Innehållsförteckning för January 2023 från Diecast Collector

LAST FEW PROFESSIONALS RS2000 LEFT! THE fabulous Ford Escort RS2000, as it appeared in The Professionals and commissioned by Diecast Collector subscriber, Tony Buller, through Corgi Premiums has very nearly sold out. The production run was a limited edition of 1,045 models of the famous car, complete with the correct registration number (PNO 641T) and a replica GB sticker on the boot lid lip. It comes in a stunning box featuring artwork from Corgi, with series-related graphics and a spray of bullet holes, and the interior depicts a run-down warehouse – a typical scene to find some unscrupulous criminals hiding their loot in. There will be a review in the next issue, but, in the meantime, don’t get caught red-handed without one – drop Tony an email at professionalmania@hotmail.com.…

CONTINUING the significant success of its 1/76 scale Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC, Northcord Model Company is now releasing a seventeenth livery on the 10.9 metre long, single-door casting – UK6527 in the livery of Stagecoach North Scotland. UK6527 represents fleet number 11173 (SK19 EKU) that was new to Stagecoach North Scotland in early 2019 – 11173 was one of fifteen new Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC SmartHybrid double-deckers deployed at Macduff depot for service 35 (Aberdeen-Banff / Elgin) by April 2019. The model carries a colourfully-branded livery for service 35, heading to Macduff, and onto Aberdeen. The comprehensive livery and branding are fully reproduced on the new model. The branding features large “SERVICE 35” and “GET A BONNIE VIEW / FAE THE TOP DECK” text, together with an icon illustration on…

☑ No commitment☑ Save Money☑ Receive 12 monthly issues SAVE OVER £10 HOW TO GET YOURS… All you have to do is return the form opposite to the free post address below: FREE POST WARNERS GROUP PUBLICATIONS THE MALTINGS, WEST STREET, BOURNE, LINCS, PE10 9PH For a faster service, subscribe by Debit or Credit card at www.ccofgb.co.uk Detach along dotted perforation, fold, and return to free post address. Thank you! MY DETAILS Please enter me in a one-year subscription to Diecast Collector magazine, and send me 12 monthly issues for: □ 55 (UK) □ 83 (EU) □ 100 (RW) □ Cheque or money enclosed (made payable to Warners Group Publications) □ Please give me a call □ Please debit my VISA / Mastercard / Maestro CARD DETAILS We’d like to…

Promotional and celebratory models have long been part of the diecast scene – including, of course, the Diecast Collector releases – so, it is no surprise that Solido has released two limited edition 1/18 scale models as part of its 90th Anniversary. THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY EDITIONS At least one quintessentially French image just had to be on the candidate short list. And so it fell to the Renault R4F4 van, in its plausible blue and white commercial livery of the Solido house colours (S1802207), to be the first up of this attractive pair. Interestingly it has not been a French, but German automobile that has been Solido’s best-selling model in the new, post 2015 chapter, of the brand’s history. So it is that best selling BMW E30 M3 Coupé, much-loved…

It’s been mentioned before how collecting models from‘second tier’ manufacturers and, in particular, a rather erratic Lone Star can prove to be particularly rewarding, with many exciting new discoveries still to be made. These usually relate to previously unknown model variants, or new colour schemes, but occasionally something much bigger and much more exciting is unearthed. THE IMPY JOURNEY This story involves Lone Star’s well-known and collectable range of Impy cars. First introduced in 1966, they were marketed as“the cars with everything” and boasted a huge list of exciting features, from working steering to jewelled headlights. Two years later, when USA giant Mattel launched its revolutionary HotWheels, Lone Star were quick to react by modifying the Impy cars and relaunching them as ‘Flyers’. Gone were the working steering and jewelled…

I’ve been playing around with restoring old diecasts since my early teens. When I started a huge partwork project build from Ixo Collections (see opposite page for the latest update), it gave me this idea for this section to bring you tips as I focus on some other projects along the way too. ■ CORGI TOYS GIFT SET NO 11 – E.R.F. DROPSIDE PLATFORM LORRY AND TRAILER WITH CEMENT AND PLANK LOADS There’s just something about a CorgiToys gift set of a certain era that I’ve always found so magical. From the evocatively-decorated box to the mini-collection of models inside, it so much reminds me of receiving gifts on birthdays and at Christmas. One I’ve always fancied getting my hands on is Gift Set No 11 E.R.F. Dropside Lorry and…

Over the years, cereal companies have offered various free gifts in cereal packets in order to attract extra sales. Small items were often enclosed in cereal boxes, such as swap cards, plastic figurines and small model kits. Sometimes the prize would be printed on the back of the cereal box, and could be cut out and assembled by the purchaser. Larger items that were too large or expensive to enclose in the box were also offered, but in the form of mail-away promotions in which coupons needed to be collected from boxes. When the correct number of tokens had been saved, they were mailed off to the company, and the prize was sent by post to the customer. During the 1980s and '90s, model cars were becoming increasingly collectible, a…

