Miniatures News, March 1958

Browse pages
Current page

1

Current page

2

Current page

3

Current page

4

Current page

5

Current page

6

Current page

7

Current page

8

Current page

9

Current page

10

Current page

11

Current page

12

Current page

13

Current page

14

Current page

15

Current page

16

Current page

17

Current page

18

Current page

19

Current page

20

Current page

21

Current page

22

Current page

23

Current page

24

Current page

25

Current page

26

Current page

27

Current page

28

Current page

29

Current page

30

Current page

31

Current page

32

Current page

33

Current page

34

Current page

35

Current page

36

Current page

37

Current page

38

Current page

39

Current page

40

Current page

41

Current page

42

Current page

43

Current page

44

Current page

45

Current page

46

Current page

47

Current page

48

Current page

49

Current page

50

Current page

51

Current page

52

Current page

53

Current page

54

Current page

55

Current page

56

Current page

57

Current page

58

Current page

59

Current page

60

Current page

61

Current page

62

Current page

63

Current page

64

Current page

65

Current page

66

Current page

67

Current page

68

Current page

69

Current page

70

Current page

71

Current page

72

Current page

73

Current page

74

Current page

75

Current page

76

The Corgi Toys miniature of the Studebaker Golden Hawk has undergone a change, the colour scheme being Baltic blue with gold flash for the free-running model (Ref. 211) and white with gold flash to distinguish the mechanical model (Ref. 211M). American cars are difficult for Europeans to identify and attractive miniatures of them are the best aid to recognising the various makes and models.

We have suggested before, and do so again, that if you approach the end of a Continental holiday with some French currency to spare you might well return with a few of those miniatures not obtainable here—they come rather expensive, because purchase tax is payable, but the Customs’ officers are usually not unreasonable regarding the odd miniature. Window-shopping in French towns after the Monte Carlo Rally revealed an astonishing variety of miniatures, so that to attempt to list them all is virtually impossible. The French Meccano Dinky Toys cover Renault Dauphine, Renault 4 c.v., Dyna-Panhard, Simca Sport, Citroën DS19, and Unic car-transporter, as well as others we have previously referred to, and there is the Renault Etoile Filante, surely the first model of a gas-turbine car? The high-quality Solido miniatures, with working suspension, cover Porsche coupé, Porsche 550/1500 RS Spyder, D-type Jaguar and various racing cars, to 1/43 scale, while Les Autos Quiralu make a rather fine Mercedes-Benz 300SL coupe with whitewall tyres, as well as Simca Régence and Versailles and Peugeot 403, these miniatures being available in two-colour schemes and some having glass screen and windows, like the British Corgi Toys miniatures, which, we were pleased to see, are on sale in French toy shops. There are also many intriguing miniatures to 00-scale.

In March Playcraft Toys will add a realistic Foden E.R.F. 8-tonner van (Ref. No. 459), finished in the livery of Moorhouse, the preserve manufacturers and an E.R.F. platform lorry (Ref. No. 457), to their Corgi range. The former is 4⅝ in. long and costs 5s; the latter is 4¾ in. in length and costs 4s. 8d. Another very attractive Corgi is the long-wheelbase Land Rover, with canopy, slatted roof, spare wheel, bumper, draw-bar and, of course. the usual realistic screen and windows.

Those who wish to make their own models may find the 1/32-scale plans in the Model Maker Plans Service useful. These cover 1904 Darracq, 1922 model-T Ford, F. II H.W.M., G.P. Lago-Talbot, 1938 G.P. Auto-Union and Mercedes-Benz, D-type E.R.A., 158 Alfa-Romeo, 3.3 G.P. Bugatti, sports H.R.G., G.P. Alta, 6C Maserati and many other Edwardian, sports and G.P. cars. They are obtainable from the Model Aeronautical Press, Ltd., of Watford, at 2s. per sheet covering two cars. — W. B.