Dinky Military Driver Figures

The 674 Austin Champ was announced in the July 1954 Meccano Magazine.The review of this model was in the August 1954 Meccano Magazine and this announcement about Dinky military driver figures was at the end of that review. Dave

Here are two of my 674 Austin Champs showing two different types of driver. On the left is the first version with splayed out arms, on the right is the later, and much more common, type with parallel arms. The 673 Daimler Scout car can also be seen with the splayed out arms Dave

And it's not just the spread arms that are different. it's the black hair too, instead of the later black beret! Kind regards, Jan

I found this photo, showing the early military driver and an early post-war Six-Wheeled Wagon with Driver. They are not exactly the same but the similarity is remarkable in my opinion. Some other military drivers here, the one on the left is in fact a Gunlayer, but its stretched arms lend it perfectly for the job of a military driver. The early driver for the Austin Champ was replaced by the regular one in 1954, the year in which all up till then driverless post-war military Dinky's got a driver. Kind regards, Jan

Interesting post Jan...I was wondering...did the standard drivers start about the same time Dinky went to the treaded tires? At least your photos seem to show that, but it could be a coincidence also. Terry

Although there may be some exceptions, yes, that coincides, Terry. The (treaded) tyre change for the military Dinkies also took place in the course of 1954. For instance: the 1955 introduced no. 676 Armoured Personnel Carrier will always be found with medium sized treaded tyres. Of course my no. 623 Army Covered Wagon on the right is an odd example. It has medium sized fish bone treaded tyres which seem to be authentic, but I have never seen another and since the 25 years it has been in my possession no-one has ever been able to give an explanation. The pre- and early post-war finely treaded tyres mix with the smooth tyres all that time, as you can see, both black and white. The driver on the civilian six-wheeled Wagon is fixed, the others are loose. The no. 151b for the USA market in the early 1950s has a fixed military driver only (and rounded axle ends). With kind regards, Jan

Tyres are so easily removable, that it is very difficult to be perfectly sure of their being genuine or not. Nevertheless, very interesting documents, Jan, as usual... Very friendly, Jacques H.

Hi Jan I have never seen a post-war Dinky military with tyres like your 623 Bedford. I don't think they are original. Dave

Hello all, There seem to be a confusion between the # 603 Army Personnel Private (seated) and the # 604 Trooper (sitting) Royal Armoured Corps. Both are seated with the arms crossed.[img]/images/sites/default/files/u184/604-TradeBoxOuverte.jpg[/imPlease excuse the quality of the photo which is not ine The driver seem to have the same reference number # 604 as evidenced by this box. Can some one explain this same reference for two different models ? and provide a better picture of this box. Note that the figures are tied to the box or a packing piece by a string.