Page 3 - Collecting Bristol scale model cars

in the late 90’s MPH models appeared and is the brand name of
Tim Dyke. He started as a builder of standard kits but did a lot
of research on each model to get everything correct. That meant
he could make up to 40-50 changes to the original kit including
decals and even making new body castings for some models.
He made just 25 models of each vehicle.
He took Provence Moulage Bristol 450 kits and some AC
Bristols from different kit manufacturers and made a number of
correcting changes and produced his models, which are now
super rare. They are allegedly in the “correct” colour of apple
green, a colour selected by 450 driver Peter Wilson, who thought
it was nearest to the actual colour used for the 1954 and 1955
models as opposed to 1953’s BRG. In all probability the correct
colour was Cambridge Grey, which is light Green.
Following on from this, we arrive in the noughties and Big
River Models the trading name of John Halcrow in Australia. He
made 401’s and 404’s in a variety of colours and were well made
and quite heavy compared with later models. John would even
produce a model in any specific colour so he could match the
model to the owners car colour. John’s production was overtaken
by the lighter Pewter models produced by Neo, with a much
lower price. At around this time, Bizarre models produced eight
Bristol 450’s representing all the years from 1953 - 55 but they
were all in British Racing Green. They have also produced seven
Frazer Nash Bristol’s representing 1950 - 1957, again in BRG.
Brooklin/Lansdowne, Neo and Matrix models came next.
Brookln/Landsdowne have produced a 400 in Red, Black and
Kensington Blue. A 405 in just one colour, Metallic Blue, a 406
in Light Blue and Maroon, a 408 in White and two 411’s, Series
II (Dark Blue) and Series !!! in Maroon, plus a limited edition (105
models), in Dark Maroon.
Neo have produced a 401 in Grey, Black, Red (300) and
Blue. They also produced a 404 in Metallic Green and Blue and
next came a 405 in Maroon, Dark Green plus a left hand Drive
405 in Grey
Matrix in turn produced a 405 Drophead in Dark Blue, a
402 in light Blue Metallic and an Arnolt in white with a centre Blue
stripe the latter model in a run purported to be just 408 models.
From the Brooklin/Landsowne range John Roberts, a
model maker, has produced his own variations in colours and
types, mostly one-off’s. A beautiful 406 drophead never of course
produced by Bristol but it looks as though one would have been
quite stunning. He also modified a 406 with an open sunroof. He
produced a one-off 405 with opening doors, bonnet and boot by
combining two models. He also modified a Series III 411 into a
drophead and another into an Estate version, all in my collec-
tion.
Other low production runs included a 406 Zagato and a
2+2, both from Janet Miedema a specialist model maker from
the Netherlands. Also from the Netherlands, Replicars, made
what look like direct copies of the Spot-On 406’s in Red and Sil-
ver and the odd repainted Spot-on model sometimes appears
on EBAY.