PAUL'S FAIRYLITE ROAD CONSTRUCTION SET

Hi Woodsy,

I dug out my Fairylite Road Construction Set toys, and photographed them.

Regarding your search for a replacement Land Rover for the JR21 Thunderbird 2 (labels jr21 jeep and land rover). 

You showed several possibles, including a Fairylite Road Construction Set with six vehicles and some figures. I either had this set, or one that was very similar, but in different colours - the only vehicle in my set that is the same colour is the forklift. 

Here are photos of my old childhood toys, these would date from either the late 1960s or early 1970s. I can not remember if my set was boxed, or come in some other packaging, but the contents are the same. 

I also have another tractor and spare bonnet, and another bulldozer, so I must have had a smaller set as well, although I do not recall this.

The box shown in your photo has Empire Made (rather than the usual Made in Hong Kong) below the Fairylite name. Which is an odd name for a toy aimed at boys. 

Really, this was not a very good set. The vehicles were made of a slightly soft, flexible plastic. Two of the six had metal axles. None of the working parts moved freely, and needed to be pushed - I was always afraid of breaking something. 

Over the years, various parts have broken. Flash is also a problem. The figures were made of a harder plastic. Most of the models look to be copies of diecasts by various British makes. Scales vary. I much preferred my Matchbox diecasts, which were of far better quality. 

Steam Roller - a very old fashioned looking type. Yellow body, red roof, silver-grey wheels. This seems to be a copy of the early Matchbox Models of Yesteryear 1920 Aveling & Porter roller. No markings. Length 76 mm.

Forklift - actually it has a platform rather than forks. The small wheel at the top raises and lowers the platform, but it is very stiff. Dark red, blue driver figure, black wheels, metal axles - this is the best runner of the set. No markings. 89 mm.

Tracked Excavator - a wheel on the right side of the cab operates the bucket, but again great care is needed not to break anything. The cab on mine has snapped off from the base. The tracks are impossibly stiff. Plastic axles. Orange, white wheels, silver-grey tracks, pale blue jib, medium blue bucket, yellow control arm. Marked HONG KONG on the base. Length (jib folded) 95 mm.

Bulldozer - blade raises and lowers, but will not stay up. The black wheels and silver-grey tracks are the same as those on the Excavator, yellow body, either orange or pale blue blade, blue driver. The orange blade is unmarked, but the pale blue one has HONG KONG on the back. 76 mm.

Tractor - the bonnet lifts up, revealing the engine. As the parts can be switched around, I do not know what the original colour combinations were. Body yellow or medium blue, bonnet medium blue, pale blue, or red, steering wheel green, either black or off-white wheels. No markings. 60 mm.

Land Rover - Short Wheel Base version. Pink, black wheels, metal axles. Marked underneath MADE IN HONG KONG. This seems to be a copy of the second Matchbox Land Rover, but is very slightly smaller. 56 mm. I have posed it next to the Matchbox version in one of the photos, but the Matchbox was repainted many years ago and is not original.

There is also a wheelbarrow, in bluish-white, with a revolving dark grey wheel. 43 mm.

Four figures - the man with his hands by his sides has holes for the handles of the wheelbarrow. The other figures are using a spade, a pickaxe (broken), and a road drill. All are moulded in pale blue, except for the driller who is light blue, with details picked out in various colours - this is the only painting in the set. Height 40 mm.

The only vehicle not equipped with a tow hook or hole is the steam roller, yet there are no trailers for them to pull.

Paul Adams 
New Zealand