Budgie Models No.238/702
Scammell Scarab Van
Variation 3 Royal Navy livery in Limited Edition box
Variation 3 'Royal Navy' livery in Limited Edition box
Variation 8: GWR colours & livery
Variation 3 Royal Navy livery in Limited Edition box
Issued 1984-85 Length 150mm
The largest series of models which Starcourt produced from the Modern Products dies and from the stock of castings, decals and boxes which they took over with the Modern Products foundry was a re-working of Budgie No.238 British Railways Delivery Van. This articulated model was based on the Scammell Scarab electric-powered vehicle.
The original Budgie model dated from 1960 and Starcourt made no changes to the casting and kept the old British Railways number on the cab doors. The first new issue was a yellow Rail Freight Delivery Van similar to the last Budgie yellow version but with a yellow cab base (and often a yellow front wheel and tyre), yellow chassis and yellow painted metal wheels.
'Cadbury's Chocolate' decals from the earlier model (vertical chocolate bars) were attached to the front or the rear of the sides and 'Rail Freight' decals with the BR logo added alongside. There were two variations of the 'Rail Freight' decals, one with writing on the left, one with it on the right to ensure that the logo was always at the front. However, these were sometimes applied incorrectly and reversed so models can be found with arrows and writing pointing forwards or backwards. The model was boxed in yellow No.238 end-flap boxes which incorrectly listed Guiterman as the maker.
The second re-issue was a British Railways Delivery Van in maroon and cream with 'British Railways' decals and a 'Cadbury's Chocolate' advert on both sides of the trailer. The cab was maroon all over including the wheels (sometimes the front tyre as well) and the trailer was two-tone with a cream hard-top tilt. It was boxed in the yellow No.238 Budgie Models box at first and later in a blue & white window box.
The next model saw the beginning of a new group of Scarab Delivery Vans in special liveries with the model number 702, some in Limited Editions. First was a Royal Navy issue painted all over in navy-blue with 'Royal Navy' and 'RN' decals on the sides. It was boxed in an updated yellow Budgie Models box with an illustration of the model and 'Made in England by Starcourt Ltd' underneath it with the London phone number '01-800-1185'.
Being a Limited Edition, each of the Royal Navy models was numbered with a special identification label on the front of the box. The plan was for 10,000 numbered models to be produced but it is not thought that this number was reached because in 1985 an identical navy-blue model appeared, this time with 'Halls Mentho-Lyptus Tablets' decals and not in a Limited Edition so presumably this used up old stock.
Four further variations of the Scarab were issued in 1985, the first in metallic purple and lilac with 'Spratt's Bonio' decals advertising dog biscuits, and then three maroon variations, one with another version of the 'Spratt's Bonio' decal, a second with 'LMS Liverpool' (a railway network) on each side, and the third having 'Rea Express' decals from the miniature No.57 Delivery Van promoting a parcels delivery service.
The last issues of No.702 were commemmorative or promotional models painted in livery colours. One was an all-yellow variation in the colours of 'National Carriers' with decals on both sides of the trailer, and the other celebrated the 150th Anniversary of the founding of the Great Western Railway. GWR colours had always been cholcolate & cream so the Scammell was painted in a similar livery with 'GWR 1835-1985' decals on each side of the trailer.
All the late issues appeared in standardised blue & white window boxes with a pale-blue inner packing piece containing wheel slots. The boxes had no model details or numbers on them. 'Budgie Models' was printed beside the front window with the Budgie logo, and 'Made in England by Starcourt Ltd' (or 'Made in England by Merracroft Ltd.' who bought the stock when Starcourt Ltd. was sold), with the phone number 01-800-1185 printed on the bottom of the pack.
Most variations of No.702 Scammell Scarab are not hard to collect but some, such as the Spratts Bonio, Halls Mentho-Lyptus, and National Carriers promotional models are rare.
Variation 1: all-yellow Rail Freight livery (No.238 Budgie Models box)
Budgie No.238/702 Scammell Scarab Van
Variations
1) YELLOW cab & trailer, RAIL FREIGHT decals, yellow Budgie Models No.238 box
2) MAROON cab, MAROON/CREAM trailer, BR decals, Budgie Models No.238 or blue/white window box
3) NAVY-BLUE cab & trailer, ROYAL NAVY/RN decals, Budgie Models 702 box with label
4) NAVY-BLUE cab & trailer, HALLS MENTHO-LYPTUS decals or labels, blue/white window box
5) Metallic PURPLE cab, PURPLE/LILAC trailer, SPRATT'S decals, blue/white window box
6) MAROON cab & trailer, SPRATT'S decals, blue/white window box
7) MAROON cab & trailer, LMS decals, blue/white window box
8) MAROON cab & trailer, REA EXPRESS decals, blue/white window box
9) CHOCOLATE cab, CHOCOLATE/CREAM trailer, GWR decals, blue/white window box
10) PALE YELLOW cab & trailer, 'NATIONAL CARRIERS' decals, blue/white window box
Variation 2: British Railways livery (No.238 Budgie Models box)
Variation 3: 'Royal Navy' Limited Edition (No.702 Starcourt box with numbered label)
Variation 4: Navy-Blue, Halls Mentho-Lyptus decals (Merracroft window box)
Variation 5: Metallic purple & lilac, 'Spratt's' livery
Variation 6: Maroon, Spratt's decals (blue/white window box)
Variation 7: LMS livery
Variation 8: REA Express
Variation 9: GWR livery
Variation 10: Pale yellow, 'National Carriers' livery