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Laurie could you be so kind and take a detailed picture of the seat and the control lever. If there are no small traces of the separation plane, the driver was very probably cut away. If there is a visible trace of the separation line, the model is genuine without driver from the Lesney.
Antonin

Diecast wrote:Laurie could you be so kind and take a detailed picture of the seat and the control lever. If there are no small traces of the separation plane, the driver was very probably cut away. If there is a visible trace of the separation line, the model is genuine without driver from the Lesney.
Antonin

Clever!

Very nice waratah,

The removal of the driver is a very neat job. In doing so it appears that the operating lever has been reduced from the wider dual operational lever to single round, quite a delicate alteration if this is post Lesney.
I love the heavy duty treads/tracks on this, would be nice to know the origin of these.
Thanks for showing this one.

I have seen one of these before and have spent the last evening searching to see if I had the photos. The owner is now deceased so I am not sure where the model ended up.
I compared yours with a couple of mine and have attached a composite pic to show the operation lever differences. The small indent down the bottom of yours is occasionally seen on 8b and 8c models as a metal flow casting flaw issue.

I also note differences in the casting underneath and have attached a comparison shot. I have highlighted the difference in the casting. On several of my yellow castings the casting is the same as the model on the left. Two of mine also have the silver trim underneath.

Also here is an image of a post Lesney modification of one I spotted of the 18b on line a few years ago with the an owner removing almost all of the driver just leaving his boots intact. I have seen a few like this and could be as a result of the driver loosing his head so the owner has removed the body as well.

Bert

Ok, first pic is rear of seat area and shows the separation line I believe, especially just above the tow hook

Next pic shows front of seat area and seems smooth. It would appear someone wanted a driverless Cat, Laurie

Lastly from above, a bit blurry though. Thanks for all for weighing in on this,Laurie

GHOSTHUNTER wrote:The control lever is far too low to be a Lesney original or has been cut down for some reason.

And it is not in the center of the model whre it should be - in betwen the mould halves.

Having now seen the last three pictures they confirm my thoughts on the whole driver being cut away and the out of position control lever nails it!

Ghosthunter.

I did the same some time ago on a 18c but without the control lever.

BTW a very nice job on the #8 and the #18 too.
S.