I was reminded recently of the Triang Minic Clockwork Sherman Tank, a lovely old toy from the early sixties, these models would have been a premium toy in the range. I never had one new, but have picked up a couple of fixer uppers on ebay. The two biggest issues with them are the clockwork motor is invariably overwound and the spring has burst open the mounting, or the rubber tracks and various other internal workings have perished over time.
Both of these models have suffered these fates, the rubber tracks and interior tubing which would have allowed the gun to puff smoke have rotted away and the motors have stripped their gears and the spring has burst open the body. With one of them, I acquired a box, albeit tatty and creased, but with some lovely period artwork.
The basic Sherman was followed up a year or two later by the rather neat Missile Tank, which is essentially the same chassis, with slightly modified upper section and a cast metal turret. I found a version on ebay again, suffering at the hands of time, but good enough for display after a quick coat of silver car paint on the turret. The missiles, being rubber tipped, have long since rotted away. The remarkable thing about these toys though, besides their complexity, is the weight. Each tank, at around 8 inches long must weigh in at around a kilogram and must have been quite unwieldy for a child to operate. Even the key is adult sized!
In contrast to Triang's valiant effort, we next have two of the triple set of Dinky Task Force. A D.U.K.W and Ferret Armoured Scout car. I have yet to find the neat little green Stalwart. These models are simple single piece castings, completely out of scale with the other Dinky military models and were sold in the seventies as a triple pack. Fairly well detailed, really just solid lumps of alloy.
Compare them to the excellent Dinky Striker vehicle, scaled around 1/72, so ideal to fit with Airfix soldiers, rolling tracks, detailed bodywork and a flip up battery of firing rockets - always a big seller with me!
Lastly, another heavyweight toy, the Marx Amphibious Truck. A large motorised model with excellent detail and a propellor drive tucked underneath enabling it to take to the water as ably as the battlefield!
I would not use the word lovely to describe the Tri-ang Minic Sherman Tank. Shall we say that there are problems with the shape. I would guess from the rounded hull it is intended to be a cast-hull M4A1 version, with the T23 turret and a long-barrelled 76 mm gun, making it a late war vehicle. The claim on the box that it is 'A true scale model' is dubious. However, the list of working features would have made it fun to play with.
ReplyDeleteThe missile tank is odd, although there was a Canadian anti-aircraft version of the Sherman called the Skink, armed with four 20 mm cannon. The guns were not in-line, but two up/two down. The turret was different, but perhaps someone saw a photograph of one, and decided to update the design with missiles ?
The Dinky Task Force die-casts may be simple, but they are much better and more accurate as scale models.
The Dinky Striker anti-tank vehicle used the same chassis as the Scorpion light tank. The real vehicles were armed with Swingfire anti-tank missiles, carried in the box at the rear. The Striker was 122 mm long, and the scale is 1/40th - this odd scale is sometimes used for models of military vehicles, both die-cast and plastic.
Sorry to be so pedantic, but tanks are one of my main interests.
Paul, I hope you have visited the National Army Museum Waiouru. You can hug a Sherman if you wish and admire the running gear of a Centurion without it's side skirts.
DeleteBe as pedantic as you like Paul, its all grist for the mill. I do like a good tank, I especially like the Sheridan, swedish S Tank and Jagdpanther. Ive got almost a complete set of the Matchbox tank kits that came with a mini diorama and the tiny Airfix Scorpion somewhere.
ReplyDeleteMatchbox tank kits were my favourites, good selection of subjects, several had optional parts, crew figures, and those great bases. They also had an excellent method of joining the tracks, much better than the Airfix system of using a screwdriver heated in a candle flame to weld the ends together. The tracks in the Revell reissues have a nasty habit of 'sweating', leaving the soft plastic tracks brittle and easily broken. Their AFV models were the best kits Matchbox did.
ReplyDeleteI liked the way they went a bit off the centre with their choice of kits, such as the Puma armoured car and Wespe artillery. Ill have to dig them out and see whats left.
ReplyDeleteWoton, you were probably reminded of the Tri-ang Sherman by my comment that the Lone Star metal missile cracked the hull of mine. As you have the Sherman you can see how tough that hull is. Not only did it puff smoke from the barrel as the turret rotated but the commanders head popped up and down in the hatch.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember if it was the puppet show SPACE PATROL or FIREBALL XL5 that had several of these tanks modified as working props, but my tank looked good running up the garden lawn before the grass was cut crushing the blades as it went.
Thats it Terra! I knew someone had mentioned it. I seem to have two versions, as one is a richer green and the other a more olive colour. Neither are working. The missile tank works fitfully, but wont be cruising along the garden anytime soon!
DeleteThat silver-domed tank is ULTRA-lovely!!! Much better than reality!
ReplyDeleteDesigned to keep you ultra safe from that pesky radiation! Lead lined!
ReplyDelete