Issued 1963-66    Length 104mm

 

Among Budgie models, the BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) Lift Truck is one of the more complicated and it involved a number of cast pieces to operate. Based on a Commer truck, the real vehicle could lift the entire body upwards so that it was level with the aircraft and could be easily unloaded. The model which Budgie designed was a good replica of this.

 

At first sight, the cab looks rather a poor representation of a Commer. It was painted blue and had clear windows and a touch of silver trim on the headlights and occaisionally the grille too. Underneath there was a small un-marked black base holding the front axle. The chassis, part of the same casting as the cab, included lugs for the rear axle and had a rectangular section at the rear onto which the body slotted.

 

Under the chassis 'No.302 BOAC Lift Truck' was cast with 'A Budgie Model' and 'Made in England' at the rear. The wheels were a new larger silver plastic type with a new style knobbly tyre which Budgie went on to use on several later models.

 

Painted metallic silver, the body of the BOAC Cabin Service Lift Truck was a complete unit with a floor. At the front and rear were ramps which were hinged at the base so that they could be lowered when the body was in the up position. Both ramps had detail cast on them with the outside of the rear one carrying the BOAC initials and logo (twice).

 

The lifting mechanism was a neatly designed 'scissor' frame system. Both lifting arms were anchored at the front, one to the chassis and one to the underside of the body. At the back, both arms slotted into grooves so that as the body was lifted they slid forward enabling the body to remain level when raised.

 

On the sides of the silver body were decals with the B.O.A.C. logo and 'B.O.A.C. Cabin Services'. At the back there was a further B.O.A.C. decal above the rear ramp. 

 

The first box for the BOAC Lift Truck was the traditional yellow 'Budgie Models Ltd.' box with descriptive pannel on the reverse face (B3). Later, the model was sold in blue & white open-sided window packs which were unusual in having both description and illustration on the base (C1/C2). All other shrink-wrap packs had either one or the other.

 

As with many of the later Budgie models, the Lift Truck is not easy to find and a mint model in the yellow Budgie box is rare.