Matchbox Monday beefs up batch Working Rigs with a mini dive

As is often the case with Working Rigs, my reports on a new batch tend to be a little light on the ground. I do feel that this range is given the least love within the Matchbox portfolio. A small set of 16 across the entire year, and over half of them tend to be carry forward models. I do wish there would be less repeating in general, although some of the repeated ones in this particular batch are from a long time ago. Which, isn't so bad. But, with basics being basically all new, moving parts moving along with all new stuff, and Collectors collecting a full set of new items each year (my puns get worse), and even the Walmart exclusives now being all-exclusively new, Working Rigs does feel like the runt of the litter here.  Still, one day they may change this range, and increase the amount of new items in it. But, for now, let's get on with the new batch, as there are 5 in this one. Still a short report. A short enough report to dig something out of the collection to bolster it? Sure. Why not. 

And we begin with, the only new one. Yes, a set of 5, and only 1 is a new look. The RW050 International DuraStar Box Truck. This is actually the model's second outing in 2026, as it was in batch A in a repeated theme. But, this time out, it gets the awesome UPS design. 

It is number 7 of 16 this year, with the carry forward being number 16 of 16. And we all know and love the UPS look. A dark chocolate brown, with the UPS logo. It is iconic. It is known worldwide. And the model gets a lot of detailing. The cab is metal and the box is plastic. They have matched the colours very well, as that is something that is not as easy as it sounds to get right. Although this is a dark colour. It might be a little easier when it is dark like this. Or white. The UPS logo is on the sides, the doors, and at the front of the box section. We also get some headlights depicted on the front corner of the cab. Very nice. And those wheels are so suitable for a vehicle like this. 

I don't think there is really anything that they could have done to make this even better. I am definitely scoring this a perfect 10. I have been hearing it is very popular. I can't believe it has taken so long to get the UPS licence again. At least now they have it, they are putting it to work. A basic last year, Working Rig this year. There was also a Skybuster, although I don't collect those, so don't have an example. 

It's a shame that the basic range Express Delivery got cost reduced to a point where the rear no longer opens, but on the Working Rig? Yes! Extra fun. I do enjoy this casting, and it has seen some lovely designs since its 2021 debut.

When it debuted in 2021, it arrived in the recurring theme of Speedy X-press. Excellent way to start, although after being repeated in 2024 and 2026, I do think it has been used enough. At least we did get a shade to it this year.

2022 saw another recurring theme. CarGo. This one is yet to be repeated, but something tells me it will be. Ha ha!

And in 2023, the model was seen in a lovely blue and white Goodyear design. Another amazing real licence. They do very well with the licence stuff recently. 

With 2024 seeing the debut come back, and nothing in 2025, this actually marks the first time that the casting has been sold with the box in anything but white. A completely pointless and daft fact. I am full of them. Well, full of something.....

While the rest of this batch is full of carry forwards. Next up is the RW023 GMC C8500 Topkick Tree Trimming Truck. It takes the number 10 slot in the series in white.

This model first debuted back in 2012, but was carried forward to 2024. That will be where I initially got this from. As I noted at that time, the orange platform is darker in 2024 than it was in 2012, but apart from that, they were a good match. 

And this one is the same as the 2024 issue. Which is a shame, as it was only 2 years ago. Not enough time to be gone long enough to look refreshed for new children's eyes. Kids have good memories, and they will know that it was not around that long ago. So, as it was the last one seen, I am scoring this a 1 out of 10 for adding it again. There was a year gap, so it gets a solitary point for not being repeated immediately. 

But, when you look at the history of this casting, considering it debuted in 2012, it has only seen 3 looks. The second was part of the finale of Real Working Rigs, as it was known at the time, in 2013, when the pale blue Mr. Green's Arbor Machine arrived. It was repeated in 2023.

And the only other look being the green Ozima one in 2022. If anything, considering the first 2 had recurred in 2023 and 2024, I would have brought this one back for a second outing if there is nothing new coming from this casting. Honestly, I would like a new look. But, seeing one once, one twice and the other three times, I know I would have preferred them to level up a bit better. Especially as there were no other green models in the batch.

2 more white ones. This RW024 GMC T8500 Airport Truck being one of them. Now, this repeated look takes the number 11 slot in white.

