VANGUARDS 1/50 LAND ROVER SERIES 1 -AA

The Land Rover was launched in 1948 in order to get a product to the market in the immediate aftermath of World War Two. Rover envisaged it would be sold to farmers, and initially underestimated demand for the vehicle. However, the AA Series 1 modelled here is typical in that once the Land Rover was on the market, organisations all over the world realized it was the answer to their problem, and put it to a bewildering amount of uses. With hindsight, its obvious that its towing capacity, storage, and go anywhere ability make the Land Rover an ideal vehicle for an organisation like the AA. See more

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF MOTORING WITH SHELL

In the 1930s the fledgling UK oil industry's numerous and conspicuous outdoor petrol advertisrments attracted critical attention from local authorities.

Shell introduced an imaginative and much praised alternative by displaying 30 by 40 inch posters on the side of its delivery trucks.

These posters continued the trend established by Shell in the 1920s for advertising with distinctive graphics, humour and highly original eye-catching work, using well-known artistics such as Rex Whistler and H.M. Bateman, toconvey the company's personality to customers.

A further poster series was commissioned by Shell from the most respected names in 20th century art, including Graham Sutherland, Edward McKnight Kauffer, Paul Nash, Edward Nicholson, John Piper and Vanessa Bell. Together their work offers a graphic chronicle of the dawn of mass motoring and the development of advertising.

By 1997 the motor industry and 'The Shell Transport and Trading Company' will have celebrated 100 years. The recurring theme from the posters of the 1930s-enjoyable and trouble free motoring with Shell-continue to be the cornerstone of the relationship Shell has with motorists today.

CORGI 1/50 MACK C PUMPER FIRE TRUCK MODEL - BALTIMORE

This 1965 Model C-95 had a diesel engine with a 1000-gpm Waterous pump and a 300 gallon water tank. The pumper was place in service with Engine 31 (north Baltimore) in May 1965. In 1973, when Engine 31 received new unit, the pumper was placed in service with Engine Co.43 (also north Baltimore) and served there until November 1982, thus completing 17 years of first-line service to the department. This Mack C further served as a reserve engine until 1987. Shop here

SIKU 1/55 LINDE H80 FORK LIFT TRUCK

The Linde H80 Fork Lift truck, in the usual 1/55th scale range, is a superb piece of kit and it will not look out of place alongside any other 1/50th scale models in your collection.

Siku have excelled themselves and produced a model costing just a few pounds that is equal to those 'other' German promotionals which cost three or four times the price. Using their now standard 'truck' wheels and tyres, which are pretty good for a toy, the Fork Lift is beautifully decorated and well put together. It can also be operated without the fear of breaking the tiny and vulnerable rams often associated with 'promotional' models. Shop here

CORGI 1/50 SCANIA TOPLINE & FLATBED TRAILER - DEREK MARSTON & SONS - NR.SHREWSBURY

In 1966, Derek Marston spent £1750 on an A license and a Bedford J type petrol lorry with a livestock box. Foot and Mouth struck in 1967, “needless to say, the outbreak crippled the livestock haulage industry and overnight, and I found myself with no work at all”, said Derek. He needed to diversify quickly, so began hauling sugar beet, animal feed and fertiliser. Throughout, the next 30 years, Derek Marston & Son’s fleet expanded, and they began to haul bricks and round timber. Today, the company runs a mixed, 12 strong fleet, which includes Scania's, DAF’s, Foden’s and ERF’s. Shop here

CORGI 50th ANNIVERSARY 1/76 VAN HOOL T9 - CAELLOI MOTORS

This Welsh operator almost certainly holds the record, for being Britain's oldest established coach and bus operator. The model carries an attractive, complicated, very well applied livery. Also included; a plinth, tour itinery, certificate and repro Corgi catalogues. Shop here

CORGI 1/36 RANGE ROVER - THE NEW AVENGERS

One of the cult television series--not quite in the same leauge as The Avengers--which retain their popularity. This attractively packaged set provides John Steed's Range Rover in British racing green, and a model of the man himself, with essential umbrella and bowler. Shop here

CORGI 1/50 SCAMMELL HIGHWAYMAN 'EVER READY'

The Scammell Highwayman has proved to be an extremely popular model from Corgi: it now comes as a tanker for Ever Ready. Such tankers were used by the company to transport zinc chloride, and it looks smart in the dark blue livery. Shop here

CORGI 1/50 AEC EROMATIC 'FERRYMASTER'

Many will recall the Ferrymasters livery from Corgi Toys in thepast. The AEC Ergomatic cab has now appeared as an articulated truck hauling a box trailer in in the bright white and yellow livery. There will be no mistaking this model in he cabinet as the brand name is so prominent. Shop here

CORGI TRACKSIDE 1/76 LEYLAND 8 WHEEL PlLATFORM MODEL- BRS

British Road Services (BRS) was the British road transport company formed by the nationalisation of Britain s road haulage industry, under the British Transport Commission, as a result of the Transport Act 1947. It was eventually privatised to its employees under the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher in 1988 to become the National Freight Company. Shop here

CORGI 1/50 GUY ARAB UTILITY BUS SOUTHAMPTON CORPORATION TRANSPORT

The model of Corgi's purposeful Guy Arab bus - this time looking handsome indeed, in a red over yellow colour scheme. Carrying Typhoo advertising, perhaps it's not everybody's cup of tea but you can't knock the detailing of this batch of 2600 production runs. DTR44 was a frequent sight on the dock run and was part of a 185-strong fleet commissioned between 1946 and 1955.Shop here

ROAD SIGNATURE 1/18 - 1941 PLYMOUTH CUSTOM PURPLE

The 1941 Willys 'America' Coupe was intended to be a low-cost 'people's car' but World War II didn't give it chance. After the war, its clean, uncluttered good looks, light weight, and a adaptability to a wide variety of V-8 engines made it a favorite with drag racers and it's now a popular street rod subject. It's also one of the first rods. The body is stock and Road Signature has modeled its line and proportions very accurately. In true hot rod fashion, all the chrome trim except the characteristic Willys toothy grille has been removed. The basic black paint is glossy, with some orange peel, and is set off by neatly printed flames. Oversize chrome wheels, low-profile rubber, and disk breakes at all four corners identify it as a modern street rod, as does the interior with its fully instrumented console and multiple speakers in the door panels. Under the hood, the Chrysler Hemi V-8 engine is wiered and plumbed, although the plug wires are pretty thick. More evidence of contemporary construction can be seen in the fuel aell and nitrous oxide bottle in the trunk. Wheelbase checks out to the listed 1:18 scale too. Shop here

YAT MING 1/18 - 1948 FORD WOODY DIECAST MODEL CAR

This beautifully crafted 1948 Brown Ford Woody Diecast Model Car was an icon in it's time. Known as the original surfer car of choice, this classic icon of American history. This car features opening door, hood, steerable front wheels and removable surfboard. Shop here

MATCHBOX MODELS OF YESTERYEAR Y12-STEPHENSONS ROCKET LOCOMOTIVE

The Y12-4 1829 Stephensons Rocket locomotive joined the range in 1987. The Rocket was painted yellow with a white chimney, black baseplates and although it was quite a detailed model only the brightwork on the engine and the cylinders was made from plastic so the rocket might have been a small model it was a weighty model too.

The name and the body lining to the wheels and tender was applied by black tampo printing and the pipework, dome and safety valve was gold plated plastic. It was released as a limited edition with a production of only 60,000 pieces. The Rocket was a charming model and well made too and it makes you wonder at exactly what other Locos were planned and what we missed out on. Shop here