Innehållsförteckning för March 2024 från Diecast Collector

Immerse yourself in the world of vintage collectables and keep up to date on the latest diecast releases with informative reviews, news and reviews. ⟫ Get inspired with the latest auction and event news ⟫ Practical tips and price guides ⟫ Features on the likes of Corgi, Toys, Dinky Toys, Tri-ang Spot-On, Matchbox Superfast, Hot Wheels and more! For more details visit: https://ccofgb.uk/DCSpring2024 or call 01778 392006 and quote DCC/SUBS24 SUBSCRIPTION OFFER JUST FOR YOU!…

AT long last, British Heritage Models has announced the release of the long-awaited Majesty Classics, Standard 10 Companion (estate car). The development of the model was constantly delayed owing to various problems in China, arising from Covid. However, during that time, Frank Jones had a re-think on the model, and it has grown into two attractive variants, instead of the original single version. The 1961 Companion is now available as: MC 17 green and white, with windscreen sunshade, twin fog lights and extended radio aerial. MC 17a blue and white, with wing mirrors, lowered aerial, and roof-rack. Both models are now in full production, and further details can be obtained from British Heritage Models, telephone: 01244 320761, email: bhm-uk@talktalk.net or visit www.britishheritagemodels.co.uk.…

YOU would expect a 120-page book covering just two cars to be well-detailed and/or well-illustrated, and this one is both. A labour of love for author and publisher Angelo Van Bogart, editor of the American publication, Old Cars Weekly, it has taken him over six years to research and compile. He tells the story of how E.L.Cord, owner of Duesenberg (the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg combine) turned to publicity from film stars and celebrities to help sell the expensive Model J and SJ cars during the ruinous years of the Great Depression. This culminated in the building of the pair of SSJ Speedsters that were loaned to actors Clark Gable and Gary Cooper, at that time the “Kings of Hollywood”.. That’s not all of course. There is a chapter covering the relevant history…

Like the real baler Britains’ new flagship Case IH baler uses the same tooling as the New Holland model baler it released in 2023. It has a metal chassis and drawbar with plastic body parts. There’s a PTO shaft provided on the drawbar and painted lights detailed on the pickup guard rail. It’s equipped with large tyres and the wheels on the rear axle are steerable. They can be positioned at several different set angles. The pickup floats on two wheels and the pickup tines and feed auger rotate as the baler is pulled along, driven by two ground wheels. The pickup has a red bed, freely rotating roller wind guard and feed roller. The front hood is not hinged and there’s no access to the driveline, gearbox and flywheel…

Junkers Ju-88C-6, R4+HH, Gerhard Böhme, 1./NJG.2, Catania, Sicily 1942 PRICE: £84.99 SCALE: 1/72 REF: AA36714 Expected Spring 2024 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X, NE775/X2, 455 Sqn RAAF, June 1944 PRICE: £84.99 SCALE: 1/72 REF: AA28603 Expected Spring 2024 Supermarine Spitfire MkIXe, ML407, Sq Ldr John ‘Johnnie’ Houlton PRICE: £59.99 SCALE: 1/72 REF: AA29103 Expected Spring 2024 Panavia Tornado GR.1, ZD748/AK, Johnnie Walker ‘Still Going Strong’, RAF No.9 Squadron PRICE: £179.99 SCALE: 1/48 REF: AA29401 Expected Spring 2025 Martin B-26B Marauder, 41-31576 ‘Dinah Might’, Mjr David Dewhurst PRICE: £119.99 SCALE: 1/72 REF: AA29501 Expected Spring 2024 BAe Harrier GR7A ZD437/49A ‘Michelle’, RAF No.1 Squadron, Operation Herrick, RAF Kandahar, Afghanistan, 2007 PRICE: £149.99 SCALE: 1/48 REF: AA29301 Available now SPAD S.XIII, S.7714, Captain Robert Soubiran PRICE: £59.99 SCALE: 1/48 REF: AA37910 Available now McDonnell…

