Indholdsfortegnelse for August 2022 i Diecast Collector

JUST as we closed for press, and too late for inclusion in the latest instalment of our 1/64 scale series, news reached us of the announcement by Almost Real of an amazing set of nine 2020 Land Rover Defender 90 and 110 at that size. Selected randomly from a long list of options, each nine-vehicle set will usually feature four Defender 90s and five Defender 110s. A total of 19 variations are available. Each vehicle features a raised air intake, A Frame Protection Bar, wheel arch trims, side-mounted gear carrier, expedition roof rack, and a roof ladder. These are all assembled onto the model, but ther are removable accessories too – off-road tyres, wheels and a spare wheel cover. Additional accessories of a spade, fuel can, sand ladder and ‘street…

FURTHER to the announcement last month of a specially-commissioned Vanguards Ford Escort RS2000, modelled as Ray Doyle’s white version from the TV series, The Professionals, Tony Buller, the person behind this limited edition, has received images of the stunning box artwork from Corgi. Featuring series-related graphics and a spray of bullet holes, the interior depicts a run-down warehouse – a typical scene to find some unscrupulous criminals hiding their loot in. The run is a limited edition of 1,000 models of the famous car, complete with the correct registration number (PNO 641T) and a replica GB sticker on the boot lid lip. Tony is taking pre-orders now, for a small deposit against the £35.99 price (plus £5 postage and packaging within the UK). Drop Tony an email at professionalmania@hotmail.com or…

FOR the first time since 2019, a full crowd was allowed at the most famous endurance race in the world. Around 250,000 travelled to the Sarthe region, eager to make up for missing recent years. There were plenty of trade stands and shops too, bursting with modelling bargains. Spark was in the main shopping village, and Modelissimo (www.modelissimo.eu) had a sizeable area too – both of these saw your editor hunting down some bargains to bring back to the UK, as evidenced by the trio of 1/18 scale 917s above, bought at the latter for less than 30€ each. A trip to the race always has the added side attraction of the on-site museum, and with the new model area now fully populated, this is a ‘must visit’ for every collector.…

RELIVE THE MIGHTY MONTE WITH THIS TERRIFIC TRIO OF LANCIAS FROM IXO 1/43 scale IXO Lancia Stratos HF - 1976 Rallye Monte Carlo - Alitalia PRICE: £47.99 each REF NO: RAC380A (#10), RAC380B (#6) & RAC380C (#8) www.ayrey.co.uk THE 1976 Rallye Monte Carlo was the almost perfect result for the Lancia Alitalia Rally Team. The mighty Stratos HF was clearly in its element on the twisty, challenging roads in and around the principality. The Lancia Stratos HF (Tipo 829) was both a road-going sports car and a prolific rally car. The HF stands for High Fidelity. It was a very successful rally car, winning the World Rally Championship in 1974, 1975 and 1976, the 1974 Targa Florio, the Tour de France Automobile on five occasions and three editions of the…

1/43 scale BRAUSI 1955 Cadillac Series 60 Die Valkyrie - Brooks Stevens PRICE: £129.99 REF NO: 2102 www.ayrey.co.uk BROOKS Stevens is one of America’s great industrial design masters. He is perhaps best known for his work with Studebaker. But one of his earliest contributions to the motoring industry came in 1955, with a car that he hoped would introduce AmericanV8 power to the European marketplace - the 1955 Cadillac Die Valkyrie. Stevens began with a new 1955 Cadillac Series 60 Special, chassis #556078063, and designed a flamboyant new body from the ground up. Coachwork and construction was handled by Hermann Spohn of Ravensburg, Germany. Most consider the Valkyrie the finest bodywork and execution done by Spohn. Why exactly Stevens selected a Cadillac chassis, and how he convinced GM to supply him…

Tintoys was one of a number of toy manufacturers that sprung up in Hong Kong during the 1960s and '70s. Along with other manufacturers, such as Playart, Zylmex and Summer, it produced low-budget diecast toys that were often unlicensed copies of market leaders, like Dinky, Matchbox and Tomica. Tintoys was founded in 1965, and the trademark was taken from the name of the founder, Mr Tin Pok Sin – not because the company manufactured tinplate toys. Tintoys releases tended to be grouped into themed sets of four or six items. There may be a set of six racing cars, four tanks or four vintage cars, which were packaged in blister cards showing the other models in the set on the front of the card, or sometimes on the rear. All…

