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Ewan wrote:Just curiosity - how big were Kew Dodges? The Matchbox BP Tow Truck looks around the same size as a Bedford A or D type, but that doesn't fit with the dump truck model. I like to arrange models in a reasonably realistic way scale - wise and these Kews confuse me

Hello Ewan

According to the matchbox pocket catalogues the scale of the 13d Dodge Wrecker is 1:85 whilst the K18 Dodge Articulated Horse Trailer is 1:63.
The number 48 Kew Dodge Dump Truck is 1:85 scale.

Some of the early pocket catalogues have some of the scales and interestingly while the 1967 International edition has them the 1967 USA edition does not. These always proved handy as we set up our family train set while hunting for OO and HO scale models.

A handy reference soft cover book by Maurice A. Hammond first published in 1972 and reprint in 1979 also is one of the few books written on Lesney Matchbox that has the scales listed as well. While a lot of the content in these books have been improved upon they can also still be a useful cross reference and were / are a nice portable size to carry around.

Actual title is Lesney Matchbox 1-75 Series Diecast by Maurice A. Hammond.

I see you now have the 40 year book which from memory ( I don’t have mine at hand at present) also has some series that cover scales but not all series have scales listed.

yellowfoden wrote:Some of the early pocket catalogues have some of the scales and interestingly while the 1967 International edition has them the 1967 USA edition does not. These always proved handy as we set up our family train set while hunting for OO and HO scale models.

A handy reference soft cover book by Maurice A. Hammond first published in 1972 and reprint in 1979 also is one of the few books written on Lesney Matchbox that has the scales listed as well. While a lot of the content in these books have been improved upon they can also still be a useful cross reference and were / are a nice portable size to carry around.

Actual title is Lesney Matchbox 1-75 Series Diecast by Maurice A. Hammond.

I understand that the US catalogues did not contain the scales since this would have resulted in the models falling into a different (i.e. higher) import tax category.

Copies of Hammond (both hard= and softback) come up on Ebay fairly regularly and normally sell for slightly less than £10.

Thanks for that guys, I was actually planning on asking for some scale info at some point, I had noticed that some of the advertising listed scales accurately (i.e. 1:85) but some was a bit vaguer like 'HO' and 'OO' as Lesney applied this with quite a degree of elasticity. I shouldn't complain really, some of the best condition models in my collection have come from model railway layouts.

I just added the K-18's to the website. I also took pictures of the noticeable variations and the four boxes that I have. I am not sure how many boxes were available for the K-18.

http://www.regularwheel.com/p1065677204 ... #h28aadc54

The k18 articulated horse box is found in a multitude of variations. I must have at least 20 in my collection and I am certain there are at least 10 more variations.
The interior of the trailer can be found in gray, dark gray, charcoal, light brown, tan, light green, green, red, light red, olive.
The trailer itself can be found in tan or orange.
The axle springs can be found in white or red.
Can windows can be found in dark green, green or light green.
The base of the tractor can be either smooth or with raised sections.

Interesting model who was originally released with black plastic tires/red hubs and later changed to superfast wheels.

In addition to Charlie's variations:
There are two different types of trailer doors. http://www.regularwheel.com/p1065677204 ... #h2a5e47ca and http://www.regularwheel.com/p1065677204 ... #h3ed905eb
There is a trailer with bump stops for one door and one without the bump stops. http://www.regularwheel.com/p1065677204 ... #h28773978 and http://www.regularwheel.com/p1065677204 ... #h22f658a2
There is one trailer with two supports that would hold the trailer off the ground if it was not hooked to the tractor, and one trailer without the supports. http://www.regularwheel.com/p1065677204 ... #h3e6fef7a and http://www.regularwheel.com/p1065677204 ... #h3081a679

I've just got hold of a SuperKing version for selling on, Nick mentions on the site that he believed they only came with dark green interiors - afraid not, this one is a rather dark brown......
Apologies for the photos, lighting not too good up here today!

Has anyone seen the 1957 film Hell Drivers? Big all start cast, and a fleet of 1950's Kew built 'Parrot nose' Dodge trucks. Many UK Dodge trucks are mistaken for Leylands or Albions; due to them sharing the same Motor Panels Cab (known as the LAD Cab - Leyland Albion Dodge); and the usual British tradition of Badge Engineering on Trucks like Commer's (The Mb72 Dodge Commando Truck, started life as a Commer Truck)

Ewan wrote:I've just got hold of a SuperKing version for selling on, Nick mentions on the site that he believed they only came with dark green interiors - afraid not, this one is a rather dark brown......
Apologies for the photos, lighting not too good up here today!

DSCN5890 (500x374).jpg

DSCN5891 (500x374).jpg

Ewan the image you posted makes the horse stalls and base look a dark blue. Is this what you are referring to?

motorman wrote:
Ewan the image you posted makes the horse stalls and base look a dark blue. Is this what you are referring to?

Apologies for that - really lousy lighting yesterday. Yes, it is the stalls and base and they are dark brown (honest) - I'll try again today