FUTURE MEMORY | TOYS & MODELS

Scale model of a taxicab, the Austin Taxi Cab , made by  Tomica . This example is reference T12, included in the "Tomica T-Series" ¹ series. It is made in China, in the 1990s. Metal body painted in black, with printed details. Metal base, unpainted. Glazing represented in transparent plastic with details molded in the windshield. Interior details in red plastic. Plastic wheels with "chrome" details simulating the rims (1H). With suspension. Opens the front doors. License plate "F56". The nominal scale is 1:67 and the overall length is approximately 2.7 in. About 1.5 oz. This model represents a  taxicab , possibly the 1969  Austin FX4 , equipped with the 2178 cm³, 41 kW (56 hp) BMC "L4" diesel engine. Top speed around 59 mph. As a kid, I saw this London taxi many times in toy stores, but I always ended up choosing other models—until it stopped appearing. Years later, I finally bought it and I'm glad I did. Released by Tomica in 1978 as part ...

Scale model of a double-deck bus, the London Bus , made by  Tomica . This example is reference F15, included in the "Tomica Foreign" series. It is made in Japan, introduced in 1977. Metal body painted in red, with paper stickers placed on the sides, showing the advertisement "£ 1/2 million VERNONS" and the identification of the London route "94–Orpington". Red plastic base. Glazing represented in transparent plastic. Interior details in white plastic on the lower floor and transparent plastic on the upper floor. Plastic wheels with "chrome" details simulating the rims (1H). With suspension. The nominal scale is 1:130 and the overall length is approximately 3 in. About 2 oz. This model represents a double-deck bus used in urban services, a Daimler Fleetline , introduced in 1960. Although identified as a London bus, some aspects of its configuration remind me of versions bodied by Metal Sections , intended for the Asian market—but I might be compl...

Scale model of a double-deck bus, the Neoplan Bus Skyliner , made by  Tomica . This example is reference T18, included in the "Tomica T-Series" ¹ . It is made in China, in the 1990s. Metal body painted in white, yellow and red, with printed details, including the inscription "SUNNY-TOURS" on the sides. Yellow plastic base. Glazing represented in transparent plastic  Interior details in red plastic on the lower floor and transparent plastic on the upper floor. Plastic wheels with "chrome" details simulating the rims (1H). With suspension. License plate "TM792". The nominal scale is 1:154 and the overall length is approximately 3.1 in. About 1.5 oz. This model represents a double-deck bus used in tourist services, possibly based on a 1979 Neoplan Skyliner N122/3 with Japanese specifications, including right-hand drive and multiple emergency exits. Reducing a bus to a toy model of about 3 inches without compromising its features and presence is a ...

Scale model of a bus, the Greyhound Bus MC-8 , made by  Tomica . This example is reference F49, included in the "Tomica Foreign" series. It is made in Japan, introduced in 1979. Metal body painted in metallic gray, with paper stickers on the sides, decorated in blue, white and red, including the inscriptions "AMERICRUISER" and "GREYHOUND®", as well as the traditional figure of a running greyhound; white plastic roof, with a plastic sticker, harmonizing with the decoration on the sides. Base in black plastic. Glazing represented in green tinted transparent plastic with molded details. Interior details are formed as part of the window molding, in green tinted transparent plastic; at the ends, they are formed as part of the body molding, in metal. Plastic wheels with "chrome" details simulating the rims (1H). No suspension. License plate "GB49". The nominal scale is 1:156 and the overall length is approximately 3.1 in. About 1.5 oz. This m...