Model Auto Review 203
Publication 7 June 2006
CONTENTS(Of the print edition of Model Auto Review 203 • Publication 7 June 2006)
06 Minichamps Hans-Georg Schmitt, Germany • Captions page 4 • 07 Notes Ben van Roode, NL • Captions page 5 08 BRITS Ron Gersbank, South Africa 12 Husky Restoration Maz Woolley, England 14 Correspondence 16 Corgi releases July-Dec 2006 20 Putting a Different Slant on Things Graeme Ogg, England (also 04) 23 Ford Car in Miniature: Futuras Dave Turner, England 26 News: Brits, Shenzhen Jiarun captions to page 28 27 News: Gasoline captions page 29 30 News: Cars captions to page 32 31 News: Cars captions to page 33 34 Marina Coupe John Quilter, USA • Evel Knievel Don Elliott, USA 38 Morris Bullnose John Hanson, England 41 Avia Mini Mew Gull 42 The story behind our prize: Healey Silverstone 43 Competition Page 44 Book Reviews 46 Club News Rod Ward, England 47 Techno Classica 2006 Hans-Georg Schmitt, Germany 56 Flying Standard Graeme Watt, Scotland • Criel Hans- Georg Schmitt, Germany • Captions to page 57: Militaria 58 News: Bus Stop captions to page 60: Emergency 59 News: Bus Stop Captions to page 61: Buses and taxis---------------------------------------------------------EDITORIAL
by Rod WardLOTS OF NICE PRIZES
Readers have commented that we’ve had a particularly good run of prizes in our competitions this year. This issue is no exception, with a Minimarque Healey Silverstone. Let’s hope we can keep up the standard in the second half of this year. I invite manufacturers or distributors: donate your nicest new productions as prizes, and you will get a prominent cover picture, plus MAR readers’ goodwill. Competition supremo Biggles received a nice ‘thank-you’ present from David Swales, who won the MAR 200 competition. It came in time for Bigsy’s 11th birthday in May.
AUCTION MADNESS
You could drive yourself mad monitoring eBay sales results. André Blaize of the Ghost Club (for Rolls-Royce collectors) notes that ‘The average value of a Solido 1:20 Silver Cloud cabriolet is $26; mint- boxed examples fetch as little as $8 on eBay, but some folk fought at auction until one gave up at $167! They could have waited for another one and saved $140. I have dozens of other examples, like a mint- boxed Bburago Shadow which cost $2 one day and $83 two days later!’
LOCAL PERSONALITY
Funny what you see on Mr Murdoch’s television channels: Geoff and Linda Price recently featured in a tasteful and sympathetic review of their famous bus collection on Sky Three, including a drive up the road in one of their rare Johnstone ride-in model coaches. Geoff memorably described these coaches on page 340, in MAR 8, way back in 1984.
There were, surprisingly, identifiable shots of the outside of the Price home (having already showed the thousands of collectable items inside), which could inspire interest among nefarious types. On this point, Fabrizio Panico of Rome comments on the Editorial Personal Column in MAR 201: ‘I fully agree with your remark about burglars and I am surprised that no-one advised Hans-Georg about the danger of such television exposure. Is Germany so different? I don't think so! I see that the Corgi Collector Club is risking similar problems with their Ultimate Collector promotion. I would not like such exposure. Perhaps some people are happy to be known as a local personality and are thus prepared to take the risks?’ Never mind, Rita and Hans-Georg Schmitt will be selling their house soon anyway, so the local burglars are in for a shock when they are searching for a collection of valuable model cars to steal, and instead find the new owner’s James Last CDs.CLOSED FOR HOLS
You will have a slightly longer wait for the next issue of Model Auto Review. There is usually a gap of five weeks between MAR issues, but you’ll have to wait two weeks longer for MAR 204, to allow us time for a fortnight’s much-needed annual vacation. Model Auto Review 204 will be leaving here in the second or third week in July, so you don’t have to wait too long...
Notes and Musings by Rod Ward
The news that Minichamps are making a 1:12 scale classic BSA Gold Star Clubman brought back the memory of my first ‘ton’. At 17, in my first job, a pal who was a rocker and who came to work on his Goldie, offered me a lunchtime ride. In our sharp ‘Italian’ suits and winklepicker shoes (no helmets or protective gear) we bombed off up the A6, with me on the pillion hanging on like grim death. Within a few minutes we reached 100 mph, snaking between raised manhole covers. Dave reckoned it handled better with somebody on the back, to give the rear wheel more traction. An hour later we returned, deafened and windblown, to be greeted by a group of senior architects at the office door, trying to look disapproving, but obviously very jealous. The Minichamps model costs around £60.00, about the same amount Dave Atterbury paid for his real Goldie.
Graeme Watt comments on the Editorial mention of ex-Modelauto staffer Michael’s university degree. ‘Surely Piece Studies (not Peace Studies) would be more appropriate for someone entering the fast food industry?’ he asks. In case you didn’t know, a ‘piece’ is Scottish argot for a snack or a sandwich.
The big toy world story is the price of zinc, which hit $3600 per tonne, more than double last year’s price, causing diecast companies real problems. The problem is worsened by the strength of the Chinese currency. ‘Makers of 1:18 models are raising ex-factory prices every month; some have almost doubled in a year’, says an industry source. All metals have increased in price by extraordinary amounts this year; rising tin prices have also pushed white metal models into a higher price sector, threatening their viability.
Is tinplate making a comeback? Here are some current products: Corgi, under the old Mettoy name, are making 2,006 of a tinplate Routemaster bus, to be followed by more tin toys in 2007. The long-established Paya range of tin toys has been given a boost in popularity and exposure by a Fabbri partwork series. Kovap of the Czech Republic, with long experience in tinplate manufacture, are making a detailed model of a Porsche Master tractor. Jayland and TopGun also make ranges of tinplate models in China, retailing at around £25.00, including Land Rovers, VW Beetles, Sambas, Citroen 2cvs, Minivans, classic racing cars, Isettas, a double decker bus and even a Rolls- Royce boat tail tourer...
OXFORD ICE CREAM MINI
Oxford Die-Cast will release a Mini pickup in September-October 2006 and, subject to licensing, an ice cream van variant as well. These were not as popular with ice cream sellers as larger vans, though they could be useful if a profitable pitch was very small. At least one of these vans survived until recently in Paris, still right hand drive, but converted to sell crèpes, and pitched up outside one of the big Parisian department stores. It may still be there; can anyone confirm that?
Soon to come will be MM123 NART Ferrari 512M from Le Mans 1971, the Adamovicz-Posey car that took third place, and finished as the best- placed Ferrari. Also new: MM128 1969 Lola T70 Mk IIIB Sunoco Daytona. We now have the pattern for the new Lola. Due to a misunderstanding, no doubt on my part, Chris did the Gurney T163 and not the Surtees T160. I do have the ability to confuse; mostly myself, but on occasion others. It turned out for the best, as it is easier to convert the Gurney to the Surtees rather than the other way round. So the Gurney version will be allocated MM148. Other versions will include the Sunoco car and two Simoniz versions, with and without the wing. We have been given a magazine by a kind Japanese customer, covering the 1968 CanAm race at Mount Fuji, so we will add the Rodriguez and Al Unser STP versions of the T163, both of which were new to me. Also in the magazine were the winning Revson M6B and the pinstriped Sunoco car (similar to the very first resin M6A we did many years ago). Both of these will be added to our future releases.
