Corgi Trackside DIYCAST 5-packs
Hi
The Matchbox Graffic Traffic series was not the only attempt to market a range of decorate-it-yourself models. Some years ago Corgi also gave the idea a try.
Unlike the Matchbox models, which were sold as toys for children, the Corgi DIYCAST range was aimed at adults. They were sold as part of the Corgi Trackside series, and were intended as accessories for OO (1/76th scale) model railways. So the only people who have ever heard of them are railway modellers. The models could be decorated in any way the buyer chose. The plain finish meant that it was easy to apply different colour schemes, or company names and logos.
There were ten vehicles available, sold in two sets of five. These were not kits, that you built and painted. They were factory assembled, and painted in a matt white undercoat.
Each set contained two cars, and three vans, mainly dating from the 1950s and 1960s. On a layout, they would have been suitable for the 1950s to the 1970s, although the later vehicles would not have been appropriate for the 1950s. The models were mounted vertically in a clear plastic bubble, mounted on a backing card. The sets came with a paint brush, and three small plastic pots of Humbrol acrylic paint, but there were no decals or stickers.
I would assume they were not big sellers, as they were very short lived, and I never saw any in the shops. I recall I had to order mine through a model shop.
Purely for convenience, I am referring to these as Set 1 and Set 2, they are not identified as such on the cards.
Set 1
Morris Minor - 1948
Ford Anglia - 1959
Bedford HA van - 1963
Morris J2 van - 1956
Morris LD van - 1952
Silver, Red, and Yellow paints
Set 2
Mini - 1959
Ford Escort - 1967
Ford Escort van - 1968
Bedford CA van - 1952
Ford Transit van - 1965
Silver, French Blue, and Brunswick Green paints.
Yours Sincerely,
Paul Adams from New Zealand
I never heard of such a thing! I can imagine why they weren't popular - what kind of paint would you even use to re-color these white vehicles? Enamel? Acrylics? Watercolors? Metal takes paint differently than plastic, and you couldn't just slap some Humbrol on it and be done. Adding decals might have been do-able, but this seems like a vaguely bad idea to me, anyways. Thanks for sharing these obscurities - file under "What were they thinking?"
ReplyDeleteThank you. There are lots of strange models that leave you wondering what the manufacturer was thinking. It is interesting digging in to the history of these forgotten lines, and giving them a moment in the sun. Since the models were undercoated, you were not painting on to bare metal. The sets came with acrylic paints, but I would think enamels would also work.
ReplyDeleteI love these sets! Its just what I've been doing, although I have been using Sharpies and paint pens. Lots of readers have told me over the years they have painted over their toys, so it seems natural that toy companies would offer this properly. I wonder if any of these painted vehicles still exist?
ReplyDelete