Qualitoys update

 

I had something of a dilemma with some recent Qualitoys purchases. These models are packed in a sturdy bubble pack which might have been nice on the shelves but not ideal for collectors. The plastic is simply glued to the card and, whilst one or two have become detached with age and the model can be slipped out without further damage, those that remain firmly attached require a decision to be made. Do I keep the item like new and never actually see another view of the model? Or do I break in somehow?

As these particular models appear to be available pretty cheaply I decided that there would be precious little difference in value between the model in a nearly mint pack and one in a slightly damaged pack. At the current low prices that a nearly mint one can be found for then there really is not much to lose! I was also heavily influenced by wanting to see whether there was a horse in the Horsebox, as well as simply wanting to take a closer look at these models.

For some I made a neat cut with a scalpel in the card at the back to release the model and it closes up neatly which should still be reasonably satisfactory for someone as and when these are to be sold again.

The nice new models are illustrated below and they are really quite nice out of that bubble. As many that are available loose do tend to have been very well played with by kids, as indeed was the intention, it is unusual to see them in this new condition.

The trailer is one item that doesn't do anything but you can still load it up and attach it to one of the trucks.

The pony is there and this one's brown. I am sure that others I have seen were white so that is something I need to research more. The white roof comes off quick easily, and was hanging off in the packet but not by enough to see the horse. There is a ramp which folds up too which didn't look right in a half open, half closed state in the pack so I am happy to have got it out.

The tower truck has three plastic sections, one of which can be lifted up and the top one rotates.

The Breakdown Truck has a familiar 'Corgi' hook and a handle I've seen before!

This version of the Truck has a rear section that tips to one side. Otherwise it looks just like the basic Truck but in a different colour scheme. It was probably the most popular model and there re many around but, so far, I haven't seen a nice one at a reasonable price.

One mystery is now solved! I had not looked closely at the models promoted on the back of the card for some models - you'll see that there is a Horsebox Trailer and that is catalogued as #709. I have yet to see one, though. I wonder whether there is a set of the basic Truck with the Horsebox Trailer? Anyway I have now updated the list as you'll see below. There may still be one to find but so far a different model eludes me. It does seem that some of these items may be particularly scarce - or are they just not deemed worth listing on Ebay or wherever by anyone who has them?

Corgi Model Club: Citroën Safari (Corgi Ski Club)

 

Here is the latset edition from the Corgi Model Club. It's the second version of #475, with Winter Olympics replaced by the Corgi Ski Club but otherwise, I think, the same. (I have always wondered whether the skis and ski poles and roof rack changed from one edition to the other and there are also versions with the interior colours switched round but whether these variations occur within a model run I have to investigate.)

Anyway, this one has yellow skis and poles and a red roof rack. It looks a lot whiter than I remember but that may just be because I've only ever had a pretty well-played-with model myself!

The certificate information appears not to have been edited very carefully. I quite like the two 'i' s in skiis, though, and we'll forgive that but they claim that the last model of this car was #499 in 1968. That model was issued in October 1967 and the last one was #513 in September 1970 (incidentally also the last Corgi issued with 'normal' wheels).

In the box the car is wrapped in thin tissue-like paper and there is a small piece of plastic foam (not shown above). The figures and skis are in a plastic bag and separate to the car in the box. I was surprised to have two skiers, four skis and four poles. The original only had one skier.

I am a little intrigued too by the 'instruction sheet' included. My copy has just one side printed whereas this should have the usual membership text and form on the reverse. In fact, with this particular issue, all the examples i have seen have not had the wording about adjusting the skiers legs. That text seems to have been added for the #499 model with the TV21 style footer. The one supplied is odd and I wonder whether someone has not advised them well on this or, perhaps, I'm wrong and there simply might have been a variety of 'instructions' used of which the one they've supplied is just one.

The #499 original instruction sheet

The #475 original instruction sheet (both editions)

This is a good-looking model and the now familiar top quality accuracy in reproduction and near-perfect silver detailing. I still find the shaped wheels not quite right and I believe the roof rack should have straight parallel sides rather than the curved variety we have here. However, that may, again, be my memory?

