Oxford diecast... whats next?

[Dunsignalling]

40 minutes ago, LimboBrit said:

Is there a reason why, as far as I can see, no Asian models are included in the Oxford Diecast range? Japanese cars started to appear on British roads from the mid sixties and I am sure they would have a place on many layouts.

Few of the sixties ones made it to the seventies. That generation of Japanese cars rotted at least as fast as home produced models.

[Covkid]

35 minutes ago, LimboBrit said:

Is there a reason why, as far as I can see, no Asian models are included in the Oxford Diecast range? Japanese cars started to appear on British roads from the mid sixties and I am sure they would have a place on many layouts.

Absolutely.  The Datsun Sunny and Cherry were prominent in the early 1980s as my then girlfriend's dad had a Cherry which occasionally borrowed.  

[Covkid]

That Scania 110 with the Walls Ice cream trailer looks tasty.  Is it a new item ?

And how about the Austin Cambridge ?

[Dunsignalling]

Just now, Covkid said:

Absolutely.  The Datsun Sunny and Cherry were prominent in the early 1980s as my then girlfriend's dad had a Cherry which occasionally borrowed.  

Once went to a breaker's with a mate for some bits for a Sunny and came across one that looked almost perfect. I think it was the proprietor's party trick to open its bonnet, revealing a complete absence of inner wings!

[Covkid]

16 minutes ago, Dunsignalling said:

Once went to a breaker's with a mate for some bits for a Sunny and came across one that looked almost perfect. I think it was the proprietor's party trick to open its bonnet, revealing a complete absence of inner wings!

 

Haha yes. and so much of a floor either.  the exterior paintwork seemed to protect the exterior skin

[friscopete]

My boss hired a Cherry/Sunny  or some such Datsun(100A?)  for me as the company van was in dry dock and he was  tight fisted .The little one with sloping back and louvres from memory .It got a bit windy.it was like badly made roller skate . It was awindy day . I opened the drivers door  on top of  a hill only to  have the wind gust  fold  it double back on its hinges front .ie hinges were in the right place but the doorpanel   was folded flat against the  front wheel arch panel ,I couldnt believe it but just folded it back  with some force and shut it .There was a large crease down the door vertically .My boss wasnt pleased and didnt believe me .He got a hefty bill I think .What aload of crap it was .I kept my job as his  business partner ,who I made model race cars for , employed me mainly to keep an eye on him .In the end I told my 'employer "to get out, take yer money ,and run (record industry ).I got the van and a goodly bonus .The other guy got 18 months.I had done what I was employed to do ...weird set though .The van was ex Colin Hawkers hack  and  went like the proverbial .Highly illegal ,.Check out Colin Hawker and his LOLA/VW Varient/DFV.

Edited August 16, 2022 by friscopete

[64F]

I find myself enthused at the prospect of a beige Maestro.  Must be an age thing.

 

The earliest Japanese car that I can recall being fairly common was the mid '70s Datsun Sunny 120Y (which was a contender for Worst Ruster Of All!).   Thereafter various dull but reliable Datsun/Nissan models sold pretty well through the 1980s, with no other Japanese manufacturer selling in anything like the quantity.  These would make a nice bit of period street furniture for layouts, but there is no shortage of domestic cars of that era which sold in larger quantities and would also be very welcome in model form - Ford Cortina mk.IV/V, Austin Metro and Montego, Vauxhall Viva HC and Chevette, Hillman Avenger and Hunter, Chrysler Sunbeam, Rover 200, etc.  However, Oxford have obviously obtained the necessary license from Nissan to make the Qashqai so maybe we will see some older Nissans in due course.

 

Other period imports I'd like to see would be the Fiat 126 and 124.  The latter mainly as a means of representing a Lada without breaking any sanctions!

Edited August 16, 2022 by 64F

[LimboBrit]

37 minutes ago, Dunsignalling said:

Few of the sixties ones made it to the seventies. That generation of Japanese cars rotted at least as fast as home produced models.

My first car was a 1977 Mazda 323. Even then it was a continuous fight against corrosion. 

[Dunsignalling]

7 minutes ago, LimboBrit said:

My first car was a 1977 Mazda 323. Even then it was a continuous fight against corrosion. 

