Models of the MG Y Type
or "What to buy the man who has (almost) everything"

There have been many models made of MGs throughout the last 70 years, however not even a handful of manufacturers have bothered with the Y Type.  The only four manufacturers that I know of are DG, RAE, MG Car Club Y Type Register, and the most recent by Lansdowne.  If you know of any others, please contact me – I am always want to increase my collection!

Michael Ellman-Brown illustrates the DG Models in his book MG Collectibles on page 117, the range comprised a saloon and a YT with the hood up, and down.  Also, shown is the RAE range of models.

	MG Car Club Y Type Register A pewter casting of a Y was made by the MG Car Club Y Type Register to commemorate the Golden Jubilee in 1997 (now a collectors item), and another similar casting was produced to celebrate the Millennium (only a few of these now left at the bargain price of £11.75).  The castings by the MG CC Y Register are of good quality and if you have not got one, do not leave it too late to get your Y2K model.
	DG Models The DG models were created by Dave Gilbert to complement the early Dinky Toys®.  They are well detailed on the exterior but, in common with the early Dinky Toys® they are devoid of interior and Perspex “glass”.  The wheels do rotate, and the axles are terminated on the outside with a flange.  Details of the DG models are available from www.autocraftmodels.com.  DG offer both a Y Saloon version and a YT (with the hood in the raised position) version.
	RAE Models The quality of the RAE one is OK as white metal kits go. It can be tricky to get everything to fit together on the RAE model, and liberal use of a file is required.  Also, the wheel axle is fixed and the wheels are not intended to rotate – fine for a standing model, no good as a toy!  RAE make a Saloon and a YT too.  However, unlike the DG model, interior and Perspex “glass” is provided.  The sun roof on the Saloon version can be set to either the open or closed position, and the hood on the YT is in the lowered position so that the detail of the interior can be on full view.  RAE do not seem to be especially good about answering email enquiries though, so contacting them by telephone may be a better bet!  The sunroof on the Y Saloon can also be fixed in either the open position or the closed.  The illustration show it in the open position.  RAE appear to have ceased trading, however unmade and made models appear from time to time on eBay.
	Lansdowne Models The Lansdowne model is by far the best Y Saloon available.  Originally made in Gold / Sun Bronze with Red upholstery, this was withdrawn as the Sun Bronze was deemed not a popular colour!  Ironically because of the limited production run these early models have now acquired a “cult” status and consequently when available for sale, attract high prices!  The base plate was also incorrectly stamped “Brooklin”: I have seen them fetch double the price of the replacement later Black model (with Beige upholstery).  More information on the Lansdowne is provided a lower part of this page - click here to jump to it.
	Custom built models – using a Lansdowne LDM 28 as a base Wessex Model and Toy Collectors Club Another extremely rare variant on the Lansdowne was a very limited (110 models only) production run made for members of Wessex Model and Toy Collectors Club.  All models should be in a box with a special sticker on, the base plate is a Brooklin (not Lansdowne) and the number plate bears the number WMTC.00.  The models were only available in MG Maroon with red upholstery.  They will very rarely find there way out onto the open market and will command a large price tag if (and when) they do.
Custom made model (from 2 LDM 28s) with opening doors, bonnet and engine detail I have a model in 1/43 scale of all my MGs, custom built to match my bigger toys, and I chose the Lansdowne model as the basis for my customised version.  I decided to go the whole hog, and asked the maker to do an opening back door, and front door, and an opening bonnet with engine detail.  This required two basic models, and a degree of hand fettling until the finished product rolled out – at £250 – but the results speak for themselves!  A standard customised car (with no opening panels) would set you back about £100 including the base model.  I am very pleased with the results, and can personally recommend the maker – John Roberts.  Have a look at his website on  http://www.jrcustombuilt.com/.  If you wish to take it further you can email him from the site.  It is so rare these days to find a craftsman who enjoys his job as much as John, and who cares so much about each job he does too.
	Custom made YT (from LDM 28) The latest addition to my personal collection is another custom model, utilising the Lansdowne base model, but this time making a YT.  This model was also made by John Roberts and is another fine example of his craft and attention to detail. Note the detail highlighting the strips on the running boards, boot hinges, and door handles.  Even the seats have been ribbed correctly!  Eventually, (when the restoration of my real YT is finished) this will be a good model of my YT!
Rosco model The latest model to come to our attention though is probably the smallest model of a Y Type anywhere.  Built to N Gauage scale, by Rosco's Models of Australia (PO Box 164 Bungendore NSW 2621) will get you two pewter cast Y Types with brass grilles!  The only outlet I have located so far is http://www.zipworld.com.au/~mrc/ where they are priced at $AU9.85 – plus carriage of course!  These come as “white metal” and can be painted to suit any personal colour scheme.

