30c Faun 8-Wheeled Crane

[Diecast]

I have found another colour variation of the jib by my spare models.
a) dull orange
b) bright orange
c) light red
Antonin

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Great find Antonin, these will have to be added to Glenn's listing.

Ghosthunter.

[yellowfoden]

I have found another colour variation of the jib by my spare models.
a) dull orange
b) bright orange
c) light red
Antonin

Hello Antonin,
Could I get you to please check the colour on the inside of the crane boom on the dull model. I have a couple of these showing the underside or inside as being much darker.
Thanks.
Bert

[yellowfoden]

In checking the wheels on the 30c fleet in particular to see if I had the very thin wheels paired like Sebastian’s, I found there are possibly four different moulded wheels, all
11.5 x 45 size fitted to this model through its life.

I thought a close up photo might help explain why some of these bpw are mixed and why sizes differ slightly both in diameter and width.

While it is not a new discovery for those collectors who have been around for a few decades or more I thought a photo of my 30c with wording embossed on the bpw would be of interest to newer collectors.
This text is on my Nick code 2 and drjeep code 3 so it is possible that it may well appear on codes either side of this also.

I have started a new thread here for other known 1-75 with embossed lettering on bpw.

Bert

[DrJeep]

The wide arch model needs to be compared to confirmed first issue models and or any 'Pre-Pro' models we might have here, to see if they have wide arches.

That's why I asked Antonin - if he doesn't have one, they have to be scarce! Mine does have a factory provenance that seems convincing, given the five prepros and two very early castings in the same lot.

Hard to say, which was the first. I would say the standart wheel arches were the first one, but there was a problems with the flow of the molten metal into the die (on my Pre-Pro model). The metal did not flow to the end of the wheel arches. The detail of the wheel arches was enlarged in the die, but it was too much (your model). I have found in my spare models another model with thicker wheel arches. It realy seems that they had a lot of headache by Lesney because of the wheel arches.

I've taken an even closer look. The flared wheel arches are very neat and even and there's a fine moulding line that carries on the line of the bodywork. That might suggest they were designed, rather than a modification. On the other hand, the wheel arches are thick too, rather like your thicker wheel arch model, which isn't very elegant. This also suggests that your thick arch Faun might be the modified version of mine.

Other than the short wheel arches and paler orange crane arm, is there anything else that distinguishes your prepro?

The final version, with the even wheel arches, is much neater, and must have been easier to mould, but tends to make the Faun look more like a toy than a model.

Great find Antonin, these will have to be added to Glenn's listing.

And I thought it was nearly finished! What are the details of the red-armed 30c?

[Diecast]

Hello Antonin,
Could I get you to please check the colour on the inside of the crane boom on the dull model. I have a couple of these showing the underside or inside as being much darker.
Thanks.
Bert

Hallo Bert, I have checked it, the colour inside is dull orange also. The painting is the same as the paiting on the very early models of 26b Foden Cement Mixer with grey barrel. Model has no rear brace, painted rivet, base plate with two small plates and without tow guide, large triangular brace/thin wall.
Antonin

[yellowfoden]

Thanks Antonin for checking that.
Much appreciated.
Bert

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Glen, the first picture of the Two above is very revealing. It looks to me as if the model has been put into a bench vice upside down and squashed. The squeezing effect causing sections of the wheel arches to be crushed, resulting in the un-clamped sections of the arches to appear wider. Is this something you can imagine as well.

Ghosthunter.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

By the way, the phrase ''nearly finished'' does not apply to collectors of Matchbox models...

Ghosty.

[DrJeep]

Glen, the first picture of the Two above is very revealing. It looks to me as if the model has been put into a bench vice upside down and squashed. The squeezing effect causing sections of the wheel arches to be crushed, resulting in the un-clamped sections of the arches to appear wider. Is this something you can imagine as well.

Ghosthunter.

I know exactly what you mean, and I’ve just had another very careful look to check! I’m sure this is a deliberate part of the casting, not an unauthorised modification. It’s identical on both sides - which could be the case if someone clamped it very carefully. But the lower part of the arch is wider, the upper part isn’t narrower, and it’s the same on all three rear wheel arches. Antonin also has the thicker arched version, looking very similar, though his has more paint. There’s also an even paint finish inside the wheel arches, which wouldn’t be the case if they’d been squeezed. I’ll try to take some pictures to show this better.

By the way, the phrase ''nearly finished'' does not apply to collectors of Matchbox models...

Ghosty.

Glenn