Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]

Announcements (Updated: July 11, 2018)

Welcome to Swifty's Garage!


Thanks to all of you for making this board what it is today!


Attention new members: We would like to welcome you personally, so please introduce yourself. Click here: INTRODUCTIONS


For all the latest news and announcements, please click here: PA System



Thank you - The Swifty's Garage Team




This board is best viewed at 1024 x 768 Resolution

Car of the Week:


Matchbox 1968 Ford F-100


Click Here: Matchbox '68 Ford F-100
Welcome to Swifty's Garage. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.

Thank You,
The Swifty's Garage Team


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features.

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
Whats inside the Ford Transit News van?
Topic Started: Aug 26 2017, 05:10 PM (1,416 Views)
Pete
Subcompact
Hey all,

I'm sure most people here are familar with the Matchbox 2014 Ford Transit News Van, but just wondering how many people have had a look inside?

Posted Image

Having recently found the latest edition in my local shop, I decided to pick up a second one and have a go at converting it into a mini-bus and after seperating all of the parts I found there was some extra detail in the back of the van...

Posted Image

I can work out most of the items, except the round turtle shell type thing - anyone got any ideas? It is also interesting that some of the items are also cast into the base aswell.

As for my project to convert the van into a mini-bus, well this is still in the early stages - much more work to do!...

Posted Image

Pete.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
pjedsel
Member Avatar
Muscle Car
Those are neat! It amazes me and makes me wonder why Matchbox casts all these neat little details in models that in which you cannot see them. :huh:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Pegers
Member Avatar
Pony Car
Pete,i think you had it right..it is a sleeping turtle.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Mark F.
Member Avatar
Minivan
Maybe the turtle shell is some kind of hard case for a piece of equipment.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
poorvanner
Member Avatar

*In Memory Of*
Nice. I did not know about those.
I understand the interior items. But, why the items inside the base, under the interior floor?

Maybe turtle is a safety helmet. With the coverage in TX, a lot of weather guys standing out in wind were wearing them.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
b2young
Member Avatar
Sad firefighter
I think that interior (hidden) details are wonderful, but it is curious that the only way to see them is to take the model apart. However, the alternative is giant clear "sunroofs", so it's better that the designers are keeping them "secret". (On the Skyline, the alternative for the 'racing' vs 'stock' engine is a clear/transparent hood, so THAT wouldn't do, nope, just wouldn't do at all.)

But thanks for being our 'guinea pig' and unknowingly 'discovering' this/these hidden features! I now appreciate my two variations of this casting even more than before!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Pegers
Member Avatar
Pony Car
after a 2nd look.i think at first they where going to cast part of the interior in the base.and that way they
would could shorten the interior thus saving plastic.
but then it seems they decided to cast the whole interior and added the shell and the 2 bundles of coiled
wire.that are not in the base casting.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
avalanche man
Member Avatar
avalanches rule
i took mine apart to fix the front axle when i first got it, and i was wondering why they had those items cast into the bottom like that ;)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
MrFutura
Member Avatar
Station Wagon
That turtle shell is kinda driving me nuts. If it's meant to be a turtle shell - which would be funny - it would look more like a turtle shell. You've got camera, power, tripod, tapes, mic. What about lighting? Weather?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
toyotageek
Member Avatar
Japanese Minicar Maniac
Sure looks like a turtle/tortoise shell to me. Cane we get a clear close-up?


