❯❯ UK’s 60 YEARS OF THE BOEING 707

We celebrate the birthday of Boeing’s first jet

No1 airliner, dubbed ‘the plane that changed the
world’ with an indepth scale model guide
£4.30 • October 2017 • Issue 240 www.diecast-collector.co.uk

SCOTTISH BUS GROUP

ON THE BUSES
Exploring the
vehicles and
liveries that
made up the
Scottish Bus
Group
PLUS
THE LATEST
REVIEWS
11 pages of hot
new releases in
all your favourite
scales!

ALSO INSIDE
❯ SIKU
❯❯ ❯ FERRARI F1
❯❯ ❯❯ HOT WHEELS
EXCAVATOR The story of the Scuderia’s CORGI JUNIOR
In depth review dark days told in miniature How Corgi designs became
of this radio Hot Wheels cars - the full
controlled story told
detailed
diecast
Display until 3 October

p001_cover.indd 2 17/08/2017 14:37

 Great Fairs to Be At - Great Fairs to Buy At

COVENTRY
SUNDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER 10.30am - 3pm
THE CONNEXION, RYTON-ON-DUNSMORE, NR. COVENTRY, CV8 3FL.
The Connexion is just off the A45, with Free Parking for all visitors.
Early Bird Entry from 8am £6.
Adults £3, Senior Citizens £2.50, Children £1 180
STALLS
HUNDREDS OF DIECAST MODELS FOR SALE

SANDOWN PARK
SATURDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER 10.30am - 3pm
SANDOWN EXHIBITION CENTRE, SANDOWN PARK RACECOURSE,
ESHER, SURREY, KT10 9AJ.

500+
Only 5 miles from junction 10 of the M25. From central London take the
A3 to Esher. Free Parking for 5,000 cars. Nearby Esher Railway Station
is just 25 - 30 minutes from London Waterloo, Victoria and Clapham
Junction Stations. Early Bird Entry from 8am £10. Adults £6, Seniors STALLS 30th
£5.50, Children £2. ANNIVERSA
R
SHOW! Y
EUROPE’S No.1 TOY COLLECTORS FAIR

MACRON STADIUM
SUNDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 10.30am - 3pm
THE PREMIER SUITE, MACRON STADIUM, HORWICH,
NR. BOLTON, BL6 6SF.
Only 500 yards from junction 6 of the M61 motorway. Free Parking 280
for thousands of cars. Horwich Parkway Railway Station is just STALLS
100 yards from the Stadium
Early Bird Entry from 8am £7. Adults £3.50, Senior Citizens £3, Children £1

THE BIG ONE IN THE NORTH WEST

STAFFORD SHOWGROUND
SUNDAY 1ST OCTOBER 10.30am - 3pm
THE PRESTWOOD AND ARGYLE SUITES, STAFFORD COUNTY
SHOWGROUND, WESTON ROAD, STAFFORD, ST18 0BD
Situated on the A518 Stafford to Uttoxeter road. Signposted from
junction 14 of the M6 motorway. Free parking.
Early Bird Entry from 8am £7. Adults £3.50, Senior Citizens £3, Children £1 300
STALLS
A GREAT WEST MIDLANDS TOYFAIR
www.bpfairs.com Tel: 01604 846688 / 07966 527177

p002.indd 1 14/08/2017 10:43

 In this issue

EDITORIAL
Publisher Rob McDonnell
robm@warnersgroup.co.uk
Editor Tim Morgan
tim.morgan@warnersgroup.co.uk
Tel: 01778 395018
Editorial Design Cathy Herron
Contents October 2017 • Issue 240
Editorial Contributors
David Pullen, Steven Downes, Richard Carlson,
Rick Wilson, Francisco Mota, Michael Driver,
04 News and Events
All that is happening in
the world of diecast collecting.
Brian Gower, Andrew Ralston, Brian Salter,
Mike Pigott, David Lynn, Stewart Brown
Photography João Carlos Oliveira,
Rick Wilson, Tim Morgan
08 What's New
11 pages of this month's
best new releases in detail.
Marketing Brand Manager

22 Scottish Bus Group Pt1

Nicola Lumb Tel:01778 395007
nicola.lumb@warnersgroup.co.uk
Stewart Brown begins his
ADVERTISING odyssey into the many models
Group Advertising Manager
Claire Ingram Tel: 01778 391179
and liveries of the SBG.
22
30
claire.ingram@warnersgroup.co.uk Dinky 'Prisoner' Moke
Multimedia Sales Executive

66 81
Restored Boeing 707 60th ToyFair Times
Kristina Green Tel: 01778 392096
kristina.green@warnersgroup.co.uk
Rick Wilson charts how he Anniversary All the best upcoming
Advertising Production & Design restored this TV show icon. Rick Wilson tells the story of the events in the diecast calendar -

32
Nicola Lock Tel: 01778 392420
Hotwheels Corgi Juniors airliner that changed the world plan your month here!.
nicola.lock@warnersgroup.co.uk
Mike Pigott tells the story using his diecast collection.
News Trade Distribution
Warners Group Distribution Ltd
Tel: 01778 391150
of how some Corgi Junior models
became HotWheels cars. 71 Off the Beaten Track
Andrew Ralston examines
82 Dear Editor
Your chance to express
your views on any diecast subject
the unusual Tekno Mercedes
38
SUBSCRIPTIONS Vintage Dinky of the - we really want to hear from you.
Subscriptions hotline 01778 392006 Expo '58 Express.
Month

72 83 Next Month
Subscription rates
UK and BFPO £42.99 DCTA Chairman, Michael Driver, Le Mans 2016
Francisco Mota looks at Your sneak preview of what
Europe & Eire Airmail £69.99 examines the Dinky Medium
Worldwide Airmail £89.99 Artillery Tractor the three main teams from this is coming in next month's edition
Digital subscriptions are available from end-of-an-era season. of Diecast Collector.
£17.99 – visit www.pocketmags.com/
diecast-collector for more information 40 Into the Background
Rick Wilson shows you
different ways to display your 76 Price Guide
Our round up of the latest 86 The Last Word
Brian Gower employs the
Can’t find a copy in the shops?
Order your copy online at model emergency vehicles. auction results - value your services of his alter ego to discuss
www.diecast-collector.co.uk collection here! luxury coupes.
CONTACT
Write to us at:
Diecast Collector, Warners Group
50 Ferrari F1 Cars Pt2
Francisco Mota continues
his journey through the 1/43
Publications plc, The Maltings, West Street, scale Ferrari F1 cars - this month
Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH. he covers the 1970s to the
Fax: 01778 392422
1990s.
Website: www.diecast-collector.co.uk

56
www.collectors-club-of-great-britain.co.uk SIKU Excavator
Printing Warners Midlands plc David Pullen takes an

40
Tel: 01778 395100 indepth look at this impressive
This publication is
remote control diecast model. 30
58
printed by Warners
01778 395111 Corgi Ford Consuls
David Lynn explores the
DISCLAIMER
All material published remains the copyright of
different models released by
Corgi of the Ford Consul.
66
Warners Group Publications Plc, no part of this

62
magazine may be published without the prior
permission of the publisher. Views expressed Own Account Pt3
by contributors are not necessarily the views Brian Salter concludes
of the editor or publisher and the greatest care
has been taken to ensure accuracy, but the his exploration of Own Account
publishers cannot accept responsibility for models with Tri-Ang.
omissions or errors.

65 Subscription Offer
While we take every care, we cannot accept
liability for loss or damage to contributed copy/
material and the large volume of enquiries Subscribe to Diecast
means not all correspondence can be replied Collector and save with our
to personally. Competition winners’ details are
available from the editorial address; please latest offer - check it out!
enclose SAE with your enquiry.
While every care is taken when accepting ❯❯ UK’s
60 YEARS OF THE BOEING 707
We celebrate the birthday of Boeing’s first jet

SUBSCRIBE FOR JUST £36 PER YEAR

No1 airliner, dubbed ‘the plane that changed the
world’ with an indepth scale model guide

advertisements, we cannot accept £4.30 • October 2017 • Issue 240 www.diecast-collector.co.uk

responsibility for unsatisfactory transactions.

and get a FREE Ramsays Diecast!

We will however investigate any complaints. SCOTTISH BUS GROUP

Data Protection – Warners Group ON THE BUSES

Exploring the
Publications Plc may lend reputable companies vehicles and
liveries that

Save time and money • Free delivery

made up the

the names & addresses of readers who have Scottish Bus

Group

responded to offers, services and competitions

PLUS
THE LATEST
REVIEWS
11 pages of hot

organised by Diecast Collector magazine. If you

new releases in
all your favourite
scales!

do not wish to receive such mailings, please

Turn to page 65 to find out more...
ALSO INSIDE
❯ SIKU
❯❯ ❯ FERRARI F1
❯❯ ❯❯ HOTWHEELS
EXCAVATOR The story of the Scuderia’s CORGI JUNIOR
In depth review dark days told in miniature How Corgi designs became
of this radio Hotwheels cars - the full

write or phone us at the given address.

controlled story told
detailed
diecast
Display until 3 October

p001_cover.indd 2 16/08/2017 11:58

October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • 3

p003_contents_TM.indd 4 16/08/2017 15:01

 News&Events Here's a round-up of the latest hobby news and events.
EXCLUSIVE NEW
AMERANG MODELS
AMERANG and Norev have teamed up to
produce a range of classic motoring icons
in 1/18th scale. All limited and individually
numbered. The first in this exciting new
range is the 1986 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
in Black.
The Ford Sierra RS Cosworth was a high-
performance version of the Ford Sierra. It
was the result of a Ford Motorsport project
with the purpose of producing an outright
winner for Group A racing. Presented to
the public at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show,
Ford’s plan was to release it for sale in
September 1985 and closing production
of the 5000 cars (A requirement for
participation in Group A was that 5,000
cars were built and sold) in the summer of
1986.
As prototypes started to emerge,
dealers were invited to test-
drive the Cosworth, and this
increased the enthusiasm for the
new car. In addition, Ford took measures
to reduce the price on the car, so was only
NEW AUTOCULT
ANNOUNCEMENTS
AUTOCULT have announced four new releases. In their “early beginnings” range there is a
Panhard et Levassor Type Q Double Phaeton, plus an unusual Tempo E400 Kombiwagen for
their “past brands” range. In their “streamliner” range they are launching a Kamm K3 model
and finally in their “prototypes” range there is a new Tatra JK 2500. All are released in 1/43
scale and more details can be found at www. Autocult.de. ■
New release for the Autocult
▲
'prototypes' range, the Tatra
JK2500 in this distinctive red and
black paint scheme.
4 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017
p004-006 news_TM.indd 4
offered in three exterior colours and one
interior colour.
The RS Cosworth was launched in July
1986, and 5545 were manufactured in
total of which 500 were sent to Tickford for
conversion to the Sierra RS500 Cosworth.
These new models will be exclusive to
Amerang, will be highly detailed and will be
a numbered limited edition of 1008 pieces.
The suggested retail price will be £69.99
and models will be available in November/
December 2017. We look forward to seeing
these for review but for more information
contact www.amerang.co.uk. ■
New 1905 Panhard et
▲
Levassor release will be
limited to 333 pieces.
NEW CAVALIER
MODELS
BRITISH Heritage Models have announced that
they have received stocks of their new Vauxhall
Cavalier Mk1 models. These are being released
through the BHM Excalibur range as EXC 2, a 1978
1.6GL in metallic blue or metallic green and EXC2a,
a 1980 2000GLS in solid red with a black vinyl
roof. The models are hand-built in resin and are
currently limited to 100 units all colours combined.
For more information, call 01244 30761 or email
bhm-uk@talktalk.net. ■
NEW MODEL
FROM SEARCH
IMPEX
CUSTOMISED promotional model vehicle
specialists, Search Impex, have announced the
release of a 1/50 scale Volvo FH16 Globetrotter
XL (6x2) with a three axle, Omeps bellied
powder tanker trailer, customised in the livery
of well-known Scottish heavy goods vehicle
operator, William Nicol.
The model has been produced exclusively
for Search Impex by WSI Collectibles as a
certificated, limited edition of 205 pieces.
The models, available now from Search
Impex, are priced at £157 each (including UK
delivery & VAT). For details of availability of
this and other models, call 01332 873 555 or
visit www.search-impex.co.uk. ■
16/08/2017 15:02
 GOT A STORY?
Contact tim.morgan@warnersgroup.co.uk

MODEL TRACTOR,
CONSTRUCTION &
LITERATURE 2017
Welcome
They say “start them young”… well,

AUTUMN SHOW
it appears that I have done. I recently
attended the Imp Club’s National
Weekend event in Kent with my family
THE second of this years Model Tractor, Construction and and whilst surveying the club’s regalia
Literature shows is set to take place on Sunday 1st October. The stand with my son, I spied some diecast
Spalding Show is recognised as the largest gathering of its type for models for sale. Most were the now-
farm toy enthusiasts in Britain, attracting traders and enthusiasts ▲ Tim Morgan, Editor
familiar Vanguards models of the Rootes
from across the UK and Europe. Expect to find a wide selection of
Group’s infamous small car but there
obsolete toy tractors on offer, as well as the latest model releases
was also a large number of older Corgi
from all the leading manufacturers.
Many model makers use the event as a platform to release new and Dinky models that had been donated
models. This offers a great advantage to the show visitors, who are to the club to sell to raise funds. I was
able to purchase items not usually found at regular toy fairs, as well amazed when my son homed in on these
many of the older or unique models unobtainable elsewhere. older models – he is only four…
The show will be held at the usual venue: the Springfields He didn’t seem interested in the
Exhibition Centre (just off the A16 bypass), Spalding, Lincolnshire boxed new models, or the small box
PE12 6ET. For more information contact Colin Boor on 07710 of cheap modern toy cars from the far
321471 or visit www.spaldingmodeltractor.com. ■ east that were on sale (probably for
parents of small boys to dissuade them
from expensive Vanguards models). He
NEW FROM NOREV actually became fixated on one model – a
Corgi 485 Mini Countryman “Surfing”.
NOREV have announced some more new releases that are due to arrive I tried all methods of avoiding the
in the final quarter of this year. In 1/43 scale there will be a 1957 AC Ace inevitable “I want this” conversation
in grey metallic (NV270353), along with a 1957 AC Aceca in metallic blue (all parents and grandparents will be
(NV270357). A red 1965 Ford Transit (NV270521) and a Dark Burgundy well versed in that), using as many
1990 VW Corrado G60 (NV840094) complete the releases in this distraction techniques that I could dream
scale. For fans of 1/18 scale, there will be a Rio Red 1972 Citroen 2CV6 up. However, the die was cast (sorry,
(NV181495). With prices ranging from £39.99 for the 1/43 to £69.99 for
bad pun) and he was determined to take
the 1/18 models, these will be available from your retailers before the end
home this ‘cool’ car. With daddy’s wallet
of the year. For more details, visit www.amerang.co.uk ■
suitably relieved of the requisite cash, he
proudly took the car back to the tent and
1957 AC Aceca played with it... a lot. To be honest, it was
▲

(NV270357). rather lovely to watch him playing with a

toy made possibly 50 years ago.
The model isn’t without its issues – its
missing one rear door, both surf boards
and the surfer ‘dude’ is AWOL. When I
showed my son a photo of a mint one,
complete with the surf boards it was
inevitable that he wanted me to restore it
for him. So, the parts have been ordered
1/18 scale Citroen 2CV6
▲

(NV181495). from Steve Flowers – I imagine that he’ll

lose the surfboards fairly quickly, and
the surfer ‘dude’ will end up clogging
up the hoover at
some point but as a
parent, you have to
do these things. He
1957 Ace Ace then said “when its
▲

(NV270353). fixed you can write

about it in your
magazine”… like
I say, “Start them
young”.

VW Corrado G60
▲

Diecast Collector is part of www.ccofgb.co.uk

▼

(NV840094).

January 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • 5

p004-006 news_TM.indd 5 17/08/2017 11:54

 xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
News & Events
KK SCALE BMWS
KK Scale have announced three new BMW models that should be hitting
the shops in September. All three are 1/18 scale models based on their
superb BMW 2000 CS casting – the new models will be available in
cream (KKS DC180121), red (KKS DC180122) and silver (KKS DC180123)
and priced at £88.99 each. For more details, visit www.ayrey.co.uk. ■

Quartet of Volga saloons

from Russia; Inset: general
views of RM Toys' stand .

SILVERSTONE
CLASSIC HISTORIC
MOTOR RACING
FESTIVAL Charles Barnett reports.
HELD over the weekend of
July 28-30, this event certainly
retained its position as the
largest of its kind in the world,
with more than 100,000
spectators being treated to
a very full programme of 22
races, featuring over 1000
competing cars. Covering the
whole spectrum of racing, the
very full grids led to thrilling no-
holds-barred driving, despite
the condition and value of the
machinery, especially the late-
afternoon events when a little
rain added to the excitement!
As well as all the on-track
action, a whopping 10,000 or
so classic cars brought along
by the enthusiastic members of
125 car clubs were on display,
including a gathering of 115
McLaren road cars that also
took part in one of the track
parades in between races.
Furthest-travelled were a
quartet of Volgas, all the way
from Russia.
For model enthusiasts,
there were fewer stands than
in previous years in the “Trade
Village”, but plenty of variety.
RM Toys were there once
again with a huge stand and
a wide selection in all scales.
Particularly notable was a vast
quantity of “partwork” models,
most of which have never been
generally available in this
country, and amongst them were
some scarce pieces. Most of
these were around £10 in their
styrene cases, or £5 unboxed.
The other major exhibitor was
Henk Ten Cate from Holland.
As well as a few of the fine CMC
models in which he specialises,
he had a wonderful selection
of obsolete Dinky, Corgi and
Matchbox, a cabinet full of Minic
and another of Danish Teknos,
plus a few Lego and Siku for
good measure. Most looked to
be at fair prices.
Another stand featured
models fashioned in France
from recycled tin cans
apparently, to varying degrees
of accuracy – the best was a
vintage Austin Seven tourer.
Most were around 1/24 scale at
£40 apiece.
As you’d expect, there was
the usual wide variety of all the
other car-related merchandise -
books, artwork, clothing and the
like so plenty of opportunity for
souvenirs.
All the favourite family
attractions were back too - a
funfair, a Ferris Wheel, crazy
golf, racing car simulators, an
ongoing restoration project,
and “Car Clinic” sessions
from TV personality Mike
Brewer, to name just a few.
The entertainment continued
into the evenings, with two
rock concerts, and all of these
attractions were included in the
ticket price.
Next year’s event is already
provisionally set for 20 – 22
July, and again promises three
very full days! More details from
www.silverstoneclassic.com ■
YORK (USA) TRAIN
SHOW Charles Barnett takes in a
show on his travels.
IN April and October every year,
the Train Collectors Association of
America (Eastern Division) arranges
a train show for its members in
the town of York, Pennsylvania
about 25 miles south of the capital,
Harrisburg.
Not just any old train show though.
This one is massive – it fills five big halls plus two
smaller ones. Also there are huge quantities of old toys and models
in amongst all those zillions of trains. For the first time this year, the
Association opened some halls to the general public over two of the
three days.
Why so many non-train toys at a train show? Firstly, many of the
long-time train collectors are long-time toy collectors too and/or have
populated their rail layouts with contemporary toys over the years. Quite
a few are now thinning out their collections bit by bit. Secondly, this is
an event where attendance is measured in thousands, and where there
is serious money changing hands. This potential business attracts many
more general dealers and enthusiasts to offer their wares.
I can maybe give a flavour of the variety on offer, by looking at a few
pieces from my own haul:
• 1970s Kirk -ex Tekno, - Volkswagen Beetle, Almost-mint condition
Quite scarce nowadays.
• Early Tekno VW Beetle, again almost mint, but, oddly, with a wheel
missing (does anyone have a wheel, by any chance?) .
• “Andy-Gard” c1/24 scale plastic remote control M.G. TF, not
dissimilar to the 1950s Victory Industries version, though not an
attempted straight copy. Mint and boxed, though the box has a clean
tear.
• Tootsietoy 1930s set comprising the cab of their Mack truck, and
three interchangeable backs. I’ve never seen this before, even in the
US, so to find one in its box was just irresistible, even though it was
expensive.
• Barclay slush-mould car-carrier set with its 4 cars intact. Another
sweet little toy, from a years-old layout or collection.
• And, for more recent goodies, a Matchbox 1-75 Harley-Davidson solo
motorcycle in the livery of and packaged for, the Australian Postal
Service.
The October event is scheduled for the 20-21st, should you be able
to arrange to be in the vicinity, and you need at least one full day to
cover everything! Check out www.easterntca.com for more details. ■

6 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017

p004-006 news_TM.indd 6 17/08/2017 11:54

p007.indd 1 14/08/2017 10:43
 New Models
new
ew
GORGEOUS FAMILY HOLIDAY
VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE FROM SCHUCO
1/43 scale
SCHUCO
VW Beetle with roof rack skis and sledge
PRICE: £55.99 REF NO: SHU 03893
www.ayrey.co.uk
FERDINAND Porsche’s
famous design needs little
introduction. Born of the
desire for a “people’s car”, its
origins in 1930s Germany
can sit uncomfortably with its
‘cool’ image but its remarkably
long production run is
testament to the brilliance of
its original design.
The Volkswagen Beetle as
we know it arrived in 1945 –
although prewar examples do
exist, they are so rare and are
very slightly different. It was
▲ Schuco's Volkswagen Beetle with skis
and sledge evokes the image of a 1950s
family holiday to the Alps.
8 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • Octobber 2017
p008-020 whats_new_TM.indd 8
11
BUMPER
PAGES!
quite a revolutionary design
using a pressed steel chassis that
bolted to a strong and complex
curvy upper body. The ‘exposed’
wing design belied its pre-war
origins but the fit, finish and
strength of the bodyshell was far
ahead of most British offerings.
The engine was mounted at
the rear to save space and was
a horizontally opposed ‘boxer’
engine, again to minimise the
intrusion into the cabin. This
drove the rear wheels through
a transaxle mounted under the
Tim Morgan takes a look at this
month's model releases including
fine replicas in handbuilt, the latest
in farm and new items in the world
of construction.
Additional contributors: Richard Carlson (Handbuilt);
David Pullen (Farm), Steven Downes (Construction).
rear seat.
This innovative design may
have been lost forever, following
the near destruction of the
factory during World War 2. The
factory was to be dismantled
and the design was to be passed
onto a British manufacturer.
However, not a single UK car
builder wanted to take on the
Beetle or the factory and so
following a lot a repairwork
to the buildings in Wolfsburg,
the plant started churning out
Volkswagen “Type 1” cars.
By March 1946 the plant was
producing 1000 cars a month.
Where the Beetle succeeded
compared to other cars of its
time was that it was built to run
on the pre-war Autobahn roads
at high speeds for long periods.
There was a lot of roadbuilding
in the post war years across
Europe and a lot of cars had
engines that were not so adept
at this task. The Beetle was
cheap to buy and run, yet was
highly suited to the new roads
of the post-War years.
It even sold well in the
USA – probably because of its
mile-munching capabilities and
its cheap price. It also started
to become popular
with individualist
owners and
started to
become an
emblem
of the
counter-
culture.
The lifespan of
the Beetle is astonishing – even
after German production came
to an end in 1974, Beetle
production continued in Brazil
and Mexico. It finally came
to an end in July 2003, when
the final car left the Mexican
line. More than 21.5 million
Beetles have been built making
it the most manufactured and
longest running car of all time.
The car Schuco have
produced here is a model of
the 1950s, split rear window
Beetle. It is depicted with wide
steel wheels and in a typically
grey/green shade. The interior
is black and there is a great
representation of the early
dashboard and steering wheel.
What sets this, and other
Schuco models of the Beetle,
apart from the rest is the
quality of the fine detail work.
The chrome is superb and
100% accurate. The casting is
crisp and the paint is flawless.
On this particular model, there
is a superb representation of
a period roof rack, complete
with wooden slats. This is
exceptionally well done, as
are the skis and toboggan that
adorn it. There are another pair
of skis mounted on the back of
the Beetle too, complete with
straps and cleats. It captures the
look of a family car heading
off into the mountains for a
skiing holiday – mum and
dad’s skis plus the children’s
toboggan. It is delightful.
Schuco have made a classic
here – and one that will appeal
to all collectors of 1/43 scale
classic cars. DC
16/08/2017 11:54
 THIS MONTH'S INDEPTH REVIEWS:
8 Schuco 1/43 scale VW Beetle with skis and sledge
12 Renault 19 convertible by Ottomobile.
13 Best of Show's 1969 Opel CD concept car.
18 Ottomobile's BMW Alpina C2 2.7 3-series
19 Bentley S3 Continental by Best of Show
MATRIX MODELS A handful of DB5s were modified by
Aston Martin DB5 Shooting Brake into “brakes“, at the behest of David
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £90 Brown himself. All the small details are
REF NO: MX 10108-054 there, down to the tiny badges.
www.matrixscalemodels.com

ERTL Using existing tooling this special

International Harvester 3388 Tractor edition for the National Farm Toy
▲ Superb fine detailing on the skis - the cleats and straps look like you SCALE: 1/32 PRICE: £60 Museum, USA has new 3388 decals and
could slip them onto your feet and throw yourself down a mountain! REF NO: 44119 on the roof panel a ‘NFTM 2017’decal.
www.nationalfarmtoymuseum.com

BRITAINS Features steering axles, lowering blade

JCB 110W Hydradig and outriggers, 360 degree rotation of
SCALE: 1/32 PRICE: £28 the upper body with a fully functioning
▲ The roofrack fitted to the Volkswagen is very finely constructed and
REF NO: 43178 digging arrangement.
contains more skis and a child's sledge or toboggan.
www.smythstoys.com

WHITEBOX Nicely finished Mercedes model,

Mercedes 230 (W153) Cabriolet although the colour scheme makes it
▲ Unusually, this Volkswagen Beetle is shown with wide steel rims with the SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £19 look slightly like a circus vehicle rather
disc hub caps - all beautifully finished and detailed. REF NO: 215115 than a luxury car.
▼

www.modelcarworld.de

October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • 9

p008-020 whats_new_TM.indd 9 16/08/2017 11:54

 New Models
NEO
Volvo 264 TE State Limousine
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £63
REF NO: 218126
www.modelcarworld.de
SPECIAL PURCHASE BARGAINS
Bugatti Veyron
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £24.99
REF NO: MAG HM11
www.ayrey.co.uk
REPLICAGRI
Renault 145-14TX Tractor
SCALE: 1/32 PRICE: £40
REF NO: REPACA2017
www.replicagri.com
MINICHAMPS
Yamaha Ytz-M1 Jorge Lorenzo
SCALE: 1/12 PRICE: £109.99
REF NO: 122153099
www.amerang.co.uk
10 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017
p008-020 whats_new_TM.indd 10
Unusual model of a GDR State
Limousine stretched Volvo. Nice fine
detail and brightwork with normal Neo
quality.
Nicely made partwork Bugatti offers
great value. Nice proportions, slightly
'blingy' chrome on the wheels but
otherwise good.
Individually numbered, Replicagri’s
tractor features opening cab doors,
steerable wheels and a working rear
linkage. Supplied with a female driver.
Beautifully made model, with working
rear suspension, very delicately made
chain and a host of other great details.
Really impressive.
CLASSIC CONSTRUCTION MODELS
Cat 637K Push Pull Scraper
SCALE: 1/48 PRICE: £355
REF NO: N/A
www.atandcmodels.co.uk
WHITEBOX
1956 Chevrolet 3100 Tow Truck
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £22
REF NO: 216290
www.modelcarworld.de
SPECIAL PURCHASE BARGAINS
Alfa Romeo 166
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £29.99
REF NO: MAG HK810
www.ayrey.co.uk
EFE
Leyland PD1 East Kent Road Car
SCALE: 1/76 PRICE: £34.95
REF NO: E15808
www.bachmann.co.uk
Has plenty of functionality including
steering, cushion hitch, detailed cabin,
opening engine cover, sliding ejector
plate and adjustable apron.
Charming Chevrolet tow truck with a
nicely detailed tow hook mechanism.
Good proportions but slightly cheap
looking wheels.
Alfa's big saloon gets a 1/43 replica,
supplied in a red Alfa branded tin.
Good paint, proportions and fairly well
detailed interior.
EFE's Leyland PD1 casting gets an East
Kent make over, depicting CJG 965
working route 66 to Ramsgate Harbour.
Another nice EFE livery.
16/08/2017 11:54

