Corgi's Popeye Models

Hi Woodsy,

Great job on your re-creation of the Corgi Popeye's Paddle-wagon. Corgi did four different Popeye vehicles, of which I have these two.

Regular large Corgi model [above left]

802 – Popeye's Paddle-Wagon, 1969-72. With Popeye, Olive Oyl, and Swee'Pea figures, plus the heads of Wimpy and Bluto. This 126mm toy is easy to identify as the anchors are part of the mudguards.

Corgi Juniors Extra

1008 Popeye Paddle-Wagon, 1971-72, smaller and simpler version of 802, without the mounted heads. The anchors are part of the boat hull, 70mm.

There were also two Corgi Juniors:

67 – Popeye's Tugboat, 1980 until the end of the line. A small open vessel that ran on concealed wheels. Plastic Popeye figure, 77mm.

79 – Olive Oyl's Aeroplane, 1980 until the end of the line. Open cockpit monoplane. Olive Oyl figure, 68mm.

I have the small Paddle-Wagon, and the Tugboat, and the photos are of my models. The other two are from Worthpoint.

Anyone else got any of these?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

SCROOGE , PINK PANTHER AND CO.

Here are some photos of my haul from a toy fair [a couple of years ago] in Auckland.

First up, a look at the die-casts.

The model of Uncle Scrooge's Car is by the Italian company Politoys. A little bit of damage - it is missing both rear view mirrors, and the hood ornament which is a dollar sign.

Uncle Scrooge is sitting in the back seat, with his chauffeur at the wheel. Paperon de Paperoni is the Italian name for Scrooge McDuck.

The Pink Panther car is by Dinky Toys, model number 354. The box is a modern reproduction, not an original. Very pink.

Various die-casts: the large bus is a Corgi, and has Corgi advertising on the sides. The large truck and the small trolley bus are Matchbox. The Studebaker Wagonaire camera car is by Husky (made by Corgi). The red Royal Mail van and the green Post Office Telephones truck are by either Morestone or Budgie (same models, just different names).

See anything you like?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

MONOGRAM'S MIDGET RACER

Monogram Models was one of the Big Three US kit companies, and had begun making wooden ship kits in 1945, quickly expanding in to aircraft and racing cars. They soon added plastic parts, and in 1954 produced their first all-plastic kits – the same year they released their last new wood and plastic kits.

The first of the all-plastic kits, numbered P1 or PC1, was the Midget Racer. A small racing car, with a driver, and a removable hood to show off the engine.

It was moulded in red plastic, and was to 1/20th scale. The model remained available in to the 1960s, and was re-issued in the 1990s.

After having been unavailable for over 20 years, it was re-issued by Atlantis (a US company which specialises in re-issuing vintage kits by a variety of manufacturers), in 2023. This time the kit was moulded in light blue.

I recently spotted one of these kits in a local model shop, and grabbed it. While racing cars are not my usual subject, the fact that this was the very first, all-plastic kit by Monogram, makes it historically a very important model.

The kit is very well designed, and fits together beautifully. No wonder Monogram had a reputation for quality.

There are 33 parts, plus a small sheet of clear plastic from which to cut the windscreen, and a decal sheet. The instructions consist of a single exploded view, and written directions – follow them.

The parts are a tight, snap fit, so make sure you have things positioned correctly, or it will be difficult to get them apart again without breaking anything. The wheels, steering wheel, brake lever (on the outside of the body) all move, and the hood is removable.

The only problem I had was that the hole on the right rear of the body, where the rear of the exhaust pipe fits, was flashed over, and needed to be opened up. I did not spot that until the body was together, so finding exactly where to drill involved holding the model up to the light.

I finished my model exactly as per the box top illustration. I used Aluminium rather than Silver for most of the metal parts, with Metallic Grey for the exhaust pipe, and Silver for the fasteners around the cockpit edging.

This is a great model, and a real piece of modelling history. Building it is certainly a trip back in time.

Have you made one?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

The Lindberg 5 Space Ships of the Future Set

Back in the 1950s the US kit company Lindberg, of Chicago, Illinois, released a small range of space kits. All the kits were from the very dawn of the Space Age, and all pre-dated the first manned space flight in 1961.

