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Hi, This is my first post to the forum. I was cataloging some models this week. I don't know if this has been reported yet. My apologies if it has. So far I found the green, yellow, and purple-ish bases have this casting vari. Towards the back below the base, behind the body hinge, is a center angled metal stop to prevent the body from swinging open too much. On each side of this are two hexagon shaped raised castings. They are either close to the center stop bracket or spread further out. Hopefully you can see this in the two photos.




Thanks,
Jason

Hi Jason,

Must have been two moulds for this part of the baseplate in use simultaneously. I assume this variation would also be found even on the common black bases.

Welcome, BTW...

Cheers,
Gavin

Hallo Jason

Wellcome here and have Fun.

CHeers Mathias

Welcomw to the forum TOYRIFIC,

So many models are showing up variations of this nature and its nice to know that collectors are actually looking at their models and discovering this. This is increasing the evidence of two or more sets of moulds (tooling etc), being used to create the raw metal castings in the first place.

A model is hopefully going to be very popular and generate much sales revenue for the company and if after an initial production run this proves to be the case and demand is close to causing problems for the supply of that model, a second set of tools is put into production so the production runs for that particular model is doubled-up, sets of moulds are made by a pantograph method of reduction, using a much larger version of the proposed model, often referred to as a master 'buck' and this is done at least twice to create the two (or three), sets of tooling that when put together makes the mould for moulten metal to be injected into.

As good as the master modeller is, he will not be able to create exact duplicate moulds and by the time a another set is made, it may well be one of the other model makers that is asked to do them, Lesney had at least three model makers doing this type of work, under the supervision of Mr Ken Wetton, the head model maker.

This is a simplified version of how Lesney (among many companies), created a model, concentrating on the tools and moulds aspect and for a much more detailed and informed account of design and production, try and get a copy of the Matchbox "First Forty Years" book, until you do, enjoy looking around this forum, it's great fun and there are some really knowledgeable collectors here.

Regards,
GHOSTHUNTER.

Well spotted Jason, and as Ghosty has commented on, very easily explained.

Welcome to the forum mate, please enjoy your time here and dont be afraid to ask questions and post photographs.

Very well spotted, will have to check my ones now.
Does anyone else have this one with front narrow wheels, darker pink overall as well. Jason

All mine have the wider wheel, nice find Jason.

Impressive label price

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321416996202? ... 1423.l2649

The lack of glazing and what looked like glue residue on the side put me right off (although that may have been a trick of the light in the images)!!

I just didn't have a good feeling about it.

To pay more than 25£ for that one I would need plenty of close ups and and the history of it. I dont know if its fake at all, but just as you Alex I was put off and see no value in it. But if some one from the forum got it, please let us see it