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K1C O&K Excavator Issued 1970 All England castings.

1. Red & silver body/black plastic tires/silver scoop/amber windows/red MH6 & red O&K labels on both sides (R).
2. Red & silver body/4 spoke wheels/silver scoop/lt. amber windows/red MH6 & small red O&K labels on both sides.
3. Red & silver body/4 spoke wheels/silver scoop/clear windows/red MH6 & small red O&K labels on left side only.
4. Red & silver body/4 spoke wheels/silver scoop/light amber windows/red MH6 & small red O&K labels on left side only.
5. Red & silver body/4 spoke wheels/silver scoop/amber windows/red MH6 & small red O&K labels on left side only.
6. Dark red & silver body/4 spoke wheels/silver scoop/amber windows/red MH6 & small red O&K labels on left side only.
7. Red & silver body/4 spoke wheels/silver scoop/dark amber windows/red MH6 & small red O&K labels on left side only (R).
8. Red & silver body/4 spoke wheels/silver scoop/dark amber windows/red MH6 & large red O&K labels on left side only.
9. Dark red & silver body/4 spoke wheels/silver scoop/amber windows/red MH6 & large red O&K labels on left side only.
10. Red & silver body/4 spoke wheels/silver scoop/amber windows/red MH6 & yellow O&K labels on both sides.
11. Red & silver body/4 spoke wheels/silver scoop/amber windows/dark red MH6 & yellow O&K labels on both sides.
12. Red & silver body/4 spoke wheels/silver scoop/dark amber windows/red MH6 & yellow O&K labels on both sides.
13. Red & silver body/8 dot ringed wheels/silver scoop/clear windows/red MH6 & yellow O&K labels on both sides.
14. Red & silver body/8 dot ringed wheels/silver scoop/amber windows/red MH6 & yellow O&K labels on both sides.
15. Dark red & silver body/8 dot ringed wheels/silver scoop/dark amber windows/red MH6 & yellow O&K labels on both sides.
16. Dark red & silver body/8 dot ringed wheels/red scoop/light amber windows/red MH6 & yellow O&K labels on both sides.
17. Dark red & silver body/8 dot ringed wheels/red scoop/amber windows/red MH6 & yellow O&K labels on both sides.

I’ ve never had much interest in unpainted models as for me they hold little interest and until the past few years major packs and king size were of lukewarm interest. That changed when two interesting collections and some king size displays were added to the collection. Amongst one of the collections was an unpainted K1 O&K Excavator. It went into a spares box. When I was sorting through some time ago I noticed the unpainted model was different in several ways.

It has four rather than eight wheels. The windows are cloudy but colourless. The platform supporting the wheels is attached by a nut and bolt rather than a rivet, there is no year of production cast, a yellow rather than a white plastic band separates the body and there are only two rather than three hydro sleeves.

At a time when the miniature range was being converted to superfast wheels together with the four cars in the king size range, it is interesting to see this new model fitted with tyres. Odell told me he still had enough influence in 1970 to resist the fitment of superfast wheels to trucks and construction vehicles. When this model was fitted with superfast wheels it contributed to him walking away from Matchbox.

Thanks to Ghostie and yellowfoden for help

Hi Nigel, I have resized and rotated one of your images. I did not see this posting before your plee for help in the 'Edit Your Pictures' thread. Now I have seen the size of your pictures, it is the same problem most of us here on the forum have had and will post some idas for you back there.

Ghosthunter.

Here's an oddity have in my collection.
The rear wheels are 4 spoke with hollow wheels, the front are larger, solid wheels with flat red hubs.
Not sure if they have been altered or a trial piece.

Thanks for adding this to the thread Nigel.

How these models evolved is of great interest and nice to see such a complete model.

The production model certainly has more play value with the tipping bucket, all be it with fairly firm hydro sleeves.
Quite an involved transformation as well, increasing the boom and bucket from 6 to 9 components and from 6 to 9 axles or rivet pivot points.
The most interesting aspect is the method of attaching the hydro sleeve to the chassis of model.
The pre-pro looks to be installed in reverse with the plastic section fastened to the body.
The production model has the metal rod section with cast pips each side that fit into a housing.
This calls for this component being installed prior to the base plate being riveted. I wonder how many were missed or fell out before riveting.
So, on this model they have used two types of hydro sleeve.

It does look better with the double wheels and I agree with Jack Odell that the hub and tyre were a better wheel than the superfast. There is only so fast you can go with one of these things on a building site.

Rodger, having made a comment about hubs and tyres being preferred your model with the odd pair on the super king version is interesting. I have not seen this type red centre section before that I can recall, it would be interesting to find out more.
Thanks for showing this one.

Bert

Thanks Nigel, Bert and Rodger for the additional information and pictures. It is interesting to find out what was going on at Lesney in those days and how the K1
O&C Excavator came to be. I agree it looks better with the double wheels. Also of interest is the way the hydro sleeve attachment to the body developed.
I may have to recheck my models again.

Anyone know who now owns this pre-pro?