David,

Were there two dies or a double cavity die : one with long foot rest and one with short ?

I don't want to throw a spanner in the works but mine (shown under the 151 thread) has a hole, a long footrest AND ridged hubs........

Dave--To add to your excellent discussion of the Anti-Aircraft Gun on Trailer, I am posting photos of both my pre-war version and also my original Dinky Toy, that I received here in California around 1954, which makes it an export version.  After looking at your photos and the variations noted, it is interesting to note that the pre-war model also has the large footrest, holes for the soldiers, and the small knob.  My export model, from around 1955, also has these same features, plus it has ridged wheels with domed axle ends. I am leaning towards thinking that the small footrest and large knob were likely a later version, unless there were two dies in use, resulting in one large and one small footrest.  I can image die wear or problems could have caused that change.

              Best regards,  Terry

Besides the holes in seats and other minor differences described above it is interesting to see different paint finishes applied to this model in the course of time. 

I found a nice gloss brownish green example recently, which enables me to show the pre-war gloss green, the early post-war brownish green (which Keith Harvie describes as scarce U.S. military brown) and the more common regular matt army green of the post-war decades. Kind regards, Jan 

Jan----So nice to see a brownish version......I have never seen one in person before. That's a great photo, showing all of them together. I still remember playing with mine, around 1955, when I was 10. I ways always amazed by being able to raise and lower the gun barrel with that little knob, able to rotate the gun, and then those platform "skirts" that raised up and down. To me, it was a wonderful little toy, and so much a part of my early Dinky memories.
Best regards, Terry

Three perfect matches for various Anti-Aircraft Guns on Trailer:

1. With no. 161a Searchlight Lorry in pre-war Gift Set no. 161 Mobile Anti-Aircraft Unit.

2. With early post-war no. 151b Transport Wagon, both with ridged hubs, crimped axle ends and treaded tyres, each manually marked underneath with the probable date of first acquisition: 2.11.48.

3. With final USA export no. 151b/620 Transport Wagon, with fixed driver, both with ridged hubs, post 1952 domed axle ends and smooth tyres.

Here is my brownish-green version of the 151b Transport lorry and AA gun. In this photo is does not look much different from the normal green but when seen beside the normal one it shows more clearly. Then there is my collection of these 2 items. On the right is the pre-war version, then a post-war version, then the brownish-green version and on the left the later post-war version with domed axle ends.

Chris.

Very nice to see, Chris, impressive! The brownish green Transport Wagon is the only one I'm still eagerly looking for ...

Kind regards, Jan 

Recently i bought a lot of army toys from the UK including these two AAguns. They are in original condition. After inspection i was surprised to see the difference in colour of the hubs and trailer. 

Has anyone seen this version before?

Hi Kas, rather hard to see the differences in shade. I have not seen it on this particular model, but this seems to occur every now and then, even varying within one model. I have posted my examples below, which demonstrates that there were more than one slightly different shades of Dinky army green around. The wheels mounted may have been from a completely different batch of painted castings.

After having added my early post-war example yesterday, with the white treaded tyres, I can make up the balance sheet. Apart form minor casting differences I believe I have all basic variants in my collection now. I believe the white tyred example was an export to the US, as was the same Reconnaissance Car. The brownish green example was for export to the US too and so was the one with rounded axle ends, which was to be towed by a 151b Transport Wagon with fixed driver and rounded axle ends. Some freshly taken pictures below: 

So happy was I with my newest AA Gun on Trailer addition, a superb early post-war example, that I could not wait with writing a short article about this remarkable model. It was published this month in the Dutch 'Auto in Miniatuur' bi-monthly. Kind regards, Jan 

Jan---Another, in a long list, of amazing early post-war military pieces.  This one just looks wonderful, especially with those fine tread white tires.  They may not be authentic, but they are certainly classic Dinky items, and from such a short period of time.  This example looks nearly mint and is just lovely.  As a young boy in the mid-1950's, I already had mine, and reveled in the detail, and the way that gun barrel moved up and down and also swiveled.....it was quite a toy for young boys.  Congratulations on this latest acquisition.....how about some group photos with your other early post war military models.....that will be a real treat!
     Best regards,  Terry