Ferrari, the car company, was founded, first and foremost, to build racing cars and race them. From his previous role, as head of Alfa Romeo’s racing department, Enzo Ferrari knew there was a number of rich enthusiasts willing to buy racing cars and pay someone to look after entering and servicing the cars during races. This was a good potential market for the new brand to explore when Enzo launched his first machines, in 1947. A nice way to get funds and finance his own Scuderia Ferrari. Building, racing and selling many different racing cars was all good, however, the business was not healthy enough without a second branch of the company – that would be producing road cars for the richest people in the world. Ferrari had customers asking…

I’ve been playing around with restoring old diecasts since my early teens. I’ve recently started a huge partwork project build from Ixo Collections and it gave me this idea for this section to bring you updates and tips as I focus on some other projects along the way too. September this year marks 55 years since a new series from the studios of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson was launched onto our screens, in 1967. Entitled Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, it was a British science-fiction television series produced by the Andersons' Century 21 Productions company. Set in the year 2068, the programme focused on the hostilities between Earth and a race of Martians known as the Mysterons. The programme carried on the Anderson’s tradition of featuring some truly outstanding machinery…

Jimbo and the Jet-Set was a 1986 TV cartoon made by Maddocks Productions for the BBC. Peter Maddocks was a former newspaper cartoonist who branched out into animation in 1983, producing short five-minute shows. In 1986, he created Jimbo and the Jet-Set, about a small, anthropomorphic jet plane. Jimbo was meant to be a Jumbo Jet, but the aircraft builder got his plans mixed up and used centimetres instead of inches when constructing him – resulting in a plane that was less than half the required size. The programme revolved around Jimbo’s adventures at London Airport and his flights to other countries. His supporting cast included the airport control chief (whose life Jimbo made a misery), various other aircraft, including his girlfriend Gloria, and the airport service vehicles. Jimbo and…

1/18 scale ALMOST REAL AR+ 2005 Pagani Zonda F - Grigio Mercurio PRICE: £467.99 REF NO: 850401001 www.ayrey.co.uk PAGANI’S Zonda is a mid-engine sports car produced by the Italian sports car manufacturer. It made its debut at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show. Both 2-door coupé and roadster variants have been produced, along with a third variant - the barchetta. Construction is mainly of carbon fibre. The Zonda was originally to be named the "Fangio F1", after Formula One world champion, Juan Manuel Fangio. But, following his death in 1995, it was renamed after the Zonda wind, a hot air current above Argentina. The Zonda F (the F being another reference to Fangio) was unveiled at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. It was the most extensively re-engineered variant of the Zonda yet,…

Following on from the Adams Drag-star, featured in the February issue, another Corgi Toys release that is reaching the 50-years-old milestone is No 402 Ford Cortina Police Car – possibly one of the most played with Corgis of the era. Many were used in high-speed chases around carpets and lino floors everywhere, frequently ending in the skirting board, which is why so many have chipped and bashed bumper-mounted sirens. It’s a badge of honour for a toy to wear, signifying that it most definitely achieved the intended status of having been much played with. The two I have both wear this attribute with pride. Released in August 1972, No 402 Ford Cortina Police Car made further, excellent use of the tooling design for No 313 Ford Cortina GXL that had…

The really big news for Vauxhall had come one year before, in 1963, when Vauxhall introduced its first small car since the pre-war Ten, the new HA Viva. This was also the year the company opened its new factory in the Wirral, Ellesmere Port, where production of the Viva began. At the beginning of 1964, the Vauxhall range comprised the new Viva, the second variant of the FB Victor andVX4/90, and the top of the range PB Velox and Cresta. In October of that year, Vauxhall introduced its next new model, the third generation Victor, the FC 101. This was a bigger car than the outgoing FB, and its most noticeable feature was the curved side-glass, of which Vauxhall made great play, calling it the ‘space-curve’ look, and it offered…

You may have noticed a certain scale featuring more and more prominently over the last few years. It’s not a new one, as Brian Salter covered so well in his recently-finished Size Matters series, and has been a very popular scale for decades over in the USA. This time, we leave behind the land of stars and stripes to explore the Far East, before returning to examine brands in Europe. As with previous instalments, this isn’t an exhaustive article, simply an overview of the choice out there, featuring many of the established brands. More and more are popping up all the time, as this hugely popular scale keeps growing. We began this series with an extensive look at the brand that drew me back into collecting this scale a few…