SOLIDO
Jaguar XK140
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £24.99
REF NO: S4302400
www.amerang.co.uk
MATRIX MODELS
1938 Alvis 4.3 Vanden Plas Tourer
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £90
REF NO: MX 10105-011
www.matrixscalemodels.com
GT SPIRIT
Mercedes-Benz G500
SCALE: 1/18 PRICE: £127.99
REF NO: GTS 142
www.ayrey.co.uk
SPECIAL PURCHASE BARGAINS
1981 Renault 5 Turbo
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £24.99
REF NO: MAG HM12
www.ayrey.co.uk
p008-020 whats_new_TM.indd 11
Generally very good model of the 1950s IXO
Jaguar. Nicely painted and with good 1979 Unic Fiat 619 Cirque Rancy
proportions. Good wire wheels at this SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £42
price point. REF NO: 217346
www.modelcarworld.de
distinctive and authentic 2-toning in ABREX
Black / Maroon, that extends to the Skoda Fabia II S2000
wheels! The original was, I think, the SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £19.99
Alvis demonstrator car. REF NO: ABR 143X604TO
www.ayrey.co.uk
Impressive model of the big Mercedes SOLIDO
Benz 4x4 - whilst the wheels look out Ford Capri 2.8L
of scale, this is actually how the real SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £24.99
vehicle looks! REF NO: S4301700
www.amerang.co.uk
Very nice model of the brutal, original WHITEBOX
Renault 5 Turbo. Bulbous body is spot 1937 Horch 901
on, and the interior is impressive. Great SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £26.99
value model. REF NO: WHI 257
www.ayrey.co.uk
October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk •
New Models
Really lovely model of this Cirque
Rancy liveried Unic Fiat truck. Very
impressive paint and detail, especially
at this price.
Very impressive model for this price.
Excellent decals on this rally car, with
a well detailed interior featuring a roll
cage and rally seats.
Slightly rounded-off Capri 2.8L model
from Solido - generally good at this
price with nice pepperpot wheels and
interior.
This wartime model from Whitebox
has the appearance of a well-finished
plastic kit rather than a diecast. A bit
lacking in detail.
▼
11
16/08/2017 11:54
 New Models
OTTOMOBILE’S
RENAULT 19 16V
CONVERTIBLE TAKES
US RIGHT BACK TO
THE EARLY 1990S.
1/18 scale
OTTOMOBILE
Renault 19 16s Convertible
PRICE: £106.99 REF NO: OTT673
www.ayrey.co.uk
THE Renault 19 first appeared
on the roads in 1988. Designed
by Giorgetto Giugiaro, it was
an attractive family hatchback
brought in to replace the ageing
Renault 9 and 11 models.
Renault’s new “Energy” 1.4
litre or F-type 1.7 litre engines
powered the vast majority, and
there was a diesel option that
gained a turbo after 1992.
Whilst these cars were worthy
and well received, the 16S
(or 16v in the UK) became
the car to own when it was
launched in 1990. Featuring
15in alloy wheels, a 16valve
engine, a rear spoiler, side skirts,
Recaro seats and ABS brakes,
Renault claimed a 0-60mph
time of just 8.2seconds and
134mph top speed – quite
some performance. Renault
then introduced the Karmann-
designed convertible in 1992.
The convertible was a very
good-looking car; in 16v form,
and if the right options boxes
had been ticked on the order
WIKING
Eicher Tractor
SCALE: 1/87 PRICE: £13.50
REF NO: 087103
www.wiking.de
12 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017
p008-020 whats_new_TM.indd 12
▲ French registration plates and left ▲ Interior is well represented, with
hand drive for this Renault 19. good detail on the dashboard.
form, it could also be a very
luxurious fast car. There were
two versions of it; the phase
1 had a unique front bumper
arrangement, with the indicators
mounted there to allow for the
twin headlamps of the earlier ▲ Renault 19 16s convertible was ▲ Ottomobile have captured the
car. The phase 2 versions gained styled by Karmann. look of the wheels very well.
a bonnet mounted air scoop, a
revised grille and bumper. well here. The car is depicted orange and framed by the three
Ottomobile’s 1/18 scale with the optional black leather spoke steering wheel.
model is of a late model 16S in upholstery and the rendering This is a great larger scale
a very smart dark blue metallic of the seats is very good. The Renault, whilst its not cheap,
that was a very popular option dashboard detail is very good the detail level is very good and
on the real cars. It is fitted with the dials picked out in it’s a very attractive model. DC
with good representations of
the ‘Speedline’ alloy wheels
and the proportions of the car
are very good. The lights are
worthy of special mention
as the detail of the
lenses, including
the colour and the
patterning is really
good.
The interior of a
convertible has to be
▲ The Renault 19 convertible was a very good
spot on for the model to work looking car and Ottomobile have managed to
and Ottomobile have done capture its good looks and proportions.
Finished in light blue the latest edition MATRIX MODELS Chrysler built 55 of these and issued
of Wiking’s largely plastic Eicher tractor 1963 Chrysler Turbine Car 50 to “ordinary” American motorists
has a Fritzmeier cab. The model has SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £90 for 6 months. All the details are there,
basic detailing and there’s a drawbar. REF NO: MX 50303-071 including the tiny bonnet ornament.
www.matrixscalemodels.com
16/08/2017 11:55
 STUNNING SHAPE OF THE 1969 OPEL
CD CONCEPT CAR CAPTURED BY BEST
OF SHOW
1/18 scale
BEST OF SHOW
Opel CD Concept 1969
PRICE: £101 REF NO: 200866
www.modelcarworld.de
MOST people would not
be aware of this car – or that
Opel had ever commissioned
such a beauty. However, this
stylish coupé was a concept
car that the German maker
unveiled at the 1969 Frankfurt
Motorshow as a design study.
The CD (Coupé Diplomat)
was penned by an American
designer, Chuck Jordan and
was unusual for the time, in
that it had been designed using
a wind tunnel.
Although the car was never
built as a functioning vehicle,
under that stunning fiberglass
body was a 5.3-litre V8 engine
from the Diplomat-B. This
▲ The Opel CD has large glazed
areas. These are slightly flimsy so
care is advised when handling.
SPECIAL PURCHASE BARGAINS
Ford Shelby Mustang 350GT
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £24.99
REF NO: MAG HM09
www.ayrey.co.uk
p008-020 whats_new_TM.indd 13
would deliver its power through
a push button automatic
gearbox to the rear wheels.
Combined with that lightweight
body, the low drag design and
that 230bhp engine, this would
have been a very fast car indeed.
To get inside the car, the
canopy would tilt forwards, this
allowed the designers to create a
wrap-around windscreen giving
a superb view of the road. Opel
wanted their concept to be as
forward thinking as possible, so
the interior was equally ‘space
age’. Black leather seats cosseted
the driver and passenger, and the
pedals were power adjustable
front and back, meaning the
▲ Fully detailed interior features
this centre console complete with
in-car telephone.
Genuinely lovely, inexpensive model of
the GT350 Mustang. Great paint and
nicely made interior with correct wheels
and decals.
▲ Styled in the wind tunnel, and designed to be very forward thinking, the
Opel CD wowed the crowds at the 1969 Frankfurt Motor Show.
seats could remain static. The
centre console housed a climate
control system and the biggest
luxury of the time, a telephone.
Such was the interest in the
car, Opel approached Frua
to build some prototypes of
the CD with some of design
elements toned down for ease
of production. Sadly, the project
was never given the chance to
succeed – someone in Detroit
cancelled it. It was felt that if
didn’t sell enough they would
▲ Opel called the car the CD,
standing for Coupé Diplomat, but
revived that badge much later.
WSI MODELS
Mercedes Actros with Drake Trailer
SCALE: 1/50 PRICE: £327
REF NO: 410219
www.mammoetstore.com
October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk •
lose money on each one and
if it sold well, it may take sales
away from the Corvette…
Best of Show’s 1/18 model
of the mighty Opel captures
the look 100%. Sadly, there
aren’t any opening elements
on the car – so viewing
the interior has to be done
through the glazing which
has made photographing it
very difficult. However, the
futuristic interior has been
captured well right down to
the telephone receiver on the
centre console.
The wheels deserve some
special focus too. The ones
on the model very delicately
rendered and the spokes are
superbly done. The glazing,
however, is a little flimsy, so
care is advised when removing
it from the packaging.
This is a striking model of
a superb late 1960s concept
car. DC
Actros tractor and Drake 2x8 dolly
and 4x8 Swingwing trailer finished in
a white and red colour scheme with
chrome bulbar and side fuel tanks.
▼
13
16/08/2017 11:55
 New Models
UNIVERSAL HOBBIES
Taarup DM 1350 Forage Harvester
SCALE: 1/32 PRICE: £27
REF NO: UH4965
www.universalhobbies.biz
WSI MODELS
MAN TGX XXL with Broshuis trailer
SCALE: 1/50 PRICE: £145
REF NO: 410211
www.mammoetstore.com
MATRIX MODELS
1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £90
REF NO: MX 50102-051
www.matrixscalemodels.com
SPECIAL PURCHASE BARGAINS
1985 Peugeot 205 GTi
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £24.99
REF NO: MAG HM14
www.ayrey.co.uk
14 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017
p008-020 whats_new_TM.indd 14
Well-engineered metal and plastic
harvester with adaptors to fit different
tractor linkages. Has realistic decals,
flails and drive lines but no drawbar.
With pipe load and accessories to
configure the trailer incl deck width
extension, rear loading ramps, ramps
and panels for the upper storage area.
Farina’s clean fastback lines of the
period, adapted to this Alfa coupe. The
4-headlights were unusual for the day.
Matrix’ usual high level of detail.
Another partwork model in Ayrey's SPB
range - although this one is slightly
disappointing. Slightly clunky shape
and wonky reg plate blot the copy book.
PREMIUM CLASSIXXS Huge, large-scale model of the Citroen
Citroen DS19 Type 1 DS has exceptionally good paint and
SCALE: 1/12 PRICE: £259.99 brightwork. Proportions are great and
REF NO: PRE 40046 has a well detailed interior.
www.ayrey.co.uk
OTTOMOBILE Great model of the fire-breathing Audi
Audi RS4 B5 estate. Very well rendered wheels and
SCALE: 1/18 PRICE: £106.99 a nicely detailed interior, plus good
REF NO: OTT 521 overall proportions.
www.ayrey.co.uk
SPECIAL PURCHASE BARGAINS Very good value Jaguar E-type model
1961 Jaguar E Type from a partwork series. Nicely rendered
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £24.99 chrome wire wheels and the brightwork
REF NO: MAG HM18 is good.
www.ayrey.co.uk
AUTOCULT Looking like an ill-advised liason
Saab 92H Motorhome between a caravan and a Saab, this
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £91.99 bonkers model is certainly a talking
REF NO: ATC 09004 point. Usual Autocult quality.
▼
www.ayrey.co.uk
16/08/2017 11:55
 AMAZING DIECAST BARGAINS FROM

KEITH’S CARS OF DERBY

“FOR LOTS MORE EXCITING MODELS, PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE: WWW.KEITHSCARS.CO.UK”
NO THEME... JUST GREAT 1/43 FANTASTIC NEW OXFORD DIECAST 1/18 HEINKEL GREAT VALUE 1/18 DIECAST MODELS BY MCG GREAT VALUE 1/43 WHITEBOX DIECASTS ALL POST POST FREE!!
MODELS AT GREAT PRICE!! ALL POST FREE!! TROJAN BUBBLE CAR WITH OPENING (MODEL CAR GROUP) 59.99 EACH POST
DOOR 28.95 POST FREE!! FREE!!

2010 JAGUAR XFR 26.99 1974 DODGE D950 DUMP TRUCK 29.99
1934 LEYLAND FK-1 FIRE ENGINE 19.99 1974 ROVER P6B 3500 V8 SALOON (SPARE WHEEL
ON BOOT)

BACK IN STOCK! OXFORD DIECAST 1/43 BEDFORD

CA MR SOFTEE ICE CREAM VAN! 13.95!!

1959 TRIUMPH HERALD 26.99

1949 CHEVROLET 6400 TRUCK 29.99
1958-61 LAND ROVER SERIES II LHD (BLISTER
1965 ROLLS ROYCE SILVER CLOUD III FLYING SPUR
PACKED) 12.99
BURGUNDY

TRUESCALE MINIATURES 1/43 1979 ROLLS ROYCE

1975-1984 VAUXHALL CHEVETTE LHD (BLISTER
PACKED) 13.99
1956 CHEVROLET 3100 TOW TRUCK 28.99 1948 INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER KB 7 TIPPER 34.99
SILVER SHADOW KRUG CHAMPAGNE
DELIVERY VAN RRP 79.99: OUR PRICE 49.99
POST FREE!! ROVER 3500 P6B SALOON 59.99

1976 FORD ESCORT MKII RS 1800 (FOREST ARCHES)

1990 FORD SIERRA COSWORTH 26.99
26.99
ROVER 3500 P6B SALOON UK POLICE 59.99
ATLAS AUTO UNION TYPE C V16 ENGINE 1936-1937
(1.18 SCALE) 18.95.JPG
FANTASTIC NEW 1/43 IXO BUS & TRUCK SERIES!
OLD IXO 1/43 STOCK FIND!! ALL POST FREE!! ALL POST FREE!!

1931 DAIMLER DOUBLE-SIX 50 CONVERTABLE 26.99

1975 DODGE CHARGER RT 4 DOOR 26.99

BRUMM AUTO UNION TYPE D WINNER DONINGTON

GRAND PRIX 1938 TAZIO NUVOLARI 14.95
JAGUAR XK120C WINNER 1ST LE MANS 1951 29.99
1956 GREYHOUND SCENICRUISER 46.99

1982 FORD CAPRI MK3 2.8I 26.99 1965 CHRYSLER VALIANT ACAPULCO 26.99

AMAZING VALUE 1/43 (BIG!!) BUSES OF THE WORLD: 24.99 EACH POST FREE!!
BRUMM NAPIER 90HP 6 CYL. LAND SPEED RECORD
1905 104.65 MPH A. MACDONALD 16.95
RANGE ROVER BELGIAN POLICE 1986 26.99
1939 AEC REGENT III RT LONDON TRANSPORT 46.99

CHAUSSON APH 47 NEZ COCHON FRANCE 1951 MERCEDES-BENZ LO3100 GERMANY 1939
JAMES BOND ASTON MARTIN DB5 ‘GOLDFINGER’ ALPS
CHASE 14.95
1990 GMC AMERICAN SCHOOL BUS 46.99
2010 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 4 DUBLIN AIRPORT FIRE
SERVICE RESCUE 29.99

AMAZING AUTOWORLD 1/18 DIECAST 1974 DODGE

MONACO PURSUIT MASSACHUSETTS STATE ISOBLOC 648DP FRANCE 1955 NEOPLAN SKYLINER GERMANY 1983
POLICE CAR: 4 OPENING DOORS, BOOT & BONNET,
ATLAS AUDI R18 E-TRON #1 LMP1 WINNER LE MANS STEERING & DETAILED ENGINE!
2012 14.99 59.99 POST FREE!! 1953 MACK B61 31.99 FANTASTIC 1/76 DIECAST BLACKPOOL TRAMS! 14.99 EACH POST FREE!!

1959-71 TRIUMPH HERALD LHD (BLISTER PACKED) 1934 BALLOON TRAM 1960’S LIVERY WITH BRUCE
FORSYTH ADS! 1937 BRUSH RAILCOACH ‘VIVA’
12.99 1971 MAN 19.280H TB 31.99

“FOR LOTS MORE EXCITING MODELS, PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE: WWW.KEITHSCARS.CO.UK”

CONTACT KEITH BY EMAIL: SONOFCORNERSHOP@BTINTERNET.COM CHEQUES/POSTAL ORDERS PAYABLE TO KEITH BRADLEY - SEND YOUR ORDER TO:

KEITH’S CARS, DEPT D.C. 25 Allestree Lane, DERBY DE22 2HQ TEL: 07976 917574

p015.indd 1 15/08/2017 14:23

 £££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££
MCLAREN MODELS
COLLECTIONS
£ £
£ £
£
155 Grahams Road, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland, FK2 7BQ £
£
£
£
Tel: (01324) 624102 Email: BMclcars@aol.com £

Scotland’s largest diecast store since 1983

£
£
£
URGENTLY REQUIRED £
£
Lego, Lledo, Matchbox, Corgi, Old Dinky, EFE, Brooklin, Conrad, Lion, ££
£
£ Hornby, Scalextric, Britains, Solido, NZG, Tekno, boxed, railway etc. £
£ £
£
£
★ LARGE SURPLUS STOCKS A SPECIALITY ★ £
£
£
£ Tel: 07702 046795 £
£

LEEDS MODEL CENTRE

REPLICARZ – R18017 – 1:18 - £205
1926 Miller Indy 500, Ray Keech
GREENLIGHT – 12992 - 1:18 - £59.99
1950 GMC Pickup with Pump, Chevron
£ £
£ £
£ £
£ £
£ (established in 1981) £
£ £
£ YOU NAME IT WE BUY IT! £
£ Can collect from anywhere in the world within 48 hours! £
£ £
£ Send us a list or call our hotline now! £
£ BARGAIN WORLD: 16 High Street, Doncaster DN1 1ED £
£ £
£ Email: jonathan@bargainworldleeds.co.uk £
£
£ ££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££

DRAKE – ZT09125 – 1:50- £199 DRAKE – ZT09139 - 1:50 - £189

MaxiTRANS B Road Train Double Flat Top Set MaxiTRANS B Road Train Set

Corgi Gold Star Stockist

Many older and scarcer
items in stock. Vast selection
of EFE buses and lorries.
EFE & CORGI LISTS. PLEASE
SEND £1.20 IN POSTAGE
STAMPS INCLUDING YOUR
DRAKE – Z01413 -1:50 - £129 SCHUCO – 18700 1:18 £129 MATRIX– 40107-012 -1:43- £89.99
Mercedes 2660 RHD Aus. Cab VW T2a Camper 1953 Armstrong Siddeley 346 Sapphire NAME AND ADDRESS OR 7A Normandy Street
EMAIL FOR YOUR COPY
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 10am – 5.30pm, Sat 9.00am – 5.30pm Alton, Hants, GU34 1DD
Worldwide Mail Order Available – Postage Extra, Details on our website Tel: 01420 542244
www.mclaren-models.com altonmodelcentre.co.uk
altonmodelcentre@dial.pipex-
altonmodelcentre@dial.pipex.com

MECCANO EFE DINKY

A E
T S
C At T
H 864 Green
862-864 GreenLanes
Lanes E
B Winchmore Hill R
O London N21 2RS. Y
X Tel 020 8364-1370 E
A
T For your obsolete Diecast, R
R Tinplate Toys, Trains, Teddy Bears S
I
And related items.
A S
N C
G H
U
H C
O O
R We also have a large selection of new collectable
N Diecast models, Trains and Slot Cars
B B
Y Open A
C
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
M 9-30am to 4-30pm H
I M
N A
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CORGI SPOT - O N

p016.indd 1 14/08/2017 10:44


SPECIAL PURCHASE BARGAINS
1975 Porsche 911 Turbo
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £24.99
REF NO: MAG HM10
www.ayrey.co.uk
MATRIX MODELS
Aston Martin Virage Shooting Brake
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £90
REF NO: MX 50303-071
www.matrixscalemodels.com
WSI MODELS
Scania with Nooteboom Transporter
SCALE: 1/50 PRICE: £281
REF NO: 545.62.70
www.nooteboomshop.com
BRITAINS
New Holland T9.530 AutoCommand
SCALE: 1/32 PRICE: £34.99
REF NO: 43193
www.britainsfarmtoys.co.uk
p008-020 whats_new_TM.indd 17
Unusual for a Porsche colour aside, this MATRIX
is a nice model of the classic 911 Turbo, 1967 Jaguar Pirana Bertone
although it does look a litle more like an SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £102.99
80s one... REF NO: MAX 41001-101
www.ayrey.co.uk
A one-off by Zagato, this is the modern NEO
concept of the Aston Martin shooting 1955 DKW F94 Kombi
brake, again modelled very well by SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £60.99
Matrix. REF NO: NEO 45091
www.ayrey.co.uk
Impressive model with Nooteboom MINICHAMPS
Mega Windmill transporter Honda Rc213v Marc Marquez
commissioned in the Scottish SCALE: 1/12 PRICE: £109.99
McFadyens decoration from WSI. REF NO: 122141193
www.amerang.co.uk
Britains has updated its existing T9 WHITEBOX
with new decals and AutoCommand 1978 Fiat 128
badges. The tractor has driving mirrors, SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £26.99
warning beacons and GPS receiver. REF NO: WHI 251
www.ayrey.co.uk
October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk •
New Models
Although this looks a bit like the
Lamborghini Espada, this Bertone body
was on Jaguar running gear. Usual
Matrix superb quality.
A very unusual car in the UK, the DKW
Kombi, or estate, is nicely modeled
here by Neo. Superb colour choice is
evocative of the period.
Wonderful detail on this Minichamps
release. Working suspension, finely
detailed chain and superb racing decals
on this MotoGP bike.
Once a very common sight on the UK's
roads, the Fiat 128 was the booted
version of the 127. Nice detail and finish
at this price.
▼
17
16/08/2017 11:55
 New Models
ALPINA’S BAVARIAN BEEFCAKE BMW IS
WELL CAPTURED BY OTTOMOBILE.
1/18 scale
OTTOMOBILE
BMW Alpina E30 C2 2.7
PRICE: £106.99 REF NO: OTT 675
www.ayrey.co.uk

AT first sight this looks like a deserved reputation as

BMW E30 3-series like most
others. However, the Alpina
2.7 C2 was a rare and very fast
version of the popular small
BMW. In fact, just 309 cars were
built between 1986 and 1987
making them highly prized by
BMW enthusiasts.
Alpina was founded in 1965
by Burkard Bovensiepen as
a tuning firm, specialising in
BMW cars. Because of how
closely the company worked
with BMW, and indeed some of
their cars were built on the same
production lines as the standard
cars they were based on, BMW’s
warranty would be upheld and
they could be ordered from
and serviced by select BMW
dealerships. However, Alpina
are recognised as an automobile
manufacturer in their own right
by the German Ministry of
Transport.You can still order
Alpina versions of many of
the current BMW catalogue
– each offering performance
and handling upgrades over the
standard cars.
The E30 version of the
BMW 3-series was a great
car to drive in standard form
– with rear wheel drive and a
a driver’s car, it was
inevitable that Alpina ▲ Thxxx
would develop a car
from it. The first,
the C1, was a 2.5-litre
engined car, built from 1985-
86. However, the C2/1 gained
a 2.7-litre version of the 325e ▲ The Alpina C2 2.7 was a rare, high performance version of the BMW E30
eta engine, with custom flat 3-series - yet was remarkably discreet in appearance.
pistons made by MAHLE. In
conjunction with a modified
cylinder head containing bigger
valves, ports and chambers, along
with a higher lift camshaft this
provided the car with 210bhp
and gave the car a top speed of
more than 140mph. 108 of these
BMWs were built.
A later version called the
C2/2 2.7 used the M20 block ▲ Ottomobile have captured the ▲ Multi-spoke alloy wheels were a
with the 325e eta crank and rods. squat lines very well. distinctive feature of the Alpinas.
Combined with larger throttle
bodies, a redesigned intake Alpina decals and pin-striping, all the switchgear and it is well
manifold and improvements to plus those big multi-spoke rendered here, as are the leather
the compression ration, this car wheels are about the only real seats. Ottomobile have chosen
produced 204bhp – enough giveaways that this car is anything not to equip the model with
to propel it to 60mph from special. The ride height is also opening doors, bonnet or boot
standstill in 7.5 seconds. 309 of subtly lower and there is a deep so it is very hard to photograph
these 3-series BMWs were built front spoiler with integrated the detail here. However, the
between 1986 and 1987. spotlamps and air intakes. detail is impressive.
Ottomobile’s model of this Inside there is a depiction of This is a superb model of this
pocket rocket shows how the understated E-30 interior. rare high performance BMW
understated these cars were. The The dashboard wraps around the 3-series that really captures its
charcoal grey paint has discreet driver giving fingertip control for purposeful lines. DC

MATRIX MODELS
1938 Alvis 4.3 Cross & Ellis Tourer
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £90
REF NO: MX 10105-031
www.matrixscalemodels.com
This is a fine model of this upmarket
1930s 4-door 4-seat open sports tourer,
with all the detail inside and out that
we expect from Matrix. A beauty.
WHITEBOX Whilst the pickup version of the almost
1976 Toyota Land Cruiser Pickup bomb-proof Land Cruiser is unusual
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £26.99 in the UK, its a favourite in Africa and
REF NO: WHI 255 Australia. Nicely detailed.
www.ayrey.co.uk

18 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017

p008-020 whats_new_TM.indd 18 16/08/2017 11:55

 FOUR HEADLAMP GENTLEMAN’S EXPRESS
FROM BEST OF SHOW IS A DELIGHT
1/18 scale
BEST OF SHOW
Bentley SIII Park Ward FHC
PRICE: £101 REF NO: 214630
www.modelcarworld.de
THERE was a time when
coachbuilt cars were seen
as being the height of
sophistication and luxury.
Companies like Rolls-Royce
and Bentley would design
chassis that could be bodied
by coachbuilding firms on
a bespoke basis – much like
a master tailor would create
a suit to fit the individual.
However, by the early 1960s,
the day of the coachbuilders
was passing and indeed,
Rolls-Royce had acquired
H J Mulliner & Co as well as
Park Ward – who were duly
merged to form Mulliner, Park
Ward Ltd in 1961.
▲ A true gentleman's express - Best of
Show's Bentley S3 Continental Park Ward.
INTERNATIONAL POLICE VEHICLES Modelled after an authentic Chicago
Ford Station Wagon, Chicago Police laboratory support vehicle. Very
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £117
REF NO: IPV 45
www.brooklinmodels.co.uk
p008-020 whats_new_TM.indd 19
It was against this backdrop
that Rolls-Royce Group
launched their new Bentley S3
in 1962. The S3 saloon shared
a lot of its design DNA with
the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud,
complete with four headlamps
and a 6.2-litre V8 engine. This
was a luxury gentleman’s express
but a sports saloon was needed.
Therefore, Mulliner, Park
Ward Ltd was entrusted
to create a body to suit.
Constructed entirely from
hand-beaten aluminium, the S3
Continental was lighter than
the saloon and decidedly racier
looking. The Continental was
given higher gearing and some
well-finished and detailed in Black, with
vinyl-effect roof and light grey interior.
▲ Fins? On a Bentley? Slightly
cad-ish for such a fine car but the S3
carried the look well.
engine modifications, which
made it a lot faster too.
Of course inside, the usual
opulence prevailed – the
dashboard was capped with the
finest veneers, the seats were
covered in the finest hides and
deep pile carpets cosseted the
brogues of the occupants.
Make no mistake, these were
extremely expensive cars. When
new, a Park Ward Continental
would have set you back £8,495
– the average house price in
1962 was £2670. Therefore
not a huge number of these
WHITEBOX
1965 Volvo Amazon 130
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £26.99
REF NO: WHI 256
www.ayrey.co.uk
October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk •
▲ Superb brightwork on the BoS
Bentley - complete with the winged
'B' badge on the radiator grille.
beautiful cars found homes
between 1962 and 1965;
in fact just 311 Bentley S3
Continentals were built, with
291 of them having bodies by
Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd.
Best of Show’s model has
the proportions of this 1/18
scale model dead right. The
elegant coupé bodywork,
complete with the four
headlamp front is rendered
very well. Even the fussy rear
end treatment is correct.
Inside, the seats have a nice
sheen that give the appearance
of quality leather and the
walnut dashboard is framed by
the large black steering wheel.
Obviously this is a large
model (the original car was a
large, imposing vehicle) and
you certainly get a lot for
your money. It has great shelf
presence and for collectors of
Rolls-Royce or Bentley cars,
this really deserves checking
out. DC
Great proportions on Whitebox's model
of the wonderful Volvo Amazon. Good
brightwork and well applied paint,
especially at this price.
▼
19
16/08/2017 11:55
 New Models

MOTORART First of a new range of 1/50 scale MAXICHAMPS A personal favourite car of this writer,
Kobelco SK210LC-10 Excavator models has linked metal tracks, metal 1982 BMW 635 CSi (E24) Maxichamps have captured the big
SCALE: 1/50 PRICE: £85 safety railings, a modelled cabin SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £34.99 BMW coupe's lines very well. Good fine
REF NO: N/A interior and hydraulic hose lines. REF NO: 940025121 details too.
www.scalemodels.de www.amerang.co.uk

LANSDOWNE MODELS
1937 Riley 12/4 Continental saloon
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £112.50
REF NO: LDM 74a
www.brooklinmodels.co.uk
Lovely casting and finish as always, and
with a fabric-effect sliding roof panel,
this is an excellent addition for the Riley
enthusiast.
PREMIUM CLASSIXXS Vast and very expensive, this Mercedes
2016 Mercedes AMG GT3 is depicted in the Haribo racing team
SCALE: 1/12 PRICE: £549.99 entry into the Nurburgring 24hr - you
REF NO: PRE40056 need a big shelf and deep pockets.
www.ayrey.co.uk

ROS
Challenger Sprayer and Fendt Tractor
SCALE: 1/32 PRICE: £115
REF NO: X9955006040000
shop.challenger-ag.com
Largely metal with working features
including steerable wheels and working
linkages. Sprayer has a folding stand,
steerable wheels and unfolding boom.
NEO Nicely detailed model of this rarely
1981 Peugeot 604 Limousine seen long wheel base version of the
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £76.99 Peugeot 604. Nicely rendered alloy
REF NO: NEO 47080 wheels.
www.ayrey.co.uk

BROOKLIN MODELS LIMITED
Packard Super Clipper Limousine
SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £135
REF NO: BML 20
www.brooklinmodels.co.uk
The quality is excellent, as it needs to SCHUCO Very impressive big yellow bus from
be at this price. All the plated details Magrius Deutz O65500 Schuco. Very nicely rendered roof rack
and the whitewall tyres lift the overall SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £200.99 and superb brightwork. Has great shelf
appearance very wel. REF NO: SHU 08935 presence.
www.ayrey.co.uk

20 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017

p008-020 whats_new_TM.indd 20 16/08/2017 11:56

 1/72 scale Military Diecast
Aviation models

DIECAST MODELS HOBBIES TOYS

AVA I L A B L E
2017!
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DHC1 CHIPMUNK RAF BBMF
CONINGSBY 1994 WK518 AV7222006
RRP FOLLAND GNAT
£34.99 RAF TRAINER XM693
1990 LIVERY

RRP
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THE
A FEW FROM
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AVIATION 72 2017 CATALOGUE 2ND EDITION

I O N 7 2 R
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AV7221003 AV7251002 AV7253003 AV7223008
Panavia Tornado F3 ZG797 43 Sqn RAF Leuchers de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW 2 XP924/G-CVIX Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.50 Kon Marine 131/D
DH82A Tiger Moth RAF Trainer T-6818 ‘Fighting Cocks’ Fly Navy Heritage Trust Preserved Soesterberg

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AV7225005 AV7226013 AV7224005 AV7241004
Scottish Aviation Bulldog de Havilland DHC1 Chipmunk T.Mk.20 Westland Gazelle AH.1 Army Air Corps Desert Saab Draken J35 13-10 Swedish Air Force
Basic RAF Trainer XX513 Danish Air Force P-129 OY-ATO Storm XZ321/D “Gary” Standard Metal Scheme

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AV7254001 AV7243002
Gloster Javelin FAW 4 XA634 Saab Gripen JAS-39C Swedish Air Force 39204
(Ex-Leeming) Jet Age Museum RIAT 2009

