RW12C Land Rover gold

[hydra427]

Kwakers, well said. A beautiful model that any of us would be glad to have in our collection.

[jimgallegos]

Kwakers,

I agree with the "pollution" of the hobby we are seeing. In the same lot at the Gathering (These were just for observation, not sale) was a reverse color wreck truck. I purposely twisted it and it snapped revealing the glued post. Had I a mirror at the time, I would have been able to see the glued rivet. I feel bad for many I know who have bought "rare" boxes later proven to be fakes. I wish these were clearly marked as such because, in future years, they will get into unknowing collections and innocently traded as originals.
On the plus side, I think collectors are aware now and more likely to question a rare model to prove it's provenience. Many beautiful models have surfaced and discussion has helped confirm their place in the scheme of production.

The gold model, I hope is real as it is truly beautiful and anyone would certainly place it as a centerpiece in a Superfast collection.I have a very good blue fake but it is marked as such and I would give it away before selling.

Keep up the great research all!!!

[kwakers]

That is the beauty of these Transitional regular and Superfast odd models we found in our stores in 1969-1970. They are now highly sought after by both regular wheel and Superfast collectors Jim, so are in HUGE demand. I was so upset by the sudden changeover of my realistic Lesney Toys, I despised even the idea of the line being totally converted to Superfast wheels. Why not continue the detailed truck and construction equipment under the present line and open a 'New' unrealistic line of absurd models to compete with Hot Wheels #*@&% were my thoughts as a serious early collector. Time proved me wrong, their quick changeover saved Matchbox from what would have certainly been their demise in the early 70s....Damn Yanks.....LOL
Jim, I agree wholeheartedly! We are becoming much smarter as collectors while learning the latest tricks from being able to see and experience them, so the sword cuts both ways. I must now fashion a tiny mirror/ light to view the insides of our rare toys at shows. Where will it all take us in the future? Welding Zamac to change details before 'perfect re-paints and axle changes'?
I as a Regular Wheel collector would also love to have Ergomatic's model in our collection. If inside details are correct (not even thought of until today, Thank You) it is a centerpiece. If the inside details reveal modifications, it goes on our fake shelf next to a silver one that cost a friend of ours a lot of hassle and agony as well as a lot of $$$$$.....Cheers, kwakers

[Tinman]

Where will it all take us in the future? Welding Zamac to change details before 'perfect re-paints and axle changes'?

The metal can't be welded. One can solder the material by first copper plating the area to be soldered. Solder makes a joint almost as strong as the metal itself, so that would be nearly as good as welding (and better than epoxy). A small plating kit (designed for home use) will do a good enough job to allow the metal to accept solder. The other issue is that you would have to use 50/50 solder as silver solder requires too high a temp for the Zamack. The 50% lead content in 50/50 solder could eventually cause a problem with the model and expose the fraud. Resin material and resin casting is far more likely to be used to disguise or alter details and can be difficult to detect on a painted model.

[nickjones]

Why not continue the detailed truck and construction equipment under the present line and open a 'New' unrealistic line of absurd models to compete with Hot Wheels #*@&% were my thoughts as a serious early collector.

At the time these were my thoughts exactly Dick. Adapt the sports models to superfast wheels but leave the rest as they are, And converting the Kingsize range to superfast was total stupidity, It not only killed off interest in Kingsize but also meant an early demise for Corgi and Dinky.
I can't help thinking if Lesney had made more use of colour and kept to a 1:72 scale for the 1-75 series the company might still be thriving here in the UK.

[jimgallegos]

Where will it all take us in the future? Welding Zamac to change details before 'perfect re-paints and axle changes'?

The metal can't be welded. One can solder the material by first copper plating the area to be soldered. Solder makes a joint almost as strong as the metal itself, so that would be nearly as good as welding (and better than epoxy). A small plating kit (designed for home use) will do a good enough job to allow the metal to accept solder. The other issue is that you would have to use 50/50 solder as silver solder requires too high a temp for the Zamack. The 50% lead content in 50/50 solder could eventually cause a problem with the model and expose the fraud. Resin material and resin casting is far more likely to be used to disguise or alter details and can be difficult to detect on a painted model.

I remember the models being glued and not soldered. Must take quite a talent to solder these I assume. Coming from someone (me) who cannot even paint properly. I admire those who can and have the restoration talents.

[ford_a_30]

I can't help thinking if Lesney had made more use of colour ... the company might still be thriving here in the UK.

It does make me wonder how, when faced with the issues from Hot Wheels, Lesney did not at least use some color whilst adapting the line to Superfast. They could have added a rainbow of color to hold back some of the huge losses they suffered during the transition anyway. Not to mention the added bonus for us collectors both then and now as we hunt for what could have been.

[SMS88]

I can't help thinking if Lesney had made more use of colour ... the company might still be thriving here in the UK.

It does make me wonder how, when faced with the issues from Hot Wheels, Lesney did not at least use some color whilst adapting the line to Superfast. They could have added a rainbow of color to hold back some of the huge losses they suffered during the transition anyway. Not to mention the added bonus for us collectors both then and now as we hunt for what could have been.

Hotwheels strategy right from the start in 1968 was to have 10 different colours and make each of their range of 16 initial castings in 7-10 of those colours in waves so that 2 different colours appeared on each model at the same time and then a few months later 2 different colours took over thus refreshing store displays with rotation of colours so that a good car would be desirable in different colours - a fact Lesney failed to appreciate and clearly rejected even though it was clearly at the core of Mattel´s strategy with so few castings in production each year of their huge boom 1968-72. Corgi did try this strategy to some extent especially 1969 to 72 and then again in the 1980s as bankruptcy was looming. Their Mercedes 280SL of 1970-73 appearing in a rainbow of colours with 5 distinctive individual blues as well as 2 reds, orange,copper,silver, dayglo green and most common of all , yellow
In those days Hotwheels had about 16 castings in the range each year 1968-72 , Corgi Juniors had around 35 and Lesney had 75 - very different strategies and who knows how many more sales Lesney would have had if kids saw a car and said ´´I havent got it in that colour yet - I want one!´´ which worked as well for Hotwheels as it does for makers of fullsize cars who know customers liked a choice of different colours. Bulgarian Matchbox range is very collectable precisely because of their colour policy

[Penguin27]

In Canada the red 75-2 Ferrarri was sold in Canada in a blister pack .I would have to look at the one in my collection but I purchased 19 of them at a toy show in Vancouver.
I traded for toys and cash for12 of them to a either Geoffrey Leake or Phillip Bowdidge. I would have to look up the details as it has been many years ago. The models were sold in stores and purchased off the racks.They were then stored for twenty two years in storage after the collector died. I valued all the collection that was split by his 5 children. A few were sold in Seattle and Portland but I kept one for my own Collection.

[kwakers]

The sale of both these red Ferraris and the purple 67 VW in regular wheel Canadian Blister Packs as well as U.S. Gift sets and race sets has kept their price from rising into the stratosphere as on a couple of the other transitional regular wheel models in Superfast colors. Thanks for your story of these being found in Vancouver Penguin27, it is like the seven in red that Pat Lamagna found in Race sets possibly out of Canada in the early 70s. I have one of his, but bought it through a dealer friend of ours, not from Pat himself. We used to see Pat and his Wife every year at the Macungie Penn. Toy Show, and also at some Shows and Conventions put on by other Clubs we were both members of. Everyone wonders why these 'rares' are always found in Mint condition, your story is typical of these odd colored last regular wheels. We swapped them off with collectors, they were too rare to find even then to allow anyone to 'Play with them'. kwakers