Kev's Corgi Commer Fleet

 It's Vantastic! 

Bill Ev's Corgi Cadillac Ambulance Restoration

Sometime around 1966, I bought a Corgi Cadillac Ambulance.  As a little kid, I was attracted to the flashing light on the roof, and didn't consider the colour scheme.  By 1967, I had decided that I really did not like the Red and White livery and did something about it with a newly acquired can of white spray paint.

Sometime later, I discovered how to mask painted areas and added some nifty orange stripes and shapes.  By 1969/1970, I had tired of most of my toy cars, so into the toy box it was consigned.

Now, nearly 60 years have passed since I parted with my pocket money to buy the ambulance.  When I discovered it alongside the SHADO Interceptor, James Bond DB5 and the Thrushbuster, it was clearly another candidate for restoration.  To begin with, I resisted the temptation to jazz it up like the Ghostbusters Ecto-1 Ectomobile.  But I did research up if it was sold in a different livery.  I quite liked the White and Light Blue scheme, so I pressed ahead with that.  To begin with, it had a good soaking in a cellulose paint thinners, and after 24 hours all the paint had gone.

Next, it was sprayed white with a cadmium white colour spray paint.

The last process was somewhat fiddly masking off the areas to be pained blue and silver.  But the job was completed without much fuss, and it was on to putting the water slide transfer's on. These were incredibly fiddly, and it took a bit of positioning to get them close to right.

And then I attempted to lacquer it. God knows what was in the Plastikote clear lacquer, as it turned everything to crazy paving and dissolved the printing on both the transfer's and the number plates which Terranova had kindly sent from America to me, to complete the project!

I was gutted...

But, I'd spent some money to complete this damn thing. So back into the cellulose thinners it went, to repeat the whole process from scratch. However, I was not prepared to spend even more money on correcting this mistake. So I designed my own Red Cross bonnet transfer, and replicated the lettering to print both on my own water slide paper.

There was no way, that I was risking spraying clear lacquer again, [even a different brand] so I turned to my vintage supply of trusty Johnson's Klear.  Many people think this is floor polish, but its actually a water based acrylic varnish, which once dry can only be removed with ammonia! It also dries to a completely brushless shiny finish.

After an overnight stay in the warm conditions of my studio, and I finally had the completed upper chassis.  This was then bolted to the cleaned lower wheelbase, and the final work started on the battery case.  The original had long gone, so I sourced one off eBay.

And now, the end result, joining its siblings in the display case, with a replicated Terranova number plate.

And yes, I do have a Dinky FAB1 - I'll need to get some replacement parts for this, including Parker, who has gone AWOL since 1966. A restoration of this will be following.

And a question for the readers.  What brand/exact colour will be needed to accurately repaint FAB1? - I heard that the colour is called "Shocking Pink", but locating it is proving to be difficult.  Can the readers help and advise?

Will's Buck Rogers Signed Starfighter

Hi Woodsy. 

Seeing Scoop's Buck Rogers Star Fighter reminded me I had this … for those who like add- ons , it's signed by Gil Gerard and Erin Gray. 

Also a couple of 1950's annuals. 

Will O

UK

Corgi Stickers Sheet

Hi Woodsy,

Paul Adams recently commented on the Corgi extra stickers ( re. Lewis's DB5 post).

Here's set a with the license plates.

Will O.

UK

Ford Consul Project Update .

Hi All,

Re. My Corgi Consul, the chrome finish has come out very well! I think if I'd used a chrome pen, the paint may have clumped. Whereas the spray applied perfectly, as it just gently dusted on.

So I'm just waiting for a replacement window module and I can reattach the base. Then, other than a little red light detailing and a touch-up here and there and it'll be done.

It has come out a lot better than I expected.

Next up it'll be the Cadillac Ambulance!

Bill Everatt

UK

Bill's Corgi Consul Project

Woodsy,

Attached are some photos of the partly completed project.

So I'm at the detailing stages of the Corgi. It's not riveted in on the base at the moment because the BIG problem is that I'm unable to find a replacement window unit for this Corgi Ford Consul Classic 315.

Research of the number 315 shows a different car entirely. Additionally I was going to use some chrome paint on the silver parts. Sadly the only chrome paint I could find was way too expensive to warrant buying it. Also there was so much I'd never use it all as the spray can was huge.

