I have written a great deal about Land Rovers but I decided to take a fresh look at what I had in various cupboards and boxes and to see whether I could make a better job of categorising the main #438 issue in deep green (shades).
I have found just four distinct models amongst my collection. That is, of course, not to say that there will be others but let's start with these for now.
The distinguishing features that I have focussed on are:
the rear window
I see two types:
 |
| frame within window |
 |
| no frame |
The window unit that shows the 'frame' is designed so that the rear cab window fits to give a flush finish at the back. The later style of unit is more simple and the window appears to be inset.
the vent leaver
For this particular group, I see just two styles of window lever.
 |
| A small vertical edge lever |
 |
| A larger triangle shape |
Later editions of the #438 will have a third variety - a much smaller triangle - but I have not seen this on the deep green Land Rovers. It appears to be standard from the metallic green turquoise models onwards, all the way through the Whizzwheels editions too, although I am sure there will be some transition examples to seek.
the registration plate
Again, for this particular group I see two types of registration plate panel on the front wing.
 |
| A small rectangular panel |
 |
| A larger rectangular panel |
As for the lever, there is a third variety of panel - a definite square shape - and this also seems standard for all later issues from metallic green-turquoise on.
the grille
 |
| No gap between the grille and bonnet |
 |
| A clear gap between the grille and bonnet |
You will also note clear difference in the casting of the headlamps and badge.
the bars on the cab roof
I find three distinct types of cab roof bars
 |
| The three bars are of similar length and seem to be a separate plate |
 |
| The bars are much shorter |
 |
| The bars are full length and no evidence of a plate |
The appearance of some form of 'plate' for the three bars varies quite a lot in the first two examples, sometime it is very obvious, like an additional piece of metal on top of the cab. In other examples it is much more flush with the cab roof surface and less visible. Nevertheless, the roof is quite different on the third variety with all three bars extending to the front and what seems like a different casting for the roof.
Below is a table summarising the four main types I have found amongst the blue-green models.
I have found only one example of Type 2 so far. The others seem reasonably plentiful. I am sure, however, that there will be a few other combinations so I am not going to start using these 'Types' just yet in the Catalogue. I would be interested to know of how other collectors have found these types to be distributed as well, of course, of further varieties.
Needless to say, there will always be something different too - and here you can see a couple of 'outliers'!
The edition with red seats is quite uncommon but may appear throughout production - I even have Whizzwheels and Gift Set 19 models with red seats!
The distinctly blue-green model, however, is a bit unusual. At first I thought it was just another blue-green #438 but this one stands out and is quite different to all the others. It is not, unfortunately, though, RAF blue for the 351S! It is a Type 3 in the table above, with short bars and I am assuming it is just from a batch of production with a touch more blue in the paint mixture than usual.
I had thought I might be able to distinguish a dark green and a deep green for this issue but I find so many shades in between that I have decided not to list them.
Lastly on the subject of 438s for now, don't forget the 'farm green' issue from early Farming Gift Set 22 issues. This is a very distinct flavour of green, similar to the green shade used for the Gift Set 2 406. In fact, I tend to refer to the 'farm green' model as a 406S but the number is hardly relevant as it was never issued individually anyway. With these being produced for a very short time in that colour, it is almost certain that they will all fall in Type 1 in the table above.
While I had the floor and several other horizontal surfaces covered with Land Rovers this afternoon I also spotted something interesting about the blue Land Rovers issued either as Gift Set 15 with a double horsebox #112 or Gift Set 19 with an airplane on a trailer.
The shade of blue for the Pony Club Gift Set 15 model remained pretty consistent as a bright and cheerful shade of blue throughout all its years with normal shaped wheels, then cast wheels and on to Whizzwheels too. At the very end of production, however, it seems that the mixture gets changed to a moodier shade with more violet added - clearly quite different as you'll see above. I have only seen this shade on issues with the later style of interior, with its moulded steering wheel. I had thought, therefore, that perhaps this was the paint created for Gift Set 19 which came along towards the end of the life of Gift Set 15 with a model that I had from that set having the same shade.
Now, though, with everything displayed, I have seen that all the other Land Rovers I have with beacons from this set have a much different and darker metallic blue finish. They also have no spare wheel on the bonnet but that's another story entirely. Just as I was beginning to conclude that production must have started with the same shade as Gift Set 15 and then switched to the new darker blue and then ditching the spare wheel I find these two.
The red interior is the old style with a separate steering wheel but finished in what I'm assuming is the later shade of blue! I can only conclude that there was a day when the ladies at the factory ran out of solid yellow plastic interiors and found some old red thin plastic types lying around and fitted those instead for a batch.
Incidentally, you may just be able to make out that the windows on the lighter blue GS19 model are amber tinted, in the same shade as the beacon, which is also made of perspex, all quite different to the others that I have which have clear windows and a red, softer plastic beacon. I have yet to encounter another like this. The trailer for the plane was in the same lighter shade and examples of the Land Rover with the spare mounted on the bonnet are few and far between. I am actually of the view that none of the darker shades will have this feature but I have to research this a little longer. Again, let's see what collectors can add to the list!
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