LLEDO DAYS GONE - 1937 SCAMMELL TRACTOR 'BERTRAM MILLS'

A slight change of plan at the end of 1996 saw DG80, the Scammell Tractor, released in the livery of Bertram Mills Circus. The orange and blue livery will fit in well with a 'circus' display. See more

SCHUCO 1:43 OPEL CORSA - THE CITY OF NURNBERG

The front-wheel drive Opel Corsa was first launched in April 1983 to replace the Opel Kadett C. The first Corsas were three-door hatchback and two-door saloon models, with four-door and five-door versions arriving in 1984. The basic model was called just the Corsa, which was followed by the Corsa Luxus, Corsa Berlina and the sporty Corsa SR. Six years later, the Corsa received a facelift, with a new front fascia and some other minor changes. The models were then labeled LS, GL, GLS and GT. Power came from a variety of displacements including 1.0 liter, 1.2 liter, 1.3 liter and 1.4 liter gas engines which were short on performance but strong on economy. There was also a 1.5 L diesel engine available.

Feature:
Limited Edition of 1000 pieces worldwide
Accurate 3.25" long model of Opel's supermini painted for the city of Nurnberg Public Works
Exquisite detailing including orange roof beacon, multi-color Nurnberg city crest, gloss orange paint with corner warning markers, windshield wipers (including rear window), clear plastic headlight lens and tinted tail light lens
Superb interior includes steering wheel, floor-mount shifter, legible dashboard dials, rearview mirror and even red seat belt recepticles
Diecast metal construction with plastic detail parts Includes clear display case and base

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ITALIAN WITH BAGGAGE

In the same month of July, the Fiat 1500 (56b) with a roof-rack joined the range. It is probably one of the most common regular wheel models to be found at swapmeets and of course the real vehicle can still be seen today as a Lada with only minor alterations.

The plastic interior was modified to include extensions ahead of the ‘M’ in Matchbox on the base. The roof luggage was originally brown but this was subsequently changed to tan. The main variation came in the 1968 GI Gift Set, when the Fiat was painted in all-over red with tan luggage. This is considerably harder to find than the normal green version.—Model Collector

THE TAYLOR JUMBO CRANE

The Taylor Jumbo Crane (11c) replaced the ERF Petrol Tanker in June. It was usually found in all-over yellow with a red double chain hook. When the weight box was painted red, a few hooks appeared with single chains in either red or yellow plastic.
The jib was subject to a number of casting changes. These centered upon the top and bottom lattice work which originally was cast open but this gap was later closed. The final jib version included a small cross brace between the top plates.

A King size version, also in plain yellow, was released at the same time. The miniature model was available for five years before it was replaced in April 1969 by the Scaffolding Truck.

ERTL 1/18 - 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS-AM

The 1996 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is a sleek-looking car, and this model certainly captures the shape. While it does have such features as steering, opening bonnet and doors, perhaps by today's standards it is lacking a little. For example, the interior looks somewhat plain, while the seats do not tilt; equally on our sample the side doors were not a perfect fit. However, if such details do not worry you, this will prove an enjoyable model to own. Buy it now

CORGI 1/43 ROVER MINI AND BMW MINI

The two cars depicted in this boxed set are two of the cars which took part in the 2004 Lord Mayor’s Show in the City of London. In this show the Mini Cooper Register supplied 45 cars, to celebrate 45 years of Mini – H314 AEC is a 1990 Rover Mini Cooper which actually led the Mini Cooper Register display of 45 cars in the 2004 Lord Mayor’s Show, as it did in 1994, 1996 and 2001. The most modern car is the September 2004 built New MINI ONE D, 8996 DF. This is the 4th time that the Mini Cooper Register has supported the Lord Mayor’s Show, the previous times being 1994, 1996 and 2001. Shop here

SCHUCO 1:43 MERCEDES-BENZ 170V WOOD FUELED

Bio fuels are nothing new. In the fuel-starved Germany of the 30’s and 40’s, “wood gasification” generators were fitted to cars when gasoline wasn’t available. This novel model replicates the burner affixed to the rear of a Mercedes-Benz 170 sedan, with plumbing to the front part of the device that fuels the engine. Completing the scene is an extra bag of wood slung over the right front fender. A fascinating model made all the more interesting because of its scarcity. Buy it now

VANGUARDS 1/43 BEDFORD S TYPE TANKER 'REGENT'