For many years one of the longest running laments in the aircraft preservation world was the absence of a single example of that most glamorous of inter-war service aircraft, the Hawker Fury. Sidney Camm’s exquisite biplane fighter, the first aircraft to enter RAF service that was capable of 200mph in level flight, had been extinct since Fury I, K5672. This was scrapped at the South African War Museum at Saxonwold, near Pretoria, in 1947. Over several decades examples of the Hawker Hind, Nimrod and Demon have been rediscovered and brought back to life, but it seemed that the Fury was destined to live on history only until the Historic Aircraft Collection (HAC) carried out the meticulous rebuild of K5674. Being a unique example of its type, K5674 was a natural…

The Body Swappers Gift Pack was introduced by Hot Wheels in 1985. This set contained three diecast vehicle bodies and three complete chassis units which allowed kids to ‘mix and match’ different styles of bodywork and bases, making a total of nine different combinations. The three vehicle types were a police cruiser, a sports racer, and a 4WD pick-up truck. These could be matched to the three different chassis types, which included a raised 4x4 base, a hot rod style with large rear wheels, and a standard chassis with four regular wheels. Also included in the pack were two accessories; a plastic socket wrench and a chromed engine block. The Body Swappers set came in a wide window box, typical of those used for gift sets. A clear vac-formed tray…

CMC celebrated 25 years in the model business in 2020; the fact that this Germany-headquartered company (with Chinese production) is still around says a lot about its product line. What says even more is that its range has flourished, whilst being most definitely not for the impecunious. So, if you are the sort of person who will haggle at a swapmeet over a £10 diecast, then skip this section - because these miniature representations cost hundreds (sometimes thousands) of pounds. In addition, runs tend to be limited (in the correct sense of the term), so certain models are now no longer available, all of which simply adds to their desirability. We’re talking large scale here (1/12 and 1/18) and if you’re not seduced by its vehicles, CMC also produces an…

■ Item: Dinky Toys No.920 Guy Van ‘Heinz’ Condition: near mint, a great recent attic find! Sold for: £991 (17 bids) ■ Item: Matchbox Superfast MB46c Mercedes 300 SE Coupe Condition: near mint to mint pre-production colour trial, with original box Sold for: £795 (2 bids) ■ Item: Dinky Toys No.908 Mighty Antar with Transformer Condition: very good model with original box, inner packing pieces and instructions Sold for: £649 (21 bids) ■ Item: Hot Wheels Rrrumblers Redline Boneshaker Condition: bike is mint, card is sealed but has soft corners at the bottom Sold for: £2,250 (27 bids) ■ Item: Corgi Toys Agricultural Gift Set No.5 Massey-Ferguson 165 Tractor Condition: box shows some minor wear, vehicles and all accessories very good Sold for: £800 (28 bids) ■ Item: Dinky Toys…

THE popular TV show, The Professionals, has led to several releases by Corgi over the decades since the show first aired on British television. Tony Buller, of Professionalmania, has already commissioned two replicas from the TV series through Corgi Premiums, both at 1/43 scale. Following on from the huge success of the Doyle’s Ford Escort RS2000 (released in 2022) and Bodie’s Ford Capri (2023), Tony’s next Professionals release will be a twin-pack, featuring the gold version of the Ford Capri 3.0S, driven by Doyle in later episodes, and Cowley’s Ford Granada MkII 2.8i Ghia. This fabulous twin pack will be limited to just 750 and should arrive in the UK soon. To find out more, drop Tony an email at professionalmania@hotmail.com. FOLLOW US AT @ccofgb @CollectorClubGB CollectorsClubOfGreatBritain CollectorsClubofGB…

SEARCH IMPEX has announced the forthcoming release of a 1/50 scale Volvo FH16 750 Globetrotter XXL (6x4) with 4 axle, Nooteboom PX low loader trailer, customised in Collins Earthworks’ livery. The models have been produced exclusively for Search Impex by WSI Models as a certificated Limited Edition (275 pieces). A flagship member of the Collins Earthworks Transport fleet is the Volvo FH16 750 Globetrotter XXL (6x4), complete with personalised registration plate – V750 XXL. When paired with a Nooteboom PX 4 axle low loader trailer, it is regularly used to carry larger items of plant in the Collins portfolio, such as the Volvo A60H articulated dumpers. Models, available from Search Impex, are priced at £221 each (including UK delivery & VAT). For details of availability of this and other models,…

