Road Vehicles. Which Gaps Need Filling?

[Catkins]

Here is the Cararama 2012 catalogue. >>

http://www.cararama.info/#/2012-catalogue/4568514907

the 1/72 cars are third down right hand end.

 

Unfortunately if you look at the Oxford Catalogue for 2013, they have stopped doing the 1:72 scale cars, but I do notice some of the new models and paint schemes in the Oxford Automobiles range do replicate some of the cararama models from a couple of years ago.

[Titan]

Does anyone do a metro? They were one of the best selling cars in the '80s and you would be hard pushed to find a busy road without one, or even several on.

[SM42]

Another gap:

 

Right hand drive

 

Andy

[PhilJ W]

Another gap:

 

Right hand drive

 

Andy

Rather surprisingly Oxford have produced their VW T25 minibus as a LH drive, even the side door is cast into the right hand side. The van however has the door on the left hand side. Even the seat mouldings are for left/right hand drive respectively, but the dashboards on the first models were 'swapped' but fortunately it is an easy matter to swap them over. Many of the 1/72 models were made in left hand drive as they were intended for the international market, one notable exception is Real-X, mostly of Japanese cars but intended for the Japanese market and therefore right hand drive.

[28XX]

Unfortunately we run in to the nostalgia curve issue with this.  We railway modellers are not, I suspect, the majority market.

 

At present the curve sits here.

 

Pre war - Only octogenarians can remember these.  Most, like my father, are more likely to be contemplating the afterlife and de-cluttering their lives, rather than buying more stuff.

Post war - 1950's Currently a popular modelling period and the cars that those in their '70s traveled in as children.  Plenty of choice.

1960s - Probably the peak of the curve, childhood memories for those in their '50's and driving memories for those in their '70s.

1970s - Probably the next growth area

1980s & 90s - Only childhood memories now, the decade when those now in their 50's had to suffer boring family cars as drivers, and therefore best forgotten

2000s - present day  Only today's children and teenagers might be tempted to buy these.

[grahame]

There's a lack of models for pre 1950 in N

 

 

 

It's not the greatest of lists but for the 1920, 30s and 40s it is a lot better than those avalable for the 1970s, 80s and 90s;

 

Austin LowLoader taxi (Oxford)

Jaguar SS (Oxford)

Scammell Mechanical Horse (Oxford)

Albion horsebox (Oxford)

Leyland RTL bus (Oxford)

AEC RT bus (Oxford)

Jowett Javelin (Oxford)

Bedford OB coach (Oxford)

Morris Eight 5cwt van (Parker)

Austin Ten saloon (Parker)

Morris 8cwt ‘Flat-nose’ van (Parker)

Bedford WLG dropside truck (Parker)

Morris Commercial 2t van (Parker)

Austin 10hp 4x2 light utility (Parker)

Morris Cowley saloon (Parker)

Ford 7V SWB flatbed (Parker)

Bedford WLG refuse truck (Parker)

Bedford WLG SWB truck (Parker)

Q1/BUT trolleybus (Oxford)

Leyland RTL bus (Oxford)

LT Tram (Oxford)

Alexander Burlington SunSaloon (Oxford)

 

G.

[grahame]

2000s - present day  Only today's children and teenagers might be tempted to buy these.

 

That's simply just not true. I know of plenty of adults who model and buy from such a period.

 

G

[PhilJ W]

Yes indeed, at swap meets the modern vehicles made by Oxford fly off the tables. There are a lot of very good modern 1/43 scale cars produced that are only available from car showrooms, Vauxhall in particular are very good for these (and they are often right hand drive). 

[RANGERS]

One reason for the lack of modern models is it can be difficult to get licensing approval for current/ recent models whereas manufacturers are less fussy about obsolete designs. The legal costs involved in drawing up agreements which are sufficiently robust to stand up worldwide often make it unviable for manufacturers to even consider it. Some manufacturers are more accommodating than others but in an age when trademark and copyright theft is almost an industry in it's own right, it is an understandable stance that some businesses take.

[grahame]

One reason for the lack of modern models is it can be difficult to get licensing approval for current/ recent models whereas manufacturers are less fussy about obsolete designs.

 

 

Oddly enough it's not the bang up to date designs/models where there is a shortage but the 1970s, 80s and 90s which presumably are mostly now obsotete types of vehicle. Certainly in N gauge there seems to be more choice from the 2000s than those slightly earlier still 'modern' decades.

 

G.

[rhymad]

Skip lorry bodies in 1/76 scale, there seems to be plenty of manufacturers of model skips in that scale, but no lorries to carry them!

 

Langley models produce a complete skip lorry but its a bit out of my price range.

None of the other makers seem to produce either the complete model or just the body to convert my own from EFE, Corgi or Base Toys etc.

[Norm81]

I'm another one struggling to find a few items for 1980-1993 era. Items I'd like to see available:

 

Ford Escort NON-XR3i (lots of white ones available for those of you modelling essex...)

Ford Escort Van & other car-derived vans inc mk2 astramax British Gas vans I remember.

Ford Transit mk2/3/4/5 (you can only get mk1 or mk7)

Ford Cargo

Fire engines - only the one from London's Burning is available. Dennis or Volvo ones.

Volvo FL6

Austin/rover metro.

 

I'm happy to be proved wrong if they are available, admittedly I've limited searching to eBay so far.

 

However I can get enough local operator buses with local destinations on to fill 4 layouts!

[PhilJ W]

I'm another one struggling to find a few items for 1980-1993 era. Items I'd like to see available:

 

Ford Escort NON-XR3i (lots of white ones available for those of you modelling essex...)

Ford Escort Van & other car-derived vans inc mk2 astramax British Gas vans I remember.

