Toy Car Scale Comparison: Matchbox "Flatbed King" and "MAN TGS Dump"

In 2018 Matchbox introduced two very useful COE trucks that HO modelers should be aware of.

First up is a well-featured car transporter 

Model:  MBX Flatbed King
Model# MB 1074
Year Introduced: 2018





















Size is certainly good and an HO automobile fits nicely on the bed.  Though I don't have a picture of these features, the bed extends and then slants down to the ground for loading.  Excellent potential for an action scene on a layout.  Pictures of the ramp features can be seen at the wiki link attached to the model name above.

It is a generic design but the cab has alot of similarites to Scania.  I'm looking into the possibilities of swapping in an American style conventional cab front end.

Next up is another European-style prototype but still a useful design.

Model: MAN TGS Dump Truck
Model #: MB 1073
Year Introduced: 2018

A very nice mid-sized truck and the size is spot on for HO. The short dump bed does tilt but the gate is molded in place.  This vehicle would be a great candidate for adding a box bed or modifying the dump into a flat bed.

It does have a "MAN" (a German brand of truck not available in the US) logo on the front plastic grill, but black it out or cut it away and it's unremakable cab is very similar to North American market COE's like Isuzu, Hino, Mitsubishi, GMC etc. 

Here's how the two of them compare in size.  The Flatbed king might look good with the MAN cab....

So here you have two good options for adding some COE trucks to your layout. Not perfect - both have solid windows and no interior- but definitely good looking, well sized and great values.

Both were released as part of the 2018 product line but should keep appearing at your local shops at least through the first quarter of 2019.

UPDATE 1/29/19 :  It appears that Flatbed King will be included in the 2019 collection in very nice  red and black color scheme.  There is some indication that MAN Flatbed is back too, in the exact same paint as 2018.

-Karl