Very nice Jacques and it has answered most of my questions. Thank you.

Jacques--
Thanks for the expanded taxi coverage, pictures, and clarification....I didn't mean to imply that the Simca Aronde taxi was the very first, but just the first of those 3 I was discussing...thanks for showing the other models!
Also, just a small comment: you mentioned that when Dinky changed the Simca Aronde slightly from the 1953 model to the 1956 model, they only changed the front grill area....actually, if you look closely at the picture in my post you will clearly see that Dinky also changed the die where the rear tail lights are. The earlier model just has round red dots painted over a small silver area, where the later model has a slightly flattened area there with a small vertical raised area for the tail light. To accomplish that it also appears that the rear fender area is slightly more fin shaped than earlier. When comparing these two side by side it is easier to see.

Interesting observation there Terry. I wonder what Jacques will say about that variation.

Jim---
Dr. Force's book even mentions that there was a small fender change when this took place. When I first looked at mine, I missed it....then I re-looked at the rear area from the top and rear fenders on the later model are ever so slighlty flared up...not a fin, but slightly more prominent.

All I would like to add into the subject of injection steel dies and changes take place, they usually make a complete new die or part of that die. Why would they do this. Because you may be able to grind away some metal but it is far to hard to add metal even by welding and bronzing. Even if the tool-room toolmakers have to make changes just to the grill area and this part is on a canter block slide in and out part of the die, they would make a complete new die to go with it.

Another issue that arises from time to time is where some people say it is a direct copy of say a Dinky this is not entirely true as those other Toy Companies have their own designers and modellers including their own tool-room facilities for making their own dies and repairs. They also must keep all drawings, models to prove they didn't infringe on copy rights by another toy firm such as Dinky.

There are now specialized designing and tooling companies in China who solely make all the injection dies for toy companies which saves the toy companies having to have the cost burden of designing and producing their own dies.

Everyone must realise to take a scaled down toy and pull it apart, then make dies directly from those parts in steel becomes difficult process transferring the patten with cutting and grinding application used for such process.

Yes the only way is to make rubber moulds for such purpose which have limited production runs and must be replaced constantly because the Zamak metal has a higher melting flow temperature than White Metal (tin lead) composition.

Finally designers and modellers usually always make their master models two or three scales larger than the actual toy so as to refine the enteric detail of the original they are working too.

dinkyfan,


Yes you are right the rear lights and wings were modified slightly by cutting into the existing die. What I meant is that the same die was used except for the front piece. An other modification was made, it was to add a reinforcement for the roof sign.


GunnerJim


Like many of us your industrial information seems to be out of date. Dies are not made by cutting and grinding any more and master models are not used any more. I do not have the time this morning but in a few days I will write something about these master models, I have 35 of them as well as a die.

My outdated industrial knowledge may be somewhat outdated, although my information was relative for the 1950 to 1970' while the same practices was used in the 1980's for aluminum injecting mould casting for car parts if my memory is correct.  Nowadays computer modelling and graphic design has taken over many of those hand on skills that artist, modelers and trades persons once used. Yes I have been out of the vehicle industry pattern making for over 20 years and had worked on prototype vehicles during my employment in those days. Not bad for a person who started out in the Fiber plastering industry as a 14 year old apprentice covering all aspects of the trade including pattern making for cornice moulds.

Fords and General Motors still employ artist, modelers, draft persons and pattern makers also toolmakers for the making of steel dies for pressings steel and injection dies for casting aluminum parts.

I know there is a big difference when tooling up the surface on a die for car parts then making small dies for injection moulding. In the tooling stage they make a replica patten from the master model that has the necessary build up where a draw die is concerned when pressing the first blank steel sheet. There are also other shaping dies made until the final surface has been achieved in the last die. This process would usually take about 6 to 8 different dies including ones which would operate cam for the under cut shaping of the steel for a parts like mudguard of front fender.

The dies casting mould which is made of sand and silicon, used to be moulded from wooden patterns that were pieced together for the final shape where the sand moulding core would be produced. Then the steel makers at the foundry would pour the liquid steel into the mould thus making the rough shape of the die. There are lots of processes to go through until the final stage for the finished steel pressing dies. Where the surface of the part is to be replicated. Has to go through the tooling cutting set up on those very large Kella cutting machines. The needle on the Kella goes over a surface of the fiberglass patten and the information is transferred to the cutting shaping drills which in-turn cut and smooth out the surface. When this stage is finished the die is then put in a press with a master spot bottom which is used to check on the surface of the die and the high spots are ground off. This finishing process takes time.

In the 1960's polystyrene blocks were used in making the die patten. These when finished would be taken to the foundry and the sand core would be made. This process improved die making and is still in process these days by Fords.

Modern Kella's are computer controlled but when I was last in the Fords Tool Room in the 1990's they were still were using the Kella top and spot bottom process made from the original pattens made by pattern makers.

Now as far as I know modern technology with computer programing can achieve most of the injection die making tooling and the use of having to hand follow the master patten to cut and shape the steel dies used in injection diecasting mass production would be superceded today.