The Tomica Toyota Forklift Truck, based on the real-life model FD200, was first released in 1978. It was packaged individually and was also included in a few gift sets including the Tomica Hard Working Automobiles Set. This example, from Lamont’s Childhood Collection, has had a hard life. It’s entirely missing the forks, the paint is worn, and the black plastic exhaust stack has been severed. Still, it gives me an opportunity to focus on the incredible level of detail in the casting. And it will have a place in my collection until I might be fortunate enough to find one in better shape.
The Tomica Toyota Forklift Truck FD200 features dual front wheels.
Tomica | 1978 | 12 | Toyota Forklift Truck FD200 | yellow-orange with missing exhaust and forks, unpainted metal base | 1/120 | Japan | black plastic treaded wheels
The Porsche 936 is a Group 6 racecar introduced by the German automaker in 1975 to compete in the World Sportscar Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was a rear-mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration powered by a turbocharged 2.14 L Flat 6. It was built on the 917’s aluminum space frame and had a fiberglass spyder body. The 936 had the distinction of winning the 1976 World Sportscar Championship as well as 24 Hours of Le Mans three times – in 1976, 1977, and 1981.
The Tomica Porsche 936 Turbo was first released in 1978. This example has white paint with Martini Racing tampo on top and labels on the sides, a white plastic wing, and a black plastic interior and base. It is another of my scores from Lamont’s Childhood Collection.
Tomica | 1978 | F43 | Porsche 936 Turbo | white with blue and red Martini Goodyear 2 tampo on top, Martini 2 labels on sides, white plastic wing, black plastic interior and base | 1/59 | Japan | sport wheels
The Unimog, which was conceived after WWII by Albert Friedrich and Heinrich Rößler to be used in agriculture, was first produced in 1948. In 1951, Mercedes Benz took over the manufacturing and it is still in production today by Daimler AG. The Unimog has a unique chassis and axle design which allows it to easily traverse the roughest terrain. Since it also has front and rear wheels of the same size, it is able to drive on the highway at higher speeds than a tractor. In addition to agriculture, this versatile vehicle has been used in everything from military, fire-fighting, construction and snow removal applications.
The Tomica Unimog was first released in 1978. Like all Tomica models, it is a faithful representation (this one in 1/70 scale) with lots of nice details – notice the spare tire tucked under the side. This example, another of my scores from Lamont’s Childhood Collection, is a little weathered, but still a fun find.
Tomica | 1978 | F41 | Unimog | yellow-orange with black plastic fenders, unpainted metal base | 1/70 | Japan | treaded black tires with chrome plastic hubs
This Hook and Ladder Fire Engine is the second of two Majorette 600-series models I picked up in Lamont’s Childhood Collection. This is another nicely detailed semi-tractor and trailer combination in 1/87th scale. I’ve seen images online of it packaged in a Super Movers box. I believe the 600-series range was produced starting in the 1980s and up to the mid-90s or so. This Circus Trailer rig is French-cast, so I think we can assume it was pre-1992.
While the tractor cab has tampo-printed graphics, the trailer has printed paper labels.
The Majorette #612 Hook and Ladder Fire Engine features a working ladder that can be raised, swiveled and extended.
Majorette | #612 | Hook and Ladder Fire Engine | red cab with yellow and black 55 FDNY trim, chrome plastic grille and exhaust, white plastic air dam, unpainted metal and black plastic base, red trailer with black and yellow FIRE DEPT trim, gray plastic platform, white plastic raising ladder, black plastic base | 1/87 | France | black tires with red and chrome hubs
The NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft was a Boeing 747 that had been modified to transport the Space Shuttle. During the development of the Shuttle, the Carrier Aircraft was used to get the Shuttle airborne for its first flight tests. Initial tests were captive, followed by glide tests where the Shuttle detached from the 747 and landed on its own power. Once the Space Shuttle became operational, if the Shuttle landed at Rogers Dry Lake Bed at Edwards Air Force Base in California, the Carrier Aircraft was used to transport the Shuttle back to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This Ertl Space Shuttle and Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft were among my finds in Lamont’s Childhood Collection. I’m not sure when these were first made, but the Ertl Space Shuttle models were produced during the height of the Shuttle program during the 1980s and 1990s. The 747 is made of two pieces of diecast metal; the fuselage and tail are one cast section, while the wings and engines are a separate piece. The aircraft is painted white and silver with red and blue labels, while the Shuttle is painted white and black with red and blue labels.
The Space Shuttle model in this case is cast with the shroud that was used to cover the engines during transport. The Shuttle model rests securely atop the jet, but can be easily removed as well.
The Ertl Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft features retractable plastic landing gear.
Ertl | Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and Space Shuttle | white and black shuttle with red and blue trim, white and silver 747 with red and blue trim, gray plastic retractable landing gear | 1/500 | China
Another Ertl model from Lamont’s Collection is the Space Shuttle with External Tank and Booster Rockets. The Shuttle is diecast metal, painted white and black, with red and blue tampo-printed graphics and black plastic engines. The Booster Rockets are diecast metal painted white, while the External Tank is molded plastic. All of the pieces can be separated from each other. This set would have been packaged with a black plastic base, but mine is missing that piece.
Ertl | 1515 | Space Shuttle with External Tank and Booster Rockets | white and black shuttle with red and blue trim, white metal rockets with plastic tank, missing base | 1/500 | China
The Ertl Space Shuttles from Lamont’s Childhood Collection have been added to one shelf of my display of various NASA items.
The Tomica Cadillac Ambulance is based on a mid-1970s Cadillac Fleetwood. The real-life vehicle would have been built by one of various coachbuilders using the Cadillac commercial chassis. One such coachbuilder was Sayers & Scovill (S&S), whose ambulance conversion was turned into the Matchbox S&S Cadillac Ambulance in 1965.
This Majorette Semi Circus Trailer is one of the nicer items I picked up in Lamont’s Childhood Collection. It’s difficult to find information on the Majorette 600 series, but what I can tell you is that they are nicely detailed semi-tractor and trailer combinations in a respectable 1/87th scale. I’ve seen images online of examples that are packaged in the Super Movers boxes, but I’m not sure if all were. I believe the range was produced starting in the 1980s and up to the mid-90s or so. This Circus Trailer rig is French-cast, so I think we can assume it was pre-1992.
The trailer holds a pair of plastic animal cages with opening doors. The cages can apparently be removed from the trailer bed, but I’m a little nervous about breaking the plastic tabs that hold them in place, so, for now, mine will remain attached to the trailer.
While the tractor cab has tampo-printed graphics, the trailer has printed paper labels. The labels on mine have a few scuffs and scratches, but are pretty well intact.
My Majorette Semi Circus Trailer still includes the original plastic animals – a pair of bears and a pair of lions.
Majorette | #611 | Semi Circus Trailer | red cab with yellow, black and gold MAGIC CIRCUS trim, chrome plastic grille and exhaust, black metal base, red and yellow trailer with MAGIC CIRCUS labels, opening doors, animals inside, black metal base | 1/87 | France | black tires with red and chrome hubs
The Race Case Etc. 