- About Me
- Collecting used model diecast vehicles
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- Diecast Restoration
- Tri-ang, Spot-On, fiat Multipla restoration
- Budgie Bedford TK’s
- Matchbox Lotus Europa born again
- Merlin A100, diecast jeep restoration
- Audi Quattro
- Commer ice cream van restoration
- Quick Fix #1
- Aston Martin DB7 refurbishment
- Corgi, Mercedes Pullman 600 renovation
- Removing Corgi diecast wheels
- Quick fix #2
- Removing Chrome from plastic parts
- Saico BMW repair
- Quick Fix #3
- Replacing, Matchbox Superfast axles
- Matchbox MG 1100 restoration
- Budgie, Motorway coach restoration
- Bburago, Prima Giugiaro, restoration
- Corgi Rover SD1, restoration
- Matchbox Daimlar ambulance restored
- Majorette Renault 4 restoration
- Matchbox K6 pick-up truck repair
- Diecast restoration tools & equipment
- Franklin Mint 1930 Duesenberg J Derham Tourster custom repaint
- Quick fix #4
- Corgi Ford Thunderbird, restoration
- Modellers paint stripping guide
- Quick Fix #5
- Recent diecast renovations & conversions
- Taking pictures & dioramas
- Customs and Conversions
- Tanzara Pickup
- VW trailer project
- Custom Dinky Hudson led sled
- Matchbox Faun Crane to Pickfords heavy mover conversion
- Husky, Ford F-series custom conversion
- Corgi Commer Karrier, with a twist
- Salvaged from scrap
- Corgi, Chevrolet Astro 1
- Corgi Ford Thames pick-up project
- Matchbox Faun crane to Maz 537 conversion
- Matchbox Dodge generator truck project
- Wargames vehicle projects
- Plastic & metal kits
- Scenery & buildings
- Trains and railway layouts
- Featured pages
- Scale figures & wargames
- Making stickers and decals
- A question of scale
- Pressed Steel toys, restoration and collecting
Lone Star Tractors
Probably one of the longest running Lone Star castings was the ‘Farm Tractor’ (1293) later to become the Farm King tractor (1286).
From what I can work out this model ran from 1964 up to 1976 but continued in some sets right up to 1982.
Probably based on the Fordson Major
Although seen mainly in red, a yellow version was also available as part of the Roadmaster Major series.
In 1979 another tractor under the series name Farmers Boy was released all came as sets with implements and doubt the tractors came alone, numbered from 1701 to 1727 with various different implements.
Solo tractors shown below in yellow and blue.
International tractor with elevator 1703
International tractor with disc harrow 1701
This harrow is not complete, the part holding the two harrow frames together is missing.
An unusual set I have is set number 1741 from 1980, unusual because it’s not listed in the Lone Star book, containing three implements and the above tractor in red.
A better picture with the lid removed
Another tractor known as the 10 series Ford tractor was released in 1982 until 1987.
Between 1988 and 1989, 1750 was re-numbered 1792
A double wheeled version was also released in 1986 and numbered 1751
Hornby aCHo, model railway
Hornby Acho was a French subsidiary of Meccano Ltd. of Binns Road. It had no connection with Rovex / Triang who bought up the Hornby trade name when Meccano closed in the 1960s.
Hornby Acho 1960 to 1973, Acho being a play on HO scale (1:87)
The original Hornby Acho was very durable, and very well engineered and is still available secondhand.
This is my first Hornby Acho loco, my love of the centre cab layout and electric overheads made this an obvious choice for my collection.
This one is SNCF BB12061 in green, was also available in blue with the same number.
Both ends have directional working headlights, couplings are a standard HO type used by many manufacturers.
Hornby Acho number 6392.
There is a dedicated section for model railways to see my articles Click Here
The real locomotive.
Picture by; Tadeo59370 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18652625
The SNCF Class BB 12000 were electric locomotives operated by SNCF. The first examples arrived on the railway in 1953, operating on the 25 kV 50 Hz line to the coal mines of the Houillères de Lorraine in the north-east of France.
BB 12001 arrived in Mohon on July 17, 1954. Tried first along the Valenciennes – Lumes line, specifications called for a locomotive capable of pulling 750 tonne trains along a grade of 10 ‰. The 12000 Class proved more than capable, pulling 1100 tonne then 1400 tonne trains. BB 12006 using a different system of gears could pull 2000 tonne trains.
The 12000s integrated well with the SNCF CC 14100 series. SNCF would own 148 of this type of locomotive and another 20 were delivered to the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois in Luxembourg.
Real loco text from Wikipedia
Triang diecast tractors
Triang were well known for their diecast ranges the models below are slightly more obscure, possibly from the Jumbo series.
Firstly the more common of the two is the Triang Tugster number 37a.
There are two trailer types for this model, one standard type that fits on the rear hook and a gooseneck trailer that locates in the hole on the top rear.
I have also seen this model in yellow and green, production between 1970 to 1975.
The second tractor/loader I have found far less information on.
This is a different casting to the Tugster and have found no real information on the internet or elsewhere, as above colours seen are blue, yellow and green, many seen with cab missing.
The lever that can be seen in the cab operates the loader arm up or down.
Finally both Triang model together, scale wise, hard to say for sure but 1:28 to 1:32 would be a reasonable guess.
DCMT / Slikka toys
Both Lone Star and Slikka Toys (or Tools) are names used by DCMT (Die Casting Machine Tools Ltd) the parent company of both names, Lone Star was used from 1951 until the companies demise in 1988.
This small adjustable wrench, possibly made 1951, one item from the ‘Junior Mechanic’s Tool Kit’ DCMT Cat No117. Other tools in the set would of been a screwdriver, pliers, and a ball pein hammer.
I found this by chance from a seller selling old tools.
For more on the DCMT and Lone Star history, see http://www.lone-star-diecast-bk.com/history.html
