Up-Close with the unknown promotional Matchbox International Brush Fire Truck, by David Tilley...

Our favorite DLMer David Tilley is back, this time taking at look at the still-in-limbo Matchbox 60th Anniversary International Brush Truck.  Leave it to DT to be the first to rip one open...

(And just in case, there are still a handful that got out before Mattel removed them from stores.  Find them here...)

(Enjoy.)

Well, this is a model that has been confusing collectors for the better part of 2013.  When it was first announced early this year that there was going to be a special 60th Anniversary model this year, many were curious as to what it could be, and where it would end up.  Then an example appeared on eBay, followed by a second one, and a few more.  These were from the same seller, and as it turned out, they were accidentally put out in one of the Mattel stores.  Then things went quiet. 

 

Recently, a bunch have appeared on eBay again, and I was one of the people grabbing them.  It sounds like this too could have been an accidental store release, as there is a rumbling that they could be used by their original recipient after all.  Or they could just be put back into storage (a library item as Mattel calls it).  Either way, I am glad enough to have an example now regardless of the outcome.

This is the biggest and best example of the 60th Anniversary celebrations that Matchbox has done.  The package comes inside a Matchbox logoed clamshell (the Matchbox logo is on the back).

When you open the clamshell, you find that the package is also a very thick card. 

With the back receiving some love too.  They did put a lot of effort into this model.  They really should have done the entire series like this.

 

But this is me, and this sort of stuff is not the type of stuff that I have in my collection.

So take one last look, as this model is about to be liberated....

 Now that is better.  One loose model.  To begin with I start with the usual 3/4 views front and rear.  This model does look really good in the orange, black and white livery, with just a touch of gold and chrome to finish it off.

As you may notice, one side does feature the 60th Anniversary logo that all models in the special series (and 9/10-packs too) received for the year.  But I have to admit it does not really detract from the overall look.  It does sort of fit in, especially with the color combination.  The rest of the livery is very simple and tidy.

It does work well with the color breaks in various parts.

Also, as a bonus we get a metal base on this model.  It is the only metal base release of the year, and as such makes the model pretty hefty.

The front features a few little light touches too.

As does the rear.

If you were wondering, this is pretty much identical to the last time the model received additional printing (and metal base) in the Lesney Edition.  To date, these are the only double diecast or premium models on this casting.

But I have to say, this one looks a lot nicer to me.  I was never as keen on the blue/yellow combination.

 

So there you have it.  One “library” issue, that may end up appearing in a store or in a promotion at some time in the possible maybe perhaps conceivable future. 

It does look good in larger pictures too....

Up-Close with the Matchbox 2013 Everett Marshall Charity Golf Tournament Exclusive Ford F-550 Super Duty Fire Truck, by David Tilley...

Our Lamley partner David Tilley is now back home in the UK, and had a chance to photograph the latest Everett Marshall Golf Tournament Exclusive.  Here is another in his Up-Close series, and be sure to read to the end to find out how you can get one of these beauties and at the same time donate to a very valuable cause.

(Thanks David.)

Up close with the Ford F-500 Super Duty Golf Tournament Promotional, by David Tilley

 

Today I thought I would show you the latest Matchbox promotion to come direct from the factory in Thailand.  Everett Marshall lives in Newfield, New Jersey, and has a long association with the Matchbox brand.  Anyone who is a seasoned collector will know of the yellow Buick LeSabre from 1989 that adorns his name on the roof.  Well in recent years, he has become associated with “The Burn Foundation” in USA, and each year in August they run a charity golf tournament in New Jersey.  As part of the proceedings, Everett commissions a code 1 Mattel produced vehicle for the event.  This year, the tournament takes place on August 9 at “The White Oaks Country Club” in NJ and to accompany him this time is this beautiful Ford F-550 Super Duty.

This is the 8th Annual Tournament he has overseen, and (apart from the 6th Annual event where the Hazard Squad was produced in a run of 400) this model has been produced in a limited run of 300 examples.  Each one is screwed into a plexi-glass case.

But this is me we are talking about, and so this model has to come out. 

So let us start with the classic 3/4 views.  I always start like that.

The model is red with a chrome rear section.  This is the first time the rear has ben chromed, and it really makes a difference to the model.

The sides sport red and white striping and the usual FD crest, alongside the E.M. Charities 2013 insignia, and No. 8 at the end (signifying the 8th tournament).  This is also the first time the rear section has seen tampo printing too.

