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Budgie Toys No.314

Trackdozer

Issued 1965-66    Length 81mm

Following on from the Tractor with Fork-Lift Shovel (No.306), a second model based on a Fiat tractor was created but this time it was upgraded to include a driver's cab and carried a dozer blade on the front. It was, perhaps, not a successful model in production because on the first, yellow, Budgie Models box it was described as being 'with windows', but it is believed that these were never fitted.
 
The engine casting was the same as the earlier model but a new section to include the cab was devised for the rear. As usual with Fiat tractors, it was all painted orange after the two halves were riveted together. The model number was cast direct onto the chassis with 'A Budgie Model' inside the engine. Despite the additional cab, there was still a steering wheel added to the Trackdozer but this time it was grey plastic instead of white.
 
The mechanism for the blade on this model operated without hydraulic cylinders. Instead the angle of the blade was made adjustable by the two arms being seperately attached to the blade. The upper arm, fixed to the top of the engine with lugs on each side in front of the cab, ran down to the top of the blade whilst the lower shorter arm, fixed to the bottom of the engine, connected to the lower part of the blade. As they were lifted, the blade altered angle. Both arms and blade were painted metallic dark blue.
 
As with the earlier Fiat tractor, large black plastic wheels were used at the rear for the Trackdozer and silver plastic wheels with knobbly tyres were used for the front. It is possible that initial models had small black plastic front wheels similar to No.306 but this cannot be confirmed.
 
The Trackdozer appeared at first in a yellow Budgie Models box without descriptive panel (B4) with the model being described as 'with windows' but these were almost certainly never fitted. This box is one of the rarest Budgie boxes, perhaps because it carried an incorrect description and it was withdrawn early. Subsequently, the Trackdozer was sold in blue & white open-sided window packs (C2) and although more easily found, these are also scarce.
 
Despite being included in late Gift Sets, the Trackdozer is not easy to find and the boxes, as mentioned, are scarce or rare.

Budgie No.314 Trackdozer
Budgie No.314 Trackdozer

No.314 Trackdozer

Budgie No.314 Trackdozer

ORANGE tractor

METALLIC BLUE blade,

front spw with knobbly tyres

rear black plastic wheels

B4 box or C2 pack

photos Andrew Clark

Trackdozer with Budgie Models box (B4)

Budgie No.314 Trackdozer
Budgie No.314 Trackdozer window box

No.314 Trackdozer in sealed C2 window pack

photo Andrew Clark

End-flap of yellow Budgie Models box

Nicholas Martin Diecast
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