So I resorted to trying some silver touch up paint for a car. I may well do some further detailing on the silver to remove the rather lacklustre finish.

There is a reproduction box on the way for it to be displayed on.

Finally, does the registration number look familiar?

Hopefully more to come.

SIG.

Bill Everatt

UK

Bill's Corgi Consul Project

Woodsy

I've started work on my Corgi Ford Consul.

 I've not bothered to take photos of before and after, as essentially everyone knows how bad a state these toys are in.

When I was a kid, I didn't particularly like the colour scheme on the toy. So, as soon as it was toyboy chipped I proceeded to remove all of the enamel down to the metal. This made cleaning it down very easy.

So, not being sure what sort of colour scheme I was going to settle on, I had a look at an actual Ford Consul. A beautiful sky blue with a cream roof. So this is what I decided on.

Still some work to do. But I have decided to use a high chrome finish on the bumpers and front and back ends. We shall see how it turns out.

From memory, there are still some police vehicles to restore, a Cadillac ambulance with flashing light, some matchbox toys... AND my Dinky FAB1. - That will document its sorry state to completed restoration.

I've got the Corgi FAB1, and although it's an absolutely beautiful piece of work. The Dinky one has it for me, because it's a lot more streamlined. You can just imagine it thundering (sic) along at 200mph.

So we shall see....

Bill Everatt

UK

The Corgi Dick Dastardly Racing Car

The Corgi Dick Dastardly car recently came up, so I thought it was time for a quick look. It was part of a series devoted to film and TV related models, some of which had Corgi Comics on the boxes.

A few were original models, such as The Beatles Yellow Submarine; while others were based on an existing Corgi toy, with a few changes, and the addition of a plastic character figure. This allowed a 'new' model to be produced very cheaply, using a retired die-cast, as the only new items needed were some plastic figures.

This is usually described as a Wacky Races model, but I am not so sure. Wacky Races originally aired in the US 1968-69, while the spin-off show Dastardly & Muttley in Their Flying Machines was on 1969-71.

Both Dick Dastardly and his sidekick Muttley the Dog are wearing WW1 style leather flying helmets and goggles, so I think they are actually from the latter show. But driving a racing car.

The Corgi Comics 809 Dick Dastardly Racing Car was released in July 1973, and was available 1973-74. According to The Great Book of Corgi, 117,000 were sold.

Now we come to something odd. The Great Book of Corgi says 'This car was originally designed for the Qualitoy's range which had long been discontinued'.

The Qualitoys line was introduced in 1969, as a range of simple, sturdy models aimed at younger children. The models were all trucks, and shared a large number of components, which kept costs down.

There were no cars in the range, and I can not find any other Corgi models that look anything like the Dick Dastardly car. So was the Racing Car intended to be part of an expanded Qualitoys range, that was never actually produced ?

I have no idea, but looking at the Dick Dastardly car, it seems to be a dragster or dirt track racer which has been modified to turn it in to a Character Car. Everything which follows is pure speculation on my part, with no evidence at all to support it.

Having the rear-mounted engine enclosed within a cage seems very unusual – was this originally intended for the driver ? The large, plastic Dick Dastardly figure then going where the engine might have originally gone ?

Muttley the Dog is clinging to the top of the vehicle, and looking very unhappy (I would be too). This figure often seems to be missing from models being offered on-line.

The underside of the model says Corgi Comics, Dick Dastardly Racer (although the box says Dick Dastardly Racing Car), and Made in Gt. Britain. 

The model came in the usual 1970s Corgi window box.

Four photographs from Worthpoint

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Corgi Night Squad

 A few home snaps of my new Corgi Black Beauty, along with stablemates The Thrushbuster and Batmobile.

It's quiet in the city tonight!

Corgi Tarzan Gift Set 36: The Origins

In 1976 Corgi released Gift Set 36 Tarzan, one of the most magnificent they ever produced. The Set re-used a number of existing Corgi models, but in new colour schemes.

Having already looked at the Tarzan Set on MC in February, I thought this time we would see where the various items came from. Most details are from The Great Book of Corgi, by Corgi Chief Designer Marcel R. Van Cleemput.

