04 July 2011
|
Exclusive First Editions' new diecast model releases for the Isle of Wight's Island Line
Paul Brittain looks at Exclusive First Editions' new diecast model releases for the Isle of Wight's Island Line, which are complete with dinosaur livery! ...
Travelling with dinosaurs!
In 2002, Exclusive First Editions created great excitement when it announced it was about to go beyond its 1/76 scale buses, lorries and cars to offer, in the same scale, London Underground stock, starting with stock introduced in 1938.
The Underground is as vital a part of the London transport system as its buses – and previously its trams, now returned, and trolleybuses.
However, collectors wanting models of Underground stock had to rely on kits or the crude, but charming, set produced by Ever Ready many years ago.
For many, the delight of the 1938 stock was that it operated not only in London but later also on the Isle of Wight where they still operate. So far these have appeared in three liveries and EFE is about to complete the trio with the most eye-catching of them all – dinosaurs.
The stock runs on the Island Line, operating the 8½ miles from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin. The line was originally opened from Ryde St John’s Road on 23rd August 1864, and was extended two years later to Ventnor: the section to Ryde Pier Head came in 1880 as a means of connecting with ferry services to Portsmouth Harbour...
PICTURED ABOVE An initial hand-painted sample.
PICTURED BELOW A pre-production sample.