Over the past few weeks, I have been keeping an eye on our local online trading site, looking for some bargains amongst the Matchbox Yesteryear car models. This was a source of inter war vehicles I first tapped a couple of years ago for the RCW project, and I thought it would be a good idea to see if I could get my hands on a few vehicles to go with the Pulp project from the same place. The following images are the results so far - five more vehicles are en route, and I think that may very well be sufficient!
First purchase was three trucks for the grand total of NZ$15 - a 1920 Mack truck flanked by two 1930's Mercedes vehicles
The canopy lifts off, as per below
This is the second vehicle, liveried for a different Braurei - I will probably over paint these and make them more generically usable in different parts of the world.
The 1920's Mack certainly wont remain as an ice cream truck!
The next two were slightly pricier - a Hispano Suiza on the left at $16 and a 1928 Mercedes on the right for $10. These can be used as transport for the "character" figures - I may need a Rolls Royce for the Brits and something appropriate for the French, Russians and Americans!
The two German characters with the Merc
La Contessa (perhaps) with her car outside the family palazzo
La Contessa's younger sister
Another lady with the Mercedes
I think the scale of these vehicles works pretty well with these 28mm figures - the Afrika Korps dont look out of place in the rear of the truck, despite being slightly smaller than the "heroic" size of the true Pulp figures. To purchase similar vehicles designed specifically for wargamers would undoubtedly be in the region of $30 plus each, so you can see the attraction! The five still en route cost just over $30, so $6 each - or £3 in the old country - that may not be a bargain in the UK, but here, its a pretty cheap way to build up a collection of era appropriate vehicles!
They look perfect Keith and a great price too. I think this in one of the attractions of this period, in that you can use a whole variety of vehicles, planes etc. Ditto the AVBCW too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve - yes, The VBCW type era has always appealed to me too - maybe that will be a future project?
DeleteLooking great for me too!
ReplyDeleteThank you Michal!
DeleteIdeal vehicles for your PULP FICTION- cannot have enough of trucks and cars in this scale - also usable for AVBCW too. Good to see your progress Keith. Cheers. KEV.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kev, yes I think they will work very well - probably only be set dressing most of the time but every little bit helps!
DeleteNice purchases, I know I have found a few challenges on scale the secret I have found is go with what looks right, I have tended for larger but keeping consistent is important . I have generally tended to paint mine as well as they look more natural although where I want to keep the markings I have painted them in Matt vanish
ReplyDeleteThanks Matt - if I was doing a "Gangster" era type scenario or the games were going to be based in Germany, I would probably leave them, but German beer trucks might look a bit out of place in N Africa or the Amazon!
DeleteThe Matchbox and Lledo range are a great source for interwar vehicles
ReplyDeleteThey certainly are Neil!
DeleteReally nice matey. You just need an Ark of the Covenant now or some other maguffin for the Nazis to be chasing after and you’ll be well away.
ReplyDeleteThats the kind of thing I am thinking JBM - lots of potential for sure!
DeleteGreat looking vehicles, my Soviets soft skin transports are from a similar source,all of them cost 99p plus postage, we all like a bargain!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
See, I KNEW they would be cheaper in the UK - everything is, even New Zealand lamb that we export to you! I have another batch bought quite some time back that are waiting for a paint job to change them from Cadbury vehicles to Bolshevik ones!
DeleteJust the thing: p'haps some day you may strike gold and score a "J. Jones Family Butcher" van (complete with rifle ports).
ReplyDeleteI would not be that surprised if they had made one Ed! The Model A 1930 Ford van would probably work well for that!
DeleteThey really look the part!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ray I think so too - the cars in particular can stay the way they are for the Pulp era I reckon
DeleteNice motors Keith….
ReplyDeleteI always think that Mack looks really characterful…
All the best. Aly
Cheers Aly - yes the three trucks were a nice find - as with all online auction sites, there seems no rhyme or reason to the pricing - the majority of listings seem to be $10-$20 per vehicle, yet some, there are three for $15 or six for $20 etc....
DeleteI purchased some 1930's 28mm trucks for an early war WWII scenario I have planned and you're right Keith, they must have cost thirty pounds each. This would have been a much better way to go.
ReplyDeleteYes that's the problem with small turnover, specialist kits Lawrence - even looking at Warbases mdf, they are the same price or more expensive, and certainly not as nicely detailed as these "toys", nor do they have the range of vehicles available. I looked at Sloppy Jalopy and they are nice kits but again, three cars would have set me back $100 or more!
DeleteAs is or after alterations, a great little fleet of interwar!
ReplyDeleteThanks Joe, I think they will work very well!
DeleteOutstanding!
ReplyDeleteThank you Mark!
DeleteNot only do the cars look cool like most old cars do; I think they scale well with the miniatures. Should make some interesting targets I mean terrain pieces! 😀
ReplyDeleteI agree Stew - I believe nominally the cars are 1/43 scale and apparently 28mm is 1/56 but they look pretty close to me! I remember trying to use these same cars with Airfix figures in the early 70's....and that didnt work because they are too big for 20mm/1/72 - but with these figures, I think they look fine!
DeleteAll of the vehicles look great and do size up nicely with the figures. Love the lady figures posing next to the cars - just like a car show!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dean - I like your car show analogy - although they may be over dressed! (although perhaps in the 20's/30's, the models would have been a bit more elegant than the bikini babes of latter years!)
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