CONTENTS of the print edition
Model Auto Review 226
Publication 7 October 200804 Cars in colour (captions page 06) 07 Galaxie 500XL Graeme Ogg, UK 08 Ford F-series pickups 1987-96 Dave Turner, UK 12 Morris Postwar Cars John Hanson, UK 14 Mikansue Triumph Dolomite John Hanson, UK 15 JMK kits Maz Woolley, UK 16-17 Cars 18 Letters from readers 19 Competitions page • Plastic kits 20 Book Reviews 24 A Very Rewarding Exercise 3: Graeme Watt, UK 25 Truckstop 26 Oxford 1:76 • Captions to page 29 27 Club News • Avia Mini: Schuco Concordes 29 Buses and emergency vehicles
EDITORIAL
by Rod WardEXCITING SUN STAR MODELS TO COME
I am pleased to note that one company at least is confidently expanding in the present difficult market conditions. Further to the note in MAR 224, Colin Hill tells us that he retired as Sales and Marketing Director of Sun Star on 31 August. Since April, Sun Star has been looking for a replacement for Colin and intended to make an appointment by the end of August. In contrast to what we said in MAR 224, ‘New product development plans will not be affected’, he tells us, ‘and UK and European collectors can look forward to many new exciting models from the company. All distributors have been kept informed of the situation’.
THE BLIGHTERS ARE OUTNUMBERED
For the first time there are more folk over 60 in Britain than there are under-16 year olds. This is heartening news for older people who used to be afraid to go out after dark, because of marauding bands of feral kids below the age of criminal responsibility. Now there are more of us than there are of them, so the little blighters should be scared of us. This change in the balance of the population is not reflected in what we see in the mass media, which seems to be pitched at a lowest common denominator yoof audience, obsessed with ‘celebrities’, so-called ‘reality’ television and trash culture. The 28 year old single female Londoner who writes all this stuff always gets everything wrong to do with ‘hardware’. Somehow it is acceptable to describe a DC-3 as a biplane (two engines, stupid, not two wings) or mention a Robin Reliant (other way round, dummy) whereas it would be an awful faux pas to attribute a handbag to the wrong designer. By contrast, in these pages our ever- increasing demographic can satisfy our common interest in quality products made by people who care, in our automotive heritage (correctly described) and in a good chuckle.
AUTO REVIEW
The latest Auto Review book is now available, EV: Electric Vehicles. So here is yet another appeal for material I can include in future publications: among Auto Review books currently in preparation are Jowett (and other Yorkshire vehicle builders), British motorcycles, Standard, Daimler (plus Lanchester and BSA), Vauxhall, Humber, pedal cycles (including mopeds), Wolseley, Sunbeam (plus Talbot), Armstrong- Siddeley, ‘Aviatrices’ and others. If you have illustrations (adverts, brochures, your own photos etc) or personal anecdotes, please send them to me as soon as possible for inclusion in these publications.
EXCHANGE RATES
Once again, for those who don’t keep up with these things, I have to report a change in the rate of exchange for the pound against the dollar and the Euro. The pound’s value has fallen, so MAR is now even cheaper for readers who pay in Euros, and especially in dollars!
20 YEARS OF EFE
Our congratulations are due to Frank Joyce and his team at Exclusive First Editions. Frank reminisces, ‘It was August 20 years ago that Exclusive First Editions was created and I started working on the tooling for our first models of the AEC RT and AEC Mammoth trucks. It was slightly ironic that the RT bus that I measured was one from the fleet of buses that I had been accustomed to seeing when I worked for Lesney Products. This large fleet of buses was used to bring the workforce in to the Matchbox factories. Many years later, as I was measuring this bus, still painted in a faded Matchbox livery, it looked like a much played with and well-loved toy. Before being painted into the Matchbox livery these buses were painted blue with Lesney Products markings and the fleet consisted of an assortment of vehicle types including RTs, Bristol Lodekkas, an RF and an RLH. The RLH was required to solve the same problem experienced by London Transport, which was the low bridge close to the Matchbox factory in Hackney. The buses were spread between the factories at Hackney, Abbey Wood, Chingford, Harlow, Harold Wood and Rochford where the Lodekkas were kept and the bus fleet may even have got up to the Peterborough factory’.