But, it is the first time that they have repeated the debut look from 2011. Okay, a 15-year gap. I can live with that. Especially as I wasn't getting the Working Rigs models at the time, and never had this one. So, this looks new to me. I like the styling of this one. Samson Cuisine is an original brand name, but looks very realistic. It features across the side of the rear section, and on the doors, along with front detailing on the cab. I think it is stunning, and am happy enough that they have brought this one back.

Plus, this is such a cool casting. This is how it comes. 

But has a lovely smooth scissor action that takes the rear up really high, and a walkway that pops out of the front. Seriously, why is this casting not getting more outings? I will give this a 9. 15 years is definitely a good age to bring back if they have to re-release a model. But, I can't bring myself to give it a perfect score, even though it does look incredible. Because, as the end of the day, it is still a carry forward. And I would dearly love for them to come up with a new look for it. Hmm, I might have to pass on a few random ideas....

Because this one has only ever seen one other look. That's it. Since 2011, we have 2 designs. The green and white was the 2012 outing, repeated in 2022, and 2023! I said in 2023 why repeat that 2 years in a row, when they had the other one. 

2 clearly isn't enough for this one. I hope it gets a new look. Shall I give it some inspiration? Let's do my dive back now, shall we? I was going to leave it until the end, but I think now is as good a time as ever. 

So my dive back takes me back to 1987. And the MB178 Ford Cargo Skip Truck. Wait, how is that giving inspiration for the Airport Truck? I will get there. The Ford Cargo had debuted in Europe in 1981, and in North America in 1986, and would come in many configurations. Matchbox chose initially to incorporate the Skip truck style. 

Early runs saw a very dark orange print on the skip, which turned lighter later. The yellow cab on the truck would also vary a little in shade.

In 1989, it did briefly pop up in the My First Matchbox series in blue, with a funky red and yellow design. However, this initial batch was all we saw of it, and it was replaced by other vehicles instead. I think they got a bit worried over having a small skip that detaches, and marketing it to the very young. 

Production of the original yellow truck with grey skip ran until 1991. During this time, production of the model moved from Macau to Thailand in 1990, and the skip was cost-reduced from metal to plastic. However, all 4 configurations do technically exist. The last Macau made models saw the skip turn plastic, but when it was shipped to Thailand, they initially made it metal again, before switching to plastic almost immediately. But, as the skips are detachable, and they have no country markings on them, you can simply switch them around. I have Macau metal, Thailand plastic. I am fine.

In 1992, a small change was made to the casting. Well, to the skip. It turned red. And no longer had markings on it. After 1992, it was dropped from the US range, but the casting continued on through 1997 in ROW markets, which means you can find shades of yellow again. 

During 1997 itself, in the midst of the final year in the ROW range, production moved from Thailand to China. At this point, the arm holding the bucket was turned yellow. A dead giveaway as to which country made it. You will also notice the skip is a lighter red from China. After 1997, it was dropped from the ROW range as well. 

But, that was not the end for the Ford Cargo. During 1997, they got their first licence for Jurassic. The Lost World: Jurassic Park was out in the cinema, and Matchbox released a number of tie in models, some of which were simply altered regular castings, nothing to do with the movie. One of those was the Ford Cargo, turned into MB317, with a large cage on the back. 

Where it would house a small (cast) dinosaur. That little dino was heavy. It was not a plastic piece. 

While they had it, they also threw the casting into an Adventure Pack, which ran through late 1997 and 1998. This was in a Safari pack.

And in 1998, it saw 1 more outing in another Adventure Pack, with the Circus themed pack running through 1999. At this time, they altered the casting again. 

It was now the MB401 Scissors Truck. See, I told you it would become relevant. This was the final casting style for that Ford Cargo, and debuted in 1999 in the basic range in white. However, while almost every market across the world saw the World Jets look in the basic range, the German market actually saw the real licenced LSG Sky Chefs design. Why the real one was only for Germany, I have no idea. Sky Chefs was a US company, and LSG a German one. They collaborated in 1993 after LSG took out a 25% share. We see these worldwide in airports, and I was always surprised that they never utilized that in all markets. I would love to see the LSG Sky Chefs look return on the GMC. 

As well as the basics, we also saw 2 other releases. A red and grey look was in the Airport Adventure Pack. 

And the World Airways white model was in the Airport 5-pack. However, for ROW markets, the World Airways logo was only the logo itself, with no writing. Only the US market got the full detail. Could World Airways work on the GMC?

