Wooden Dinky Toys

With easy-to-follow instructions, anyone can make beautiful versions of these classic toys in wood...

Over the past century no toys have been more popular, or were made in greater numbers, than die-cast metal vehicles. They were small, about 2 to 5 inches in length, and included the likes of cars, trucks, boats, and planes. You no doubt played with them, collected them, and bought them for your children or grandchildren. You know the more modern names such as Corgi, Matchbox, and Hot Wheels, but before those brands landed on any kiddo's wish list, there was Dinky Toys. Dinky Toys were the most popular diecast vehicles ever made and they led the charge of metal die-cast vehicles populating many a playroom floor. In Wooden Dinky Toys, Les Neufeld, a professional woodworker and wooden toy expert, redesigns the favorites of the Dinky Toy line so anyone who enjoys working with wood can make beautiful versions of these iconic toys.

In Wooden Dinky Toys, all the projects have been chosen by the level of historical popularity, as well as the ease of conversion to a wooden counterpart. Each are made to scale - approximately 1/64, typical of small diecast toys - making a car between 2-1/2 in. and 3 in. long, an airplane 4 or 5 in. long, and large truck 6 or 7 in. long. Some of the projects have a few moving parts, but they are all simple enough to make in a few hours or, at the most, a weekend. Only basic tools are needed and the materials can be found among the scraps of any shop or garage.

Best of all, these are woodworking projects that will appeal to all skill levels. Parents or grandparents can work with children to make a favorite while novice woodworkers will feel comfortable tackling any of the toys. Strict adherence to the "blueprints" isn't required and all the toys can be altered to suit personal preference. Many options are provided along the way, with suggestions for ways to customize further, that allow crafters to put their own stamp on each toy while generating lots of ideas for the next project.

While there are several wooden toy books showing how to build larger conventional toys, Wooden Dinky Toys is the only guide you need to successfully craft these popular and realistic small toys.

About the Author

Les Neufeld is a machinist and an avid woodworker.