Paul's September Auckland Modellers Fair Kit Haul

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

Bloggiversary Late Night Creature Feature: Aurora and Penn Plax's Creatures from the Black Lagoon

Hi Woodsy,

You and Bill recently came up with a brilliant new box for the Penn Plax Creature From The Black Lagoon. This Aerating Action Monster was intended to keep the water in a home aquarium full of oxygen.

Some readers were wondering how close the Penn Plax Creature was to the famous Aurora plastic kit. Their poses are certainly very similar, although the bases are different.

A look on Worthpoint turned up several Creatures, but not all the packaging says Penn Plax, so I do not know if they are the same model or not ? Some Penn Plax have a plain rock base; and some have a larger base, with a lot of plastic marine plants.

Aurora actually did two Creature kits. The first was in 1/8th scale, and showed the Creature standing on a base, with a lizard.

This kit first appeared in 1963, and was later re-issued with Glow-in-the-Dark parts. After Aurora folded, the moulds were acquired by Monogram, and the kit has since been re-released under various brand names.

In 1975 Aurora released another line of kits, called Monsters of the Movies. This included a smaller, 1/12th scale version of the Creature.

This time he is swimming underwater. This model has not been re-issued as often as the larger 1/8th scale version.

Of the two different Aurora kits, the standing figure is the larger, in 1/8th scale, while the swimming figure is the smaller version, in 1/12th scale.

Looking at the two Aurora kits, the larger model is closest to the Penn Plax aquarium version. There seems to be some lee-way in the positioning of the arms, but the Penn Plax version is articulated in the middle, which was not a feature of the Aurora kit.

Four photographs from Worthpoint, showing the Penn Plax and Aurora models.

Don't have nightmares!

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Red Planet Transport

Hi Woodsy

         Back in 2021 and 2022 Hot Wheels released a model in their Super Rigs series called Red Planet Transport. 

This series comprises a large transport vehicle, and a smaller vehicle as the load.

In this case it was a space exploration vehicle, which closely resembles the Matchbox S.E.V./Chariot. 

The main differences being the Hot Wheels tractor unit has a longer cab, and only four wheels instead of six.

It is towing a large, two-wheeled trailer, with a lift-up rear end. There is therefore no loading ramp for the smaller vehicle to drive up.

The load is a regular Hot Wheels Mainline model called Da’Kar, which came out in 2003, and was modified in 2014. It is described as a futuristic Paris to Dakar rally car.

The original Red Planet Transport models were mainly white, with orange and black trim, and orange tinted windows. The base of the tractor unit was chromed, the base of the trailer was black plastic, and the Da’Kar was orange.

In 2021 there was also a darker version, which appears to have been mainly gold (?) and black. This had red and black trim, with red tinted windows.

As these models came out during all the lock-downs, I never saw them in the shops, since most shops were closed at the time. However the set has been re-issued as part of the 2025 Super Rigs line.

There are some differences in the card; and the name Red Planet Transport is now in the lower left hand corner, rather than the lower right hand corner. The finish of the actual models seems to be the same, and I do not know how to tell the re-issues from the originals.

This makes a great companion piece for the Matchbox S.E.V./Chariot models. But all these Matchbox and Hot Wheels space models tend to be short-lived and hard to find – so grab them when you see them, or miss out.

Here are the regular and Matchbox Collectors editions of the NASA S.E.V./Chariot six-wheel model.

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-nasa-moon-chariot.html

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-nasa-sev-chariot.html

Four photos of my 2025 Transport set; with two photos of the original versions from Worthpoint.

Anyone got any?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

The Convair US XFY-1 Pogo Fighter Kits

Hi Woodsy

The Convair XFY-1 Pogo was a US Navy experimental Vertical Take-Off and Landing fighter of the 1950s. It was powered by a single Allison YT40-A-6 turbo-prop engine, driving a six-bladed contra-prop (two three-bladed units rotating in opposite directions to cancel out torque).

The first vertical flight was made on 1st August 1954. The idea was that it could operate from escort ships, to protect convoys, without tying up aircraft carriers on such duties. The planned armament was four 20mm cannon, or unguided rockets.