American and other notes By Ben van Roode
Following the Funmate story in MAR I can add that I have a red Thunderbird and a cream Mercury Cougar. On the baseplate is a an adhesive label from Remia, a Dutch sauce manufacturer. I guess you could save coupons to obtain these models. Later Lion Toys made models with their imprint, also available through a coupon scheme. In Belgium I recently obtained at a Texaco station a model 1940 Ford pickup in Texaco colours, 2000 of which were issued; six pickups, a convertible and a van. It looks like a Golden Wheel product. AutoArt have 13 Corvettes in their range, all beautiful but getting expensive for ‘sealed bodies’. In Chinese-English this means nothing opens. For most collector's this would not be a problem, but with the current state of technology it is a shame, because opening features add something to a car model. It is all to do with cost cutting. Prices stay at the same level.
I have previously mentioned that Johnny Lightning is now part of RC2, concentrating on 1:24 models. Nothing wrong with that. They are following a trend towards smaller models. Nothing surprising in their range, though. Athearn and Classic Metal Works are rapidly expanding their 1:87 ranges. In 1:50 scale they have six varieties of the Ford C cab as a Telesquirt fire truck, around $20; good value. Diecast Promotions also known as Highway 61, give us a beautiful model of a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar. Back to cars: new will be the Olds 1957 Super 88, 1970 Ford Mustang, 1952 Hudson convertible and Gehl heavy building equipment. Ertl will be releasing a lot of items. Their Blues Brothers-mobile will be sold as a 1974 Dodge Monaco Mount Prospect police car. A favourite will be the 1962 Pontiac Catalina convertible, recalling the artwork Van Kaufmann and Art Fitzpatrick did for Pontiac from 1959 to 1971. GMP are still going strong, their 1:25 1969 Cyclone Spoiler II is available in Cale Yarborough livery. Welcome additions are two sets of 1:43 garage accessories. They retail for $19.95 in the USA. In 1:32 scale they have Gradall telehandlers, boom lifts and excavators. MTH makes a full range of buildings aimed at train enthusiasts in scale1:48. The latest one is a John Deere dealership. New Ray models are cheap and attractive. Besides their 1:32 trucks they offer 1:50 trucks, including Kenworth T 300, Peterbilt 335, International 4200 and Freightliner M2. Carroll Shelby has linked his name to the Shelby Collection, 1:18 models of all Shelby cars. Finally, 21st Century have just released a 1:18 scale Dodge 1.5 ton weapons carrier.
CORGI July to December 2006 releases
Corgi’s 2006 second half releases, from July to December are listed here.
Principal all-new items include the Vanguards 1:43 Hillman Avenger and Ford Cortina Mark II (aka Coke bottles R Us), 1:50 Volvo FH Curtainside truck, new aircraft such as Hawker Typhoon, Junkers Ju88, Westland Lysander, Sikorsky S-70, Lockheed P39J Droop Snoot, and lots of figures in the Forward March range, including a number of interesting civilian and historical personages.VANGUARDS LIMITED EDITIONS
VA10201 Austin Princess 2200HL Glacier White July VA06309 Morris Marina 1300 Super Aqua Aug VA08303 Morris Minor Pick Up Sandy Beige Oct VA05405 Morris Oxford Dove Grey Nov VA06620 Ford Transit Van Mk l Series I GEC July VA09508 Ford Escort MKI Mexico Sunset Red Aug VA10005 Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth Turbo Sept VA06107 Ford Zephyr Mk II Caribbean Turquoise Oct VA10300 Ford Cortina Mk III Sapphire Blue Sept VA09900 Ford Sierra Sapphire GLS Radiant Red Nov VA09509 Ford Escort Mkl 1300E - Purple Velvet Dec LR2002 G4 Challenge Defender+Range Rover Aug VA09706 Land Rover Defender Born Free Nov VA09608 Range Rover Java Black Dec VA08618 Jaguar XJ12 Lavender Blue Aug VA08803 Daimler Sovereign Heather Sept VA09107 Jaguar XJR Quartz Oct VA09203 Rover 75 White Gold July VA09009 Rover SD1 Vitesse 30th Anniv silver leaf Sept VA09305 MG ZT Goodwood Green Nov VA02619 Hillman Imp Wardance Aug VA10400 Hillman Avenger Bitter Green Oct VA10401 Hillman Avenger Polar White Nov VA09406 Vauxhall Astra Greater Manchester Police Nov VA09304 MG ZT PSNI July VA09609 Range Rover Cambridgeshire Police Dec VA10301 Ford Cortina Mk III Lancs Constabulary Oct TP1002 Tayside Police Set Defender+ Sierra Sapphire Aug VA10202 Austin Princess Diplomatic Protection Oct VX1004 Vauxhall Centenary: Velox+Viva+Cavalier+Astra Nov VA08710 Vauxhall Viva GT Goodwood Green Starmist Jul VA03811 Vauxhall Victor Empress Blue Aug VA09804 Vauxhall Cavalier Mk II Sri 1300 Carmine Sept VA05311 Triumph Dolomite 1500HL Sandglow Sept VA10103 Triumph Stag Java Green Nov VA06711 Triumph Spitfire Mk III hardtop Valencia blue Oct VA07404 Triumph Herald Convertible 13/60 Red Dec 6HAULIERS OF RENOWN LIMITED EDITION
CC12933 Scania Topline Fridge Edward Gilder July CC13904 Foden Alpha Livestock Woodhead Bros July CC13231 DAF XF Curtainside James Irlam Logistics Jul CC13711 Scania R Series Tipper James Innes Aug CC13420 MAN TGA Curtainside Woody’s Express July CC14002 Volvo FH Curtainside Eddie Stobart Aug CC13806 Mercedes Actros Curtainside Norfolkline Aug CC13518 Volvo FM Feldbinder Tanker Cemex Aug CC13233 DAF XF Curtainside Grampian Maclennan Sep CC13712 Scania R Series Topline Tanker Shirleys Sept CC13906 Foden Alpha Curtainside E & N Ritchie Sept CC13807 Mercedes Actros Flat/Load Maurice Hill Oct CC14003 Volvo FH Curtainside Reid Oct CC13713 Scania R Series flat Prestons of Potto Sept CC13614 DAF CF livestock transporter McKerral Nov CC13421 MAN TGA Curtainside/Moffett Sloan Nov CC12934 Scania Topline frig A J Anderson Nov 3 CC14005 Volvo FH Curtainside Benton Bros Nov CC13234 DAF XF Skeletal + Container Russell Dec CC13809 Mercedes Actros Curtainside Pollock Dec CC99192 David Haig Set DecTRUCKFEST LIMITED EDITION