I’D stepped into the museum’s exhibition area expecting to see beautiful classic cars from mainly the 1950s-1970s, but I was completely unprepared for the U-turn I would take after I spotted the display cases bursting with amazing Matchbox and Dinky Toys. The models belonged to the late John McCulloch (1944-2021). Chris, John’s widow, asked the museum’s owner Paul Boden if Cars Inc would like to display them. ‘We said yes straight away as they are so good,’ he told me. As a schoolboy John had saved up and spent his pocket money on his first Matchbox Toy, the Horse-drawn Milk Float (No.7). He seldom played with model as the immaculate condition shows. John bought Matchbox models for his sons who were not allowed to play with Dad’s collection. Dad received…

MINI GT’s range is increasing all the time as the scale of 1:64 is proving to be incredibly popular all around the globe and particularly so in the UK. Add to that one of the most iconic racing liveries ever known in motorsport and we have a real winner! The Martini Racing-sponsored Lancia Delta Integrale has been released before, both individually and as a four-car set, and this latest version depicts the car as the 1992 Rallye Monte Carlo winner, as driven by Didier Auriol and Bernard Occelli (MGT00455-L). This is an excellent casting and crams in plenty of detail, despite the scale’s size limitations. The complex, iconic Martini striping is worthy of particular note here. The win was Auriol’s first of six triumphs in the WRC that season, finishing…

Those thoughts are not necessarily to the sight of the traditionally vibrant multi-colored tulip blooms from Amsterdam, but to automotive paint shades of the 1970s having curiously distinct Dutch connections. INTRODUCING THE SPRING COLOURS In May 1970 Volkswagen dealerships in the Netherlands took delivery of a modest number of specially finished cars for a sales campaign event held over the nation’s Spring bank holiday. Dutch buyers were, if they were very quick, able to buy one of three different colour 1300cc ‘Popkever’ (Pop Beetle) or a bright orange 1300cc ‘Meikever’ (May Beetle). Similar campaigns were also marketed in a very limited number of other German ‘export’ markets in Western Europe. Those Spring Edition models were the starting point of a very intense production period for the Beetle and also marked…

Talk about Mercedes-Benz racing activities and the first thing that comes to mind is Formula 1. Before F1, the three-pointed star was very much involved in the famous German touring car championship, the DTM, and in world endurance races, winning the 1989 Le Mans 24 hours. Road racing was not a priority, however, in the fifties there were some intersections. Events like the Italian Mille Miglia or the Mexican Carrera Panamericana had to be tackled by any team wanting to win endurance races. In the following decade, rallying started to grow in popularity and the brand could not ignore that. In the late 1970s, the manufacturer took the decision to build a true rallying team. For a few years, the company’s top management had a development program that should take…

One of the lasting memories of my childhood was the weekly Saturday morning shop. The highlight for me was spending time browsing the shelves of Woolworths, looking particularly for any new Matchbox releases. I remember the delight one week when I stumbled across, on the end of an aisle, a few elongated Matchbox Superkings boxes that also contained a 1-75 version of the same car in exactly the same colour (usually in a different colour to standard releases) and labelled as ‘Superking Gift Set’. Around the same time, I also recall visiting, while on holiday, one of those small shops that still had a smattering of ‘old stock’ toys. Among the treasures were several different Corgi ‘Little and Large’ sets, a 1/36 car with a Juniors version in the same…

I started collecting a very long time ago, in 1953. I was then 12 years old and decided I was going to collect all of the French Dinky Toys. It was a goal that seemed easily achievable, as at that point there were only twenty two models in the entire catalogue. Little did I know, however, what I had gotten myself into! I soon discovered through school friends that there was also a range of Dinky Toys made in England (as in those days the Liverpool produced models were not available in France). It wasn't until 1956, during my first visit to England that I was able to see any of these "foreign" Dinky Toys and acquire my first catalogue. Needless to say, I was hooked and started collecting them…

Number 44 during the Lesneyera Superfast range comprises what can only be described as an eclectic mix of models! It feels like there is something for everyone with a commercial vehicle, a railway coach and a performance car… REFRIGERATOR TRUCK Production: 1970-72 Catalogue: 1970-72 Box Styles: G Changing from its regular wheels colour scheme of red cab and chassis with a green rear body, the Superfast version is more commonly found in its later colours of yellow cab and chassis with red rear bodywork, as shown above, although the box art always showed the model as a Superfast with the earlier colours. Another popular model during its time in the catalogue, it was yet another commerical vehicle that made way for one of the exciting new cars. BOSS MUSTANG Production:…