LIKE AVIATION 72 ON www.aviation72.co.uk SEE AVIATION 72 ON

www.clevelandsdiecast.co.uk
www.clevelandsb2b.co.uk
Available from all good model retailers and specialist Aviation shops.
Distributed in the UK and Europe by Clevelands Wholesale Ltd.
Contact us for your nearest stockist • Tel: 01923 711772 • Email: sales@clevelandsdiecast.co.uk
Wholesale distribution of all major model, hobby and toy brands to the trade DIECAST . MODELS . HOBBIES . TOYS

p021.indd 1 14/08/2017 10:44

 SCOTTISH BUS MODELS
Scotland's
colourful buses
Stewart Brown charts the different diecast buses and their many
liveries in part one of this guide to Scottish bus models.
F
▲ The Alexander Y-type could
be seen the length and breadth or some 60 years from the start of the
of Scotland for the best part of 1930s to the start of the 1990s, the biggest
25 years. EFE offers it in a range operator of bus services in Scotland was the
of Scottish Bus Group liveries.
SMT Group or, as it was more generally
known in the years after World War 2,
the Scottish Bus Group. From 1929 two railway
companies – LMS and LNER – had a stake in the
Group's businesses, and when the railways were
nationalised in 1948, the Group decided to sell out
to the state-owned British Transport Commission.
It operated as a government-owned business until it
was privatised in 1990-91.
That's the briefest history – just 95 words in three
sentences – you'll ever read of the bus and coach
operator whose services covered most of mainland
Scotland. This two-part article looks at 1/76 scale
models of vehicles operated by the Group in state
ownership from 1948.
In the 1950s there were five main operating
subsidiaries. The biggest was W Alexander & Sons,
22 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017
p022-p028 scottish bus group_TM.indd 22
which was based in Falkirk and ran 2000 buses and
coaches from more than 40 depots in an area which
stretched from Glasgow in the south to Inverness
in the north, making it one of Britain's biggest bus
companies. In 1961 it was split in to three units. The
biggest, Alexander Midland, took over the Southern
Area operations with almost 1000 buses serving
the area between Glasgow and Perth. The new
Alexander Fife Company covered the Fife Area with
just over 500 buses, while operations between the
River Tay and the Moray Firth passed to Alexander
Northern, with 450 vehicles. Midland retained
Alexander's blue livery, while Fife adopted bright
Ayres red and Northern chose a rich yellow, which
was an unusual colour for a major bus operator in
the 1960s.
Next in size was Western SMT, based in
Kilmarnock, who ran more than 1000 vehicles in
southwest Scotland in an area from the River Clyde
to the Solway Firth. Then came Scottish Omnibuses,
14/08/2017 09:31

which served the southeast, from the Firth of Forth
to the English border. Based in Edinburgh, the
company ran almost 800 buses and traded as SMT
until 1964 when it adopted the Eastern Scottish
name. Central SMT ran 600 vehicles, most of them
were double-deckers on busy urban services in
industrial Lanarkshire.
The smallest SBG company was Highland
Omnibuses, with 120 buses covering a huge sparsely
populated area that stretched north from Inverness
to John o' Groats and south to Fort William.
There were changes over the years, the first
significant one being the expansion of Highland at
the start of the 1970s when it took over the bulk
of the bus operations of David MacBrayne that
covered the western highlands and islands. From
1978 there was a slight change of image when
the companies added “Scottish” to their trading
names – for example, Midland became Midland
Scottish. Then in 1985 there was a major shake up
p022-p028 scottish bus group_TM.indd 23
1 A head-on view of the Kelvin
Routemasters from Oxford
Diecast (left) and EFE (right)
shows the generally sharper
results achieved by EFE,
particularly with the radiator
which EFE captures much better
than Oxford Diecast.
2 Former London Transport
Routemasters appeared in
three SBG fleets in the late
1980s. This is the EFE casting
in the colours of Glasgow area
operators Clydeside and Kelvin.
October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk •
1
ahead of the 1986 deregulation of local bus services.
This saw the creation of four new companies, each
taking over parts of existing companies. The new
operators were Clydeside in Renfrewshire, Kelvin
in Dunbartonshire and the north of Lanarkshire,
Lowland in the Borders, and Strathtay serving
Perthshire and Angus.
So if you're tempted to think that state ownership
involved the dead hand of remote centralised
control of a monolithic business, think again. SBG's
operations were locally managed, and few passengers
would have been aware that private companies
did not run their buses. The colourful selection of
models attests to the individuality of the Scottish
Bus Group's subsidiaries.
What follows looks at the models available of SBG
buses and coaches, arranged alphabetically by chassis
maker, starting with AEC, Albion, Bedford, Bristol
and Daimler. The second part of the story will cover
Ford, Guy, Leyland, Leyland National and Seddon.
23
14/08/2017 09:32
 SCOTTISH BUS MODELS
AEC 3
One of the biggest AEC users in the Scottish Bus
Group was Scottish Omnibuses, which bought
large numbers of Reliances in the 1950s and 1960s.
There’s just one model of a Scottish Omnibuses
Reliance, which uses the EFE casting of the
Alexander Y-type coach body. This is a model that
will pop up frequently in this story, as it was one
of the most common types in SBG service from
the 1960s. However the EFE model illustrates a
coach not in Scottish Omnibuses’ green livery, but
in the blue and grey of Baxter’s, a respected family-
run business that had served the industrial towns
of Airdrie and Coatbridge until being taken over
by Scottish Omnibuses in 1962. Two of Scottish
Omnibuses’ 1966 Reliances were delivered in
Baxter's colours. Scottish Omnibuses used the
Baxter’s livery for Airdrie local services until 1977.
Another AEC with Baxter’s connections is
modelled in Scottish Omnibuses’ attractive light 4
green and cream. This is EFE’s AEC Renown, and it
represents a bus that Scottish Omnibuses purchased
from AEC in 1963 in lieu of a Bridgemaster
that Baxter’s had on order. The Renown was the
Bridgemaster’s replacement and AEC no doubt
hoped it would win some orders from Scottish
Omnibuses. It didn’t; indeed it was SBG's last new
AEC double-decker.
However two decades later the Group would
once again be buying AEC double-deckers – this
time ageing Routemasters from London Transport.
Bus services had since 1930 been under tight
control through a system of licensing, introduced to
bring a halt to unbridled competition between bus
companies. This was scrapped in 1986, effectively operated on a service linking its West London 3 EFE's AEC Renown casting in
allowing anybody to run a bus service. Three terminal with Heathrow Airport is available in the attractive livery of Scottish
Omnibuses.
Group companies saw ex-London Routemasters Clydeside Quicksilver livery, representing SBG's
4 Kelvin Routemasters have
– which were typically over 20 years old - as a only forward-entrance Routemaster. been modelled by EFE (right)
relatively inexpensive way of countering would-be There's one more AEC model. This is a former and more recently by Oxford
competitors. They were cheap to buy and, because MacBrayne Reliance with Park Royal bus body in Diecast (left). Overall the EFE is
they had conductors, were faster than the one- the colours of Highland Omnibuses. This uses the the more attractive casting.
person-operated buses run by other companies that EFE casting of a BET-style single-decker and apart
lost time at bus stops because each passenger had to from a prominent moulding line at waist level on
pay the driver as they boarded. the model, it's a fair representation of the real thing.
EFE has offered Routemasters in the colourful This model is also available in MacBrayne's unusual
liveries of Clydeside and Kelvin, which operated red, green and cream colours, showing how the bus
them in the Glasgow area, and of Strathtay, which looked when it was new.
ran them in Dundee and Perth. Don't take a ▲ EFE's BET-style bus is a
magnifying glass to the Kelvin Routemaster. The ALBION passable representation of an
AEC Reliance which Highland
unladen weight is represented neatly on the side The Albion Lowlander with Alexander body, Omnibuses acquired from
– but is wrong. A standard Routemaster weighed introduced by Britbus in 2007, was an odd choice to David MacBrayne. The Corpach
7tons 5cwt – not the 6tons 14cwt 2qrs shown on model. The chassis was developed by Leyland – who destination is appropriate for
the EFE model. This was introduced in 1994 and owned Albion – at the request of the Scottish Bus this Fort William-based bus.
has no registration plates, while the Kelvin bus, Group, and only 274 were built, of which 165 had
which appeared in 2008 does. A recent release from Alexander bodies of the style produced by Britbus.
Oxford Diecast is of another Kelvin bus, but there's So they were rare vehicles. Britbus produced ten
no question that the EFE is the better casting. The variants of the Lowlander in SBG liveries.
radiator on the Oxford Diecast model is badly Britbus provides rear-view mirrors, steerable
represented, although plus points include silver- front wheels, and an opening bonnet to reveal the ▲ The Albion Lowlander was
painted wheel nut guards on the front wheels, and Leyland O.600 engine. The casting does a good job developed by Leyland for the
the correct unladen weight. The Oxford Diecast of capturing the complex shapes in the Lowlander's Scottish Bus Group and found
glass fibre grille. few other buyers. Britbus
Routemaster has single rear wheels – but does
produced two slightly different
anybody notice? Corgi also offers a Clydeside First come the three Alexander companies. castings, the main change being
Routemaster. EFE's casting of the forward-entrance Midland had 44 Lowlanders, delivered in two the shape of the valance above
Routemasters that British European Airways batches in 1963. The Britbus model was available the engine bay.

24 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017

p022-p028 scottish bus group_TM.indd 24 14/08/2017 09:34

 in a mid-1960s version with lined-out livery
(beautifully reproduced) and a style of fleetname
used between 1965 and 1968, and in a less attractive
1970s version with a simplified livery and fleetname
– you can sense the cost-cutting taking place in
the bus industry at that time. A small item picked
up by Britbus is the shape of the valance over the
void above the engine that was different on the two
batches of Midland buses and they have reproduced
it appropriately.
Fife bought seven new Lowlanders in 1963 and
the company's bright red looks particularly attractive
on the Britbus model. Northern bought two Albion
Lowlanders in 1963, for operation on a cross-city
service in Aberdeen. They were the first double-
deckers delivered in the company's new yellow
and cream livery. There were two versions of the
Britbus model. The first depicted one of the buses
as delivered, with a cream roof and maroon wings.
This livery had a short life, with the roof area being
repainted yellow soon after the buses entered service.
The second showed a Lowlander as it was in the
1970s, operating in the Elgin area with a yellow roof
and a later style of fleetname.
Western SMT was the biggest Lowlander operator
and Britbus modelled two versions, one showing the
original livery with two horizontal bands of cream
relief and the other in what became the standard
livery, with the addition of a third cream band.
Central SMT had ten Alexander-bodied Lowlanders.
They were delivered in 1963 but left the fleet in
1965, being transferred for further service with other
Group companies. Britbus modelled one of these
short-lived buses.
During the 1960s and 1970s the Highland fleet
was modernised using Lowlanders transferred from
other Group companies, and there were two Britbus
models showing Lowlanders in the unusual poppy
red and peacock blue livery adopted by Highland in
1970. They differed in the styles of fleetnames and
fleetnumbers used, and in having different valances
over the engine bay. Both display destinations for
Inverness town services.
Service of Paisley in 1950. They were at that time
Western's only petrol-engined coaches and had short
lives, being sold in 1954. But the EFE casting of the
Duple Vista is a nice model, and it looks good in
Western's distinctive black and white coach livery.
BRISTOL DOUBLE-DECKERS ▲ Central SMT had ten
The Bristol chassis-building business and the closely Alexander-bodied Lowlanders.
associated Eastern Coach Works were nationalised Among the neat details are
with the bus interests of the Tilling Group in 1948. representations of the Albion
badge on the radiator filler
From that point, both companies were restricted to flap and the twin tax and PSV
supplying other state-owned businesses – in essence licence discs on the nearside
Tilling, the Scottish Bus Group, London Transport cab window.
and British Road Services, which then bought
Bristol lorries .
The Bristol product with the greatest appeal to
SBG was the Lodekka, with bodywork by ECW.
This innovative low-height bus was one of the
Group's standard double-deckers between 1955 and
1967. The Group bought 1106 new Lodekkas over
that period, and would add 106 more in the early ▲ The Western SMT Lowlander
1970s that it acquired from National Bus Company was offered in two versions
operators in England in exchange for troublesome of the company's attractive
red livery. This one, with three
Bristol VRTs. horizontal bands of cream relief
The three main variants of the Lodekka have shows how the buses were
been a popular subject for model manufacturers. painted for most of their time
B-T Models, who launched their Lodekka in 2013, with Western.
produce the original 60-seat LD series. Corgi has
modelled the flat-floor FS that succeeded the LD
since 2002. The most popular of all Lodekkas, the
On Britbus models the
▲
70-seat FLF, was the first Lodekka to be produced in bonnet opens to show the
1/76 scale, by EFE, starting quarter of a century ago engine. In the Lowlander it was
in 1992. a 9.8-litre Leyland O.600.

BEDFORD
SBG operated small numbers of most types of
Bedfords over the years, but there have been just two
available in model form, both of them classic 1940s
OB coaches.
From Corgi there was a neat example of a 1948
coach in the Bluebird livery carried by Alexander's
coaches. The casting is of the pretty Duple Vista
body, although in the case of the coach modelled
by Corgi the body was actually built in Edinburgh
by SMT, rather than in Hendon by Duple. SMT
was a Bedford agent, and while there were detail
differences between the Vista bodies built by
Duple and by SMT, they were small enough not to
matter in 1/76 scale. Having said that, the bus-style
fleetname displayed on the boot doors is wrong,
suggesting that Corgi couldn't locate a photograph
showing the rear of the coach.
From EFE came its version of the Duple Vista,
representing one of three in the Western fleet that
were acquired with the business of Young's Bus

October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • 25

p022-p028 scottish bus group_TM.indd 25 14/08/2017 09:34

 SCOTTISH BUS MODELS

▲ Western SMT is well-represented in model form. Two buses typical of the ▲ Highland Omnibuses in the 1970s was running new Fords, as shown by
fleet 50 years ago are the Britbus Lowlander and the EFE Alexander Y-type the EFE Y-type coach, and second-hand Albion Lowlanders, as modelled by
coach. Britbus.

Taking the LD first, the B-T Model appears in quickly addressed by EFE on subsequent Lodekka
two SBG liveries - Western SMT and Fife. Both issues) and there are no registration or fleet numbers
represent buses built in 1955 with the original plus the relief colour is cold white, where it should
style of radiator grille with a deep polished Incidentally the be warm cream.Yet, despite those errors, it's still a
surround. There are two versions of the Fife buses, nice model.
representative of a dozen elderly Lodekkas that Fife Cave-Browne- There are FLFs in three different liveries used by
acquired from Central SMT in 1969 and operated Cave heating Scottish Omnibuses. Perhaps the most attractive is
until 1972. There are also two versions of the the version released in 2003 in the light green used
Western bus, both showing destinations for local system was by the company from 1949 to 1964 and with the
services in Greenock. developed by company’s SMT diamond logo on the side. It shows
What sets B-T models apart from all the others in one of 25 delivered in 1962 and has the new-style
this article is that they are plastic. Does that matter? one person, not radiator grille and uses an alternative casting which
I'd say no. In the world of model railways collectors three - a Wing incorporates air intakes alongside the destination
buy detailed plastic models and think nothing of it. screen for the optional Cave-Browne-Cave heating
The B-T Lodekka is cheaper than an equivalent Commander system. This, incidentally, was developed not by two
diecast. The ultimate test is that it doesn't stand out Cave-Browne- people called Cave and one called Browne, but by
as being plastic when it is displayed alongside other one Wing Commander Cave-Browne-Cave.
metal models. Cave Then comes a version in the blue livery used by
Coincidentally, the Corgi FS has also been buses operating in the Baxter's fleet in Airdrie. This
produced in the liveries of these same two is another of the 1962 buses, but with the old-style
companies. Western SMT operated just three FS grille; the changeover in grille design occurred in
Lodekkas, and these have a style of radiator grille ▲
The Highland Omnibuses this batch. Unfortunately the livery isn’t right; it
carried over from the LD. Fife took 34 in 1963-64 fleet was modernised in should be mid blue and grey, not dark blue and
and the Corgi model shows in detail the complex the 1960s and 1970s with cream. The third Scottish Omnibuses FLF is in dark
Lowlanders transferred from
livery used at that time. At a glance it might just other SBG companies, as
green with Eastern Scottish fleetnames, and models
look like red and cream, but Corgi includes the represented by this Britbus one of the buses acquired by SBG from NBC in the
black lining used to separate the colours, and model. early 1970s in exchange for Bristol VRTs.
the additional white lining out, too. This style
of painting dated back to the earliest days of bus
operation, but it had largely died out by the 1960s.
The Fife FS has the later style of radiator grille,
introduced in 1962, and this is also featured on
the model in Central SMT colours. It has adverts
for Caledonian MacBrayne cruises from Balloch
on Loch Lomond that, with the use of lower-case
fleetnames, places the Central model in the 1970s.
The Corgi FS casting features platform doors, shown
fixed in the closed position.
The 30ft-long FLF Lodekka was bought in the
1960s by five of the seven SBG companies and has
been produced in eight different liveries. The first,
introduced by EFE in 1992, was in Midland blue.
Midland had 34 FLFs, delivered between 1962 and
1964. Despite having been introduced 25 years ago,
the EFE Lodekka is a really nice casting, which
catches the lines of the Eastern Coach Works body.
There is some good detail in the legal lettering on
the nearside skirt panels – it's just a pity that there's
no detailing on the radiator grille (an omission

26 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017

p022-p028 scottish bus group_TM.indd 26 14/08/2017 09:34

 ▲ Western bought forward-entrance FLF Lodekkas in the early 1960s, as ▲ The first Scottish Lodekka model from EFE (right) was in the livery of
represented by EFE, here alongside the Corgi FS. Although it's an old casting – Alexander's Midland and lacked the detail found on later issues. The radiator
dating back to 1992 – it is probably the most attractive of the Lodekka models. grille is plain black, and there are no fleet or registration numbers.

Other Scottish FLF operators represented in 5

model form are Fife, Western SMT, Central SMT
and Northern. The Fife Lodekka is representative
of 13 delivered in 1962, but is in a simplified livery
adopted at the end of the 1960s. In the worlds of
both real and model buses, the simpler the livery, the ▲ The Corgi (left) is the more
easier and cheaper it is to apply. attractive of the two Lodekka
Northern was the only SBG company not to models, but the B-T is good
value for money.
operate Bristol Lodekkas – until 1979, that is, when
five were transferred from Midland. These were 5 The Corgi Lodekka shows the
buses which had been new to Eastern National and later FS-type, here operating
had come to Scotland in exchange for Midland’s the Largs Local service. The
Eastern Coach Works body on
Bristol VRTs. EFE has modelled two of them; the FS was outwardly similar
one shows an Elgin area route and the other an to that on the LD but had larger
Aberdeen local service. These buses carry corporate side windows and a flat floor in 6
Northern Scottish fleetnames, in use from 1978, the lower saloon.

and are based on the casting with the Cave-Brown- 6 Who cares that it's plastic?
The B-T Models LD-type
Cave heating system. Lodekka in the colours of
The Lodekkas operated by SBG were Western SMT.
straightforward reliable buses with front-mounted
EFE Lodekkas in the colours
▲
six-cylinder Gardner engines and manual gearboxes.
of Central SMT (left) and
The Lodekka's replacement, the VRT, still featured a Scottish Omnibuses (right).
Gardner engine, but mounted at the rear and driving Although not immediately
through a semi-automatic gearbox. It was, in the obvious, the casting on the right
incorporates grilles alongside
eyes of SBG, a disaster. The Group bought 109 VRTs the destination which were
in 1969-70, and by 1974 all had gone, most of them associated with the vehicle's
to NBC subsidiaries in England in exchange for oh- heating system.
so-reliable FLF Lodekkas.
So the last of the SBG Bristol double-deckers is
a VRT, produced by EFE in the liveries of Midland
and Western SMT. Midland had 15 and a nice
period feature captured by the EFE model is the
use of light-coloured rubber window mountings.
Western had 39 and the EFE VRT is a model of
a bus on the 40-mile route from Kilmarnock to
Greenock. I hope it made the journey without
breaking down.
The EFE casting is nicely finished, and I'm
tempted to suggest that the VRTs look better in
1/76 scale than they did in real life.

BRISTOL SINGLE-DECKERS
The underfloor-engined Bristol MW with
Eastern Coach Works body was a common sight
in England and Wales, but not in Scotland, where
Scottish Omnibuses, with 20, was the only buyer.
The EFE model of the MW shows a Scottish
Omnibuses coach in the post-1964 era, when the
livery was dark green and the company was trading

October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • 27

p022-p028 scottish bus group_TM.indd 27 14/08/2017 09:34

 SCOTTISH BUS MODELS
▲ The evolution of Bristol double-deckers as modelled by EFE, with a VRT in
the foreground and a Lodekka behind, both in the livery of Alexander Midland.
as Eastern Scottish rather than SMT. It is in what
was called dual-purpose livery, with green skirt,
window surrounds and roof, and incorporates a
roof-mounted destination display which was added
to these coaches in the mid 1960s when they were
downgraded from front-line touring.
The mid-engined MW was replaced by the rear-
engined RE – a change of engine layout by Bristol
that was rather more successful on its single-deckers
than on its double-deckers, at least in the eyes of
SBG's engineers. In Scotland most RE chassis were
bodied as coaches by Alexander, so the EFE Y-type
casting appears once again, in the coach liveries used
by Eastern Scottish and Western SMT.
Because the Bristol RE had a front-mounted
radiator, Alexander designed a different style of grille
to provide an adequate flow of air. This is accurately
reproduced on the revised EFE casting introduced in
2013, which also has a single-piece door, as fitted to
a few 1960s Y-type coaches in place of the standard
two-piece folding door. The Western model shows
the coaches used on the company's prestigious
Glasgow to London service in the second half of
the 1960s and has a white painted section on the
rear window representing the translucent glass used
for the toilet compartment fitted to London service
coaches. Fifty years ago the 400-mile trip on a
Bristol RE was scheduled to take 12 hours; today
the day service by National Express takes just over
10 hours. The Eastern Scottish model is of a similar
coach, but as it appeared in the 1970s after having its
toilet removed and being repainted in dual-purpose
green and cream. SBG had 66 Bristol RE coaches
with Y-type bodies, all delivered in 1966.
DAIMLER
SBG bought 640 new Daimler or Leyland Fleetlines
between 1965 and 1980, but all with lowheight
bodies of designs that have not been replicated by
diecast model makers. However, in the 1980s the
Group did buy a few second-hand Fleetlines, and
three types are available in 1/76 scale.
The purchase by SBG subsidiaries of second-
hand buses from companies outside the Group was
relatively unusual, but when London Transport
decided to get rid of its Daimler Fleetlines
prematurely, Western bought 33. These had their
28 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017
p022-p028 scottish bus group_TM.indd 28
▲ Two Lodekkas from the batch delivered to Scottish Omnibuses in 1962.
The green bus is in the original livery; the blue represents one of the vehicles
transferred to the Baxter's fleet.
▲ SBG's last Bristol double-
deckers were VRTs. Midland
had 15, and the company's blue
livery on a Perth-based bus
makes a neat model from EFE.
▲ The alternative EFE casting
with grilles alongside the
destination for the vehicle's
heating system. This is a
Scottish Omnibuses vehicle
in the colours of Baxter's of
Airdrie, a business the company
purchased in 1962. The blue is
too dark, and the cream should
be grey.
▲ The Bristol MW with ECW
coach body was a common sight
in England and Wales, but not
in Scotland. This is the EFE
casting showing an Eastern
Scottish coach as it would have
been in the late 1960s and early
1970s.
centre exits removed before entering service, and
joined the fleet between 1981 and 1983 at which
point they were typically around eight or nine
years old. EFE's model of the London Fleetlines
running for Western was offered in two different
versions. One shows them as they were when they
joined the Western fleet, in an attractive version of
the company's established red and cream livery and
complete with the infill panel between the top of
the engine cover and the upper deck floor, which
gave a smooth appearance to the rear profile. This
model is available in two variants on different routes
in the Paisley area and carries corporate Western
Scottish fleetnames.
The other EFE DMS shows the ex-London
Fleetlines later in their life with Western when the
classic red and cream livery had been replaced by
a discordant combination of white, black, red and
grey, and the infill panel over the engine had been
removed. It might not be the worst livery ever
applied to a Scottish Bus Group bus, but it certainly
wasn't the best. When it introduced the new colours
Western abandoned SBG's corporate fleetname and
went retro, with a big block letter name echoing that
used between 1934 and 1978.
In 1983 Fife bought six Fleetlines with two-door
Alexander bodies from the Grampian and Tayside
regional transport companies for operation on
school contracts. In 2001 ABC issued an attractive
model of one of the ex-Tayside buses in Fife red.
Surprisingly, the casting was never issued in the
unusual two-tone blue and white colours of its
previous owner.
Strathtay bought half-a-dozen former Greater
Manchester PTE Fleetlines in 1987. One of these
is represented by EFE's GMPTE standard double-
decker, providing a nice representation of Strathtay's
unusual orange and blue livery on what was then a
modern bus. The only other 1/76 Strathtay double-
decker is the EFE Routemaster.
TO COME
The second part of this article will illustrate models
of Ford, Guy, Leyland, Leyland National and Seddon
buses and coaches operated by SBG and produced
by six manufacturers, Atlas, B-T Models, Britbus,
Corgi, EFE and Oxford Diecast. DC
17/08/2017 11:56
p029.indd 1 14/08/2017 10:45
 TRASH TO TREASURE

Prisoner's Mini
Moke restored
The cult TV show from the 1960s that starred Patrick McGoohan
also spawned a Dinky Toys release that these days seems to have a
similarly cultish appeal. Rick Wilson circumnavigates the inevitable
high prices by taking the restoration route on a tight budget.
far-reaching influences on science fiction and fantasy
TV programmes since.
Dinky Toys released its No 106 replication in 1968,
and it has been an incredibly popular model since,
demanding premium prices in mint and boxed
condition today. As ever, my limited budget set me
off on the cheaper path of restoration. I picked up
a very playworn example for just a few pounds, but
thankfully there are plenty of reproduction parts
on the market. I acquired mine from Steve Flowers’
Model Supplies and set about bringing my tired
example back to something that I was happy to
display for a fraction of the cost of buying a minter.
With just the tyres and the windscreen surround
to remove I did this and then added caustic soda to
a plastic container of boiled water (always wear eye
protection, face mask and thick rubber gloves, and
perform this in a well-ventilated area – outside is best).
I then immediately immersed the remains of the model
into the bubbling mixture. It’s safer if you loop a length

T
▲ Finished and ready for he Prisoner was a 17-episode television
display, complete with the series first broadcast in September 1967.
reproduction box that I made
from a template I found online.
Starring and co-created by Patrick
McGoohan it combined spy fiction
with elements of science fiction and
psychological drama. It follows a British former
secret agent who is abducted and held prisoner in a
mysterious coastal village resort, where his captors
try to find out why he abruptly resigned from
his job. It’s combination of 1960s countercultural
themes and the surrealistic setting (Portmeirion,
just outside Porthmadog in North Wales) has had
of wire around an axle to lift it out when ready.
Once stripped, I buffed with a fine wire wool to
remove any residue and then primed, masking off
the hubs beforehand, including the repro bonnet. I
used white primer as the main colour will be white.
Once dry, I then coated with gloss white, allowed
that to dry and applied another coat. I finished by
hand painting brown to the side panels and upper
flat areas. It was then just a case of adding the rest of
the reproduction parts.
To embellish further, I found a template for the
original box online and printed onto stiff card to
display the model. DC

▲ As bought for just a few pounds – I have already ▲ The reproduction parts bought from Steve ▲ Once it had been stripped, I then primed the
removed the tyres and the screen surround just Flowers’ Model Supplies. parts to be painted white, having masked off the
requires a little wiggling to remove. wheel hubs first.

30 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017

p030 Dinky Mini Moke_TM.indd 32 17/08/2017 11:57

 M . Toys Lt
R .

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experience in the model trade!
WANTED: Diecast, White Metal, Buses, Airplanes, 1/18th Scale, andrew@andrewclarkmodels.com
1/43rd Scale, Formula 1, Modern Rally, Historic Rally Call: 07753 804232 or 01756 793354
ANYTHING CONSIDERED COLLECTION AVAILABLE
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TOP PRICES PAID FOR:
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Or post list to:- Polistil/Burago
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p031.indd 1 14/08/2017 10:45

 THE HOT WHEELS YEARS
The Hot Wheels
that weren’t
Mike Pigott continues his history of Mattel’s Hot
Wheels series. This month we look at the former
Corgi Juniors models that were re-released in
the Hot Wheels line during the 1990s.
T
he Corgi Juniors line has its origins in
the Husky range that was first released in
1964. Mettoy-Playcraft, the company that
produced Corgi Toys, wanted to enter
the miniature market to compete with
the popular Matchbox 1-75 range.The result was the
‘Husky’ brand and was sold exclusively at Woolworth’s
stores in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. Husky
Models undercut Matchbox on price, although were
not as solidly made and were sold in blister packs.
In 1968, the introduction of Mattel’s Hot Wheels
line with low-friction wheels and track sets caused
other diecast manufacturers to react. Corgi’s response
was the ‘Rockets’ range, which was branded ‘Corgi’
toys rather than ‘Husky’ toys, and was not exclusive
to Woolworths. Corgi also developed a large range
of innovative track sets and accessories, which were
actually superior to Hot Wheels products.
The exclusive agreement with Woolworth’s
came to an end in 1970, and the Husky range was
re-launched as Corgi Juniors. Several former Husky
models were re-branded for the new series, while
many new items were introduced.
However, a lawsuit from Mattel over patents on
track sets resulted in Corgi having to stop production
on Rockets track.Without the track, the Rockets
did not sell and were discontinued in 1971.The
Whizzwheels from the Rockets were installed on
Corgi Juniors to compete with Matchbox. Many
of the Rockets castings, with modified bases, were
brought into the Juniors line.
The early 1980s were a difficult time for the British
32 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017
p032-037 hotwheels corgi junior_TM.indd 32
▲ Porsche Targa originated in as Corgi model 1988 and was
reissued in 1998 in silver.
▲ Hot Rod Custom Van was a Hot Wheels Auto City release but
had Corgi Juniors wheels.
diecast industry, and Corgi went into liquidation
in 1983. Fortunately, the company was revived the
following year through a management buy-out.The
Juniors line was revived using existing castings and
some new models. Over the next few years, a small
number of new castings were added.
HOT WHEELS
In 1989, rival company Mattel bought Corgi – the ▲ Hot Wheels Formula 1 racer
makers of Hot Wheels. Mattel continued to produce Thunderstreak was sold in Corgi
Corgi Classics and Corgi Juniors under their original packaging as part of a UK Fuji
branding, and some Hot Wheels products were sold in Film promotion.
the UK with Corgi branding. At some point Mattel
decide to rationalise its ranges, and the Juniors, which
in the 1990s were being sold under the ‘Corgi Auto
City’ brand, were gradually badged Hot Wheels.
However, the limited sales numbers proved
problematic for Mattel. For a company used to selling
Hot Wheels cars in the millions, the production figures
for Corgi Classics, which were often only around the
5000 mark, seemed incredibly meagre.When the Corgi
USA range did not prove popular, Mattel decided to
sell up.
Corgi was sold to a management consortium, on ▲ Mattel rebranded the Corgi
the proviso that they did not produce toys that would Juniors line as Hot Wheels Auto
City and production was from
compete against Mattel. Corgi returned to producing their Chinese factories.
premium diecast collectibles, while Mattel retained the
Corgi Juniors tooling.
AUTO CITY
Mattel continued producing Corgi Juniors, but
changed the brand name to ‘Hot Wheels Auto City’.
17/08/2017 11:58
 These were now made in China, separately from
the Hot Wheels line, which was mostly made in
Malaysia. The Auto City vehicles were still found
with Corgi Juniors wheels. Auto City was aimed
at the British and Continental markets, where kids
perferred realistic vehicles. They were not sold in the
USA as they did not want to have two competing
ranges in its home market.
There were some unusual crossovers during this
time. Some Auto City models were sold in the
USA, usually as part of Hot Wheels sets.
One example is the Hot Rod Custom
Van, complete with Corgi-style wheels,
finished in a ‘Hot Wheels Racing Team’ ▲ The Ferrari 308GTS has its roots in the Corgi Junior 'Magnum P.I.' model that was released
livery and included in a set sold in the in 1982. The Hot Wheels version was very popular and was also released in yellow in 1998.
USA. In 1990, the Hot Wheels Formula
1 racer Thunderstreak was sold in
Corgi packaging as part of a UK Fuji
Film promotion.
In 1996 Mattel acquired Tyco, and
with it Matchbox. The Matchbox range
was still popular all around the world so
it made no sense for Mattel to continue
producing the lacklustre Auto City range, as
they now owned the market leader Matchbox, and
with it the extensive European sales network. The
Auto City line was phased out, although this was
not the end of the line for the former Corgi Juniors
models….

