Aston Martins

 With no new issue for March 1966 I have had a few moments to look again at the #218 Aston Martin DB4.

It is a pretty simple model, with just the opening bonnet as an extra feature, but one of my favourites. Strangely, I never did have one as a child, (other than the gold James Bond version but then everyone probably had one of those!). I even managed somehow to miss the later Competition DB4 as well but made up for all that, firstly by having a delightful 1:1 1983 V8 for a while in 1984/5 and, secondly, by having 50 or more #218 models at various times in the last ten years.

What I hadn't appreciated for some time was the number of different variations for just the #218 model. I used to think that the first issue was the one with  smooth fixed wheels but I am now of the opinion that it would have been the one with the criss-cross 'spoke effect' fixed cast wheels. So it is time to update the table of what you may find out there for this model. In this respect I am most grateful to Göran Hellsin, a collector in Sweden who has helped a lot (and is still helping to look for other possibilities).

Firstly, there are, of course, two main colours - a bright yellow and somewhat brick-flavoured red. There are ranges of shades, with the yellow sometimes looking quite creamy and the red rather darker. I have decided, though, not to attempt to identify any particular colour variations other than the main two.

The second feature to examine is the type of wheel fitted. This we now believe started with the 'criss-cross' cast wheel, then the smooth fixed wheel, followed by the fixed shaped wheel and finally the free-spinning shaped wheel.

The third feature is the shape of the vent on the bonnet. This starts out as quite large and open, quite heavily raked back. A later version remains open but is much less deep with the top edge not significantly further back. My colleague has noted two different widths of this variety too but whether I shall list what would be a fourth type has yet to be decided. The other type, as things stand, is a closed vent.

V1 Open large vent

V2 Open smaller vent

V3 Closed vent

The fourth feature is the hinge on the bonnet. I am not sure I can describe the differences in a few words but a quick view of the photos below will show you which is which. (I was hoping that there is an association with the vent in each case but it seems that the same type of vent may have different hinges, although let's hope that is restricted to just H1 or H2).

H1

H2

H3

The fifth feature is the base. On early models there are holes below the axles. The next issue has no holes but retains the catalogue number 218. The third and last issue loses the number, possibly so that the same base can be used for the #309 Competition edition. Incidentally, I have often wondered what the purpose was for the holes in early Corgis with suspension and came to the conclusion that they may have been to enable a drop of oil to be applied from time to time. A can of 3-IN-ONE was never far away in my home. Lots of things seemed to need oiling in the 1960s as I recall. I suppose now the 3-IN-ONE has been replaced by the ubiquitous WD40. Having said that, I suspect that few parents today would let their 11-year-olds anywhere near a can without gloves, a mask and protective glasses, probably also staying in attendance in case the kid tried to drink it. But that is for one of my other site's articles, I fear.

So here is a table of what we think might exist. I would be grateful for any observations, additions and we might even consider a deletion as there are a couple of entries we haven't yet tracked down.

The Michigan Collection: Competition Cars

 Here are some cars from the Competition Models section of the catalogue which are included in the Michigan Collection. They are all very nice and many have original boxes too. I am awaiting more pictures of many of these but offers and reservations welcome in the meantime.

The Michigan Collection: Military and Police Vehicles

 Here are some items from the Military and Police section of the catalogue which are included in the Michigan Collection (one of the 500s and the 464 are from my own collection). They are all very nice and many have original boxes too. I am awaiting more pictures of many of these but offers and reservations welcome in the meantime.

Corgi Model Club: the best copy of the best original

 I am beginning to think that we have had enough James Bond Aston Martins now and it would be nice to end on what is probably the best copy of the best original.

Just scrolling through these photos should be enough to demonstrate how lovely this model is (and, of course, was). I definitely prefer the silver grille and bumpers, probably because I like models that do look like a real car and the gold stuff was odd to say the least.

Of course, it is that bubble pack again and I need to provide a warning right at the start. If you don't intend to play with this, leave it in the box as you get it. That's because you will find it hard to avoid damaging the card at the back. It is not at all easy to pull back. After tearing the gold bumper issue last month, I was really very careful, gently inserting a flat part of a nail file to try and encourage the rear section to move. But, once again, I failed. Only by firmly pressing on those ends of the fold and prising very gently to prevent a tear at that vulnerable spot was I able to get it to move.

Anyway, back to the content . . . the next very careful work is when you open the flap on the tray to access the secret documents and spare baddie. I succeeded with this one but you do need to be so very careful. I have to ask why is it necessary for all these flaps to have those tiny slits? It's been the case since Day One. You would thought that someone at the Club would have considered simple folded flaps, even if they didn't always stay closed as neatly as these do. They would also have been more accurate copies but the boxes are always the least good examples of a 'copy' anyway, what with shiny surface, necessarily different text and incorrect font styles.

Inside, everything is as it was with the last issue.

I am impressed with how the Chinese have managed to make the roof lie nice and flat.

Whilst my model does sit evenly, the suspension on one side is distinctly more firm than the other. Indeed, it is as if the tyre is too wide but I have not had time to investigate. There have been reports that the car is very much squashed in to the bubble and that may have a detrimental effect on the suspension. It was certainly a bit of a struggle to extract the car from its clear home but I doubt either its insertion, life spent there nor my extraction caused any damage.

The baddie is inside the car but, of course, is free to move and, upon arrival appeared to be doing something I really cannot write about in this article without having to apply for a new Over-18 rating. As you need to open the roof in order to correct matters and have him sit up properly, it can be risky pressing that button. Should baddie decide to wedge himself sideways or in a way that prevents free movement of the seat then any vulnerable parts of the seat spring mechanism could be damaged. Luckily I got away with the push but do be careful and certainly I would recommend removing the baddie when moving the model around or posting it.

Incidentally, the previously best copy was the 96655 issue in the 1990s. That had rather unattractive wheels but otherwise was a nice example and packed in a nice window-style box. They were not trying to copy anything with that one but it all kinda worked. This one is very good but I think that's enough, now, thank you. 

Yes, I know there are the later edition without tyre slashers and the later sort of Whizzwheels but no-one wants copies of that. Indeed, I would have just issued this one and left it at that but I guess the shop sales of the gold bumpers, plus the bizarre silver 261 and even more bizarre Hornby R26101 help keep the business alive. Much as I moan about small differences and boxes, I do quite like to handle these brand new, shop-fresh models when they arrive and can persuade myself to forget for a while that they've come to Britain in a container aboard one of those ghastly container ships piled high with goods for consumers here.

Edit:

[I have just remembered the row about the rear wheel arches. So perhaps for some this may not be the best copy. I'll let you choose another!]

The MIchigan Collection: European Cars

Here are some models from the European section of the catalogue which are included in the Michigan collection. I am awaiting more pictures of most items but offers and reservations are welcome in the meantime.