No sweat, Terry, happens to me all the time.
Best regards
Walter
Wonderful, Terry, good to see it 'live' now. It must indeed be the same example that I saw on eBay USA recently. I doubted, but I think you have made a very good decision to strike! It's all a matter of taste and ethics what you prefer to do with the distorted and brittle tyres. I, for me, would leave them as they are, distorted but authentic, and wait until some originals (not very easy to find) come along. This model is too pure to fit artificial replacements on - mind you: in MY opinion.
In fact I practiced that idea with my (much more common) French Coventry Climax Fork Lift Truck. Not too long ago I found satisfactory original replacements for that one (see picture).
It remains rather unpredictable how tyres behave.Some seem to remain 'new', others collaps unexpectedly. Some decades ago this was a problem for prewar Dinkies only, but nowadays it happens more and more with later examples, no matter how well they are being treated, even if kept in the original boxes. My solution is to take action BEFORE such nasty decay happens and I have put all models with rubber tyres on the supports I have shown several times. Perhaps not the most attractive solution, but the most effective indeed. Although we will not experience that ourselves: I frequently wonder how presently 'perfect' Dinky's will look like 100 years from now ... Anyway, I try the best to keep them as authentic and unharmed as possible.
Still: congratulations with this marvellous addition, it looks great, kind regards Jan
Jan--Thought you would like to know that I came up with a quick and simple solution to the front tire problem on my new Auto Union Race Car. Like you, I had already purchased a restored, silver Auto Union many years ago, and upon inspection, it did happen to have original black herringbone style tires, in good condition. Fortunately, they were not hard and came off fairly easily. I then removed those ugly, strangely deformed front tires on my new model, and replaced them. So now it looks as it should.....with proper and nice front tires. Below are a few new photos showing the "new look". I think I was very lucky in trusting my intuition in purchasing this model.....it ended up being much nicer than I thought, and at a very reasonable price.
Regards, Terry
Terry, these tyres are the best you could possibly find! It makes such a difference. Kind regards Jan
Hello All
I can't compete with the quality of the models in this thread, nor with the quality of the photography but I hope that some of you will give me the benefit of your opinion.
Some time ago I won an auction lot of a pre-war 23d that was lacking its base plate. It had also been repainted dark green at some point though most of the paint had worn off. Inspection under a magnifying glass showed that it had originally been pale green. As can be seen, the casting is in great shape with no evidence of fatigue, and the model still retains three original tyres. The base plate was originally fixed at four points rather than six that I've seen on other examples.
The intention was to strip and repaint it and, if posible, to find a replacement base plate. As luck would have it I found that base plate last week. The problem is that it's still attached to its casting. It wouldn't be difficult to remove it and swap it to the repainted model but I'm now in two minds as to whether I should. The second casting is obviously damaged in a prominent place but should I leave the base plate attached to the orange model, which again has all its original tyres, albeit they are shapeless blobs. It wouldn't be difficult to repair the cockpit and otherwise keep it as original as possible.
This is my dilemma. The green one has a very good casting but poor paint and no base plate. The orange one is damaged and has some fatigue though it has original paint, tyres, and base plate. What should I do? Make one very good example from two? Or keep two not so good examples? I would welcome your thoughts!
John
Hello John,
I rather like the orange Auto Union. Scarce color and it shows were it was made for. For playing! Looks like it is well played with and well loved. I would keep it as it is. It is one of a kind! The green one is not original anymore, so restoring it makes sense to me.
The absence of a base plate does not detract as long as the model is on display.
Just my thoughts!
Kind regards,
Rob
Thanks Rob. I think you're right. When I received the orange one a few days ago I thought perhaps it was maybe too far gone. However, the more I thought about it the better I liked the idea of preserving its originality. The damage to the cockpit does bother me a little but, as you say, it IS one of a kind. I'll put the green one back to its original colour and leave the orange one as it is.
Kind regards
John
Dear members (and 23 Auto Union lovers!). To memorate the recent aquisition of my 100 + 23 Auto Union, I would like to share some images to show how this looks like...I never grouped the cars this way before. Given the outspoken graphic design, the models all together give a stunnig result as far as I am concerned. See the whale's tails! Off course friends ask me why I collect so many of this this Auto Union. My answer: why not? Does anyone know if all the types are included in this set?
Thanks and regards, Bas
This is true Auto Union Art!
It's hard to say if all types are present here. Well, types, perhaps, but all possible numbers?
Kind regards, Jan
Bas, that's an amazing display! You should experiment with other combinations and arrangements.
Jan,
An excellent set of photos as usual.
Have you noticed that the actual car had smooth hubs like the Dinky but it had domed axles which the Dinky never had.
I believe the real one is wrong, they should have scrutinized the Dinky Toy better!
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