"Missing, Catalogued 1–75 RW Variations" Proposal

[Tinman]

My assumption/conclusion that silver plastic wheels were polystyrene is two fold. First reason is because, at that time, polystyrene was a common choice for injection molding (especially in the plastic model industry). My second conclusion is mostly clinical. I built many AMT 3 in 1 Customizing Kits (as well as kits by Revel, Atlas, Faller and others) in those days (they were all polystyrene) and the composition of the plastic in those models looked exactly like that of the silver wheels Lesney was molding (shared many of the aging characteristics too).

Today, polystyrene is used mostly for foam type products (although some toys and furniture are still made with high impact polystyrene) and polypropylene dominates the market for injection molding. I strongly suspect that as industry trends switched away from polystyrene to polypropylene, so did Lesney.

The tires that Lesney put on hubs are surely polyethylene as they meet all the characteristics of that type of plastic. I suspect the first gray and silver plastic wheels were polystyrene and in a few short years were switched to polypropylene.

Colorants can be powdered, liquid or both. Some heavy metals are even used (although the heavy metals are becoming more restricted as their dangers have become widely known). Carbon black is the number one way to make any plastic black. Real tires (or tyres), which are Thermoset plastics, are number one on the consumption list for carbon black. Model wheels and tires could also be colored with carbon black.

The 1950's and 60's saw rapid development in plastics and rapid growth of their use. It's not unlikely that different materials would be used in a short period of time, especially as manufacturers of the raw plastics pushed their latest products into the market.

BTW, Thermosets undergo a transformation when heated and molded and can NOT return to their former self by recycling with heat (wouldn't it be great if our old auto tires could simply be melted down into new tires). While old tires are being recycled in various ways ... none of them are as effective and simple as the manner in which thermoplastics are recycled.

[Idris]

I strongly suspect that as industry trends switched away from polystyrene to polypropylene, so did Lesney.

Thank you for the detailed reply, Joe.
Your comment about material change (quoted above) would explain the differences we have noted in the two distinct types of GPW.
FYI: A major use of polysyrene these days is CD cases. (I know because I once worked for INEOS/Nova in Breda.)

[Idris]

Perhaps someone with access to some beaters that are realistically too far gone to ever be anything other than parts donors could study this and then give us feedback on the likely plastic used for:
- Early BPW,
- Late BPW,
- Early GPW,
- Late GPW,
- SPW, and
- Superfast wheels.

It will be very interesting to find out whether SPW really are made of a different plastic from BPW and GPW, and also what the difference is between the hard and brittle GPW (with the shiny surface) and the later ones.

[matchbox360]

I strongly suspect that as industry trends switched away from polystyrene to polypropylene, so did Lesney.

Thank you for the detailed reply, Joe.
Your comment about material change (quoted above) would explain the differences we have noted in the two distinct types of GPW.
FYI: A major use of polysyrene these days is CD cases. (I know because I once worked for INEOS/Nova in Breda.)

Very educational posts from Idris and Joe, it’s great having such informed people on board this Forum. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience!

I really appreciate the helpful, mature and collegial atmosphere in our Forum. It’s an outstanding example, compared to countless others which have degenerated into a cesspool of ad-hominem bickering and troll-festivals galore.

Keep up the good work, guys!
Cheers, Ken

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Looking at the 'Nick Code' my #44a is 'code 11' with GPW (Grey Plastic Wheels), but because we have established it has very dark GPW's, and it is accepted as a previously unrecorded variation, how would it be integrated into the 'Nick Code', does it become 'code 11a' or just a footnote, have any decisions been made on this yet.

When Nick added the model at 'code 8' what particular example did he have at his disposal, or was he just working from previously recorded data (Stannards etc), and was not aware of the shade of grey of it's wheels, if pictures were available at the same time, it could probably be accertained that wheels on one model, are a different shade of grey to the other model, hence light and dark, and without knowing it, that model he has put at 'code 11' may well have been the very dark grey version.

I have included another picture of the model below, showing the crimped axle-ends, it also has all the other details on the 'Nick Code' and red painted rear lights.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

I have just noticed the description under my picture above says...'Nick Code 8' so that shows how many additional models have been added to the code listing since I first checked my model against it.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[kwakers]

I believe Antonin shared some inside door post casting changes with us before the old Forum went down. You are right Ghosty, the model at code 11 may have had the early dark gray plastic wheels or the lighter ones that followed them. We were at one time discussing adding A, B, or C subcodes to Nick's Guide to keep updating from ruining our collection codes, but never adopted a useable system. Life moves on and my old Stannards is now hopelessly outdated by Nick's Guide, but I still 'Clutch It' as one of those old secretive collectors Mick SMS refers to occasionally. He enjoys exposing us, and I enjoy surprising he and other members once in a while with notes from our outdated 1970s 'Bibles'........ kwakers

[GHOSTHUNTER]

I don't want to cause any more confusion on top of what already exists, but there is definately now a further grey plastic wheel to contend with (for me at least, if nobody else has them), as my intention of recording everything I find on my models has unearthed this version.

This makes four (4), GPW's, as one of my #44a Silver Cloud models has what I am classing as Purple-Grey, a shade very close, if not identicle, to one of my 'Yesteryear' Y-15 Silver Ghost models tyres. I am not at home, so can not put the two models together for a shade comparison, but they do have a distinctive tint of a colour that for me is easier to describe as being purple. On one of my visits back home, I did deliberately collect my Rolls-Royce #44a, 24c, and 69c models, so they are currently with me, so I will try and do some pictures while at my Father's house and post them here.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[Idris]

What we urgently need is a volunteer to organise and manage the SF section of this initiative. (I seem to be lumbered with the RW area.)
Any takers?

Is there no one who is interested in SF who would be willing to take this on? No one? Really?

As members may have noticed, Alex (aka Motorman) has nobly stepped into the breach left (hopefully temporarily) by Johnny Pimp and has breathed long-awaited new life into the "SF Casting Show" thread.
Members will also probably have noticed that my series of threads in "Missing & Unlisted RW 1-75 Variations" is trundling on, generating plenty of views and the occasional lively debate.
So how about someone following Alex's example and volunteering to run an SF version of the "Missing & Unlisted RW 1-75 Variations" area? Surely a maximum of half an hour/week isn't a lot to ask? Come on you SF enthusiasts (and there are plenty of you on this Forum)! It doesn't matter how good your knowledge of SF is, a All you need is the standard reference works and a logical mind.
Surely there must be one of you who is willing to do this pro bono omnium?