Themed Sets

Hornby System of Mechanical Demonstration (HSMD)
Both Liverpool and American versions were produced. The American edition appears to be identical to the Liverpool edition expect for the front cover and page 43/44 which have American prices subtituted for the spare parts and HSMD outfits.

Mechanised Army
There was a small revision in the 1941 edition of the manual. This were mainly due to the introduction of 'Angle plates' to reduce the number of flexible plates that needed a sharp bend in order to build the models. The changes were:-

• Front Cover
  Manual prices were omitted from the Price Roundel in 1941
• Outfit contents
  82 of M37 + 74 of M37a + 10 of M37b » 82 of M37a + 74 of M37b
  3 of M221 added
  2 of M222 added
• Meccano Magazine
  The last paragraph was amended as due to war conditions the MM was available on order only
• Model Instructions
  Due to the introduction of the 'Angle Plates' paragraphs 3 & 4 of models 1 and 6 were amended

ARMY Multikit / Construction Set
There were a couple of errors in the 1972 edition and an 'Errata' sheet was included. - The picture of parts required for the models on pages 5 & 38 were wrong. It also gave information on how to fit the headlamps.

These errors were corrected in the 1974 edition with the info on headlamps being added to pages IRC, 1-3. Also in 1974 the knurled rod (part 326) was replaced by 4 1/2in. Axle Rods (part 15A). The manual was changed to reflect this.

In 1978 the manual was revised slightly for the renamed 'Construction Set'. This got rid of the flap page on the rear cover. The covers were now paper instead of the previous thin card.

HIGHWAY Multikit / Construction Set
There were a couple of errors in the 1972 edition and an 'Errata' sheet was included. - The picture of parts required for the models on pages 5 & 38 were swapped over. It also gave information on how to fit the headlamps.

These errors were corrected in the 1974 edition with the info on headlamps being added to pages IRC, 1-3. Also in 1974 the knurled rod (part 326) was replaced by 4 1/2in. Axle Rods (part 15A). The manual was changed to reflect this.

There was no 'Construction Set' version of the manual, the Multikit manual continued to be used.

SUPER HIGHWAY Multikit
Only one edition of this manual is known.

COMBAT Multikit / Construction Set
In 1978 the manual was revised slightly for the change of set name to 'Construction Set' and the number of pages was reduced by four.

CRANE Multikit / Construction Set
There are big differences between the two editions of this manual. When the manual was reprinted in 1978 due to it being renamed as a 'Construction Set' the oportunity was also taken to revise the Introduction pages. However the model pages are identical.

CLOCK No. 1 Kit
The 1971, 1973 and 1974 editions are all identical except that the 1974 edition has a large '1' on the top right corner of the front cover. Do any of the 1971 or 1973 manuals exist with a stick-on label with '1' on similar to the 1971 No.2 clock kit?

In addition to the manual leaflet there was a supplementary 'Operating Check List & Important Notes' sheet included with the sets. These were in English plus eight foreign languages (each on a single side of a sheet of paper). The foreign languages sheets are known in both single and double sided versions. The foreign language versions were on a larger sheet, than the English version (8" x 10").

Does a blue printed version of this manual exist like for the No.2 clock kit?

CLOCK No. 2 Kit
The 1971 and 1974 editions are both identical except that the 1974 edition has a large '2' on the top right corner of the front cover. The 1971 edition is also known with a stick-on label at the top with a large '2' on it.

Also included were eight foreign language translations of the notes in the manual. These were on double sided foolscap sized sheets (8" x 13") (one sheet per language).

In addition to the manual there was a supplementary 'Important Notes' sheet included with the sets. There was an English language version plus eight foreign languages. The foreign language versions were on two double sided sheets - two languages per side. Only one of the two foreign language sheets has so far been examined.

A version of the No.2 Clock Kit manual exists printed all in a blue ink. It has no copyright address, date or print code. It looks to be genuine, but when was it printed? - Does anyone have any information on it?

'Meccanoids' and 'Space 2501'
Only one version of the these manuals has been identified.

Action Packs
A number of small single model 'Action Pack' sets were introduced in 1980. There were six models in Series One, where the instruction leaflets were shared - each one having two models on them. There were seven models in Series Two, where there was an individual instruction leaflet per model. Only one version of the instruction leaflets has been identified. So far a manual leaflet for the Cosmic Raider has not been found. It is suspected that this may not have been released before the bi-lingual versions were produced. Confirmation of this would be appreciated.