Friday 15 June 2018

Converted Light Car Patrol Model Ts from Matchbox

Preparations have begun for the next demonstration game at "Colours" in September. The quest was on for some Model T vehicles for the Light Car Patrol that will play a prominent part in the game. I had gently tried scratchbuilding some (posted earlier this year) and converting a 1/48 Model T Ambulance kit (also posted earlier) but I was not entirely convinced by the results of either. They look fine, will do the job, but ......

So, having failed to find some 1917 Model T vehicles out there save the Ambulance kit, I bit the bullet and hunted around for some Matchbox Models of Yesteryear 1911 Model T Saloons. I found a couple on a well known auction site. I got them for next to nothing. They were battered, well loved and clearly had been played with by someone a long time ago. They were 1960s vintage with hard plastic tyres, not the soft rubbery plastic that later models were produced with. The seats were missing. I didn't care. They were painted in gloss metallic red paint. Not any more.





12 comments:

rross said...

Great work - I had a couple of 1/48 (approx.) cheap plastic Chinese models that my mother in law gave my kids ten years ago - they were similar …… but I don't have them any longer! Matchhbox Yesteryear are another good source of this type of vehicle. You have done a great job transforming these to WW1 military vehicles!

Peter Douglas said...

Good score on the web's car boot sale, and great salvaging and kit bashing to get the final result.

Phil said...

Beautiful light cars!

Michael Awdry said...

Fabulous Mark, they really look the business.

Jim Jackaman said...

Brilliant!

Over Open Sights said...

These are indeed the Matchbox Models of Yesteryear.

Over Open Sights said...

I keep thinking that I should buy some more and hide them away for future use. They are cheap enough if you aim for those that have been played with rather than the mint examples that collectors chase.

Over Open Sights said...

Thanks, Phil.

Over Open Sights said...

Thanks Michael. They are perhaps a little out of scale but I am not really bothered by that.

Over Open Sights said...

Ta.

ColCampbell50 said...

You were "Tangoed" on the Miniatures Page on 29 Aug 2018. These are great conversions! You did a fantastic job.

Jim

Over Open Sights said...

Cheers, Jim. Tango seems to be a regular visitor to this blog.