Model Collector – August 2019

54 http://www.modelcollector.com | auguat 2019

| pre-production prototypes

Hotpoint van

registration

number

174 ATE.

Hotpoint van

registration

number

YBJ 533.

Road Service sticker in black.
The same sticker also appears
on either side of the van. The
A A logo also adorns both front
and back doors. The interior is
a black plastic moulding with a
black plastic steering wheel.
Yellow wheels are enhanced
with silver hubcaps and the
model carries the registration
number 496 DLM. Sadly, this
model is also missing one of its
back quarter bumpers.
When comparing the
resin prototype with the early
production sample from Lot
53, you can see it is a fraction
wider, taller and longer than the
diecast example. The prototype
seems to have a little more
panel definition and the wipers
are definitely better. The yellow
paintwork on the A A prototype
is also a little darker than that
of the early production sample
and final production models.
It’s a very nice addition, though.

Lledo Vanguards resin

prototypes for VA4002, Hotpoint

Three Hotpoint resin proto-

types featured in this lot and all

of them are very slightly differ-

ent. This provides some good

insight to the thought processes

involved in coming up with a

livery and colour scheme that

everyone is happy with.

All three vans are painted

in the same light blue colour

and sport Hotpoint stickers on

their sides and across the back

doors. A blue flash is shown

down both sides, with the

words ‘Spares and Service’ in

white within the flash, towards

the rear of the van. There is

a sticker on each front door

featuring the following words

on three lines: ‘Hotpoint’,

‘Domestic Appliances’ and

‘Spares and Services Division’.

All three vans have chrome

wing mirrors fitted to the

front wings.

So, what about the

differences I've previously

alluded to? Well, I'll start

with the model carrying the

registration number 174 ATE.

This has a grey interior and

black steering wheel. The

wheels are one-piece grey

plastic items, although one of

them is missing on my example.

The Hotpoint signs and side

stripes are on a turquoisey-blue

colour and the stickers on the

door are mounted centrally.

The Hotpoint Van YBJ 533 has

a dark blue interior and steering

wheel. The wheels are the same

blue as the van, with silver hub-

caps. The Hotpoint signs and

side flash are a dark blue colour

and the stickers on the doors

are positioned more to the

bottom of the door rather

than being central.

Finally, we have FOO 836B,

which, as you will see later,

appears to be a popular

registration plate for Lledo

prototypes and which, like the

previous model, sports a dark

blue interior. The Hotpoint

signs and side stripes are, again,

the turquoisey-blue colour and

the stickers on the door are

positioned at the bottom of

the door. The wheels are the

same blue colour as the van,

but the hubcaps and discs

representing the headlights

have a chrome finish to them

rather than the silver painted

ones of the previous two models.

The final Hotpoint

production model features the

dark blue stripes and Hotpoint

signs, with the wording on

the front doors towards their

bottom edge. It also has a black

plastic interior. Like all of the

final production models of that

time, the wing mirrors and

number plates were supplied

in a small plastic packet for the

purchaser to fit.

When checking out the

production model’s box, it looks

like the prototype FOO 836B

may have been used in the

Providing a good comparison:

the production sample (left) and the

resin prototype (right).

AA Van side views of the

resin prototype (left) production

sample (right).