Hi Woodsy,
The latest fair in Auckland was very successful for me, with a good haul of kits, die-casts, and books. This fair will be moving to a different venue in 2026, so this was the last event in the present hall.
First up, a look at the kits. Mostly aircraft this time.
The star of the day being this vintage Renwal Ballistic Missile Submarine (with firing Polaris missiles !) in a massive 1/200th scale. With interior detail, and 25 inches long, this would be an impressive model built up, although mine will be staying in its box.
A pair of inter-war racing planes – the Laird Solution Racer by Hawk, moulded in bright orange plastic. The kit comes with a pylon for low-level air racing, which acts as a display stand for the completed model.
The Curtiss Racer by Testors, is an ex-Hawk kit. This started out as the R3C-1 with a normal wheeled undercarriage; but it was later changed to the R3C-2 floatplane - moulded in boring old light grey.
The final, 1978 boxing of the Airfix P-38J Lightning from 1958; an early example of the Heller Spitfire Mk.I fighter; the Smer Tiger Moth from the Czech Republic (an ex-Merit kit, still with moulded in national insignia and serial numbers); an assembled AMT Jaguar XKE (E-Type) in the unusual scale of 1/43rd, which is more commonly used for die-casts; and finally an empty box, for the Panda B-52 Stratofortress bomber in 1/320th scale (ex-Fuji, from Japan).
Finally, two boxes of Bayko building bricks, by the Plimpton Engineering Co. Ltd., of Liverpool. The plastic bricks did not inter-lock in the now common manner, but were assembled on to upright metal rods.
This is not a toy I have ever had before, but it looks like fun. The parts are moulded in red, white, green, and light grey.
There was also a largely complete Airfix Fort Sahara (French Foreign Legion) Playfort. Only a few minor pieces were missing, and these are easily replaced – all the walls were there.
Plus a box of assembled small model railway buildings.
Die-casts will follow in Part 2.
See anything you like?
Paul Adams from New Zealand
Another amazing haul Paul. Well done! What will you make first?
ReplyDeleteI had a Bayko set as a young child in the early 1960s, and I absolutely loved it, because with the molded and often complex components you could create buildings which looked like real buildings. It came with a manual containing several different projects.
ReplyDeleteCuriously, however, it vanished, and I've always suspected my parents got rid of it.
Looking back, it was potentially quite dangerous. You inserted the rods vertically into the base and then slid the components -- sections of wall, windows, doors, steps, etc -- down them and it was like working with a bed of nails.
I've no idea if there WERE any accidents involving Bayko, but the potential was there, and I'm fairly sure my mum and dad saw that, and got rid of my set to be on the safe side.
Dal C.
I seem to remember seeing a Bakyo kit at my infant's school, probably around 1964. I certainly remember the skyscraper building kit which only came out on rainy days!
Delete(Kenner Girder and Panel kit
-probably a Moonbase post in that!)
Another incredible treasure hunt, and that Renwal Atomic Submarine is a true prize! SFZ
ReplyDeleteThank you. It was a fun day. The only kit that might get built is the Smer Tiger Moth, which is the old Merit kit from the 1950s. The rest are vintage treasures to be kept in their original boxes, especially that beautiful Renwal sub.
ReplyDeleteYou will have to write a book Paul including photos of all your fabulous boxes!
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