Corgi had first released a Long Wheel Base Land Rover in 1957 (the year after the range was launched), but this was to 1/46th scale. In 1976 a new model appeared, in 1/36th scale, which was much larger than before.

It came as part of Gift Set 31 Safari Land Rover and Animal Trailer (with lion) in April 1976. The model had an opening rear door; and a hardtop roof, with a hatch in it, and a Game Warden looking out.

It was painted white, with black zebra stripes, and red Game Warden labels on each side. The Tarzan model was metallic green with sand-yellow stripes, and a solid roof.

The two-wheeled trailer had a plastic ramp at the rear, and a white plastic cage top. It was painted to match the Land Rover.

A plastic lion, standing on a base, with one paw raised, was the load. All these items were included in the Tarzan set, except for the Game Warden figure.

The boat and trailer came from Gift Set 28, released in August 1975. This comprised a 1/36th scale Mazda B1600 pick-up truck (already available on its own), rubber dinghy in red and yellow, and a scuba-diver in full gear to pilot the boat.

The Tarzan set dropped the pick-up, changed the diver to a White Hunter, and moulded the dinghy in different colours. I am not sure if any other items were re-used, but the change-over in scales around this time would have made it difficult to use any existing Corgi models, since they would appear under-sized next to the newer 1/36th scale items.

Do you have any of these toys?

Four photographs from Worthpoint

Paul Adams from New Zealand

The Tarzan Corgi Gift Set

Further to the recent Tarzan posts, here is a quick look at Corgi Gift Set 36, available 1976-78. One of the most magnificent in Corgi history.

It contained 22 pieces (not sure how that figure was arrived at ?), and came in a large window box. Jungle Land Rover; Animal Trailer with white plastic cage top; "Inflatable" Dinghy on Trailer; Tree House (in brown plastic); Tarzan (two figures, in different poses, both wearing a leopard-skin loincloth), Jane, Boy, and Cheetah figures; White Hunter (seated, driving the Land Rover); Elephant, Lion, Crocodile and Snake; 3 Swinging Vines (green cord); PLUS JUNGLE PANORAMA.

The Land Rover and Animal Trailer were a curious metallic green (metallics were very popular in the 1970s), with sand-yellow zebra stripes. The boat was brown and tan.

There was a large, full-colour diorama fold-out with trees, a river, road, and huge rocks – wow ! The vines could be attached to this, and the Tarzan figure with his arms above his head could slide along the vines.

This set is mentioned in The Great Book of Corgi, which states that 79,000 were sold. I bet they was expensive.

Paul Adams from NZ

Corgi's Popeye Models

Hi Woodsy,

Great job on your re-creation of the Corgi Popeye's Paddle-wagon. Corgi did four different Popeye vehicles, of which I have these two.

Regular large Corgi model [above left]

802 – Popeye's Paddle-Wagon, 1969-72. With Popeye, Olive Oyl, and Swee'Pea figures, plus the heads of Wimpy and Bluto. This 126mm toy is easy to identify as the anchors are part of the mudguards.

Corgi Juniors Extra

1008 Popeye Paddle-Wagon, 1971-72, smaller and simpler version of 802, without the mounted heads. The anchors are part of the boat hull, 70mm.

There were also two Corgi Juniors:

67 – Popeye's Tugboat, 1980 until the end of the line. A small open vessel that ran on concealed wheels. Plastic Popeye figure, 77mm.

79 – Olive Oyl's Aeroplane, 1980 until the end of the line. Open cockpit monoplane. Olive Oyl figure, 68mm.

I have the small Paddle-Wagon, and the Tugboat, and the photos are of my models. The other two are from Worthpoint.

Anyone else got any of these?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

My Home-Made Corgi Popeye Paddlewagon

 I needed a new project this week and I've always liked the Corgi Popeye Paddlewagon since having one as a young spinach gobbler.

I thought I'd make one. A Paddlewagon.

I found an old smallish car and consulted the Great Book of Corgi.

I scoured my bits drawers and began glueing stuff together. Popeye, Olive Oil, the lot.

After a while it was done. I just needed a tin of spinach and the car a lick of paint.

Finished! 

Hope Popeye's happy.

My POTA stunt rider turned up. I gave him a small rifle for his back.

Here's all three things I've finished this last two days.

Waddaya reckon readers?

Have you got a Paddlewagon?