Austrian Generosity

[Idris]

This year has seen a significant number of acts of kindness and generosity by one Forum member to another, with models being spontaneously given free of charge in order to plug known gaps in others’ collections. I can now reveal that I too was recently the extremely lucky recipient of such a donation.
Although I dabble in SF, my real collecting interest is RW. I am particularly fascinated by the transitional era and especially those models which use crossover components. I was therefore rather taken (understatement!) with Mike’s recent discovery of an extremely playworn, all red 44c Refrigerator Truck. (After a couple of early missers, he now seems to have got his eye in and is turning up one interesting piece after another.) Following his posts on the Forum regarding this model, I corresponded with him quite extensively, doing my best to tempt him into a trade by offering him all sorts of tasty RW titbits, but all to no avail.
A few weeks ago, Mike contacted me, asking for my address since he wished to send me a model. (As he put it "Please send me your postal address. I to you would like to send a little surprise (gift). This model is only unobserved in my collection.") After a certain amount of to-ing and fro-ing (it’s difficult enough communicating a Welsh address to a native English speaker, but for a native German speaker, all the place-name elements are completely alien) the address was sorted out and, in the fullness of time, a small Austrian parcel arrived halfway up a mountain in Welsh Wales.
Imagine my surprise when I opened it and discovered that it contained the all red RW 44c! Needless to say, I was completely flabbergasted and, having regained my composure, I proceeded to thank Mike and to find out what he would like in return. However, no matter how I pressed him, Mike insisted again and again that he did not require a trade for it and was happy in the knowledge that the model now formed part of a collection where it would be fully appreciated for what it was and would be proudly displayed as a great rarity (which is exactly what has happened to it).
I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank Mike and Nico publicly for their extraordinary generosity and for enabling me to add a model to my collection which, up to a couple of months ago, I have never even heard of let alone aspired to.
Mike did ask me to inspect the model and to post comments, so here goes:
The model is undoubtedly genuine and, apart from the box colour, matches Nick's variation code 5. The cab/chassis and box colours match those of the standard RW and SF components. The model has led an extremely hard life and, as a result, has lost a great deal of paint. The box seems to have suffered more than the cab/chassis and, looking at the way the paint has come off, I have the impression that both castings might not have been properly degreased before painting. (On the other hand, it's also quite possible that it's first owner dipped it it something nasty.)
Mike highlighted a number of minor casting variations he had noticed around the rear opening. I have had a look at these and compared the model with my RW and SF examples. My conclusion is that the addition of the rear bumper was combined with a significant (but less obvious) retooling of the back of the box (including the door stop next to the hinge), i.e. with the exception of the box colour, this is a standard variation code 5 model.
Here are Mike's photographs copied from his original post:

[tjlglass]

Nice one, Well done Mike.

[matchboxtom]

What a neat model. It is great to surprise a collector with a treat.

[nearlymint]

Very nice Mike and Nico, well done. J

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Thank you Mike for showing your natural kindness to fellow collectors. I can imagine how Hugh ("Idris"), must be feeling and how you must feel knowing how you have made somebody very happy.

You are a true friend of forum members and I think Nick will have to design a special award to present to you for your friendship and kindness.

P.S. Just noticed a lot of gaps in my model collection, just waiting to be filled by gift models...

Greetings from GHOSTHUNTER in the UK.

[motorman]

Well done Mike, what a wonderful gesture.

[motorman]

Hugh, one thing i noticed with the images posted is that when both models are photographed next to each other the red box variant appears smaller in every way to its green boxed cousin.

I am sure that the camera is tricking my mind some how, but the red box version certainly looks shorter in height and length or is this a characteristic of the different variation codes?

[Idris]

I am sure that the camera is tricking my mind some how, but the red box version certainly looks shorter in height and length or is this a characteristic of the different variation codes?

I see what you mean. I'll check over the weekend (but it's probably a combination of an optical illusion and the excessive playwear that the all red version has been subjected to).

[numi]

Ive known Mike to have such warm tendencies.Well done Mike for sharing the joys of Matchbox collecting with others but im still waiting for my Cream Cougar that u promised....
Numi

[Brad Pittiful]

way to go Mike!