The most famous was the Flying Saucer (used by Ed Wood, in his infamous movie Plan 9 From Outer Space). The other four kits were speculative designs, showing what the spacecraft of the future might look like.

All release dates from Scalemates.

517 Flying Saucer (1954)

12 Parts. Later issued as Unidentified Flying Object UFO. Also released by Glencoe Models as the U.F.O.; by Atlantis as the UFO Flying Saucer; and by Polar Lights as the Plan 9 From Outer Space Flying Saucer.

1001:98 Multi-Stage Transport Rocket (1958)

25 Parts. Later issued as Mars Probe Space Transport; then Star Probe U.S.S. Explorer.

1002:98 U.S. Space Station (1958)

20 Parts (or 70 according to early boxes). Later issued as the Mars Probe Space Station; then Star Probe Space Base.

1003:98 U.S. Moon Ship (1958)

40 Parts. Later issued as Mars Probe Landing Module; then Star Probe Space Shuttle. It later reverted to the U.S. Moon Ship name. It was also re-issued by Glencoe Models as the Lunar Lander.

1004-98 Satellite with Three Stage Launching Rocket (1958)

33 Parts. Later issued as the Mars Probe Communication Satellite.

Finally, in the late 1950s, came a magnificent boxed set of all five models, called 5 Space Ships of the Future, and numbered GB-103. This re-used the box art from the individual kits.

The kits were slightly re-named from the original kits, and were now: the Flying Saucer; Three Stage Transport Rocket; Space Station; Moon Ship; and Satellite Rocket.

Inside the full-colour outer box, the models were individually packed in blue and white boxes. The box illustrations were the same as the full-colour versions, but Lindberg were clearly trying to save on printing costs.

From photographs of the set in the box, only four kits are visible. Presumably the Flying Saucer was packed beneath one of the others ?

Today, this is a very rare set, although all the models within it have been re-issued several times.

Looking this set up on Scalemates, a 2017 re-issue is shown, with the kit number 609. By this time the Lindberg name was owned by Round 2. However, it seems that this planned set was cancelled before release.

A great pity, as it would have been a wonderful addition to any space model collection. The box art was the same as the original, but with slightly changed, and updated text. The Lindberg Line company logo was also changed to The New Lindberg Line.

Scalemates listing for the planned 2017 re-issue.

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/lindberg-609-5-space-ships-future--1102187

This site has photos of the planned re-issue box and decal sheets. It also mentions the cancellation.

https://www.collectormodel.com/round2-models/3549-lindberg-model-kits-5-space-ship-of-the-future-back-from-the-past/#sthash.dpEn8HgK.dpbs

Three photographs from Worthpoint.

Have you got this kit?

Paul Adams

New Zealand

Airfix Kits for 2025!

Hi Woodsy

Airfix have just announced their 2025 kit range. A few new kits, and several re-issues, some of kits we have not seen in a long time.

There is going to be a SLS Artemis rocket in 1/144th scale, with paints, cement, and brushes, for £49.99. Just the rocket it seems – no launch tower.

There are new aircraft in 1/72nd and 1/48th scales, and a number of re-issues in the Vintage Classics line. Including the Boeing 314 Clipper flying boat, and the WW1 Sopwith Pup fighter (I remember building this when it came out in the 1970s).

New military vehicles in 1/35th, 1/48th, and re-issues in 1/76th scale. Fans of the amphibious Stalwart truck have a new kit in 1/35th to look forward to, with 211 parts.

The 1/72nd scale torpedo boat line is also coming back.

A video of the range launch, showing the colour schemes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBFaBVtfDww

See anything you like?

Paul Adams

New Zealand

The Airfix High Chaparral Set

The High Chaparral was an American Western TV series. It ran for four seasons (1967-71), and 98 episodes.

Big John Cannon has just bought a ranch in Arizona, which his brother Buck (an ex-Confederate soldier) is looking after. He arrives with his wife and son, Blue Boy. His wife just has time to name the ranch the High Chaparral, after a local plant, before being killed in an Apache attack. The Indians also steal all his cattle.