The hood shows off the 8th Annual Tournament logo on a black and gold background.  Very nice. 

It is difficult to see on the base, but the etched date of production is F28.  This means they were produced in mid-July 2013 at the factory.  Talk about last minute production as they were cutting it really close to getting them over to Everett before the tournament began.

So we are treated to a lovely promotion, which helps a very good charity too.  It is worthwhile getting an example, and donating to help people who have been affected by burns.

For anyone who wants to obtain an example of the Ford Mimi Pumper, there are really only 2 ways to properly do it.  The easiest way is to send an email to Everett at mbroad@aol.com and ask if he still has any available.  Of course these are charity models, and as such there is a minimum donation of $50 to get the model.  Feel free to donate as much as you can.  The work the Burns Foundation does is truly worthwhile.  He still has odd examples of some of the previous ones, with the 6th Annual Hazard Squad and 7th Annual Seagrave still having a couple of examples left too.  The other; well it is simple.  Be there, The White Oaks Country Club, 2951 Dutch Mill Road, Newfield, New Jersey, on August 9th with your golf clubs and join in the tournament. 

Matchbox Monday: "Up close with apparently a 2-tale bus" by David Tilley...

It is still Matchbox Monday, and we thought it would be appropriate to borrow from Mr. Tilley, who completed another of his "Up Close" features, this time on the just-hitting-stores Matchbox Two Story Bus.  

As always, Matchbox Monday is brought to you by MVE Collectibles.  Be sure to check out their store for the latest Matchbox, along with many other models from various brands like M2, Greenlight, and Johnny Lightning.  Very much worth a perusal...

On with DT's review:


"A 2-Tale Bus"

I am saying that because of the spelling on the naming of the bus. They have called this bus a "Two Story Bus". A story is a tale that you tell. In USA a story can mean something on 2 levels, but as this is supposedly a depiction of a British Double Decker Bus, I would have given this the British spelling too. In Britain something on 2 levels would be a "Two Storey" with an added "e" in the word. Am I being picky? Yup! It is not incorrect per se, but if you depict something British you should go with the British spelling I think. After all, it has the steering wheel on the right, as they do in Britain, so they were obviously going for something British with it. Plus, the ROW packaging is classing it as a London Bus rather than the baseplate name. So everything is pointing to something very British with it, yet they use the US spelling. But anyway, that aside, I actually quite like this.




It fits in well with the older London Busses we have seen from Matchbox in the past. Of course had the wheels been smaller they would have suited better. 




The front end shows a good representation of the types of busses we see around the UK nowadays. It is a modern design with the large window area. It also looks pretty realistic, and I would not be able to tell you any bus names, and I am sure many will not either. It also contains an interior, which the Routemaster before it did not. That only had a spiral staircase at the back.




Again from the rear, the detailing is very good. This does look like the type of vehicle you would see on the roads nowadays.




They included a window in the roof. I am not sure why. Normal busses don't have them, and it is not to reduce weight as both parts are plastic anyway, so that is a little unnecessary. Perhaps they were just trying to break up the sparce roof area. 




The only part that is metal is the base. It is also unpainted (well zamac coated as they do nowadays). Had this model been done the other way round with the body parts made of metal and the base plastic I am sure many would have commented that it was a decent model. I am sure that more will dislike it purely because of the reversal of materials used for body and base. But as you all know, the metal vs plastic debate does not interest me. I am fine with the model this way round. The thing I am a little sad to see though is that because this is the debut version of the model I would have expected it to debut in traditional red. I do like that the upper and lower halves are still separate and so you can get a color break if needed, as has been basically traditional on London Busses since at least the 1972 Londoner (I don't bother with earlier stuff so do not know if they also did split bodies), but we should have seen a red debut. Plus, I also feel the side design should have been a more traditional sign look and possibly hinted at the Matchbox 60th Anniversary, much like the chase Routemaster did in the Anniversary range. It would have made it look better. So for me, those are the weak points in what I think is not actually a bad model.

But while I am here, what about a comparison size-wise with the Routemaster. It was said that this is also a large vehicle, but just how large?




It is actually just as long as the Routemaster is, and therefore fits in with the largest vehicles in the range. 




Height-wise, it is slightly lower than the Routemaster was.




The width is about the same, although with the mirrors on the side it does make it ever so slightly wider in total.

So there you go. Let the plastic bashing begin....