The Diecast Zone · Model Car Club Since 1997
Diecast Collector Forums
Eight forums, every scale, and thirty years of shop talk — new arrivals, restorations, reviews, and the finds you won’t see posted anywhere else, with the full archive back to 2002 restored and searchable. Free to Register.
Many years ago, myself and Mick Cooling embarked on a project which involved the production of a series of Brooklin Models given the detailed treatment and refinished. The range was called Freeway Models. We paid a visit to John Hall, who was already familiar with Mick's work, seeking permission for Freeway Models to be given Code 2 Status, i.e. re-worked Brooklin Models with John Hall's approval. John was happy to agree to this.
The first model was BRK23 1956 Ford Fairlane Victoria and, contrary to the information in "The Bible", colours were Olympic Blue and Diamond White, both Ford colours. The brightwork was also etched out and not foiled.
For some reason, I never added one to my collection but fortunately, that has now been rectified, as John Ellis had kindly supplied with one from his collection. This model isn't one of the numbers produced by Mick, but one prepared by John and with some additional detail, mainly confined to the interior such as door furniture.
Whilst the original intention was to produce a series of detailed and refinished Brooklin Models, only one Freeway was ever made as Mick had taken on a new job in his retirement which severely impacted on his time.
Does anyone out there have one of these Freeway Models?
Here's the photos.
That looks spectacular with all that detail. Very nice!
An exceptionally nice 1956 Ford ! The colors are excellent and this one would display beautifully.
Awesome! Brooklins really POP when detailed and this one is spectacular. Wish the "plan" had worked out. Thanks for posting a bit more of little car history.
Models = Miracles in miniature = Holding History in ones hand
Cheers and Happy Collecting,
Steve
@whodeytink +1 Mike. a late friend did several Brooklin models for me and scraped the chrome details rather than foiling. Scraping was far superior than foil as it didn't make the chromed piece become too large. The colors on your model are sensational.
Excellent! Detailing at this level shows that Brooklin could produce truly fine masters, even in their early days.
John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA
I do not have one, but wish I did. That is a beautiful model.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
@jkuvakas Well said John. The Brooklin masters were always works of art buried under all inclusive paint jobs. When the details are picked out either through foiling them or scraping, the model becomes something entirely different, a work of art.




