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In the early 50s Mr. Ejnar (Ed) Billing, a former RAF pilot during WWII, was working as an Architect in the town of Esbjerg in Denmark. His wife was running a Hobby shop called Vestjydsk Hobby and Mr. Billing was proudly displaying his build up model of a Danish Fishing Boat. At that time there were no actual modelboat kits around, from which you could make a boat. One day a Danish magazine saw this beautiful model in the window of the Hobby Shop and were very interested in buying 50 “build ups” of this Fishing Boat for a competition the upcoming summer. Mr. Billing was very keen on the idea, but it was a huge undertaking making 50 models, so he came up with the idea to make the model as a kit, exactly the same way you would build a real ship. This was when the concept “plank-on-frame” was invented by Mr. Billing, which is now used by all modelboat manufacturers around the world. Up until 1958 the kits were produced under the name “VHT” Vestjydsk Hobby Teknik, but this changed as Mr. Billings products became known outside Denmark. August 1958 the Billing Boats logo and name was a reality, and the company started to be known around the world as the first and the finest manufacturer of modelboats.
During the 60s, 70s and 80s the kits were improved, and gradually made easier for consumers to build. The frames were precut or diecut, and in the 60s ABS-hulls were introduced for the people that wanted to go out sail with RC. In 1989/90 the first lasercut-machine was brought in, and everything became easier to produce, but also to make for the modelbuilder.
In 1990 Mr. Billing died, and his wife and son took over the company, running it in his spirit. During the 90s it became clearer that the market was changing, and that the competition was not coming from Europe alone anymore, but throughout the whole world. In 2003 Mr. Billings son, Kent Billing and his wife Rikke Dolleris Billing took over the company with a clear goal, to bring the company up to speed and bring in more technology.
2006 was the year, were the decision was made to join efforts with Robbe Modellsport in Germany and a co-operation was established to produce the Billing Products in Grebenhain, Germany.
August 2008 is the 50th Anniversary of the Billing Boats brand name, and we are proud to bring you some of the finest model boats in the world, using the latest technology, our Danish craftsmanship and know-how combined with German quality and efficiency.
Billing Boats made for everyone
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