I've waited a long time for this one........

Dave--Thanks for looking further into this...it will be interesting to see what else you uncover on it! By the way, if you contact Bob Burnett, could you please ask if he is still selling any Dinky models any longer, or if he knows of anyone selling high quality items? I bought several Dinky models on Burnett Diecast years ago and they always had some very nice items listed....thanks! Dave and/or Jan.....I bet that either of you could Photoshop the below photo of a Guy van Spratt's and change the lower area to a red strip the same size as the upper one, with a cream area below it. I firmly believe that is how these models started, then were overpainted the way we have them. Terry

Terry, a little journey over the internet makes it clear that every (well visible) Spratt's Van has the same manually applied band. On early black and white pictures on boxes and others (no. 514) the two lines show separately, with a differently toned area underneath. Apparently that area seems to be coloured the same red as the cab/chassis, so the two parallel bands should be darker then, a different shade or colour. Later colour pictures on boxes (no. 917) the band and area underneath show fully integrated in plain red. I presume the red strips/bands are stamped? A nice, typical Dinky mystery! By the way, photoshop is nice software, but it takes a lot of 'manual' action and time to do the job you suggest properly ... Regards, Jan

Jan---Interesting photos of the boxes, clearly showing that the area apparently was never intended to remain the cream color. Also, if you look closely at the Spratt's van on top of the striped box, you can easily see how sloppy that lower red area was done...they strayed slighty into the cream area on the left side.And no problem with the Photoshop version....it was just a thought that we could see how it would have looked, but all that takes too much time and really isn't necessary. Terry

Jan---Interesting photos of the boxes, clearly showing that the area apparently was never intended to remain the cream color. Also, if you look closely at the Spratt's van on top of the striped box, you can easily see how sloppy that lower red area was done...they strayed slighty into the cream area on the left side.And no problem with the Photoshop version....it was just a thought that we could see how it would have looked, but all that takes too much time and really isn't necessary. Terry

I had a look through previous auctions at Vectis over the last 12 years or so and they have sold about 50 Spratts Vans all with the overpainted red area. This is what it would like with no overpainting. Dave

Nice one Dave! Looks really good like that. I never noticed the original box art before, almost makes it look as though the cab and lower body are red, while the lettering and stripes are Black? Chris Warr.

Dave--Thanks for showing us how that would have looked....very interesting. What is your guess on how this came to be, and why would Meccano apparently continue to hand paint that area, instead of incorporating it with the other finishes? I am assuming that they first finished the model, then has workers go back and hand brush these areas, then it would have to dry, then completed and boxed. That would not have been very efficient. Do you think those original stripe areas were sprayed with a mask, stamped, or rolled somehow. It sure would be nice to have the factory drawing to see if any of this is referenced, or shown as a change. Terry

Dave--Thanks for showing us how that would have looked....very interesting. What is your guess on how this came to be, and why would Meccano apparently continue to hand paint that area, instead of incorporating it with the other finishes? I am assuming that they first finished the model, then has workers go back and hand brush these areas, then it would have to dry, then completed and boxed. That would not have been very efficient. Do you think those original stripe areas were sprayed with a mask, stamped, or rolled somehow. It sure would be nice to have the factory drawing to see if any of this is referenced, or shown as a change. Terry