VBD2 is closed. Please go to https://vbd3.co.uk instead.

Here is the closed box.
These appear to have been boxed for the US markets because of some of the model descriptions. Cragstan would however remarket these sets in 'CRAGSTAN' branded boxes.

Ghosthunter.

Found It!
Cheers, Steve
Matchboxkiwi

Thanks for the photo Steve, very nice condition. Here's another photo from the listing:

johnboy wrote:I've not seen the AHI models altogether before (I'm having a few technical problems at the moment, could someone kindly post a few photos please?)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182086372156? ... EBIDX%3AIT

some information on AHI I put together is HERE... using the search function under "Collection" tab should bring up the few I have photographed so far...

Ian

Thanks Ian, very interesting. So many of these firms morphed over time and had different names, partners and distributors etc so it's great to have this information preserved.

couple of copies of the no9 boat

blue hull green hull

Thank's for the additions, Lesney influence kreeping into all Countries, great stuff.

Ghosthunter.

At a recent bus rally I picked up a couple of Mandarin Londoner (DMS) buses, made in Singapore. These are a close copy of the Matchbox, but with some interesting differences. The most obvious is the lack of engine shroud covers at the rear. When the real buses were sold on from London service to other operators they often had these removed.


Comparison to Matchbox. Note closed-in rear side windows on upper deck of Mandarin. The rear axle location is rather dodgy on the Mandarin, and this example doesn't even seem to have been played with. There was another one on the stall with awful axles.


The Mandarin's oversized steering wheel is sticking out of the windscreen!


Rivet holding the upper deck is to one side on the Mandarin, central on the Matchbox.

There certainly are a lot of similarities between them, thank's Fred for bringing them to the thread.

Ghosthunter.

I have a green copy of those buses.

Cheers, Steve
Matchboxkiwi