Some good prices were realised at the last Trains, Planes and Automobiles auction in Australia. Examples included the homegrown blue Ferris O gauge three rail Bo-Bo diesel locomotive; although untested and exhibiting some chipping and rust on the couplings, it sold for AUS$700. Another Australian manufactured item was the Boomaroo O gauge push-along Tramcar, finished in red. Showing some paint loss and rust, therefore only fair, it still realised AUS$240. And the British Micro Models diecast Commer Semi-trailer, in twotone green, and approximately 1/43 scale, also proved popular, being knocked down for AUS$210. A familiar face, the Corgi Routemaster Double Decker Bus, although an Australian issue in green and cream, was taken to AUS$550, despite cracked tyres. From Japan the Yonezawa large tinplate push-along Racing Car ("Indianapolis Speed King") certainly…

■ Corgi Toys 151 Lotus Mark 11 Le Mans Racing Car, drab greyish-blue, red seats, silver trim, flat spun hubs and racing No.1. Excellent plus (very slight wear to decal) in a good plus to excellent blue carded picture box with colour folded leaflet. Sold for £130, Vectis Auctions, January. ■ Corgi Toys 151 Lotus Mark 11 Le Mans Racing Car, drab light blue, red seats, silver trim, flat spun hubs and racing No.1. Excellent plus in a fair to good (complete) blue carded picture box with collectors club folded leaflet. Sold for £90, Vectis Auctions, January. ■ Corgi Toys 151 Lotus Mark 11 Le Mans Racing Car, turquoise-blue, red seats, silver trim, flat spun hubs and racing No.3. Good plus (still a bright example) in a fair (complete) blue…

THE NAMAC (Nederlandse Algemene Miniatuur Auto Club) will again organise six swap meets in the halls of Expo Houten in 2024. This is the largest miniature car swap meet in Europe, and features scale models of agricultural and road machinery in addition to miniatures of cars and trucks. Related items such as brochures and car books can also be found at this fair. In total, the event includes more than 1200 metres of tables! The dates for 2024 are: 10 February, 4 May, 15 June, 17 August, 26 October and 21 December. The NAMAC swap meets take place at the Expo Houten, Meidoornkade 24, 3992 AE Houten. Admission is free for NAMAC's more than 5,000 members. Non-members can order their tickets online in advance at www.namac.nl (buying tickets on site…

Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, to give the TV show its full name, is a British science fiction television series that was created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, and produced by their company, Century 21 Productions. With a total of 32 episodes, each lasting 25 minutes, it was first broadcast on ITV regional franchises between 1967 and 1968, and went on to be shown in over 40 other countries around the world. It is one of several Anderson series that were filmed using a form of electronic marionette puppetry called "Supermarionation", which combined scale models with special effects sequences. Set in 2068, Captain Scarlet follows the "war of nerves" between Earth and the Mysterons, a race of Martians who possess partial control over matter. When a misunderstanding causes human astronauts…

Packard’s Caribbean was developed from their 1952 Pan-American show car, and was introduced in 1953 as their most sporting model. It was an attempt to upgrade the marque’s image as a producer of high quality luxury cars that had come to be seen as too traditional, even stodgy, by their customers. In 1953, it came in as Packard’s top-line model, as a convertible only, with its own styling features like the cutaway rear-wheel arches and continental spare-wheel kit. It featured Packard’s new “Ultramatic” 2-speed automatic transmission as an alternative to the 3-speed manual gearbox. The 1954 version featured revised rear-end styling, with the rear wheels now partially-enclosed and chrome rear wing trim that emphasized the new 2-tone colour schemes. The stylish continental wheel kit was retained, and luxury features included…