Number 25 brings us a bumper crop of four castings. The type of model ranges from the first release - a family car - to a rallying icon for the last Lesney No 25, via a fantasy customised tractor and a railway container wagon.Variety is reported to be the spice of life, and number 25 in the Lesney Superfast range certainly has plenty of it. FORD CORTINA GT Catalogue: 1970-72 Box Styles: F, G Taking over the No 25 slot from its Regular Wheels version, the Superfast-wheeled Ford Cortina GT received a smart new metallic blue paint job into the bargain (although a small number in the original RW body colour sneaked out of the factory with the new-style wheels (see opposite page, top right), lasting this way until it…

THE recent Matchbox sale, which was held on the 24th May, started with 200 lots of boxed and unboxed models, single and group lots of Matchbox Superfast, including, German market issues, promotional and twin pack issues, American vehicles, Super Kings, Speed Kings, lapel badges, Skybusters and counter displays. The sale also included The Paul Carr Regular Wheels collection of early promotional issues, blister packs, accessory and Major packs, gift sets, empty boxes and printed card roadways. The collection featured a fantastic selection of pre-production and colour factory trials, plus a rare experimental trial model. All of this certainly created quite a buzz amongst bidders. • Lot 7355 Matchbox Regular Wheels No 35c Merryweather Marquis Fire Engine factory pre-production trial (pictured) Metallic silver body without labels fitted, clear windows & roof lights,…

OR WRITE TO US The Editor, Diecast Collector, Warners Group Publications plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH. VINTAGE DINKYS TO THE RESCUE SEEING the classic vehicles article in the July 2022 issue of Diecast Collector, with Land-Rover Automobile Association models, prompts me to send these pictures of an AA recruitment mobile office I made a few years back, adapting a Dinky Toys No 190 Caravan and a later Dinky DY-9B. Whilst my father was a loyal RAC member, I found the yellow more appealing and joined the AA when I got my first car. Unfortunately, by then the smart metal bonnet badge had been replaced by the naff coated plastic square badge. Model wise, though, I still prefer the early Corgi RAC Land Rover to the AA…

Peugeot delivery classics Peugeot’s rivals to the Citroën H and Renault 1000 KG vans have always been popular choices with model makers – Andrew Ralston shares his favourites. PLUS… Racing colours - Belga Ford Sierra 40th anniversary Desert Island Diecasts Workbench All the latest news September issue on sale 2nd August or download the digital edition 7 DAYS EARLIER on 26th July at www.pocketmags.com/diecast-collector…

THE next reproduction from the Corgi Model Club (that should be about to begin to arrive with early subscribers by the time that you read this) is No 231 Triumph Herald Coupé. Featuring a superbly recreated box that’s as close to the original as modern practices allow, this latest faithful 1/44 scale recreation was originally released in November 1961 and was in production until 1965. WIth its fully-opening bonnet, this feature was very new at the time. Even if you’re not a subscriber, you can buy any of the releases so far (subject to stock) as a standalone purchase. This model will be available to buy on its own for £29.99, plus postage. But, as a subscriber, this would cost a whopping ten pounds less. To find out more, visit…

Nissan’s no-nonsense Patrol models stretch back to the 1950s. Often the favoured transport of UN forces in many theatres of operation, the Patrol has matured and developed over successive decades as one of the world’s most durable and dependable off-roaders in its class. So much so that, in addition to its very functional roles, the Patrol has a very successful participation record in rally raids, including the ultimate, punishing Paris-Dakar events. A major update of the Patrol range, in 1988, saw the release of the GR (for Grand Raid) series in long-wheelbase 5-door and short-wheelbase 3-door guises that lasted in production until the summer of 2000. It’s this latter version that OttOmobile has chosen to model. NISSAN PATROL GR - 1992 (OT 898) OttOmobile’s 1/18 resincast Patrol GR was first…

