Saturday Film Club: The Last Great Playset: Matchbox's EPIC 1970s Railway Goods Yard

File this in the "Toys I didn't have, but always wanted" pile. This video hasn't changed my mind - but no, I have too much stuff!

Weetabix racer

 

A bit of nostalgia rescued from the bottom of a 5p each, diecast cars box at a recent show. 

I had one of these - in fact, it's probably still in the loft somewhere. Back in the 1970s, if you collected enough tokens from boxes of Weetabix breakfast cereal, and sent them off, you got a Corgi model in the post. The first offered was a lorry, but this was followed by a racing car. Broom Brooooom!

Anyway, I know someone who works for Weetabix, so picked this car up and passed it on as a present. Apparently, it has gone down very well and is being boroomed around the desks in the office. I apologise if this means a disruption in production. 

At the same time, I bought a Matchbox caravan - but now can't find it. It's not in my rucksack, nor, as far as I can tell, in the back of my car. I wonder what happened to it?

This boat won't float

 

I've been pretty good about not adding to the model boat kit collection  recently. Despite being very, very tempted at the club open day, I managed to leave with two less boats that I arrived with, thanks to the "Bring and Buy" stand. 

However, on a visit to the Cheltenham Model Centre, I was taken by this diecast stern-wheeler from Corgi for a couple of quid. It's a bit odd, I mean why make a non-floating boat? 

The boat can be played with in the same way as a toy car - it runs on a roller, and band around the paddle wheel. Clever really. 

A little digging online reveals some answers, thanks to Mike Pigott's article here. This small range was produced in the 1980s, when hardly anyone would remember what a cowboy film was. Even then, this is a oddball in a range of horse powered vehicles. 

It's still fun though.

 

New crane

Last week, I recorded a first look video on some of the new(ish) Corgi Trackside range of diecast models.

While looking at the Coles Crane, a really useful reintroduction to the range, I couldn't resist lining it up with some  of my older models. 

From left to right: Langley whitemetal kit, scratchbuilt (with some Airfix bits) and finally, the Corgi model. 

OK, the diecast cries out for matt varnish and a lor of weathering, but it's a good base model to work on.

The full video can be found here:

Mystery Fowler

Here's a little mystery. I have this lorry on a shelf - presumably bought because it's an Isle of Man collectable - but can't identify the maker. It celebrates the 1993 Douglas vintage rally.

The model is 105mm long. On the gaudy orange chassis, all we have is "Fowler Steam wagon 1927" but no makers mark.

The cab is riveted on, but the load bed attaches with screws which suggests that alternatives were available.

Can anyone tell me more?

La France fire engine - a childhood dream realised

When I was 5 or 6, I remember going over to Johnathan Simmonds house to play. I probably took some cars and because of this, we spent time perusing the Corgi car catalogue. The model that stuck in my mind was the magnificent La France fire engine.

I don't really know why.I've never been particularly into them. I never played firemen as far as I remember. Something to do with being afraid of heights maybe. 

We had a friend who was a fireman, it's pertly his fault that I'm into model railways. Since he is American, I could have wondered if it was the sort of thing Earl drove. Mostly though, I think it just looked magnificent and bit exotic. Being the biggest toy in the book helped a bit too. 

The trouble was, La France was too expensive for me. Maybe if I'd really wanted it as a major Christmas present I'd have been granted my wish, but there was Lego and I liked that a lot more. 

I've not given much through to the model since. Maybe I looked at them second hand (£80 for a boxed version) and wondered it I should scratch that childhood itch. Corgi even re-issued the model a few years go, which spoilt things slightly, I'd want a 1970s one. They were proper.

 

Anyway, there I was at a toy fair the other day and on the last stall I visited, there was a "play worn" model. For £4.50. I hesitated and the decided that for little more than the price of a pint, I might as well. 

I'm glad I did. The model needs a new windscreen, but it has all its tyres and most importantly, figures. The neat mechanism that winds the ladder skyward still works. The raising one isn't quite so healthy, but I can live with this. 

The moral of the story is, wait long enough and whatever it is you are looking for will appear at the price you want to pay. Mind you, 42 years is a long wait!

So, today's question: What was the childhood toy you coveted but never owned? And would you be tempted to buy it today?