On the topic of current EFE products, Frank has a modest addition to the range to announce, ‘I have just received final shots of the trailer for the RMA Routemaster bus. It looks great and has now been cleared for production, so we can look forward to seeing this model before Christmas.’
Book Reviews
Ferrari Legends: Classics of Style and Design by Michel Zumbrunn, text by Richard Heseltine published Merrell, c/o 52 Vernham Road London SE18 3HB. Orderline 01235 465500. 286 pages 320 x 250mm hardbound with dust jacket ISBN: 978-1-8589-4432-6. £29.95
Following books on Auto Legends, British Auto Legends and Italian Auto Legends, Michel Zumbrunn focussed his lenses on on one marque, with extensive treatments of 40 prototype or production Ferraris, each a milestone in the firm’s history. The superb photos (only marred by the biggest - 600 mm or two feet long - being spread across two pages, the centre crease spoiling the lines) must have taken some setting up; each is a beautifully-lit studio study. Richard Heseltine’s authoritative text nicely complements the lush photography. It reads like the score of a grand opera. Enzo Ferrari the Commendatore delighted in keeping the rich and beautiful, royalty, playboys and movie stars waiting for hours, queuing up to buy road cars which ‘were thinly disguised racing cars’. Enzo stubbornly refused, however, to learn from advances in racing car design being made elsewhere. The interference of his beautiful wife, Laura, almost brought his company down 'when she angrily slapped Ferrari’s sales manager in public, causing eight senior directors to walk out. Phil Hill told tales of how he had to keep out of her way when he drove for Ferrari. Ferrari had to seek solace in the arms of his long-time mistress, Lina. Through it all , Ferrari was the only team to compete in every World Championship Formula One race since the series began in 1950, accruing more wins, driver’s titles and constructor’s championships than any of its rivals. Exciting stories include amateur driver Giovanni Bracco winning the 1952 Mille Miglia ‘fortified by vast quantities of brandy, and chain-smoking over the entire 1000 mile distance, in the prototype Ferrari 250MM’. While reading all this, the eye strays to the photos; from a 1947 Ferrari 166 Spider Corsa to the 1987 Ferrari F40, ‘simply the most exhilarating road car imaginable’.A big, heavy book, filled with stunning photographs. What more can I say? Rod Ward
BOX TOP AIR POWER: the aviation art of model airplane boxes by Thomas Graham Revised and expanded third edition, 280mm x 220mm softbound, 176 pages, ISBN 978-0-7643-2964-7. Pub: Schiffer, Atglen PA, USA, distributed in Europe by Bushwood Books, 6 Marksbury Avenue, Kew Gardens, Surrey TW9 4JF. £24.95 post free in UK, plus £5.50 per order in the rest of Europe.