A pal of mine is still running a 2000 model 323. They have definitely improved!

Edited August 16, 2022 by Dunsignalling

[Dunsignalling]

8 minutes ago, 64F said:

I find myself enthused at the prospect of a beige Maestro.  Must be an age thing.

 

The earliest Japanese car that I can recall being fairly common was the mid '70s Datsun Sunny 120Y (which was a contender for Worst Ruster Of All!).   Thereafter various dull but reliable Datsun/Nissan models sold pretty well through the 1980s, with no other Japanese manufacturer selling in anything like the quantity.  These would make a nice bit of period street furniture for layouts, but there is no shortages of domestic cars of that era which sold in larger quantities and would also be very welcome in model form - Ford Cortina mk.IV/V, Austin Metro and Montego, Vauxhall Viva HC and Chevette, Hillman Avenger and Hunter, Chrysler Sunbeam, etc.  However, Oxford have obviously obtained the necessary license from Nissan to make the Qashqai so maybe we will see some older Nissans in due course.

 

Other period imports I'd like to see would be the Fiat 126 and 124.  The latter mainly as a means of representing a Lada without breaking any sanctions!

Up against a 120Y, there'd be few serious contenders for the title. Fiat 128 maybe?

[LimboBrit]

47 minutes ago, Covkid said:

Absolutely.  The Datsun Sunny and Cherry were prominent in the early 1980s as my then girlfriend's dad had a Cherry which occasionally borrowed.  

Around that time I quite fancied the Datsun Cherry Coupe but ended up with a Mazda 323

[64F]

11 minutes ago, Dunsignalling said:

Up against a 120Y, there'd be few serious contenders for the title. Fiat 128 maybe?

I used to walk to school every day past a red 120Y which had various holes in the bodywork and a ragged edge along the bottom of all the doors and wings. Compared to it, my parents' pockmarked Marina of similar age was in concourse condition!  A shame, as by all accounts they were otherwise very well built.

Edited August 16, 2022 by 64F

[Dunsignalling]

9 minutes ago, LimboBrit said:

Around that time I quite fancied the Datsun Cherry Coupe but ended up with a Mazda 323

Nearest I've ever got to anything oriental was a Honda S800 that I almost bought until I spotted how many carbs I'd have to keep balanced!

 

Largely settled on French brands, three Renaults, then three Peugeots with a Mk2 Fiesta in between. Dreadful thing; I haven't even looked at a Ford since.

Edited August 16, 2022 by Dunsignalling

[PhilJ W]

If you want Japanese cars you just have to look at the Real-X range, excellent models and well detailed. Only drawback is that they are slightly overscale at 1/72.

[steve1]

I see that there are still no pickup trucks. Given that they are everywhere and have been for ages, this is a serious omission. They would be more use for layouts than yet another exotica.

 

On a more personal note, I wish they would produce some Saabs. 

 

steve

[PhilJ W]

1 hour ago, steve1 said:

I see that there are still no pickup trucks. Given that they are everywhere and have been for ages, this is a serious omission. They would be more use for layouts than yet another exotica.

Indeed, in chronological order Austin A40/A70, Standard Vanguard (and the van version) Austin A50/55, (also a van version). Ford P100 in both Cortina and Sierra versions and one or more of the current double cab models from Ford or Nissan*. *Or other make, there are so many lookalikes today that I can't tell the make until I see the badge.

Edited August 17, 2022 by PhilJ W

[PhilJ W]

Another thing that is missing is a roadsweeper. There is the Atlas DAF from the World of Stobart range but that is now getting hard to find. A model of the 30's/40's Lacre 3 wheeler and one of the modern one man operated versions.

Edited August 17, 2022 by PhilJ W

[steve1]

On 17/08/2022 at 10:50, PhilJ W said:

Another thing that is missing is a roadsweeper. There is the Atlas DAF from the World of Stobart range but that is now getting hard to find. A model of the 30's/40's Lacre 3 wheeler and one of the modern one man operated versions.

 

If you are desperate for a road sweeper and are prepared to live with the scale difference, Wiking do several in HO.

