#14c Cream Lomas with Roof Guides & Red Cross Decal

[tjlglass]

Looks good to me. Fingers crossed for you Numi but I'm sure it will prove to be the real deal.

[motorman]

You have super powers lassie!!!

SUPER NUMI!!!!!!!

[numi]

Yes, an exciting find Numi, well done! What is it with you and these Lomas Ambulances?

Looks good to me. Fingers crossed for you Numi but I'm sure it will prove to be the real deal.

You have super powers lassie!!!

SUPER NUMI!!!!!!!

Thanks Mr Jones,Johnboy,Tj,MM & All,yes this is indeed an exciting find.I always wanted a Cream Red Cross Lomas after seeing pics on Nicks site and when i spotted this Lomas i went cold.To be honest,i was restless & listless for the past 5days and was overcome with anxiety(maybe slightly,queezy,sick...lol) until Mr Jones posted on this forum that he had received it safely and that it was the real deal and then only did my BP drop to about normal.
It might sound odd or strange but believe me i had never felt this way ever not even for my RWrecker or my worlds only specimen coin.When i opened my eyes every morning these past few days,all that came to me was the listing pic of this Cream Lomas....and the same when i got to bed....phew! Couldn't finish a meal,couldn't write without a distraction,couldn't concentrate at work.I don't think that even kids behave so erratically & immaturely over their new toys OR have YOU as an adult ever felt the same way that i felt ever over an exciting find? C'mon spit it out boys....

Heres the story.I was quite idle on Sunday evening and decided to go surfing.I cannot tell u what made me type in Matchbox Lomas which i dont usually do cos i have all specific models saved in my want-list and which gives me relevant alerts but specifically for this Lomas specimen it did not appear at all.When the page opened this Lomas was glaring at me being the 1st listing to appear with only 2days to go before the 7day auction-end.There were no bids and only 8x page views after 5days.My 1st impression was a fake/custom and thats why nobody placed any bids.Then curiosity & hype took the better part of me (mind games,is this real,is this a fake,should i,shouldn't i,what if,etc) and actually i would/could have easily left it alone until i phoned Dad and asked him to have a look.He noticed that this was listed under Dinky Toys as well.He said verbatum "Go for it girl and if it is anything other than genuine,i will reimburse all your costs...its the real deal".The seller responded in the affirmative and the rest is history....

I questioned this seller (is a Dinky fanatic & speculator and have no expert knowledge on MB's and of this rarity in his hands) immediately after the purchase & payment and this was his reply:
Hello again,
re; your query, the Lomas ambulance . This not a repaint, I purchased it as a mint original and it was authenticated by auctioneer as such. I Hope this allays your fears. I always declare if repaints or restorations. I do not believe in misleading people. I rarely sell matchbox as mainly Dinky is my field of interest.
regards, HW

It was listed as such under:Toys & Games >Diecast & Vehicles>Dinky>Cars

I stated to one member already that: My Guardian Angel always watches over me and sends me nice Lesney gifts from time to time...lol.Yeah,Johnboy these HTF/Rare Lomas variants seem to track me down and this one certainly had my name on it.. The only lomas that i could wish for now is finding the BPW White Lomas with the Red Roof Cross and then my Rare Lomas collection will be complete or so i think.
Guys,wish me luck for the safe arrival of this Cream Beauty....
numi

[fixer]

felt the same way when I spotted the non-metallic #45 on ebay starting price of 75p put in my bid and watched it for the next few days waiting to be out bid , couldn't believe my luck when no other bids made , picture is from the ebay listing I think the poor condition of the others put people off

[motorman]

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!

[numi]

felt the same way when I spotted the non-metallic #45 on ebay starting price of 75p put in my bid and watched it for the next few days waiting to be out bid , couldn't believe my luck when no other bids made , picture is from the ebay listing I think the poor condition of the others put people off

Should i believe that Reg & I are the only ones who at some stage felt this way over an exciting rare find...
Dont feel guys,just let it out !!

That rare Green find is a blaster Reg...well done.....gold amongst lead!!
numi

[fixer]

Could hardly contain myself when I picked up a #38 stingeroo with chrome forks from a bootsale a couple of years ago same extortionate price of 75p so disappointed it wasn't boxed for that much, as I handed over my money I couldn't resist saying to the seller you wouldn't believe how much some of these matchbox are worth

[numi]

Could hardly contain myself when I picked up a #38 stingeroo with chrome forks from a bootsale a couple of years ago same extortionate price of 75p so disappointed it wasn't boxed for that much, as I handed over my money I couldn't resist saying to the seller you wouldn't believe how much some of these matchbox are worth

This guys a rip-off Reg....75p and unboxed? I would have definitely questioned his authority over that firm price .
I cannot say that we can survive without these types of sellers.... Bless them!!
numi

[numi]

I hope you don't mind Numi but as I took delivery of this piece for you I would write a brief report here.
Well, Firstly it is cream, not white as we would expect. The decal looks original although there are very similar reproductions available, it is pictured with a sheet of them that I purchased back in the 80's.
They made a proper mess of applying the silver trim as it has overspray on the base, axles and wheels, all rivets look ok, maybe the rear axle is a bit suspect but the front is definitely Lesney's work. But the good news is it is a rather rough casting which leads me to believe it could be a pre production which the lack of side decals but the inclusion of the roof decal from the 14b could be correct for a pre pro,
So, with a slight margin for doubt about this one I would have to give it the thumbs up, The fact that it was listed in the Dinky section would also suggest that it's not the work of a faker. Numi strikes again!!.

Thanks Mr Jones, and know that i do not mind at all with your views and posting pics.In fact u have put me out of my misery and grateful for that

The near "shoddy" work on this Cream Red Cross Lomas during assembly,the slightly off-set roof cross,the lack of side decals,the "messy" silver trim (large rectangle & silver headlamps),the "careless/unexpected" silver paint spatter on the base & wheels and the crude casting lends credence to the possibility that this could well be a pre-production or a Trial specimen as you and Sms88 and others opinionated.A faker/customiser would have removed/cleaned up the paint mess on the base & wheels.

I was initially hesitant but later eager to take this plunge at any cost cos nothing ventured is nothing gained.
Thanks again Mr Jones for all your assistance and thanks to all members who contributed,most appreciated.
numi

[SMS88]

I think numi has scored a model possibly as scarce as the 1964 batch of reverse wreckers with circumstantial evidence supporting it being a hand assembled pre mass production model. I dont know how easy it is to come up with a solvent today that will combine with the carrier film 1960 style to make a glue that holds the roof cross on as if it were painted on so even having unused stock of these decals still means need correct solvent and a genuine bpw example combine with roof guides body which is vhtf in its own right...........