Missing Link?

[Idris]

My attention was caught by this Lesney modelmaker's prototype which featured in today's auction at Lacy, Scott and Knight. It appears to be a futuristic model, but with RW (chrome hub and tyre). WHat to make of it?

[Miller]

Could this be a trial for something like a Deora?

[Idris]

Could this be a trial for something like a Deora?

Looking at the shape of the front section, I can see a strong family resemblance. Furthermore, on the basis of previous discussions regarding the weirder Superfast models, it appears that Lesney tweaked genuine vehicle designs, presumably in order to avoid legal problems (and royalty payments!)
However, what really intrigues me is the fact that, given the subject matter, I would have said this was an early Superfast-era prototype, but it has been created with RW. We know that Jack Odell was anti-Superfast, believing it to be a passing fad. Is this model evidence of continuing RW development into the RW era or, conceivably, even of a proposal to return to RW, but with Superfast=style subject matter?

[ogedei2]

Theres a very similiar one on Christians site http://www.cfalkensteiner.com/Matchbox/ ... -LSxxx.htm

LSx04-praa.jpg (15.92 KiB) Viewed 1276 times

[Idris]

Theres a very similiar one on Christians site http://www.cfalkensteiner.com/Matchbox/ ... -LSxxx.htm

Good call!
Given that the taxi version has SF, that seems to place these prototypes very firmly in the RW/SF changeover period. Interesting that development began with RW but subsequently changed to SF. Does this indicate a major change of policy/direction? Was Lesney's original intention to produce futuristic RW designs, with a subsequent decision to devlop their won low-friction wheel system?

[Rob]

Very nice to see the same model with both RW & SF wheels. It could be that this had some influence on the 1970 issue 22b Freeman Intercity, a silver pre-pro from Christians site is shown below.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

During my thread on 'Superfast' wheel designs, it did appear to be the case that the Two types of wheels were going to be used side by side within the '1-75 series' range. This makes sense now, because of the problems in converting the commercials to 'Superfast', so they would keep the 'RW' type and considering the new version of the regular wheel had only just been developed and found it's way onto some models, upper managment would have wanted them to be around a bit longer for prolonged production.

Ghosthunter.

[fixer]

Makes sense Kev I'm thinking of the #35 fire engine pre pro version ìs around with hubbed r/w but only s/f wheels on production

[GHOSTHUNTER]

As Hugh mentions in His post earleir, Jack Odell did not like the 'Superfast' concept, they were ruining His beloved little models, he was a director of the company and actually resigned in 1973, so may have been over ruled in the development of the 'Superfast' range and the Regular Wheels had to give way, but we are now finding evidence through various models and prototypes the Two types of wheels very nearly co-existed together in the range, a view that does not seem to have been recognised before and certainly never hit on in the reference books, so we, the VBD forum members, are on the cusp of a new discovery...

Ghosthunter.

[leonty24]

Also if you look at red script Superfast box's the wheels depict wheel R/W chrome hubs.