fodenway

These 2-gallon cans are 11 inches tall (not including handle and cap), and 9-3/4 inches wide by 6 inches deep, and were all of a standard size. Hope this helps.

A shame indeed, especially as there have been highly-detailed versions of the H van available (in plastic) from some of the European manufacturers for some time. I had hoped that this might have been the start of a group of small foreign commercials in 1/76, but I won't be parting with any money this time.

.....and Abrex do a very nice range of modern Skodas in 1/72nd.

You could also look up TINY CITY from China, another range containing a variety of scales, and unfortunately not all stated on their website. A couple of nice 1/76 models are the Isuzu N and Hino 300 light trucks, becoming quite common here in real life.

If you are looking for HO scale British lorries, have you considered some of the old Matchbox Toys as a starting point? Although I haven't actually measured them up, the Thornycroft Mobilgas Tanker, Thames Trader (compressor lorry/breakdown truck/articulated cattle transporter), Bedford TK (tipper/articulated "York" boxvan), Dodge K (cattle transporter/stake truck) and Leyland Ergomatic (flat truck with site cabin/pipe truck), and possibly others, may be worth looking at.

An Uncle of mine had something similar around 1958-9. His Pop was originally a buff colour, but following a slight argument with his gatepost, it needed a new offside front wing. Not being able to afford one, even from the scrappers, he made one from wood in the style of the Jeep - 45 degree up, horizontal top and a short 45 degree front lip, with the original headlamp perched on top. My cousin and myself were given paintbrushes and a tin of Dulux blue paint, and left to get on with it. No masking tape or paper, just don't get paint on the glass or chrome! I had thought about re-creating that car myself, but just can't "like" the Oxford Pop enough, it looks more like a hot-rod - the John Day version is far better in my opinion. By the way, Uncles' Pop had many other problems, such as regularly overheating and very poor brakes. He came out to the East Coast the following year to take us home from our holidays, but declared that he didn't think it would make the return journey. We called at an auction in Bridlington where he bought a 1946 Ford Prefect for £8, put his Popular in as a late entry, and sold it for £12, less commission! Happy days..........

Unfortunately, Peter Young stopped producing his kits around 20 years ago. They were made in Australia, and were whitemetal models of (mainly) British prototypes. Initially produced in 1/87 scale, then in 1/76, there was an extensive range of them including Commer, Bedford, Foden etc. They were very similar in concept and detail to the models by Canterbury Commercials from around the same period, although there was no copying between the two. Quite difficult to find nowadays, as they were only available for a short period through an agent (G&L Billingham) in the UK, and delivery could take several months. Shown here are two models built in the mid-nineties using Peter Young cabs. Quite a bit of cleaning up was necessary on some of the castings.

I use satin varnish to dull the paint, but leave the area of the windscreen where the wipers would sweep untouched. On cars of that era which would have been over 5 or 6 years old, I sometimes introduce a little rusting on sills, door bottoms, wings etc. as appropriate - but don't fall into the "rusty Reliant" trap - they were fibreglass! You could also paint the odd wing or door a different colour, suggesting scrapyard replacement parts. A very light airbrushing or dry-brushing of dust or mud colour around the lower areas is effective. Reference to period photos always helps. Don't forget the aerial bent up from an old wire coathanger - they seemed to be everywhere!

Generally speaking they are quite good models, usually coming with number plates and mirrors etc. Ideally, unless they are depicted in a car showroom setting, they benefit from a little dulling down of the paintwork to avoid a too-shiny, toylike appearance.

Fodens exported a sizeable number of PSV chassis,including several rear-engined ones for the Whenuapai Bus Company in New Zealand. Most of them had very long service lives, and many of them survive today as motorhome (or "Movan") conversions.

Here's one I did earlier - the body from a Cararama US International HO gritter mounted in the back of a Bedford TL tipper, representing an Econ demountable-type machine. The cab and chassis is by RTI and the body was from Continental Model Supply Company (CMSC), intended as a conversion for the JD/Airfix military Bedford MK 4x4.

