So what do the experts say on this one?

[kwakers]

Can I debunk the Debunking, because these dark blue models have existed as a variation from the mid 1960s, and 'good' dark blue models are still held in collections today all over the world. I can't really believe that all the dark Blue models I have seen in person, some of which were sheltered in collections for nearly 50 years of their life, could have all been sunfaded to dark blue so perfectly. I have to debunk the debunking, and also the debunkers with a very large smile tonight. I will some day find my 2nd example I bought from Nigel Cooper years ago Hugh, but I am sure that Wrecker is long gone, and you are now a non-believer in that variation anyway......Both problems solved...... kwakers

[kwakers]

I looked the complete dark blue 33A thread over tonight to find that Early Wheels actually expressed legitimacy concerns very similar to mine to the debunkers late in that thread also.
This is not meant as a theory, but just a reminder of known Lesney history. The 32A Jaguar had a large shipment of painted white bodies sent back onto the paint line to be repainted in red. These double painted bodies turn out to be a lighter red in color than the later 'stock color' bodies that were bare metal when painted. Could the green inside some of these 33As be original, done while the initial run of dark blue bodies was tried on the Zodiac. Just a thought tonight, but chipped models on the Forum seem to be 'bare metal' under the dark blue rather that pre-painted green ones.
I am very surprised at Jason's blue model with the decal/label spot on the boot being a much lighter green color. That model he showed us still puzzles me for now. The green model Mike showed us with that dark blue spot on the underside of it's bumper was also very interesting to think about.
I really don't feel that analyzing 5 or 6 Forum owned models can give us conclusive results either way Idris, but it was a Great and very interesting start of a discussion a year ago over the illusive dark blue 33A. I stayed clear of the discussion then. (ours is safely hidden in our house somewhere)
I am still a believer in the Fairy Tale 21C Commer Bottle Float in complete light 'blue' colour as Nick had it posted in his online variation Guide 4 years ago. Each of us must collect as we wish, and out of thousands of regular wheel models we own, that one is, and may always remain my favorite variation. In 51 years of looking at 'stock color' 21 Milk Floats all over the U.S. in our stores and at Toy Shows, I have never seen another colored like ours over here. I really could care less that a German collector debunked that variation also as simply 'sunfade'. If so, where are the hundreds of others hiding now if that was a viable explanation. That makes me consistent with debunking debunkers, even if it should mean that I as a debunker of debunkers may some day be debunked.......It's all up to us personally to fall in love as we wish with our Toys. kwakers

[matchbox_n_molars]

I wanted to follow up on this original "what color is it?" question.
The package arrived yesterday from Australia and to tell you the truth, this model seems to have very little, if any blue in it. Here it is beside one of my dark green models. (new model the rough one on the left)



Here's a photo beneath the new one.

[EarlyWheels]

This is a composite image of my Blue Zodiac along with those of another collector friend assembled at my place in 2007. To the right of the upper row is a standard Dark Green model. The two at lower left are Sea Green, with GPW's. The two at right are Sea Green, one with GPW and the other with MW.

Zodiac One Group Blue.jpg (179.89 KiB) Viewed 340 times

So, since my name has once again been drawn into discussion, on a topic that was near and dear to what I wanted in Matchbox lore - to definitively locate, identify by color fidelity, and acquire the elusive Blue Zodiac. I want to thank Greg in Cincinnati for bringing this forward, albeit in roundabout fashion. I had stepped away from the forum for a few days so I didn't see your original post asking for an opinion on the purchase of the Zodiac, and wondering if it was "true blue." As first blush, I thought probably not, but maybe it had a bit of the teal mixed in. What I can tell you good people is that the Blue Zodiac exists, and George, as he often does, came up with a beautifully composed and well lit image of it further down in the discussion. As for bunking, de-bunking, re-bunking, and finally def-con 1 nuclear option, I won't get caught up in that; only that I am not aware of any verifiable thread that professes that all Blue Zodiacs are color fades. As I've said on many occasions, the model's color is somewhere between the 46A Morris in Blue and the 46B Pickford's in Blue for those that haven't had the opportunity to see one in hand. Although I don't have many images saved of my collection from 1980 through 2006 these days I was able to locate this group that follows. I resized down to 30% and hope that the images make it onto the site! More pics to follow!

[EarlyWheels]

Zodiac Two Group Blue.jpg (176.86 KiB) Viewed 338 times

Actually the ones to the lower right are turquoise bluish-green, also called light blue in some references. Some additional pics to enjoy! If the administrators feel the need to further edit for viewing, do what you must! The lowermost picture reverses the Turquoise Bluish Green and the Sea Green models to try to get them in different lighting.