HOT WHEELS MAINLINE

Some of the Auto City models continued in Hot
Wheels sets; Ford Thunderbird and Iveco Tanker
were among those used. Then in 1996, four
ex-Corgi racing cars were sold in Hot Wheels
packaging in the UK. Four construction vehicles
followed this, although these still had Corgi wheels
and were probably used to test the market.
Around this time, the remaining Corgi dies were
transferred to the Mattel factory in China. The bases
were modified to accommodate larger wheels, and
the rudimentary suspension was removed. During
1997, a number of the former Corgi castings began
turning up in the regular Hot Wheels line that was
sold in the USA and the rest of the world. Not all
of the Auto City vehicles were released by Hot
Wheels. Ultimately, 23 items were released in the
Hot Wheels line, with a further three exclusive to
the ‘Action Pack’ twin sets.
PORSCHE TARGA
The first Corgi casting to be incorporated into the
Hot Wheels range was Porsche Targa. It was one
of the newer Corgi models, dating from 1988, and
one of the better ones, too. Based on a Porsche
911SC Targa, it had an open top with roll bar and
a large rear spoiler. Painted fluorescent yellow, it
had a black plastic interior and base. The front and
rear lights were touched in, while the roll bar and
spoiler were painted matt black. The five-spoke
wheels looked much better than the cheap-looking
Auto City style. Like most Hot Wheels cars of the
era, it had a logo printed somewhere on the body
- in this case on the rear window. It was re-released
in silver in 1998.
▲ Mercedes-Benz 500SL was based on a Corgi Juniors casting from 1988 and was only ever
issued by Hot Wheels in this metallic grey with a red interior.
▲ BMW 850I was one of the
last Corgi Juniors with opening
doors and a detailed interior.
▲ Bizarre 'gun sight' livery on
BMW 325i by Hot Wheels - very
different to the Corgi one.
▲ Ferrari Testarossa was
painted pearlescent white with
a black interior.
MERCEDES-BENZ 500SL
This was an unusual choice, given that Hot Wheels
already had a Mercedes-Benz 500SL in its range.
However, the Corgi version was a far superior model
to the Mattel one. It was a solid model with a metal
body and base unlike the Hot Wheels version.The
ex-Corgi one had a very detailed interior with an
extremely realistic steering wheel.The windscreen
had a black-painted frame and included the wing
mirrors and sun visors. It was painted dark grey with
a black base and red interior. Like the Porsche Targa,
this was one of the more recent Corgi castings from
1988 and surprisingly it was not reissued.
FERRARI 308 GTS
One of three ex-Corgi models that originated
as a character model, Ferrari 308 GTS was first
released in 1982 as the car driven by Tom Selleck
in ‘Magnum P.I.’. After Corgi had to ditch its
expensive licensing franchises in 1984, the casting
was reissued many times as a normal Ferrari. It
was a useful addition to the Hot Wheels range, as
there was a Ferrari 308 coupe in the range, but
not a spyder. As the Hot Wheels version was also
painted red, it was largely similar to the Magnum
version; the only differences were the wheels, some
extra paint trim and a Hot Wheels logo on the
windscreen. The base, which included the grille,
was in black plastic, as was the interior. This model
was reasonably popular, and a second release was
issued in 1998, this time in yellow.
▼

October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • 33

p032-037 hotwheels corgi junior_TM.indd 33 14/08/2017 09:44

 THE HOT WHEELS YEARS
1 2
1 Fire Eater II was based on a
Corgi casting from 1970 - ERF
Fire Tender.
2 Oddly named Land Rover
MkII arrived in 1997.
▲ Corvette Coupe had an
opening bonnet and a tinted
roof panel.
▲ Gold Mercedes-Benz 190E
was based on the Corgi model
of 1988.
▲ Jaguar XJ40 release from
1997 was finished in dark
metallic blue.
34 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017
p032-037 hotwheels corgi junior_TM.indd 34
FERRARI TESTAROSSA
The second Ferrari in the range was a more modern
example, the current Testarossa coupe.This was one
of the last Corgi releases, dating from 1988. It was
quite a good replica of the real thing, complete with
the distinctive air inlets along the sides. It was first
painted white, with a black interior that included the
rear deck and tail lights.The Mattel version was also
painted white, but with a pearlescent finish.There was
only one release, probably because there was already a
Ferrari Testarossa in the Hot Wheels range.
BMW 850I
BMW 850i was one of the last Corgi Juniors castings;
it was developed by Corgi but not released until
1989 by which time Mattel had already taken over
the company. It was another model that duplicated a
Hot Wheels casting, although it was again a superior
model. A solid vehicle, it featured opening doors and
a very detailed interior.The Auto City model was
painted metallic silver with a black plastic base and
red interior.
CORVETTE COUPE
One of the last new models from the Mettoy era,
Chevrolet Corvette featured an opening, front-hinged
bonnet and a tinted roof. It was another model that
duplicated a vehicle in the Hot Wheels range, 80’s
Corvette.The two vehicles were remarkably similar;
both had opening bonnets and tinted roofs. However,
the Mattel model had a metal base and a two-tone
interior with luggage in the rear hatch.The Corgi
one had a plastic base, wing mirrors and a detailed
engine. Renamed ‘Corvette Coupe’, it was painted
metallic dark green with a red interior. It was revived
the following year, this time named ‘80’s Corvette’ and
coloured white with blue and yellow racing stripes.
BMW 325I
Most of the final Corgi Juniors releases from the
late 1980s were British and German cars, as these
were Corgi’s largest markets at that time. BMW 325i
appears to be based on the M3 version, as it had front
and rear spoilers and extended wheel arches.The
Corgi Juniors version was released in 1988 and was
initially painted red with black pinstripes.The Hot
Wheels example was a more bizarre livery.The body
was bright yellow, with red flashes on the bonnet and
sides, plus black ‘gun sight’ motifs.The base and chin
'57 T-Bird started life as the
car driven by Dan Tanna in the
TV series "Vega$".
spoiler were painted silver, and the interior was black
plastic. It was a very solid model with a metal base and
opening doors, and was fitted with ‘wire’ wheels.
MERCEDES-BENZ 2.6 190E
Another example of a sporty prestige German saloon,
this was based on the powerful 2.6 litre version of
the Mercedes-Benz 190E.The Corgi model was
first produced in 1988, and was produced in street,
racing and police liveries.The Hot Wheels release was
in a very attractive shade of metallic gold.The clear
headlights were part of the window moulding, while
the grille and tail lights were painted silver and red
respectively.The base and interior were in black plastic.
JAGUAR XJ40
Also first released in 1988 was this accurate model of
the Jaguar XJ40.The real XJ40 was produced from
1986 to 1994, and was more angular than previous
Jaguars.The Corgi model was available as a street car
and also in a police version.The 1997 Hot Wheels
release was produced in dark metallic blue, with a
white interior and a black plastic base. The grille,
headlights, tail lights and parking lights were neatly
painted with imitation wire wheels.
LAND ROVER MK II
Another 1988 release, the Land Rover One-Ten
proved a useful addition to the Corgi Juniors range. It
was based on the panel van version of the One-Ten
14/08/2017 09:44
 3 4
model, with a ribbed metal roof.This Corgi model was
fairly typical of its late-1980s releases; it was a one-piece
casting that included the grille and bumpers, with no
additional plastic parts.The casting was quite accurate
with lots of fine details, although the rear windows
were cast shut. It was produced in a wide range of
different liveries, including police, AA service, fire
brigade and rally support.
When released by Hot Wheels in 1997, it had
been renamed as Land Rover Mk II.This was quite
curious, as the Land Rover Series II was a much earlier
model. By this time, the One-Ten was now sold as the
Defender 110.There was only one version produced
by Hot Wheels. It was painted bright orange, with
colourful decals for ‘Smith Electric Service’ in white
and blue.The base was black plastic and the interior
was dark blue.
FIRE EATER II
This was one of the oldest Corgi Juniors models, dating
back to 1970. It was originally known as ERF Fire
Tender, and was first issued with a solid metal base
and grille.The casting was later modified, so that the
grille was part of the body casting, and the base and
headlights were in chrome plastic.The model was fitted
with dark blue-tinted windows, which also made up
the dome lights, and a removable one-piece ladder
in yellow plastic. It was mainly produced in all red,
although in later years the rear sides could be found
mask-sprayed in silver.
p032-037 hotwheels corgi junior_TM.indd 35
3 Ford Sierra XR4TI was
metalflake silver with orange
and blue racing stripes.
4 Flame Stopper II was based
on a casting from 1970.
▲ The original Corgi Juniors
release of the London Bus from
around 1975.
▲ London Taxi gained a strange
"New York Taxi" yellow livery
with Hot Wheels.
▲ Popular Porsche Carrera's
origins were a 1974 Corgi
Juniors model.
▲ Tipper was originally
released in 1978 as Corgi's
"Tipping Lorry".
October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk •
The Hot Wheels version was back in all red with the
base and ladder in grey plastic.There were a number of
details touched in with silver pad-printing, including
the lockers. As few American kids would know what
an ERF Fire Tender was, Mattel gave the model a new
‘cool’ title. Fire Eater was the name of a successful Hot
Wheels fire pumper introduced in 1977. Presumably
it was hoped that the Fire Eater II would sell on the
back of its successful namesake, but this didn’t happen.
Confusingly, it was marked ‘Fire Tender’ on the base.
’57 T-BIRD
The second model to have started life as a licensed
model, Ford Thunderbird originated as the car driven
by private detective Dan Tanna in the TV series ‘Vega$’.
It was finished in the same colours as the TV car - red
with a black interior.The base was unpainted metal,
while the grille, bumpers and spare tyre mount were
plated plastic.This model had one novel working
feature: pressing a small button on the base would raise
the bonnet.The Hot Wheels release was painted a very
attractive turquoise, with a white interior.The effect
was spoilt by the large Hot Wheels logo printed on
the windscreen. However, the opening bonnet feature
was retained.This proved one of the more popular ex-
Corgi models; although it was only released once as a
single model, it did appear in a number of gift sets.
LONDON BUS
An unusual choice for the Hot Wheels line, this was
another very old casting. As Daimler Fleetline, it was
introduced to the Corgi Juniors range in 1971. Initially
it had a detailed interior but no glazing, and the doors
were cast open. In 1975, the interior was removed and
replaced with clear windows and a coloured card insert
with pictures of seated passengers. During the last days
of Mettoy, opaque black glazing further cheapened
the bus. Hot Wheels continued this version, with the
addition of oversized mag wheels. It had tampo printed
adverts for the ‘London Standard’ newspaper, but no
route numbers or destination blinds. It was still marked
‘Daimler Fleetline’ on the base.
FORD SIERRA XR4TI
One of the last new models from the Mettoy era, this
originated as a promotional model for Ford. It was
based on a Ford Sierra 2.5 Ghia, in yellow, with brown
plastic base and bumpers, and opening front doors.The
headlights were part of the clear window moulding,
35
14/08/2017 09:44
 THE HOT WHEELS YEARS
green, supposedly representing a municipal ‘cherry
picker’. The Hot Wheels release was red with a grey
base and booms, and additional tampo printing on
the sides. As with Fire Eater II, it was named after an
existing Hot Wheels model, Flame Stopper, which
was a futuristic water cannon dating from 1988.

LONDON TAXI
Surprisingly, there was no model of a London
taxi in the Corgi Juniors range until 1980. Based
on the Austin FX4 taxi, it was a solid model with
opening rear doors. It had a plated metal base that
incorporated the grille and bumpers. It was always
painted black and usually had a yellow interior. The
Hot Wheels release was, rather strangely, painted as a
New York taxi, in yellow with white and black checks
along the sides. It had ‘London Cab Co.’ printed on
the rear flanks, and ‘See City of Hot Wheels’ along
▲ Ford Transit Wrecker was originally released in 1981 by Corgi. It had several liveries each side in red. The base was still in unpainted
including Police and AA, but as a Hot Wheels release it was "Kevin's 24hr Towing" metal, while the interior was black. In the 1990s
some London taxis werepainted like this sponsored
Digger dates back to aCorgi Junior from 1977 but as a Hot by United Airlines to publicise its New York flights.
Wheels release, it gained this yellow livery . However, I doubt Hot Wheels were influenced by
this; it was probably because American kids were
familiar with yellow cabs.

FORD TRANSIT WRECKER

First released in 1981, this was a nice replica of a light
tow truck. It initially appeared in white with a black
base and labels for ‘Corgi 24 Hour Towing’, while the
sprung boom and warning lights were in red plastic.
It later came out in police and AA liveries, plus those
of a number of petrol companies. The Hot Wheels
version was painted a very pleasant shade of light blue,
with the base, jib and lights in white plastic. It had
printed sign-writing for ‘Kevin’s 24 Hour Towing’ and
various tool lockers were touched in. The hook was
black, and the windows were tinted a very dark grey.

▲ City Police car started off life
as Kojak's car in 1977.
▲ Mustang Cobra came in this
metallic dark pink shade.
▲ Hot Wheels London Bus with
oversize mag wheels.
while the tail lights were part of the red plastic interior.
During the 1980s, the revived Corgi company
produced the Sierra in a wide range of liveries,
including a police car and a pace car.The Hot Wheels
version was painted metal-flake silver, with dark blue
and orange racing stripes.The people at Mattel must
have been slightly confused about the Sierra model.
The Ford Sierra was imported to the USA, but was
not named as such. Instead it was called the Merkur
XR4Ti, and was similar to the Sierra Cosworth, a two-
door model with a huge rear spoiler. So both the name
and body style were totally inaccurate on this model!
FLAME STOPPER II
The second ex-Corgi fire engine was another very old
casting dating from 1970. ERF Simon Snorkel Fire
Engine was based on an aerial platform truck and had
raising and rotating booms. At first it had a metal base,
but this was later changed to yellow plastic, the same
colour as the booms. Later versions had white booms
with printed ‘SNORKEL’ logos, plus silver trim on
the side lockers and rear deck. During the Auto City
period, there was a bizarre version in orange and
CITY POLICE
This was the third of these models to trace its origins
to a character toy; it began life as TV cop Kojak’s car
in 1977. It was painted metallic bronze with amber
windows, the interior and bumpers in chrome, and a
single red dome light over the driver’s seat. Based on
a Buick Regal, it also appeared in a number of other
liveries, becoming one of Corgi’s most used castings.
It was produced as a police car and a sheriff ’s vehicle.
It was also modified into a taxi, a normal road car, a
fire chief car and even a custom racer.
The Mattel release was again a police car, simply
called City Police (still marked Buick Regal on the
base). It was painted black with a white roof, and had
detailed ‘City of Hot Wheels Police’ decals on the
sides. The base was black plastic, while the interior,
grille and bumpers were in dark grey. The wheels
were left in black without chrome-foiled hubs.
MUSTANG COBRA
The original Corgi version first appeared in 1981,
and was painted a loud shade of orange. It was a
lightweight model, as the base, grille and lower body
were plastic. The clear headlights were part of the
window moulding. It had an opening rear hatch; early
releases had glazing, but the rear window was later

36 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017

p032-037 hotwheels corgi junior_TM.indd 36 14/08/2017 09:44

 deleted and did not reappear in the Hot Wheels era.
This model was painted metallic dark pink, with a
black interior, grille and lower body. It had a thick
black GT stripe on the bonnet, and ‘5.0 MUSTANG’
decals on the front and sides. The wire-look wheels
were appropriate, although Mattel did not remove the
rear towing hitch.
DIGGER
Digger was a wheeled excavator first released as a
Corgi Junior in 1977. It certainly had a lot of ‘play
value’ for kids; the upper body could rotate and the
digging boom had double articulation. It was first
painted white, with a blue chassis and red interior and
boom. An unusual addition to the Hot Wheels range,
it was painted all-over yellow with grey plastic parts. It
had decals for ‘City of Hot Wheels Road Repair’ and
was fitted with inappropriate mag wheels.
TIPPER
One of two ex-Corgi Juniors released in the Hot
Wheels Mainline range in 1998 was this model of a
light tip truck. Originally released in 1978 and known
as ‘Tipping Lorry’, it was a small-bonneted truck
of indeterminate make with a working tipping bed
and opening tailboard. The first livery was metallic
silver with a light blue tipper, although it appeared
in a huge number of different colour schemes over
the years. The Hot Wheels release was painted dark
metallic blue with a white plastic tipper and dark blue
tailboard. The base was black plastic and the grille
was highlighted in silver. The sides had decals for ‘BD
Construction’. Engraved on the base was ‘Tipping
Lorry’, which must have bamboozled American
collectors.
PORSCHE CARRERA
The final Corgi casting to join the Hot Wheels
range was the only one that proved successful with
fans. Porsche Carrera dated back to 1974, but as the
Porsche 911 had changed little over the years it didn’t
look too different to the current model. It had been
a popular model in the Corgi range, and there had
also been a police version with a pair of lights on the
roof. It was actually a very weak casting; it had no
door outlines, a large moulding line down each side,
no B-pillars and a very basic interior. The casting lines
and lack of doors didn’t really affect it at first, as Corgi
had always fitted stickers on this area, but without
labels these faults were obvious.
One improvement that Mattel made was to change
the plastic base to a diecast one. The first version was
painted metallic silver with a red interior. This was
followed by a second release in metallic red with
flame decals along the sides, then a silver rally livery,
metallic blue with a white interior, dark blue with red
flames, and black with orange racing decals. Porsche
Carrera was the only ex-Corgi to appear in more
than three colour schemes, and seems to be the only
one of these castings to be accepted by Hot Wheels
collectors. It was also the only one to be officially
retired from the range; in 2003 it was part of the ‘Final
Run’ series of castings making their last appearance in
the line. In this guise it was painted pearlescent white
with realistic rally decals.
p032-037 hotwheels corgi junior_TM.indd 37
▲ Porsche Carrera's last
outing for Hot Wheels in 2003
complete with rally decals.
▲ Construction Action pack
featuring "Excavator" and
Cement Mixer.
▲ Fire Fighting Action Pack
combined the fire engines with
firemen figures.
▲ Surf Patrol Action pack
featured the only trailer ever
released by Hot Wheels.
October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk •
ACTION PACKS
During the late 90s, Hot Wheels produced a range
of twin sets known as Action Packs. These were sold
on large blister packs, and usually contained two
themed vehicles and some plastic accessories. Three
of the Action Packs contained ex-Corgi castings; two
included models that had not been Mainline releases.
FIRE FIGHTING
This set included the two ERF fire engines, or as they
were now known, Fire Eater II and Flame Stopper
II. They were in the same liveries as their individual
releases, and were accompanied by a pair of oversized
firemen in yellow jackets.
CONSTRUCTION
This included one previously released model and
one that appeared here for the first time. Now called
‘Excavator’, Digger was again in yellow and grey, but
with simpler markings in red, which consisted of Hot
Wheels logos and a number ‘4’ on the side of the
cab. The other model was Cement Mixer. This was
a Corgi Juniors casting that dated back to 1977 that
was originally known as ‘Concrete Mixer’. It was first
painted metallic lime green with a yellow barrel and
rear support, but appeared in a lot of different colours.
In the Action Pack, it was painted yellow with black
trim. The drum and support structure were in dark
grey plastic, and there were Hot Wheels logos on the
barrel and doors. Included in the set was a pair of
workmen, a safety barrier and two traffic cones.
SURF PATROL
This set contained two vehicles that had not been
released as separate items. The first was Surf Patrol,
based on a casting originating in 1979 as the Corgi
Juniors ‘Golden Eagle Jeep’ with regular-sized wheels
and a removable roof. However, Surf Patrol is actually
based on the modified version from 1985, which
added off-road wheels and a roll cage. It was white
with red ‘Lifeguard’ markings on the bonnet and sides.
The base was black, the interior and front nudge bar
were red, while the roll cage is black. This is the only
one of these models to use the original Corgi wheels.
The other model was Dinghy with Trailer, a casting
that dated from early '70s Corgi Juniors twin sets. It
was a two-coloured plastic dinghy with a swivelling
outboard motor, and mounted on a diecast trailer.
The Action Pack release was in red and white with
‘Lifeguard’ markings and a black motor. The trailer
was black and fitted with Hot Wheels mags. This
model was not sold separately and is notable for being
the only trailer to feature in any Hot Wheels range.
THE END OF CORGI JUNIORS
Ultimately, the Corgi Juniors did not prove popular
with Hot Wheels collectors. Only the Porsche
Carrera lasted more than a year in the range, with the
majority disappearing after a single release. As a result,
they are largely forgotten today by both Hot Wheels
fans that don’t regard them as ‘true’ Hot Wheels
models – and Corgi collectors, who don’t like what
Mattel did to the castings. However, they make an
interesting footnote in the history of two famous lines
of diecast models. DC
37
14/08/2017 09:45
 TOP VINTAGE MODEL

Medium Artillery
Tractor
DTCA Chairman, Michael Driver, explores
this classic Dinky military model

S
ix wheel vehicles have always
fascinated me and my collection
of Dinky Toys included a number
of examples. There was the
Reconnaissance Car [no.152b], the
6-Wheel Covered Transport Wagon [no.151b] and
the Six-Wheeled Wagon [no.25s]. These had started
out as pre-war models and were reintroduced again
after the war. During the 1950s further six wheel
military vehicles were introduced, and these were
of course added to my collection.
The Medium Artillery Tractor [no.689] appeared
in November 1957 as a Dinky Supertoys model.
In the Meccano Magazine of that month, it says:
“The tractor is intended for towing medium
artillery equipment, and it is designed to travel into
forward battle areas. It is provided with six-wheel
drive, so that it is capable of operating in difficult
Dinky Supertoys Medium Artillery Tractor (no.689).
conditions.”
The model is finished in service green and has
the Royal Artillery markings on the front and same box the very last models were fitted with
rear mudguards. It has six wheels fitted with black plastic wheels and the driver was also in plastic.
Supertoys tyres and the leading axle of the rear The Medium Artillery Tractor was incorporated
two has elongated slots in the casting to allow into the Dinky Toys Gift Set 7.2 Howitzer and
movement over rough ground. There is a removable Tractor [no.695]. This was in a yellow card lift off
tilt that reveals a detailed back with shells, a seat for lid illustrated display box with inside illustrations.
an army figure and locations for two spare tyres. In However, the correct gun would have been the
the Meccano Magazine review it states that “One 5.5 Medium Gun [no.692] - this was deleted
of these wheels is for the vehicle and the other is during 1962. The set, however, was available from
for the gun.” There is also a driver for the vehicle September 1962 to 1966. The Dinky Toys Howitzer
although some early models can be found without [no.693] was deleted in 1967 whereas the Medium
drivers, this being a factory omission. ▲ Dinky Supertoys Medium Artillery Tractor was deleted in 1966.
Artillery Tractor (no.689) with
The model was first sold in blue and white Dinky plastic wheels and later box.
The Dinky Toys Medium Artillery Tractor was
Supertoys card lift off lid boxes with a description based on a Leyland C7 Medium Artillery Tractor
of the model on a side panel of the lid. The next body. This was made by Park Royal Vehicles Ltd
models came in the yellow illustrated lift off lid ▲
Dinky Supertoys Gift Set
and was part of a Ministry of Supply contract for
boxes and the models were now finished with a (no.695) 7.2 Howitzer and special bodies on military vehicles. A prototype
slightly gloss service green. Although retaining the Tractor. was developed in 1953 and this was the basis for
the 149 vehicles produced during the period
from 1954 to 1955. In the Meccano Magazine
of November 1957 it refers to the cab: “This has
seating accommodation for 12 and room for their
personal arms and equipment. Thus the tractor can
accommodate the crews of both the vehicle and
gun.” DC

FURTHER INFO.
The Dinky Toys military models have always been
popular and are often illustrated and featured in
the DTCA Journal. You can find out more or join by
visiting the website www.dtcawebsite.com.

38 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017

p038 top vintage model_TM.indd 69 14/08/2017 15:43

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p039.indd 1 14/08/2017 10:45

 INTO THE BACKGROUND

Displaying Diecast
EMERGENCY VEHICLES

Fancy an alternative to displaying your models in rows on shelves or

in cabinets? Rick Wilson mixes his modelling passions in a series of
short articles showcasing a variety of possibilities and techniques that
could enhance your collection.

E
mergency vehicles work very well ▲ The Kingsway Models 1/76
indeed in dioramas as just the sight of scale kit of Acton Fire Station is
perfect for displaying a larger
one instantly conveys drama. It is easy to collection – these are all Oxford
imagine plenty of situations where these Diecast releases.
will work well and here are just a few
examples of scenes I have created over the years.
There are also some excellent ready-made diorama
sets that have been produced by Vanguards too.
As you may have noticed during this series, I am 1
a bit of a fan of Kingsway Models. John Howe’s
designs are always accurate and easy to put together, Sun Hill police
and thankfully there are plenty on offer for use
here. So I’ll start with the Kingsway Models 1/76
station from
scale kit of Acton Fire Station (ref. ACT) – perfect TV's The Bill ▲ The PD2002 Annual Inspection set includes an open-
for the Oxford Diecast 150 Years of London Fire topped MGA and a Ford Zephyr, from Vanguards.
Appliances set (76SET31) and it also leaves room
is perfect for
for Oxford’s Dennis RS in London colours too displaying both
(76DN001) plus a London Fire Brigade Transit
MkI (76FT003) and a visitor from Cheshire, a Land
police and other
Rover FT6 Carmichael (76LRC001). Kingsway road vehicles in
offer plenty of other fire station kits, all replicating
real buildings.
1/76 scale from
One kit that has proven to be very versatile Oxford Diecast
over this diorama series is the Superquick Depot
Building (ref. B34). I’ve used this as a hangar,
alongside other
transport depot, bus depot, workshop and now as manufacturers
a small fire station, or in this case a Fire Service
▲ Changing up to 1/43 scale now, Vanguards released a
Museum, here with yet more Oxford Diecast series of excellent ready-made diorama sets complete with
releases: another FT6 Carmichael (76LRC004), an figures involving police vehicles. No PD1002 features a Jaguar
AEC Mercury (76AM006) and Bedford OW Luton XK120 and Renfrew Constabulary Rover 2000.

40 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017

p040-042 Into the background_TM.indd 40 14/08/2017 15:45

 A scene very familiar to viewers of TV’s Holby City by Kingsway – the
real building is actually a converted industrial unit in Bristol!