Following Thomas Graham’s previous books on Revell, Aurora and Monogram, this volume combines superb period box art from those firms, plus others such as Hawk, MPC, AMT and Lindberg, with a full description of the original aircraft. Full credit is given to the original artists (some artwork never made it to a box top) and a distinction is made between the type of ‘very hard, contrasty’ pictures wanted by manufacturers to push the product, rather than the more ‘painterly’ style the artists themselves might choose. I browsed for hours through the beautiful artwork and enjoyed the accompanying text, but I found one annoying omission. It would be so much easier to find a specific aircraft if there was an alphabetical index. A minor irritation in what is otherwise a superbly produced and thought-out book. Rod WardCAR DESIGN YEARBOOK 7 by Stephen Newbury and Tony Lewin published by Merrell, c/o 52 Vernham Road London SE18 3HB. Orderline 01235 465500. 312 pages 250 x 290mm hardbound with dust jacket ISBN: 978-1-8589-4418-0. £29.95
TNow that we have reached the seventh edition of the Car Design Yearbook (CDY), it has proved its usefulness as the first point of reference in what has been made in that year. Stephen Newbury has now been joined by Tony Lewin, former editor of What Car? magazine to provide an independent, objective assessment of the design features and technical innovations of all 130 totally new concept and production cars unveiled in the year between the New York and Geneva motor shows (April 2007 to March 2008). With more than 550 colour photos (up to six per car) we see every car from every angle, many interior shots. There is also a specification table listing key technical and performance data. This year, in their introduction Trends, Highlights and Predictions the authors report that a key trend has been the return of the battery-powered car. In CDY6 there were 12 cars listed as hybrids or electrically powered; in CDY7 there are 26. They predict that by 2012 every major automaker will include at least one hybrid line, citing the Citroen C-Cactus concept, a 1.6- litre diesel hybrid with 97.4 mpg consumption and made of recycled material, as a direction for the future. They write that while last year ‘China dominated the auto industry's dealings, 2008 has been the year when Russia and India snatched the spotlight’, devoting a special feature to the Tata Nano, ‘the world's cheapest car’ at just 100,000 rupees (£1250). Just a few quotes from the text: the Honda CR-Z concept which ‘looks like no other small coupe, complex compound curves draw together the roof, rear pillars, rear fender and body sides with a fascinating interplay of light and shade’. The Dodge Challenger, previously a concept car, now enters production, Chrysler group ‘freshly cut loose from its German Daimler owners and able to produce a 1970s-style muscle car. Every line and every surface spells energy and impatience’. The Hyundai HED-5 iMode: ‘Its myriad styling details ruin whatever merits there once were in its basic overall shape, the result is a vehicle that is muddled, confusing and unattractive’. The new Lamborghini Reventon is an ‘even more imposing derivative of their top Murcielago LP640 model. The style throughout is that of the sinister sharp points, jagged edges and skewed planes of America's secretive stealth aircraft. Art, engineering or exhibitionism?’. The Mini Clubman has ‘invested heavily in solving problems that people did not realise existed’. The Renault Laguna is ‘disappointingly bland’, but its Kangoo stablemate is described as ‘cheerful’, ‘playful’ and ‘quirky’. Here and there connections between car platforms (Nissan Qashqai-Renault Koleos, both made in Korea by Samsung, Saab 9-4X Biopower-Cadillac Provoq, VW Routan-Chrysler Voyager etc) are made clear. As ever, this is a great read and will be an indispensible reference work in future. Rod WardMONTE CARLO RALLY The Golden Age: 1911-1980by Graham Robson, Published by and available from Herridge & Sons Ltd., Lower Forda, Shebbear, Beaworthy, Devon EX21 5SY. Also available from Chris Lloyd Sales and Marketing Services. 50A Willis Way, Poole, Dorset BH15 3SY. 239 pages, 295 photos, 12 maps. 220 x 275 mm hardbound with dust jacket. ISBN 978-1-906133-00-9. £35.00
This is the definitive history of the Monte Carlo Rally; cars of all shapes and sizes, even buses, battled through snow, fog, ice and darkness from far-flung starting points all ever Europe, all heading for Monaco. Every Monte from 1911 to 1980 is described, with results listings and route maps. The stories are told of Hotchkiss, Sunbeam- Talbot, Mini-Cooper, Porsche 911 and Lancia Stratos among many others. The photos evoke driving difficulties as well as changes in car design, equipment, and routes down the years. Hans-Georg SchmittCoachwork on Vintage Bentleys: 3 Litre, 4½ Litre, 6½ Litre, Speed Six and 8 Litre 1921-1931 by Nick Walker, photos Rowan Isaac. 160 pages, 202 x 275 mm 258 photos. Hardbound with dust jacket. ISBN 0-9549981-1-1 £35.00. Published by and available from Herridge & Sons Ltd., Lower Forda, Shebbear, Beaworthy, Devon EX21 5SY. Also available from Chris Lloyd Sales and Marketing Services. 50A Willis Way, Poole, Dorset BH15 3SY.
