156 Mechanised Army Set (1939-41)

This must have been a terrific set to get as a boy... I obtained this reproduction box (I don't know who made it) from the estate of a late friend. I took a while to amass the vehicles, all in poor condition. Cosistent with a repro box I restored them all...

There should be a set of four inserts with the box. John provided a scan of the original wheel slot card from which the pattern was sampled and surface printed over the green paper. The cloudy blue paper is white cartridge, soaked and then blotted with cotton wool loaded with blue watercolour.The wrapping paper was a light blue, colour-washed in an effort to get it darker. The size was intimidating because it was bigger than my printer (back then) could output. John might have had a couple of copies, but I can't remember. This was ten years ago.

These....

Wow! Did you make those boxes? Mt friend was Dave Brennan, I'm not sure how he got that box. It, and the restored contents are now in Sydney.

Ah, yes, I remember Dave had a few boxes from down in the storeroom a few years ago. Not sure what happened to Dave? I was afraid something might have happened to him because I just lost contact and he never mentioned being unwell. Anyway, I just went back to see what was still there and I still have two more copies - one with grey, one with green wheel trays.Here's an instant offer - if any other members would like one, please email me where to send it. Edit to mention that Dave produced some first class copies of various prewar models - really the best I've ever seen. I'll try to organise some photos of his castings when I get back to my regular situation in a few weeks time.

Dave was oddly reclusive, as you probably know, very secretive and went off on his own tangents. He visited me regularly. I gave him diecasts to get cast and he'd vanish for ages only to pop up with bags of 'bits'. I went with him to Griffin Castings in Birmingham just once. He was taken ill and went into hospital where his sister visited him. She 'phoned me to tell me he had died and that the last thing he said her was that if he 'didn't make it' she should contact me 'as she could trust me'. A final compliment from an unusual bloke. I ended upbuying the contents of his sheds from her - she told me that she would have thrown all those 'bit of metal' into the bin! I can still hear his voice in my shed at times.... sadly missed

Good morning all, have not got this box but hopefully one day. I have a question. The inserts to which you refer, 4 in number, are they the same as the inserts to each of the individual sets, 4 I think. David

Dave Brennan used Griffin Castings in Birmingham, a truly first class company.

The inserts are similar indeed to 151, 152, 161, 162. Perhaps necessarily because the arrangements of pieces is the same. But the side wall measurements vary to equalise the overall depth of the box.

The boxes have arrived.... I am astonished at the quality. I've seen one before but forgotten just how amazing these are. Now the hunt is on for the 32 vehicles to fill them with.....THANK YOU Al !!!