PAUL ADAMS, MODEL CITIZEN: GONE SHOPPING!

Following my visit to the latest Auckland fair, I had a week off, so I headed out again on the Monday. This time I visited a model shop I do not often get to, but which does carry second-hand kits.

There I found the remains of a 350-kit collection that had recently come in. I got another batch of vintage kits, and can only imagine what I might have missed.

The first four kits have a New Zealand connection, but are from before I began modelling in the 1970s, so I do not remember them.

RSL Limited (Rayon Surfaces Limited, later Tonka New Zealand Ltd) imported various Japanese kits in to NZ in the 1960s, and sold them under their own name. The Ki-84 Frank, in green plastic, is to 1/50th scale, and was originally made by Marusan.

In the late 1960s Lines Brothers (N.Z.) Ltd. made a number of older Frog kits, with the company name changing to Tri-ang Pedigree (N.Z.) Ltd. in 1969. The Frog F-84 Thunderjet dates back to 1956, and comes in a Tri-ang Pedigree box, silver-grey plastic.

Two older, odd-scale Revell kits made in New Zealand by Lincoln Industries Ltd., Auckland. The PBM-5 Mariner comes in a normal long narrow Revell box, 1/118th scale, dark blue plastic.

The B-47 Six Engine Jet Bomber comes in a taller box, with yellow bands top and bottom, although the artwork is the same height as that on the Mariner. Scale is 1/113th, silver-grey plastic.

Revell Cobra II air racing version of the Bell P-39 Airacobra, in bright yellow plastic. Great box art, 1/45.6th scale.

Testors Hawk P-51D Mustang, in a photo box, but with the aircraft in a nice diorama setting. Missing its canopy, moulded in silver and black plastic, 1/48th scale.

Italian Artiplast Fiat G-55, in 1/50th scale. Light grey plastic, but the bottom of the box shows signs of mould, and the decal sheet would be unusable if you wanted to build the kit.

UPC (Universal Powermaster Corporation) was an American importer of foreign kits, including this ex-Marusan Me-262. Medium green plastic, 1/50th scale.

Czechoslovakia once had a sizable aircraft industry, and the Avia B.534 fighter was built for the Czech Air Force. KP kit in 1/72nd scale, silver-grey plastic.

Hawk was one of the second-level American kit companies, but they made some really nice models, including this Chance Vought F4U-1D Corsair in 1/72nd scale. A great looking model in dark blue plastic, the copyright date 1959 is moulded on the inside of the wings.

Lindberg was another American company, their Henschel Hs-129 is 1/72nd scale. Moulded in green plastic.

Starfix Bf-109G, from Israel, claimed to be 1/48th, but universally said to be smaller. Starfix is regarded as one of the worst kit companies ever, but it is nice to have an example of brand.

Another bagged Airfix kit, the Water Tower from the OO (1/76th scale) Trackside railway accessory range, in light grey plastic. This model is still made by Dapol.

It was another amazing day, even if I had gone through most of my holiday money in two days. Most of the haul comprised kits I have never seen before, except in photographs.

Do you collect kits?

Paul Adams from New Zealand