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As an extension to the notes on First Series variations, on this page we begin to look at the detail variations of some of the later 'Regular' wheel models.
Go to ................ 1C 1D 2C 3B 4C
5C 5D 41B For a full index of models covered, go to the
Matchbox Home page. Click on the picture for a larger version. Starting  at the beginning, we take a look at the third and fourth versions of the number
1 Road Roller. Rather surprisingly for an early Matchbox, no changes at all were made to the second Road Roller, either in casting or colour, during its three year life.
However, not long after its release in the same light shade of green as its predecessor, the larger 1C Road Roller appeared in a significantly darker
shade. At a later date, the wide rear rollers were replaced by a narrower ver sion, the difference being shown clearly in the picture on the left. The single variation in the
1D Aveling Barford Road Roller affects the baseplate which was at first secured internally, but at a later date body and base were fixed
with two rivets. This alteration necessitated the removal of some of the base lettering which now appeared on the underside of the roof. The alternative bases found on
this model are shown in the picture on the right. Several small changes were made to the dies of the 1E Mercedes Truck with its associated Trailer (2D)
. These models span the transitional period from 'Regular' to 'Superfast' and descriptions of will shortly (!) be found on the Superfast pages. 2C,  the third Muir Hill Dumper, comes with f our easily identifiable casting variations. (A fifth example in which the left side of the front bumper is not joined to the chassis is thought to be from
a trial run) 1) A small extension to the chassis to stop the tipper from tipping over. 2) A hole added above the front axle - maybe needed to hold the model firmly
during manufacture. 3) 4) Thicker front legs and a brace on the left side of the model forward of the rear wheel.
The first illustration shows the no hole, thin legs, no brace model alongside one with all those alterations. The second shows the first 'over tip', a model with the supporting stops and one with the extra brace.  The g rey and maroon version of 3B
, the Bedford Tipper saw two casting changes. One is very obvious, the other not so. The first is the addition of a large block under the
rear of the tipper. Its sole purpose seems to be to hide a cross member of the chassis when looking from behind, although the long cross rivet j oining the two components is still there for all to
see. It does not stop the tipper from tipping upside down!
The other variation is seen in the picture on the right where a small support was added at the end of the exhaust tailpipe
on the left side of the chassis. M ot or bikes must be very difficult to model in detail. The casting of 4C, the Triumph T110, is certainly not strong. Two changes were made. The first involved extending the
length of the brace by which the mudguard was attached to the sidecar. Later, the ribs joining the sidecar to the
machine itself were increased in thickness. Both variations are shown. Nothing much could be done about the handlebars!
| The 5B London Bus has no casting variations. 5C,
the first Routemaster Bus, is a tricky
one! |
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The tabs holding the axles are, on the earlier models, almost semi-circular. On later models these have been changed in shape such that
they are less tall, but slightly longer! The thickness (very thin) remains unchanged. The difference can just be seen in the enlarged picture by  comparing the earlier model with grey plastic wheels with the
black plastic wheels version shown. The casting of 5D, the second Routemaster London Bus, underwent several alterations. The first change affected the rear of the
body. The back edge of the entrance was
increased in thickness creating a vertical ridge
on
its outer face. This extends along the
bottom rear to strengthen it, take a longer tab from the base and
so reduce the chance of the model falling apart!  We know - we had our
own problems with that one at home in the 'sixties! Further alterations affect the base of the model. Early models had a
'five line' base. This is seen on the first version model at the top of the second picture. Next is the 'four line' model - 'No. 5' is no longer
given a separate line. Further changes involve a deepened web behind the rear axle, troughs behind both axles and triangular tabs forward of the front axle. The lower model pictured is the final version. |
The
prototype
Routemaster
appeared
on
London's
streets
in 1954.
The last
one ran
in
regular
service
on 9th
December
2005. A
year
before,
several
hundred
vehicles
were
still
going
strong
on
routes
from the
inner
suburbs
through
the West
End.
Most of
the
vehicles
had well
over 40
years
continuous
service
behind
them.
Now ...
no more
bus
conductors
(so no
chance
of
fulfilling
my
childhood
ambition!).
No more
hopping
on or
off at
traffic
lights.
10 miles
an hour
for 12
hours a
day for
40 years
must
have run
up a
mileage
of
something
like a
million
and a
half
miles.
Can any
other
public
service
vehicle
compare?
Two new
'Heritage
Routes'
now run
in
central
London,
operated
by a
fleet of
16
Routemasters.
Link to
The
Routemaster
website |
The 41B D Type Jaguar in Britis h Racing Green was an enlarged version of the si milar first series model. The D Type won the Le Mans 24 hour
race in 1957 (the model was issued in that year) and was still racing in the early '60s so qu alifying it for an 'upgrade'. Two changes in the 41B affected its appearance. The first
concealed a rather ugly view of the front axle. The second involved alterations to the baseplate, in two stages, to enable wire wheels with tyres
to be fitted instead of the smaller grey plastic wheels found on the first releases. These changes resulted in the model sitting higher off the road than previously. The front and rear views show a
41A D Type Jaguar alongside the two 41B models for comparison. The three base types found on 41B are shown in sequence. Go to ................ 1C 1D 2C 3B 4C 5C 5D 41B Complete Index More to come!
Additions and amendments to 26 November 2004
Re-formatted Sep 2006
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