised as a companion to their line of HO & OO railway models. There are
several similarities between Betta Bilda parts and Lego parts from the same
time frame.
I put together comparison pictures on Brickshelf, also included are catalog
pages showing some of the BB sets & other parts:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=21440
Betta Builda is NOT compatible with Lego. The vertical brick height is very
close, but the horizontal stud widths of BB are slightly smaller. Here are
some similarities & differences:
1)BB plastic is brighter, almost neon.
2)The studs on BB parts don't have any logo on them.
3)The waffle on BB parts has square second-indents. Lego waffles have round
second-indentions.
4)BB hollow bottom beams have a single centered divider. Lego hollow bottom
beams have multiple dividers.
5)BB only had bricks one stud wide. They didn't make 2 stud wide bricks.
6)BB bases were hollow bottom plates, 14 x 20 studs. Lego bases of that time
were hollow bottom bricks, 10 x 20 studs.
7)BB windows have a flat square lower lip. Lego windows have a sloped lower
lip. The bottom feet of both use a similar layout.
8)BB uses special shingle roof pieces with small posts that interlock the
previous shingle, very similar to real shingles. The sloped pieces that
support the side of the roof have to have a hole on the sloped edge to allow
for the final unused shingle post. There are also several finishing pieces
to deal with the top edge and corners.
Hope this helps solve some of those "What is this piece?" mysteries.
Thanks,
Clark
Visit my Vintage Parts pages, submissions always welcome:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=8642
Posted to UK and Clone. FUT to clone-brands, reset if appropriate.
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