Moko Lesney Matchbox 73a RAF 10 ton pressure refueller

In 1958 Lesney added three military models to the Matchbox 1-75 series and in 1959 eight more were to follow but these were all army vehicles except for the 73a RAF (Royal Air Force) 10 ton pressure refueller.
The pressure refueller was based on the Leylan Hippo, It was painted RAF grey-blue all over including to the baseplate and it had silver trim applied to the front bumper only simply because for some strange reason Lesney ommitted to add headlights to the model!.
The rear of the tank was a seperate casting which was a push fit into the end of the tank which is usually found still in place and the baseplate was attached by a tongue and slot at the front and by a single spread rivet at the rear.
The truck is usually found fitted with six grey plastic wheels on dome head axles with rounded ends but one very short run was fitted with slightly larger black plastic wheels.
It was enhanced by applying a red white and blue RAF roundel decal to the top of the pump compartment.
There were two minor casting modifications, The first issues had a small brace between the fuel tank and the pump compartment, This was later changed when a larger brace was cast in, The final modification was to completely fill in the gap between the fuel tank and the pump compartment, In 1962 after just three years in production the truck was replaced by the F1 Ferrari,
The refueller is not one of the easier models to find so we must conclude it was not a great seller, The grey wheeled version is the most common but the black wheeled variation is very rare and is highly sought after by collectors, It was packaged in 'B' type boxes only.

Updated: 04-02-10, George Marshall has found a Leyland with full infill between body & tank but it has additional metal cast into the rear panel. I need more info on this variation, It is pictured below.

Updated: 30-01-15, It should also be noted that some of the forum members have reported models with gold trim to the front bumper, silver trim to the rear bumper and no silver trim at all. As the pressure refueller is quite a scarce model it has not been possible to verify them so for now I have not included the trim in the variation tables.

above, small brace, larger brace and full closure of the gap
note - an earlier casting without brace has recently been discovered.

Above. with and without the additional metal plate cast inbetween
the rear bumper and the bottom of the tanker body.
photo courtesy George Marshal

Above. with and without the air hole in the bottom of the tanker body.
photo courtesy George Marshal

code number general wheel type tanker-compartment brace tanker air hole rear bumper opening

code 1 RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal 9.5 x 20 grey plastic none open open

code 2 RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal 9.5 x 20 grey plastic none open closed

code 3 RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal 9.5 x 20 grey plastic thin, flat brace open open

code 4 RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal 9.5 x 20 grey plastic thin, flat brace open closed

code 5 RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal 9.5 x 20 grey plastic thin, flat brace closed open

code 6 RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal 9.5 x 20 grey plastic thin, flat brace closed closed

code 7 RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal 9.5 x 20 grey plastic larger, round brace open closed

code 8 RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal 9.5 x 20 grey plastic larger, round brace closed closed

code 9 RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal 10 x 24 black plastic larger, round brace open closed

code 10 RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal 10 x 24 black plastic larger, round brace closed closed

code 11 RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal 9.5 x 20 grey plastic fully filled gap closed closed

box types	notes
B4	upper case lettering
B5	upper case lettering
B5	lower case lettering

values

RAF blue body, grey plastic wheels £50

RAF blue body, black plastic wheels £2500+

values are for mint models in mint boxes

price guide gallery

box gallery

picture gallery

code number	general	wheel type	tanker-compartment brace	tanker air hole	rear bumper opening
code 1	RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal	9.5 x 20 grey plastic	none	open	open
code 2	RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal	9.5 x 20 grey plastic	none	open	closed
code 3	RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal	9.5 x 20 grey plastic	thin, flat brace	open	open
code 4	RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal	9.5 x 20 grey plastic	thin, flat brace	open	closed
code 5	RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal	9.5 x 20 grey plastic	thin, flat brace	closed	open
code 6	RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal	9.5 x 20 grey plastic	thin, flat brace	closed	closed
code 7	RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal	9.5 x 20 grey plastic	larger, round brace	open	closed
code 8	RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal	9.5 x 20 grey plastic	larger, round brace	closed	closed
code 9	RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal	10 x 24 black plastic	larger, round brace	open	closed
code 10	RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal	10 x 24 black plastic	larger, round brace	closed	closed
code 11	RAF blue body, silver trim, RAF roundel decal	9.5 x 20 grey plastic	fully filled gap	closed	closed