M1a Caterpillar Earth Scraper

[Diecast]

By another models the silver trim is more precise sometimes.
A.

[Diecast]

By the way, I think that this model was re-numbered. Perhaps there was MP°1.
Antonin

[Tinman]

I've seen dozens of these that were detailed, but none detailed by Lesney. Back in the day, it was a favorite of model railroaders and they were often detailed. I bought one that had been super detailed right down to a load in the bucket. I well remember when this model first came out and I bought a couple of them for my HO railroad (and since it's one of my favorite Majors, I bought many of them over the years). Several years back, I cut out the drivers and detailed a couple of them for another model railroader.

There is a prepro 2c that used the wheels and hubs from the Cat scraper.

[Idris]

Antonin, could you please post a clearer, close-up photograph of the driver?

[Diecast]

Antonin, could you please post a clearer, close-up photograph of the driver?

Hi Hugh
I am enclosing a photo of the driver.
Antonin

[Idris]

I am enclosing a photo of the driver.

Hmmm...it does look a bit sombre, doesn't it? Is black overalls and black hard hat really the Lesney style, especially for a child's toy? On the other hand, if this is an attempt at super-detailing, why hasn't the engine been touched?
At the moment, I'd put my money on the trim not being Lesney-applied but, as stated above, it's not really super-detailing either so, who knows? Martin's Maxim dictates that we need a second one anyway in order to accept it as a genuine variation, so we'll just have to be patient. If it is genuine, a second one will turn up (eventually).

[Tinman]

That driver looks like he works for the SS.

[Diecast]

Hmmm...it does look a bit sombre, doesn't it? Is black overalls and black hard hat really the Lesney style, especially for a child's toy? On the other hand, if this is an attempt at super-detailing, why hasn't the engine been touched?
At the moment, I'd put my money on the trim not being Lesney-applied but, as stated above, it's not really super-detailing either so, who knows? Martin's Maxim dictates that we need a second one anyway in order to accept it as a genuine variation, so we'll just have to be patient. If it is genuine, a second one will turn up (eventually).

I fully agree with you Hugh, as a super-detailed model is too "ugly and poor", as a genuine model with silver trim it has never been mentioned.
It is 50% : 50%. Anyway, I keep it in my collection.
Antonin

[Diecast]

By the way, I think that this model was re-numbered. Perhaps there was MP°1.
Antonin

What are you thinking about it? Perhaps it is more interesting as a silver trim.
Antonin

[Idris]

By the way, I think that this model was re-numbered. Perhaps there was MP°1.
Antonin

What are you thinking about it?

It has always struck me as odd that this model is simply No. 1, and it confused me when I first came across it as a lad (especially so since it was without the scraper and therefore appeared to me to be a 1-75 series issue).
The presence of a raised platform probably does indicate a renumbering. (If it were there for strengthening purposes, it would be resonable to expect it to be on the other side too). However, the platform area is so small that whatever is hidden underneath it cannot have been very long or wordy. That would seem to rule out Major Pack No. 1, so MP1 or MP-1 probably isn't a bad guess.