Miniatures news, November 1977

Motor-car models are now big business. To the wide range offered by Grand Prix Models of Radlett has been added a realistic 1924/5 Type 35 GP Bugatti. (No. 61 in their Classic Cars Series). From Meccano Dinky comes a very nicely made, large replica of the Volvo 265 de luxe estate-car. The makers of car miniatures choose models that will have a wide appeal, so it is compliment to the Swedish car manufacturer that a Volvo is the subject of this Dinky toy No. 122. It is to a scale of 1/35th, making it 141 mm long, and it retails at £1.49 in the UK. Dinky also have a set of three commercial-vehicle models, each using a standard cast-metal cab/chassis unit, but respectively with a skiptruck, farm-truck and dumper-truck body. The set costs £2.99 (No. 399) and although usually confine these mentions to miniatures based on real cars or commercial vehicles, these Dinky, are interesting as having been styled by Ogle, the well-known full-scale design firm at Letchworth, who see them as having a future application to real vehicles. –W.B.