(76BD002). These three are all from different fire

services so creating an imaginary museum is a good
way of justifying the mix of liveries.
Moving onto ambulances, yet again we are spoilt
for choice by Kingsway. I’ve chosen to model the
simple St. Helier ambulance station in Morden,
Surrey (ref. ASM). Close to St. Helier hospital, this
kit brought back many memories for me as my
daughter was born at the hospital in 1993. As per
the fire stations, John offers many more options for
ambulances too. One of which will be very familiar
to viewers of TV’s Holby City (ref. HC), the real
building used in the series is actually a converted
industrial unit in Bristol!
Another of John’s designs (not illustrated but
definitely worthy of mention) that works for both
ambulance and police dioramas is the impressively ▲ If you have a mix of fire service liveries, why not create an imaginary museum? I’ve used our
versatile Large Public Offices (ref. LPO), which old Reader Offer kit from Superquick (ref. B34) enhanced with some home-made graphics and
recoloured doors.
can also be used as a factory, town hall, school or
college – plenty of scope there then!
Which brings us nicely onto dioramas for
police vehicles and where better to start than
with another famous TV set by Kingsway, Sun
Hill police station from The Bill – perfect for
displaying both police and other road vehicles in
1/76 scale from Oxford Diecast, alongside other
manufacturers of small scale models.
Changing up to 1/43 scale,Vanguards released
a series of excellent ready-made diorama sets
complete with figures involving police vehicles.
No PD1002 features a Jaguar XK120 driven by
a very fashionably dressed lady and a Renfrew
Constabulary Rover 2000.Vanguards PD3002
places a Rover 3500 V8 police car at No.10
Downing Street, although the diorama isn’t strictly ▲ Another famous TV set by fairly easy to get hold of in perfect condition these
Kingsway, Sun Hill police station days at toy fairs and online auction, although prices
accurate as the real buildings are straight-fronted
from The Bill.
(I know, I’ve stood at that door!) but it makes for a can vary from bargain to seriously overpriced.
nice scene so we’ll forgive the artistic licence. The The last one is rather a favourite of mine, using
PD2002 Annual Inspection set includes an open- several of my most treasured old Corgi releases.
topped MGA and a Ford Zephyr at a building Adapting my old airfield diorama that I first made
purporting to be the Lancashire Constabulary for my 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain
vehicle workshop. All very impressive stuff and still article in 2015, here we have an unfortunate

October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • 41

p040-042 Into the background_TM.indd 41 14/08/2017 15:45

 INTO THE BACKGROUND
▲ Here we have an unfortunate scene using several of my most treasured old Corgi releases where
the driver of the lovely Mercedes-Benz 350SL clearly ran out of talent and collided with a tree.
scene where the driver of the lovely Mercedes-
Benz 350SL (Corgi Toys No 393) clearly ran
out of talent and collided with a tree. Thankfully
the windscreen is still intact so we know that
any occupants were wearing their seatbelts and
here they have already been taken off to hospital,
leaving the police officer driving the Range Rover
Vigilante (Corgi Toys No 461) to control the traffic
with any recovery vehicle yet to arrive. The Land
Rover and Rice’s Pony Trailer (Corgi Toys Gift Set
2) pass by carefully, although the horse is obviously
completely oblivious to the drama. As for the
officer driving the Cortina MkIII (Corgi Toys No
402), he seems to be out of shot.
And finally, a rather nifty way of enhancing
any emergency vehicles display is to incorporate
42 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017
p040-042 Into the background_TM.indd 42
▲ xxx
▲ Vanguards PD3002 places
a Rover 3500 V8 police car at
No.10 Downing Street.
1 And finally, a rather nifty way
of enhancing any emergency
vehicles display is to incorporate
flashing lights by using kits freely
available from specialist hobby
outlets.
1
fl ashing lights. This is actually easier than you
might think as there are ready made adapting kits
freely available from specialist hobbyists – I bought
mine from that well-known auction website and
it just required a PP3 battery or equivalent and a
little bit of soldering. It comes complete with fibre
optic strands to get into the smallest spaces and a
variety of bulb sizes if you just want to swap out
the parts on the model. The illustrated example is
ideal for 1/43 scale but would easily work with
1/76 and even 1/148 by using the fibre optic
strands included. All the Oxford models I have
worked with come apart quite easily to access the
necessary areas and, once fitted, you just need to
come up with a way of disguising the battery (in
a nearby building perhaps). Fitting a switch is easy
and means the fiddly process of connecting and
disconnecting the battery can be bypassed – Maplin
is a good source for these, as well as the individual
components should you wish to make your own
fl ashing lights set up.
For the penultimate instalment in two issues time
we take to the skies for another of my transport
passions – aviation. It is all too easy to take the
simple option of displaying your aircraft models
on the usually included stand as if it really were
flying (a bit tricky to replicate realistically if it’s a
propeller-driven plane as it looks weird with the
props static) but if you fancy showing off your
collection on the ground then I have several ideas
to share for both military and civil aircraft, both
new and old. DC
14/08/2017 15:45
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p043.indd 1 15/08/2017 11:43

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 
  

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
  



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 



 

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 
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 
 
       
        
  
 

 


 
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







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 

 

 
 
    
  




 
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  
   


 


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


 

 
                              

   




 
                
  
 

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 
                                              

  


p044-049.indd 1 
14/08/2017 10:46 
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


 


                                 

                                           




                          




                             

                             

                                    



                               

                                





      
    
 

 
                                                    
  



     


         


 
                               





 


  
                            
                        
 



   



 
 
 

       
    




  
                             


    
                                                         

 


 
p044-049.indd 2 
14/08/2017 10:46
 

  





  




 

 

   






   

 
 

  

 


   

 
   



  

 

 

   

  



  

 
 


 


 

 

  

 

 
   


      




p044-049.indd 3 
14/08/2017 10:46 
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


  
 


    
 

  


 

 
  



  

 



 

   






 



 
  


 


 


 

 


 
 
 

 


  


  

 

 
 

 


   



      



 
p044-049.indd 4 
14/08/2017 10:46
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 
   
 
 
 




  
 



  

 



 

 
  


 


  

    





 
  



  

 
 

  



 

 



 




 



 


 
  
   




 
 
   

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
  
   


   

      




p044-049.indd 5 
14/08/2017 10:47 
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

  

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  
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 



 
 

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 

 

                          
 

   

 


 
    
         




  

  

      



 
   


  



 

  

 

  




 
 
 

 
 

 
 



  



 
   

 

 




 
  



     



 
p044-049.indd 6 
14/08/2017 10:47
 FERRARI IN FORMULA ONE – PART 2
The dark ages
In this second part of Ferrari Formula One in scale models, Francisco
Mota goes through the Scuderia’s dark ages, where three world
titles in the 1970s were followed by none for the next two decades.
▲ From the 70s to the 90s, from
the left Villeneuve's 1982 126
C2, Lauda's 1975 312 T (both
by Minichamps) and Mansell's
1989 640 (Vitesse).
▲ Thxxx
Thxx
▲
50 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017
p050-055 ferrari F1_TM.indd 50
Photos by João Carlos Oliveira
I
n the year that Ferrari commemorates
its 70th birthday, we are celebrating this
landmark with a review of a complete
collection of Scuderia’s Formula One
race cars, in 1/43 scale. Part one (please
see Diecast Collector No. 238) took us from the
beginning of the championship in 1950, through
to 1972, an era when rule changes saw the cars
using both small and large capacity engines and the
transition from the classic front engine to the mid-
mounted of the early sixties.
In 1973, Ferrari evolved the concept of the
previous year’s 312 B2 into the new 312 B3. The
first prototype of this new generation would be
nicknamed the snowplough, due to its extravagant
front end, with wide and low spoiler integrating
two generous air entrances for the front positioned
radiators. The car was tested before the season started
but chief engineer Mauro Forghieri decided it was
no better than a more conventional approach to
the aerodynamic demands and decided not to race
the “spazzaneve” as the Italian Press named the car.
Before the season’s end, and following poor race
results with the 312 B3, the team brought out a
third car, with a huge periscope air duct on top of
the engine something that would be featured in the
following seasons by almost every team. To represent
1973, we chose the “spazzaneve” reproduced as a
white metal model by Italian brand Villa Model. It is
an old-school model, with correct main shapes and
proportions, some good details such as the engine
and gearbox, golden wheels and race seats.
In 1974, Ferrari developed the previous season’s
car and called it the 312 B3/74. This was getting
closer to becoming a world-beater. Power was up
from 485 to 495bhp, at a screaming 12,600 rpm
and the chassis remained mostly unchanged with
a monocoque structure, but the aerodynamic
concept had now matured with the iconic engine
air duct and a very neat livery. The most important
change was the arrival of new sports director, Luca
di Montezemolo and a new young Austrian driver:
Niki Lauda. In the La Storia series, Hot Wheels
released a great replica of a 312 B3/74 featuring
race number 11 as driven by Clay Regazzoni. The
shape looks just perfect, the livery well executed
and there is an array of details that catch the eye,
such as the brake air ducts, very nice chromed and
golden wheels, front and rear chromed wings, a
very detailed cockpit and the visible part of the
engine reproduced to the point of even featuring
some piping, which is very unusual in a diecast of
this price level.
NEW FACES AND WINS
With Montezemolo and Lauda now fully
integrated in the team and capable of performing
leading roles, the 1975 season started with
justifiable big hopes. But the new car, the 312T,
wouldn’t race until the third event of the new
season, because it was innovative and needed more
testing than it was first predicted. The “T” stands
for transversal and indicates the gearbox position
relative to the engine. This layout was intended
17/08/2017 12:00

to improve mass distribution
between both axles and it did
so very well. The 12-cylinder boxer
engine delivered 495bhp and the driving
position was placed further forward, also to improve
weight distribution. Lauda would clinch the first
title for the Scuderia in 11 years in Monza, to the
joy of the tifosi.
Minichamps made the model shown here more
than 20 years ago, when the company still had the
license to reproduce Ferrari cars. It was the first
time a car from the Scuderia featured the top half of
the body painted white and the scale model shows
this perfectly. It is a model that has stood very well
the test of time - still looking modern and of high
quality. The driver is reasonably depicted with a
blue visor on their helmet, holding a nice steering
wheel and facing the instrument panel. Strong
points are the chromed front and rear wings, detailed
suspension arms and wide wheels. The livery is very
precise and all the sponsors are in the right places. It
looks like the real car, which at the end of the day is
what really counts.
The following year, Ferrari brought back race
number 1 to the team, after many years. The season
▲ World championship winning 312T from
1975 (Minichamps) and 1976 (Quartzo).
Third car is 1977 312 T2 (La Storia).
p050-055 ferrari F1_TM.indd 51
▲ 312 B3/74 has great engine detailing complete with piping.
1973 312 B3 Spazzaneve (left by Villa Model) and B3/74 (by La Storia).
▲
started with the same 312T model, good
enough to begin the season with three
wins, after which it was replaced by the 312
T2, but we’ll get there in a moment. 1976 was that
infamous year: Lauda had his dramatic accident, that
reconfigured is face forever and it was the year he
decided the rain was too strong and conditions were
too bad to stay on track at the Japanese Grand Prix,
allowing his McLaren rival James Hunt to grab the ▲ NACA air ducts replaced the
title. The model we selected is a Quartzo diecast, still periscope air intake on the 1974
312 B3/74.
with the periscope engine air duct, very similar in
concept to the Minichamps scale model from the
previous year, but with some different details, such as
the front wing turned 180 degrees, slightly different
brake ducts at the front and a not so flashy chromed
finished to the front and rear wings.
For the 1977 season, the high periscope air ducts
were banned and Ferrari swapped them to two
NACA ducts either side of the cockpit and the
rear wing position was also limited to a maximum ▲ 1975 312 T featured this arrow
of 80mm from the rear wheel (it was 100mm, the shaped rear wing as part of its
year before). This and the engine power upped to aerodynamics.
500bhp were revised by Ferrari in their second
iteration of the T-car, the 1977 312 T2. Lauda won
his second title with Ferrari, but he fell out with
October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • 51
14/08/2017 15:47
 FERRARI IN FORMULA ONE – PART 2
the commendatore Enzo Ferrari and would leave 1 Long nose cone on 1980
the team by season’s end, replaced by youngster 312 T5 was not enough to get
results.
Gilles Villeneuve. The car was just an evolution of
2 Jody Sheckter grabbed the
the previous year’s machine, now with a square rear 1979 driver's title in the 312 T4.
wing, instead of the arrow shape item used before,
plus some detail changes in the side pods and more
significant than anything else, there was a Fiat logo
on the bodywork for the first time, showing who
was the boss. La Storia collection launched a very
good scale model of this vintage 312 T2, featuring
Lauda at the wheel, now with race number 11. The
shape is very good, details are like the previous cars 1
in this T-series, but there are small differences in the
livery with a much smaller white painted area. This Things had
trio of T-cars scale models shows how three model to change at
makers approach this glorious era for the Scuderia.
A much worse dark age was about to begin, but Ferrari and a
nobody at Ferrari realized that. new breed of car
1978 marked the start of a new era, one full of
heroic feats, mainly performed by daredevil driver was launched
Gilles Villeneuve. He had a brand-new weapon: in 1981 with
after 32 races, the 312 T2 gave way to the new 312
T3. The aerodynamic concept was slightly different, the new 126
the car was more easily tuned for each different CK, fitted with
track and the flat-twelve engine was now good 2
for 510bhp. The team had swapped Goodyear for a twin turbo
Michelin but the engine configuration was not ideal V6 delivering
to generate enough ground effect, the one thing that
made Lotus 79 unreachable. Quartzo gave us a nice 580bhp. Turbo
replica of this car, featuring the new nose, painted lag was still
with a white triangle. The side pods are clearly
bigger and a view from the top shows the radiators measured in
inside them. The rear engine/gearbox combination seconds by
is painted gold and the exhaust pipes have a very
interesting shape. Villeneuve
In 1979, Ferrari won the title again, with South could calculate
African driver Jody Scheckter and their first proper
wing car, the 312 T4, which Enzo Ferrari considered
when the engine
the ugliest car ever to leave his factory. But it had would come
efficient aerodynamics and a new version of the
flat-twelve with 515bhp. La Storia, made by Ixo,
on boost and
launched the Monaco Grand Prix version, with the anticipate the
rear wing as far forward and as lowered as possible
making it look even “uglier.” The scale model has
acceleration Catastrophic doesn’t begin to say how bad the
a good quality level, with two race numbers at the moment 1980 season was for the Scuderia. The 312 T5 was an
front, because there was no room on the small nose evolution of a championship-winning car, but that
cone. The two-tone wheel rims are very realistic; the was simply not enough anymore to be competitive.
same can be said of the rear view with part of the In 27 starts, the T5 didn’t finish the race 16 times
mechanicals visible and the cockpit. The side skirts - that says it all. The best result of the season was
are there to be seen and the livery follows the real a fifth place by Jody Scheckter, who retired from
car, even in the front edge with a thin white line. motor racing at the end of the 1980 season, and

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p050-055 ferrari F1_TM.indd 52 17/08/2017 12:00


3 Brumm for a good diecast of this car, featuring its
4 The 126 C2 is one of the best-looking Ferraris
5 ▲ Brumm's interpretation
the team was already working hard on developing
the scuderia's next chapter, the 126C turbo. Elite
modeled this last iteration of the T-cars and it looks
just like the real thing - an evolution of the T4,
with longer nose and some detail changes. There are
nice details, such as the racing seat and belts, blueish
tinted windscreen and great looking white painted
exhaust pipes.
p050-055 ferrari F1_TM.indd 53
3 Side winglets were introduced
for ground effects abolition -
they didn't work...
4 Fiat logos were getting bigger
in 1982 to show wh was the
boss at the Scuderia.
5 L-R: 1981 126CK (Brumm),
1982 126 C2 (Minichamps),
1983 126 C3 (La Storia) and
1984 126 C4 (Brumm).
▲ Villeneuve was king in his
1982 126 C2 but had no time to
show it.
of the first turbocharged F1
Ferrari, the 126 CK.
▲ Radiators on the surface of
the 1983 126 C3. Model by La
Storia.
▲ V6 was extensively revised and now claimed 660bhp,
Last of the T-cars, from left
1978 312 T3 (Quartzo), 1979
312 T4 (La Storia) and the 312
T5 (Elite).
October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk •
THE TURBO ERA
Things had to change at Ferrari and a new breed
of car was launched in 1981 with the new 126 CK,
fitted with a V6 twin turbo delivering 580bhp. Turbo
lag was still measured in seconds, but Villeneuve
could calculate when the engine would come on
boost and anticipate the acceleration moment. There
were several demonstrations of his ability throughout
the year, the most memorable was the “Jarama train”,
when he kept four cars right behind him for most of
the race, to finish first. We go to Italian model maker
very square shape, when viewed from the top, with
race number 27 on the nose, that would become
part of Formula One folklore. There is a nice rear
suspension reproduction and other nice details.
The 126 series would continue for three more
years - the next was the C2, an evolution of the
previous car but much quicker compared to the
competition. It would have given any of the
Scuderia’s drivers the title if destiny didn’t have
other ideas.Villeneuve died in Zolder, during
qualifying and Didier Pironi had a career ending
accident where he broke both legs.
ever and was perfectly modelled by Minichamps,
with the proportions and all the details of the real
car. The only thing that could be better is the wing’s
finish that should be a bit brighter. The instrument
panel and the visible engine are great details. For
the following season, there was another fundamental
rule change when ground effect and side skirts were
banned, leading to a revolution in the appearance
of the cars. Side pods were not needed anymore,
so they were just cut in half. Extra side winglets
were placed adjacent to the rear main airfoil and
the underfloor was now mandatory flat. The turbo
engine was quoted at 600bhp in race mode, but it
was surely higher. Again, La Storia filled this gap
with a great model - much shorter-looking than the
previous car, with some great details like the suede
racing seat, side radiators, fuel filler and a great paint
finish. For the following season, Ferrari evolved the
concept to the 126 C4, with more carbon-fibre
content in the bodywork and the air intake behind
the driver replaced for two much lower NACA
ducts, leaving the engine exposed. The twin-turbo
but this was far from enough to fight against the
mighty McLaren-TAG Porsche. Probably the most
relevant fact in 1984 was the hiring of Michele
53
14/08/2017 15:48
 FERRARI IN FORMULA ONE – PART 2
Alboreto, the first Italian driver to sign for the
Scuderia in 11 years. So, it makes sense to choose an
Italian model maker to source this year’s car. Brumm
produced a C4 with a quality level closer to what
they did later.
Many times, in its history, Ferrari reused old car
designations for new models, both for road cars
and racing cars. In Formula 1 this started with
the 156/85, a car that debuted a new generation
of F1 cars for the team. After 23 years as head of
engineering, Mauro Forghieri left the Scuderia,
replaced by Harvey Postlethwaite, who played a part
in developing the aerodynamics. The engine was yet
another version of the 1.5-litre V6 twin turbo now
with 780bhp and it gave Alboreto half a chance to
battle for the title, before reliability issues dented
the end of the season. It is again in the La Storia
series that we found a replica of this car, featuring
very good overall shape and nice touches like the
periscope air ducts for the rear brakes, a very detailed
cockpit and great looking suspension. Chances to ▲ From left: 1985 156/85 (La number 640. This was a unique looking F1 car,
fight for victory evaporated in 1986, when the new Storia), 1986 F1 86 (Fabbri), with the front end looking like a duck’s beak
1987 F1 87 (La Storia) and 1988
F1/86 was launched. It was an innovative car for F1 87/88C (Starter).
and arched side pods. The engine was a new 65
the team with a composite monocoque, horizontal degree normally aspirated 3.5-litre V12, producing
springs and dampers, new aerodynamics with an 650bhp at 12,500 rpm. Of course, the main
engine cover blending in perfectly with the hoop novelty was the gearbox with paddle shifts on the
and side pods. Power output was now quoted at steering wheel. Vitesse released a scale replica of
850bhp in race trim and 950bhp for qualifying. this car in period, a fair representation of the real
However, reliability was not good. This was a car, featuring a driver figure of Nigel Mansell who
difficult model to find, the only one that came up won the very first race of this car, in Brazil.
was launched in an Italian press series, edited by Ferrari hired world champion Alain Prost for
Fabbri. It comes on a plastic plinth with a basic 1990 and he brought race number 1 with him,
▲ Side pods and wheels look
blister but the shapes and details are surprisingly great on this 1985 156/85 by to place on the nose of the evolution model 641.
good, featuring the trademark engine cover and a La Storia. John Barnard, the mastermind behind this series
long diffusor. of cars, had now left the Scuderia, but Cesare
Poor results in 1986 meant yet another completely Fiorio, famed Lancia sports director from the rally
new car for 1987. It was lower and more streamlined, days, was now on board. He could do nothing
lighter and with a much lower engine cover. The V6 when Senna collided with Prost at the Japanese
engine was now 90 degrees, instead of 120 degrees, Grand Prix and grabbed the title. The 641 was
making it narrower and provided 880bhp through just an evolution of the previous model, now with
a longitudinal gearbox - the first time Ferrari had the V12 delivering 710bhp at 13,800 rpm. Onyx
used this layout for 12 years. But it only won twice released a low-cost model of many F1 cars at the
▲ Front suspension filigree
at the end of the season. Our F1/87 scale model is style on this Starter kit of the time, one of them being the 641 that uses the
another La Storia model with excellent proportions 1988 F1 87/88C. same tooling as the 640, but with poorer details.
and shapes, but missing the small Marlboro stickers
with the driver’s name inside. Suspension parts also
look a bit too thick but it is a good representation of
the real car.
A small evolution of this car was entered the
following season, the F1/87-88C. This was because
the new rules for 1989 had already been announced,
with the banning of turbo engines and replaced
by 3.5-litre normally aspirated units. Ferrari
busy working on a revolutionary car, so limited
themselves to an interim model. To fill the gap in
this collection, we have a built resin kit, by French
maker Starter. As always, the result depends on the
skill of the builder. Luckily, in this case he was above
average and the F1/87-88C looks great with its thin
suspension arms and wings, plus excellent turned
aluminium wheels.

BARNARD’S REVOLUTION
Ferrari kept the promise when unveiling the 1989
F1 car, named simply F1/89, but with internal code

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 When Steve Nichols took the helm as technical
director at Ferrari, he decided just to evolve
the existing car into the 642 version, keeping
much of the aerodynamics and with the V12
now delivering 720bhp. The car was no longer
competitive and so a revised version, the 643, was
introduced mid-season, with no better results.
Alain Prost was sacked one race before the end of
the season when he said to the press that the 643
“seems like driving a truck.” Elite produced a 642,
high-quality replica with excellent paint finish,
good details and all the small differences the car
had compared with the 641 such as the squarer
side pods with bigger front intakes and new
NACA ducts each side.
The Barnard concept from 1989 was now
reaching its end but it still served as a basis for
the 1992 car, the F1 92A. The engine was still the
V12 3.5-litre with 700bhp, and Ferrari tried both
kinds of gearboxes - longitudinal and transversely
mounted, to no great effect. Results were again
poor: two third places. Onyx reproduced, in its
normal series, this car that looked a little like a
fighter plane, with side pods detached from the
p050-055 ferrari F1_TM.indd 55
▲ Jean Alesi in his 1993 Ferrari
F93A. Model by Vitesse.
▲ Ivan Capelli raced with the
Scuderia in this 1992 F92A,
model by Onyx.
▲
From left: 1992 F92A (Onyx),
1993 F93A (Vitesse) and 1994
412 T1 (Minichamps).
October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk •
main body. The high nose was a trend just starting
in 1992 and the double bottom isn’t very visible
in the model. It was not a great one, but fills
another gap.
Designer John Barnard was back at Ferrari
for 1993 and he came up with a surprisingly
conservatively approach this time both in the
aerodynamic department as in the engine, that
was still the V12 3.5-litre, now with pneumatic
valves and 730bhp. The biggest innovation was
the active suspension, but was also one of the
car’s most unreliable systems and prevented the
car winning any race that season. We go back to
Vitesse to source a F93A that went back to the
glory days of the 312T, at least in terms of livery,
bringing back the white colour to the bodywork.
This is a good quality diecast, with shapes close to
the original and some nice touches, like the front
wing design and a not so small TV camera on top
of the car.
For the 1994 season, Barnard debuted a new
concept with elaborate aerodynamics. The nose
was higher than the previous season’s car and
there were two olive shaped air intakes on the
side pods. There was also a new fin placed under
the cockpit to channel air under the car, towards
the rear diffusor. The engine was now reaching
800bhp at 15,250 rpm but again there were no
results to talk about at the end of the season.
The 412 T1 scale model featured in these
pages is a period release from Minichamps
and it was state of the art at the time. It still
exudes the elegance that Barnard put into all
his F1 cars, with those unique side pods,
clean rear engine cover and nice gold-
coloured rims. The high nose
with two vertical supports to
hold the front spoiler in place
is a nice touch.
We’re at 1994 now - Senna
meets his tragic end at Imola
and F1 is heading towards
another revolution. Ferrari
will follow, as we’ll see in Ferrari in
Formula One, Part three. DC
55
14/08/2017 15:48
 SIKU CONTROL 32

Liebherr R 980
SME Tracked
Excavator
David Pullen tries out Siku’s
new 1/32nd scale Remotely
Controlled Liebherr R 980
SME Tracked Excavator.

S
iku introduced its first that includes the driver’s seat and controls. However
1/32 scale remotely the cab door does not open and disappointingly
controlled model, a for a model designed to be seen working it’s not
John Deere 6920S supplied with a driver.
tractor in 2004. Since
its launch Siku has added other models and THE HANDSET
improved the range by replacing the original The handset, powered by four AA batteries looks
infrared controller with the more reliable 2.4 similar to the unit Siku supplies with its other
GHz controller. After safety concerns Siku has also Control32 models. However it can only be used
moved away from using special lithium batteries with the excavator unlike other Control32 handsets.
to readily available standard batteries for both the It keeps the same power, scan and light buttons.
controller and model. The new Liebherr R980 Pressing the light button once turns the housing
SME released in July is the latest model Siku lights on. A second press adds the cab lights and a
has added to the range. It uses both a 2.4 Hz third the boom work lights. A final press turns them
controller and readily available batteries. all off. The warning beacon button now returns
Weighing over 2.1 kgs the model’s the housing to its transport position and each toggle
well built in diecast and plastic. The switch, found at the front of handset, now controls
bucket, dipper arm, boom and body the speed and travel direction of each track. It also
panels are plastic while the undercarriage has two re-styled joysticks. One works the boom
▲ Siku's 1/32 scale Leibherr
R 980 SME Tracked Excavator and parts of the housing are diecast. There’s little and bucket. The other controls the dipper arm and
is a great diecast - made even suggesting it’s remotely controlled. Siku has hidden housing rotation.
better with remote control. the batteries in the engine bay with an access panel The handset is easy to set-up by following the
ON/OFF Scan Dipper Down
Anti Clockwise Turn
under the housing. Only the control cables linking correct procedure. This means first powering up
Switch Dipper Up
Clockwise Turn the housing and boom are visible. the excavator, on the review model it was a little
The excavator does not have the fine detailing difficult to get it stay on, by pressing the exhaust.
found on some static display models but detail The excavator lights then flash. Then switch on
Left-Hand Track
Forward/Reversrse levels are good. There are air cleaners, footplates and the handset and the link between them establishes
Boom Up Bucket Closed
Lights handrails on the housing and hydraulic hosing to all automatically. The excavator lights stop flashing and
Bucket Open
Boom Down Housing Turn Reset the rams. It’s also provided with two working work remain on as soon as the link is made. Alternatively
lights on the boom, two on the front of the housing switch on both the excavator and handset and then
Right-Hand Track
Forward/Reversrse

▲ Powered by four AA batteries,

not supplied, the handset with
and four on the cab. The cab has safety guards over use the scan button to make the link.
a little practise offers good the front screen and roof panel. While the cab The 2.4 Hz link gives the excavator a working
control of the excavator. interior, moulded in grey plastic, has basic detailing range of 25 metres, enough for most uses, and it

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 1 2
3 4
even allows operation when the excavator passes
behind an obstacle.
THE EXPERIENCE
The handset fits comfortably into the hands
and with practice allows accurate control of the
excavator. With each track controlled separately,
other than at full speed, it takes practise to drive
the excavator in a straight line. It’s however very
manoeuvrable. Driving one track forward and one
in reverse it’s possible to turn the excavator within
its own length. While the tracks provide enough
traction and the motors are powerful enough for the
excavator to climb a 30 degree slope on a smooth
surface. At this gradient the transmission however
does not prevent the excavator running backwards
unless the tracks are driven. It does not roll
backward on 25 degrees slopes.
With the boom, dipper arm and bucket operation
split between the two main joysticks several
functions, like the real machine can be operated
together. Boom and dipper arm worked smoothly
6 is a very impressive excavator.
p056-057 SIKU excavator_TM.indd 57
1 The rams operating the boom
are strong enough to lift the
excavator off the ground.
2 The excavator this model is
based on. Photo by Liebherr
3 The batteries, not supplied, are
accessed through a panel on the
underside of the housing.
4 It can climb a 30 degree slope
on a smooth surface.
5 The boom, dipper arm and
bucket operation is split
between two joysticks.
6 Level of detail is very good on
this Siku model.
October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk •
but the bucket movement on the review model was
not as smooth. Also the bucket limits the excavator’s
digging power. The boom and dipper arm can be
used to lift the excavator off the ground.
Battery life on remotely controlled models is
always difficult to predict as it depends on how the
model’s used. However it’s not expected battery life
will be an issue on the excavator as it’s powered by
three ‘C’-size batteries, not supplied. ‘C’ batteries
can hold up to 8000 mAh. Potentially a greater
capacity than the batteries Siku uses on other
models where battery life not an issue.
Costing between £250 and £275 the model’s
not cheap but overall it’s a great addition to Siku’s
32Control range and has great play value. DC
Whilst not a cheap model, this
57
14/08/2017 15:51
 CORGI FORD CONSUL

50th anniversary
Ford Consuls
David Lynn explores the series of 50th Anniversary Ford Consul Mk1
models made from 2006-2010, which recreated the first ever Corgi
diecast from 1956, and eventually amounted to eight different versions.

T
▲ The Corgi Ford Consul can he Mk1 Consul [EOTA] and Zephyr
be found in several different Six [EOTTA] were launched in
colours and issues.
October 1950 as the first modern
Three colourways were shown
▲

design in Ford’s UK’s post-war

in the catalogue, pictured here
with the real models.
range, with innovations such as
unitary body construction, overhead valve
engines, 12-volt electrics, independent front
suspension and hydraulic brakes. Earle Steele
Macpherson led the design team; he was Ford’s
engineering vice-president in Detroit whose
name is immortalised in the Macpherson strut
suspension format and this explains the bulbous
American styling. The Consul had an anaemic
1508cc four-cylinder engine, with the more
glamorous Zephyr given a longer bonnet to
house its 2262cc six-cylinder and a distinctive
front grille. Although both models later added
convertible and estate versions and a luxury
Zephyr Zodiac saloon emerged, there was little
change until their replacement in February 1956
by the thoroughly redesigned Mk2 range. Over
231,000 EOTAs and 175,000 EOTTAs emerged
from Dagenham, with extensive exports around
the world, including ironically to the US - plus
CKD assembly in New Zealand and Australia.
Corgi’s #200 Ford Consul arrived in July
1956 - several months after the real Mk1 had
been replaced but the same year as Dinky’s #162
Zephyr Six [EOTTA} - and was soon joined by
the mechanised version 200M with a friction-
drive flywheel for enhanced zooming-across-the-
carpet capabilities. It was a crisply executed 1/46
casting with Corgi’s innovative window glazing,
and uses raised casting lines to indicate door, boot
and bonnet outlines. The finely cast detail depicts
the bonnet motif and side trim introduced in
October 1953 and the larger rear light units from
October 1954. The simple all-over colour schemes
for 200 included cream, various dark, bright and
pale greens, tan, blue and grey/brown, with 200M
coming in blue and again varying shades of green.
200M was withdrawn in 1959, roughly when a
new two-tone livery of cream over green was

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 1 2

offered on 200 until its demise in 1961; Dinky’s 1956. A full set of paperwork was included in a 1 AN01101 was finished in a
Zephyr offered two-tone (also cream over green, small plastic bag, and should include: dark brown - darker than the
original issue from 1956.
and light blue over dark blue) from the start, but • a numbered certificate
2 Gold plated version AN01102
never had window glazing. • a small folding catalogue leaflet for the 50th came with a £10-off voucher
Corgi announced a huge stream of 50th anniversary UK model range and looked spectacular.
Anniversary celebration models in early 2006, • a small eight-page booklet “Corgi - a model
and even produced a limited edition (10,000) history”
and individually numbered 16-page Anniversary • a £5 discount voucher against future Corgi
catalogue glossily printed in an unusual 10”x10” purchases, expiring on 31 December 2006, and
format on stiff card; its over-ambitious cover • a replica of the original Corgi 200 Consul box
price of £4.95 sets up an unfortunately recurring Although Corgi’s initial announcement of the
theme for this discussion. These included the four anniversary models attracted much excitement,
Consuls AN01101-04 listed below, although for there was widespread criticism for significant
reasons which will become apparent AN01103 over-pricing and Corgi attempted to save face
did not feature in the catalogue, and CC01105 by supplying discount vouchers with the new
was announced soon afterwards as an exclusive for models; the amounts varied according to the
Corgi Collector Club members. All versions share model price, and in this case was £5. As most
the same casting, which is a faithful 1/46 recreation were probably used at the time, survivors are fairly
of the 1956 original, and the only real deviation rare today. Initial models were shipped without
occurs on the baseplate that uses the format from the replica of the original 200 box, but Corgi
the mechanised 200M, which had a bulge over the later mailed it out to direct purchasers and offered
rear axle to accommodate the extra components. it by application to other buyers and it arrived
The previous “BRITISH MADE” and “PATENTS fl at-folded in a cellophane envelope. There is
PENDING” scripts have been removed; the small also a description of the Ford Consul car and its
lubricating hole is present but now blocked and its significance for Corgi on the underside of the box
helpful annotation “OIL” also removed. lid. Originally issued at £25, Corgi later had to ▲ AN01103 was a raw casting -
resort to de-certificated and discounted clearance as in it had no paint on it to look
MODEL DESCRIPTIONS to sell remaining stocks. like a prototype First Shot.
AN01101 - BROWN
This was the mainstream release with a large Model Finish Edition size Comment
edition size presented in full celebration AN01101 Dark brown 5000 Normal retail availability
packaging and is a darker brown than issued in
AN01102 Gold plated 500 Normal retail availability
Not sold in shops; given to attendees
AN01103 Raw cast (unpainted) 300 at Corgi 50th Anniversary “Birthday
Bash”
Produced to accompany the later
”1000” or
AN01104 Green cancelled “Great Book of Corgi” 2nd
“1350”
edition
Device to use up dead stock
AN01104 of normal AN01104 by adding
Green ”150”
Preview issue numbered door roundels and a 2009
Preview bonnet logo
Corgi Collectors Club special offer
CC01105 Chrome plate 650
model 2006
Corgi Collectors Club special offer
CC01106 Blue 662
model 2007
Boston Area Toy Collectors Club
n/a Chrome plate 100
“Code 2” special edition, 2010
▲ The complete package as supplied by Corgi - the model,
Notes: AN01102 & CC01105 have Corgi 50 Anniversary logos etched onto the bonnet, AN01101,
the box, the certificate, a discount voucher, a special
AN01103 & AN01104 have painted Corgi 50 logos on the baseplate.
catalogue, a replica of the original box and a booklet.