He goes to Mexican rancher Don Sabastian Montoya to buy replacements. Don Sabastian agrees, but only if Big John will marry his daughter Victoria, whom he wants to get rid of, and no one else will marry her (very similar to The Onedin Line, where James could only buy the ship he wanted to start his own shipping line, if he also married an unwanted daughter). Big John needs the cattle, and agrees. Victoria's brother, Manolito, is sent along to keep an eye on things.

The series tended to centre around the mis-adventures of Manolito, Uncle Buck, and Blue Boy. It seemed to do well internationally, and certainly screened in Britain and New Zealand. There was a fair amount of merchandising for the show.

One of these items was a set of small HO & OO, or 1/76th, scale soft plastic figures by Airfix. Actually, this was their existing Cowboys set (S7, with 42 pieces) from 1961, with some of the original figures deleted, and replaced with the five main characters from the TV series.

The title of this set is The High Chaparral, number S38. The box art is very good, and shows John Cannon on horseback, with a rifle. Manolito, also on a horse, is aiming a pistol. Uncle Buck is standing, about to draw his revolver. None of these actually match what is in the box.

The back of the end-opening box does correctly show the figures, and names them. It also says From the BBC:TV series, although this was merely the British TV station that played the series, not the original maker of the show. There is also a copyright notice in the lower right hand corner for Xanadu Production Inc.

The set was first shown in the 7th Edition Airfix Catalogue (1970). The artwork was clearly only a mock-up, as it featured a photograph from the show, not the usual Airfix painting. It was also listed under the number S7, which was the same as the original Cowboys set.

Oddly, the Catalogues always described the set as High Chaparral Cowboys, but the boxes always used the TV series title The High Chaparral.

The 8th Edition Catalogue showed the real box, and the new number S38, which was also used in the 9th Catalogue. The 10th Edition Catalogue (printed January 1973) changed the number yet again, to 01738-1. The set was last shown in the 12th Edition (printed January 1975).

From MOS6510 Models, a look at the 7th Edition Catalogue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5rHlmSFhB0

The set was briefly mentioned in the News From Airfix section of Airfix Magazine, January 1971, which would have been published in late 1970. The retail price of the set on its release was 2/11 (two shillings and eleven pence - I am not sure exactly what that was in New Pence, about 15p ?).

https://archive.org/details/Airfix_Magazine_1971-01/mode/2up

This is not a set I had when I was a boy. In fact, I never saw this set in New Zealand, only in the Airfix Catalogue. I picked this box up, second-hand, in the 1990s, for $2 NZ.

Big John Cannon is holding a rifle, and has his arm around his wife Victoria (he obviously does not want to lose another wife) - this being a double figure; her brother Manolito; John's son Blue Boy; and his brother, known as Uncle Buck. The rest of the figures are generic cowboys and outlaws in various poses, both on foot and mounted.

The boxes say 42 Scale Pieces, which includes human figures, horses, and their bases. My set is moulded in a reddish-brown colour, but it was also made in cream, and a much darker chocolate brown.

Most references refer to early boxes saying 42 pieces, and later boxes saying 41 pieces. Most boxes I found on Worthpoint show 42 Scale Pieces, with the old Airfix banner logo, and the number S38 - this is the box I have. The boxes that have 41 Scale Pieces all seem to have the early Airfix logo on the box top, with the later, circular Airfix logo on the sides and rear, and the number 01738-1.

Plastic Soldier Review is a site devoted to small scale plastic figures, including the Airfix High Chaparral set. Their example is moulded in cream coloured plastic.

http://plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=41

Four photographs, all mine.

Did you like the High Chaparral?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

LINCOLN AIRFIX BETTA BILDA

Airfix had introduced a range of plastic building bricks in 1955, called Airfix Building Sets. These were revised in the early 1960s, and the Betta Bilda series was available from 1961 to about 1973.

There were various Sets, and packs of accessories. The range was available in a number of countries, including the United States.

The range was specifically intended to make model buildings, which were sized to go with OO and HO scale model railways. They were also in scale with Airfix kits and figures.

At the latest Auckland fair I came across a Betta Bilda set with a New Zealand connection. It was made in New Zealand by Lincoln Industries Limited, under licence to Airfix Products in Great Britain.

The most interesting thing about the set being the joint Airfix and Lincoln logo on the box top. This is based on the Airfix Type 2 logo that was introduced in 1959.