W O Bentley was surprised when his cars became the luxury playthings of the rich. His first model, the Three Litre, though expensive, was aimed at sporting motorists. Very soon, however, it attracted buyers who clothed the chassis in heavy saloon and limousine bodies, for which it was not really suited. Bentley therefore developed longer wheelbase, more powerful cars. Society embraced them and fitted suitably magnificent bodywork. Here in contemporary photos and 60 specially taken modern colour photos the story is told of Bentley coachwork up to 1931 when the company went into receivership. Hans- Georg Schmitt
OXFORD 1:76 PROGRAMME
As promised in MAR 225, here is Oxford’s 1:76 diecast model release schedule:
1:76 Chipperfields series CH027 Bedford CA Van Chipperfield NOV CH028 Land Rover Series 1 88" Canvas Chipperfield NOV CH029 Land Rover Series 1 109" Frame Chipperfield NOV CH030 Bedford TK Fire Engine Chipperfield DEC 1:76 scale Oxford Haulage Company DAF05CS DAF FTGXF105 SSC curtainside Ken Mallinson OCT DAF06CS DAF FTGXF105 SSC curtainside David Murray OCT SCA07CS Scania R Topline Curtainside Olivers Transport OCT DAF07CS DAF FTGXF105 SC curtainside Longs of Leeds NOV SCA02LL Scania R Topline low load McIntosh Plant Hire NOV SCA03FR Scania R Topline Fridge Scott Trawlers NOV DAF08CS DAF FTGXF105 (SSC) Curtainside R A Howie NOV MAN01CS MAN TGX XLX Curtainside Richard Read DEC MAN02CS MAN TGX XXL Curtainside Eric Vick Transport DEC DAF01FR DAF FTGXF 105 Fridge McCulla DEC MAN01LL MAN TGX XXL Low Loader J B Rawcliffe DEC DAF01LL DAF FTGXF105 (SSC) low load Bernard Hunter JAN MAN01FR MAN TGX XLX Fridge Trailer Turners of Soham JAN 1:76 scale Oxford Automobile Company 76JAG7002 Jaguar MkVII Birch Grey OCT 76JAG2002 Jaguar MkII Old English White OCT 76MGA002 MGA Iris Blue OCT 76MGTC002 MG TC Red OCT 76MGB004 MGB Iris Blue OCT 76SV003 Standard Vanguard Comet Blue OCT 76ME003 Morris Eight Tourer Ivory/Maroon OCT 76JJ003 Jowett Javelin Maroon OCT 76TM003 Triumph Mayflower Black OCT 76FP003 Ford Popular 103E Black OCT 76MO003 Morris Oxford III Dark Green/Florida Green OCT 76DS001 Daimler DS420 Limousine Old English White NOV 76COR3001 Ford Cortina MkIII GXL Gold Life on Mars NOV 76COR1004 Ford Cortina MkI Red/Gold Racing NOV 76ETYP005 Jaguar E Type Union flag Austin Powers NOV 76DS003 Daimler DS420 Limousine Black/Grey NOV 76JJ004 Jowett Javelin States of Jersey Police NOV 76JAG7003 Jaguar MkVIIM Worcestershire police NOV 76COR2004 Ford Cortina MkII Hampshire & IoW police NOV 76JAG2003 Jaguar Mk II Leices & Rutland police NOV 76ME004 Morris 8 Tourer Nottingham City Police NOV 76DS002 Daimler DS420 Hearse Black DEC 76COR3002 Ford Cortina MkIII Daytona Yellow DEC 1:76 Oxford Commercials RM072 Routemaster bus Bath City Sightseeing AUG RM107 Routemaster bus York City Sightseeing SEPT 76WE003 Wales & Edwards Milk Float Handsworth-B’ham OCT 76WE004 Wales & Edwards BE van Co-op Bread OCT 76FIRE002 Bedford TK/Carmichael Fire Northants FB OCT 76ANG039 Anglia Di Maschio's OCT RT024 RT Bus Swan Motors OCT 76JM006 Austin J2 Paralanian Brown/Cream OCT 76CA018 Bedford CA Minibus British Rail Crew Bus OCT 76JM016 Morris J2 Minibus Bartons OCT 76CA012 Bedford CA Milk Float Express Dairies OCT 76TRAC002 Tractor Green OCT 76LAN188005 Land Rover Ser 1 88 HT Bradford OCT 76LAN188006 Land Rover Ser 1 88 HT PO Telephones OCT 76FIRE003 Bedford TK-Carmichael