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Among our many forum members, we have some with expertise in paint properties and I think they will agree with me (Ghosty), that there are certain colours more susceptible to 'Sunfade' than other colours and the colour mix used on that particular model (the Ford), is one of those colours.

Toys and models are not protected from natural oxidisation caused by dirty air all around us, they don't need to be and Sunfade will cause no end of damage to these paints. You can see similar problems on full-size cars, especially MKIV Vauxhall Astras (from the late 1990's) in red, I have two of them and they are both suffering from Sunfade, making them appear as horrible patchy dark pink cars, not very nice.

Back to the models paint, and the blue base colour will have been mixed with an additional colour pigment to get very near the shade required by Lesney for the Ford, paints supplied to Lesney will not be standard colours made by those suppliers, they will be asked to mix the shades required.

In some cases it is possible to restore the colour back to it's original shade (or hue, oh no, here we go again...), by the use of commercially produced polishes, designed for real cars, but useful on models and "Tinman" probably knows a few of these by their 'Brand' names.

It would be handy to keep a record of 'Sunfaded' models colours against their known correct colours, for example...the 33a, Ford Zodiac in blue (close to Air Force blue!!) will fade into a Turquise (an Aqua-Green shade), and there is a 'Superfast' custom Ford Mustang in quite a bright orange that we have seen appearing pasty pink!

Ghosty.

I'm genuinely surprised by the fact that i) no one has come up with an all dark blue 33a, and ii) the total absence of any objections to reclassifying the dark blue variant as a colour fade.
Has the World's premier Matchbox Forum spoken? Is the dark blue 33a no more?

Idris wrote:I'm genuinely surprised by the fact that i) no one has come up with an all dark blue 33a, and ii) the total absence of any objections to reclassifying the dark blue variant as a colour fade.
Has the World's premier Matchbox Forum spoken? Is the dark blue 33a no more?

I have yet to see an all over dark blue, but then there are quite a few models I have not seen/found yet. Never say never Hugh you just dont know whats round the corner.
Fingers crossed and happy hunting.
J

Very interesting, I must check my dark blue 33a.
Antonin

Diecast wrote:Very interesting, I must check my dark blue 33a.
Antonin

Yes, you must!

Just wanted to add the picture showing where the boot label was.
Also ask if any one has this unlisted variation, Nicks code 6 Dark blue/green but with 9(8.6)x20 GPW. Nicks code 6 Dark blue/green but with 9(8.6)x20 GPW.Very hard to photograph but its not the mormal dark green. J

Idris wrote:
Yes, you must!

I have checked my dark blue 33a Ford Zodiac and it seems that it was dark green, but a little bit different as standard dark green. I am enclosing some photo with models: dark green, dark blue, light blue
Antonin

and dark green versus dark blue from bottom

Diecast wrote:and dark green versus dark blue from bottom

By the looks of it, the dark blue is on the right, but the colour at the base of the rivet well is as good as identical on both models.
I think this has to be the final nail in the coffin of the dark blue 33a variation.

Idris wrote:
By the looks of it, the dark blue is on the right, but the colour at the base of the rivet well is as good as identical on both models.
I think this has to be the final nail in the coffin of the dark blue 33a variation.

You are right, dark blue is on the right, dark green on the left. The colour of the rivets is very similar, rivet on the right is slightly darker.
Antonin