Seeking Parts for 1-75 Series, 1950s

[RobertMcC]

I'm resurrecting my boyhood collection and hope to find a few key parts:

1. 8b Caterpillar D9 Crawler Tractor. Need treads

2. 13a Bedford Wreck Truck. Need crane and hook.

3. 19b MGA Sports Car. Need driver.

4. 35a ERF Horsebox. Need two doors.

5. 47a Trojan Brooke Bond Tea Van. Need base, axles and wheels. Really hoping to find this.

Thank you for viewing this request.

Bob McCullough

[Martin Avis]

I haven't had any need to buy replacement parts yet, but have bookmarked the following sources which might cover most of your needs:

http://www.modelcarparts.com/
http://www.model-supplies.co.uk/matchbox_1.htm
http://www.diecastrecoveries.org.uk/pcat9.htm

Martin

[Tinman]

Welcome to the forum!

Parts 1-4 are readily available from the replacement parts guys.

1. The new treads fit well and look nice. Soak them in warm water before you attempt to put them on to help prevent accidental stretching or breaking.

2. The tow jibs tend to have a lot of flash in the webbing and will need much delicate work with a mini files to make useable/presentable. Some of them have so much flash that they are unusable. If you have to order online (as opposed to buying from a table at an event), buy a few in hopes of getting one that can be cleaned up and used. The hook needs only minor work to install and you will need to cut a short piece of a spare axle.

If unable to get a good enough jib, you can buy a "Matchbox originals" copy of the 13b to use as a jib donor. Some modification of the lower half with a file or Dremmel will allow it to seat on the 13a. Don't use the "Matchbox Originals" hook, switch it out for the reproduction hook.

3. Replacement drivers work well after a little work from a mini file or sand paper.

4. These doors need some mini file work on the pivot points for the hinge and to remove some flash around the perimeter. They are ever so slightly too small and are troublesome to fit and operate. With patience and careful file work, you can make them work and make a model whole again.

5. Wheels: Plastic replacement wheels are available from the reproduction parts guys. The reproduction metal wheels are bright white metal reproductions and have to be treated with paint/weathering or chemicals to give them the same patina as original metal wheels. Because of this, most people without modeling experience shy away from the metal wheels.

5. Bases: No dealer is currently making replacement/reproduction bases for Matchbox. Several modelers make their own molds and bases from resin (and some go as far as casting their own white metal bases). It's much easier and cheaper to simply buy a beater and use the base off that model. If all else fails, you can make a simple base from sheet styrene plastic to get the model back on display.

5. Axles: Best way to get good looking and good fitting replacement axles is to buy inexpensive beaters/broken examples of the mass produced late 1960 models ... break them down for parts.