The Bedford has the oval tanker body and is finished in the red "REGENT" livery with front mounted ladder, which looks correct and is certainly not over-scale. The tank is all metal and is painted, avoiding the problem of trying to match the colour of plastic tank to metal parts. . In addition to admiring the basic model, look at the 'By Appoinment' coats of arms on the cab doors, which have been superbly printed. Buy it now

SCHUCO 1:18 PORSCHE 356 A SPEEDSTER SILVER

The Porsche 356 was the company's first production automobile. It was a lightweight and nimble 2-door sports car available as coupe and convertible. Production started in 1948 in Austria and in 1950 the factory relocated to Germany. In 1955, after numerous changes, the 356A was introduced. Production continued until April 1965. Little noticed at its inception, the first 356s sold primarily in Europe, but by the early 1950s the 356 had gained renown among enthusiasts on both sides of the Atlantic. Like its cousin, the VW Beetle, the 356 was a four-cylinder, air-cooled, rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive car utilizing unitized pan and body construction. While the 356's body was an original design by Porsche, its engine, suspension and chassis were derived from the Beetle. However, Porsche quickly re-engineered and refined the car so by the late '50s many fewer parts were shared. Cabriolets were offered from the start, and in the early 1950s sometimes comprised over 50% of total production. One of the most desirable collector models is the 356 Speedster, introduced in late 1954. With its raked windshield, bucket seats and minimal folding top, the Speedster was an instant hit, especially in Southern California. Buy it now

HOT WHEELS 1/18 FERRARI F50

The Ferrari F50 is a high-performance Supercar, introduced in 1996 to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary. The car is a two-door, two-seat convertible with a removable hardtop and has a 4.7L naturally aspirated sixty-valve V-12 engine that was developed from Ferrari's F1 powerplant. Only 349 cars were made, one less than Ferrari estimated they could sell.

This car has been superbly modelled by Hot Wheels in their ever increasing 1:18 scale Ferrari range. As we have said in the past in other Ferrari reviews, this model is excellent quality and extremely good value for the collector! Hot Wheels have captured the power and grace of these incredible machines, and of course the red paintwork and prancing horse speaks for itself!! Buy it now

BRUMM 1/43 SIMCA D-DAY APERTA 1944

An interesting model has appeared on the Simca 5, in military guise as it would have appeared on D-Day in 1944. Perhaps the paint finish is a little too glossy in places, but pleasing touches are hooded healights (portrayed in black) and the fact that the seats actually tip forward. Buy it now

SCHUCO 1:43 VOLKSWAGEN T1 SERVICE VAN FOR JOHN DEERE-LANZ

The classic Volkswagen T1 Minibus was first produced in 1950 and continued to be made until 1967. Its duties ranged from functional to fun, seeing duty as delivery van, service truck, emergency vehicle, family car and getaway camper. With its low cost, high reliability and ease of maintenance, it was a hit with all its owners, but is probably best remembered as an iconic symbol of '60s counterculture. The VW van was among the first 'forward control' designs in which the driver was placed above the front wheels. Thanks to wind-tunnel testing, the Minibus was aerodynamically superior to the Beetle despite its slab-sided shape. Never known for its power, the Minibus started out with only an 1131cc engine making 25 hp. By the end of its production, engine displacement grew to 1.5 liters, producing a whopping 42 hp. No matter the size, however, the engines were always air-cooled, a VW hallmark. Buy it now

BRUMM 1/43 FIAT 508 'EIAR'

This is the Fiat 508C EIAR (Ente Italiano Audizioni Radiofoniche) of 1948. Once again a fairly basic car, but also again very well modelled. The casting is very thin, so although the glazing is not flush, it gives the appearance of being so. As always the general level of finish is to a high standard. Buy it now

SCHUCO 1/32 MERCEDES-BENZ TRAC 1800 TRACTOR

The MB Trac was developed by Mercedes-Benz from their Unimog truck platform. Mercedes built Trac’s from 1973 to1991 in a variety of configurations, and has since sold the design to another German company that continues to build them. The Unimog truck was originally intended as an agricultural platform, so in the early ‘70s Daimler Benz evolved the design into the MB Trac, aimed at larger scale farming. The new tractor crossed the Unimog technology of all-wheel drive and a robust power transmission to four large equal-sized wheels, with the appearance of a tractor: slim hood, with an angular, elevated driver cab. From the initial MB Trac, a broad product range developed, culminating in the heavy duty MT Trac 1800 Intercooler with 180 hp engine. When Daimler Benz ended production in 1991, 41,000 vehicles were produced, of which 30,000 are still in service. Buy it now