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The NAMC’s “Catalog of all Series Matchbox Models” (second edition) and the AIM's “1-75 Series Regular Wheels” catalogue (second printing, 1983), whilst not listing any new variations, both highlight the fact that early models with MW have a dark brown back, compared to the brown back of all other models, with AIM listing the MW version existing with either colour. Leake ("Concise Catalogue of 75 Series Matchbox Toys by Lesney" (4th edition, reprinted 2006)) also notes shades of brown. (My guess is that, like the 40a Bedford Tipper, we will find that a whole spectrum of browns was used.)
In addition, the NAMC, AIM, and Houghton all note the existence of light and dark GPW, with Houghton indicating that the 7.5 x 18 GPW are dark grey whilst the 8 x 18 GPW can be either light or dark.
Neither Stannard nor Houghton list any variations not already listed by Nick.
U.K. Matchbox did not examine the model.

One other point, and that is that Nick suggests that the model exists with gold trim. I have been looking for several years for this variation, so far without success (although I have found a mixed silver/gold trim example). Does anyone have a gold-trimmed example to show us?

Hello Hugh, here are two MW models showing the Darker Brown and the Lighter Brown (Tan).



George T.

kerbside wrote:Hello Hugh, here are two MW models showing the Darker Brown and the Lighter Brown (Tan).

I wouldn't mind betting that there are intermediate shades. (Where's Antonin?)

Can this model be found with the horse box door being a different shade to the actual horse box. I ask this because i assume the the doors were painted separately to the horse box and then added in assembly (i am probably wrong in that assumption, but it would be nice to know)?

motorman wrote:Can this model be found with the horse box door being a different shade to the actual horse box. I ask this because i assume the the doors were painted separately to the horse box and then added in assembly (i am probably wrong in that assumption, but it would be nice to know)?

Not (currently) a recoded variation.

Idris wrote:

kerbside wrote: I wouldn't mind betting that there are intermediate shades. (Where's Antonin?)

Hi Hugh
Sorry, I am here, but on the long business trip and I can not send any photos. I will do it immediatelly when I am back
Antonin

motorman wrote:Can this model be found with the horse box door being a different shade to the actual horse box. I ask this because i assume the the doors were painted separately to the horse box and then added in assembly (i am probably wrong in that assumption, but it would be nice to know)?

Hello Alex,

You are correct in thinking the door/ramp was painted separately to the horse box. The ramp pins sit in small openings either side of door opening and is held captive with two braces on inside top of base plate after base plate spread rivet is pressed.
It would have been a similar painting process to the M2b Bedford trailer doors in colours other than box paint and M7a Cattle truck ramp in red just to name a couple.

Here is a picture of a couple of mine. While the mint one was harder to photograph, the played with one shows a nice shade difference. I don’t usually use played with examples to show a variation with colour but this one is our original family model so I know its history well.

I also believe that old stock early painted ramps can appear on late models if we subscribe to the theory of recessed ejector rings being early. This would give rise to none matching shades of ramps and horse boxes.
I have also seen many ramp/doors where the coat of paint is much thinner than the horse box paint.

Antonin showed a couple of nice ones a few years ago with ramp colour shade differences and I see he will post some more on his return.

Regards

Bert

Thanks Bert. Very informative.

Hello Bert thanks for posting, but as the ramp door can be swapped over these differences could be many.

As I remember buying a SPW model with-out the ramp door, so I took the door off another model and put that on the SPW model.

George T.

Idris wrote: I wouldn't mind betting that there are intermediate shades. (Where's Antonin?)

Hi Hugh & Everybody

I am back and I would like to show you some shades of the 35a ERF Marshall Horsebox. There are a lot of shades of the horsebox and two shades of the cab.
Antonin