When it comes to collecting aircraft models – a passion that extends way back to my formative years, when I would cycle miles and miles to visit airports and airfields to catch glimpses of the marvels of the sky in action – one brand in particular has captured my attention over recent years. When I first started writing for and editing Diecast Collector, in July 2013, it was very much a new kid on the block in terms of manufacturing too, and its first model really resonated with me, so the attraction was instant. Launched in 2012, Aviation 72 was the brainchild of Ron Calcott, owner of Clevelands Diecast. He had been involved in the production of the Sky Guardians Europe range, during the late 2000s, and wanted to introduce…

Next to the UK, France was probably the country with the most varied diecast ranges in the 1960s, the era when the development of this kind of toy reached its most imaginative level. Meccano Ltd made a separate range of Dinky Toys at a factory in Bobigny on the outskirts of Paris, but Solido and CIJ were also major players, in addition to smaller ranges from the likes of Quiralu, JRD or France Jouets. This month, we’ll look at how far British manufacturers’ interest in making diecast cars with working lights was replicated across the Channel. CIJ (COMPAGNIE INDUSTRIELLE DU JOUET) The French company which took the lead in this respect was CIJ (Compagnie Industrielle du Jouet) which is quite surprising as CIJ was one of the most traditional of…

Which other car maker has driven one of his own cars to victory in the Monte Carlo Rally, other than Sydney Allard? The history of the Allard Motor Company, from its first J-type cars, was one of marrying South London manufacture with American V-8 engines. The J-series sports racers were also very successful at Le Mans with Sydney taking 3rd place in the 1950 race. Next came the K Series, built more for the road, followed by the P1, famed for the Monte Carlo success. Between 1952 and 1954, they built Palm Beach Tourers, and the P2 Monte Carlo, a 2 door variant derived from the K3, with Ford or Mercury engines. In total 11 were built. Model collectors will know of the wonderful Matrix P2 Safari woodie wagon, but…

We get off to a very seasonal, summery start in July. Gift Set 26 Beach Buggy and Sailing Boat featured a remodelling of the previously-released No.381 GP Beach Buggy. With the roof and surf boards removed, a driver figure was added and the teledial-style Whizzwheels were changed to a new ‘disc’ type. The body was painted a rather fabulous metallic mauve. Included was a small, yellow diecast trailer that carried a plastic red and blue sailboat with a fabric sail. Lasting until 1976, it sold well over half a million units. Interestingly, this came in the first ever new style window box, with three coloured bands that were originally going to separate types of vehicles into groups. According to Marcel van Cleemput in his Great Book of Corgi, however, this…

At the current moment many areas of the country are undertaking road repairs. This is a process which has been essential since Tarmacadam was invented and used on roads. Today it is mechanised and to complete the job a road roller is used to provide a finished surface. Early road rollers were powered by steam and I remember the fascination standing watching one with lots of smoke and moving backwards and forwards flattening the road surface. Then came diesel road rollers and these featured as models by toy manufacturers and of course Dinky Toys their first being the Aveling-Barford Diesel Roller. The Dinky Toys Aveling-Barford Diesel Roller (No.279) arrived in July 1965. It is, however, seen in the Meccano Magazine colour advert of August 1965. In the Dinky Toys News…

MAKE LUNCH… ■ I really enjoyed the Garfield article in the December 2023. I had never heard of this range, although I built plenty of 1/72nd scale ESCI kits - aircraft and AFVs. I recall seeing something, a bag perhaps, with Garfield dressed as a 1960s hippy, holding the usual protest placard. But his read ‘Make Lunch, Not War’. There was a cat who had his priorities straight. The information on the Matchbox Activity Book was very interesting too. I know Hot Wheels do a lot of this sort of thing, but this 1979 Matchbox book was news to me. On to January 2024. The article on collecting from a female perspective was most interesting. At most of the model collecting fairs I have attended here in Auckland, most of…

I was extremely excited when I saw a 1967 Singer Chamois coupe, registration number MGG647E advertised for sale in a local newspaper in 1973. I was twenty years old and had been having driving lessons for some time so I thought it would be useful to have a car on which I could practice. The price was right - £250 - but I hadn’t a clue what a Singer Chamois coupe was! When I went to see it I was overjoyed, as it was a lovely small car in a beautiful metallic turquoise. I ran it for about five years, though I can’t say it gave me trouble-free motoring. There were several breakdowns, the first one being when the car just wouldn’t go. This was quickly sorted when I phoned…