CONTENTS of the print edition
Model Auto Review 220
Publication 7 March 200804 Cars in colour 07 Ford Falcon-Comet Dave Turner, England 09 Hongwell British cars Maz Woolley, England 10 Ertl Force One Aircraft Harvey Goranson, USA 12 Brit kits Maz Woolley 13 Automodelli Dave and Kimmo 14 Captions: pp 16,17 15 Shelby Dave & Kimmo, USA • Wossat? Phil Campbell, Germany 16,17 Cars black-white-grey 18 Letters 19 World News 20 Competitions 24 Military drilling Graeme Watt, Scotland • Truckstop 26 Book reviews captions:page 29 27 News: Jiarun, Conti, Johnny Lightnng, partworks 29 Buses and Emergency
EDITORIAL
by Rod WardYOUR VERDICT
It’s always a shock to the system when there are changes to a favourite publication, so I was interested to see your reactions to the changes to the print edition MAR in the last issue. There was obvious regret at having fewer pages, compensated for by the reduction in the cover price, and widespread understanding that it was hard to fill the pages with less news and less input from our contributors. Some readers expressed relief that there was as much news and features as before. Only one reader felt we should have kept the original number of pages at a £7.00 cover price. I disagree; £7.00 is too expensive, and I couldn’t guarantee to fill the pages anyway. Another reader was pleased that we had not gone down to A6 size (though he’d have stayed with us even if we did). All print publications are struggling, various solutions being sought. For big publishers the answer is easy;
two American publications, Toy Cars & Models and Toy Shop, closed down late in 2007 when their publisher could sustain them no longer. On a smaller scale, The Brooklin Collector is now published three times a year instead of four, at the same membership cost. Other magazines have shrunk in terms of page numbers or the amount of material filling their pages (often just by using bigger photos), but without any formal announcement, in the hope that readers don’t notice the difference. Almost everyone gets the message that we have little choice at MAR. We have to make these changes and accept them. The only alternative is that there will be no MAR at all. One or two optimists express the hope that the lower cover price may encourage some new readers to buy the magazine. I hope they are right, but I am not holding my breath. MAR can at least now continue in this format for the foreseeable future...
AUTO REVIEW
My ambitious plan to produce ten Auto Review titles this year has begun with the books on taxis and three wheeler cars, available at £5.95 each. In the print edition is a photo of an 1897 Wolseley, just one of many that could not be squeezed in, though over 170 are included. Thank you to everyone who has contributed pictures for future titles. I still need more on Riley, electric vehicles (battery or petrol-electric), Jowett, Standard-Triumph, British motorcycles and two wheeler speed records.
POUNDS CHEAPER
At last the pound is dropping towards a more sensible exchange rate against international currencies, in particular the Euro. Our new lower price and the improved exchange rate mean that EU buyers are paying 28% less for MAR. Last year a subscription cost £48 (€71) to Europe. Now it costs £40 (€51). Tell your friends in the EU!
2008 RELEASES
MAR 221 will see news of new releases from the world’s model ranges. Probably modest plans, not all of which will see light of day this year, but we do know of at least two new series planned for this year, so it’s not all gloom.
HONGWELL BRITS
By Maz WoolleyI have seen pictures on the internet of these new Hongwell Classic 1:43 British cars:
Ford Corsair: as originally made for Motorart with opening doors and the same ghastly wheels but the example I’ve seen actually has the centres stuck on straight.
Ford Cortina Mk 1: This seems to have all the awkwardness of the Corgi Classics and rather small wheels.
Ford Escort Mk 1: The front end doesn't look quite right to me. But overall it is not bad as a budget model.
Ford Anglia: Seems to have a slightly strange shaped front wing, unless this is a trick of the light.
Triumph Herald: Pretty much identical to the Corgi, but with an extraneous repeat indicator on the side of the wing and a ghastly colour scheme.