CC13714 Scania R Series Topline Coles Sept CC13232 DAF XF Beamish Aug CC13908 Foden Alpha Reids Dec CC13808 Mercedes Actros Yuill & Dodds Nov CC14004 Volvo FH J G McWilliam Ltd OctRIGID TIPPERS LIMITED EDITION
CC13517 Volvo FM Curtainside Irving July CC13613 DAF CF Curtainside Longs of Leeds Sept CC11913 ERF EC Tipper - Brian Harris Dec CC13905 Foden Alpha Tipper Streeter (Limited) Aug CC13520 Volvo FM Box Macleod of Stornaway NovFORD TRANSIT VANS LIMITED EDITION
CC07805 Transit Van British Gas (Modified Tooling) July CC07808 Transit Van BT (Modified Tooling) Sept CC07806 Transit Van McCulla (Modified Toling) July CC07807 Transit Van Eddie Stobart (Modified Tool) Aug CC07809 Transit Van lan Hayes (Modified Tooling) Oct CC07810 Transit Van Scott Trawlers (Modified Tool) Dec9 DOUBLE 9 LIMITED-EDITION
CC06305 Daimler Ambulance LCC Aug CC13011 Dennis F12 Stoke-on-Trent July CC13519 Volvo FM 6 wheel box C Scotland F&R SeptSIGHTS & SOUNDS LIMITED EDITION
CC12935 Scania Topline Curtain lan Hayes DecORIGINAL OMNIBUS 1:76 BUSES
OM46002 Wright Single Deck Whitelaws July OM46003 Wright Urban Eclipse Lothian Nov OM41111 Leyland PD3/E Lancs Black Prince Aug OM41404 Roe Motorbus AEC Regent V Felix Aug OM40701 Bristol K/ECW Ensign Bus Sept OM41702 RTW Bartons Aug OM40816 Bristol Lodekka Wilts & Dorset Oct OM41405 Roe Trolleybus - Maidstone Corporation Oct OM41406 Roe Motorbus Guy Arab IV Wolverhampton Dec OM45117 Metrobus Reading Buses Nov OM43913 Guy Arab Ribble Dec OM41911 Leyland PD3 Queen Mary Boroline Stenning Dec OM44708 Dart SLF Uno Stenning Nov OM44112 Optare Solo Gower Explorer Stenning Dec OM45906 Van Hool T9 Goodwins England Cricket July OM43314 Plaxton Premiere Red & White Sept OM45907 Van Hool T9 - WA/Shearings Oct OM41215 Wright Gemini Eclipse EYMS Sept OM42515 E Lancs Lowlander Sanders Coaches Oct OM41308 Wright Solar Fusion First Bath Aug OM99191 Tamar Link Set JulyTRACKSIDE LIMITED EDITION
DG148018 Scammell Scarab Flat + load Calico July DG198008 Scammell Contractor+trailer+loco ALE Sept DG199009 Scammell MH stepframe PO Telephones Nov DG199008 Scammell MH Step Frame Royal Mail Aug DG148019 Scammell Scarab Step Frame CIE Nov DG206001 Scammell Townsman dropside BRS Dec DG206000 Scammell Townsman Box Railfreight Sept DG175015 Scammell Handyman flat Reids Nov DG198009 Scammell Contractor Pickfords Industrial Dec DG202003 Austin J2 Royal Mail Oct DG200002 Ford Transit BRS Truck Rental July DG201002 Morris LD Pollock July DG202002 Morris J2 BMC Aug DG201003 Morris LD Van J & M Parcel Service Sept DG200003 Ford Transit Securicor Sept DG203002 Bedford CA Van Corgi Toys Aug DG203003 Bedford CA Van Pickfords Oct DG200004 Ford Transit Robsons Nov DG203004 Bedford CA Van Royal Mail Dec DG202004 Austin J2 Securicor Dec DG201004 Morris LD Van Bowyers Nov DG186013 ERF LV Flat + bags Rugby Cement July DG146015 Guy Pantechnicon Waring & Gillow Oct DG187009 Guy Tipper R E Mason Aug DG186014 ERF LV with Container Carters Dec DG176022 Leyland Octopus flat Glendinning Aug DG150012 Foden Sheeted Trailer Bassetts SeptPUBLIC TRANSPORT 1:50 LIMITED EDITION
CC25907 AEC Routemaster: The last RM SeptMINI MANIA LIMITED EDITION
CC82249 Mini 7 Peter Tompson 2005 Winning Car July CC82250 Innocenti Mini Rally Rob Stacey Sept CC82251 Mini 7 Colin Peacock, Mini Miglia Dec CC86528 BMW Mini Cooper Park Lane Nov CC86526 BMW Mini Cooper Checkmate Aug CC86527 BMW Mini One Seven OctVINTAGE GLORY LIMITED EDITION
CC20004 Sentinel E C Gransen & Co. Ltd + trailer Nov CC20306 1918 Garrett 4nhp 6.5 ton 4CD Adventurer Sept CC20110 1905 Fowler 6nhp Showmans Sir John Fowler July CC20206 1925 Foden C Type Enterprise DecMETTOY LIMITED EDITION
MT00101 Tinplate clockwork Routemaster bus NovUS: LIMITED EDITION
US53103 Reo Speedwagon Shippensburg, PA Aug US53003 Maxim Pumper Valhalla, NY July US55205 Birney Safety Car Fort Collins Sept US54316 GM Fishbowl NY Worlds Fair July US54418 GM 4501 Greyhound Scenicruiser Oct US54205 Flexible Clipper Capitol Bus Co Nov US52913 Diamond T620 Trailer Truck Aug US51026 Sherman Tank with Gl Riders Sept US60511 Tiger Tank with Gl Riders Oct US51027 M4A3E8 Sherman Tank Aug US60415 M16 Machine Gun Motor Carriage Aug US33013 F4U-4A Corsair BuNo 96845 Sept US51906 Bell HTL-4 (H-13) BuNo 128630 Sept US51604 T-34-85 Tank Oct US36603 P-38J Lightning Capt R Olds Wattisham, Nov US32225 P-51D Mustang Major R Olds Wattisham, July US33219 F-4C Phantom Colonel Robin Olds, Royal Thai Air Base Dec US35307 PBJ-1J (Mitchell) BuNo 35843 Marine Corps Oct US34907 Messerschmitt Bf109G-6 Hpt Anton Hackl Dec US32226 P-51D Mustang Double For Down Lt Col Gordon Graham, Cambs Sept US33311 B-17G Flying Fortress Big Yank, Italy Dec US31923 Spitfire VB EN783 334th FS, Essex July US33819 P-47D Thunderbolt 334th FS 4th FG Debden July US32227 P-51D Mustang Sizzlin Liz Major Gerald Montgomery, Debden Nov US35810 F-86F Sabre Capt Ralph S Parr S Korea DecNON-CATALOGUED ADDITIONAL ITEMS
CC13907 Foden Alpha Curtainside Abrahams Oct DG174011 Noddy Van Gregory's Oct BL99024 Bassett-Lowke Flying Scotsman BR (500pcs) July VA10399 First Shot Cortina Mk III (250pcs) Sept VA10499 First Shot Avenger (250pcs) Oct AA36899 First Shot Westland Lysander (250pcs) Oct OM46001 First Shot Wright Single Deck (250pcs) JulyAVIATION ARCHIVE