Ford Transit mk2/3/4/5 (you can only get mk1 or mk7)

Ford Cargo

Fire engines - only the one from London's Burning is available. Dennis or Volvo ones.

Volvo FL6

Austin/rover metro.

 

I'm happy to be proved wrong if they are available, admittedly I've limited searching to eBay so far.

 

However I can get enough local operator buses with local destinations on to fill 4 layouts!

You'll be pleased to hear that the Ford Cargo is in the pipeline from Oxford. They have already produced it for the Atlas Editions Eddie Stobart series so that as soon as Atlas Editions have had their fill it will be on general sale (Atlas Editions are paying for a lot of the new Oxford tooling).

[Removed a/c]

A  Vauxhall Cavalier would be nice and a  Ford Sierra 

[Catkins]

I'm another one struggling to find a few items for 1980-1993 era. Items I'd like to see available:

 

Ford Escort NON-XR3i (lots of white ones available for those of you modelling essex...)

Ford Escort Van & other car-derived vans inc mk2 astramax British Gas vans I remember.

Ford Transit mk2/3/4/5 (you can only get mk1 or mk7)

Ford Cargo

Fire engines - only the one from London's Burning is available. Dennis or Volvo ones.

Volvo FL6

Austin/rover metro.

 

I'm happy to be proved wrong if they are available, admittedly I've limited searching to eBay so far.

 

However I can get enough local operator buses with local destinations on to fill 4 layouts!

 

Oxford do the MAN Fire appliances, and both the twin axle and triple axle Scania appliances. But looking at the other vehicles in your list, the "Londons Burning" Dennis Fire appliance would be about the right sort of vehicle, and age.

[37114]

Skip lorry bodies in 1/76 scale, there seems to be plenty of manufacturers of model skips in that scale, but no lorries to carry them!

 

Langley models produce a complete skip lorry but its a bit out of my price range.

None of the other makers seem to produce either the complete model or just the body to convert my own from EFE, Corgi or Base Toys etc.

 

Might be worth an email to Langley to see if they will do just the body. A skip body should be an easy enough scratch build, from plasticard and rod

[PhilJ W]

Might be worth an email to Langley to see if they will do just the body. A skip body should be an easy enough scratch build, from plasticard and rod

Kibri also have a skip lorry in their range, it is of course HO scale but the body could be fitted to a lightweight chassis such as those from Best Choose to make a 'Mini Skip' lorry.

[Norm81]

Oxford do the MAN Fire appliances, and both the twin axle and triple axle Scania appliances. But looking at the other vehicles in your list, the "Londons Burning" Dennis Fire appliance would be about the right sort of vehicle, and age.

Was really looking for a Dennis SS as that'd be correct for my era and location (have found photos on flickr) but you're right, the "London's Burning" Dennis fire appliance is about right.

[rhymad]

Thanks 37714 and PhilJ W, I'll check out Langley models, I've been toying with the idea of building one but I don't know how successful I'd be at it, I've never built anything with plasticard before.

 

It's a full size skip lorry I'm looking for, rather than a 'mini skip' Phil, thanks for the suggestion anyway, I'll keep it in mind. It may be worth getting one if only to copy the design to build my own. Who knows, I may become an expert at building them!

[Phil R]

Was really looking for a Dennis SS as that'd be correct for my era and location (have found photos on flickr) but you're right, the "London's Burning" Dennis fire appliance is about right.

 

What era/location are you modelling may I ask? One of my other interests is the fire service, may be able to help.

 

Cheers

 

Phil

[Norm81]

What era/location are you modelling may I ask? One of my other interests is the fire service, may be able to help.

 

Cheers

 

Phil

Era is roughly 1980-1993, location is roughly between Lemington and Newburn just west of Newcastle Upon Tyne, so Tyne & Wear Fire Brigade. Best I've found on flickr is pictures of a couple of Dennis SS' from the Fossway station on the other side of town.

[phil gollin]

.

 

Two big missing categories for me.

 

1:  Short wheel base tipper lorries from 40s to early 60s.  The classic vehicle for building sites (think "Hell Drivers").  The nearest available is the EFE Bedford tipper, but that is a long wheel base and doesn't "work".

 

2:  Light flatbed lorries, e.g. coal delivery lorries.  There are some sort of representation, e.g. Base Toys Commer coal lorries and (for the future hopefully) the Oxford WW2 military lorries which could be released in "civilian" versions.

 

.

[dana]

These seam to be popular  to sell and bid on right now on ebay 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Original-Retro-Sinclair-C5-100-Working-W-Modern-Leisure-Battery-/350784648628?pt=UK_Collectables_OtherTransportation_RL&hash=item51ac64f5b4

 

scale models would be nice 

[Phil R]

Era is roughly 1980-1993, location is roughly between Lemington and Newburn just west of Newcastle Upon Tyne, so Tyne & Wear Fire Brigade. Best I've found on flickr is pictures of a couple of Dennis SS' from the Fossway station on the other side of town.

 

You are in luck! Tyne & Wear Metropolitan Fire Brigade had one Dennis RS, KTY 101X from 1982-1996. Although it was based at Tynemouth for much of its career, it later became a spare for use anywhere in the brigade. It then went to Co. Cork in Eire.

 

Can't find any photos of it in use in England but livery would be very similar to this one.  Believe there are transfers available from BW Models.

 

http://www.fire-engine-photos.com/picture/number28460.asp

 

 

Hope this is of use

 

Phil

[Jol Wilkinson]

An etched kit for a Victorian/Edwardian horse drawn omnibus would be nice.

 

There are plenty of other horse drawn vehicles that would be excellent in etched kit or RTR form. Some of the older w/m kits aren't that good.