The box features the earliest style of Betta Bilda box art. It is the smallest of the sets available, the No.1, with 'Over 350 Pieces'.

These comprise a mix of white bricks, red doors and window frames, clear plastic windows, and green roofing titles. In the case of Betta Bilda, round pegs really do fit in to square holes.

I have never seen this type of mixed Airfix logo before. Lincoln made Revell kits in New Zealand under licence, but I was not previously aware of a link with Airfix.

My set is missing the instruction sheet, which might contain further information on the range, and what was available in NZ. Still, not bad for $10 NZ (about £5).

The book Forty Years of Airfix Toys, by Jeremy Brook, The Crowood Press, 2019, has a chapter on Betta Bilda. But this only covers the normal British sets.

Have you got any Betta Bilda?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

The Airfix Yeoman: Model Citizen

Here is another article on the Airfix 1/12th scale figure line: the Airfix Yeoman of the Guard in 1/12th Scale

The third of the Airfix 1/12th scale figure kits was the Yeoman of the Guard. Released in 1959. It was the last of the initial group of three kits, described on the header as Soldiers of Famous Regiments, which later changed to Military Figures.

Like the other kits, it was a Series 1 model, sold in a plastic bag, and had a retail price of two shillings (10 New Pence).

This was a more elaborate kit than the Coldstream Guardsman or Life Guard Trumpeter, with an impressive 63 parts, moulded in white plastic. Many of these were the tiny, flower-like details that adorn the hat of the figure. There is also a small row of medals to be fixed to the front of the uniform. The pike was in several pieces, to keep the length down. It had a small base, on which to pose the finished model, and a printed name plate on the back of the header which was to be cut out and stuck in place.

Initially numbered M3F, it was moved from Series 1 to Series 2 in the early 1960s, and re-numbered M207F. The packaging also changed from a bag to a box. In the early 1970s it was again re-numbered, becoming 02507-2.

The Yeoman remained in the Airfix Catalogue until the 16th Edition, which is dated January 1979. This gives it a production life of around 20 years. It has only been re-issued once, as part of the London Icons boxed set in 2011-13, which also contained the Coldstream Guardsman and the Life Guard Trumpeter. This version was moulded in light grey, and the set number was A50131.

The artwork on the paper headers used with the early plastic bags, and the later boxes, changed several times over the years. One odd fact is that the Yeoman seemed to put on weight over the years.

Eight photographs, from Worthpoint and Super Hobby.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

PAUL MADE THE COVER!

I just got an update from Diecast Collector Magazine – the cover and contents of the February 2025 issue (I know, it is still 2024, but magazine publication is weird).

I have two articles in this issue – two pages on Star Car Monster Trucks, and one on the Wonder Woman Invisible Jet. Plus I made the cover. So I am a very happy owl!

Paul

Auckland

NZ

Konga Diorama from Monarch Models

Hi,

Here is a new You Tube video from CultTVman, showing various kits that are coming out soon, or which are being re-issued. 

It includes a close-up look at the Monarch Models Konga diorama kit from Canada, which is now due in early 2025.

The kit shown, which is a test shot, is moulded in several colours – orange for Konga, pale yellow for the humans, green for the base, and brick red for the building walls. There are no clear parts for the windows.

Monarch Models are really expensive, and produced in limited numbers, so this is one for dedicated Konga fans only. It has been in the pipeline for several years.

One for you maybe?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLynOrJ-Q2k

Paul Adams from New Zealand

THE AIRFIX SR-N1 HOVERCRAFT

Airfix are to re-issue their 1/72nd scale Saunders-Roe SR-N1 hovercraft kit, in the Vintage Classics range. This kit was last seen in the 16th Edition Catalogue (dated January 1979).

The kit was initially released in 1960. As far as I know, it was always moulded in a silver-grey plastic, and there were 46 parts, including a clear windscreen.

The kit first appeared in a plastic bag, but was later put in to a cardboard box. Oddly, it was always grouped in with the aircraft kits.

The SR-N1 was built by the Saunders-Roe aircraft company, to test the hovercraft theories of Mr C.S. Cockerell. It was the first hovercraft in the world, and therefore a very significant craft.

