Model aircraft are starting to fill up sheds around town – and Tauranga Model Aircraft Club members are starting to froth.
The club’s annual auction fundraiser – to keep their flying site at TECT All Terrain Park spick and span – is on Sunday, May 25, from 10am at Classic Flyers in Mount Maunganui.
Flying instructor and model aircraft fanatic Roger Peddle has excitement in his voice.
“It’s the biggest model aircraft auction certainly in New Zealand.”
An estimated 350 items will be up for sale via auction.
“We literally take over the hangar at Classic Flyers – they have to move all the aircraft out, and we set up a podium for the auctioneer and all items for sale will go on display.”
Think hundreds of model aircraft – big and small, old and new, complete and half-built – plus hundreds more parts and pieces.
Chocka-block!
Gas and electric-powered planes, gliders, electric ducted fan jets, multirotors and helicopters, control line aircraft – it’ll all be there when the auction starts 10am, and usually winds up near 3pm.
Murray Bailey, Roger Peddle and Alf Harwood Tauranga Model Aircraft Club members Murray Bailey, Roger Peddle and Alf Harwood, with a model Loughead Model S-1 biplane and a model Sopwith Tabloid. Photo / Brydie Thompson
“The place is chocka-block,” said Peddle, who estimated about 150-200-odd people come to bid on items in person each year. “Items for sale come from people who live all around the North Island – from Kaitaia right down to Wellington – and it can be any type of model aircraft that people want to sell, plus parts, engines, anything to do with model aircraft.”
Peddle said items will include stuff for beginners right though to experienced pilots. “There’s something for everyone – including small ones that cost bugger all. There’s even free stuff there – I know of three aircraft, which will be free.”
Vintage aircraft
Peddle said in years gone by items had ranged in price from nothing to about $3000. “Most are small aircraft that we sell from [a pricetag of] nothing up to about $500-$600.”
Is there any unique or really interesting? “Oh, heck yeah,” said Peddle. “This year we’ve got some vintage aircraft – they’re pretty big, about 2.5-3.5m wingspan with big motors.”
One item, in particular, has TMAC members absolutely buzzing. “We’ve got a big British bi-plane. It’s a model of a Sopwith Tabloid – it’s an absolutely beautiful plane.
“At the moment it doesn’t have its wings attached because it takes up a lot of room, and we have to store it until we set it up at the auction.”
Some vintage models up for sale have come from a deceased estate. “This guy was a builder of aircraft, and a very good one. And he’s made these aircraft himself and they’re ready fly if someone wants to buy them. These are quite stunning-looking aircraft.”
TMAC’s annual model aircraft auction is Sunday, May 25, at Classic Flyers, Mount Maunganui. The public are welcome – and the auction begins 10am. To find out more about TMAC, visit: taurangamodelfly.org