Dinky - all / most variations

[Fox]

Not really variations, but I like it so much !

[Bako]

These are in excellent condition. The Sunbeam Rapier and caravan in matching colour schemes would also go with these

[Bako]

I will post some more variations shortly, however I have an update on the first picture posted of the 164 / 255 Ford Zodiac. As part of a job lot I received the "H" reg version shown below. I did not realise a late variation of the Police car existed until this arrived. The obvious differences are the screw on metallic blue base (I wonder if these were ever fitted to the metallic blue version as well?) and later wheel design. On closer inspection there are also other differences also shared with the bronze version;

-Wider base plate at the back of the front wings (presumably to re-locate the front door hinge)
-Change to casting at the back of the front wings to accommodate the wider base
-Narrower armrests on the inner front door panels

Does anyone know why these changes were made, was it to make this model easier to assemble as an action kit?

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Its always nice to find another variation to add to the collection.

Bright blue baseplates found their way onto #152 Phantom V in 1968 on ''INJ 72G'' and on #158 Silver Shadow in 1969 on ''MTB 21G''.

Ghosthunter.

[Bako]

Thanks, I have versions of the RR Phantom V, Silver Shadow and Silver Cloud with the bright blue base plates, however I have not seen another Dinky with the a light metallic blue base unless anyone knows differently? Seems strange that the colour matches the light blue Zodiac which I think may have just been out of production when this later Police variation was made.

Here are a couple more variations from my collection:

Aston Martin DB5 / DB6 (110/153) although I am missing the DB5 with molded rear lights










Citroen 2CV 535 558 500 and Dyane 149

The orange and light blue ones are Pilen equivalents

[Fred7A]

This is a great thread, Bako - it's really interesting to see the different variations together. When I get a few moments spare I will have to show some of mine.

The only Dinky I have with the base in that light metallic blue is an orange and yellow Ford 40 RV - that car also came in the light metallic blue but my example has a black base! I have a J-reg Zodiac police car with a yellow base and smaller Police labels on the doors - three different types of door label were used during its production run.

Most (but not all) of the blue Zodiacs I have seen have the rear doors painted over white (there must have been some extra police parts knocking around!), which means they don't match the rest of the vehicle too well. Does your example have this feature? The photo below doesn't show the shade difference well, but you can see the white where the blue paint has chipped.

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On late-production Aston Martin DB6s the rear number plate casting was changed to give a smooth surface with no lip around it, presumably to make it easier to apply the sticker. The DB5 with cast-in lights has the same number plate modification.

DSC00449 2.jpg (131.75 KiB) Viewed 6196 times

Looking at your photos, your turquoise DB6 appears to have red back lights, whereas my two have been subject to an economy drive.

[Bako]

Thanks for your comments on this thread. I have checked my orange RV40 (I have quite a few variations of this model!) and it has a black rather than metallic blue base, I wonder if it depended on what paint supplies were available in the factory that week. Also interesting your police Zodiac has the same yellow base as the bronze version, I guess all run out models had this?

I have checked my blue Zodiac and can confirm that it is no exception, the back doors are over-painted Police versions (please see below). Given it's rarity the blue model must have been a very low production run for them all to have the Police version doors.





Until you pointed it out I had not realised the door design was also different, in the picture below you can see the lower hinge rib is narrower on the newer version:



What other differences are there in the Zodiac door design?

Interesting that both your late DB6s don't have red back lights despite being of similar vintage to mine. Those on mine look factory so it looks like the non red light version is another variation for me to find The other variation in the late Zodiac's I forgot to mention is of course the non black painted spare wheel on the later versions which again I presume was a cost cutting measure.

Would be great to see pictures of your variations when you get a chance.

[Bako]

Some Pre / immediate post war variations this time...

23 Series land speed record cars:

Auto Union 23d The blue one is repainted on top but the base plate is original





The silver one is immediate post war but does have a driver!



Speed of the Wind 23e and Mercedes-Benz Racing Car 23b









Streamlined Racing Car 23s 3 Shades of green!

[Bako]

Some final examples on the pre war theme for now...

29C Double Deck Motor Bus











33r Railway Mechanical Horse and Trailer 2 trailers unfortunately still missing!

[Fred7A]

A great assortment of pre-war items there! I have virtually no pre-war Dinkies, so it is always extra interesting to see pictures of them. My favourites are definitely the cute railway company mechanical horses. I hope you manage to find those missing trailers. I can imagine they will take some finding, but as this forum so often shows, it's amazing what turns up! I seem to remember seeing in a magazine an error version of the trailer, with the rear panel fitted inside-out, so the door embossing was the wrong way round.

Nice to see the "stairway to nowhere" on the double-decker bus. I think Dinky did a nice job on modelling this bus, with lots of feature of the contemporary London Transport STL buses correctly captured. Even the Leyland radiator added later made sense, as a batch of 100 Leylands was bought in 1937 with Leyland bodywork altered to closely resemble the standard London design. Dinky did provide one luxury not fitted to the real vehicle - a door for the driver's cab! Until the RT appeared in 1939, London buses generally had an open space where the driver's door would normally go.