West Midlands FS NOV 76AT001 Austin Taxi prewar Black NOV 76MH004 Mechanical Horse Van Trailer LNER NOV 76RAB003 Scammell Scarab Van Trailer Railfreight NOV 76MH005 Mechanical Horse Dustcart Huntingdon NOV 76MH006 Mechanical Horse Rigid Flatbed British Rail NOV 76WE005 Wales & Edwards BE milk float Express NOV 76WE006 Wales & Edwards 'Standard' Van BOAC DEC 76AT002 Austin Taxi 1930s Oxford Blue 76MH007 Mechanical Horse + flat trailer Pickfords DEC 1:76 Sets 76SET04 Royal Mail set OCT 76SET05 Land Rover set OCT 76SET06 Jaguar set OCT 76SET07 Morris Minor set NOV 76SET08 Ford Cortina set DEC 76SET09 Taxi set DEC
CLUB NEWS
Collated by Rod WardFollowing my note about the Corgi Collector Club surviving the Hornby takeover of Corgi, their phone number is 0844 800 4095 (5p per minute UK), email address is susie@collectorsclubs.org.uk. The South Hants Model Club (01264 366408) publication is Wheel Nuts, edited by Sue Leake, includes the usual mix of interesting articles, inclusing Dave Painter’s review of the Lamborghini Reventon, made by Mondo Motors. That’s two mentions for the Reventon in this issue of MAR... Maidenhead Static Model Club’s newsletter Wheel Bearings (01494 813903) often includes news of other clubs as well. The latest newsletter mentions the Whitewebbs Model Group and the Enfield & District Vintage Vehicle Society, both of which meet at Whitewebbs. The West Australian Model Collectors Club (9310 1790) is desperately searching for a new magazine editor for Showcase, otherwise it may just become a newsletter in future; it already has a dearth of news and features in its pages. In South Africa, The Natal Diecast Model Collectors (031 266 3138), based in Durban, produce a quarterly newsletter which is also a shadow of its former self. Yes, there is less news around these days, but many club publications manage to source interesting features written by members. Come on, everyone, support your Club magazine or lose it. Uncle Jack Patrick still produces the Brooklin Collector three times a year on behalf of the Brooklin Collectors Club. Jack manages to fill the pages with news of Brooklin products, correspondence from members and articles (though they are often on real cars rather than models).
Auto Review Books By Zeteo Publishing
Latest title: EV: Electric Vehicles out now: £5.95Post and packing free in UK to MAR subscribers only, £1.00 Elsewhere
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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 onwards F Käsmann £3.95 15 Lone Star Toys Andrew Ralston £3.95 17 Vehicles of the RAC John Bingham £3.95 Titles published from 2007 onwards 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 £5.95 36 Taxi: Purpose built cabs in Britain Rod Ward £5.95 37 Land Rover Album Rod Ward £5.95 38 Classic Airships Rod Ward £5.95 39 Jaguar Album Rod Ward £5.95 40 MG Album Rod Ward £5.95 41 Triumph Album Rod Ward £5.95 42 Electric vehicles Rod Ward Latest title: out now £5.95 43 Riley Album Rod Ward Oct 2008 £5.95 44 Fast Boats (incl water speed record) Rod Ward Nov 08 £5.95 45 Jowett Album Rod Ward Jan 2009 £5.95 46 British Motorcycle Manufacturers Rod Ward Feb 09 £5.95 47 Standard Album Rod Ward Mar 2009 £5.95 48 Daimler Cars Rod Ward Apr 2009 £5.95 49 Vauxhall Album Rod Ward May 2009 £5.95 50 Humber Cars Rod Ward July 2009 £5.95
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