Editor’s note: I have also seen pictures of Hongwell’s Rover 90 P4, Austin-Healey 3000 and Austin A60. All look similar to the Vanguards issues, but they are not the same. Some of the chosen colour schemes are odd; perhaps they are just pre-production choices. I look forward to seeing how they will be finished when they appear here, now that Oxford is the UK distributor.
1:24 IN QUATTRORUOTINE
By Bruno BoraccoLeading Italian car magazine Quattroruote offered with its January 2008 issue a 1:24 diecast Fiat 500F 1965 in white with a red interior. The series will continue with Alfa Romeo Giulia Super 1965, Lancia Fulvia coupé Rallye 1.3 HF, Lamborghini Miura 1968, Fiat 600D 1960, Volkswagen Beetle 1961, Innocenti Mini Cooper MkIII 1972, Citroën DS19 1963, Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce 2.0 1971, Renault R4 1962 etc. The model comes with a book about the car, including a contemporary road test from Quattroruote. The model is quite accurate; doors, engine cover and front lid all open, but the wheels are white, not silver. Detail is fine; the bollo (tax) on the windscreen, correct 1965 Turin number plates and the windscreen mirror. The rear air-intakes are nicely cast, not just decals. Sadly the rear lights are not coloured plastic as on the real car, but they look plated.
Shelby Goes Into 1:64 scale
By Dave Weber and Kimmo SahakangasShelby Collectables is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, a division of Shelby Automobiles, famous for producing full-size Cobras and Shelby Mustang GTs, and still helmed by their founder Carroll Shelby.
1:24 and 1:64 diecast replicas began production in 2006, made in China for Shelby. The 1:64 cars are uniquely detailed, with features including hinged doors and hoods, and rubber tyres. The first castings included a 1966 GT350 Mustang, a model of the Eleanor Mustang from the movie Fast and Furious and a 1968 GT 500 Mustang. The GT350 was produced as a GT350H, the special hire cars that Hertz offered in 1966. The latest additional models are a 2006 Shelby GT-H (Hertz), Cobra 427 S/C, Shelby GT and Shelby GT 500. Each GT Mustang has casting differences.
More new models are expected in 2008.
One will probably be a Cobra Daytona.In the USA they are available at Toys R Us and K-Mart stores. Some independent diecast dealers carry them as well. The models can also be bought direct online at www.shopshelby.com.
Latest Parker 1:76 Models
By Maz WoolleyThese are the latest Parker 1:76 white metal kits. It is nice to see him make some variants that the bigger diecast ranges will probably not think worthwhile making:
VE55 1954-56 Morris Oxford Series II Traveller Estate VE56 1956-62 Morris Oxford Series III Half Ton Van VE57 1949-53 Standard Vanguard 12cwt Van VE58 1953-55 Standard Vanguard Phase III
ALEZAN 1:43 CARS
The latest 1:43 handbuilt models from Michel Ducleux’s Alezan Collector range are AC18 Jaguar Ascot, bodied by Bertone in 1977, AC19 Alfa 164 Proteo cabriolet 1991 red and AC20 De Tomaso Longchamp V8 cabriolet 1985 green.
NEXT ABREX SKODA RELEASES
By Jirí HavlícekThe Abrex 1:43 diecast Skoda 1203 Commercial will next appear from the Czech repblic in three emergency service variants: hearse, ambulance and fire vehicle.
CONTI AT LINGOTTO
By Bruno BoraccoMercanti per un giorno is a popular annual show in Turin, held in the large spaces of the Lingotto commercial centre that used to be the old Fiat factory. 40,000 m2 of space was divided into thirds, one for antique dealers, the second for old collectables, the third now for scale models, toys, spare parts, old cars and bikes. There were over 1,600 exhibitors and about 10,000 visitors. An exceptional exhibition was of 1:10 scale models made by Maurizio Conti, son of the famous Michele Conti. This gave us the exclusive chance to see the 1953 Ferrari 375 MM of Roberto Rossellini, and the Ferrari 250 GTO 1964 both 1:10 scale. Lots of old diecast model cars were on sale at at reasonable prices. This was a very good meeting for Turin after many disappointments. The first swapmeet was held in Turin more than 30 years ago, and now once again we have a good meeting.