SIGHTS & SOUNDS LIMITED EDITIONAA32813 DH Mosquito FBVI MM417, 487 Sqn RNZAF, 140 Wing, 2 Group, 1944 Harbour bombing raid Oct AA33709 Heinkel He111H-14 6N+BK, 1/KGr 100. Vannef. France 1940 Blitz bomber JulyDELUXE WORKING RANGE LIMITED EDITION
AA34908 Messerschmitt Bf1090-6 'Red 1', Major Hermann Graf, Gruppenkommandeur JG 50, Wiesbaden-Erbenheim, September 1943 NovRAF COASTAL COMMAND LIMITED EDITION
AA34805 Vickers Wellington MkVIII HX379: WN-A, 172 Squadron, Coastal Command, late 1942 Aug AA36103 PBY Catalina Mk lVA JX574, 210 Squadron, RAF Sullom Voe, Shetland 1944 (dinghy diorama) Oct AA36304 Fairey Swordfish III 119 Squadron, RAF Coastal Command 1945 DecAIRCRAFT OF THE MTO LIMlTED EDITION
AA36203 Gloster Sea Gladiator N5519, Faith, Hal Far Fighter Flight, FIt Lt G Burgess Malta June 1940; also N5531 Hope and N5519 Charity July AA31924 Supermarine Spitfire F VIII JF502/QJ-F, Fit. Lt. Eddie Edwards, 92 Sqn, Italy, early 1944 Sep AA36501 Hawker Typhoon Mk lB 461 Squadron Idku, Egypt 1943 Aug AA36303 Fairey Swordfish Mk l Catapult Flight, HMS Malaya, 1940 Oct AA36701 Junkers Ju88A-10 L1+EN, II Gruppe, Lehrgeschwader 1 II/LG1, Crete 1942 Nov AA36802 Westland Lysander Mk l L6877/JV-W, 6 Squadron RAF, Palestine 1940 Dec70 YEARS OF THE SPITFIRE LIMITED EDITION
AA33908 Supermarine Type 300 The Prototype Spitfire, K5054, Eastleigh, May 1936 Oct AA99189 Spitfire Mk l X4330, QJ-G, 616 Sqn, Sept 1940, Spitfire Mk Vb EP254, DW-B, 610 Sqn, Aug 1942, Spitfire Mk lX EN398, JE-J, OC Kenley Wing 1943 Johnnie Johnson. Three piece set July AA31925 Supermarine Spitfire LF IXE Fit Lt. Dick Audet 411 Sqn, Heesch, Holland 1944 (Ace in a Day) SeptBATTLE FOR THE LOW COUNTRIES LTD EDITION
AA36502 Hawker Typhoon IB Sqn Ldr R P Beamont, OC 609 Sqn, Manston, Feb 1943 Sept AA36602 P-38J Droop Snoot Lightning Eze Does It, Capt Hershell Ezell, 77th FS/20th FG, June 1944 Sept AA36702 Junkers Ju88A-5 5 KG30, Alder Geschwader, Finland 1941-42 Dec AA36801 Westland Lysander Mk ll 225 Sqn. RAF, France, 1940 NovBIRTH OF THE JET AIRCRAFT LIMITED EDITION
AA35706 Me 262A-1a Major Walter Nowi Nowotny, Kommando Nowotny, Achmer Germany, 1944 Oct AA35812 Canadair Sabre F.4 Sabre Conversion Flight. Wildenrath, Germany 1953 Nov AA35010 Gloster Meteor F.Mk.8 WL123/H, 111 Squadron, RAF, North Weald AugRAF TRAINERS LIMITED EDITION
AA36003 British. Aerospace Hawk T1A 208 (R) Sqn, 4 FTS, RAF Valley, Anglesey, 2005 July AA36402 Eurofighter Typhoon T1 29 (R) Squadron, RAF Coningsby, Lines. 2006 Nov 22.69 39.99 AA34706 English Electric Canberra B.6 (mod) A&AEE Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, 1984 DecMILITARY AIR POWER LIMITED EDITION
AA33609 Panavia Tornado GR4 12 Sqn RAF 90th Anniversary Scheme, Lossiemouth, Scotland, 05 July AA35904 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk 816 Squadron. Royal Australian Navy, HMAS ANZAC, 2005 Aug AA35408 Sepecat Jaguar GR3 41 Sqn RAF Coltishall Oct AA36401 Eurofighter Typhoon F2 17(R) Sqn RAF SeptHELICOPTER LEGENDS
AA50413 Bell UH-1E Iroquois Huey 518185 HMLA-267, Marine Aircraft Gp 56, Camp Pendleton1971 July AA34209 Boeing-Vertol Chinook HC1, SAS-RAF 7/18 Sqn Gulf War, Al Jubail AB, Saudi Arabia, 1991 July AA51907 Augusta-Bell Model 47G XT131/B, Army Air Corps Historic Flight, 2005 July AA33413 Westland Sea King HAS.6, XV712, 814 Sqn. RN, Tiger Meet , RNAS Culdrose, Cornwall, 1999 Aug AA51209 AH-1G Cobra 15174. US Army. post-Vietnam (SE Asia scheme) AugustWAR IN THE PACIFIC: NEW GUINEA LTD EDITION
AA35211 P-40E Warhawk Typhoon McGoon, Lt Clyde V Kinsley, 7th FS/49th FG, New Guinea 1943 Sept AA36601 P-38J-15 Lightning Marge, Maj Dick Bong, Ops Off, 5th Fighter Cmd, New Guinea 1942 Aug AA36104 PBY-5 Catalina Black Cat, VP-34, Air Fleet Wing 17, Lt Pfleeger, New Guinea 1944 Oct AA35308 B-25D-1 CRABB 2nd. 345th BG 498th BS, Dobodura, New Guinea, 26th December 1943 DecUS MODERN WARFARE LIMITED EDITION
AA99190 Boeing KC-97L Stratofreighter, 121st Air Refuelling Wing, Ohio ANG, USAF, Lockbourne AFB, Ohio 1974 refuelling a Phantom Aug AA36004 McDonnell Douglas (Bae) T-45 Goshawk Prototype US Navy, BuAer 162787, 1991 Oct AA35903 Sikorsky HH-60J Jayhawk US Coast Guard Elizabeth City, North Carolina, USA Nov100 YEARS OF FLIGHT
CS90455 Boeing 707-436 BOAC Jan CS90462 DH Mosquito BOAC Feb CS90456 Vickers VC-10 1103 British Caledonian Jan CS90470 Augusta Bell 206B Jet Ranger II BEA MarBATTLE OF BRITAIN
CS90467 Hawker Hurricane Mk l Douglas Bader Feb CS90460 Spitfire Mk lB Flt Sgt George Grumpy Unwin Jan CS90457 Messerschmitt Bf109E Helmut Wick Jan CS90473 Junkers Ju-87 Stuka T6+HL, 3./StG 2 Immelman, France 1940 MarFIGHTING MACHINES OF WORLD WAR II
CS90466 Consolidated Liberator RAF SEAC Feb CS90458 Zero 401st Sentai, 341st Kokutai, 1944 Jan CS90478 King Tiger Hungary, February 1945 June CS90472 DH Mosquito FBVI HR399 OB-R 45 Sqn Mar CS90468 Stuka Tropical Feb CS90475 Stuart Desert Rats, Bellman MarFIGHTING MACHINES MODERN ERA
CS90463 BAe Hawk T Mk 1 St Athan Station Flight Welsh Dragons, RAF St Athan 1995 Feb CS90471 Canadair Sabre Mk.5 RCAF Golden Hawks Aerobatic Team Mar CS90461 Scimitar Tank B Sqn, Light Dragoons, Bosnia 1993, UN Peacekeeping Force Jan CS90476 Vickers VC-10 C.1K RAF Refueller MarHELICOPTERS
CS90469 Sikorsky S-70A-9 Blackhawk Australian Army Feb CS90477 Westland WAH-64 Apache Army Air Corps Mar CS90464 Bell 205 (UH-1H) Iroquois G-HUEY, RAF Benevolent Fund (Search & Rescue) Feb CS90459 Westland Wessex HCC4 Queens Flight JanLIMITED EDITION
CS90465 Boeing B-17 RAF Bomber Command Feb CS90474 NA P-51 Mustang Dooleybird, RAF MarSKIRMISH LIMITED EDITION
