K107A 155MM Self Propelled Gun

[charliep]

K107A 155MM Self Propelled Gun Issued 1974 All England castings.

Body: Gloss olive green or olive green.
Base: Unpainted, matt or gloss black.
Tracks: Black.
Rollers: Green or dark green.
Cogwheels: Brown, dk.brown, green or dk.green; smooth or with gears (teeth).
Gun elevator: Cream, beige, tan or olive green.
Gun Mount: Gold, dark gold or green.
Label: "A".

1. PP/Unpainted body & base/dk.green rollers/dk.brown cog wheels/tan gun elevator/no label.
2. PP/Metallic pink body/gloss black base/dk.green rollers/brown cog wheels/cream gun elevator/no label.
3. Gloss olive green body/matt blk base/dk.green rollers/smooth brown cog/gold turret/cream gun elevator.
4. Gloss olive green body/matt blk base/dk.green rollers/smooth brown cog/gold turret/beige gun elevator.
5. Gloss olive green body/matt blk base/dk.green rollers/smooth brown cog/dk.gold turret/cream gun elevator.
6. Gloss olive green body/matt blk base/dk.green rollers/smooth brown cog/dk.gold turret/tan gun elevator.
7. Gloss olive green body/matt blk base/dk.green rollers/smooth dk.green cog/dk.gold turret/tan gun elevator.
8. Olive green body/matt blk base/green rollers/smooth brown cog/olive green gun turret & elevator.
9. Olive green body/matt blk base/green rollers/smooth green cog/olive green gun turret & elevator.
10.Olive green body/matt blk base/dk.green rollers/smooth green cog/olive green gun turret & elevator.

[yellowfoden]

Hello Charliep,

Another great line-up you have shown.

Love the unpainted version with the crimped axles.

Interesting colour choice of the pink in the second Pre-Pro and see the use of riveted (rounded) axle ends on that one, perhaps a decoy colour in real battle.

As a matter of interest do you know which Kingsize/Superking (of other models) you have that was the latest with crimped axles on the pre-pro?

As usual great images, most impressive.

Bert

[charliep]

Hi Bert,

First of all, thanks for the kind remarks. You have raised an interesting question wrt to crimped axles on kingsize/superkings as these are usually found on first series models of yesteryears and perhaps major packs/early kings. There are also variations of the A3 Bedford Car Transporter (from the accessory packs series) with crimped axles as well released in the late fifties. Their use was discontinued for various reasons (sharp edges/damage to furniture etc). The battle kings were released in the mid-seventies so it is rather interesting why crimped axles were utilized again although only on some prepro models. I will have to say that the battle kings were the last to have crimped axles. Hope I answered your question.

Charlie

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Crimped axles were very common on mid-70's 'Pre-Pro' 'Yesteryear' models as evidenced in the catalogue images of the time. It was easier to crimp axles on any 'Pre-Pro' models rather than put them on the full flow line to have them done properly for Two reasons.

1, Disturbing full production just for a handful of 'Pre-Pro' model's axles was not a good idea.
2, In most cases the model can be positioned as to not show the crimped axle-end in catalogue images, but this was often forgotten, especially if the pictures were not done in-house at Lesney and the Photographer would put the models in position regardless of the axles!

Ghosthunter.