MORE ON JOHNNY LIGHTNING
By Karl Schnelle, Indianapolis, IN, USAFurther to Don Elliott’s article in MAR 218, I also hope Johnny Lightning survives, or any part of it, but there are not many for sale any more in Indianapolis. There is a great website, however; www.hollywood-diecast.com that lists all the other models that Don has not seen yet. JL had many more Hollywood cars that Don did not list: see Show Biz menu at www.jlcollector.com for all six series of Hollywood on Wheels. Also, Gerry Anderson‘s Supercar has a whole website devoted to it at www.aiai.ed.ac.uk/~bat/GA/supercar-collectables.html, including the JL version.
There is always more to collect!
Book Reviews by Rod Ward
PLASTIC TOY CARS of the 1950s and 1960s by Andrew Ralston, pub Veloce Publishing Ltd, 33 Trinity St, Dorchester DT1 1TT. Softbound, 128 pages 195mm x 210mm, 250 illustrations.
ISBN 978-1-8458412-5-6. £19.99.Diecast and tinplate model cars have been well-documented down the years, but plastic cars have not been as well-served until now. Plastics have been used for toy car ranges such as Norev, Ssiku, Wiking and Minialuxe, for slot cars such Minic Motorways, and for many toys in all levels of quality and accuracy from every country in the world. This is a big subject for one book, but Andrew has handled it well, giving background information on the makers.
He also covers such ‘mixed media’ toys as Wells-Brimtoy which were part plastic, part tinplate. The plastic material ranges from acrylic to polystyrene to polythene, and all types are considered here. Not everything can be covered in one volume, but the reader will get an introduction to the products of Ingap, Gama, Beeju, JEP, Politoys, Renwal, Telsalda and many other makers. Highly recommended.
DINKY TOYS FRANCE by Etienne Flament, pub SAFAM, BP40, 78231 Le Pecq Cedex, France.
A4 softbound 76 pages. ISBN 978-2-9531031-0-6 33 €uros inc p&p from the publisher by IMO.Etienne Flament, Editor and Publisher of Argus de la Miniature, has produced this extensive and detailed price guide to French Dinky Toys. It carefully sets out all variations in colours, wheels, baseplates, boxes etc, showing differences between apparently similar models, and it pictures many dozens of Dinky Toys in colour. If you own any French Dinky Toys you will need this book to establish their values. Excellent.
Auto Review Books - from the same publisher as Model Auto Review
02 Leyland Lorries John Hanson £2.95 03 Comic Character Cars Don Elliott £2.95 04 Scooters Dave Turner £2.95 06 Big Fords: Zodiac etc Dave Turner £2.95 07 The Motor Caravan John Hanson £2.95 10 More Scooters Dave Turner £2.95 12 World Land Speed Record to 1948 F Käsmann £3.95 13 Ford Mustang Dave Turner £3.95 14 World Land Speed Record 1948 on F Käsmann £3.95 15 Lone Star Toys Andrew Ralston £3.95 17 Vehicles of the RAC John Bingham £3.95 31 A Mini Album Rod Ward £5.95 32 The Spitfire Story Rod Ward £5.95 33 Holiday Coach Excursions Rod Ward £5.95 34 A Century of Caravanning Rod Ward £5.95 35 On 3 Wheels; three wheeler cars Rod Ward NEW £5.95 36 Taxi: Purpose built cabs in Britain Rod Ward NEW £5.95 37 Land Rover Album Rod Ward March 2008 £5.95 38 Classic Airships Rod Ward April 2008 £5.95 39 Jaguar Album Rod Ward May 2008 £5.95 40 MG Album Rod Ward July 2008 £5.95All titles available from Modelauto Ltd - see www.zeteo.com for payment terms etc.
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Taxi: Cabs in Britain
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