CC60213 Panther Ausf.G Tank + three German Infantry Figures German Army, Ardennes, Winter 1944 Oct CC60109 Chruchill Mk.VII Tank + three British Paratrooper Figures British Army, Holland 1944 Sept CC51028 M4A3 Sherman Tank + three US Infantry figures US Army, Battle of the Bulge, Bastogne 1944 Sept CC60011 SdKfz7/1 & Anti-Aircraft Gun + three German Infantry Figures German Army. Holland 1944 Oct CC60416 M16 Quad .50 Halftrack + three US Infantry Figures US Army, France 1944 Dec CC60610 Cromwell Centaur Mk IV Tank + three British Paratroopers British Army, D-Day, Normandy 1944 NovWARBIRDS
WB99601 Spitfire Mk lB George Unwin May WB99602 Mustang III Eugeniusz Horbaczewski May WB99603 Hurricane Mk l Pete Brothers June WB99604 Bf109E-4 Helmut Wick May WB99605 Fw-190A-4 Walter Nowotny June WB99606 F4U-1 Corsair Kenneth A Walsh May WB99607 P-47D Thunderbolt Dave Schilling June WB99608 Stuka Ju 87B-2 Hans Ulrich Rudel June WB99609 Lancaster Mk lll Mickey The Moocher May WB99610 Curtiss Kittyhawk IA Les Jackson June WB99611 A6M3a Zero Hiroyoshi Nishizawa May WB99612 Boeing B-17G Sally B June WB99613 Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a Heinz Bar May WB99614 Spitfire HF.IXC Otto Smik NEW JuneFORWARD MARCH: CIVILIANS AT WAR LTD EDN
CC59160 ARP Rescue Party Member 1940 Sept CC59164 London Blitz Diorama Oct CC59144 Florence Nightingale1854 July CC59152 Emmeline Pankhurst 1914 Aug CC59193 Flanagan & Allen Dec CC59182 UN Relief Worker 1999 Nov CC59170 National Fire Service 1940 OctFORWARD MARCH: GREAT LEADERS LTD EDITION
CC59161 Winston Churchill 1945 Sept CC59145 Duke of Wellington 1815 July CC59153 Bomber Harris 1942 NEW Aug CC59171 President Roosevelt 1945 NEW Oct CC59194 Lord Mountbatten 1945 NEW Dec CC59183 General Elsenhower 1944 NEW NovFORWARD MARCH: HEROES LIMITED EDITION
CC59146 Sailor Malan 1940 July CC59154 Lt J R M Chard VC 1879 Aug CC59162 Col T E Lawrence 1918 Sept CC59172 Capt Charles Upham VC 1942 Oct CC59184 Baron Von Richthofen 1916 Nov CC59195 Admiral Lord Nelson 1805 DecFORWARD MARCH: SPECIAL FORCES LTD EDN
CC59147 SAS Trooper 1991 July CC59155 British Paratrooper Falklands 1982 Aug CC59163 German Ski Trooper 1943 Sept CC59173 RM Commando 1982 Oct CC59185 Ghurka Rifleman 1915 Nov CC59196 Canadian Paratrooper 1944 DecFORWARD MARCH: BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR LTD EDN
CC59148 Ship’s Surgeon NEW July CC59165 Royal Marine Sharpshooter Sept CC59186 Captain Hardy Nov CC59156 RN Rating Signaller with flags Aug CC59174 RN Rating killing French Sailor Oct CC59175 RN Ratings boarding party Oct CC59187 RN Carronade and crew Dec CC59166 England Expects: The Fall of Nelson SeptFORWARD MARCH BATTLE OF SOMME LTD EDN
CC59157 RFC Pilot Aug CC59176 French Infantryman Pozieres Oct CC59197 Coldstream Guards private Dec CC59149 German lying dead in barbed wire July CC59167 British soldier bayoneting German Sept CC59188 Red Cross Tent Nov CC59177 Tank plus infantry Oct CC59189 Another Day in Hell 2 level trench scene NovFORWARD MARCH BATTLE OF EL ALAMEIN LTD EDN
CC59150 General Montgomery July CC59168 General Rommel Sept CC59158 British Soldier with Mine Detector Aug CC59190 British Corporal with PIAT NEW Nov CC59178 German Mortar team Sept CC59179 British Tank Crew dismounted Oct CC59191 25pdr Gun & Crew DecFORWARD MARCH DESERT STORM LTD EDITION
CC59159 Delta Force operative Aug CC59180 Brig Patrick Cordingley Oct CC59198 British Infantryman Dec CC59151 British MP with Sniffer Dog July CC591S9 British Milan Anti Tank Team Sept CC59192 Schwarzkopf, De la Billiere & King Fahd Nov CC59181 Bravo 2 Zero SAS Team clearing building Oct
BRIT REGISTER CANCELLED
By Ron Gersbank
In MAR 195, September 2005, lovers of British cars were invited to join a Register of British Model Car Collectors to share ideas, in the hope that, collectively, we would be able to persuade manufacturers to produce models of some desirable never-before- modelled. Readers of my MAR articles over the years will know of my love for British cars, engendered by my admiration of Britain as a youngster during the War when, after the collapse of France, she initially stood alone against the might of the Nazi juggernaut and, for me, epitomised the triumph of right over might. In my desire to help Britain I formed a burning ambition to become a Spitfire pilot, but unfortunately the war ended before I was old enough. Shortly after the war I experienced one of my greatest motoring thrills when given a long fast ride, as a passenger in a 1938 Jaguar SS100 Sports.
Soon after, in 1948, I acquired a set of Dinky 38 Series British sports cars, which included the SS100 and this, with a few of my remaining childhood Dinkies, was the start of my lifelong hobby of model car collecting. My greatest ambition was to one day own a Jaguar; perhaps even a Bentley (I was fortunate enough to attain the former) and, while they were still available in South Africa, I bought only British cars. I rather foolishly assumed that most Brits must have the same feelings of loyalty to their own country’s cars. This assumption has been proved wrong by their allowing their once great motor industry to wither until it is now a shadow of its former self, just as has happened to their cycle, motorcycle and shipping industries (although I admit that other factors were also involved). Proof of this indifference to their own industry’s products and former greatness has been brought home to me forcibly by the fact that only one collector from the whole of the British Isles, my old friend Stuart Milne of Aberdeen, and from the rest of the world only Edgardo Alvarez of Argentina, applied to join. In the circumstances, I regret having to cancel this project.
