RW alleged 23 VW pre-pro

[Idris]

Here's a photograph of an RW 35c baseplate for you Dick:

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Thank's Idris, nice big picture of this choice model. It has the seperate hub and tyre design from 1968 into 1969 and had this gone into full production, would have been in an 'F' Box. I think it has been established else where on the forum when this exact model was made, just coming upto the point where 'Superfast' wheels were being developed so this model's production was halted and of course as we now know, it came to market with the 'Narrow' design 'Superfast' wheels.

Do we want to see the old 'Lefora' material on the Merryweather model, if so, I'll pop-in and look around for it.

Ghosty.

[SMS88]

nice to see the rw Merryweather base does NOT include the circled R that features on the 1970 sf base

[Taniwha]

It also has the (c) but not the date - that is nice. I wonder if pre-pro 23e Campers are the same?

Cheers,
Gavin

[kwakers]

Thank you Idris for this RW baseplate picture. The lack of 'Pat App' on this one's earliest base may indicate it was designed originally for regular wheel use (?). No paint on a molded plastic base, nuts!
A strange Superfast fact is that Nick has the lack of 'Pat App' with the letter A as an early base variation on these with Superfast wheels, but Brennen's NAMC Guide has the first version without 'Pat App', but also without ANY 'A' on the base of it at all. Your base picture shows an A with brackets on this very early RW pre-pro. Bob's second version is with 'Pat App', but with a plain 'A' recessed on it's base without brackets. The third Superfast version he lists has an 'A' raised on it's base without brackets, while it is the fourth version that finally has an (A) with brackets on it's base like Idris' RW pictured here. This seems to indicate at least 4 different base designs existed very early in the production of this early SF model.
Bob has 10 SF versions listed of this 35 Fire Truck by 1972, but there is no mention at all of the circled R on any of their bases at all Mick. The lack of one seen on the 23 RW VW we are discussing here seems much more important now, un-noted by Bob.
I do see the hint of a circle located under the E in 'Made' on Numi's negative picture that is invisible to the eye on the original base picture. Is this an illusion, or a tiny flaw in an otherwise perfectly removed date and Superfast notation on this one's base? No further input from Numi yet.
If you could check for a picture of this RW 35 at Nick's variation site at the old Lefora Ghosty, it might save me all this thought on whether it was really pictured in silver with RW there last year before the 'Big Change' took place. I believe it was, or was it a 'Cave Dream' of mine?......kwakers

[Idris]

Dick, here's the first-type SF 35c baseplate:

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Hello Kwakers, I have seen the silver-grey Merryweather on it's wheels (Regular type,) which I believe is an accompying picture to the one shown here by "Idris" and I think they are in "Christian's" website.

Will look around in the old 'Lefora' site, but too busy from Sat evening until Sunday Night the 11th May, so probably during Monday 12th. I may have already saved pictures of it, but can not check at the moment, using my secondary Laptop, that I know does not have a lot of 'Lefora' stuff on it.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[kwakers]

Thanks Idris and Ghosty. This is the first base that Brennen recorded without A, (A), or Pat App on it. I see now that the RW base is totally different than these #35 SF bases released very shortly afterwards. The wheels and tires used on the alleged 23 VW pre-pro are the same, but not much else can be learned by comparing the two models. I had really hoped other indicators could be compared, but my 'case' for a possible original 23 pre-pro here now has to focus on other existing alleged 23 pre-pros sold by Vectis. Sadly, I have no base info on even the genuine seeming RW pre-pro with it's rare white interior.
RW white pre-pro plastic interiors are well known, and have personally been owned or handled by me on the 23D Caravan Trailer, the 33C Lamborghini (actually run longer than just on pre-pros with RW, but still an early rarity now), the 38B Vauxhall Estate Car, and also the 72B Jeep. I am sure Hardy and others can add to this known list, but most are still held very secretively by their owners... kwakers

[GHOSTHUNTER]

I have trawled my way through so many 'Posts' on the old 'Befora' site, I don't know where I am now...
Anyway, I am putting a link here to the previous #35 Merryweather thread, and will be putting a few pictures I found and when they turn-up, the other few pictures I know I have somewhere, including the silver model shown above, but on it's wheels.

The link is so we can leave this thread to the #23 VW Camper topic, thought that would be the best thing to do.

CLICK HEAR TO GO TO THE 'MERRYWEATHER' THREAD...viewtopic.php?f=8&t=926

Ghosty.

[SMS88]

The idea that Lesney would fit RW to a SF baseplate as is the case with the fake shown here looks increasingly absurd.
RW had flat baseplates with cast or moulded in hoops to retain the axles, as per the RW 35 Merryweathers ,they did not have the semi circular suspension wells fitted to all early issue SF cars & those plastic suspension strips or axles clips that retained axles were not designed for thick RW axles. The ivory interior pre-pro 23 VWs that i have seen photos of all have standard SF tyres.