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It almost looks like the number 3 was welded over and a new number cut into the mold. I say this because; it looks like the top of the number 3 is still faint (and Lesney's 3 had a straight top which formed the better part of a Z before becoming the rounded lower half of the number.

It almost looks like the number 3 was welded over and a new number cut into the mold. I say this because; it looks like the top of the number 3 is still faint (and Lesney's 3 had a straight top which formed the better part of a Z before becoming the rounded lower half of the number.

Thanks for the quick pictures Tinman, never seen a K8 Baseplate before.

It almost looks like the number 3 was welded over and a new number cut into the mold

Thats an interesting observation and would make a lot of sense: The K3a Bulldozer joined the range in 1960 whereas the K8 set (including the Cat without blade) joined the range in 1962. Infos came from Nick's King Size page. Maybe Lesney modified the mould in 1962, using two different baseplates (K3/K8) from this date. That would mean that we should have K8 baseplates on earlier runs with metallrollers.
So does anyone have a Cat (without blade, with hook) with metallrollers and a K8 base?

Greetings,
Linus

I took some measurements of the number three and the number 8 on these bases. The 3 did sit further to the right than the 8 and I am now convinced an existing mold was modified resulting in ghosting of the old number 3.

I took some measurements of the number three and the number 8 on these bases. The 3 did sit further to the right than the 8 and I am now convinced an existing mold was modified resulting in ghosting of the old number 3.

Great detective work Tinman. That should confirm our previous thoughts.

Greetings,
Linus

Or, it could be an odd build-up of paint that looks like ghosting. However, I like the modified mold theory better and there is precedence for that type of modification.

Out of 4 Cats 2 are No.3 and 2 are No.8 - all have hooks and the orange roller version has the smaller stack on. Now need tracks for 2 of these as when I picked up to check them the tracks stuck to the trailer and broke being very hard and brittle.

Moyboy wrote: Now need tracks for 2 of these as when I picked up to check them the tracks stuck to the trailer and broke being very hard and brittle.

That sucks!
I would send you a couple of pair but I'm all out of kingsize tracks at the moment.

That reminds me of the Number 53 red Mercedes I wanted to show someone. When I went to the cabinet, the interior looked strange. At first I thought a moth or spider had left webbing or something like that inside. What it turned out had happened is that the interior turned to little crumbled bits of plastic. It totally decomposed into hundreds of little pieces which I had to shake out of the car. Maybe I can sell the model to touch-up Tim as a rare error car? LOL

Tinman wrote:I took some measurements of the number three and the number 8 on these bases. The 3 did sit further to the right than the 8 and I am now convinced an existing mold was modified resulting in ghosting of the old number 3.

Joe
I looked closely at my K8 base plates and agree with the theory of modified K3 base plate. The number 8 is smaller in height and I can see the ghosting 3 directly under the letter S.

Linus
I have only ever seen the Cat tractor with metal rollers that came with the K8a set with a K3 baseplate.

My notes when I studied this model 25 years or so ago indicate the K8 baseplate was more like 1965 introduction. This would make sense with the K3 being discontinued.


Mick, I have a K3 with blade with original tracks with one track still nice and soft and the other is hard and brittle. The soft one is still green whereas the hard one has discoloured brownish grey. Given they have obviously both been in same environment I am thinking they must be different material in some way.( different batches perhaps). I have seen the same thing occur in the 1-75 range and major pack with a soft and hard track on the same model.

Regards
Bert

Not to worried about the tracks Bert as replacements are available - they always go hard and brittle. I have a spare model that is a beater and ready for a repaint in some scheme (not sure what yet though)

Some great information on these castings. I have checked some of my ones.

I can confirm the K3 without tow hook having both size,s of the air intake stack below.
Also not sure if it has been mentioned about the lines around the seat on the K8, I have a couple without the cast lines as shown below.
Keep up the great work, I do love this range of models.

J