Paul's Haul

Hi Woodsy

Here are the highlights of my April 2026 haul, from one of the Auckland fairs. This is the first one to be held at a new venue.

The motorway overbridge set is going to come in very handy for a diorama I am planning – only a few more bits needed for that. The kits comprise the late US MPC issue of the Airfix F-84F Thunderstreak – it is very rare to see any of the American versions in NZ, and I snapped this one up.

The Hat re-issue of the Airfix Tarzan figure set, here called Jungle Adventure; the PM version of the two-seat Hawker Sea Fury fighter; and a fairly modern re-issue of the 1960s Revell Fokker D-VII. This actually has two kits in the box, which was a bonus.

Two Smer (from the Czech Republic) re-issues of vintage British Merit kits – the Fairey Swordfish floatplane and the Supermarine Walrus amphibian. The 1990s Airfix re-issue of the 1970s Milton Bradley ship-in-a-bottle Charles W. Morgan whaling ship – with a real glass bottle.

On to the die-casts – a Hot Wheels Harry Potter Racer Verse twin-pack with Harry in the Hogwarts Express locomotive, and Ron Weasley in the family Ford Anglia. Looks like they are about to collide.

The Johnny Lightning Heavenly Hearse (on a cut-down backing card), which is based on a Jo-Han plastic kit. The front row has a trio of vintage Matchbox models; a 1950s Charbens Old Crock veteran car; and the Corgi Juniors Old MacDonald’s truck.

Lastly, a collection of Wells Brimtoy trucks, in various states. These had a plastic body, some with friction drive to the front wheels, and a printed tinplate body.

I had two of these as a boy, they were larger than Matchbox models, so did not fit very well with my other toy vehicles. The dealer only wanted to sell these as a boxful, so I ended up with three examples of the television outside broadcast van, and several models without a body, or missing wheels.

I also got a nice aircraft book, a couple of recent Revell catalogues, and some 1967/68 Meccano Magazines. Several of these models deserve a more detailed write-up in due course.

Paul Adams from New Zealand