49a M3 Halftrack
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 12:50 pm
It is difficult to reconcile variations 49-1G to J in the NAMC’s “Catalog of all Series Matchbox Models” (second edition) with Nick's variations. It may be that variation 49-1J could be 10 x 36 BPW, 7.5 mm BPR with a non-riveted base (plausible as the result of stockroom clearance) which would be the new code 18, but I think it is is more likely to be a mis-reported 9 x 36 BPW matching Nick's code 17.
The AIM “1-75 Series Regular Wheels” catalogue (second printing, 1983) does not report any variations not already listed by Nick.
Houghton notes that the driver's seat is 3 mm wide on early castings, reducing to 2.5 mm wide on later ones. His variation table suggests that the width was changed when moving from the "half-round ejector ring" to the "no ejector ring, axle platform forward" base. However, we know that such changes were often incremental, so we should not rule out the possibility that either late "half-round ejector ring" bases exist with narrow seats, or that early "no ejector ring, axle platform forward" bases exist with wide seats.
Stannard lists a model as variation 49-A6 which has 9.5 x 20 GPW, 9.5 mm GPR, r/a, "axle platform to rear" base and a centre axle brace bogie. If confirmed, this would sit neatly between Nick's existing codes 6 and 7. Stannard also list a model at 49-A9 which has 10 x 45 BPW, 9.5 mm BPR, r/a, "no ejector ring, axle platform forward" base, and no bogie wheel openings. I think this should be Nick's variation code 12 which, in this table, is identical to his variation code 13.
U.K. Matchbox covered the model in volume 1, no. 5 (Jul. '77), p78. Although no variations not already covered by Nick are listed, the illustration of the first-type bogie shows four triangular openings rather than two. Is this just a mistake, or does it point to the existence of an even earlier four-hole bogie casting? Since no separate mention of a two-hole casting is made, I suspect the former to be the case.
NAMC, AIM and Houghton all catalogue light and dark grey wheel variations.
The AIM “1-75 Series Regular Wheels” catalogue (second printing, 1983) does not report any variations not already listed by Nick.
Houghton notes that the driver's seat is 3 mm wide on early castings, reducing to 2.5 mm wide on later ones. His variation table suggests that the width was changed when moving from the "half-round ejector ring" to the "no ejector ring, axle platform forward" base. However, we know that such changes were often incremental, so we should not rule out the possibility that either late "half-round ejector ring" bases exist with narrow seats, or that early "no ejector ring, axle platform forward" bases exist with wide seats.
Stannard lists a model as variation 49-A6 which has 9.5 x 20 GPW, 9.5 mm GPR, r/a, "axle platform to rear" base and a centre axle brace bogie. If confirmed, this would sit neatly between Nick's existing codes 6 and 7. Stannard also list a model at 49-A9 which has 10 x 45 BPW, 9.5 mm BPR, r/a, "no ejector ring, axle platform forward" base, and no bogie wheel openings. I think this should be Nick's variation code 12 which, in this table, is identical to his variation code 13.
U.K. Matchbox covered the model in volume 1, no. 5 (Jul. '77), p78. Although no variations not already covered by Nick are listed, the illustration of the first-type bogie shows four triangular openings rather than two. Is this just a mistake, or does it point to the existence of an even earlier four-hole bogie casting? Since no separate mention of a two-hole casting is made, I suspect the former to be the case.
NAMC, AIM and Houghton all catalogue light and dark grey wheel variations.