#57c Land Rover Fire Truck rear brace different lengths

[Brad Pittiful]

ok since i had a bunch of these models out checking label color i noticed that some have different length rear braces...some go from the edge of the rectangle slot that holds the base tabs to the body to the other slot rectangle...an other model is longer on the left side as the brace goes beyond the slot rectangle

some look longer than others...anyone notice this...has it been discussed before?

so i measured two

one is .405in or 10.28mm

the second is .447in or 11.35mm

[Brad Pittiful]

i checked pics and found i had these...top one is longer than the bottom one





Antonin...the ball is in your court...can you confirm this?

[Diecast]

Hi Brad
Interesting, I will check it, I remember similar topic, approx. 1 year ago. 57c without the brace.
Antonin

[Brad Pittiful]

looking forward to your pics Antonin

[Dave R]

While folks have their Land Rover Fire Trucks out, checking braces and so on, also check the roof light on your earlier models. While we tend to think the roof light was always molded as part of the blue plastic windows, that's not so. It would seem that at first the roof light was a separate piece, the standard one as used on the #13 Dodge Wrecker, etc., and was held in place by the windows just like on the wrecker. In hindsight it seems obvious that molding the blue light as part of the blue windows would simplify the assembly process, but evidently it took a little while for this to dawn on the Lesney engineers!

So, on your early models (the ones with decals, and probably painted headlights) grab that roof light and see if you can twist or wiggle it — if so, it's a separate piece. If you have one like that, you'll note the roof light profile is rounded, identical to roof lights on some other models, not the more "squared-off" flat-topped profile of the later one-piece-light-and-windows style roof light.

Dave R.

[nickjones]

Well spotted Dave, I never noticed that before.

[Brad Pittiful]

if i can toot my horn...TOOT!...i knew about the light that wasnt part of the windows...i do the light twist trick...if it spins its early...if no spin...then the light and window unit are one whole piece!

[motorman]

Never knew that Dan, thanks for that tip, nice one!!

[Diecast]

looking forward to your pics Antonin

Hi Brad
Sorry for delay, but I was very busy. I have check the rear panel of 57c, there are small variations on the brace. I found another variation on the rear bumpers.

brace variations:
a) short, thin
b) longer thicker
c) short, thick

bumper vatiations:
a) short
b) medium
c) long

Antonin

[Brad Pittiful]

cool new finds Antonin...thanks for looking for them on your models!