SHENZHEN JIARUN MODELS
The Chinese maker of some ‘anonymous’ handbuilt 1:43 models is Shenzen Jiarun Model Cars. Their models are mostly resin, and match more established Western ranges for quality and detail, but they are not ‘cheap’. Recent 1:43 releases (apart from the Hino) are as follows, with the limited edition quantities in brackets:
BMW L7 (resin handbuilt 299) Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph (Diecast 4999) Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph (resin handbuilt 1000) Bentley Arnage 728 Limousine (Diecast 1999) 1988 Trasco Mercedes 500SEL Limo (resin h’built 500) Citroen XM Limousine (resin handbuilt 599) Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph California lwb limousine coming soon (resin handbuilt) Volvo 240GL lwb limousine (resin handbuilt 100) Hino truck (resin handbuilt 1:35 scale 100)
GASOLINE NEWS • By Olivier Saint-Lot>
Conversions on Solido diecast models
GAS50700K Panzerjager Marder II GAS50703K German light tank Pz.II Ausf.F GAS50892K Hanomag Sd.Kfz.251/ R35 turret GAS50889K GMC with Floating Treadway Bridge M2Conversions on Tamiya kits
GAS48021K Sturmpanzer 38(t) Hetzer 15cm sIG.33 GAS48030K Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind GAS48037K Turret Panther Ausf.F GAS48041K Jagdpanzer IV L/70 (A) Zwischenlosung GAS48043K Stumpanzer IV Brummbar (late version) DIO48003K V1 launch ramp complete kit GAS50095K German light tank Pz.II Ausd.D complete kit GASSPE03K LCVP complete kitBuilt & painted models (Limited edition)
GAS48030M Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind (Tamiya basis) GAS48034M Bren carrier WASP (Tamiya basis) GAS48037M Panther Ausf.F (Tamiya basis) GAS50009M French light truck Citroen type 23 GAS50700M Panzerjager Marder II (Solido basis) GAS50703M German tank Pz.II Ausf.F (Solido base) GAS50899M US tank destroyer M-18 HellcatUS MODEL EXHIBITION
An exhibition of ‘car, plane and boat model masterpieces’ will be held at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center in Stamford, CT, USA from 24 June to 29 October 2006. For more information, contact their PR person; Carolyn Mandelker of Harrison Edwards PR and Marketing, tel 914-242-0010.
SPEEDY By Hans-Georg Schmitt
Some weeks before Nuremberg toy fair, I was invited to visit the stand of a new model car company called Speedy, whose products are made by Gartex Ltd of Hong Kong, with a German office. The European management has long experience in the model car business and in licensed model production contracts for well known European car manufacturers. The company thus intends to produce models of current cars for automobile manufacturers and the trade. The main focus will be on 1:24 scale but 1:72 products will also be made, as well as diecast motor-cycles; Honda, Suzuki, BMW, Ducati, Yamaha, and MV Augusta in 1:9 and 1:18 scales, plus MAN, Mercedes-Benz and DAF trucks in 1:32 and 1:48 scales. the VW Eos Cabriolet will be available soon at Volkswagen dealers, a little later through the trade. Two 1:24 models are already released; BMW 645Ci cabriolet and VW Golf V GTi, accurately shaped, but the bonnet and boot lids and doors are hinged crudely, because Speedy are both toys and collectors’ items. The hope is that if children play with the models they may one day become collectors.
MORE BIZARRE MODELS
New 1:43 models for release by Bizarre up to August 2006, to continue what is becoming a very interesting range:
BZ48 Howmet TX #23 LM 83 Dibley-Tullius BZ49 Howmet TX #22 LM 68 Heppenstall-Thompson BZ91 Nash-Healey#11 LM 52 Veyron-Giraud BZ92 Healey Sport Coupe #19 LM51 Rolt-Hamilton BZ131 Matra MS630 #24 LM68 Pescarolo-Servoz-Gavin BZ182 Lola T298 Primagaz #31 LM81 Grand-Courage BZ183 Lola T298 Primagaz #33 LM 81 Dubois-Heuclin BZ214 Toyota Celica twin can turbo #5 Safari 84 Waldegaard BZ215 Toyota Celica twin can turbo #21 Safari 85 Kankunenr BZ217 Nissan 240RS #12 MC83 Salonen-Harjanne BZ221 Nissan 240RS Marlboro #2 Safari 84 Mehta-Combes BZ228 Inaltera #71 LM78 Chevalley-Trisconi BZ234 Alfa Romeo BAT 5 1953 BZ235 Alfa Romeo BAT 9 1955 BZ295 Mirage M1 #14 LM67 Piper-Thompson BZ296 Mirage M 1 #15 LM67 Ickx-Muir BZ306 DB HBR Panhard #58 LM53 Gignoux-Azema BZ307 DB HBR Panhard #57 LM54 Bonnet-Bayol BZ308 Matra Djet 5S #179 MC66 Pescarolo-Jaussaud BZ309 Matra Djet 5S #236 MC66 Servoz-Gavin-LeguelecSTARLINE 1:43 MODELS By Hans-Georg Schmitt
In Summer 2005 a new 1:43 range appeared, founded by the former manager of the German Solido subsidiary. Initially, only Italian cars were made; German and other subjects will follow. The first Italian cars were all pictured in MAR 201: Fiat 126 Saloon 1972: 6731 blue, 6748 orange, 6724 red, 6717 white. This car replaced the 500, with more power, a 23 hp 594cc two cylinder rear engine. Weighing only 900kg, it thus performed quite well. The model is shaped and finished accurately. The plain interior is also good. Fiat 124 Spider 1966: 6632 red, 6625 black, 6649 blue, 6618 silver. This Pininfarina design continued in the Fiat range up to the 1980s with only minor changes. It had the engine from the 132 saloon and rear wheel drive. The model is from the early period, still with chrome bumpers, the interior and aluminium cast wheels look good. Autobianchi A112: 6823 blue, 6847 brown, 6830 grey, 6816 red, all with the roof in white. The most attractive small car from Fiat in the 1970s did not carry their name. The Autobianchi A112 was similar in size to the Fiat 127, but with a more attractive body and much better equipped. Fiat 1100 saloon: 6519 blue, 6540 grey, 6533 red, 6526 white, all with the roof and C pillars in black. In 1953 the 1100 was Fiat’s first ‘pontoon’ saloon and it is still made today in India as the Premier. The model is of the last version, the Special, from the early 1960s, identified by its front-hinged front doors. It is a very attractive two tone model, the white wall tyres giving the car a luxurious appearance.
EDISON CRIEL MILITARIA By Hans-Georg Schmitt
At the 2006 Nuremberg Toy Fair, collecting news for Model Auto Review, I visited the stand of Italian company Edison, to see their range of 1:43 models of European cars. Edison Giocattoli was founded in 1958 by Giampiero Ferri, who started out in business making toy pistols and rifles. Edison became international leader in this market. The company still makes toys in Italy. The early death of its founder deprived Edison of its leading figure, but his family continued the business. After a recent move to new offices in Barberino di Mugello (Florence), Edison now has all its production, marketing, administration and logistics in one complex. At international exhibitions they proudly point out that their products are ‘Made in Italy’. While I examined the model cars we had a discussion, during which I remarked that I had reviewed a book on Italian military vehicles but I did not know of models of these vehicles. The Edison people then showed me their new collection of 1:43 military models, seven of which were Italian subjects. In contrast to the company´s usual philosophy, however, these models are made in China, under the name Criel Models. On the opposite page are six examples. Top centre is the Lancia Lince Scout car 1944, a four wheel drive vehicle with an 8 mm cannon, a close copy of the British Daimler scout car, but with a 60 hp Lancia Astura 2617cc eight cylinder engine, independent suspension and hydraulic brakes, crewed by two soldiers. The modern apc is a Fiat Iveco 6614 ACCC 1993 4x4. It was a private venture by Fiat; first prototypes assembled in 1972 by Oto Melara. The cupola has a 7.62 cm machine gun. It is fully amphibious, propelled in the water by its wheels. Italian vehicles deployed in Bosnia were given additional armour and special markings like this model.