Last time, in the February 2022 issue, the Dinky Toys covered wagons were represented by the early models and some of these included period advertising on their tilts. As the 1960s progressed, new Dinky Toys covered wagons were introduced and these were also to a larger scale. These had various features added in order to improve play value, together with up-to-date promotional advertising on a selection of them. A.E.C. ARTICULATED LORRY One of the models with the extra features was the A.E.C. Articulated Lorry fitted with a tilt (No 914), which joined the Dinky Toys series in May 1965. The tractor cab is in red with windows and a cream plastic interior and on the front of the cab roof is a “British Road Services” transfer. The trailer is in…

Following on from the first part of this update, as a sequel to my original article in the June 2018 issue, releases are brought right up to date with those by Corgi Vanguards. This covers 11 models, ten of which were released individually and the eleventh in a twinned set. VANGUARDS MODELS The table shows the Vanguards releases from 2009 in a roughly chronological sequence through the somewhat disjointed numbering, although without the pale green 1948-49 releases described in the original article. Several gaps suggest other versions were abandoned before production. The comparisons of duplicated liveries covered VA11106 (RAF), VA11107 (Suffolk Regiment), VA11108 (AA), VA11109 (HMS Albion, 1957 royal visit) andVA11116 (RAC), so are not repeated here. As discussed in the first article, LR3002 2-piece set contains the first and…

While the basic shape of the Morris Minor remained recognisable from the late 1940s until the early 1970s, the styling of larger Morris saloons changed significantly. After six years of production, the first post-war Oxford was replaced by a more modern-looking Series II in 1954. A couple of months later, the Cowley was announced, sharing the body shell, but powered by a smaller engine and featuring some minor cost-cutting with regard to internal and external fittings. While this car was in production, Corgi appeared on the scene as a rival to Dinky. Dinky had already modelled the post-1948 Oxford, which looked very much like a larger Minor in appearance, so Corgi had the opportunity to look more up-to-date by choosing the Cowley instead. The Corgi was produced in blue, grey…

Many, many moons ago (one summer in the late 1980s to be a little more precise), I had big ambitions in the world of insurance – my first chosen career path, before I realised that, although I can talk the hind legs off a donkey, I don’t have the gift of the gab in terms of being able to sell a fridge to an eskimo. But whilst I thought I could, I was scouting around for a suitably impressive set of wheels to transport me from appointment to appointment. One particular day, I visited a BMW dealership to test drive a new 3-series and then, immediately, nipped down the road to try out a certain hot hatch that was wowing the crowds that year – the newly-released 1.9-litre Peugeot 205…

DATE: 15th June 2022 TITLE: Lesney Matchbox Superfast G-4 Truck Set sealed SOLD FOR: £270.00 BIDS: 39 The much-admired Superfast version of the G-4 Truck Set with its stunning artwork. All models are original and near mint to mint, with just a factory paint nicks to Nos 51, 21 and 16. It all comes in its original and excellent to near mint factory-sealed shrink wrapping. There is some detachment to the edges and a small crumple to one rear corner, but it is still a thoroughly decent example. DATE: 5th June 2022 TITLE: Lone Star Flyers 7 Vauxhall Firenza Metallic Blue SOLD FOR: £255.00 BIDS: 37 This very hard to find model is in original & near mint to - mint condition, with just the usual factory marks and blemishes…

When I was younger, we occasionally went on coach trips often organised by the school or clubs. A variety of coaches were used by the operators of the time and included A.E.C.s, Leylands, Bedfords and Commers, some of which were traditional-bodied and others with streamlined bodies. Coach travel had come a long way from the days of the charabanc era and, today, coaches provide real luxury travel. A modern coach arrived in May 1972 as the Dinky Toys Duple Viceroy 37 Luxury Coach (No 296) and there is an advert for it in that month’s Meccano Magazine. It was a basic single casting, much in the style of earlier models, but with a plastic interior and glazing. The Dinky Toys News in the Meccano Magazine of July confirms this, stating…

The 1930 Bugatti Royale was a car that should never have existed, but did, albeit briefly. Six were completed at a cost equal to two Rolls-Royces per car. Designed with royalty in mind when the World’s finances were on the skids, only three found private customers, leaving Signor Bugatti with the remainder. I wonder if Etorre his hair out. The Royale was formidable. The size of a lorry, its straight eight, 12.8-litre engine could pull it to125mph on alloy wheels that would reach as high as a man’s waist. This is the warm-climate body, with a sun-roof for the passengers but no roof at all for the chauffeur. The model is essentially a re-issue of a Solido product, dating back to 1964, although it was reissued by Solido in 1983.…