Main man, Bruce Rolston (left) and Jurgen Muller from

CMM Schwerlast, Germany chat over his new line of

heavy haulage tractors.

This fabulous electrically powered Victory Industries Rapier mobile crane is based on a postwar version, but illustrates

the close connections between the model and the real thing.

30

OCTOBER 2005

www.diecastcollector.com

31

www.diecastcollector.com

OCTOBER 2005

“The timing’s all wrong – everyone will be on

holiday.” “It’s on the south coast, miles away

from the major centres of population.” “It’s

too specialised, he’ll never make it work.” “If

the general public are allowed in, it will kill it

for the real enthusiast.” You name it, whatever

the angle, just about everyone had an opinion

about why Bruce Rolston’s event in Hastings

was going to fail.

Why, even Editor Mike and your’s truly had

‘words’ over it. “I’m already committed that

Sunday, you’ll have to go,” he boomed. “On your

bike, matey. I’ve got better things to do on a

Sunday morning,” I replied defi antly. “Like what?”

“Like playing with my toys, riding my horsey

– anything that doesn’t involve having to cope

with all those weekend drivers.” But I said I’d do it,

in the vain hope that one day, Forbsey will actually

return a favour.

I’m glad I went because the event was a

cracker with stand-holders from all over the UK

and quite a large part of Europe – not to mention

representation from ‘across the pond’ from

Bob Peterson of Classic Construction Models

(rlp@ccmodels.com), who just had to win the

‘long distance’ award and brought together

enthusiasts on an international scale, as it were.

The venue at Hillcrest Sports Centre had quite

a lot going for it. It was easy to fi nd, had plenty of

parking and a constant supply of tea and snacks

throughout the day at very ‘customer friendly’

prices. Naturally, as Bruce lives in Hastings,

he wanted to keep things local, but the venue

offered easy access from Dover (for European

visitors) and lots of other things to do, for those

out to make a weekend of it. Indeed, it was part

of Bruce’s plan to make the event – which largely

takes over from the defunct Biggleswade show

– as much ‘a social’ as a commercial event and

judging by some of the stories about the night

before, he made a pretty good attempt at that

as well! You’re shocked? C’mon, why shouldn’t

model collecting be as enjoyable as going to see

a live band? We need to do all we can to cut

through this ‘anorak’ image, don’t we?

A Broad Church

After all, the model collecting hobby is a pretty

‘broad church’ these days, but with so much

choice there’s always a danger that – just as in

religion – we split into factions and become the

model collecting equivalents of those religious

‘zealots’ and ‘fundamentalists’ we see on telly and

forget the fact that we all share common values.

And maybe could just enjoy learning something

from those with a slightly different outlook to our

own, maybe?

One of Editor Mike’s recurring nightmares

features huddles of readers in W H Smith ? icking

through our latest issue, making some ‘value

judgement’ over whether they should actually

purchase the copy. One will say, “I’m not buying

H A S T I N G S P L A N T S H O W . J U L Y 0 5

H A S T I N G S P L A N T S H O W . J U L Y 0 5

The first model construction

plant and agricultural

equipment event held at a new

venue in Hastings was well

represented – and more to the

point, well attended. Could

this be the start of something

big for this under-represented

part of the model collecting

world? We sent Malcolm

‘Hydraulic Heaven’ Bates

along to dig the dirt...

this issue, it’s got far too much on model cars.”

Another will say, “I’d like to see more pages

devoted to model buses,” while a third will tut-tut

that we didn’t have a 24 page feature on model

lorries in this issue. Surely those with a narrow

vein of interest are robbing themselves of wider

enjoyment of our hobby, while actually sti? ing

it’s development? Such issues are as vital to the

success of a toyfair as a collector’s magazine.

Sure, we all have favourites, but out of each

‘faction’ there are those who search out the

‘classic toys’, just as there are those who are

content to only collect models of modern vehicles,

or modern models of ‘classic’ vehicles. Then on

top of that, in many cases, you’ve got a choice of

scales to collect. Then what should our editorial

policy be? Can you see where I’m coming from

here? There’s nothing wrong with having a main

theme to your collection, but do you really want

to close your eyes to an interesting seam of

modelling just because it isn’t something you see

yourself as ‘an expert’ in?

Before you answer that one, there’s something

else to consider. With very few exceptions, most

models – even those from the toy era – were

based on some sort of prototype, however badly!

As such, they can help us map the history of an

entire chapter of our manufacturing past. Where

any mechanical product was designed and built

for sale, chances are, a brochure or spec sheet

was produced to help sell it and along with dealer

promotional items and actual bits of the real

machine, we can all share in that history. And

just as with cars, lorries and buses, the history of

(right) As this wonderful front cover from Meccano

magazine reminds us, it was cranes, excavators and

other construction equipment which helped shape the

modern world, so it’s only right such machines are

remembered in scale form.

Wow! Get a load of this. Jurgen’s model trucks use mix

of proprietary components, such as the cab, with resin

and white metal sub-assemblies.

The super detailing of construction models is Jurgen’s main activity. Here is a selection

of grabs, breakers and specialist buckets to add realism to promotional models.

Some examples of the ‘classic’ models that Bruce Rolston deals in, with large scale

draglines and period tracked bulldozers to the fore.

The new venue for the ‘Tracks, Trucks and Tractors’ event worked well and was soon buzzing with activity.

To keep abreast of developments, you can visit either of two websites, www.trackstruckstractors.co.uk or

www.miniature-construction-world.co.uk

Breaking news... We don’t know what the building used

to be, but these models are already busy demolishing it!

Surely the whole demolition business forms an ideal

opportunity to mix trucks and plant in a powerful

diorama display?