Go to the Welcome Page

Go to the News Page

Go to Picture of the Month

Search the MG Y Type site

Links to other useful sites and stuff

Events for Y Types

A concise history of the MG Y Type

Interesting and Different MG Ys

Top

End of Menu Items

Models of the MG Y Type

or "What to buy the man who has (almost) everything"

There have been many models made of MGs throughout the last 70 years, however not even a handful of manufacturers have bothered with the Y Type.  The only four manufacturers that I know of are DG, RAE, MG Car Club Y Type Register, and the most recent by Lansdowne.  If you know of any others, please contact me — I am always want to increase my collection!

Michael Ellman-Brown illustrates the DG Models in his book MG Collectibles on page 117, the range comprised a saloon and a YT with the hood up, and down.  Also, shown is the RAE range of models.

Further details on the Lansdowne Model

ldm28-1lansdowneldm28-2

MG YA SALOON

Gold model discontinued in favour of Black

NOT LIMITED - PRICE GUIDE AROUND £48.00 (for the Black model)

REVIEW BY DAVE TURNER

 

Brooklin have reached and passed several thresholds of accuracy and realism with their Lansdowne Models. For example the Rover P4 that came out as long ago as 1994 really made me sit up and take notice, six years later and I am again impressed more than just a little.

 

Lansdowne have just issued a 1:43 scale model of the post-war MG YA Saloon. The car that while featuring a body, the centre section of which was unashamedly related to that of Morris and Wolseley 8hp saloons, employed a robust chassis that was, in shortened form, to subsequently be the basis of the famed TD and TF Sports Cars. Introduced in May 1947, a total of 6,158 of the first series of YA saloons were made by January 1952 when the YB, featuring smaller 15" wheels, a hypoid rear axle and front anti-roll bar, ran on to September 1953, far fewer - 1,301, of these were made.

 

As far as models of Y series MG goes, RAE have a white metal 1/43 scale Y Saloon and a Y Tourer in both kit and built form in their range. Lansdowne have now added their new YA Saloon and it is a little gem to boot! Dimensionally, the model is as near spot-on as makes no difference, the shape and proportions likewise. One might question the depth of the rear wings, illustrations of the later YB series show them to have a slightly deeper section than the earlier, larger wheeled examples...so this can be confirmed as representing a YA Series car. Because of the larger wheel opening, the extra space around the tyre on the YA, gave the appearance of sitting up at the rear slightly more than the YB, and at the same time showing more of the inner wing panel. Brooklin to their credit have recognised this and painted the outer sides of the red seat section that is visible behind the rear wheels with a dull black colour. A few early production examples had this left in red.

 

ldm28-3Fine plated detail positively bristles all over the model, the grille is superb, it's shape is right, the MG Octagon badge is top centre while the 'filler cap' is also octagonal. Bad point though is the casting line that runs across the top and down each side of the grille surround. A dull black wash gives the grille detail some depth but it has been a trifle overdone on this example and could do with a more definite wipe over, allowing the plating on the grille bars to shine through. Headlamps (that might be mounted a fraction too high) and that once almost obligatory fog lamp mounted on the bumper are of the solid plated type with cast-in lens pattern, while tiny sidelights sit on top of each front wing. The bumper itself, while being correctly quite plain apart from some bolt head detail, is correctly shaped and free from casting marks. The plated bonnet top hinge cover is a plated strip while the door handles are tiny, delicate and not overscale like so many tend to be. It was the accurate fit and shape of the door handles that first suggested that this was a model worthy of being called 'scale'.

 

Look at the subtle swages in the scuttle just forward of the door, and across the rear deck, to appreciate the effort involved here, and, yes, for the rivet counters, there are the correct 20 bonnet side louvers in two banks of ten! Windscreen and wiper detail are painted over, which might be why from some angles the windscreen looks a trifle small, but it does scale out at around an inch and a half short on depth and 2 inches short of the width shown on a contemporary diagram. The same diagram shows the door windows to be very close to exact however. A novel touch is the open sunroof, allowing the detail on the 'timber' effect dash to be noted. So complete is the model in many ways that it was disappointing to find no gear or handbrake levers inside... it doesn't matter how much we get...we still want more...! The seats are the correct distinctive shape with pleated detail, while the steering wheel needs only a splash of silver for the spokes, although the hub mounted horn button should protrude a little more.

 

Details continue at the rear end, more delicate hinges and a handle for the boot lid are plated, while the MG Octagon is cast-in at its centre. Licence plate and 'D' lamps are plated and given red lenses although the main section of that on the left side should be white for the reverse lamp. More plated parts include the tiny fuel cap on the left side rear wing, and the plain hub caps...the MG badge seems to appear on these after late 1951, that and the 16" wheels are more confirmation that this is a YA series car. Very little detail is left painted over, apart from the windscreen frame, the running board rubbers were actually set in fine bright strips, a feature probably not re-created totally on the most expensive of models.

 

Although the light metallic bronze is an authentic, if unusual colour, its execution in 1:1 scale paint results in the metallic effect being far too course, if any criticism is to be of more than nit-picking in nature, it is the use of this finish...otherwise, well done Brooklin!

 

Brooklin Models Ltd, Pinesway Ind Est, Ivo Peters Road, Bath BA2 3QS. +44 (0)1225 332400

Email us here or visit our website www.brooklinmodels.co.uk

It is not Brooklin policy to sell direct to the public. These further details were reproduced by kind permission from www.whitemetal-model-reviews.co.uk/mg_ya_saloon.htm.