The aircraft proved difficult to fly, and landing was a problem with the unconventional design. The programme was eventually cancelled, but the prototype still survives.

There have been several kits of the Pogo, including kits by Aurora and Lindberg from the 1950s. Both were 1/48th scale.

This is the 1/72nd scale KP kit from the Czech Republic. No.33 in the KP series. According to Scalemates it was released in 1993, and has been re-boxed several times.

I recently found this example in a model shop, on a shelf of older, second-hand kits, and snapped it up. It is moulded in light grey plastic, with a two-part canopy in clear plastic, and decals for the prototype.

There was also a 2021 version of the kit "In Services", which included fictional markings for operational aircraft in service with the US Marine Corps, Royal Navy, and Japan Air Self Defence Force. A Japanese aircraft adorning the box top.

I look forward to building this model once I get a few other projects finished off. It certainly fits in to the Wow Plane category.

Five photographs - three of my kit; and two of the "In Services" version from Worthpoint.

Is this a kit or a plane you know?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

The Monogram Chromed New York Hudson

Hi Woodsy

In the late 1980s Monogram released a series of chrome-plated models called Metal Master. There were four 1/24th scale 1930s cars, and two versions of the 1/87th scale Hudson 4-6-4 steam locomotive.

The Hudson was a 1982 kit, and one of two HO gauge steam locomotives released by Monogram. It initially came in three versions, with markings for different US railroads; and was later re-issued by Con-Cor and Revell.

They were Snap-Tite Model Kits, meaning they snapped-together, with no glue required. The completed locomotive stood on a short section of track, which was included in the kit.

Even in 1/87th scale, 3.5 mm to the foot, the Hudson was a massive 13 inches (33 cm) long, including the tender which carried water and coal.

Everything in the Metal Master kits was chromed - even the track, and the coal in the tender. The boxes, instruction sheets, and decals all carry a 1988 copyright date.

The boxes said Note: Completely plated plastic model kit - not die cast. No painting required. Apart from the boxes and instruction sheets, the only difference between the two models was in the decal sheets (both printed only in black).

1133 New York Central Hudson Locomotive

1134 Chessie Special Hudson Locomotive

The second version had Chessie Special on the boxes, but Chessie System on the instruction sheet and decals. Chessie System being a nick-name for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, and later the official name for a group of railways owned by the same company.

Bright, chrome-plated silver seems like an odd choice for a steam locomotive, and the kits appear to have been short-lived. The other locomotive kit by Monogram, the even more massive 4-8-8-4 Big Boy was not released in a chromed version.

Six photographs from Worthpoint

Anyone got one like this?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Paul's AIP Thunderbird 1 Kit

Hi Woodsy

         On my most recent visit to a model shop, I spotted two of the new AIP (Adventures in Plastic)/Aoshima Thunderbirds kits. Thunderbird 1 and FAB 1.

I recall seeing the Lincoln International motorised kits in the shops way back in the 1960s, but Mum would not get them – they needed to be assembled she explained. Yes, I knew that, they were kits.

So I missed out, but now two of the AIP kits were before me. A bit expensive, but I could not resist.

Thunderbird 1 came home with me, and FAB 1 has been put aside. The shop only had one example of each, so it was a case of grab it now, or miss out.

The kit is moulded in silver-grey plastic, and fully assembled it will probably stand around nine inches tall. It can be assembled in flight mode, or on its landing gear. Wheels or skis are provided.

There is a decal sheet, for the markings. All the parts come packed in re-sealable plastic bags, which is a nice touch.

All the AIP kits come in great boxes, done like a 1960s TV set, with the subject in the centre of the TV screen. I am really looking forward to finally getting to work on a Thunderbirds model, once some other projects have been finished off.

Four photographs

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Aerial Jeeps by Paul Adams

Hi Woodsy

The ITC, later Glencoe, kit of the Piasecki VZ-8P Aerial-Jeep has been mentioned before on Moonbase Central. I recently came across some photos of the kit, and noticed a few odd things about the box art.

First up, the artist managed to get the colours of the US national insignia on the fin wrong. How do you do that - working only from a black and white photo, and knowing nothing about aircraft markings ?