Posted Image

Attached to this post:
Attachments: turtle_shell_02.jpg (44.23 KB)
Edited by toyotageek, Aug 29 2017, 09:32 AM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Milton Fox Racing
Member Avatar
SUV
My best guess is that it is a hand held light source for night time coverage. :02:

I am enthralled by these type of details that are hidden in castings. Thanks for posting it! :thumbup:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
toyotageek
Member Avatar
Japanese Minicar Maniac
I'm just guessing.... but someone here must know (or be on talking terms with) some of the Matchbox team....? Isn't there someone at Matchbox we could ask for a definitive answer? :rolleyes:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
webestang64
Member Avatar
Minivan
That's very cool! Thanks for showing.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Douglas
Member Avatar
SUV
Ya never know with the Matchbox design team, I imagine sometimes that a designer might add their own personal touch to hidden details, so maybe turtles are a favorite animal, although I'm kind of liking Milton's portable lighting idea, and for my guess I thought maybe a portable satellite dish to hand carry to remote areas.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
b2young
Member Avatar
Sad firefighter
Douglas
Aug 29 2017, 03:15 PM
Ya never know with the Matchbox design team, I imagine sometimes that a designer might add their own personal touch to hidden details, so maybe turtles are a favorite animal, although I'm kind of liking Milton's portable lighting idea, and for my guess I thought maybe a portable satellite dish to hand carry to remote areas.
Yeah, I think mister fox may be on the right track; it could be one of those umbrella-reflector thingees that diffuse the light onto the subject so it doesn't look so glare-y...

but I also like your portable satellite dish idea, Doug. Makes me think of (now) Senator from Minnesota Al Franken on Saturday Night Live a few decades ago when he was the roving reporter for Weekend Edition (or whatever it was called) and wore a satellite dish attached to a racing helmet on his head....
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Pete
Subcompact
toyotageek
Aug 29 2017, 09:30 AM
Sure looks like a turtle/tortoise shell to me. Cane we get a clear close-up?


My custom mini-bus is nearly complete and I've now glued extra seats over the TV news equipment, so I can no longer get any more pictures. But here is a close up of two photos that I have already taken...

Posted Image

The guess work continues...
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
toyotageek
Member Avatar
Japanese Minicar Maniac
Still looks like a turtle shell to me.
Never seen any lights or satellite dishes that look like that.
The only other thing it looks like to me, with the stretch of imagination, is a plate with potatoes and rolls on it, or plate of subway sandwiches and rolls. :rolleyes:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
MrFutura
Member Avatar
Station Wagon
I have never seen the movies, but does Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles involve a camera truck in any way? Twinkies?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
toyotageek
Member Avatar
Japanese Minicar Maniac
MrFutura
Aug 30 2017, 09:19 AM
I have never seen the movies, but does Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles involve a camera truck in any way? Twinkies?
Bingo.

I kept thinking that shell reminds me of the TMNT, but I never bothered to make a connection.

April O'Neil, friend of the Turtles, and news reporter in the first animated series.

Posted Image



Attached to this post:
Attachments: tmntnews.jpg (111.52 KB)
Edited by toyotageek, Aug 30 2017, 09:32 AM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
W Gee
Member Avatar
Station Wagon
??? channel 6 on both vans .... curious possibility . I had been thinking a backpack style camera case with zippered compartments on the back
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
W Gee
Member Avatar
Station Wagon
double post :blink:
Edited by W Gee, Aug 30 2017, 09:42 AM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
microbuss
Member Avatar
SUV
toyotageek
Aug 30 2017, 09:32 AM
April O'Neil, friend of the Turtles, and news reporter in the first animated series.

Posted Image



funny thing about the VW news van is that it's the SAME mold as the Turtle's van!
Plus the news van is rarer ^_^
Edited by microbuss, Aug 30 2017, 10:17 AM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
SSChevyman
Member Avatar
SUV
Good job Pete!!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
SSChevyman
Member Avatar
SUV
Good job Pete!!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Chris W
Member Avatar
Midsize
Definitely more than a coincidence.
Matchbox designer with an "Easter egg" tribute to TMNT.
:detective:
Interesting mystery and great detective work here at Swifty's Garage.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Bay 3: Matchbox · Next Topic »
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1



March's Picture of The Month Contest



Congratulations DinoMom for winning March's contest!



April's Picture of The Month Contest



Congratulations carsdownunder for winning April's contest!






Powered By

This board is best viewed at 1024 x 768 Resolution


eXTReMe Tracker