BRITBUS 1:76 RELEASES
1:76 models diecast in China by Britbus:
AE-O1 AEC Regent III Halifax joint Committee ES-C2 Scania ELC Omnidekka Yorkshire Traction ES3-01 Scania ELC Omnidekka London Sovereign ES2-01 Scania ELC Omnidekka Metrobus MRL04 MCW Metrorider Roundabout MRL05 MCW Metrorider East London Hoppa R805 Scania Alexander R type Cardiff BusOOC ANNIVERSARY SET
Original Omnibus Co set OM99186 A Route Through Time, features buses representing key Corgi locations of the past 50 years, as part of Corgi’s anniversary celebrations; 1000 sets made. The Northampton and United Welsh buses used to run past previous Corgi offices in Northampton and Swansea respectively, and the First Leicester bus runs near the current site. Daimler CVG6-Roe Northampton Corporation 246 (BNH 246C) entered service in March 1965, the first Northampton bus to be fitted with saloon heaters, one of 58 Roe-bodied CVG6s with Manchester-style concealed radiator. Bristol Lodekka FS United Welsh WCY 712 entered service in 1961 and ran on a variety of routes in and around Swansea and Gower. Wright Gemini Eclipse First Leicester
EFE UPDATE
By Frank JoyceSecond shots of our new Bristol RELH Coach have arrived and all final adjustments look good, so production can start. The first release will be in United Automobile Motor Services’ attractive olive and cream coach livery.
EFE Recent Releases 99101 Daimler DMS 1:24 London Transport 20437 Bristol VRIII Damory Coaches 24323 BET Willowbrook South Wales NBC 14603 Leyland National MkI short Pennine 18204 Park Royal Fleetline XF London Transport 29007 GM Fleetline type B Northumbria 30703 AEC Renown type B South Wales Transport 18610 Bristol VRIII Open Top New Forest tour 29407 Bristol RELH D/P Coach Oxford S. Midlands 16127 Leyland PD2 Highbridge Hants & Dorset 29610 Leyland Olympian B Metrobus 30603 AEC Renown A East Yorkshire 18008 Daimler Fleetline West Yorks Metrobus 15639 RM Routemaster Arriva route 38 20439 Bristol VRIII Yorkshire Rider Leeds 26318 Guy Arab II Utility Bamber Bridge Motor Serv 26617 Plaxton Paramount 3500 Strathtay 17305 Leyland National Mk 1 Long Widnes Corp 28812 Leyland Titan West Coast Motors 99102 Daimler DMS 1:24 London Transport Norbiton 99103 Daimler DMS L1:24 London Transport CatfordOther EFE News
We have produced two fundraising models for Cobham Bus Museum Open Day and Wisley Airfield gathering in April. 28003B Daimler DMS is iin an historic London Transport livery registered THM 682M fleet number DF 1682 on special service to Wisley Airfield advertising the Open Day. 27209B is a Leyland TD1 registered KP 3404 fleet number TD 153, an M&D vehicle taken into London Transport when formed; route West Croydon with period ads for a Brooklands Whit Sunday meeting.
BOOK REVIEWS
RILEY: The Legendary RMs by John Price Williams, 250mm x 195mm hardbound with dust jacket, 208 pages, ISBN 1 86126 761 4. Pub: Crowood Press Ltd, Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire. £19.95. The Riley RM series cars are enduringly popular with motor enthusiasts, though only 28,000 of them were built from 1945 to 1957, and their popularity is in spite of a reputation at the time for being rather expensive to buy and unreliable to run. They were ‘an exercise in good taste’ according to one motoring writer, the last cars designed and built in the pre-war Riley tradition, though wholly produced by the Nuffield Organisation. Falling sales and family disputes had weakened Riley in the 1930s. William Riley, who had begun the firm making bicycles in the 19th century, was still on the board in his 80s until 1937 and was not even convinced that they should be making cars at all, preferring just to manufacture wheels, his first love. His sons joined him in the company, Stanley doing chassis design, Percy looking after the engines and Allan production of the bodies. Overall control of the family firm was in the hands of eldest son Victor, who by the late 1930s was suffering bouts of ill-health and was struggling to manage an unnecessarily large range, plus dealing with the disastrous Autovia venture. He decided that he had to give up independence after 40 years, and looked for someone to rescue the company. His first choice as saviour, Triumph, had problems of their own at the time, and there was a semi mythical tale of a potential tie-up between Riley and BMW. The supposed synergy between the two car companies led to vague talks which came to nothing, but it is often thought that BMW cars influenced the concept of the RM series. After six months in receivership, controlled by Lloyd’s bank, Victor seized the lifeline afforded by William Morris’s offer to buy the company. Morris paid out £143,000 of his own money, then sold Riley for a nominal £1 to his Nuffield Organisation. He appointed Victor as a Director, but excluded the rest of the squabbling Riley family members. The redrawn 1939 range was smaller, only seven cars in total, based on two chassis, a 1.5 litre and a 2.5 litre (12 and 16 hp), incorporating many Nuffield components and steel instead of aluminum bodies, built at the same plant where MG bodies were made. Many of the Riley jigs and drawings were lost in wartime bombing, so totally new designs were ready for production in 1945, when everyone else (apart from Armstrong-Siddeley) was reissuing their pre-war cars. The new cars were longer and lower than the prewar Rileys. The two new Riley RM saloons were well-received by the motoring press, which must have helped in the negotiations with Government to get steel supplies, and by 1947 the Foleshill works was producing 100 cars a week for the first time. Demand constantly outstripped supply, not helped by the demands of exports which always left the home market wanting. This book deals with all the members of the RM family: RMA (1.5 litre saloon), RMB (2.5 litre saloon), ‘RMC’ (Roadster), ‘RMD’ (Drophead Coupe), RME (revised RMA), RMF (revised RMB) and the Gerald Palmer styled RMH (Pathfinder). The latter is described as the ‘ignominious end’ of the RM line, being not much more than a rebadged Wolseley. Also included here are notes on famous RM owners, specially bodied cars, such as woodies and coupes, police cars and sporting successes. Hints on buying and restoring cars complete a very satisfying book, though there is no mention of model and toy RMs. It is a pity that no 1:43 scale diecast model of any RM has been made (apart from the less-loved Pathfinder). Dinky’s rather approximate RMA was 1:48 scale, and all the 1:43 models have been relatively expensive handbuilts or kits. Surely this is an opportunity for a diecast manufacturer to fill the gap. There is no doubt that anyone who buys this excellent book will be inspired to have a go. Rob Ward
Royal Transport by Peter Pigott, English text. 208 pages, 142 photos. Hardbound with dust jacket. 260 x 260 mm. ISBN10: 1-55002-572-4; ISBN13: 978-1-55002-572-9 Pub: Canada: Dundurn Press, 3 Church Street, Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5E 1M2. UK: Gazelle Book Services. White Cross Mills, Hightown, Lancaster, LA1 4X5. USA: Dundurn Press, 2250 Military Road, Tonawanda, NY, 14150 USA Here we see how the Royal Family has adapted to technological innovations, the first monarch to drive a motor car, the first to fly in an aircraft and we can read about the King who so loved his yacht Britannia that he ordered it scuttled on his death. We also see Prince Charles’s Aston Martins, the Queen’s Land Rovers and we are told that Princess Margaret owned more Rolls-Royces than anyone else in her family.