This was one of the more unusual Airfix kits, the sort of model you just did not see in the shops in New Zealand in the 1970s. Only in the Airfix Catalogues.

At this time one of the major sources of kits for me was a chain of toy shops called Martin's Toys and Hobbies (now long gone), which sold toys, nursery furniture, and bicycles. They had a large store in Customs Street, in the central city of Auckland.

I hardly ever got to go to this shop, but I do remember it was the only place I ever saw this hovercraft kit, and I snapped it up. I never did build mine, but with the re-issue I will finally have a chance to build the model.

Dinky also did a die-cast version of the SR-N1 at about the same time.

I am sure this kit will be of great interest to many Moonbase Central readers. To celebrate the re-issue, here are some photos of the various header and box designs used over the years.

Most of the photographs are from Worthpoint, with the shot of the Vintage Classics box from Airfix.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

AUCKLAND TOY FAIR NOVEMBER 2024: THE KITS

The last Auckland toy fair of 2024 was held recently, and here is my report on the kits. Not too many vintage models this time, but I did get some more modern kits that I intend to build.

Hobby Boss kits are fairly simple, with a one-piece wing, and one-piece fuselage, along with various detail parts, and some really interesting decal options. The Dragon Ta-152H and Airfix Hurricane are more normal kits.

The vintage kits were an Airfix Fokker Friendship airliner in Irish Aer Lingus markings, but unfortunately the box is damaged at one end. Along with four railway wagon kits in 1960s boxes – a Brake Van, two Cattle Wagons, and a Refrigerator Van.

The William Brothers kit of the Martin B-10 bomber from the 1930s. The Airfix Beachead Playset contains a Gun Emplacement from the Playfort range, and two sets of soft plastic figures – the original version of the WW2 German Infantry, and the British Paratroopers.

Plus one HO scale model railway building by Tyco. I have already started work on the Hobby Boss FW-190D-9.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

POST SUGAR CRISP LINCOLN B-58 MAIL-AWAY

Hi Woodsy,

I found a You Tube channel called Classic Airliners & Vintage Pop Culture, devoted to airliners, and toys related to airliners.

One video includes an old TV ad for Post breakfast cereals, and a mail-away offer for a Convair B-58 Hustler Supersonic Bomber kit, and SAC Wings.

Post Sugar Crisp and Raisin Bran cereals carried the offer. The B-58 kit was yours for a box top, and 50 cents.

The video says the model is the Lindberg B-58 kit. A number of cereal companies offered various plastic kits as part of such a mail-away promotion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M64Ai4I9-as

Paul Adams from New Zealand

November Auckland Toy Fair 2024

The last Auckland fair of 2024 yielded several interesting small scale die-casts by various makers, and a couple of larger scale Lledo Vanguards. Just one Hot Wheels this time.

Matchbox tractor and trailer set in orange, white MGA, blue pick-up truck, and Autotanker, from the 1950s or 1960s. The Husky Citroen Ambulance, and Corgi Juniors Super Stock Car with the Union Flag, and US Racing Buggy in blue.

The black Wolseley 6/80 Police Car and the green Rover 105 are by either Morestone or Budgie. The Covered Wagon and six-horse team remain unidentified, but the seller thought they might be Japanese.

The Schuco Mercedes Bus has a die-cast body, clear plastic top, and printed tin-plate interior. A cracking little model.

Next up, a selection of six all-plastic trucks in N scale, for model railways. Individually boxed, the length varies from 61mm for the tankers, to 75mm for the cargo trucks.

Finally, a group of seven British tea card albums. We just did not get these in NZ, cards only came in breakfast cereals, and Greggs Jellies.

History of the Motor Car, Flags & Emblems of the World, British Costume, British Wildlife, Wild Flowers, Trees in Britain, all by Brooke Bond; and Australia, by Lyons Tea.

These are nearly full, although the glue has dried out, and a few of the cards have come loose. How lucky you were to have these wonderful sets in Britain.

I know these card albums may be a common sight in Britain, but not in NZ. They are just beautiful. I wish I had been able to collect these back in the 1960s and 1970s. 

Plus some Linka building moulds, which deserve a write-up of their own.

Enjoy.

Paul Adams from New Zealand.