I’m hoping both the editor and readers will give me some licence on the word “diecasts”, as my collection contains not only diecast, but resin, white metal and tinplate, so here goes! Finding a DinkyToys No 470 Austin van in a pile of toys given to my office to raise money for disadvantaged children for Christmas, some 50 years ago, brought back many memories, so I bought it, stripped it and repainted it. After working my way through collections of both Matchbox Lesney models and selected DinkyToys, I found my main interest was in sports cars, so then all materials, and toys or accurate models were all fair game. I hope readers find this eclectic selection of interest, as they all represent either an important person in my life, a…

THE great range of Gerry Anderson TV show replicas that were produced by Dinky Toys have been gradually increasing in value for some time now. Prices for No 100 FAB 1, No 101 Thunderbird 2 & 4 and No 102 Joe’s Car from Joe 90 are prime examples of this. But recently, the two models from “UFO’ have been creeping up more in value as well. In its 2nd November sale, Vectis sold one of each of these for very tidy sums indeed. No 351 Interceptor was described as having a metallic green body, gold rear thrusters, light blue tinted windscreen, red plastic legs, chrome firing mechanism, black launcher with white & orange missile. Near mint on excellent plus inner pictorial stand with correct large folded instruction leaflet, in good plus…

JUST launched is a pair of fabulous, 1/18 scale diecasts of the incredible Citroën Mehari, by Solido. Initially released in the vibrant orange shown here as No S1808201, it is also available in an equally bright green, with the top down, as S1808202. In production between 1968 and 1987, 140,000 of these amazing utility vehicles were made. Based on the mechanical underpinnings of the 2CV and the Ami, the ABS plastic body tub has ensured that many have survived to this day. But don’t expect to find one cheap – a 1/18 scale model is much better value. For more information and imagery, visit www.solido.com and contact your preferred retailer to order.…

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 472 Land Rover Public Address Vehicle. Shown here is the factory pre-production sample, which is pretty close to the model that will be on its way soon – doesn’t it look great? Released in the run up to the 1964 election, the Corgi Model Club explains that there’s an interesting back story to this quirky and very 1960s Corgi. Some would say that the main electioneering figure (who swivels on his base, thus allowing him to perform u-turns!) is very much from an earlier period of political history. When Corgi initially proposed modelling this Land Rover, with its roof-mounted speakers, it was…

MICHAEL Clegg reveals in his latest instalment of Diecast Diaries, on Corgi’s website, that the company’s new Ford Transit tooling is coming along beautifully. “The launch of our May to August 2022 model range earlier this year, included details of the continued new tooling investment in our Vanguards range of 1/43rd scale die-cast vehicles and confirmation of a project which would see several related and rather significant new models joining the collection in the not too distant future. “And this is the first time that images of these prototype models have been published outside of the company and have been produced by a specialist prototyping company using the new Ford Transit Custom CAD files.” We look forward to seeing further details of these future model releases. Find out more at…

7 BUMPER PAGES! OXFORD DIECAST’S NEW SMALL-SCALE RANGE IS ALL SET TO MAKE THE BIG TIME 1/120 scale OXFORD DIECAST Austin Low Loader Taxi black, Dennis F12 Pump Escape London Fire, Land Rover Series 2 LWB Hard Top British Railways, Scammell Mechanical Horse Flat Trailer GWR, Morris 1000 British Railways, Bedford OB Coach British Railways PRICE: £7.45 - £7.95 REF NO: 120AT001, 120DEN001, 120LAN2001, 120MH003, 120MM059, 120OB001 www.oxforddiecast.co.uk OXFORD DIECAST’S superb brand new range of 1/120 scale vehicles, announced in conjunction with Hornby’s new TT:120 line, are wonderfully-engineered models, made from both diecast and plastic components. These six brand new releases have all been modelled by Oxford in its other scales, such as N (1/148) and OO (1/76), so the company knows that they will be popular with rail enthusiasts.…

I guess that, for many of us, 1/32 scale has always had the connotation of Bayko and Britains toy figures. Certainly, it remains the principal scale domain of agricultural diecast models. Yet, as a scale, it sits well within the size ranges when it comes to display and, as far as Schuco is concerned, one which it continues to keenly deliver on, with far more than just vehicles for the farm model collector. Returning to my roots, as it were, in terms of diecast models, the evergreenVolkswagen typ.2 commercial that has been replicated ad nauseam has been and will, probably, forever be a reoccurring subject. In context then, Schuco’s inclusion of several variations on this theme would appear to have an uphill struggle in eliciting any enthusiasm from me. Surprisingly,…

