| All
of the first series models utilised different
wheels appropriate for the different
transportation types. The wheels ranged from the
large and detailed wheels of the steam road
engines to the small rail wheels of the two
railway locomotives. The use of the pressurised
injection moulding technique, developed by
Lesney, enabled the detailed spoked wheels such
as those on the dainty Y8-1 Morris and the Y10-1
GP Mercedes
to be produced. However the twenty spoke wheels
of the first series Y5-1 Bentley are only suggested by
moulded relief. The Y6-1 AEC Lorry and the Y7-1
Leyland Lorry were fitted with tyreless metal
wheels, typical of the real examples. The
approach of the end of the production life of
these two models revealed premature wearing of
the tools for the wheels. This was also the case
for the Y4-1 Sentinel. To extend the life of
these models plastic wheels were substituted.
These wheels were taken from the then current
production of the 1-75 range of miniatures. These
examples are quite scarce today and if found the
models command a premium price.
The wheels typical
of the second series models were actually
produced for the first series Y15-1
Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. The early releases showed the
detail of the bolt heads on the wheel rim and
detailed spokes. Similar detailed wheels can also
be found on early Y16-1 Spykers. However, soon after the
introduction of these finely detailed castings
the bolt head details were removed and
strengthening bars placed on the rear face of the
wheel. It is these slightly simpler wheels which
are typical of those to be produced throughout
the 1960's for the second series models.There
were two sizes produced and generally fitted to
the appropriate model. However it has been known
for large and small wheels to be found on the
same model type, especially the Y1-2
Model T Ford.
| |
 |
|
The two sizes of
the most common wheel type |
There
are, however, some notable exceptions to the use
of these 'standard' wheels for the second series
models (apart from the Shand Mason fire engine
which many people think of as a first series
model anyway). These are the wheels used for the Y10-2
Mercedes,
the Y5-2 Bentley, the Y6-2
Bugatti,
the Y13-2 Daimler, the Y8-2
Sunbeam
motorcycle and the Y2-3 Vauxhall.
| |
 |
|
The spoked wheel
used on the Daimler, Sunbeam and Vauxhall
and the special wheel of the Bugatti |
The
Mercedes and Bentley utilised the same basic
wheels. These are small but show the incredible
detail of the wire spokes.
The Bugatti is
fitted with its own unique wheel type and depicts
the flat spokes, which were slightly pitched in
the real car to force cooling air over the brake
drums. These wheels inexplicably found their way
onto a handful of non standard coloured Spykers.
These Spykers, when seen for sale, command
extremely high prices; in excess of £1000!
The Daimler,
Sunbeam and Vauxhall shared the same wheel type.
These wheels are metal cast, are brilliantly
detailed and compliment the models superbly. To
my mind these represent the best of the Models of
Yesteryear range. They completely outclassed
anything on the market at the time in terms of
quality and price.
The wheels of the Y11-3
Lagonda, Y15-2
Packard Victoria and the Y16-2 Mercedes Benz SS
Coupe of
the heavier 'third series' models are similar to,
though slightly larger than, the earlier Bentley
and Mercedes.
| |
 |
|
The wheels of the
larger, later models compared with the
wheels of the '2nd Series' Bentley |
|
