Great article, noticed the guns also for the first time

This is quite interresting. I also noticed it for the first time, 4 caribines in total (might be .303 Lee Enfield). There is also a shovel (spade) and a pick on the opposite side of the gun just above the one wheel arch. It pays to take a closer view of you vehicles some times.

Dirk Bloem
154

Nice to see your USA export version of the AA Gun, with the typical rounded axle ends. The other ones, however, do have the regular crimped axles.

The Field Gun Unit, Jeep and Six Wheeled Wagon also got the rounded axle ends after 1952,so for USA export only. Regards, Jan

Hi All,
Those rifles are .303 Lee Enfields for sure. Thank you for this post, it's made me take a good close look at a model I'd just put in the cabinet a few years ago and never really examined. Crimped axles, no hole in seat here.
I'd like to see some good pictures of the various shades on the Recon car, variations from brown to gloss green as far as I can tell, and, it's a Morris Commercial isn't it?
Chris Warr.

Hi Chris, these are my Recce Cars. Yes they are Morris Commercials. I'm afraid the difference in shades is not very obvious.

From left to right: post-war, early post-war and pre-war. The pre-war example has a gloss green finish, the others more satin/matt. No brown one here. I like the one with the original treaded white tyres - not very realistic, but smart. Jan

Terry

Thank you for starting this thread! I have several Favourite Dinky Military Vehicles, but I will start with one, as for some unknown reason, I have not got around to photographing the other.

This 689 Medium Artillery Tractor is well up on the list of, not only my favourite Dinky Military Vehicle, but one of my favourites of all Dinky Toys. It achieves this distinction, not only with it being an excellent reproduction of the original vehicle, but the story it has to tell.

I won this item from an eBay auction in October 2001, from a seller living in Auckland, New Zealand. The photograph that accompanied the auction was out of focus, and the description was not very helpful, so I took a punt on it. From memory I think I was about the only bidder so obviously the picture and description deterred everyone else. On receiving the parcel about 10 days later, I was absolutely stunned on seeing the quality of the model and its box, even down to the two little pieces of cardboard used as a sort of packing piece. On extracting the model from the box, I noticed that the military green paintwork had none of the usual sheen these models acquire after prolonged use with little fingers - the model develops a slight shine where it has been held. I immediately grabbed a tissue to allow me to continue carefully examining it, so as not to be the first one to start the shining process! The edges of the box and lid were sharp and clean of any wear. In fact, my purchase had all the appearance of having just received the model brand-new for Christmas in 1956, based on the Inspection stamp inside the lid!

I immediately shot off an email to the seller, inquiring how he had come by it, and if he were selling any more of a similar condition. His reply was immediate, and although the email has been lost when a previous computer died, this is what he told me.

The Medium Artillery Tractor formed part of the estate of a former Auckland City Council employee that he was selling on behalf of his next-of-kin. For some reason the owner was jilted at the altar many decades ago in the 1950s, and as a result, he never found another lady to share his life. Each Christmas he bought several presents, for a girl and boy, as well as once yearly "birthday" presents for both genders, and on coming home, he carefully packed these away in a cupboard, as presents representing the children he would have had. According to the seller, the large cupboard was filled to capacity, including numerous Dinky Toys. Unfortunately, the 689 was the last of the Dinky Toys and I am so sad not to have obtained the rest of the Dinky Toys that formed part of this estate.

I will never sell this model. It will go to my grandson together with this story, and hopefully he will keep it in the same condition and pass it down if and when he marries.

Please forgive me if I have repeated this story in another Thread! The problem with growing old and senile!

Kind regards

Bruce

Hi Bruce, the same goes for my Thornycroft Mighty Antar Tank Transporter. It is mint/boxed without any shine whatsoever.

Unfortunately I do not know the story behind it. In a similar way, however, it must never (or hardly ever) have been touched since leaving the factory.

By the way, I always handle my military Dinky's (and many others) with soft gloves, in order to avoid that annoying shine by touching them often with bare fingers.

Kind regards, Jan

My favourite Dinky military item is the 661 Scammell Recovery truck.

I remember it well from my childhood an the main reason for liking it is the play value.

It rescued lots of Bedfords when stuck in the sand or mud!!!!

Dave

Yes Dave, this was my favourite towing vehicle, in fact my Recovery Tractor was THE only towing vehicle I had so it had to contend with civilian as well as military breakdowns! I always thought it looked so British with the teapot sitting on top of the radiator! :laugh:
Kind regards
Bruce

It is certainly a very impressive vehicle. The owner told me that he hardly goes out because the mpg is so low.

Bruce,

I love the tea pot, so British.

Jacques

What a massive brute of machinery! But comparing it with the 661, Meccano did an admiral job with their rendition. Although the owner does not take it out often, just think, he does not have to worry about anyone not giving way to him!

My 661 was one of my favourite military models, until it lost its jib. How that came about I have no idea, although I suspect it happened when it had to right my 651 that had flipped over!! :laugh: :laugh:

But in the 1950s I really missed on not having a 25x/430 in my collection and with Dad working in a garage and frequently coming home from work in a real tow truck, I often wonder why he never came home with a Dinky version. Never mind, I now have a fleet of boxed examples!

Kind regards

Bruce (150)

#547

It certainly is a mightily impressive vehicle

Here are 23 brand new Scammell Explorers outside the Scammel Works at Watford, awaiting delivery to the British Army.

This must have looked absolutely stunning in real life.

When I was stationed in the Outer Hebrides in the Army in the early 1970s we had a Scammell which was still in daily use.

This image is courtesy of the Scammell Society and should not be reproduced anywhere else.

Dave