Mini Ha Ha (no. 45)

[Idris]

What I've noticed on Ebay over the last few months is that there seem to be an awful lot of no. 45 Mini Ha Ha for sale in the States - many, many more than in the UK. Why is this? It seems unlikely that so many pre-production versions should have ended up in the US. Could it be that models with no. 45 baseplates formed a small proportion of the initial release in the US?

[fixer]

I would say that the US got the earliest release batch containing #45 bases

[Idris]

I would say that the US got the earliest release batch containing #45 bases

That is what I now suspect, but up until very recently I thought the no. 45 baseplate was exclusively a pre-production component.

[nearlymint]

I have always thought they were on early production versions, just using up the bases. I got a red one and an orange one from the USA, also one in the uk. Must be quite a few out there. J

[numi]

I had these #45 Mini HaHa "prepros" for a while from Brennan but hadnt really inspected these models closely until yesterday and found that elusive #45 base with incomplete date and other base casting differences and Crimped-ends.What a surprise......
What do u Guys think?
numi

[nearlymint]

Very nice Numi, never seen one with an incomplete date. Nice crimped axles as well, very early base plate. J

[motorman]

Numi, i have never seen these casting variations on the Mini ha ha pre pro so thanks for showing and with crimped axles!! That is a very rare little prepro!! Loving it!!!!!

[fixer]

crimped axles on a SF ? , if this was on a reg wheel with a set of rare wheels out of normal time line for crimped axles how many people would scream fake
NOT suggesting anything like that here as R&D would probably have assembled it on a bench
just an observation
very interesting model Numi , nice find

[tjlglass]

Yes Reg they would still hand crimp models in the R & D for quickness, they also had a rivit spinning drill bit for rivits and of coarse the old hammer and chisel for chisel rivits.

[motorman]

Yes Reg they would still hand crimp models in the R & D for quickness, they also had a rivit spinning drill bit for rivits and of coarse the old hammer and chisel for chisel rivits.

So the big question is were pre pro methods random or was more thought given to the final finish of the prepro model?