October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • 59

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 CORGI FORD CONSUL
3 4
AN01102 - GOLD PLATED
This was the highlight release at £50, and in its
completely gold plated finish - including the
wheels and baseplate - looks spectacular both
within its packaging and standing alone. Its
bonnet is etched with a Corgi 50 Anniversary
logo, and the voucher this time has a £10 value
- no other Consuls came with vouchers. Other
paperwork details repeat those for AN01101,
including the initial omission of the replica 200
box and a later mail-out.
AN01103 - RAW CAST
(UNFINISHED)
This was Corgi’s first venture into releasing a
bare metal model without paint or other surface
treatment, and led to the First Shot series of
models a year or two later. The model was a
freebie given to guests at the invitation-only
“Birthday Bash” party held at Corgi Head Office
in Leicester on 20 July 2006, and was not offered
through shops or the collector club. It is inevitably
a very basic finish, but is the best opportunity
for fully appreciating the inherent casting detail.
The included paperwork consists of a numbered
certificate and the same small folding catalogue
leaflet and model history booklet as the two
models above.
AN01104 - GREEN
The saga of this version is somewhat tortuous.
CC01106 was a blue version, offered as a members exclusive
to Corgi Collector Club members in 2007.
60 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017
p058-061 ford consul_TM.indd 60
3 CC01105 was an exclusive for Its plain livery is slightly different from the
Corgi Collector Club members 1956 greens for both 200 and 200M, and it was
in 2006.
announced as accompanying a new edition of the
4 AN01104 and its sister the
2009 Preview Edition came in
Great Book of Corgi, which would pick up the
green. story from 1984 - where the first edition bible
by Marcel Van Cleemput stopped - until 2006. It
therefore parallels the Deluxe version (5000 issued)
of that first book which came with a specially
liveried Routemaster. Sadly the new book, written
by Corgi insider and Collector Club guru Susan
Pownall, was repeatedly delayed and after Corgi’s
collapse in 2007, the new owners quietly revealed
in 2008 that it was cancelled. However anyone who
The costs were a had placed an advance order would receive the
staggering $150 model for free, apart from a postage charge. The
book has never appeared although is still apparently
each; as a UK a live project and may extend coverage until the
purchase would Hornby era started in 2008.
Apart from a solitary example which received a
incur additional custom box and certificate #0001 for the Corgi
import duties, Number Ones auction sale in 2007, these arrived
in a plain white box end-stamped AN01104,
my enthusiasm sitting in a flimsy moulded plastic tray similar to
quickly the normal Vanguards style at that point. There is
no accompanying paperwork or certificate, but
evaporated an edition size of 1000 was stated in the original
2006 catalogue announcement; however a passing
comment in a 2007 Collector Club magazine
said that 1350 were produced. Apart from colour,
the model is identical to the brown AN01101
- including the painted gold anniversary logo
on the baseplate – this suggests they were fully
produced in readiness for 2006.
AN01104 - GREEN 2009
PREVIEW EDITION
The full story of Corgi Preview models appeared
in Diecast Collector November 2016 issue, but in
summary, several existing models received slightly
adapted liveries for distribution at the trade range
preview events held once or twice a year from
2005 to 2011. They used slow-selling warehouse
stock in editions of 150 to 175 and came in basic
packaging, although in this case it was already
basic. The green Consul was used for the Summer
2009 preview event, and started a new format
for the series with individual numbering within
white door roundels from 001 upwards and a
bonnet plaque in a 1960s Monte Carlo rally
14/08/2017 15:53

style announcing - in this case - JULY-2009-
DEC CORGI PREVIEW MODEL; the top
face of the outer carton was also printed with a
large version of this logo. Although there is no
direct confirmation, it seems likely that only 150
preview Consuls were issued.
CC01105 - CHROME PLATED
The Corgi Collector Club produced this version
as an exclusive for members in 2006 for £34.99,
and in most respects it parallels the gold-plated
AN01102, including the anniversary bonnet
etching. However it came in a small lift off box
and inner tray and the only paperwork was the
numbered certificate and the Corgi history
booklet. All packaging and paperwork refers to
the model as CC01105, instead of the original
club magazine announcement as AN01105.
Despite the typical club edition size of 650 for
chrome models, it was a slow seller until being
cleared at a discount in 2008.
CC01106 - BLUE
This was another version from the Corgi
Collector Club offered as a member exclusive,
this time in 2007 for £22.99 and in a certificated
edition of 662. Again it is darker than its 1956
colour counterpart, and its style is similar to
the other painted issues. However it is the only
Consul presented with screw-fixing to a black
plinth with perspex cover and has a card outer
sleeve in Corgi Collector livery. There is no other
paperwork or painted gold baseplate logo.
BOSTON AREA TOY
COLLECTORS CLUB - CHROME
PLATED CODE 2 RELEASE (NO
OFFICIAL NUMBER)
BATCC held their 10th Annual National
Collectible Toy Event on 24 September 2010 and
p058-061 ford consul_TM.indd 61
▲ Both the chrome and gold-
plated Corgi Consuls had an
engraving on the bonnet.
▲ Boston Area Toy Collectors
Club issue was based on the
CC01105 issue.
▲ The BATCC issue does not
have the etched Corgi logo on
the bonnet.
October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk •
commissioned their First Collector Car model
to commemorate this milestone. An official
collaboration between Corgi and Code 3 Models
of Swansea (although ironically this is a Code 2
model by the usual definition) was facilitated by
the Corgi Collector Club and led to an edition
of 100 models recreating the 2006 chrome plate
release and distributed at the event.
Although the basic interpretation is the same
as CC01105, there are clear differences, with
the most obvious being large red/yellow/white
transfers along each side across the doors and
part of the rear wing, which read "10th Annual
Collectible Toy Event, Sept. 24th 2010" and a
large round BATCC club logo in red/white/black
on the roof; whatever else this might be, it’s not
very subtle.
There is no etched Corgi 50 logo on the
bonnet, and while the packaging is similar - a
moulded tray in a box with lift-off lid and similar
artwork which includes the Corgi 50 logos and a
drawn model with the bonnet etching - the box
ends now have the same round BATCC logo as
used on the model roof, there is an additional
logo for code3models.com, and the CC01105
number panels have been blacked out. Each came
with a BATCC certificate signed and dated by
club president, Stephen J Lanzilla. No specific
manufacturing details were released, but given
that the Corgi club had long since sold out
of CC01105s, these may well be re-invented
AN01104s, thereby diminishing another pallet of
warehouse clutter as well as further reducing the
number of unmodified survivors.
Its announcement in the September 2010
Corgi club magazine (#217) created a great deal
of UK interest, so the club tried to negotiate
with BATCC for a supply to Corgi members. The
January 2011 issue (#219) stated that some were
available direct from BATCC for the staggering -
to put it politely - cost of $150 US each; as a UK
purchase would incur additional import duties
and fees, my enthusiasm quickly evaporated.
This description is therefore based on scattered
snippets of information found online and huge
thanks are due to Jim Livermore for providing the
accompanying photos of his example. DC
▲
The decals were done in collaboration with Code 3
Models of Swansea - but this is actually a Code 2 model.
61
14/08/2017 15:53
 CLASSIC COMMERCIALS

Own account...
TRI-ANG
Brian Salter concludes his
odyssey into Own Account
models

T
▲ Not sure about the front unit,
his is the finale of this three part ‘own colour or marque, but a very
account’ excursion and it is going to useful trailer for our purposes on
be almost entirely devoted to Tri-ang. this basic Minic 1950s Toy.
They seem to be the most consistent
at running their own fleet but rarely
replicated any as a toy or model.
Like many other manufacturers they did
incorporate their name into a miniatures livery,
for example Minic Dairies on a milk tanker and
Tri-ang Tours on the back of a coach, but this
is not ‘own account’ as such. In addition, what
Tri-ang were particularly good at was inventing
tiny advertisements to incorporate on their own
products, such as double deck buses or railway
station hoardings.
Back to the real world, their earliest livery seems
as though it might be mainly light blue. This has
been gleaned as much as anything from some early
toys and does agree quite well with the vintage
photos. The 1922 view of Model T Ford style
vehicles in the loading bay of 761 Old Kent Road,
South East London, shows quite pale vehicles even
including the front mudguards. In fact, this was a
▲ Larger floor or garden toys still available for most of the
distinctive livery whatever the colour. 1930s. Valid attempts at ‘own account’ vehicles, authenticity
The two large tinplate toys give some sort of unknown, but we can hope (Courtesy Vectis Auctions).
proof, confirmed as much as can be in black and
white by another loading dock view. The vehicles, ang were not averse to trying others. Their products
the ever-popular Bedfords, are very pale. Probably were not particularly heavy, but quite bulky, hence
the best proof ever is the trailer of the relatively of course the need for Luton style bodywork to get
cheap 1950s plastic Minic articulated van, complete maximum volume onto a particular weight vehicle.
with red and white signage. Such a requirement probably made management
consider a Jensen Freighter, a lightweight chassis-
ENTER DARK BLUE less 5-6 ton vehicle with a long 16foot wheelbase.
Tri-ang did seem pretty good at keeping their fleet Whether more than one was purchased, who knows.
tidy, and it is assumed not just for the camera. Quite Jensen had in fact placed an advertisement for the
▲ Two images from the Bedford
when the more familiar dark blue started to arrive Freighter in Games and Toys in April 1955, but sadly
Transport Magazine of January
has not been detailed, but at a guess the earliest years 1958 featuring the Merthyr Tydfil the following year saw the end of production.
of the 1950s saw a gradual changeover and at a time Factory. The flatbed is sheeted Bedford do look to have continued a while longer.
quite a fleet was being built up. Factory to docks in for the 170 mile run to London Tri-ang Railways, almost a separate organisation in
Docks whilst LPG had probably
itself was a huge operation and as Tri-ang dealt with previously carried the light blue
many ways, used them in A series form (see later)
retailers direct it was a major ‘own account’ fleet. livery having been registered in as did Lines Bros. (S. Africa PTY.) Ltd, both in the
Despite appearing to be a ‘safe’ Bedford fleet, Tri- 1947. Luton style. The latter may also have been amongst

62 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017

p062_064 own account_TM.indd 62 14/08/2017 15:55

 the first to use a revised dark blue livery with
simpler signage and a bold horizontal band at waist
level.
At about the same time, as 1954 became 1955,
there was another new shape in the fleet, an
articulated Austin Loadstar. It, or probably they, look
to have had the revised livery from new, and were
possibly Lines first venture into articulation.
Everywhere else the new Bedford TK was set to
become Bedford’s most successful lorry ever, but
as yet no clear image of Tri-ang TK has been seen.
By November 1958 Austin were boasting of their
success – “Some 1500 prams are moved weekly in
Austin Luton or articulated vans’, and – “Lines now
100 per cent. Austin. These articulated vans have
performed so successfully in town deliveries as well
as over trunk routes, that Lines Bros. Ltd. have gone
over to 100% Austin”.
Strangely, only 10 months or so earlier, the ▲ Is it a Bedford TK, if not, what? The panel below the screen looks too upright and straight. An
Bedford Transport Magazine did a feature on Tri- undated photo from Crawley New Town, as it was then known, from above the shop presumably.
(Courtesy Bryan Sharp).
ang’s works at Merthyr Tydfil, praising the fleet, or
course. At this late date the fleet there appeared to
consist entirely of Bedford O series still in the older
dark blue scheme - a bit of a time warp up the Taff
valley or maybe the Austins were round the back.
By this time further new Austin articulated lorries
had been added, witness the slightly extended
bonnet and revised grille, plus some small Lutons.
Hamleys, also part of the Lines empire, had had a
delivery fleet of small Austins for some years, so it
does look as though by the time of the Spot-On
range’s appearance late in 1959 the changeover was
to all intents and purposes complete. ▲ The loading bay at Lines Bros. (Ireland) Ltd. some time after the firms formation in 1946.
Whether this had any influence on the choice of Presumably pale blue vehicles (courtesy Belfast Central Library).
Spot-On commercials, who can guess, but it would
not have been unnatural alongside the ERFs, AECs,
Traders, and Bedfords that were also included. A
major omission, on any chassis, was a van body
of some sort – how to sell more toys using other
peoples names, let alone your own. Dinky were the
experts at this, Corgi dabbled, Spot-On ignored, but
read on.
Thanks to the ‘special’ produced for the major
contributors to ‘The Ultimate Book of Spot-On
Models Ltd’ (book still available), we can all see
what should have been done. It is built so that the
van body drops over a virtually standard articulated
flatbed - not exactly rocket science.
What happened next in Tri-ang’s road transport ▲ Our earliest ‘own account’ fleet view, Tri-ang 1922. Each of the six vehicles advertises the
world? Did they continue with ‘own account’, or reduction in price of the Fairy Cycles to 75/- (Courtesy ‘From G & J to Tri-ang’).
go down the contract path like so many? Before we
leave Tri-ang, though, here is a sideways glance at
some railway interest.

ON THE RAILS
The Bedford A series has been mentioned above, but
now we catch it for real. One, or more, did break
with tradition and go straight to Tri-ang Railways,
otherwise known as Rovex Scale Models Ltd. Down
there, Margate that is, dark blue would not mean Austin looking brand
▲

much; bright red, the railway box colour it had to be, new and now having three
and so it was. decks, Payload tells us.
The new bolder livery is
This new Luton was almost streamlined up top, even bolder on the small
which nearly did away with the Luton advantage. We Luton (Photos via Vectis
would call it air-smoothed but this was the 1960s. Auctions).

October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • 63

p062_064 own account_TM.indd 63 14/08/2017 15:55

 CLASSIC COMMERCIALS
▲ Incredible that Spot-On did not do this. The short-lived box style is
authentic in every way for the supposed period, 1961-62. Correctly, there
is no yellow cab door logo as per a period picture in Payload.
It was a nice piece of kit and went public in Pat
Hammonds “Tri-ang Railways Vol. 1. 1950-1965’.
For Tri-ang to have modelled it would have been
very surprising, even more so Dinky although they
did have the correct base vehicle, and in railway
scale. It had to be done by somebody, and was - the
world’s first Dublo Tri-ang toy! We all know what
happened to Hornby and Dublo in 1964 – enter
Tri-ang Hornby.
Back tracking a little to the ‘Payload Magazine’
– “Nothing is sent by rail where motor transport
exists. Past rail losses through pilferage, accidental
damage, and delay have proved prohibitive”. They
did however use railway containers, and even in
Lines own livery, a very unusual example from
B.R. in those days. In ‘Leading lines’, the in-house
magazine of the group, the issue of August 1961
draws attention to ‘a complete goods train of 13
wagons left Margate full of Tri-ang Railways, all for
one customer’.
Spot-On may have missed out but the container
was added to the railway range in 1963. It was dark
blue, not railway red, and for the rivet counters
– that’s what railway people do – there are three
different container numbers. Perhaps Tri-ang had
road vehicles suitable to shift them – Dublo Tri-ang
toys seem to think so.
It is not often in this series there has been the
chance of coming more up-to-date, but for some
reason the modern Hornby applied the Tri-ang red
to a Ford Transit. This is the early 1990s, so we can
conclude the Lines –Pedigree – Tri-ang – Dublo
– Hornby progression with the admission, at last,
that Hornby is ‘Traditionally the best’. It says so on
the side, so must be true. One name that Hornby
64 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017
p062_064 own account_TM.indd 64
▲ Another Dublo Tri-ang
possibility. As an aside, the
familiar style crane is a Master
Model exact small scale copy of
the Dinky Goods Yard Crane!
▲ This could so easily have
happened in 1964, but was that
just too late?
▲ The Matchbox Superkings
Transit makes the perfect foil for
a Hornby Own Account - pity it
was never to be.
Hobbies and their predecessors failed to acquire was
Matchbox but said brand have donated their Super-
King Transit to our cause, thank you.
ON OTHER TRACKS
Amongst other Lines acquisitions along the way
were Minimodels, world famous now as Scalextric.
Their demonstrator was pictured in period
magazines and almost certainly to have been at
Silverstone at the same time as Corgi’s Karrier (see
Part 2). Whether they would have included Revell
Raceways in the same breath is doubtful – they were
exciting times indeed.
Throughout all of this the name of Humbrol
could not be avoided – Airfix even recommended
their paints against their own at times! To modellers
of a certain age, theirs was as familiar to paints as
Hoover was (and is) to vacuum cleaners. Their
reputation grew exactly in line with the plastic kit
model industry so much so that when their new
‘reps’ received their new Mini vans in mid 1964, it
was a major story in Games and Toys.
That’s about it.There are plenty more from the
industry but their products connection with our
readers interests do get more tenuous. Newfeld Ltd.,
(Bendy Toys) were very adept as showing their vans
being loaded with crates boldly labelled for far off
destinations. Rosebud Dolls (which includes Kitmaster)
had Dodge and Thames Trader Lutons, whilst Tower
Press (Jig-saw puzzles) used Bedford TKs.
Favourite though has to be Jack Crane of Dean’s
Rag Book Co. Ltd. who towed the firms mobile
showroom caravan in the early 1950s with his 1935
Rolls Royce, complete with cocktail cabinet. Now
that’s what I call a class act – model please. DC
14/08/2017 15:56
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 BOEING 707 60TH ANNIVERSARY

The plane that

changed it all
In December 1957, the first production
version of an aircraft that would reshape
the way we travel took to the skies. Rick
Wilson celebrates the 60th anniversary
of the event with the help of his extensive
collection of Boeing 707 variants in
diecast. In part 1, the focus is on the main
versions of the 707 itself and how it all
came about.

▲ Boeing’s prototype during
trial flights over the Olympic
Peninsula, Washington,
with Mount Rainier in the
background. Photo credit:
Boeing
▲
The classic early TWA livery
looks superb on Corgi’s big
scale 707.
O
n 20th December 1957, the
first production Boeing 707 –
construction number 17586,
registered N708PA – took to the
skies for the first time as part of
its pre-delivery testing before handing over to
Pan American World Airways in November the
following year. Although not the first flight by a
commercial jet airliner, that honour had gone to
the de Havilland Comet several years earlier, the
707 was much larger and this would officially mark
the true beginning of the jet age of travel for all as
we know it today.
With the Comet sadly suffering from the well-
documented design fl aws that kept it grounded for
many years at a crucial time, the 707’s main rival
would come in the form of the Douglas DC-8,
which would take to the skies a year later. More
than 1000 707s would be sold between 1957 and
1979, as opposed to just over 500 of the Douglas
aircraft from 1958 to 1967.
Naturally the 707 has been a popular choice for
manufacturers of scale models, both in diecast and
in plastic kit form, and since my first flight on a
707 in 1977 I have been truly hooked, although
the seeds were already sown from many years
of spotting at London’s airports and witnessing
Boeing’s beauty in action.
But the story doesn’t begin in 1957 - we
have to go back another seven years to the first
glimmers of a project that would spawn not only
the 707 but military designs too.
THE PROTOTYPE 367-80
By the late 1940s two developments encouraged
Boeing to begin considering building a passenger
jet – the maiden flights in 1947 of its B-47
Stratojet and in 1949 of the world’s first jet

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 1 airliner, the de Havilland Comet. Boeing President,
Bill Allen, led a company delegation to the UK
in summer 1950, where it saw the Comet fly at
the Farnborough Airshow, and also visited the de
Havilland factory at Hatfield, Hertfordshire where
the Comets were being built. As a result, in 1950,
Boeing tentatively announced a specification for a
new jet airliner but the major airlines were wary
because they had no experience with jet aircraft
and were enjoying success with piston-engined
propeller planes such as the Douglas DC-4, DC-6,
Boeing Stratocruiser and Lockheed Constellation.
Additionally, Boeing was experienced at selling to
2 the military but had not enjoyed the same success
with civil airliners, a market dominated by Douglas.
By early 1952 the designs were complete and
in April of that year the Boeing board approved
construction of an aeroplane powered by four
10,000-pound-thrust Pratt & Whitney JT3 turbojet
engines that would be jointly developed as both a
mid-air refueller for the Air Force and a passenger-
carrying jet for the commercial airlines.
Developed and constructed in secrecy in a
walled-off section of Boeing's Renton plant,
Boeing invested US$16m (two-thirds of the
company’s net profits from the post-war years) to
3 build the prototype. It was designated Model 367-
80 to disguise it as merely an improved version of
the existing 367 Stratofreighter and became known
simply as the Dash 80.
The yellow and brown painted prototype with
registration number N70700 rolled out of the
factory on 14th May 1954 and its initial flight was
undertaken on 15th July. Because the prototype
was constructed to sell first as a military-tanker
transport, it had few windows and no seats, but
two large cargo doors. A week after its first flight,
the Air Force ordered 29 tanker versions, to be
designated KC-135. The commercial version, the
4 707, however, was going to face tough competition
from the Douglas DC-8. The Boeing sales team
directed its efforts towards Pan American World
Airways, Trans World Airlines, American Airlines
and several of the larger European airlines.
Boeing Test Pilot, Tex Johnston, conducted much
of the testing of the Dash 80. On 7th August 1955
he was demonstrating the prototype over Lake
Washington outside Seattle and famously executed
a completely unapproved barrel roll, a manoeuvre
1 Braniff’s blue version of its
previously unheard of in an aircraft of this size. Tex unmistakable “Jelly Bean”
was hauled before the then-president of Boeing, colour scheme on a big scale
Bill Allen, for his actions and asked what he Corgi 707.
5 thought he was doing. Tex coolly responded “I was 2 Another 707-436 now in
selling airplanes” and was told not to do it again. the later BOAC “Speedbird”
colours, again in 1/200 scale
A few months later both Pan Am and American but this time by Aviation 200.
Airlines had placed sizeable orders and Boeing’s big 3 A cargo 707 (a converted
gamble had paid off – and possibly Tex’s too! -330C) in the colours of CAC –
In 1972, the Dash 80 became part of the one of a limited release of just
Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum 264 by Aviation 400.
collection. In August 2003, it flew to its new home 4 The colour scheme as worn
for the last flights of the 707s
on permanent display at the museum’s new facility, operated by American Airlines.
the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington,
5 The famous livery of Pan Am,
D.C.’s Dulles International Airport. the 707’s first customer, on a
Dragon Wings released the only diecast model later -320 series, by Dragon
of the Dash 80 a few years ago in 1/400 scale. A Wings.

October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • 67

p066-070 Boeing 707_TM.indd 67 14/08/2017 15:57

 BOEING 707 60TH ANNIVERSARY
nice rendition of the aircraft that the Smithsonian
museum describes as “one of the 12 most
significant aircraft of all time”, in its original colour
scheme although the brown is too dark compared
to the real thing for my liking. It was released as
part of the Dragon Wings “Regional Airport” series
and came complete with part of a hangar diorama
set (three other models were required to complete
the set).
The design of
BOEING GETS GOING the 707 cockpit
WITH THE 707 ▲ Dragon Wings released a good model of the 367-80
The impact that the Dash 80 prototype was to
and fuselage prototype in 1/400 scale as part of its Regional Airport
have across Boeing’s range and the airline industry cross section series.

as a whole would certainly give credence to the

Smithsonian’s claim. Derived from just one aircraft
would be
would be its 707, 720, KC-135, NC-135, RC-135, carried over to
C-135 Stratolifter, C-137 Stratoliner, E-3 Sentry,
E-6 Mercury and the Northrop-Grumman E-8
the incredibly
J-Stars. The design of the 707 cockpit and fuselage successful
cross section would also be carried over to the
incredibly successful 727 and 737 airliners too as
727 and 737
well as the fuselage cross-section to the 757 – the airliners, as well
Boeing 737 is still in production today more than
50 years later!
as the fuselage
But let me get one thing straight before we cross section ▲ American Airlines 707-123 in its first livery at 1/400
go any further, the 367-80 is not a true 707. The
design of the fuselage, wings, engines and tail all
to the 757 - the scale by Dragon Wings.

differ subtly from the production 707. The reason 737 is still in
the fuselage is different, for example, is that it production
was increased in size slightly as the result of an
insistence by American Airlines for the aircraft to today more than
feature two sets of three-abreast seating, this also 50 years later
required the greater wingspan.
The inaugural flight of the first production
707-120 took place on 20th December 1957 and
Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) certification
followed on 18th September 1958 then N708PA
undertook its first revenue-earning flight carrying
Pan Am passengers on 30th November 1958. The ▲ This ex-Pan Am -321C was operated by British Midland
official Boeing designation for the aircraft was Airways from April 1982 to August 1985, beautifully
707-121, denoting the first customer version, and modelled here by InFlight in 1/200 scale.
it was powered by Pratt & Whitney JT3C turbojet
engines, as were all early 707s. Although officially
referred to during development as series 100s,
200s, 300s, etc., the different 707 variants are more
commonly known as Series 120s, 220s, 320s, and
so on, where the "20" part of the designation is
Boeing's "customer number" for its development
aircraft, which then increased in increments of
one for customers so Pan Am’s aircraft all ended in
21 to denote the first customer, 23 for American
Airlines, 27 for Braniff and 31 for TWA for
example. This was applied each time an airline
ordered another series too so a Pan Am 300 series
was designated -321 and so on.
A distinctive feature of the 707 is the High
Frequency (HF) boom antenna pointing forward
at the top of the vertical stabiliser tail fin that was
needed for intercontinental travel. Not all 707s
needed this though if they were only to be used on
trans-continental trips across the US for example,
hence many early -120 series and the majority of
the shorter 720s (more about that derivative in part
2) didn’t have them.

