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Taffs Ramblings

Taffs Ramblings

You know that old saying about a double decker bus, it goes something like 'You wait ages for one, and then three come along all at the same time' It's a bit like that at Oxford this month, with the Land Rover Discovery 1 and Discovery 2 at 1:76 scale releasing at the same time. As many of you know I love Land Rovers and a few years back I said that we had to cover all of the Land Rovers ever made. As time goes on it is getting tougher to release anything new, the range has grown rapidly over the years. The Discovery 2 launched 25 years ago in 1998 which is why we chose to launch it this year (he says with crossed fingers........).

I wanted to scan the Land Rover catalogue for both variants, to add to the product pages I have a large collection of these. Whilst searching through the boxes I came across a Series III brochure with the garage name printed on the rear page.

Series III Brochure - Taff Oxford

Series III Land Rover Brochure

I have fond memories of visiting the garages in Swansea during my younger years, this brochure coming from Fletchers who were on Carmarthen Road - just a few miles down the road from where I live today. Being short of cash I started selling older brochures from when I was about 12 years old, my biggest sale was to a Belgium collector, around £25 in 1973.

76DS1001 Land Rover Oxford Diecast Ltd

76DS1001 Land Rover Discovery 1

The 76 scale models are really nice which got me thinking.......

76LRD2001 Land Rover Discovery 1

76LRD2001 Land Rover Discovery 1

I have more time on my hands nowadays and I have to keep myself busy as that is in my DNA. I commissioned a layout around a month or so ago, which I plan to take to odd shows So I thought, why don't I take the Land Rovers into the warehouse and photograph them on my new layout "to bring them alive". I should add that I am a whiz with graphics and all things computers, but I am absolutely useless at photography, probably the worst on the planet.

Anyway this is the best I came up with.

76LRD2001 AND 76DS1001

The worst was this below! I was trying to make it dark, but without much success!

Just to excite you further, this is my layout, at least threequarters of it, as I did not get the angle correct!

Taff Layout Oxford Diecast

So yes I do need to go on a photography course. I'd also like to create a new layout and would appreciate your thoughts on what you feel would be a worthy theme. You can add to this blog, but frustratingly I cannot answer your messages...... So if you do respond don't feel that you have not been heard - you have.

If you'd like to see more on the Land Rovers released this month here are the links, including some catalogue scans

76 Scale Discovery 1 Foxfire

76 Scale Discovery 2 Epsom Green

43 Scale Discovery 1 Foxfire

43 Scale Discovery 3 Bronze Green

Talk again soon.

TAFF

 

Previous article Bedford TK Fire Engine - 15 years ago/Volvo FL today.
Next article February - August 2023 Announcements

Comments

Billy Turkington - May 22, 2023

Lovely to see these two LandRover mark 1&2 discovery and your commitment to producing as many different variants of them. Oxford already manufacture lots of LandRover’s from many different Police Forces which is great. I would like to see more LandRover’s from The Royal Ulster Constabulary (I already have the grey one from the RUC) and the PSNI. I live in Northern Ireland and more of our police vehicles would be great. Another addition to the LandRover’s would be a usable tow hitch. That would give the option for Oxford making many different trailers. I enjoy playing with my Oxford models (very carefully) and trailers would be a great reflection of life. Military vehicles regularly tow trailers. Great job with the models.

John Lawrence - May 22, 2023

I am doing a themed railway layout to link in with our family’s history. The vehicle which by a country mile was the most prominent in our family was a 1987 Toyota Space Cruiser. I have had other Toyota cars as well but nothing has figured yet with Oxford. It would be lovely to have a least one of our cars featured on the rail based layout, Is that possible?

Neil Pratt - May 22, 2023

Its good to have all the variants of the various Land Rovers and liveries

It would be good to see a model of a Land Rover Ice Cream Van. I have seen a couple around the country and it would be good to see one in Hocking’s Livery in 1:76 scale to go with the Mercedes and Bedford CA Models.
Hocking’s also operate a Land Rover Ice Cream van in North Devon Another wish could be the Bedford CF in 1:76 scale as Oxford have released this in 1:43 scale

Neil Pratt

John - May 22, 2023

Brilliant, Taff.

But when is the Cowan Sheldon railway crane going to be released?
Here’s hoping!

Vincent Fascione - May 22, 2023

Taff , did you do the Diorama yourself or did you find someone or a Joiner/ Model Shop to build it for you as I have 10 Corgi WW 2 Tanks of all Nations involved and want a Battlefield Diorama built for them for myself and Grandson to enjoy please?
Thank you,
Vinnie

Stephen Murray - May 22, 2023

The Discos look really good but do you have any of the Emergency Services liveries planned or RAF Police?. Regards a new layout, what about the West Highland Line?.

Rohit Nyss - May 22, 2023

I too am crazy about Land Rovers. I remember on my last trip to Edinburgh, I visited one of my favourite shops; Harburn Hobbies and went to town picking up ever single variant of Oxford 76 Land Rover they had. I even sent in a presentation on a you’ll attempting to do a version of the old Land Rovers which are still in operation in India operating in the Himalayas in my state, West Bengal, India in a Hill Station called Darjeeling. A lot of Rail fans might know of Darjeeling because of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway which still operates to this day.
I can wait to get my hands on these new Land Rovers.
And this layout looks perfect for these Land Rovers. Love it.

Mike Harvey - May 16, 2023

Like your theme here for the big layout. Sort of Land Rover Experience on a budget. On the photography I would think about raising the level of the layout so you view things at the level you see on the rally field. Or while you still can, kneel down to take your pictures. I am well past that stage, so if I kneel down, a heavy duty forklift might be needed to get me up again. I reckon that with Land Rovers being so versatile, you could develop a series of dioramas on a large lazy Susan rotating base, maybe an oval conveyor. Suitable themes would be:- at the treasure hunt (can’t say foxhunt, now); the Chelsea school run; fire investigation; a meeting of villains; dealer forecourt; crime scene; etc. Working on one diorama at a time you could develop your modelling skills, teach the grandchildren to help, and hone your new photography skills with a “How I did it” article.

Ian Gilsenan - May 16, 2023

I would like to see the crew cab/double cab, in 1/76, and possibly the Forward Control Series IIA, like the one Husky made.
I would also like a plain light weight, no liveries, as well as a plain Austin Champ.

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