Hi Richard

As far as I am aware the 688 Field Artillery Tractor was always supplied with a driver, the only change was from a metal driver to the plastic driver late in the production run.

If you look at the photograph above you will see that there are two bent over lugs coming through the baseplate, this is the attachment for the driver.

Alongside the tractor is an example of a military driver sat on his support/seat. These supports vary in height according to which vehicle the driver will occupy.

I hope this helps

Dave B
DTCA Editor

Richard

Is it possible for you to add a photo of your 688 baseplate/

Thanks Dave

Hi Richard

Looking at the baseplate on your tractor the driver support/seat is definitely there so it must be assumed that a support without a driver was fitted and this is an assembly error which occurred at Meccano.

I have seen one of these with the driver fitted backwards!!!

Sadly, unlike stamps, errors like this do not make the Dinky valuable.

Dave

Another 688 oddity here. Of the two 697 sets I have the tractors are equipped with different towing hooks. The later windows example does not have the usual rebent hook but a regular upright one. I'm not 100% sure if this is original because the straight hook is not fully straight and might have been rebent, but in that case it would have to show a much longer piece of tin. Do others recognise this oddity in their later 688 models?
Some pictures below:

Kind regards, Jan

Hi Richard, I look forward to the results of your investigations!
Kind regards, Jan

Hi Richard

Here are two of my tractors and as can be seen they have different signs, I have seen a number with the red/yellow signs rather than the correct red/maroon of the Royal Artillery.

Best regards Dave

As you stated earlier I see that two of the tractors on the front have the red/yellow signs instead of the correct red/blue Royal Artillery insignia.

I have shown one like this above. I have seen others with the red/yellow but they have always had plastic hubs.

On yours with red/yellow can you confirm whether the wheel hubs are plastic or metal.

Many thanks Dave

I am convinced the tractor you show has been dismantled an put back together again. The rivet and the axles are just not right.

Regarding the trailer on the right someone brought an example like this to the DTCA AGM at Gaydon in April, yours is only the second one I have ever seen.

It looks like tractors with red/yellow signs are only ever seen with plastic hubs, in other words more modern issues.

Dave

i recently obtained this from UK E-Bay, I was surprised to find that the quad has the very last issued military type tyres ( plastic ) which I am not sure that they were available just before the quad was discontinued as a single item.
As the set of quad , ammo trailer & 25pdr howitzer were the last available certainly in my town in the early 1970's well after discontinued, I cannot remember the quad with these plastic tyres.
The quad also has the late plastic hubs and windows, the hubs are counter reacting with the plastic tyres and are in the early stages of "melting". ( similar to the Solido problem).
Can anybody confirm that these tyres were issued to the quad before it was deleted.

David,

Could you please have a look at the quad which you posted immediately above and tell us about it's driver. Is he driving or just looking out with his arms crossed ?

It seems that some late issues have been fitted with passengers 603 rather than with drivers with extended arms.

Jacques.