68 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017

p066-070 Boeing 707_TM.indd 68 14/08/2017 15:57


▲ A more detailed version of a TWA -331 by InFlight, albeit
at the smaller 1/200 scale compared to the Corgi version.
▲ A rarely modelled livery, so it is nice to see this 1/200
scale -382C by InFlight in Transportes Aereos Portugueses
(TAP) colours.
▲ The first turbofan variant of the 707 for Qantas flew for
the first three months of its operating life in Boeing house
colours, as modelled here by Dragon Wings.
Gemini Jets released three different
colourways of Braniff’s -327Cs in “Jelly
p066-070 Boeing 707_TM.indd 69
▲ Pan American was the
first airline to fly the 707
commercially and it made full
use in its advertising of the
distances and comfort Boeing’s
beauty afforded.
▲ When BOAC became British
Airways, G-APFJ duly received
its new livery and is modelled
here by Corgi in a very basic
form at 1/400 scale in its
Showcase “100 Years of Flight”
Collection. It would finish its
days in British Airtours colours
until retirement.
▲ Models of the 367-80
prototype and a Pan Am 707-
321 in 1/400 scale by Dragon
Wings.
Bean” livery at 1/400 scale.
October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk •
The initial standard model was the 707-120
with JT3C turbojet engines. Australia’s Queensland
and Northern Territory Aerial Services (Qantas),
the first non-US airline to fly the 707, ordered a
shorter-bodied version called the 707-138, which
was a −120 with six fuselage frames removed,
three in front of the wings, and three aft, resulting
in a net shortening of 10 ft (3 m). Because the
maximum takeoff weight remained the same as
that of the −120, the lighter −138 was able to
fly the longer routes that Qantas needed. Braniff
International Airways ordered the higher-thrust
version with Pratt & Whitney JT4A engines,
designated the 707-220. Five were ordered and
manufactured but one was lost during a test flight.
The final major derivative was the 707-320,
which featured an extended-span wing and JT4A
engines, while the 707-420 was the same as the
−320, but with Rolls-Royce Conway turbofan
engines. British certification requirements also
forced Boeing to increase the height of the tail
fin on all 707 variants, as well as add a ventral fin
under the tail section, which was later retrofitted
on earlier −120 and −220 aircraft.
Though initially fitted with turbojet engines, the
dominant engine for the Boeing 707 family was
the Pratt & Whitney JT3D, a turbofan variant of
the JT3C with lower fuel consumption and higher
thrust. JT3D-engined 707s and 720s were denoted
with a "B" suffix. While many 707-120Bs and
720Bs were conversions of existing JT3C-powered
machines, 707-320Bs were available only as newly
built aircraft, as they had a stronger structure to
support a maximum takeoff weight along with
modifications to the wing. The 707-320B series
enabled nonstop westbound flights from Europe to
the US West Coast and from the US to Japan.
The final 707 variant was the 707-320C, (C
for "Convertible"), which was a -320B with a
strengthened floor and had a large fuselage door for
cargo. It had a revised wing with three-sectioned
leading-edge flaps, improving takeoff and landing
performance and allowing the ventral fin to be
removed (although the taller fin was retained). The
-320C became the most widely produced variant
of the 707 with 337 of the 1,010 707s made being
this version. The 707-320Bs built after 1963 used
the same wing as the −320C and were known as
707-320B Advanced aircraft.
One -320C was used a test aircraft to study
the feasibility of using the newer and more
efficient CFM International CFM56 engines,
designated 707-700, ahead of a possible retrofit
programme. After testing in 1979, N707QT, the
last commercial 707 airframe, was restored to 707-
320C configuration and delivered to the Moroccan
Air Force. Boeing abandoned the retrofit idea, since
it felt it would be a threat to the success of its new
757. The information gathered from testing led to
the eventual retrofitting of CFM56 engines to the
USAF C-135/KC-135R models, and some other
military versions.
There are so many diecast models to choose
of the 707 from a wide variety of manufacturers
and my collection photographed here is far from
69
14/08/2017 15:58
 BOEING 707 60TH ANNIVERSARY
Two Corgi releases in large 1/144 scale – a
Braniff -327C and a TWA -331B.
exhaustive but offers a good spread of the variants
over the years. To represent the earliest 100 series
aircraft, I have three Dragon Wings releases, all at
1/400 scale. These are models of American Airlines
707-123s in both the first (No 55810) and last (No
55805) 707 liveries, plus that first turbofan variant
for Qantas in pre-delivery Boeing house colours
(No 55707).
Although I do have some Braniff models, none
of them are of the earlier -227 designation, but
these are four models of the -327Cs, all in “Jelly
Bean” livery – green, orange and blue versions
by Gemini Jets in 1/400 scale (GJBNF212, 213
and 214 respectively) and a blue version by Corgi
(AA32904) at an impressive 1/144, complete with
passenger access steps. Pan Am is there of course,
with a later -321C by Dragon Wings at 1/400 (No
70 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017
p066-070 Boeing 707_TM.indd 44
▲ Two Braniff 707s (Gemini
Jets) and one Pan Am 707
(Dragon Wings) parked at
Gemini Jets’ excellent airport
terminal set, complete
with apron mat and airport
accessories, with the 367-80
prototype outside its hangar
(Dragon Wings), all at 1/400
scale.
Some of the BOAC -436
▲
series were transferred to BEA’s
Airtours charter subsidiary,
here in the latter livery by
InFlight at 1/200 scale.
55718) and TWA gets in on the act at 1/144 scale
by Corgi with a -331B (AA32902) and an InFlight
version at 1/200 scale (IF7071014P) of a similar
aircraft. A later Pan Am aircraft, now in British
Midland livery was released by InFlight at 1/200
scale (IF7070714) and, continuing the British
operators, there are four Rolls-Royce-powered
-436 models: BOAC early livery (by InFlight at
1/200 – IF7074113), BOAC later livery (Aviation
200, 1/200 – AV270740115P), BEA Airtours
(InFlight, 1/200 – IF70740314P) and British
Airways (Corgi, 1/400 – CS90388). Two rarer
models shown here are a -382C of Transportes
Aereos Portugueses (TAP) by InFlight at 1/200
(IF70731214P) and an ex-Lufthansa -330C in
Challenge Air Cargo colours at 1/400 by Aviation
400 (AV4707016).
COMING IN PART 2...
Next time, in part 2, the focus is on the multiple
military options, including the famous Air Force
One, and an important civil version derived from
the 707. DC
16/08/2017 13:41
 OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
Tekno Mercedes
Expo ’58 Express
Andrew Ralston looks at this well-made souvenir of the Expo ’58 show
V
isit almost any large holiday destination
these days and you’ll see a ‘tourist train’
slowly meandering through the streets,
made up of a series of open carriages
hauled by a tractor unit designed to
look like an old-fashioned steam engine.
Such a mode of transport would have been much
more of a novelty in 1958 when a similar idea
proved to be hugely popular that year at ‘Expo 58’,
the World’s Fair in Brussels that attracted millions
of visitors. It was the first event of this kind since
the end of World War II and ran for five months
between April and October. The public could visit
pavilions representing countries such as the US,
UK and USSR showcasing their latest architectural
achievements and cultural and technological
advances. The most famous landmark was the 335
foot tall Atomium, a network of spheres and tubes
representing the molecular structure of an iron
crystal cell magnified 165 million times. To this day,
it is still one of Belgium’s biggest tourist attractions.
The entire Expo site covered two square kilometres,
and that meant transport was needed for visitors
once they felt they’d been on their feet for too long.
They could hire a moped-based three-wheeler,
known as a ‘pousse pousse’, but these were noisy and
sometimes unstable.The more adventurous could
use the cable car but for the majority the best way of
getting around the complex was to catch one of the
20 purpose-built Expo-trains, a modified Mercedes
minibus towing two open carriages. Each train could
seat 70 passengers who could cover a 5km circuit in
half an hour.
It’s easy to imagine that children visiting the
Brussels Fair would want a toy version of it – and
they could get one in the form of a very accurate
p071 off the beaten track_TM.indd 30
▲ Tekno Mercedes Expo '58
Express model. Photo courtesy of diecast model by Tekno. The underside of the
Gary Cohen (USA). model has an inscription explaining that it was
made in Denmark by Tekno on behalf of a Belgian
firm called Boismanu. This company had rapidly
expanded after the First World War by making
wooden toys in a new factory at Anderlecht. After
1945, wood production gradually gave way to plastic
and the company name of ‘Le bois [i.e. wood]
manufacturé’ was abbreviated to ‘Le Boismanu’.
Tekno produced some of the best quality diecast
models of the fifties, and they certainly made a good
job of the Expo express. It is finished in a blue and
white livery similar to the real vehicle, with separate
The entire Expo plastic roof panels in yellow on some examples
site covered and orange on others. Features of the original such
as the benches and grab handles in the carriages,
two square and the coupling mechanism, are all represented.
kilometers and The cab unit is based on a Mercedes van (similar
in appearance to the French Dinky Toy Mercedes
that meant ’Petit Autocar’ or minibus) and the famous three-
transport was pointed star logo is prominently displayed on both
needed for the truck and trailer. These items could be purchased
individually boxed, or as a set containing a truck
visitors once towing trailers.
they felt they'd Recent Vectis Auction prices give an indication of
what you’d have to pay for this unusual model. In
been on their 2016 boxed examples of the trailer and truck sold
feet for too long for £190 and £140 respectively, and a set of three
pieces, in near mint condition in box with inner
packaging piece, went for £660. (All these prices are
plus commission).
If you want to see what the real thing looked like,
go to http://users.skynet.be/rentfarm/expo58/
expomobiles as that is full of fascinating photos of
the different modes of transport associated with
Expo '58. DC
October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • 71
17/08/2017 12:06
 LE MANS 2016

A vintage y
Last season, the 24 hours of Le Mans had everything. Three manufacturers
fighting for the title, drama at the last lap and a record win. Francisco Mota
gathers three models from Spark, that represent each of the main cars on
track: Audi, Porsche and Toyota. Photos by João Carlos Oliveira

L
ast year was one of the most dramatic
finishes of the famous 24 hours of Le Mans.
Just 3min25 seconds from the end, in what
was to be the very last lap, the leading Toyota
had mechanical problems and stopped at
the start/finish line short of a well-deserved win.
The Japanese team just couldn’t believe what they
were seeing. After many times trying of trying, they
were not going to win the famous French endurance
race, once again. Porsche, which had a slower car
during all through the race, ended up scoring another
record win - their 18th. It was also a sad event for
Audi, as they raced for the last time in Le Mans,
ending 19 years of consecutive entries. After the
Audi, Porsche and Toyota “dieselgate” emissions scandal and all the money that
▲
The LMP1 top class cars were the most evolved
hybrid machines ever to race on the La Sarthe circuit,
at the time. They feature highly complex electrical
systems that make Formula One cars look simple.
After some conceptual differences the previous year,
in 2016 there were more similarities between the
three cars. All of them used Lithium-ion batteries
and all had an electric motor/generator in the front
axle, to regenerate energy during braking and then
give that energy back to the front wheels under
strong acceleration, making them part-time four-
wheel drive machines - at least whilst there was
electricity available in the battery. But there were also
some differences, starting with the most obvious, the
aerodynamic study but also in the engine choices.

promised a vintage edition for
last year's Le Mans 24 hour
race. And they delivered when
the leading Toyota stopped just
one lap before the end. Models
by Spark.
the Volkswagen group had to spend fixing that, it was
decided to retire Audi from the World Endurance
Championship and Volkswagen from the World Rally
Championship. So, 2016 was the last time for Audi,
but they couldn’t fight Toyota in the race either.
Audi kept the same 4.0-litre V6 TDI Diesel unit,
delivering 514bhp, combining with the 408bhp from
the electric motor to achieve a grand total of 914bhp.
Toyota had a 2.4-litre V6 twin turbo petrol engine,
contributing half the total declared output of 986bhp.

72 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017

p072-074 Le Mans 2016_TM.indd 72 17/08/2017 12:07

e yearPorsche had the most extreme solution with a small
2.0-litre V4 turbo petrol capable of 900bhp, with the
electric motor contribution. With weights near 900kg,
these were prototypes capable of accelerating from 0
to 60 mph in 2.2 seconds.
The story of the race started in qualifying, where
Neel Jani got the pole position for Porsche, with the
sister car in the next position and around one second
ahead of the best Toyota. Audi was some three seconds
further back. The race started in difficult conditions
- a heavy rainfall forced the director to order a start
behind the safety car. When the conditions began to
dry, the race really started with Porsche, Toyota and
Audi all trading the race lead in the early hours, until
Toyota No. 6 established a firm lead, followed by
its sister car. Mechanical issues saw a swap between
the Toyotas and the No. 5 car disappeared into the
distance gaining an advantage of more than a minute
over No. 2 Porsche. By the dramatic end of the race,
Audi was well behind and Porsche seemed to have no
hope until the unthinkable happened.
SPARK MODEL CARS
Spark has a long history in reproducing Le Mans
winners, they even have a series dedicated to the
subject, so it was natural that they would celebrate the
18th Porsche victory with a resincast model of No. 2
Porsche 919 Hybrid. Of course, they wouldn’t forget
p072-074 Le Mans 2016_TM.indd 73
the other LMP1 cars - launching all six of them, so
▲ Spark launched the three
LMP1 cars that raced at Le Mans
last year.
we’ve chosen two more to complete the podium
finishers: No. 6 Toyota TS050 Hybrid and No. 8 Audi
R18 Hybrid.
They all share some aspects; a few made obligatory
▲ Top view of the Toyota TS050
by the WEC rules such as the engine cover vertical fin, Hybrid shows how good this
or the size and shape of the rear wing and wheels. But model is.
the three models follow the lines of each real prototype.
With help from the inquisitive lens of João Carlos’s
professional camera we can see an array of details,
sometimes difficult to be seen by the naked eye. Let’s
start with the Audi R18 Hybrid, driven to third place
by Löic Duval, Lucas di Grassi and Oliver Jarvis.
The first thing that catches our attention is the
raised nose, inspired by what we’ve been used to ▲ Toyota used their typical
seeing in F1 cars for some time. Then, the voluminous white, red and black livery.
front mudguards, with menacingly designed
headlamps really give the Audi a look of its own. At
cockpit level, the side pods are clearly the shallowest
of the three cars, with some extra aerodynamic
devices there. The rear view mirrors are discreetly
integrated in the front wings rear face. The R18
Hybrid’s livery, with those asymmetrical positioned
red and black stripes over a base silver color, really
cheats the eye. There are several aerials positioned on
the roof and front bonnet plus latches and hinges for
the doors, each side. The front wheels are visible from
the top – these are mandatory apertures - but the rear
October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • 73
17/08/2017 12:07
 LE MANS 2016
Porsche 919 Hybrid had some differences to the bodywork, compared to the previous season's car and
▲

when side by side with cars from Audi and Toyota.

▲
Side view of Spark's Porsche model shows how detailed a 1/43 resincast can be these days. There is no
lack of aerials, chromed parts and some photoetched components.

3 CCxx
4 ANxx

ones are concealed. The exhaust pipes are positioned
on the rear engine cover, to liberate room for the rear
diffusor to work better.
In comparison, the Toyota TS050 Hybrid, driven
by Stéphane Sarrazin, Mike Conway and Kami
Kobayashi looks more conventional, starting with
the classical looking bubble headlamp covers. The
front end is also noticeably lower and the side pods
more straightforward, while the rear end features the
side vertical wing supports directly connected to the
diffusor - a unique arrangement. Exhaust pipes are
much bigger than in the Audi, but positioned in the
same place. Mirrors are also the classic bullet shape
and wheel rims are silver, with marked tyres. The roof
is covered in chromed film, to protect the cabin from
the sun’s radiation and there is a nicely detailed fuel
filler, on the right side. The single windscreen wiper
is very nicely positioned and there is an engine air
intake on top of the roof. The livery also uses black
and red areas - here they are painted over a white
base colour that is not very imaginative, and there is
a surprising absence of Toyota logos all around the
body of the car.
We left the first for last but this is also a very
interesting model - the Porsche 919 Hybrid, raced by
Neel Jani, Marc Lieb and Romain Dumas to victory.
The livery in not very obvious, but if you look at
the model from above, you can see parts of the three
words ‘Porsche Intelligent Performance’ painted in
grey over the three longitudinal black stripes that run
the length of the car. The model shows the different
shapes compared to the other two, for example, the
much-rounded front end, that leaves the lower front
splitter much more in sight, making it look longer.
The windscreen is also more raked that in the Audi
making for a more, dare I say it, “elegant” overall
shape. The headlamps are positioned in a more
vertical position and the inside replicates well the
LED technology featured in the real car. The side
pods have the cleaner lines, with only some discreet
vertical fins to let air out from the bodywork interior.
Side windows are very small indeed, making driver’s
peripheral vision a true nightmare. This has been a
problem ever since Le Mans prototypes left the open
cockpits in favour of closed coupés. Other unique
features on the Spark Porsche are the apertures on top
of the rear wheels - the only car that uses them in this
Spark has a position and the unique slats behind each rear wheel,
making for a very distinguished rear view. Part of the
long history of roof is also covered in chromed film in a similar vein
reproducing Le to the Toyota, there is no shortage of aerials and the
Mans winners, exhaust pipe heat shields are painted silver. Of course,
the whole car would look much better painted in one
so it was natural of the classic colour schemes such as pale blue Gulf
that they would or red and blue Martini, but DMG Mori were paying
some of the bills, so white and black it was.
release the Last year, none of us knew that what we were
Porcshe 919 witnessing was the end of an era, and not the start
of a new one. Soon after the 2016 Le Mans, Audi
Hybrid, Toyota announced they were leaving the championship and
TS050 Hybrid the great French race, and a few weeks ago, it was
Porsche’s turn to release the news that they were also
and Audi R18 not coming back to the Circuit de la Sarthe in 2018.
Hybrid, as raced This is despite a record 19th win this year. It is a sign
of the times, as both brands are heading to Formula E.
last year Some of their drivers are already there and it promises
to be the fastest growing motor racing series in the
next few years. But believe me when I say that it is
not the same… DC
▲ Audi used unique aerodynamics,
but the concept didn't work on the
Mulsanne straight.

74 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017

p072-074 Le Mans 2016_TM.indd 74 14/08/2017 16:01

 . Toys Ltd
R. M
Are Proud To Announce
Bulldog Fairs
London’s No 1 Sunday Toy Collectors Fair

KEMPTON PARK
Great Toy Collectors Fairs in the Southwest of England

TOY FAIR
EXETER (Westpoint) Up to
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Westpoint Arena, Clyst St Mary, Exeter. EX5 1DJ

At:A tKempton
: K emp t onPark
P ark Racecourse,
Racecou rse, StStaines
aines Road
RoadE ast
Giant Toy & Train Collectors Fair
East,
Su nb u ry on Thames, M iddlesex TW16 5 A Q . M 3 J ct 1 ont o A 308
Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex. M3 Jct 1 onto A308
Sunday 3rd September
10.30am--2.30pm
ON
Adults £4.00 each
under 16yrs free with an adult
Early Bird from 08.30 £10.00

SUSUNDAY
ND A Y 2nd
1st December
O C TO B 2012
E R
Easy access from M5, Westpoint is just 1 mile from Jnc 30 on the A3052

**Free parking for 1000’s cars**Restaurant**

10.30am
10.30am -- 3.30pm
3.00p m
Up to
A Adults
du lt s --£ £3.50
4.00 O OAPs
A P s -- £3£3.00
.50 C Children
hildren - £1.00
£1.00
Shepton Mallet 300 Stalls

E Early
arly E Entry
nt ry B Buyers
u ye rs - £10.00
£10.00 ( (8.30am
8.30amonwards)
onw ards)
Royal Bath & West Showground BA4 6QN
Giant Toy & Train Collectors Fair
Approx 200 tables of toy and model dealers, buying, selling Sunday 8th October
and part exchanging a wide variety of collectables including 10.30am--2.30pm
Adults £4.00 each

Model Railways, Models Cars and Buses, Scalextric, Dolls and

under 16yrs free with an adult
Early Bird from 08.30 £10.00

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On the A371 two miles from Shepton Mallet, 3 miles from Castle Cary train station

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Probably the Best Toy Collectors Fairs in the West
For information and booking details please contact Call us on 01373 452857 or 07917 125641
Russell Martin on 023 9238 1529 or 07957 823507 Email: bulldogfairs@aol.com

F u t u re
Future dat e:6th
date: 3rdJanuary
D ecemb 2013
er
web site: www.bulldogfairs.com

The Parodi Family Dinky Toy Collection

R M T o y s - ev ent.indd 1 22/10/2012 14 :17:4 9

Part 1 - Tuesday 19th September 2017 - 10:30am

Auction Location: The Spa Hotel, Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells TN4 8XJ

For Further Details Concerning the Auction please contact:

Glen Chapman or Leigh Gotch
Tel: +44 (0) 1233 510050 Email: enquiries@candtauctions.co.uk
www.candtauctions.co.uk

p075.indd 1 14/08/2017 10:47

 PRICE GUIDE

PriceGuide
Price
88
AUCTION
PRICES
CORGI • DINKY • HORNBY • WRENN

TOY COLLECTORS
• MECCANO • SCHUCO

LISTED
TOY COLLECTORS PRICE GUIDE •

PRICE GUIDE 2017 Welcome to our regular Price Guide section

2017

where we highlight a variety of collectables that have

TO CLASSIC TOY COLLECTABLES
YOUR ESSENTIAL FIELD GUIDE
COLLECTORS
Produced in association with
GAZETTE 07/11/2012 09:15:52

CG mastehead_NEW.indd 1

£6.99 • www.ccofgb.co.uk

OVER 1300
• Diecast • Toy Soldiers • Model railways

TOYS VALUED!
• Diecast • Railways • Tinplate • Toy
soldier • TV & Film...

been sold through auction houses during recent months.

• TV & Film memorabilia ...and much

IN-DEPTH
FEATURES
The story behind
Graham Farish
Iconic Back to the

AVAILABLE NOW! The Toy Collectors Price Guide 2017

Future collectables
The history of the
Scalextric slot car
more!

PLUS...
Hornby 1935-41 GWR green clockwork
0-4-0 No.4560

Order your copy by calling 01778 392006, or go online to www.ccofgb.co.uk

www.collectors-club-of-great-britain.co.uk

TINPLATE DIECAST
TV & FILM

From space rockets to Hundreds of models from £6.99

Stars of both the big and Dinky, Corgi and many more!
small screens valued inside rabbits, we have it covered!

21/10/2016 10:07

p001 cover.indd 1

▲Dinky No 503 Foden (1st type) ▲Corgi No 201 Austin

▲Corgi No 424 Ford Zephyr
Flat Truck with tailboard Red Cambridge Saloon Pale bluish/
Estate Car Two-tone blue, red
cab, back and ridged hubs with green, silver trim, flat spun hubs, ▲Corgi No 234 Ford Consul
interior, silver trim, flat spun hubs,
herringbone tyres, black chassis, excellent plus. Sold for £80, Classic Cream body, salmon pink
near mint. Sold for £110, Vectis,
without tow hook, good plus Vectis, July. roof, lemon interior, silver trim,
July.
condition. Sold for £120, Vectis, spun hubs, excellent. Sold for
July. £60, Vectis, July.

▲Corgi No 208S Jaguar 2.4 Litre

Saloon, red interior, silver trim,
flat spun hubs, generally excellent. ▲Corgi No 485 BMC Mini
▲Dinky No 501 Foden (1st type) Sold for £60, Vectis, July.
Diesel 8-wheel Wagon Grey cab Countryman “Surfing” Turquoise
and back, red chassis and ridged ▲Corgi No 252 Rover 2000 Steel body, yellow interior, silver trim,
hubs with herringbone tyres, red blue, red interior, spun hubs, grey plastic aerial, spun hubs, 2 x
side flashes, with tow hook, good excellent plus. Sold for £60, surfboards and figure, near mint.
plus. Sold for £200, Vectis, July. Vectis, July. Sold for £140, Vectis, July.

▲Corgi No 226 Morris Mini Minor

Metallic maroon, lemon interior,
silver trim, cast hubs, excellent.
Sold for £60, Vectis, July.

▲Dinky No 959 Foden Dump ▲Corgi No 404M Bedford

▲Corgi No 273 Rolls-Royce
Truck with Bulldozer Blade Red Dormobile Personnel Carrier
Shadow Two-tone pearlescent
cab, tipper and hubs (plastic to Pale blue, silver trim, flat spun
white/grey, deep blue interior,
front), silver chassis and blade, hubs, with mechanical motor,
Golden Jacks take-off wheels, near
excellent. Sold for £80, Vectis, excellent plus. Sold for £100,
▲Corgi No 231 Triumph Herald mint. Sold for £70, Vectis, July.
July. Vectis, July.
Coupe Two-tone white and pale
blue, red interior, spun hubs,
excellent plus. Sold for £70,
Vectis, July.

▲Corgi No 322 Rover 2000 ▲Corgi No 416 Land Rover (109

▲Benbros (Zebra Toys) No 16 Rallye Monte Carlo Metallic WB) “RAC Radio Rescue” Blue
Foden Concrete Truck Red cab ▲Corgi No 233 Heinkel Economy maroon body, white roof, red body and metal tilt, flat spun
and chassis, deep yellow barrel, Car, lemon interior, silver trim, interior, racing no 136, spun hubs, hubs, grey plastic aerial, metal
bright yellow hubs, excellent plus. flat spun hubs, excellent. Sold for excellent plus. Sold for £110, tow hook, good plus. Sold for
Sold for £90, Vectis, July. £100, Vectis, July. Vectis, July. £60, Vectis, July.

76 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017

p076-079 price guide_TM.indd 76 16/08/2017 13:42

 ▲Corgi No 420 Ford Thames
Airborne Caravan Avacado body,
spun hubs, excellent. Sold for
£60, Vectis, July.
▲Corgi No 436 Volkswagen
Kombi Avacado body, red interior,
spun hubs, near mint. Sold for
£120, Vectis, July.
▲Corgi No 436 Land Rover
(109WB) Dark green, grey plastic
tilt, lemon interior, silver trim,
spun hubs, metal tow hook, near
mint. Sold for £60, Vectis, July.
▲Corgi No 453 Commer “Walls
Ice Cream” Refrigerator Van
Mid blue cab and chassis, cream
back, silver trim, flat spun hubs,
excellent. Sold for £110, Vectis,
July.
▲Corgi No 1127 Bedford Simon
Snorkel Fire Engine Red body,
silver platform, yellow basket,
spun hubs with fireman figures,
excellent plus. Sold for £70,
Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 112 Austin Healey
Sprite Red body, cream interior,
spun hubs, good plus to excellent.
Sold for £50, Vectis, July.
p076-079 price guide_TM.indd 77
▲Dinky No 135 Triumph 2000
Metallic aqua, white roof, red
interior, silver trim, spun hubs,
near mint. Sold for £80, Vectis,
July.
▲Dinky No 156 Vauxhall Viva
Blue body, red interior, silver trim,
spun hubs, near mint. Sold for
£60, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 141 Vauxhall Victor
Estate Car Yellow body, blue
interior, spun hubs, excellent plus.
Sold for £70, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 142 Jaguar Mark X
Blue body, red interior, spun hubs,
2 x green luggage cases, near
mint. Sold for £70, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 145 Singer Vogue
Metallic light green, red interior,
spun hubs, excellent plus. Sold
for £60, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 164 Ford Zodiac Mark
4 Silver body, red interior, chrome
trim, cast hubs, near mint. Sold
for £35, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 181 Volkswagen
Saloon Pale grey body, silver trim,
spun hubs with black treaded
tyres, near mint. Sold for £140,
Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 189 Triumph Herald
Two-tone white and green, silver
trim, spun hubs, excellent plus.
Sold for £60, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 194 Bentley Coupe
Grey body, maroon interior with
driver figure, cream tonneau, spun
hubs, chrome trim, near mint.
Sold for £70, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 199 Austin Seven
Countryman Pale blue body, red
interior, spun hubs, near mint.
Sold for £60, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 260 Morris
Commercial “Royal Mail”
Delivery Van Red body and ridged
hubs with black smooth tyres,
black roof panel, excellent plus.
Sold for £60, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 274 Mini “AA Patrol
Service” Van Yellow body with
plastic roof sign, blue interior,
spun hubs, near mint. Sold for
£90, Vectis, July.
October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk •
▲Dinky No 439 Ford D800 Snow
Plough Metallic blue cab, silver
chassis, orange back, yellow
plastic hubs, yellow blade, near
mint. Sold for £150, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 955 Fire Engine Red
including plastic hubs with grey
treaded tyres, silver ladders, metal
tow hook, with windows, excellent
plus. Sold for £70, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 958 Guy Warrior
with Snow Plough Black, yellow
including Supertoy hubs, blue
roof light, with windows, generally
excellent. Sold for £130, Vectis,
July.
▲Spot-On No 309 Ford Zephyr
“BBC Tv Z Cars” White body,
red interior with 2x “Policeman”
figures, 2x plastic aerials, spun
hubs, excellent plus. Sold for
£160, Vectis, July.
▲Corgi No 270 “James Bond”
Aston Martin DB5 Silver, red
interior and tyre slashers, with
James Bond and Bandit figures,
generally excellent. Sold for
£280, Vectis, July.
▼
77
14/08/2017 16:02
 PRICE GUIDE
▲Corgi No 487 “Chipperfield
Circus” Land Rover Parade
Vehicle Red, blue, lemon interior,
spun hubs, with Monkey and
Clown figures, near mint. Sold for
£90, Vectis, July.
▲Corgi No 262 Lincoln
Continental Executive Limousine
Gold body, black roof, dark red
interior, spun hubs, near mint.
Sold for £100, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 30A (32) Chrysler
Airflow Blue body, black smooth
hubs and tyres, generally good.
Sold for £100, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 103 Austin Healey
Sports Car Deep cream body,
bright red interior with driver
figure, red ridged hubs with black
smooth tyres, near mint. Sold for
£80, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 268 Renault
Dauphine “Taxi” Red body,
chrome hubs with black treaded
tyres, with fitted decals, near mint.
Sold for £90, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 114 Triumph Spitfire
Purple body, gold interior with
plastic driver figure, chrome spun
hubs with black tyres, near mint.
Sold for £160, Vectis, July.
78 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017
p076-079 price guide_TM.indd 78
▲Dinky No 120 Jaguar E Type
Light blue body, black detatchable
hood, cream interior, chrome spun
hubs with black tyres. Sold for
£750, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 146 Daimler 2.5 Litre
Metallic aqua, red interior with
cream steering wheel, chrome
spun hubs with black treaded
tyres, near mint. Sold for £50,
Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 158 Riley Saloon
Light green body, mid green
ridged hubs with black smooth
tyres, near mint. Sold for £70,
Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 162 Ford Zephyr
Saloon Two-tone cream and
green, beige ridged hubs with
black treaded tyres, silver trim,
near mint. Sold for £80, Vectis,
July.
▲Dinky No 166 Sunbeam Rapier
Saloon Two-tone light turquoise
and blue, blue ridged hubs with
black treaded tyres, silver trim,
near mint. Sold for £70, Vectis,
July.
▲Dinky No 168 Singer Gazelle
Two-tone cream and brown, silver
trim, chrome spun hubs with black
treaded tyres, near mint. Sold for
£100, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 169 Studebaker
Golden Hawk Light tan body, red
back and ridged hubs with white
treaded tyres, silver trim, mint.
Sold for £100, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 175 Hillman Minx
Saloon Two-tone green and tan,
silver trim, beige ribbed hubs with
black treaded tyres, near mint.
Sold for £70, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 172 Studebaker Land
Cruiser Two-tone tan and cream,
cream ridged hubs with black
treaded tyres, near mint. Sold for
£70, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 182 Porsche 356A
Coupe Cream body, silver trim,
blue ridged hubs with black
smooth tyres, near mint. Sold for
£90, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 184 Volvo 122S Off
white/pale cream, silver trim,
chrome spun hubs with black
treaded tyres, near mint. Sold for
£220, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 254 Austin “Taxi”
Yellow body, brown base and
interior with driver figure, yellow
ridged hubs with black smooth
tyres (40H baseplate number)
near mint. Sold for £110, Vectis,
July.
▲Dinky Pre-War No 33R
Mechanical Horse “LNER Express
Parcels Traffic”, blue and black,
including smooth hubs and white
tyres, generally good plus. Sold
for £320, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 451 (31A) Trojan
“Dunlop Tyres” Van Red
including ridged hubs with black
smooth tyres, excellent plus. Sold
for £60, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 472 Austin “Raleigh
Cycles” Van Green, yellow ridged
hubs with black smooth tyres,
near mint. Sold for £60, Vectis,
July.
▲Dinky No 441 Bedford
“Ovaltine” Van Blue including
ridged hubs, near mint. Sold for
£90, Vectis, July.
▲French Dinky No 24E Renault
Dauphine Turquoise body, silver
trim, concave hubs with black
smooth tyres, near mint. Sold for
£160, Vectis, July.
▲French Dinky No 24A Chrysler
New Yorker Light blue, off white
interior and tonneau, chrome
convex hubs with white smooth
tyres, near mint. Sold for £150,
Vectis, July.
14/08/2017 16:02