There was quite a range of Dinky-style models from Odgi, all of which command high prices today. There was a particularly nice Austin A70 Hampshire, a Jaguar XK150, and a Jowett Bradford van. This latter has recently been "copied" by Ruby Toys, another range of Dinky-style commercial vehicles. Perhaps there is some connection between the proprietors of both ranges? Currently on Ebay are over twenty Odgi Toys, all from the same seller, at prices between £64.99 and £139.99, including two of the Austins. No way I can justify spending that much on one though, no matter how much I'd like one.

There was quite a range of Dinky-style models from Odgi, all of which command high prices today. There was a particularly nice Austin A70 Hampshire, a Jaguar XK150, and a Jowett Bradford van. This latter has recently been "copied" by Ruby Toys, another range of Dinky-style commercial vehicles. Perhaps there is some connection between the proprietors of both ranges?

Amen to that, Diane ! I met your dad a couple of times before he started RTI as his "retirement hobby", and was always pleased to have a chat (and spend a few quid) at the various shows he attended. I was always impressed with the professional appearance of his sales displays, lists and advertising. Long may his legacy continue, and my best wishes to you and your family.

The business will be handed over officially on the 20th of May, no doubt the new owner, Graeme McQuaker will be contacting past customers and putting out new advertising around that time.

Good news indeed, especially if the range continues to grow and develop in the future.

Unfortunately, Classix made a major error with their Morris van and pickup models. The car versions have the correct wheelbase, representing 7 feet 2 inches, but the van and pickup, for some obscure reason, have been shortened by a scale six inches. In reality, the dimension was the same on all variations all the way through their long production run. Having said that, the models are rather attractive even though some of the liveries are "invented"

Another from British Railways' intermodal experiments, the RoadRailer. Langley Bristol tractor and Scalecraft/Peco trailer, with Cambridge Custom Transfers.

Here's one I did a few years ago, one of the experimental Foden "Bulkrane" project vehicles. A lightly-modified RTI cab on a shortened Trackside Guy chassis with Littlebus wheels, the front four fitted with the excellent etched hubcaps from Mark Hughes. The bodywork was entirely scratchbuilt in plasticard, with brass tube for the hydraulic rams. The MU-type containers were made from some spherical containers from an old Joueff wagon, with extra details. The portal arms elevate and the spreader beam swivels. I've so far found details of four of these Bulkranes, all slightly different (plus the 6-wheeled S20-cabbed prototype). The ones that entered service were registered HRO 944/5/6 and HRO 898, but there may have been others - any photographic evidence would be most welcome. At least one was converted into a flatbed and repainted in the yellow British Rail livery, and at least one found it's way into private ownership as a generator van with Gerry Cottle's Circus. Apparently, none survive - unless anyone knows different.

Thanks Modelldoc, sadly I can't be there either, I'll be exhibiting at Scalefour North in Wakefield that weekend.

I understand that RTI stock is to be on sale at an event in Kent shortly, does anyone have details of date and location? I really would like to get hold of a few cabs and parts for projects that I was putting off until later, by which time it was too late to order. Thanks.

They are really good models when carefully finished, but I personally could not live with 1/72 vehicles on a 1/76 layout, nor amongst a collection of 1/76 vehicles. As stand-alones though, they are excellent.

thanks, SRman, Fodenway positively blushing here!

I've also had a couple of the "new" releases, as well as still having a fair few Anguplas and Eko from the sixties and seventies. I used to get Anguplas models from The King Charles Sports Centre in Leeds, later Beatties. They were not exactly cheap at the time, and had a tendency to warp. The Eko versions were made from a much harder and more stable plastic, but could be brittle if not handled carefully. The "1/86" label is a bit of a generalisation, some were smaller, with a very few larger. One notable example is the Jeep Stationwagon, which is exactly 1/76 scale, and a very good model once the wheels ate changed and the front bumper moved forward a little. Here's a photo of one dealt with in that way, plus anothe which I converted to the pickup. I have another which I intend to use as the basis of a "Jeepster" convertible.

Most of the Micro Machines cars are more of a caricature of the real thing than a scale model, being far too short in relation to their width. That said, there were a few, such as the Citroen 2CV (around TT scale) and the cute little Isetta bubble car ( somewhere between HO and OO scale) which were nicely proportioned. I don't know of any which would accurately suit N gauge, but the wheels on all need attention to get rid of the toy-like appearance.