The Star and Bar (post 1947 version) is shown as blue and white only. The central stripe in the side bars should be red, not blue, matching the stripes of the US flag.

However, the decal sheet in the kit is correct.

Next, the tank supporting the group of US infantrymen is a British Centurion. Six road wheels per side, the shape of the side plates over the tracks, and the angular stowage box on the side of the turret, all confirm it is a Centurion.

Why a British tank like this?

The artwork was later changed. The actual Aerial-Jeep image stays the same – and the national insignia is still the wrong colour – but the crew figures have been revised.

The crewman who was previously firing a rifle, is now looking through a pair of binoculars, and the others have also been slightly changed. The background painting is also different, and those now look to be US tanks in action.

This version is a lot rarer than the 'Centurion' box, at least judging from the listings for the Aerial Jeep on Worthpoint. Both box styles were numbered No.3674-98, and sold for 98 cents.

The address on the box is ITC, Hollis, New York. It does not appear the Aerial Jeep was re-issued by Ringo Toys in the 1960s, although they released many other ex-ITC kits.

The VZ-8P was later re-issued by Glencoe Models, but the name had been changed to Piasecki VZ-8P Airgeep. I assume so they did not have to pay to use the Jeep name ?

There were two styles of box art, with either a large or small version of the Airgeep in flight. Oddly, these have different kit numbers.

The large image is 05202, while the small image is 05203. In addition to the three original crewmen, at least some versions of this kit included a small bag of six one-piece US Army figures.

Eight Photographs from Worthpoint

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Monogram's Final Countdown Model Set by Paul A

Hi Woodsy,

On Max's Models Livestream 199, the film The Final Countdown (1980) came up. Which reminded me of the Monogram Final Countdown set.

'On maneuvers in the Pacific in 1980, the nuclear carrier USS Nimitz disappears...and reappears December 7, 1941...off Pearl Harbor'. The Nimitz, and her Air Wing, travel back in time to the day before the Pearl Harbor attack...and prepare to launch a strike against the Japanese fleet.

Modern Tomcat jets do battle with WW2 Zero fighters (guess who wins that one), but the ship returns to the present day before she can change history. Actually filmed aboard the Nimitz, there is plenty of air action in the film.

As a tie-in to the movie, Monogram Models put two of their existing kits in to a box, and labelled it as 'From the movie The Final Countdown'. The kits were the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in 1/825th scale; and the Grumman F-14 Tomcat naval fighter in 1/72nd.

The box art is based on the movie poster, and shows a Tomcat launching from one of the bow catapults. According to Monogram Models by Thomas Graham, the original poster was by Revell artist Jack Leynnwood.

Stills from the movie run down the right side of the box, in a film strip. In the lower left-hand corner is a photograph of the two models.

The set was Monogram kit number 6032. It was released in 1980, but it was not available for very long.

Two photographs from Worthpoint.

Do you like it?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Mystery Model Spitfire

Hi Woodsy

The recent post from Lewis about his visit to the Hurstville Collectables Fair included a photograph of a mystery Spitfire toy. 

It is a pretty terrible model of a Spitfire – probably the Mark Vb, which had two long barrelled 20mm cannon in the wings, along with four .303 inch machine-guns which did not project from the wing.

The deep chin is probably meant to represent the Vokes tropical filter, intended to keep dust out of the engine. The Middle Stone and Dark Earth colour scheme was used mainly in North Africa.

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2025/08/looey-at-hurstville-fair.html#comment-form

Lewis has mentioned Google Lens a few times, but I thought this was something you had to sign up for. It turns out I already had it on my computer, but have only just discovered it.

Using Google Lens I was able to find several matches for the model. It is marked under the starboard wing UNIVERSAL PRODUCT © 1977, and under the port wing SPITFIRE, with MADE IN HONG KONG under the starboard tailplane.

Although a basic toy, the undercarriage does retract. The colour scheme is original, and has not been re-painted.

Thanks to Lewis for explaining what Google Lens is, in previous posts. I think it is going to be very useful, now that I know I have it.

Four photographs from Worthpoint.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Paul's 1954 Casino Royale 007 VHS

Hi Woodsy

Your coverage of videotapes this year inspired me to have a look through the tape boxes at the most recent Lions Club book fair. Not something I usually do, as I do not currently have a working VCR.

