30c Faun 8-Wheeled Crane

[ChFalkensteiner]

I had not noticed this casting difference at the back of the cab before. Now I have just checked it in my own collection and found that all examples with the orange jib rivet (both without and with the rear base brace) have the thinner cab wall / larger cab bottom brace, whereas all examples with the unpainted jib rivet (both without and with tow guide) have the thicker cab wall / smaller cab bottom brace.

I am thinking that there may be a correlation between the colour of the jib rivet and the thickness of the cab wall / size of the cab bottom brace. Perhaps the body casting was altered in a way that changed both aspects at the same time.

If this is true, the discovery of the casting difference at the back of the cab does not result in any new variations in my catalogue listing, but I intend to mention this feature nonetheless.

As the tow guide is on the cab base, which is a separate casting part, it might be possible in theory to find an example on which the later cab base with the tow guide is combined with the earlier body with the thinner cab wall / larger cab bottom brace (and orange jib rivet), but due to the times when those casting alterations were made (approximately two years apart) it seems improbable. I know that I have never seen an example with tow guide and orange jib rivet, and that is something I have been checking for quite a while already.

[DrJeep]

...all examples with the orange jib rivet (both without and with the rear base brace) have the thinner cab wall / larger cab bottom brace, whereas all examples with the unpainted jib rivet (both without and with tow guide) have the thicker cab wall / smaller cab bottom brace.

I am thinking that there may be a correlation between the colour of the jib rivet and the thickness of the cab wall / size of the cab bottom brace. Perhaps the body casting was altered in a way that changed both aspects at the same time.

I have this truly appalling repainted 30c, with thick cab wall / smaller bottom brace, no tow guide and a painted rivet. While the crane jib is loose, it doesn't look like it's been swapped, and there's no repainting on the base. I think this shows that there's no direct link between the colour of the jib rivet and the thickness of the cab wall, though it would be good to see others to be certain.

it might be possible in theory to find an example on which the later cab base with the tow guide is combined with the earlier body with the thinner cab wall / larger cab bottom brace (and orange jib rivet), but due to the times when those casting alterations were made (approximately two years apart) it seems improbable.

Agreed, though Idris has reminded me before that stock control was not perfect and that this kind of thing can happen!

[Idris]

IPerhaps the body casting was altered in a way that changed both aspects at the same time.

Studies of other models have shown that the Lesney way was incremental rather than quantum changes, even if this resulted in short runs of 'in between' models.
I would therefore be surprised if no intermediate model came to light in the fullness of time.

[DrJeep]

I would therefore be surprised if no intermediate model came to light in the fullness of time.

Even sooner than you thought! We must have been posting at the same time.

[Malibu]

My five Faun Cranes are as described by Christian.

[kay]

I had not noticed this casting difference at the back of the cab before. Now I have just checked it in my own collection and found that all examples with the orange jib rivet (both without and with the rear base brace) have the thinner cab wall / larger cab bottom brace, whereas all examples with the unpainted jib rivet (both without and with tow guide) have the thicker cab wall / smaller cab bottom brace.

Hi all,

I think the Crane version in my collection has the orange jib rivet and the thick cab wall/thin cab bottom brace:





But since I don't have an opposite version in hand, I might have misinterpreted the pictures so far......
Kay

[DrJeep]

I think the Crane version in my collection has the orange jib rivet and the thick cab wall/thin cab bottom brace

Hi Kay

Thanks for checking! It is hard to tell without a comparison but I think yours is the thick cab wall / thin bottom brace. If it is, there will be obvious casting lines going vertically from the triangular braces where the cab wall has been thickened - you can see these on the left models in both my first picture and Yellowfoden's.

Glenn

[Sebastian10]

I only have 2 of these cranes - both have the rear chassis brace and the thick cab wall/thin rear brace but the one shown below has the thin wheels on the 3rd axle which might add to the possible combinations

Time to do some more searching!

Sebastian

[kwakers]

I love the thin and thick mixed wheels on this one Sebastian! With the mix you show here, this model would be considered a factory "Error", my favorites to collect after all these years. New Variations and codes are nice to find, but Lesney "Errors" can be as interesting and as varied in details as the Lesney models themselves. Thanks for showing this one here, the thin wheels are odd indeed. Kwakers

[Tinman]

I love the thin and thick mixed wheels on this one Sebastian! With the mix you show here, this model would be considered a factory "Error", my favorites to collect after all these years. New Variations and codes are nice to find, but Lesney "Errors" can be as interesting and as varied in details as the Lesney models themselves. Thanks for showing this one here, the thin wheels are odd indeed. Kwakers

I don't think there was any error involved and the model was assembled this way using the correct parts available at the time of assembly and not by error.