New arrivals

I have several worn pages torn from copies of the Meccano Magazine many years ago, showing the French Dinkys in the UK. I have my first two still pretty much as bought back then from Hamleys, 34B (8/11) and 33C (8/6). 33C is just missing the film and tissue sheets removed from the glass and mirror. It was pretty poor that they couldnt be bothered to put lettering on the signboard especially as the box shows the grey livery with MIROTIER. Of course discovering the French models was a whole new avenue of collecting and may well have had a subliminal influence on my purchase of a real first car, a Citroen DS 19. My Austin Van NESTLEs is still boxed and near mint with the nice gold lettering too.

I am lucky I suppose to be a bit younger, but ah to have lived through an age when such wonders could be purchased at Hamley's. I envy you the DS19 too, although I did own a 2CV, one of my favorite cars ever. Yes, it is feeble that they couldn't come up with a replacement decal for the export mirror truck. And why make this change when they did, when the gray one with decal had been exported before all over the world anyway?

The last batch of affordable additions bought in Britain before Brexit? They all fit in my quality improvement project, replacing poorer models by better, if possible (near) mint examples. Kind regards, Jan

Jan-All lovely additions & I applaud you replacing existing with nicer versions. I had been on a similar mission when my collecting career ended.....several I had were good, but not excellent.... Those 39 series are really nice examples....such an eternally wonderful series Meccano created. Best regards, Terry

Jan-All lovely additions & I applaud you replacing existing with nicer versions. I had been on a similar mission when my collecting career ended.....several I had were good, but not excellent.... Those 39 series are really nice examples....such an eternally wonderful series Meccano created. Best regards, Terry

Very nice line up Jan.I consider that the AMX is a poor Dinky as too many details are missing.Mainly the screen at the very front,
the spare wheel
and spare track pads,
the headlights are in the wrong place
and the wire mesh of the engine fan is not detailed.That is the circle next to the driver ' s hatch.On later issues fitted with an aerial,
it was positioned in a wrong place on top of the turret when there should be one on each side.Never the less you have found nice mint examples of almost all the series
and you will certainly find the ambulance soon.

Thanks, Terry, this policy makes it possible for me to continue collecting, (hardly) without needing more display space or money, and still enjoy a dynamic collection. On the other hand, selling the replaced models at a stall is also great fun! Kind regards, Jan

David Kaun, a long time member of the DTCA and webmaster of this site for many years, sadly died on Friday - 11th December 2020 - after battling a long illness.I joined David and the website builders about five years ago as a technical adviser and have corresponded with him ever since - and so can certainly say that he will be greatly missed.

So sorry to hear it!

I did not know David, but certainly heard of him many times, and came to know how involved he was with our website. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for helping to refine and improve the website. I am very sorry to hear of his passing, and I pass along my sincere condolences to his family. Best regards, Terry

Here is another addition, taken out for a drive on a sunny afternoon. (The driver appears to be cautiously masked even in an open air car.) Unfortunately it is marred by the detailing a previous owner added, but this is the first one with spun wheels I have had in hand.

And another arrival, just in time to be a Christmas present (to, er, myself). One chip on the front wing that I knew about, but overall very glossy and pleasing ... it's possible another Dinky may even show up Christmas Eve!