Based on an SE010 Sport Spider chassis, it was conceived purely to go racing and featured a detuned version of the Spider’s 1,946cc, 250 bhp, 4-cylinder engine, giving it an estimated, but never proven, 175 mph top speed. Sometimes wrongly called the Scorpione (it never was by the Abarth factory), it was years ahead of its time, featuring a number of styling elements not seen before on this sort of sports racer. These included a prismatic-shaped, laminated safety glass canopy that hinged forward, allowing access for driver and passenger, and a central bar of six headlights on the front panel, which rotated like pop up headlights to face forward when needed. This was later modified from a half moon shape to an oblong bar, but that’s as far as any…

It’s been mentioned before how collecting models from ‘second tier’ manufacturers and, in particular, a rather erratic Lone Star can prove to be particularly rewarding, with many exciting new discoveries still to be made. These usually relate to previously unknown model variants, or new colour schemes, but occasionally something much bigger and much more exciting is unearthed. When I was at school in the 1950s, I collected diecast racing cars and very often used these in races with my friends on the playground at breaktime. These were amongst the first DinkyToys to be produced after the war and they were advertised in issue of the Meccano Magazine at the time. The toy cars had a habit of turning upside down in play, causing the white paint on the drivers’ helmets…

After an unintentionally extended break, from the January 2019 issue, our CorgiYears series returns at last. And what a year to come back to, with an impressive number of releases and plenty of new tooling. Most notable of which was an entire new range. The Corgi Classics range of veteran and vintage class vehicles was most impressive, with new style boxes and plenty of detail to the accurately replicated diecasts. Launched at a special event in January, held at the Dorchester Hotel in London, hopes were high for this new style of model. But sales would prove to be a little disappointing, unfortunately, although there are still plenty around to collect today, and at fairly reasonable prices too. The first of these to hit the shops was the 1915 Model…

After the success of the BMC Mini Austin and Morris cars, the company developed and introduced the Morris 1100, with a transverse engine and a new type of suspension. Being a bigger car than the Mini, it was fitted with four doors, which gave better access for the rear passengers. Back in the 1960s, I knew a fellow student who had a Morris 1100 and he had modified the engine, which then produced a better performance and a very fast car. The DinkyToys Morris 1100 (No 140) arrived in February 1963, and was seen in the back page colour advert of that month’s Meccano Magazine. This states that “It’s NEW! NEW! NEW!” and “There’s a transverse engine under the bonnet”. In the DinkyToys News, the Toyman says “One of the…

DURING Lacy Scott & Knight’s Toys & Models Sale, in October, one of the new Corgi Model Club re-issues of No 474 Wall’s Ice Cream Van with Musical Chimes was up for bids - it was going to be very interesting to see what it went for, compared to the originals. It’s safe to say that this fabulous, faithful recreation is just as appealing today, closing at £150 plus buyer’s premium. Mint originals can regularly realise hammer prices between £250 and £300, with the earlier, non-musical No 447 going for even more than that if everything, including the figures, is in top order. Even so, to see one of these marvellous recreations selling for many times its original price, when the second production run only sold out recently, is quite…

There could hardly be an easier way of offering something new with the minimum of effort – just take a selection of your existing products and repackage them in a gift box. No wonder that practically every maker of toy cars used this tactic. Generally, these sets would have a theme – the various Corgi farm sets, Dinky’s ‘Emergency Services’ and ‘Goodwood’ sports car sets, and so on. However, this gift set from Budgie is designated simply as“Gift Set No. 4”, leaving the purchaser to work out the connection between the four models in the box. The first thing that stands out is the predominance of the colour orange on both the box and the contents, perhaps a deliberate way of creating some kind of harmony between the items. Two…

MATCHBOX’S premium Moving Parts range has begun to appear in Poundland stores at the superb value price of just £2.50 each. Packaged in bright new-style blister packs, each diecast miniature has an opening part or a moving feature. There are 50 new Moving Parts models to collect and pictured here are a wonderfully cute FC Jeep with tipping rear body (No 13 in the range) and the awesome retro Ford GT, harking back to the original Lesney release, complete with #6 bonnet stripe (No 7). The Ford also has an opening rear engine cover.…

KK-SCALE Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta 24h Le Mans 1949 winner PRICE: £96.99 REF NO: KKS DC180913 www.ayrey.co.uk AS the racing fraternity was finally coming back to life, after the enforced break of World War II, a new name was emerging. On 15th September 1948, Ferrari unveiled a car for the first time at a motor show. The car revealed at theTurin event was the 166 MM, an open-topped version of the 166 S. The MM moniker was a nod to the Allemano-bodied coupé that had won the 1948 Mille Miglia. The 1949 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 17th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 25th-26th June 1949. This was the first race held at the circuit following the end ofWorld War II. Even though the war had…