▲French Dinky No 24C Citroen
DS19 Yellow body, grey roof, silver
trim, chrome convex hubs with
white smooth tyres, excellent plus.
Sold for £150, Vectis, July.
▲French Dinky No 24D Plymouth
Belvedere White and blue, silver
trim, chrome convex hubs with
white smooth tyres, near mint.
Sold for £320, Vectis, July.
▲French Dinky No 24U Simca
9 Aronde Blue body, off white
upper, silver trim, chrome convex
hubs with white smooth tyres,
near mint. Sold for £100, Vectis,
July.
▲French Dinky No 514 Alfa
Romeo Giulia 1600Ti Off white
body, red interior, concave hubs,
near mint. Sold for £130, Vectis,
July.
▲French Dinky No 517 Renault
R8 Blue body, red interior,
concave hubs with black tyres,
near mint. Sold for £80, Vectis,
July.
▲French Dinky No 531 Fiat 1200
Grande Vue Cream body, metallic
silver/blue roof, silver trim,
chrome concave hubs with black
tyres, near mint. Sold for £120,
Vectis, July.
p076-079 price guide_TM.indd 79
▲French Dinky No 1400 Peugeot
404 “Radio Taxi” Black body, red
upper, light tan interior, concave
hubs, “taxi” roof box, near mint.
Sold for £140, Vectis, July.
▲French Dinky No 1414 Renault
R8 Gordini Blue body with white
stripes, black interior with driver
figure, concave hubs, racing
number 36, near mint. Sold for
£120, Vectis, July.
▲French Dinky No 25P
Studebaker Pickup Yellow cab
and chassis, red back, dark red
convex hubs, metal tow hook,
excellent plus. Sold for £130,
Vectis, July.
▲French Dinky No 25B Peugeot
“Lampe Mazda” Van Two-tone
yellow and green, convex hubs
with black smooth tyres, near
mint. Sold for £110, Vectis, July.
▲French Dinky Junior No 100
Renault 4L Pale green, chrome
concave hubs, silver trim, near
mint. Sold for £380, Vectis, July.
▲French Dinky Junior No 101
Peugeot 404 Dark orange body,
concave hubs, silver trim, near
mint. Sold for £340, Vectis, July.
▲Spot-On No 102 Bentley
Saloon Two-tone blue and silver,
cast spun hubs with black treaded
tyres, cream interior with black
steering wheel. Sold for £240,
Vectis, July.
▲Spot-On No 103 Rolls-Royce
Silver Wraith Two-tone green
and silver, cast spun hubs, cream
interior with off white steering
wheel, excellent plus. Sold for
£320, Vectis, July.
▲French Dinky No 24V Buick
Roadmaster Blue body, dark blue
roof, silver trim, chrome convex
hubs with smooth white tyres,
excellent plus. Sold for £120,
Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 29B Streamlined
Bus Dark green body, mid green
wheelarches, black ridged hubs
with smooth tyres, excellent. Sold
for £90, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 29G Luxury Coach
Cream body and ridged hubs,
orange flashes, excellent plus.
Sold for £60, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 29H Duple
Roadmaster Coach Two tone
green and cream, red ridged hubs
with black smooth tyres, near
mint. Sold for £160, Vectis, July.
October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk •
▲Dinky No 281 Luxury Coach
Fawn body, orange flashes, cream
ridged hubs with black smooth
tyres, excellent. Sold for £130,
Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 471 Austin “Nestle’s”
Delivery Van Red body, cream
ridged hubs with black smooth
tyres, excellent plus. Sold for
£150, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 480 Bedford “Kodak”
Delivery Van Yellow, silver trim,
red ridged hubs with black smooth
tyres, near mint. Sold for £100,
Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 410 Bedford End
Tipper Yellow cab, chassis and
ridged hubs with black smooth
tyres, mid-blue back, excellent
plus. Sold for £150, Vectis, July.
▲Dinky No 512 Guy Flat Truck
Dark maroon cab, back and
ridged hubs with black smooth
tyres, black chassis and front
wheelarches, metal tow hook,
Sold for £130, Vectis, July.
▲Triang Spot-On No 104 MGA
Deep turquoise, cream interior
with black steering wheel, cast
hubs, near mint. Sold for £340,
Vectis, July.
79
14/08/2017 16:02
 BUS/RAILWAY
Model Tractor, Construction COLLECTORS FAIR
Train & Model Collectors' Fair
Needham Market Community Centre,
& Literature
st
2017 plus free vintage bus rides
PUDSEY CIVIC HALL, LEEDS
School Street, Needham Market, Suffolk IP6 8BB

Sunday 1 October SATURDAY 14th Sunday 1st October 10.30am-3pm

OCTOBER 2017 Admission £1.50, accompanied children free
10am until 3pm Over 100 stalls 10am to 3pm Wheelchair access, free parking, refreshments
Admission £1 Organised by Stowmarket Railway Club
Enquiries to Barry Rennison 0113 236 3695 For further information call 01449 672698
Springfields Exhibition Centre Spalding, Lincolnshire. PE12 6ET Email: rennison@cc-email.co.uk
www.samuelledgardsociety.org.uk
www.stowrailclub.org.uk
Farm toy collectors fair for model tractor enthusiasts
Books, Videos, Leaflets, Brochures and Manuals
Vintage and Classic Tractor display TOY & TRAIN FAIR GATESHEAD INT. STADIUM
Diorama Competition – Cash Prizes Neilson Road, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear NE10 0EF (Just off Felling-by-pass, A184)
SHOW MODEL AVAILABLE ON THE DAY
Entry: £6, accompanied children Free
SATURDAY 9th September 2017 10.00am-3.00pm
• Admission: Adults £3.00, Children/Senior Citizens £2.00, Early Bird £5
www.spaldingmodeltractor.com • Buy, sell and swap trains, diecast cars, buses and trucks, soldiers and more!
spaldingmodeltractor@gmail.com • Free parking, working exhibitions and cafe facilities
Interested in selling your collection or want a table to sell your stock?
07710 321471 Contact Jim on 07504 035955 or email: jim_corr73@hotmail.co.uk

Steven Clements Fairs TOY & TRAIN FAIRS

HOOK ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT ALFRETON ASHFIELD
Tuesday 19th September Friday 8th September 2017 Sunday 17th September 2017
Tuesday 12th September 7pm - 9pm 10am - 2pm
6.30pm - 8.30pm 6.30pm - 8.30pm The Leisure Centre, Church Street, Alfreton Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Festival Hall, NG17 7DJ
Hook Community Centre, RG27 9NN Memorial Hall, Station Road, SN4 7EN DE55 7BD Good access / refreshments / free parking
One of the longest established swapmeets. Next date: 26th November 2017
New venue with huge car park • Cafe 3rd Tuesday monthly Next date: 24th November 2017

EASTLEIGH GLOUCESTER NOTTINGHAM BURTON UPON TRENT

Sunday 24th September Saturday 30th September Saturday 7th October 2017 Wednesday 11th October 2017
10am - 2pm 6.30pm - 8.30pm
10.00am - 2pm 10.00am - 2.00pm Bluecoat Academy, NG8 5GY The Town Hall, Burton-upon-Trent, DE14 2EB
Fleming Park Leisure Centre, Passfield Churchdown Community Centre, GL3 2JH On ring road, 1½ miles north of Q.M.C Always a good selection of rail and diecast
Avenue, SO50 9NL • Huge car park Refreshments • Free parking Minutes from M1 - Jct 25 or 26. Next date: 13th December 2017
Free car parking/light refreshments
Next date: 2nd December 2017
Table and chair hire is also available for your event. Please email or call for a quote!
Accompanied u / 16’s FREE at all our fairs
For details and bookings call 01380 725322 or 07958 101891 • Email: clementsfairs@aol.com Speak to Malc on 07951 072790 • www.tttf.co.uk

E !
U
RAY HEARD TRAIN Windsor VE
N

N International EW

& TOY FAIRS Toy & Train

NEWTON ABBOT Collectors Fairs 2017
SUNDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER Saturday 30 September
now at The Windsor Leisure Centre
Newton Abbot Racecourse, Clewer Mead, Stovell Road, Windsor SL4 5JB
Devon, TQ12 3AF Adults £3, Concessions £2.50, Early Entry (from 9am)
(follow the brown racecourse direction signs) £7 Public Admission 10.30am to 3pm
• Dinky, Corgi, Matchbox and other British and Foreign Diecasts
• Hornby, Meccano, LEGO, Trains, Boats, Planes and Lead Figures
■ Admission: £2 ■ Times:10am to 3.30pm • Scalextric, Barbie, Dolls, Star Wars, Soldiers and Tinplate Toys
■ Free car parking ■ Refreshments available • Huge variety of old toys, plus some new ones and other collectables

■ 160 tables ■ 60+ traders !

Organised by the Maidenhead Static Model Club.... R
...visit our website: www.windsortoyfair.co.uk
D SO
For more information please contact For more information or to book a table IN
W
IN
please ring: 07825 564 960 or 07990 584057
Ray Heard on 01823 480097 W
Future dates to be announced
NO

p080.indd 1 14/08/2017 10:48

 EVENTS

TOYFAIRTIMES
FAIRS
02 SEPTEMBER 17
• Brecon, Chris Dyer Fairs, 01643 702757
• Rugby Vintage, Barry Potter Fairs, 01604
846688
03 SEPTEMBER 17
• Falkirk, McLaren Models, 01324 624102
• Worthing, SRP Fairs, 07739 998012
• Spalding, J & J Fairs, 01522 880383
• Wirral, Barry Stockton, 0151 334 3362
• Exeter, Bulldog Fairs, 01373 452857
• Bowburn, Frank Phillips, 01709 790603
• Potters Bar, Toy & Train Fairs,
020 8205 1518
05 SEPTEMBER 17
• Elscar, Newcomen Fairs, 01226 744425
08 SEPTEMBER 17
• Alfreton, Malcolm Townsend,
07951 072790
• Taunton, Greenslade Taylor Hunt,
01823 332525
09 SEPTEMBER 17
• Bloomsbury, Mercator, 07887 802932
• Gateshead, Jim Corr, 07504 035955
• Beaconsfield, Toy & Train Fairs,
020 8205 1518
10 SEPTEMBER 17
• Herne Bay, SRP Fairs, 07739 998012
• Dublin, Chris Dyer Fairs, 01643 702757
• Coventry, Barry Potter Fairs,
01604 846688
• Wimborne, David Rees, 01202 590158
• Bristol, Ronnie Davies, 07708 385061
11 SEPTEMBER 17
• Swinton, Paul Wilson, 07707 122334
12 SEPTEMBER 17
• Rugby (evening), Barry Potter Fairs,
01604 846688
• Hook, Steven Clements Fairs Ltd,
01380 725322
13 SEPTEMBER 17
• Thornaby, Vectis, 01642 750616
16 SEPTEMBER 17
• Monmouth, Chris Dyer Fairs,
01643 702757
• Sandown Park, Barry Potter Fairs,
01604 846688
• Walsall Wood, Transtar Promotions,
01922 643385
• Shepton Mallet, Bulldog Fairs,
01373 452857
• Newton Abbot, Ray Heard, 01823 480097 • Lincolnshire, J & J Fairs, 01522 880383
19 SEPTEMBER 17 10 OCTOBER 17
• Royal Wootton Bassett, Steven Clements • Hook, Steven Clements Fairs Ltd,
Fairs Ltd, 01380 725322 01380 725322
21 SEPTEMBER 17 11 OCTOBER 17
• Theydon Bois, Joe Lock, 07866 641215 • Burton on Trent, Malcolm Townsend,
• Thornaby, Vectis, 01642 750616 07951 072790
23 SEPTEMBER 17 14 OCTOBER 17
• Henfield, SRP Fairs, 07739 998012 • Pudsey, Barry Rennison, 0113 236 3695
• Newark, Northgate Auction Rooms,
01636 605905
• Didcot, Ronnie Davies, 07708 385061 AUCTIONS
24 SEPTEMBER 17 06 SEPTEMBER 17
• Eastbourne, Robert Horscraft, • Thornaby, Vectis, 01642 750616
01323 899879
• Bolton, Barry Potter Fairs, 01604 846688 09 SEPTEMBER 17
• Eastleigh, Steven Clements Fairs Ltd, • Gaydon, Speedbird Promotions,
01380 725322 01359 232667
• Enfield, The Whitewebbs Museum of
Transport, 02083 671898 11 SEPTEMBER 17
• Kidderminster, Tony Oakes, • Lewes, Wallis & Wallis, 01273 480208
01270 652773
12 SEPTEMBER 17
26 SEPTEMBER 17
• Heaton Mersey, Capes Dunn,
• Garstang, Janet Pearson, 01282 439009 0161 432 1911
• Tonbridge, SRP Fairs, 07739 998012 • Thornaby, Vectis, 01642 750616
27 SEPTEMBER 17
13 SEPTEMBER 17
• Hertford, Joe Lock, 07866 641215
• Thornaby, Vectis, 01642 750616
30 SEPTEMBER 17
19 SEPTEMBER 17
• Windsor, Maidenhead Static,
• Royal Tunbridge Wells, C & T Auctions,
07825 564960
01233 510050
• Gloucester, Steven Clements Fairs Ltd,
• Thornaby, Vectis, 01642 750616
01380 725322
• Stoke on Trent, Tony Oakes,
20 SEPTEMBER 17
01270 652773
• Warwick, Warwick & Warwick Toy
01 OCTOBER 17 Auctions, 01926 499031
• Falkirk, McLaren Models, 01324 624102 • Thornaby, Vectis, 01642 750616
• Ashington, David Parsons, 07742 609865
21 SEPTEMBER 17
• Stafford Showground, Barry Potter Fairs,
01604 846688 • Thornaby, Vectis, 01642 750616
• Kempton Park, RM Toys, 023 9238 1529
28 SEPTEMBER 17
• Spalding, Colin Boor, 07710 321471
• Needham Market, Stow Market Railway • Thornaby, Vectis, 01642 750616
Club, 01449 672698
29 SEPTEMBER 17
07 OCTOBER 17 • Thornaby, Vectis, 01642 750616
• Crewe, Crewe Model Engineering Society,
01270 505781 Retro Ronnie Toy Fairs
• Plymouth, Events Frontier, www.retroronnie.com

17 SEPTEMBER 17
• Midhurst, SRP Fairs, 07739 998012
• Llandudno, Chris Dyer Fairs,
01643 702757
• Ashfield, Malcolm Townsend,
• Nottingham, Malcolm Townsend,
07951 072790
08 OCTOBER 17
• Colchester, SRP Fairs, 07739 998012
• Haydock Park, Barry Stockton,
CIRENCESTER
Sunday 22nd October
Bingham Hall, King Street, Cirencester GL7 1JT
• Refreshments • 120 tables • Admission £2.50
• Under 16’s Free • From 10am-14.30pm
• Early bird from 8am • Free parking nearby
To book please ring 07708 385061 or 07900 266427

07951 072790 0151 334 3362

October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • 81

p081_toyfair times.indd 2 16/08/2017 15:04

 LETTERS
DearEditor…
EMAIL YOUR LETTERS AND QUESTIONS TO deareditor@warnersgroup.co.uk
OR WRITE TO US The Editor, Diecast Collector, Warners Group Publications plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH.
THE KELLOGGS
SERVICE STATION
I read G Shaw's letter about the Kelloggs garage and his suggestion of reproducing
them. I'm not sure if he realises the size issue but the base for the ‘site’ measures 21
1/4 " x 12 1/2" along. The roof is 11"x 4 3/4" and some of the edging walls are from 15"
down to 10" long. Kelloggs were neat in making these to fold into a 15" x 10" envelope
at the time so it was well thought out. I often use my method of doing my artwork for
buildings on my computer then printing onto A4 sticky back sheets to transfer to card
for cutting out and assembly. I would willingly have done this for Mr Shaw if it were for
his own use but it would mean he would have to carefully join sections to achieve the
end result. I made the attached Triang garage replica by this method, using the late
Sue Richardson's dimensions from an old article.
Will Roe, Coventry
ED Thanks for the offer, Will. I’ve passed on your details to Mr Shaw.
…AND MORE KELLOGGS
WITH reference to Mr Marshall’s email in the May issue, I have two Kelloggs “West
End Service Station” kits still in the original brown envelopes. I am a Dinky or 1/43
scale collector, and the garage was always too small, so if Mr Marshall still wants one
(or two), I’d gladly sell them. Please pass my details onto him.
Tony Rogers, Lincs
ED Thanks for that! I’ve passed your details onto Mr Marshall – hopefully he’s
already been in touch and there is a happy ending to this.
CRESCENT TOYS
RACING CARS
I thought you might be interested to see this photo
of my Crescent Toys Racing Cars set, complete
with cardboard grandstand.
Thankfully, as a boy I didn’t play with them much
as I preferred their Dinky equivalents!
Ian Girton, Cambs
ED It never ceases to amaze me how many of
these superb toys have survived in such great condition.
Thanks for sharing the picture.
82 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017
p082-083 dear editor_next month_TM.indd 82
KESS COST
I recently purchased (mail order) a model of the Puma
Sports Car by Kess, at a cost of just under £60. Although
it’s a nice model, well painted and detailed for a 1/43 scale,
I found it is no better than an Oxford Diecast model costing
about half that price. Could you tell me why Kess Models
are so expensive and possibly give me a little history about
Kess. This model was made in China, as stated on the box,
as so many models are.
A M Pople, Bristol
ED Whilst I understand the frustration, its probably
unfair to compare the two brands – especially as to
my knowledge Oxford Diecast do not make a Puma
model. Oxford Diecast sell vast quantities of models
worldwide, and Kess is a much smaller operation so
there are probably all manner of economies of scale that
come to bear. As for the history of the brand – Kess are
an Italian company that specialise in European classic
car subjects, and mainly model in resin. Most of their
models are limited edition runs, reflecting some of the
more niche subjects they make.
TRAMS
I write in response to Don Yates email about trams in the
April 2017 issue of Diecast Collector. Hobby’s Wholesale
(www.hobby.uk.com) 2017 catalogue shows a Matchbuilder
Model Kit of an “Electric Tramcar Kit c1908” for £13.55.
The tram is a double-decker that is open at each end
and also open on the top deck. The caption states:
“This particular Tram Car journeyed between Ealing and
Hammersmith in the early 1900s.
1900s.” No livery is shown
but presumably Mr Yates could try his hand at applying
whatever livery he wishes? They also sell a book about
trams (Tramway Memories: London) and a DVD (100 years
of British Trams).
German firm, LGB, makes a Garden Scale tramcar that
sells for nearly AUD$700 complete with tracks. More
affordable diecast tramcars are available in OO (HO) from
Cooee Models in Melbourne and from the (Japanese?) firm
of KATO. Walthers in the US also sell diecast model trams.
Australian firm, Topmill Pty. Ltd (topmill@iinet.net.au) in
New South Wales prints, publishes and sells a series of very
informative books about the history and types of trams.
Graham MacLeod, Western Australia
ED Thanks for all that information, Graham!
16/08/2017 13:28
 SCALE COLLECTING
I read Dale Roberts’ letter in September Diecast Collector. I don’t buy the magazine
very often as I find there aren’t enough features in 1/18 scale – my chosen scale. I buy
models for their detail, and 1/43 is OK but feels like a toy to me – and there have to
be lots of compromises to allow opening doors or bonnet etc. Plus when you consider
a high end 1/43 scale can cost upwards of £80, you get a lot more for your money
with the bigger scale – something to consider when considering ‘value’.
I’m seeing a lot more larger scale models coming available and that is great – I buy
mainly online, as I work in London and work long hours. I don’t baulk at paying three
figure sums for a model when it warrants it – frankly some don’t and get sent back.
I don’t know about the comment that “the scale is not widely collecting in the UK”
as all of my friends who collect models buy 1/18th – although perhaps it is true that

FIRE ENGINE “few of your readers are likely to purchase these”, as none of us regularly buy the
magazine because you don’t write features on 1/18 scale models. A chicken and egg

MODEL
situation, perhaps?
Steven Wright, Email

I have a one off large-scale model, which I have had ED Thanks for the feedback. Like I have said before, if nobody was interested in
for around 17 years. I have attached a picture for 1/18 or larger scales, then the model makers wouldn’t make them. However, I have
you to look at. I commissioned it, as I spent 21 years to respect that a large proportion of the readers collect 1/43 scale and some of
in the fire service both here in South Yorkshire and the prices of the larger models are greater than some can afford. It is a delicate
on the Isle of Wight. I was the only one from South balancing act!
Yorkshire to have been given a job on the Island.
They employed me due to my road traffic accident
experience after working for 15 years on the M1 and
M18 motorways.
Anyway, back to the model. It was made by a very
talented Yorkshire model maker that I have now lost
touch with, and would love to meet up again with
now I am retired and living back in South Yorkshire.
John Froggatt, Email

ED That’s a great model! Thanks for sharing.

IN NEXT MONTH November

• Issue 241
■ The buses of the Scottish Bus
When Mammoths Group Part 2

roamed the country ■ Restoring a Dinky Captain

Scarlet Spectrum Patrol Car
We explore the models of the classic ■ Boeing 707 60th Anniversary –
AEC Buses and Lorries the military versions
■ Jaguar E-type models explored
■ All the latest News
■ The best round up of all the
latest releases…
… and much more in
Please note: These planned editorial contents may be subject to change where necessary. PLUS another bumper issue!

November issue on sale 3rd October or download the digital edition

7 DAYS EARLIER 26th September at www.pocketmags.com/diecast-collector

October 2017 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • 83

p082-083 dear editor_next month_TM.indd 83 16/08/2017 13:28

 CLASSIFIEDS
DEVON EAST SUSSEX ESSEX

ALL RISKS COVER for Stockist for:

COLLECTABLES 9 auctions every year - SPARK, Ixo, Matrix,
Stamps, Postcards, Coins, Diecast models, etc.. Neo, Corgi, Oxford,
Minichamps, Kess,
STAMP INSURANCE SERVICES ‘live’ online with & EST 1992 Trofeu, Greenlight and
(Dept 11) C G I SERVICES LIMITED much, much more!
29 Bowhay Lane, Exeter, EX4 1PE www.wallisandwallis.co.uk 7 Market St, Braintree, Essex, CM7 3YA
Tel: 01392 433 949 Fax: 01392 427 632 www.hedingham-models.co.uk
West Street Auction Galleries, Lewes, Sussex, BN7 2NJ T: 01376 320522 E: hedmod@aol.com
www.stampinsurance.co.uk
Authorised & Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority 300573 Tel: +44 (0) 1273 480208 • Fax: +44 (0) 1273 476562 • Email auctions@wallisandwallis.org Shop and mail order. Closed Thursdays/Sundays
HAMPSHIRE ESSEX

Diecast cars, commercials, WW2

tanks & planes from Base, Britbus,
WANTED
COLLECTIONS OF DINKY,
CORGI OXFORD EFE VANGUARDS
HORNBY PECO SCALEXTRIC AIRFIX etc
NEW & SECOND HAND
Classix, CMN, Corgi, Dragon, EFE, Corgi and other diecast cars,
RAILWAYS & DIECAST
WARHAMMER
Minichamps, Oxford and more. lorries and tractors etc, any
10A Church Street, Basingstoke, Hants, RG21 7QE Use our secure online shop condition, large or small
Closed Tuesday, Sundays & Bank Holidays collections, anything considered. Tel: 01206 574929
Tel: 01256 358060 or visit in person.
Tel: 01264 773018 or
www.churchstreetmodels.co.uk 07860 629009 (Hants) Sorry no lists

KENT NORTH YORKSHIRE

To advertise your Jaunty Jalopies

business here in the Collectables
next issue please call Hunmanby, Nr Filey, YO14 0JU
A great reason to visit the East Coast!
Kristina Green New and pre-owned diecast model

on 01778 392096 specialists selling Spot-On, Dinky,

Corgi, Matchbox, Lledo, Britains,
Universal Hobbies, classic cars, tractors,
KENT SURREY modern trucks, vintage commercials,
TV and film related, motoring books
VINTAGE FIReWORK and car sales brochures.

COLLECTOR Shop open weekdays on demand. Anytime 9am-5pm.

Closed weekends and Bank Holidays unless by prior
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Search using Seller ID : jauntyjalopies
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LICENSED EXPLOSIVE STORAGE. Tel: 01723 890060 or 07889 286559
CALL TONY 07956 506 300 www.jauntyjalopies.com

WEST MIDLANDS

SPRINGHILL
MODELS & CARDS
the hobby shop.indd 1 To advertise here in the next issue please call
06/10/2015 13:47
Stockists of
• OXFORD • C.M.C. • IXO
• GREENLIGHT • WHITEBOX
Kristina Green on 01778 392096
• SCHUCO & others
4 Springhill Lane • Penn • Wolverhampton WV4 4SH

01902 341302
Email: pete@springhillmodels.co.uk
Web: www.springhillmodels.co.uk

Receive the digital edition

of Diecast Collector 7 days
before the print edition!
Visit www.pocketmags.com/
diecast-collector for details.

p084_classi.indd 88 14/08/2017 11:04

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CG DC FP 2.50.indd 1 15/08/2017 11:37

 THE LAST WORD

Coupé Grande
Brian Gower employs the services of an alter ego to discuss luxury coupés

F
or this issue, I have to be frank with you.
This is because Frank has a 1972 Rolls-
Royce Corniche while I do not. Also,
although I have driven along many a
corniche (coastal road), they were not in the
South of France – they were in places like Bognor.
Frank is, therefore, better qualified to talk about these
things. Over to you, Frank…
“Ask any bloke in a pub what the name Rolls-
Royce Corniche conjures up and he will tell you it’s
a huge, smooth, silent cruiser, open to the summer
sky and ocean breezes. He might throw in a bird with
a suntan as well. My car, like the Truescale model, is a
hard-top, not much different to a two-door Shadow
which is what the Corniche started off as. It’s a lovely
looking motor in both forms but I wouldn’t have the
convertible as a gift. One nutter with a blade and its
done for. Anyway, I spend more time in England than
abroad – I hate foreign food, if I can’t pronounce it,
I won’t eat it – and I would never take a Roller to
Spain when I visit old friends. Why not? Because it’s ▲ The Truescale Rolls-Royce Corniche captures the 'not too flashy' lines Frank likes very well,
too dry, pal. The naffin’ dust gets into everything. No, although the headlining colour is wrong according to him.
I fly out.
“The coupé suits me better all round. I’m not
going to get caught by a downpour and those wide
doors are invaluable for a man of ample proportions
like myself. I’ve always been a big boy. This model
is a gem – a zillion times better than the old Corgi
lump in those horrible colours. This one’s really nice.
Look at those seats; you could believe that’s leather.
Knockout! Swipe me! Its even got coach-lines. How
do they do that? Oh, hold on… the plating on the
hubcaps is a bit rough and again on the back bumper.
And they’ve done the headlining in blue. Nah, that’s
wrong. Still, apart from that, it’s excellent. It’s certainly
one for the old collection. Angie never has to ask Above left: Trans-o-lite dealership where I found this one. The car I didn’t
me what I want for Christmas. I give her a list.You headlamps on the Riviera. buy was the more common gold car which some
wouldn’t believe how long it is.” Above right: Dinky tyres fitted. little twit had half-painted black. It was a mess but
The other big coupé here is the 1963 Buick restorable. Then I found the blue one; not perfect
Riviera, aimed, according to one advert, at the ‘man but okay. I was very pleased to find the Trans-o-lite
at a dangerous age.’ That probably means us. Designed system still functioning perfectly and I’ve touched in
by Bill Mitchell (Stingray, Toronado, etc), most of the worst of the damaged paintwork along the tops
General Motors were not interested in putting their of the front wings and the sills. I can live with the
badges on it until Buick said: “Okay”. Unsurprisingly, I wouldn't have rest. I would quite like the ‘holiday set’, No 31: Buick,
the rakish and clean-lined Riviera sold well, trailer and cabin cruiser but I’m not optimistic.
becoming a classic very quickly. This Corgi version,
the convertible There is a real, white Riviera in the UK –
No 245, was up for sale just off a Dorset coast road. as a gift. One uncomfortably big here, it would look fine in
The non-standard Dinky white tyres lend it an air of Monaco or Cannes where Frank attends the film
seaside compatibility but Frank wouldn’t want one.
nutter with a festival (more friends). I wonder if there is any way of
“Nah, too flashy.” So the Corniche isn’t too flashy? blade and its bringing the Buick and Frank together for his next
“No.” But for the high-status grille and the size, you
could describe it as discreet – Frank does. “I wouldn’t
done for French excursion? Meanwhile, for any of you who
would like a highly detailed 1/43 version, a resin
have a red one and white’s out because Angie would model exists, possibly by Neo.
get me doing all her cousins’ weddings. Can’t say no Note: Frank finds the Trans-o-lite system highly
when its family. Know what I mean?” amusing. “The light that work best when you don’t
Two versions of the Buick were on offer at the need them!” DC

86 • www.diecast-collector.co.uk • October 2017

p086 the last word_TM.indd 86 14/08/2017 16:04

p087.indd 1 14/08/2017 10:48
 Take to the road!
Introducing the latest OO gauge models from EFE by Bachmann
E38123 – Bristol VRT – City of Oxford
Originally ordered by Southern Vectis for operations on the Isle of Wight,
OFC 901H was transferred to City of Oxford Motor Services in 1970, where it
was painted in Oxford’s striking green and red livery, shown running under the fleet
number 901 and working on route 82 to Aylesbury.
OUT NOW
E12122 – Harrington Cavalier - Southdown
From the early 1960s Southdown began adding Harrington Cavaliers to their fleet,
the vehicles’ reliability meant that they were perfect for long journeys throughout
the length and breadth of the country. Registration number 547 BUF, fleet number
1747 is shown operating a tour of Wales and Southern Ireland.
OUT NOW
E36007 – Leyland RTL – Barton Transport
After beginning its life running around the capital’s streets, working in London Transports
extensive fleet, Leyland RTL registered OLD 790 moved up to Nottinghamshire to
work in Barton’s fleet. Re numbered 1089 our model is shown running on route 18
to Chilwell, whilst displaying ‘Home Ales are best’ advertising. OUT NOW
E38120 - Bristol VRT II - British Rail Training Vehicle
The latest Bristol VRT to leave our factory will be a striking example of a British Rail
training vehicle. Registered AYG 941H, displaying a blind that denotes its job, this vehicle
is designated to be a Plant and Machinery Training Vehicle and makes a great companion
piece to our previously released E38119 in similar livery.
AUG 2017
EFE NEW 81July 2017.indd 1
p088.indd
E12311 – AEC Reliance Harrington Grenadier – M&D NBC
Maidstone & District became part of the National Bus Company (NBC) on 1st
January 1969. Our latest release depicts a Harrington Grenadier registration
FKL 126D, fleet No. 4163 shown working on route E7 to Bournemouth.
OUT NOW
E23406 – Bedford TK – British Railways
Our latest Bedford TK is modelled on one of British Rails many road vehicles used
for the cartage of parcels to and from the railway network. Registered 423 PRO,
cab numbered 5871 BO M and is depicted carrying a green tarpaulin covered load.
OUT NOW
E15808 – Leyland PD1 – East Kent Road Car
After the Second World War East Kent ordered 50 Leyland PD1 Titans to refresh
their fleet, our model portrays one such new arrival, registered CJG 965 shown
working on route 66 to Ramsgate Harbour, whilst displaying advertising for County
Ale brewed by Fremlins.
JULY 2017
E16540 - Leyland Atlantean – Ribble Motor Services Ltd
Our modelled Leyland Altantean with Metro-Cammell body, first entered passenger
service with Ribble in 1960 and is shown carrying the smart dark red and cream
pre-nationalisation livery. Our model is registered NCK 634, fleet number 1645 and is
shown running on service 101 to Preston.
SEPT/OCT
A Bachmann Product
13/07/2017 10:48
14/08/2017 10:18