Atlas Dinky Toys UK issues

Latest issue received this morning, a peculiar choice as there is only one Panhard known in this finish, certainly a colour sample, it was never issued to the public. Atlas probably select the bad models to send me, the rear axle on this one is much too long. Also too long is the base plate which protrudes the bumper with dangerous sharp edges. As this is the fourth issue using this base plate, if Atlas cared a little for the quality of their products, they would have corrected this defect. What is most peculiar is that the quality of the Dan Toys models seem to be much better than Atlas's, they come from the same factory in China ! What will the next flaw be ?

Quality has nothing to do with the factory but everything to do with quality control. Dan Toys must be better at this than Atlas - one of the reasons why I never consider buying Atlas. Dave

Latest UK issue, the French 24V Buick Roadmaster in white with red roof. Didn't think this was ever issued for sale in the UK. Comes in a plain Buick box. The salmon pink French issue shown came in a reproduction copy of a shadow box.

A new series seems to have started in France, 'ouvrants', ie reproductions of Dinkys with opening parts. The loss leader issue is the 530 Citro

The second model in the 'collection les ouvrants' was the Peugeot 204 with opening bonnet in October. The third model was the Renault 12 with opening doors in November. The Atlas team in charge of the Dinky Toys collections has nothing to be proud of. The fitting of the Dinky Toys mowing parts was not always very good but this one is awfull. This is the Atlas quality. The next model to be issued in December will be ref. 507 Simca 1500 break with die cast base plate riveted to the body, suspension, opening front doors, the rear window slides into the tail gate, as in the real car the spare wheel cover is a camping table, inside fittings, jewelled headlights, spun concave hubs fitted with plastic Dunlop tyres. The photo shows the original Dinky made in France by Meccano Triang.

DINKY TOYS Atlas. The headlights of the Dinky Toys are yellow and their diameter is 3,8 mm., those of the Atlas copy are white and are only 3,1 mm. Neither the registration plate nor the air intakes grills have been reproduced. This is an other example of the appalling quality of the Atlas models.

on my Atlas DS you can see the intake grilles, and just make out the registration plate, but the silver paint is a bit thickly applied.

You do not show a picture of your DS but I think that it has two plain rectangles as the air intakes but no grill. The bars of the grill bo not exist. About the registration plate, compare the pictures of the Dinky and the piece of garbage which Atlas calls official re-issue, they are very different.

Here is my Atlas DS with the grilled intakes. Thick paint though as I said before, and probably not aluminium.

Latest UK issue received, a 23c blue Mercedes racing car. The 1934 W25 Mercedes made famous by amongst others Rudolf Carriciola, shown in the photo with a contemporary non-Dinky model of the 1937 W125 which superseded it.

This is the last model issued off collection by Atlas. It is the French post war 49 set of petrol pumps. The hoses which are made of plastic instead of rubber are very elastic and will not remain in the box or even less with the nozel hanging from it's hook. This is an other very badly copied model. I had ordered three sets for three friends who being outside France can not subscribe to the Atlas collection (I do not collect this garbage myself). This picture shows what I found when I opened the box. It also shows how much Atlas cares for it's customers. The special X'mas models have not been delivered yet and I am still expecting the three normal models that I should have received in December. Once more, the Atlas team shows it's incompetence.

No Dinky came from China in December, but this week, I received seven new ones although they are all variations from existing castings. Here we go : 29eb - Autocar Isobloc 'Air France' The only known original is an unassembled body colour sample, the Isobloc was never issued with this finish. 102 - Panhard PL 17 Dinky Junior. 552 - Chevrolet Corvair in 'South African' finish. The guy who has chosen the colour has certainly never seen an original. Wrong green. The steering operates to the right only ! This is the original green. 561 - Camionnette Citro