The car arrives with ski poles in the bag but they should be stowed in the roof rack for which there is space provided. I haven't done that in the photos, though, and it may be that the thin plastic poles would be vulnerable to bending if left there in the box for a while.

I also note that the skis are attached to each other in pairs. Is that how they were originally? It does make it easier to keep the chap standing upright so maybe not a bad idea even if not as they actually were provided originally.

This is all very fine engineering in both metal and plastic and an enjoyable model to have in this growing collection. As always, I find the box lacking in being very shiny and the fonts for the number and features are still not right but I guess they never will be so I'll have to put up with that.

Of course, now that we have this model, expect Corgi to come up with a few variations (or the Club to have a go at one of the others in due course). Just not the hearse, please.

Vanguards for sale

Some time ago I set about making a website to feature all the models that Corgi produced through Vanguards in Great Britain. This would have been during the short period from 1996 to 1999 when production was moved to China. 

It was an interesting project as it was quite difficult to get the model numbers as catalogues seemed few and far between and I never managed to identify some gaps that appeared between the numbers. Many sellers also either didn't state where the model they were selling was made (or got it wrong) and, unlike most Corgi listings, they never took photos of the base either. It was not easy to build a collection of just the British models but I found a good proportion of the cars and vans.

The site can be viewed at this link (there is also another version here as I made one with some ancient software first and oddly that appears first in searches rather than the Google Site!). The first link is better though.

Since then, however, only one or two of the missing models have surfaced, and even then only very occasionally and I've not had the time to chase after them. Because I don't particularly like some of them and didn't want to start on the trucks, which are a different scale, I have not pursued this for some time and the whole collection is now in one large box where it has been for a few years. Values for most of the models seem quite low still and, whilst some seem to have a significant value, most seem to sell for around £10-£20. All mine have original boxes and the internal packing plus mirrors (not fitted, separate in a bag) and a card and maybe some other information, basically as close to mint as you're likely to find. Most for sale are like this as no-one plays with these models. They're attractive but just for display or use in photoshoots.

So I'm going to try and sell the whole collection as a single item. Hopefully someone will like them and maybe even continue to look for the few missing items. If you're interested, get in touch. There's a list on the site of the 83 models.

 

Corgi Model Club: Hillman Hunter

Here's a lovely re-issue from the Corgi Model Club. It's the 302 model Hillman Hunter with kangaroo. The kangaroo alone almost makes this worth getting as reproductions are not great and cost around £15 or so. A reproduction window box is also quite expensive and, if you need a box then I would maintain that one that has one side bearing the 2024 details is just as good, although that text and data does obscure a large part of the map that is clear on an original. Add excellent wheels, a great set of transfers and a tray that can be swapped over and you're really getting a good deal with this one. The model itself is a superb match in practically all respects. The only criticism I can make is that they're still using some less attractive plastic 'jewels' and this is more noticeable as the model has six of them.

In the pack the car is well-protected on the tray by two pieces of foam plastic. The kangaroo and transfers are in plastic bags and the instruction leaflet is tucked away in the pocket below the car with the transfers.

The 'Golden Jack' wheels are excellent and, again, far better than the reproduction ones that I've seen.

I had not actually opened the toolbox on the roof on an original model, always concerned that the hinge would fracture! So it was nice to feel a nice click on shutting it and the silver tools inside are very attractive.

Like the original model, the car sits quite low and has little by way of suspension.

The steps at the rear seem a little bigger, or extend further, than I recall, but I don't have a model with which to compare so It may just be my memory not being very good.

I don't recall something else - the 'roo bar' has a lower piece that keeps it at a vertical angle. I seem to think that the originals were flimsier for a start and lacked that piece in their design. Again, I may be wrong. The re-issue one does seem to be more sturdy, however.

The box is the early variety with a number.

Here you can see the intrusion of the data on the map. I guess there's not much else you can do about that. All that nonsense has to go somewhere nowadays.

The transfers look perfect and could well be a valuable addition for anyone who has lost their originals as I'm sure it would be hard to tell the difference, other than these looking rather new and fresh.