 

 Further details on the Lansdowne Model

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MG YA SALOON

 

Gold model discontinued in favour of Black

 

NOT LIMITED - PRICE GUIDE AROUND £48.00 (for the Black model)

 

REVIEW BY DAVE TURNER

 

Brooklin have reached and passed several thresholds of accuracy and realism with their Lansdowne Models. For example the Rover P4 that came out as long ago as 1994 really made me sit up and take notice, six years later and I am again impressed more than just a little.

 

Lansdowne have just issued a 1:43 scale model of the post-war MG YA Saloon. The car that while featuring a body, the centre section of which was unashamedly related to that of Morris and Wolseley 8hp saloons, employed a robust chassis that was, in shortened form, to subsequently be the basis of the famed TD and TF Sports Cars. Introduced in May 1947, a total of 6,158 of the first series of YA saloons were made by January 1952 when the YB, featuring smaller 15" wheels, a hypoid rear axle and front anti-roll bar, ran on to September 1953, far fewer - 1,301, of these were made.

 

As far as models of Y series MG goes, RAE have a white metal 1/43 scale Y Saloon and a Y Tourer in both kit and built form in their range. Lansdowne have now added their new YA Saloon and it is a little gem to boot! Dimensionally, the model is as near spot-on as makes no difference, the shape and proportions likewise. One might question the depth of the rear wings, illustrations of the later YB series show them to have a slightly deeper section than the earlier, larger wheeled examples…so this can be confirmed as representing a YA Series car. Because of the larger wheel opening, the extra space around the tyre on the YA, gave the appearance of sitting up at the rear slightly more than the YB, and at the same time showing more of the inner wing panel. Brooklin to their credit have recognised this and painted the outer sides of the red seat section that is visible behind the rear wheels with a dull black colour. A few early production examples had this left in red.

 

Fine plated detail positively bristles all over the model, the grille is superb, its shape is right, the MG Octagon badge is top centre while the ‘filler cap’ is also octagonal. Bad point though is the casting line that runs across the top and down each side of the grille surround. A dull black wash gives the grille detail some depth but it has been a trifle overdone on this example and could do with a more definite wipe over, allowing the plating on the grille bars to shine through. Headlamps (that might be mounted a fraction too high) and that once almost obligatory fog lamp mounted on the bumper are of the solid plated type with cast-in lens pattern, while tiny sidelights sit on top of each front wing. The bumper itself, while being correctly quite plain apart from some bolt head detail, is correctly shaped and free from casting marks. The plated bonnet top hinge cover is a plated strip while the door handles are tiny, delicate and not overscale like so many tend to be. It was the accurate fit and shape of the door handles that first suggested that this was a model worthy of being called ‘scale’.

 

Look at the subtle swages in the scuttle just forward of the door, and across the rear deck, to appreciate the effort involved here, and, yes, for the rivet counters, there are the correct 20 bonnet side louvers in two banks of ten! Windscreen and wiper detail are painted over, which might be why from some angles the windscreen looks a trifle small, but it does scale out at around an inch and a half short on depth and 2 inches short of the width shown on a contemporary diagram. The same diagram shows the door windows to be very close to exact however. A novel touch is the open sunroof, allowing the detail on the ‘timber’ effect dash to be noted. So complete is the model in many ways that it was disappointing to find no gear or handbrake levers inside… it doesn’t matter how much we get…we still want more…! The seats are the correct distinctive shape with pleated detail, while the steering wheel needs only a splash of silver for the spokes, although the hub mounted horn button should protrude a little more.

 

Details continue at the rear end, more delicate hinges and a handle for the boot lid are plated, while the MG Octagon is cast-in at its centre. Licence plate and ‘D’ lamps are plated and given red lenses although the main section of that on the left side should be white for the reverse lamp. More plated parts include the tiny fuel cap on the left side rear wing, and the plain hub caps…the MG badge seems to appear on these after late 1951, that and the 16" wheels are more confirmation that this is a YA series car. Very little detail is left painted over, apart from the windscreen frame, the running board rubbers were actually set in fine bright strips, a feature probably not re-created totally on the most expensive of models.

Although the light metallic bronze is an authentic, if unusual colour, its execution in 1:1 scale paint results in the metallic effect being far too course, if any criticism is to be of more than nit-picking in nature, it is the use of this finish…otherwise, well done Brooklin!

 

Brooklin Models Ltd, Pinesway Ind Est, Ivo Peters Road, Bath BA2 3QS. +44 (0)1225 332400

Email us here or visit our website www.brooklinmodels.co.uk

It is not Brooklin policy to sell direct to the public.  These further details were reproduced by kind permission from www.whitemetal-model-reviews.co.uk/mg_ya_saloon.htm.