Britains Lilliput Vehicle Series
LV/614 Articulated Truck
Issued 1956-1960 Length 120mm 'OO/HO' scale
Britains had been selling the 1930's designed Dodge Articulated Lorry (LV/603) for many years so an updated model using the Fordson cab & chassis and a new dropside trailer was a useful addition to the Lilliput Series.
The cab & chassis casting was the same as that used for LV/612 Army 1.5-Ton Truck with the only addition being a hole for the trailer coupling. It was coloured in various shades of tan or brown with silver trim on the headlights. A spare wheel was added to the top of the chassis behind the cab. 'Britains Ltd' and 'England' were cast under the chassis.
For this model the base under the cab, which included the front bumper, was painted black. It was unmarked but on the upper side it provided a driver figure also painted black but enhanced by pink or tan face trim.
The dropside trailer was a new single casting which was used only for this model. Two dolly-wheels were represented underneath and the coupling was a simple pole which slotted into the hole in the chassis of the cab. There was no id. on the trailer.
Painted in a variety of blues, greens and red, the Trailer was easily detachable so combinations of cab and trailer colours were random.
Britains did not often make special models but a variation of the Articulated Truck in British Railways colours of dark-red and cream was also issued and this is a rare model.
Wheels for the Articulated Truck were always red plastic hubs with black tyres, usually with 'Britains Ltd England' on both sides.
LV/614 was sold in the standard open fronted box with an inner diorama packing piece to which the model was secured. On one end-flap the name and number of the model was printed.
The Articulated Truck was not included in any Sets and being produced for only a few years is a great deal less common than the Dodge Articulated Lorry. The model in British Railways colours is very rare, and the LV/614 box is hard to find.
LV/614 Tan cab, Mid-Green trailer
LV/614 Articulated Truck
Wheels had red plastic hubs with black tyres
Silver trim was applied to headlights
Cab colours
Tan
Dark-Tan
Dark-Brown
Trailer colours
Pale-Blue
Mid-Blue
Pale-Green
Mid-Green
Red
British Railways issue: Dark-Red & Cream
LV/614 Dark-Brown cab, Mid-Blue trailer
LV/614 British Railways variation in Dark-Red and Cream