Hans-Georg SchmittFIRE ENGINES North East England by Ron Henderson 210 x 200 mm softbound, 52 pages, Nostalgia Road, Units 5-8 Chancel Place, Shap Road Industrial Estate, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 6NZ. ISBN 1 903016 67 3. £8.95 This book includes 108 pictures of the region's fire appliances from 1948 to the present day, with accounts of local service development. Some fascinating rarities are pictured, vehicles used by these smaller fire services. The author worked in the fire and ambulance services for over 35 years, now a Divisional Officer with the North East Ambulance Service.
Rod WardDONCASTER (buses) 2: Independents from 1950 by Roger Holmes, 170mm x 240mm softbound, 64 pp, ISBN 1 905304 01 3. Venture Publications, 128 Pikes Lane, Glossop, Derbyshire SK13 8EH. £9.95. This completes the story of independent operator buses in the South Yorkshire town of Doncaster, from 1950 to date. Names such as Blue Line, Leon, Felix, Severn, Wilson, Bingley, Holling and Cooper are little known outside the locality, so the many pictures in this book will be new to most readers. Like most such small operators, they operated on a shoestring, with secondhand vehicles, and their stories are well told here. They mostly disappeared into the local PTE in the 1970s, leaving a more varied and colourful world to history.
Rod WardPorsche Prototype Era 1964-1973 in Photos by Bill Oursler, English text. 168 pages, 163 photos, 290 x 290 mm. Hardbound with dustjacket. ISBN 1 893618 53 6. Pub: David Bull Publishing, 4250 East Camelback Road, Suite K150, Phoenix, AZ 85018 USA Over a decade, Porsche transformed itself and sports car racing by raising performance to new heights. Porsche grew from winning the GT class to dominating prototype racing sports cars, the top of the tree, a time of continuous development under Dr Ferdinand Piech, later head of Volkswagen group, one of the great automotive minds of the modern era. The story runs from the two litre 904 of 1964-65 to the all-conquering turbocharged 917/30 Can-Am spyder of Marc Donohue, which crushed all opposition in 1973. This is a beautifully presented photographic history. The accompanying commentary offer insights into men and machines of the era; with the classic circuits, revolutionary designs and heroic drivers, some of whom tragically died in dreadful accidents.
Hans-Georg SchmittSOUTH COAST (buses) by Bob Rowe, photos by G H F Atkins, 170mm x 240mm softbound, 64 pages, ISBN 1 905304 005 6. Venture Publications, 128 Pikes Lane, Glossop, Derbyshire. SK13 8EH UK. £9.95. Geoffrey Atkins lived in the East Midlands, but photographed buses all over Britain. Here we have a selection from his visits to the South Coast of England from 1928 to the 1980s, most of them starting from London’s Victoria Coach Station. Evocative views from Folkestone to Penzance (even some with the familiar rainy weather) will bring back many memories for holidaymakers as well as locally based enthusiasts. Seafronts, country villages and tight corners; these were all our yesterdays.
Rod Ward
CLUB NEWS
Collated by Rod WardBrooklin Collectors Club: The latest issue of the Brooklin Collector, edited by Uncle Jack Patrick, includes details of the 2006 club model: Brooklin BRK60X Oldsmobile Starfire Convertible 1963 in antique rose poly metallic. It is only available to members (maximum two each), so to get yours you’ll have to join the BCC now; phone Membership Secretary John Bowyer on 01276 473499.
South Hants Model Auto Club: The Club has to find a new venue for meetings, as the Rockingham Arms is closing down. Any suggestions for a cheap venue close to Southampton should contact Chris Derbyshire. Secretary Dave Painter will pass on messages while you are discussing with him how to join the SHMAC by phone on 01264 366408.
Cape Model and Toy Club: The Cape Model Collector, newsletter of the CMTC, notes that the club has now been in existence for 20 years. Members are obviously big travellers; their events column lists fairs and swapmeets in Kwazulu-Natal (Geoff Sear’s Natal Club is referred to as the Banana Boys), Melbourne, Australia, and a Japanese model train fair (though that is in the Cape). If you are a travel fan and you’d like to join them phone Graham Ramsay on 072 156 6806 ‘at any hour’, he says.
Wessex Model and Toy Collectors: 2007 sees the WMTC 20th year of Club Models, made for them by Brooklin, so they will have to commission something special; details later. Chairman John Roberts reproves in headmasterly fashion those members who natter during club meetings. ‘Other members would rather you stayed away’ he says, confident of packed meetings without the chattering classes. But they will still get the WMTC newsletter, Smalltalk, edited by the ever-entertaining Barry Lloyd. If you’d like it as well, contact membership secretary Doug Male 01225 755043.
West Australian Model Collectors Club: Ian Hind, Club Secretary and Editor of Showcase, the WAMCC Club publication, ranges widely over the world of toys and models and comments on prices of metals. Zinc prices have risen by over 30% already this year, a total rise of 70% in 12 months. Ian says that zamac (or mazak), the main alloy used for diecast models, is an alloy of zinc and aluminium. Not really - it is zinc and magnesium. He notes that higher zinc prices may mean higher prices for diecast models in future, though as the raw material proportion of the total retail price of a model car is fairly small, it should not impact too badly. On the other hand, the raw material part of white metal or pewter model prices is much bigger, and I was recently told that the cost to commercial casters of basic tin alloy has trebled in recent years. This undoubtedly affects prices of the relatively few white metal models that made nowadays. If you want to read more about raw materials futures, you’ll have to join the WAMCC; phone 934 9369, or email:jhind@iinet.net.au
Maidenhead Static Model Club Cliff Maddock has now taken over from Les Duplock as Editor of Wheel Bearings, the MSMC magazine, now A5 size. When he handed over the Editor’s blue pencil, Les told Cliff that the only articles outstanding for publication were from Cliff himself, so members must rally round and send in their best work as soon as possible. Social Secretary Alan Simpson is trying to organise a coach trip to the London Eye, followed by a fish and chip supper, all for about £25.00. If this sounds like your sort of thing, you’ll have to be quick and join the MSMC by contacting the Club website at www.windsortoyfair.co.uk
New Zealand Model Vehicle Club: Ron Ford, editor of Miniature Auto, newsletter of the NZMVC notes that I incorrectly referred to the Club recently as the CMTC, moving them from New Zealand to South Africa. Well, at least I got them both in the Southern hemisphere. It’s my age, you know. The Club has had a change at the top, Shayne Spicer replacing Stan Beavon as President, and apparently there is no Vice President. That will narrow members’ choices of recreational activities. Ron continues to fill the pages of Miniature Auto, but he points out that his vault of articles is now empty. Among other features in the latest issue is the continuing history of Micro Models for which there seems to be an insatiable thirst for information in New Zealand. If you’d like to know more about Micro, you’ll have to join the NZMVC. Contact Eric Brockie on (03) 448 9276 or email austinrk@paradise.net.nz
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