03/10/2026
This month's quick conversion......
For detailing layouts, period vehicles can be difficult to acquire. Diecast models tend to be late [and shiny!] '40s-on and whilst a limited range of white-metal kits are available, they can be expensive. This quick project was a simple alternative and cost no more than the decals.
The origins of this quick little conversion will be obvious to those of a certain age: a Matchbox ‘Models of Yesteryear’ 4 ton Leyland van in the Jacob’s biscuit livery. This was the only livery that this vehicle was released in and it was available in the late ‘50s / early ‘60s.
The toy was modelled to approximately 1:100, closer (but still smaller) to HO than OO but, being quite a large prototype, it works in OO nevertheless. Alongside the Merit 1:76 Thornycroft kit it does not look out of place.
The GWR did not use Leyland vans, preferring Thornycroft, AEC and others in the main. However, with two of these Matchbox vans in the bits box, doing nothing, I decided to see what could be done with the more battered one.
The conversion was straightforward: little more than drill out the rivet that held the roof, strip all of the parts, fabricate a convincing chassis, replace the front axle, add steps, handles, headlights, cab fittings and various other detail parts and then paint and varnish. With the exception of the sump and lower crank case mouldings, the rest was scratch built or adapted from other parts.
Decals were by Fox Transfers and the advertising posters were photographic reproductions, reduced to fit. The disk wheels are supposed to be red, but I may well paint them brown later.