All in all a remarkably good reproduction of the original. I can see the leaflet, tray, transfers and, of course, the kangaroo appearing with the 1969 model in many collections as those pieces are the ones that get damaged or go missing.

One more Qualitoys model. Two to go. Maybe.

 

I've found another Qualitoys item from the 1971 release group. It's a Jumbo loader with Scoop. I may or may not be successful in buying it so all I have is this picture for now.

Here is a table I have put together based on the information I've found to date:

I have also added a live table to the Corgi Catalogue website at this address.

So, assuming the Little Red Book is correct, (which, as we know, is not always the case but what else can we do?) and there were six models released in 1971 there are still two to find. If we regard the Fire Hose Trailer as a 1971 issue, however, then there would only be one but that would mean a gap in the numbers. Now, gaps in the numbers are all too familiar to Corgi Toys collectors! So anything is possible. We'll find out eventually. Maybe.

My guess is that the Fire Hose Trailer came out at the same time as the Truck and that the two 'sets' also came out with the first batch. That is because I see many of them for sale but I most definitely do not see many of the 1971 releases around anywhere.

I appreciate that all this about Qualitoys is not what many of you wish to read and so be reassured that I shall return to the main theme again soon. At least you've been spared the 1;36 scale models.

Corgi Lists Ten Years After

Google have just informed me that one of my most popular pages on this appears to be one that I wrote 10 year ago when I was attempting to start a list of Corgis. I do hope that people who landed up there didn't follow the link to my first attempt that was included there as it took them to a very old site and a list which I haven't kept up-to-date. With a bit of luck they'll have spotted the MODEL LIST link in the menu for this blog.

While I was looking around I noticed a few other lists which I've made over the years, some of which got published here, some maybe not. I've brought them all together so they can be found more easily in a box on the right of this blog in normal screen view. Quite where it goes in a phone view I'll have to check and advise later.

These include:

• M model colours
• Models with jewelled lights
• The Gift Set 2 variations
• Land Rover variations
• Box illustrations
• Whizzwheels models

I have many more and will add those that might be useful as and when I find them.

Corgi Qualitoys: the Water Truck

 

This is my first Corgi Qualitoys model. Firstly, they're a lot bigger than I had expected, more like 1:36 although a scale isn't possible because there is no such thing as the real brand in 1:1. 

The brand is called Turbine Trucks and this is inscribed on the base along with Qualitoys by Corgi

 and  Made in Gt. Britain. Note that this is a different brand to Benbros Qualitoys which had been produced from the early 1950s to 1965. The Turbine Truck models have a TT logo as you can see on the front of this one.

This model is a Water Truck but I have no idea what its catalogue number is and it is not one of the first eight issued in 1969 but one from the second batch in 1971. As they were discontinued shortly afterwards these late models seem quite scarce and I have no clue as to the production quantities but I can't imagine they were very big numbers.

I had noticed in pictures what looked like a plug at the top but I don't see how that can be removed. It rotates, however, and you can align two small holes which would allow water to be drained without causing a vacuum inside.

There is a larger plug underneath where it looks like you would fill the green plastic container if you wished. Now that would be great fun and, although these were supposed to be designed for younger children than the normal Corgi range, I don't recall any of the main range that could be filled with water and driven around! (OK, there was a Dolphinarium and a big Fire Truck but I think these were a bit later.)

It's interesting to see the screw holding the plastic container in place. I have not tried to undo it and wonder whether the container can be simply removed. The construction is otherwise two rivets and a metal twist retaining the cab element in place. The plastic interior also provides the red (in this case) horizontal decoration line around the cab.

The white cab and yellow chassis appears the same as for the Horse Transporter and the Breakdown Truck.

These are very simple items and I won't claim to be madly enthusiastic about them but they do have a certain charm and I shall continue to acquire the whole set, once I have figured out just what the whole set should be! As I have said previously, part of the reason for my interest is the lack of information about the series that I have been able to unearth so far. That, plus what appears to have been a pretty short production life for all of them, but especially the last few, makes them worth a closer look.