Kitting out your collection - part 3
We’ve touched on Corgi’s racing car set then Solido’s foray into the arena, but, for this final instalment, Rick Wilson comes back to the UK and looks at the range by the king of 1970s kit-form diecasts – Dinky Toys.
The final part of Rick Wilson's trip through 1970s diecast kits.
Published in the May 1971 issue of Meccano Magazine, an article by Frank Lomax introduced this exciting new concept to many of us. Mr Lomax detailed Dinky’s reasoning behind the brand, what it hoped to achieve and, of course, showed us how to make our very own Dinky Toys.The target market was clear and the new series was aimed squarely at plastic kits, in a bid to capture some crossover traffic.
Mr Lomax explained,“The obvious difference between these 'Do-itYourself Dinky Toys' and their plastic counterparts is that the components are all metal, in a knock-down form produced to the usual high standard.The only non-metal parts, in fact, are the moulded plastic interiors, tyres and jewelled headlamp lenses contained in each kit.
"Identified under the name of Dinky Action Kits, they have distinct advantages over their plastic relatives, advantages which could well capture the loyalty, not only of the Kit-man, but also, because of
their inherent simplicity, of the young collector who finds plastic kits beyond his capabilities.
"The principal point, I feel, is that all the models can be put together, painted and then taken apart as often as you like, without the need of adhesive. Also, unlike the majority of plastic kits, a sample phial of Humbrol enamel, sufficient to paint the model, is supplied with each kit, the parts being prebonderised in preparation for painting.
"There is no need, of course, to use only the sample colour provided. Humbrol market a wide range of colours and it is possible to create your own individual version of a model at very little extra cost, an attribute which should appeal to artistic readers."
The first three kits released and introduced in the same issue of Meccano Magazine, by way of a full-page advertisement, were No 1001 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Limousine, No 1009 Lotus F1 Racing Car and No 1025 Ford Transit Van – kits based on Dinky Toys Nos 152, 225 and 407 respectively.These were initially sold in handy blister-mounted hanging cards, mimicking the similarly-presented Airfix kits of the era. Due to their much heavier weight, of course, these proved to be prone to the slot tearing, so, by 1972, this packaging was switched to the much more impressive ‘bookpack’ style – a term that Dinky itself used.
Further releases followed swiftly – seven had been announced at launch and were featured on the rear of those early blister packs. In addition to the three released straight away, the next two would be No 1029 Ford D800 Tipper (Dinky Toys No 438 in kit form) and No 1033 US Army Jeep (No 615). The two remaining from that magnificent seven list would, sadly, never be seen in kit form - No 1005 Peugeot 504 Cabriolet and No 1013 Matra Sports M 530, two French Dinky originals. More about those towards the end of the article.
The next batch of releases brought us No 1003 VW Beetle 1300 (from No 129), No 1004 Ford Escort Police Panda Car (270) and No 1007 Jensen FF (188).A total of 12 kits would be available by the end of 1971 – the four further releases in time for Christmas that year were No 1002Volvo P1800S (116), No 1017 Routemaster Bus (289), No 1040 Sea King Helicopter (No 724, but without the plastic lunar module) and No 1042 Supermarine Spitfire Mk II (719).
Interestingly, a full-page advertisement in the October 1971 Meccano Magazine, gives us an insight into pricing in the newly-adopted decimal era.At the foot of the page, it showed the prices as ranging from 45p to 59p for the kits issued so far – they fetch considerably more these days if unmade and still in their packaging!
The following year, 1972, only saw three additions to the range, but they all proved to be very popular. No 1023 Single Decker Bus was a full kit version of No 283, but this time it came with green paint and “GREEN LINE” stickers to be applied.Also released that year, cashing in further on the success of the No 355 Lunar Roving Vehicle, was No 1027. The original fully-assembled production version was painted metallic blue, but the kit version came with orange paint (much closer to the real thing), and the
artwork reflected this on the bookpack. Finally for 1972, No 726 Messerschmitt BF 109E became a kit (No 1041) to provide a foe for the Spitfire released the year before.
For 1973, new kit production numbered four. Providing back up for the Spitfire would be No 1041 Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc (from No 718), and the Police Escort would gain a sibling in Mexico guise as No 1006 (168). Another road car released was the stylish Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman as No 1008 (128) and this was accompanied by a companion for the Lotus F1 Racing Car in the shape of a real rival on track, Ferrari’s gorgeous 312 B2. Already released fully-assembled as No 226, the kit was numbered 1012. I seem to have somehow accumulated three of these to go with my pair of mint standard releases. Oops.
Another four kits were unveiled for 1974 in the shape of No 1018 Atlantean Bus (from No 295), No 1030 Land Rover Breakdown Truck (442), No 1043 S.E.P.E.C.A.T. Jaguar (731) and, the first tank to appear in kit form, No 1037 Chieftain Tank (683). There would be several tanks to follow and these would be of sufficient interest, in Dinky’s plans, to warrant a ‘range within a range’, being separately branded as “Dinky MILITARY Kit”.
Those new military vehicles, unveiled in the 1975 catalogue, included No 1032 Army Land Rover (from No 344), No 1034 155mm Mobile Gun (654), No 1035 Striker Anti-Tank Launcher (691), No 1036 Leopard Tank (692) and No 1038 Scorpion Light Tank (690).Also released in 1975 (a very busy year) were No 1014 Beach Buggy (from No 227), No 1050 Motor Patrol Boat and No 1045 Panavia Multi Role Combat Aircraft (729).The MRCA (or Tornado as we would come to know it) was a particularly impressive release as it fully replicated the swing wing feature of the standard production version.To make way for this influx of new releases, some of the earlier kits were discontinued. First
to be retired were the Lotus F 1, Transit Van, Volvo P1800S,VW Beetle 1300, Jensen FF, Lunar Roving Vehicle, BF 109E, and Ferrari 312 B2.
No more new models would be released and the range as a whole would be retired at the end of 1977. But with a run of seven catalogue years and a range that numbered 31 in total, it certainly gave us plenty to keep us busy back then.Today, there are still a good number out there that have yet to be made. Some have fared better than others in storage – a particular problem is if the packaging has been exposed to prolonged sunlight, then the blister plastic yellows and becomes very brittle, leading to components going missing over time.The box artwork fades too under the same conditions. Prices vary, but expect to pay close to triple figures if the packaging is completely intact and it has been stored well so that the artwork and blister are pristine.
Earlier on, we touched on two models that were planned at the beginning, but were never released – No 1005 Peugeot 504 Cabriolet and No 1013 Matra Sports M 530. French Dinky Nos 1423 and 1403 respectively, these would have made exciting additions for the UK market, but alas, it was not to be.
There was also another Dinky Military Kit planned that didn’t go into production. No 1039 Leopard Recovery Tank would have been a kit version of No 699.Another fabulous model that would have made for a great kit version.
Finally, one other kit form release that was discussed, but never got beyond the concept stage, incorporated the Dinky Space:1999 Eagle Transporter (No 359) and Freighter (360), which would have been combined into one package (one Eagle frame, but both passenger pod and nuclear waste loads).As a huge Space:1999 fan back in the day (I still am!), I plan to recreate this particular ‘never wazza’ for a future article. I’ll be sure to keep you updated.
Initially branded as “Toymaker”, so technically not a part of the Dinky Kits range, I feel it is useful to include this here for a complete run down of the kit-form products planned during the era.To that end, I have compiled the handy summary reference table included.
I hope that you’ve enjoyed this short series and that it might have inspired some of you to get kit building again – being diecast certainly brings an exciting element to the process. It would be great to see any of your creations if you do. DC