PAUL'S AUCKLAND TOY FAIR JULY 2024

Auckland has just had its second fair of the year for collectors of kits, die-casts, and model railways. There were fewer tables than usual, but I still got a great haul, mainly kits.

Most of the kits on offer were aircraft, large scale armour, and a few cars. One table had some 1/25th scale Jo-Han car kits, but at $50 NZ each, I passed on those.

All the aircraft are my usual 1/72nd scale, unless noted otherwise. One bagged Airfix kit, a DHC-1 Chipmunk.

A pair of French Heller kits - the Bell P-39Q/N Airacobra in a first issue box, 1977 according to Scalemates. A Saab J29 jet, in a non-original bag, with a picture that had obviously been cut from a box.

A Fujimi SA-341G Gazelle helicopter, which seems to be 1/100th scale. The back of the box has a helicopter landing area printed on it.

Several WW2 Japanese aircraft - a Fujimi Tachikawa Ki-55 Ida monoplane trainer; LS Japanese Navy Type 93 Willow biplane trainer moulded in a very bright orange; Revell (G.B.) Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko night fighter; and finally a Hasegawa A6M2-N Rufe Seaplane fighter, with beaching trolley.

Two early Hasegawa kits in 1960s boxes, the F-86F Sabre and the T-38A Talon. The logo says Hasegawa Ship & Airplane Models.

Humbrol Harrier TM4 (I assume they mean T. Mark 4 ?) two-seat trainer. Only 15 parts, but one of the lower wing panels is missing, although there are a lot of extra weapon parts, and bits that appear to be from another Harrier kit, in the box.

Union Pan Am's 747 Jumbo Jet in 1/288th scale. This was also done as the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, with the Space Shuttle on its back.

Walters Cornerstone Series HO Scale (1/87th) low-relief Background Building. This can be assembled as two smaller buildings, or as one large building - ideal as a backdrop for model photography.

One seller had a bundle of Airfix steam locomotive kits for $40 NZ. Some had been started, but there were extra bits in some of the boxes from another couple of locomotives (not sure if these are complete or not).

All are OO (1/76th), and were originally Kitmaster models that Airfix bought in the 1960s. The models are still made by Dapol.

All the boxes are from the Red Stripe era of the 1960s to early 1970s. The Prairie Tank locomotive has the price 14/11 ($1.49) written on it, and as NZ changed to decimal currency in July 1967, that helps to date the kit.

The three Airfix wagon boxes were inside the larger locomotive boxes, and all contained only locomotive parts. But they are great examples of Airfix box art, and are to be treasured.

Prairie Tank 2-6-2, un-built; B.R. Mogul 2-6-0 with tender, largely built; Harrow 4-4-0 with tender, Schools Class, largely built; Biggin Hill 4-6-2 with tender, Battle of Britain Class, largely built.

Now on to the die-casts, rather a small group this time.

A metal De Witt Clinton locomotive and three carriages - the whole train is only about 4 1/2 inches long. Only $6 NZ.

A couple of Matchbox cars - the Ford Galaxie Police Car, and the Austin A55 Cambridge saloon. A boxed Lledo Days Gone Vanguards 1955 VW Combi Van, in yellow, with Bosch Auto Electrical on the sides.

A Dinky Toys 101 Thunderbird 2, in blue. Some paint loss, and missing its small yellow plastic Thunderbird 4.

This came with a box, but on close inspection it seems to be a reproduction. Areas that show damage are still smooth and glossy, rather than rough.

A small box of railway souvenir items, including a gold-coloured San Francisco cable car, encased in a block of clear plastic. Possibly a paperweight.

Some of these items are worth further write-ups. I now have two months to save up for the next fair.

What do you think?

Paul Adams from New Zealand