I just picked up one – the very first screen appearance of James Bond, in a 1954 US television production of Casino Royale. In this, Bond becomes a US agent, with Barry Nelson playing Bond, and Peter Lorre as the villain Le Chiffre.

This adaptation was part of the Climax Theatre television series. Casino Royale was only published in April 1953, and this production was from October 1954. It would be 1962 before Bond made it to the big screen.

The video includes some extras, and was rated PG in both Australia and New Zealand. In the days of videotape, the Censor sticker had to be applied to the cassettes themselves, as well as to the paper slicks that fitted inside the cases.

Not bad for $1.

Anyone seen the film?

Paul from NZ

Aurora Sealab III Re-issue

Hi Woodsy

Doll and Hobby Georgia is another small company reproducing vintage Aurora plastic kits, which have been unavailable for decades.

 Their latest project is the U.S. Navy Sealab III kit - the real Sealab being an underwater base for divers and undersea exploration.

Aurora kit number 721 was only available 1970-71. It was to 1/93rd scale, and was moulded in orange plastic, with a green base.

It had interior detail, and optional clear or opaque hull halves. There were also two scuba divers.

According to Scalemates, the only releases have been by Aurora in 1970; a resin copy by Masterpiece Models (J & S Technologies LLC) in 2017; and now a plastic version from Doll and Hobby Georgia in 2025. 

This video by CultTVman, the man behind D&HG, takes a detailed look at the kit, and its production from new moulds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRFzEYunE-Y

The new version comes moulded entirely in yellow plastic, and has over 150 parts, including four divers. Really interesting.

If you want one, it is a pretty expensive kit at $80 or $90 US, but that is still going to be a lot cheaper than a vintage Aurora model. 

The box art is the same as the original Aurora model, except that the U.S. Navy title has been removed.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Barbie 1956 Corvette Collectors Set

Barbie – The Movie was a 2023 live-action film based on the Mattel doll line. Naturally, Mattel promoted it heavily, and there were die-cast models of the 1956 Chevrolet Corvette featured in the film, from Hot Wheels.

These came in various colours – pink, pale blue, and grey with flames. All were Mainline models, and sold in NZ for anywhere between $3.50 and $5 (£1.55 to £2.20).

There was also a boxed set with all three standard models, plus a special yellow version only available in this Collectors Set. Obviously, the collection was going to be a lot more than the combined price of four regular models.

I never saw this set in the shops, although I was looking out for it. There was an example at the most recent Auckland collectors fair, on a specialist Hot Wheels table – for $130 NZ.

That works out to £57.69, or $77.30 US. A lot more than I was willing to pay.

So it is not just vintage toys going for insane amounts of money. Even this 2023 Corvette set is heading in to the stratosphere.

Photograph from Worthpoint.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Sweet Vehicles: Milk Duds Diecasts

Hi Woodsy

You recently mentioned an American chocolate called Milk Duds. So I thought you might be interested in this trio of Hot Wheels Milk Duds die-casts.

They were originally made by Hoffman and Company, of Chicago, in 1928. But are now made by Hershey.

Caramel pieces covered in milk chocolate (although the formula was changed, and it is no longer technically chocolate). Milk Duds have gone through several owners over the decades.

Haulers were a fairly short-lived line of Hot Wheels heavy trucks, released between 1997 and 2002. There were a limited number of cab types, fitted with various body styles.

This conventional-cab model has a white die-cast cab and chassis, with a yellow plastic body, and is from 1997. It was also available in a four-model Haulers Gift Pack.

On to 2010, and the Sweet Rides series of 20 models. These were from one of the premium lines, with metal bodies, metal base plates, and Real Rider wheels.

The Milk Duds model was a '49 Ford C.O.E. (Cab Over Engine) truck. This time in yellow and brown.

Haulin' Gas was a streamlined petrol/gasoline tanker, in yellow, with brown trim. It was part of a ten-model Hershey's series from 2011, and was again a premium model with metal body and metal baseplate.

Four photographs from Worthpoint

Paul Adams from New Zealand