Vanguards VA09611 Range Rover Met Police Special Escort

The Range Rover (L322) is a product of what I class as the Vanguards range darkest days. Gone were the lovely original boxes and in came the Perspex display box, the Corgi re-brand of “Drive Time” and sub divisions.

Many feel that Corgi lost the plot with the Drive Time branding, disregarding the heritage of Lledo that the Vanguards were born from and an attempt to rub shoulders with the likes of Minihchamps and AutoArt. In football terms it is like QPR thinking that they could take on the so-called Big Four and claim that Champions League spot.

Prices did tend to get a little expensive as well. Although there some good castings during this time, you would be buggered if you were paying £20-odd for a 1/43 that normally went for around £12-16. Yes, that £4 does make a difference over time.

I already have VA09602 Range Rover in Giverny Green within the garage and as regular readers of this blog know I do like a bargain.

And one did come up in the form of VA09611 Range Rover Met Police Special Escort. I have to say that I being originally from Sauf of the river in London, the Met Police does hold a bit of a pull on the heart strings – the Mickey Mouse P6 V8 3500 in dark blue is an iconic police car as are the early SD1’s and Triumph 2000’s.

I do like the black front over-riders that have been added to the model which gives it a real sense of presence. Likewise the detailing is of good standard, with those RR alloys well re-created and the blacked out rear windows show a sign of force and mystery – are there some from CO19 in the back?

There are some niggling grips which do compromise the model somewhat. The decaling on the front left wing has not been tampo-ed on properly meaning that there is some overhang and the left front tyre rubs on it. Secondly – and what pisses me off the most – is the complete lack of detail within the interior. I mean FFS, how difficult would it have been to add a little colour? Some 1-75 have more detail that what is on show here! Really poor.

I am glad that I got this one on a sale – there is no way on earth I would play full whack on this model with what I consider to be quite noticeable flaws. It will not make into the garage, BUT is now parked on the desk at worked as from afar it does display well. I did state that this was from the Vanguards dark era…….