 

steve

[PhilJ W]

15 minutes ago, steve1 said:

 

If you are desperate for a road sweeper and are prepared to live with the scale difference, Wiking do several in HO.

 

steve

Agreed but the scale difference is obvious and they are set for right hand running as is the Cararama 1/72 model.

[RANGERS]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

Agreed but the scale difference is obvious and they are set for right hand running as is the Cararama 1/72 model.

A roadsweeper is probably one of the few vehicles that the position of the steering wheel wouldn't be an issue on, I've seen right, left and even dual driver configurations on them in the UK.

[PhilJ W]

They were usually left hand drive in the UK so that the driver operator could see the kerb. Also the brushes were angled from front right to rear back so that the detritus was swept away from the kerb. The dual control ones had a reversible brush for sweeping one way streets and the odd dual carriageway.

[sandwich station]

There are still plenty of Vauxhalls that haven't been produced yet, Viva Ha and HC, Firenza, Victor FA, FC, CD, FE. Ventura, Chevette, Mk1 and Mk3 Cavalier, various Astra's. Carlton's and Royale. Not to mention CF vans and later models. 

[Obi-Jiff Kenobi]

A Chevette hatchback would be very useful for me, and a Mini Metro would nicely bridge the gap between the Mini Clubman and the forthcoming Maestro.

[64F]

The 1980s and '90s  are not well covered compared to the '50s-'70s period.  Such 1980s cars as are available are disproportionately sporty or luxury models (Capri mk.III. Escort XR3i, Sierra Cosworth, Rover SD1 Vitesse, Astra GTE, Golf GTi, Audi Quattro, Jaguar XJS, Bentley T2), with just the Fiesta, Cavalier, Volvo 740 and the forthcoming Maestro being of a more useful 'vanilla' nature.  The 1990s are particularly badly covered - really just the Vectra, one of the Range Rovers and the forthcoming Discovery mk.I.  There are therefore plenty of opportunities for new car models from this period.

 

We could also be doing with some 1970s and '80s coaches in the bus range too, as that period is not well covered by any of the manufacturers.  Oxford's forthcoming Alexander M-type is very welcome but it is of a niche prototype built in small numbers.  Other than that the only other coaches of this period have been EFE's 1971-73 Plaxton Panorama Elite (the model being of a rare 12m version) and 1987-91 Plaxton Paramount 3500 III, and the defunct Base Toys (crude and overwidth) 1977-81 Duple Dominant II.  Corgi's Van Hool T8 Alizee was also available with a 1980s front, but neither this or any of the others has been produced for quite a few years.  The once-ubiquitous Duple Dominant and Plaxton Supreme and an earlier style of Plaxton Paramount would all be very welcome additions.

 

 

[RANGERS]

14 hours ago, 64F said:We could also be doing with some 1970s and '80s coaches in the bus range too, as that period is not well covered by any of the manufacturers.  Oxford's forthcoming Alexander M-type is very welcome but it is of a niche prototype built in small numbers.  Other than that the only other coaches of this period have been EFE's 1971-73 Plaxton Panorama Elite (the model being of a rare 12m version) and 1987-91 Plaxton Paramount 3500 III, and the defunct Base Toys (crude and overwidth) 1977-81 Duple Dominant II.  Corgi's Van Hool T8 Alizee was also available with a 1980s front, but neither this or any of the others has been produced for quite a few years.  The once-ubiquitous Duple Dominant and Plaxton Supreme and an earlier style of Plaxton Paramount would all be very welcome additions.

 

 

For some reason Oxford seem to prefer the niche products of any given era so perhaps no surprise that the M Type figures in the range when more numerous (and theoretically more lucrative) types are overlooked.

 

They already have the licensing rights to all of the Plaxton range up to 2014, so it’s possible we might yet see a workaday Elite Express or Supreme, but  Id suspect it would be more likely that the obscure MB0303 or Bedford CF variants of the Supreme will appear first, just as the relatively rare Fanfare was favoured against the more mundane Duple Super Vega or Plaxton Embassy, and with them hundreds if not thousands of potential liveries.

 

Even the Duple Commander they chose was a version with a production life of only a year when there were variants with much higher volumes to choose from.