64a with 9 x 20 grey wheels

[Idris]

I'll send a test message to you and Hugh to see.

Message received, reply sent.

[DrJeep]

Message received, reply sent.

Received. All seems to be working.

[Capri 2.8]

My first thoughts on the photos available was that this is a factory axle crimped model but for my liking I need in focus images.
Based on the flashing that is still on this upper casting I also wondered if this was not the original body for the painted base and jib.

So I sent a message to Capri 2.8 yesterday morning UK time requesting a base view photo and a couple of clear in focus crimped views. I would also like to see a top view just to code this one. It does have early hook and fastener and it would be interesting to see if this is an original.

I do not think it was an authorized wheel and crimping. Perhaps if it was done by a factory worker and he wanted it to match the wheels on the 73a RAF refueller, ie if the wheels are 9.5 x 20. The listing actually says 9.0 x 20 and also 9.5 x 20 so confusion all round.

I hope Capri 2.8 can provide some more photos, it would be nice to know a bit more about how this may have come about but we can only keep guessing until good photos are shown.

I see Capri 2.8 has not picked up my message and I notice others have commented they have not received PM’s also. Is there a PM problem at present?

Bert

Lads and Ladies, the photos I sent in are from E-Bay where I bought it, I will try and take some my self but I do not know how yet. My Digital SLR camera has not been used for years and I am not familiar with taking photos and transferring them to PC with a mobile, (old school, or old fogie).I'll be back.

[Capri 2.8]

Hi, here are 2 more photos to tantalise you from E-Bay while you are waiting for close ups.

[yellowfoden]

Message received, reply sent.

Received. All seems to be working.

Yes, all good down here as well.

Capri 2.8 has let me know he will take some more pics which should shed some more light and detail on this model.

Now that he has also added the other two listing pics to the thread it is interesting to note that two photos make this model look like an un-painted upper body ( as apposed to a stripped paint body ) and yet the other two have hints of green to the upper body section, possibly due to the angle or the light source.

I look forward to seeing some other images from a different camera source.

Bert

[Idris]

Now that he has also added the other two listing pics to the thread it is interesting to note that two photos make this model look like an un-painted upper body ( as apposed to a stripped paint body ) and yet the other two have hints of green to the upper body section, possibly due to the angle or the light source.

I'd also noticed how clean the upper body casting looks. I wonder if this was put together at the factory by a worker using a couple of castings they'd found plus whatever wheels they were working with on that particular day.

[DrJeep]

I'd also noticed how clean the upper body casting looks. I wonder if this was put together at the factory by a worker using a couple of castings they'd found plus whatever wheels they were working with on that particular day.

I like the idea, but on the other hand, the painted part has seen some serious play - shown by both paint loss and the bent rear mudguards. The unpainted part seems, from these images, to be unblemished, and I just wonder if the jib could lose so much paint without any damage to the body around it? We need those other pictures!

[Tinman]

Let's not forget that crimped axle ends are the easiest ones to reproduce. A few years back one board member produced quite an uproar with their crimped axle GPW 6b that was sold for a considerable sum to a well known collector/member (and then returned by that collector for a refund after an in hand inspection concluded tampering of the axle ends). With all that's going on with the model in question here, the only safe assumption is "tampered with" until one can prove otherwise.