Great new diecast and resin models to collect!

Mike Neale takes his monthly look at the recently-released diecast and resin models of vans, ambulances, campers and other light commercials.

A new livery of CJ Copner’s ice cream has been produced by Oxford Diecast on its 1/43 scale Bedford CF ice cream van. It’s the fifth version of this popular model to be issued, and retails at £19.95. Although a traditional-style white and pastel pink livery, the ice cream business was started by Chris Copner in 2009 in Abergavenny, South Wales. The body of the van is by Whitby Morrison and the model represents a 1979, V-reg example. Make mine a 99!

The latest version of Oxford’s 1/43 Land Rover Series III SWB hardtop is an attractive-looking Royal Mail Post Bus, and also sells for £19.95. MFS 345P was one of a batch of 11 such Land Rovers delivered in 1975 and converted to PSVs at Lockerbie, and this one operated throughout its working life on a route between Invergarry and Kinlochourn in Scotland. It was decommissioned in December, 1981. It carried the name Kingie mounted above the front bumper, with the number plate on the grille, as on the model, although it’s a shame that the white GPO-spec wing mirrors and bonnet-mounted spare wheel weren’t added to the model.

Moving down to 1/76 scale, the Austin Champ (officially the FV1801A ¼-ton truck for military versions) has been released as a Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) Fire Service vehicle, selling for £8.95. From 1870 to 1965 the RASC provided logistical support to the army, supplying, transporting and maintaining vehicles, equipment and supplies, as well as providing postal and courier services, enabling the smooth operation of military campaigns and supporting soldiers in the field. In 1965, it was amalgamated with other units to form the Royal Corps of Transport (RCT), later becoming the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC).

A new casting that’s sure to be well received is the 1/76 scale World War II-era Austin K2Y – or ‘Katy’ – military ambulance. The first issue is in the Western Desert sand colour scheme, and sells for £16.95. Austin built just over 13,000 of these at Longbridge between 1939 and ’45, fitted with an Austin six-cylinder 3,462cc D-Series engine with a four-speed gearbox, and bodywork by Mann Egerton. They accommodated 2/3 crew in the front, and up to 10 seated casualties or four stretchers in the back. One of the most famous drivers of an ATS Katy was, of course, the then Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen. The model shows the canvas doors rolled open.

This cute 1/76-scale Volkswagen T1 Splitscreen Camper has appeared in pearl white over mouse grey in left-hand-drive form, with a 1967 British registration and an RRP of £7.95. The louvred side windows and tiny Volkswagen badge are nice touches. 

In the smaller 1/87 scale is this smart, black-over-cream 1950 Chevrolet Advance Design panel van in Speciality Foods livery, priced at £8.95. Produced between 1947 and 1955, the first vans had a 3.5-litre straight-six engine, with a 3.9-litre straight-six becoming available later. A three-speed manual gearbox was standard, with a four-speed manual or a four-speed automatic also offered. The model has a New Brunswick licence plate.

The models illustrated here can be found online and at various model shops, such as Hattons, Sheffield Transport Models, Flâneur Automobilia, Jacksons Models, Scale Farm, Farm Models, Brushwood Toys and Diecast Legends. See also Oxford Diecast.

This feature comes from the latest issue of Old Glory, and you can get a money-saving subscription to this magazine simply by clicking HERE