Vintage W. Britains vehicles; Size vs Scale? (1 Viewer)

[Arnhemjim]

Fellow Forum members,
Periodically I have seen intense, even heated, discussions on this forum regarding the accuracy of physical size of a model, versus the manufacturer’s stated alleged scale, i.e. 1/35, 1/32, 1/30 etc., versus the actual size of the real thing. I can vaguely recall reading a detailed article, or section of a book, that discusses the variance in vintage W. Britains vehicle sizes versus the “standard” 1/32, 54mm, 2.25in. size of their figures. One of The Old Toy Soldier Newsletters may well have addressed the issue at some point in time. As best I can recall this predominately occurred in their lorries(trucks), but may have also been the case with some artillery pieces and tanks. Some like the Armoured Car Set No.1321, are obvious. Is there anyone in the forum who might be knowledgeable on this subject? Would certainly like to hear from you.
Regards,
Arnhemjim

 

[Al Fisher]

I think that there are a number of reasons for such discrepancies.

Years ago we didn't have the marvelous reproductions we have today . . . the technology and means just wasn't there. This relatively new-found capacity has resulted in rivet counters who are, for lack of a better word, obsessed with accuracy. Fifty years ago all we needed was a relatively accurate representation of a vehicle to make us satisfied. Toy soldiers were made to represent real troops, not be mirror images.

Todays models are really acurate models, not toys. I don't think that too many of you throw Lincoln Logs at your soldiers as I did. We didn't worry about damaging them . . . they were toys to be played with, not items to be put on a shelf for display. How many of you play with your army your soldiers in the sandbox?

The hobby has changed . . . collectors, for the most part are not kids (well, big kids). Although I expect the hobby to grow in directions we cannot conceive of at this point, I think it certainly will thrive as it evolves.

I'm sure that many other differences occur . . . it'll be interesting to read the comments.

Bosun Al

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Guys,

Al has really hit the nail on the head. These vehicles and toy soldiers were exactly what he says, Toys. I had mainly plastic to play with but the few lead soldiers I had and older vehicles either tin type or diecast were just what was needed to crack that back yard bunker. They were great to play with because they were "Tanks" and were the big killers in the back yard sand box. I even used my models that I built to add to the fight and yes they got demolished but it was great fun to build them and even more fun to play with them. The good old days...

So with the new types of vehicles being made that are so accurate and expensive I doubt I will be giving any to my sons to play with, perhaps one or two of the makers out there will make some diecast stuff for the kids that isnt so expensive and they will beable to do what we did. We can only hope.

Dave

 

[Arnhemjim]

Forum Members,
Let me slightly rephrase my question. Does anyone know of any discussion or research done on how W. Britains Ltd., decided on the size of wagons, coaches, artillery pieces, lorries (trucks), tanks, carriers and armoured vehicles? In some cases it may possibly have been something as arbitrary/simple as casting complexity, weight, packaging, I honestly don't know and am curious. In the case of the trucks, at least the post-WWII “roundnosed” models, it appears that a chassis and cab size were selected, and a series of trucks used this as a common base (Sets No. 1334, 1335, 1433, 1512, 1513, 1641). The cab of these trucks appears modeled after the very successful peacetime pre-war Commer ‘Superpoise’ range of lorries. Could also possibly have been modeled after Bedford lorries of the same vintage. In the case of the”Bettle Lorry” Set No. 1877, I believe the model was designed after the Commer Truck, 15-cwt 4 x 2, GS (Commer ‘Bettle’).
Regards,
Arnhemjim

 

[thebritfarmer]

Probably to keep in line with the figures which were at the time supposed to have been made to go with Gauge 1