From a small racing department to one of the most important racing teams in the world – it didn’t take Porsche long. By the late 1960s, the company had left behind a decade of continuous growth in motorsport investment. Things were becoming much more serious, with more entries in different types of racing and a more professional approach in every area. The company was moving its cars up through the racing classes, aiming now at overall victories and not just class wins. Logistics were becoming an issue for the team – among many tasks needed to go racing, the apparently simple one of taking the cars to events became a cause for concern. Suddenly, transporting cars on top of an old open truck was not adequate anymore. A new generation…

Being a bit of a motorsport enthusiast, and living within just a few miles of all that BRM history in Bourne, it is inevitable that a few models of the marque would form part of my collection. Some models are harder to come by than others, such as the splendid Mike Pilbeam-designed P201 – BRM’s last Grand Prix racer. Spark has made several versions, but my funds haven’t quite stretched that far yet. But neatly following on from JohnTailby’s nostalgic look at some vintage BRM racers on the immediately preceding pages, two of my collection are more recent issues that both commemorate important milestones in the marque’s history. BRM’s one and onlyWorld Championship title was secured by Graham Hill in 1962, driving a P57, and its last ever Formula 1…

No. 30 Moving onto number 30 brings us to two-fifths distance in the 75-release series. A popular RegularWheels casting got the ball rolling once refitted with Superfast wheels, as well as a snazzy new paint job, then Lesney switched to one of its most recognisable Superfast releases in the shape of a fantasy beach buggy. A real change of tack then ushered in a swamp craft, before the number 30 line went back to a commercial road vehicle. 8-WHEEL CRANE Catalogue: 1970 Box Styles: G Complete with a new colour scheme to announce the Superfast wheels update for the 1970 catalogue, 8-Wheel Crane was yet another popular Regular Wheels release that was only in the Superfast range for a very short period of time. Now with a splendid bright red…

GOT A STORY? Contact rick.wilson@warnersgroup.co.uk MASSIVE COLLECTION GOES ON SALE AT EXCALIBUR AUCTIONS EXCALIBUR Auctions has just held the first part of a sale of the largest collection of individual automobiles in 1/43 scale that charts the history of motor cars and motor racing around the world. The private collection, titled The Old Garage Model Automobile Collection (TOGMAC), comprises over 6,500 cars and more than 600 different makes of car. It has been amassed over 50 years and painstakingly documented and photographed as a virtual museum online at www.togmac.com by a passionate private collector. The collection features rare and unusual examples, alongside more well-known models and offers collectors and enthusiasts a rare opportunity to obtain a unique piece of motoring history. Part 1 featured plenty of variety, from vintage Corgis…

THE CAR IS THE STAR FOR me, the star of the film Rain Man was neither Tom Cruise nor Dustin Hoffman, it was the car, a 1949 Buick Roadmaster, which – as depicted in the film – was inherited by the brothers following their father’s death. I had been looking for some years for a model, as the real thing is way beyond my budget. I finally tracked it down a few weeks ago at McLaren Models, near Falkirk. And what a superb model it is! Modelled by Greenlight as a convertible with the hood down at 1/18 scale, the body colour is cream with red seating, with opening doors, bonnet and boot. It features lovely under-bonnet detailing, with the engine, air cleaner and transmission all modelled. It also has…

Best of 2022 It’s that time of year again when we reveal our favourite review models from the last 12 months. Please note: These planned editorial contents may be subject to change where necessary. PLUS… ■ Lancia Rally 037 ■ The Matchbox Annual ■ Captain Scarlet SPV by Product Enterprise ■ Marvel Civil War by Tomica ■ The Lagonda Story ■ The Corgi Years – 1965 part 1 ■ Workbench ■ Desert Island Diecasts ■ Collecting by numbers – Superfast #31 ■ Auction results ■ All the latest news ■ Extensive selection of new model releases, reviewed by our team of experts February issue on sale 3rd January or download the digital edition 7 DAYS EARLIER on 27th December at www.pocketmags.com/diecast-collector…

For many years, my delightful Aunt Edie dreamed of going to Hawaii. She would describe to little me how she would wear huge and fragrant flowers in her hair, shake her hips in a grass skirt – Hula-hula! – and dance on the beach with warm waves caressing her toes. My Uncle Bert would feed this ongoing desire with recordings of Hawaiian guitar music and by ensuring that their garden had tall banks of chrysanthemums and dahlias throughout the summer. Nature denied them the multitude of children they should have had, but other people’s children were drawn to their sense of fun and fantasy. Edie doted on the pale child with blonde curls who writes of her here. When visiting our home, she would always take me for a walk,…