Auckland, NZ, has just had its first Hobbies Fair for 2024, and I got some really nice models. Not much in the way of die-casts this time, but some really fabulous kits.
Unusually, there were some space kits - Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Star Wars. The Gerry Anderson kits looked to be expensive, from over a hundred dollars, up to $250.
There was even a Lincoln Thunderbird 1 empty box for $20 on one table. It went.
I was able to find both the carded and boxed versions of the Matchbox Indiana Jones car. I missed out on those in the shops, so I snapped them both up, although they were expensive for such recent models.
A couple of model trucks, and a 1970s Corgi Juniors four-car garage. Plus a book on Plastic Toy Cars of the 1950s and 1960s, and one of the small Profile booklets on Merlin-engined Seafires.
The Lincoln International DC-3 kit was a good find, and is my first Lincoln kit (other than an Air New Zealand DC-8 which might have been a Lincoln model). Made in Hong Kong on the box top, and Made in the British Empire on the side of the box.
The old Airfix Spitfire Mk.IX was a bagged kit, although not in its original bag. But the paper header was still with it.
They were the Sabre Tooth Tiger (which has just been re-issued by Atlantis) and the Cro-Magnon Man. Both had been assembled, and partly painted, but there seemed to be extra parts in the boxes.
I took a chance and got them. Both boxes are Canadian rather than US, and are dated 1971.
There were four bases, and parts for the Saber Tooth and three prehistoric humans. No instructions.
I eventually found, and printed out, the instruction sheets, so I could check the parts. All four kits are nearly complete, and all are buildable.
These are snap-together kits, and none of the models have been cemented together. All have a full set of alternative limbs, so you can vary the poses.
The Tiger is moulded in orange plastic, and the humans in a flesh tone. That would reduce the painting needed.
Cro-Magnon Man - just missing his spear, and name plate for the base.
Neanderthal Man - Missing a stone knife, a two-piece length of fallen log, and a rabbit and a duck tied together which was intended to go over his shoulder, and the name plate.
Saber Tooth Tiger - complete except for the name plate.
My last purchase of the day was hidden at the bottom of a large plastic bin, under a table. A 1960s Renwal Visible Horse kit. See the top of the post for pics.
This seems complete except for the stand, and the Handbook on horse anatomy. The box is 18 inches by 17 inches, and three inches deep.
The horse stands 14 inches high. The box top painting is full-size for the model.
The box sides are in poor shape, and held together with brown parcel tape, but the box top is still in good condition. This is a kit I truly thought I would never see, it is just not the sort of thing that turns up in NZ.
I also got a boxed game called Creepy Critters, which I always wanted, but never had. Made by Lincoln Industries.
You have to assemble an alien looking creature, after rolling a die to obtain the different parts. It was originally made in the US, where it was called Cootie.
It was an amazing day, and I almost totally emptied my wallet. I will write up some of these items in more detail later, but for now, here
is a look at my treasures.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
Some great finds there Paul, especially the Prehistoric Scenes stuff. Hope they weren't too pricey.
ReplyDeleteThats worth emptying the wallet for! Some lovely pieces, especially the Visible Horse and Prehistoric kits. The missing parts shouldn't be too hard to replicate either. It always made me laugh seeing these in the catalogue - the almost modern looking woman and the classic cave man male figure! You could maybe have the Smilodon menacing the woman and forget the snake! Bill
ReplyDeleteIt was a great day, and a wonderful haul of kits. Actually, looking at what these kits are listed at on-line, I probably got some real bargains.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Woman is very modern looking. She could easily be up-dated to the 20th Century with just a new paint job, and perhaps a pair of shoes. To the same scale as the Monster Scenes, so she could be a second Victim if required. Both lines were to 1/13th scale.
Since these kits have already been built and painted, I will be able to clean them up, and build them without destroying a pristine vintage kit. It would be great to see Atlantis re-issue more of these kits, they are beautifully detailed. I will write up each kit as I work on it.
I had one or two of the creatures - Mammoth and dinosaurs, but again, they were incomplete. Came from some old shop stock. When i first went in, the entire back wall was hung with Major Matt Mason suits and accessories! I wasn't working at the time and borrowed a tenner off my girlfriend to get a Sgt Storm and a Callisto. I went back every week for more and as the shopkeeper was clearing his stockroom, he kept finding more and more odd toys. If only that could happen these days, i'd need a van! Bill
DeleteMy wife is a horse fan. Always has been since she was little. She collects Breyer Horses. Lots of them around the computer room/office.
ReplyDeleteWhen we first got married, I made her a visible horse model. I'm afraid it's been put away, and some of the organs are rattling loose inside the outer skin, but it's pretty neat!
Get that horse out and repaired for your anniversary Scott!
DeleteAn amazing day of finding treasures! Prehistoric Scenes and The Visible Horse are the winners, in my opinion. Truly special! SFZ
ReplyDeleteWhat a great day out and some stuff to take home! Being an anatomy kit fan, i like the horse. I'd be tempted to 3D model and print replacement name plates for the Aurora kits!
ReplyDeleteSuper haul Paul. You've a good eye for a bargain too. Original Auroras! Now there's something you don't see every day! But you will! Ha ha
ReplyDelete