In 2000, the model was given a final worldwide basic range outing, with a Venture Star design on the side. In the USA, the first 10,000 had a Matchbox 2000 logo on the front. 

And we saw a red and white 5-pack Ocean Dock release. 

As a swansong, in 2001, they created an ASAP blank for the model, and shipped it out to ASAP and Color Comp for code 2 usage. After this, the casting was retired for good. But, I do think there are perhaps a couple of looks that could potentially work as a retro look on the GMC, or just getting LSG Sky Chefs. Something to think about as we move on to the next model in the batch of Working Rigs.

This would be the RW004 Western Star 6900XD Wrecker, which brings back a classic recurring theme. Lyons Bros. It takes the number 12 slot for 2026.

It is nice to see that this casting is being used again. As you can tell from the '004' part, this is one of the original castings from the Real Working Rigs debut in 2009. In fact, it was one of the models in just the second batch. Lyons Bros then appeared 2 batches later, circa June 2009. This is the first time that the livery has been repeated. Okay, I can definitely live with that. Especially as I was not getting them at the time, and this is the first time I have this particular look. 

During the almost 17 year gap between production runs, there has been a few small changes to the design. At the front, the chrome grille now has the logo on the top. It was not put on it originally. Plus, the headlights have seen a bit of an improvement. 

The sides are now tampo printed. Originally, they were fusion graphics, which means that we do see small gaps where door lines are. That is the difference between tampo (flat pad, unable to fill cracks) and fusion (that does include gaps). Plus, the upper sides either side of the boom section had a silver trim originally, which is no longer there. This silver trim is also missing from the air cannister by the door. Western Start has also been added to the leading edge over the wheel arch as well. Quite a few changes. It is sad I do not have the original for a side by side. But, hopefully you will get the gist that these are easily distinguishable. Which is a really good thing, and something I do not mind when there is such a huge gap between runs. I mean, 17 years? That will do it. 

On the downside, I still wish somebody would look at that rear hook. You can't actually hook much to it. It is so small. Plus, on the tampo printing on the side, somebody can't spell ratchet. It was wrong in 2009, and is still wrong now. They put "rachet". Minor quibbles.  For a carry forward, this is one of the best models out there. A 17-year gap between production is definitely a decent gap, and I do not mind it recurring. Having that awkward tow hook and not spelling things right, does make me lost a small mark. It loses a point purely for being a carry forward (as I did with the last model), but another point gets deducted for the minor issues. An 8 out of 10. Which is a shame, because I am actually very happy to finally have the Lyons Bros model to tow some Lyons Bros vehicles. You will see a few fun posts on my Instagram soon (if you follow me there, @davidjtilley being my Instagram handle, clickable link). 

Now, I currently have 3. This one is much better than both the other 2 carry forwards, due to the long time between runs. The first carry forward was in 2023, when the blue Weirsma model from 2019 was brought back for a second outing. It is cool, it denotes Chuck Weirsma, who was my guide for how the new Lyons Bros model differs from the old one. I love the model, but it had a 4-year gap between runs. Not 17. 

When Working Rigs returned in late 2018, we saw 2 different looks for this casting in 2019, much like during the debut year. And the other red one returned in 2025. Which means a 6-year gap. Slightly better, but still not 17! 

Now, the red one was loosely based on the debut burgundy one, with only the name on the door being altered, and switching from burgundy to red. So, I have a feeling we will not see the burgundy one return. But, there is a chance for the 2010 green issue to pop back. As that is the only other look for the casting. Although, I am definitely after a whole new look for the future. We have technically had nothing new since 2019, but have had 3 outings. The 3 I have. 

Which brings me to the final model. The RW003 Pierce Quantum Aerial Ladder. It takes the number 14 slot in white. 

The exact same look as when it was in the 2024 range. Exactly. I can see absolutely nothing different between the 2. Doh! The last 2 carry forwards were giving me hope. 15 years, 17 years, this is RW003, another original from 2009. And they give us the last look again. 

It's a recurring theme. Always good, in principle. But, this is 2 years old. It is still... fresh. It was way too early to bring this one back. Waaaaay too early. It is not as bad as the MBX Flame Blaster that was in the last batch, rolling over from 2025. But, as the first time they have re-used a look on this one, why did they go with the last one? When it debuted in 2009, it was given 3 looks, but all were licenced. Yellow Bernalillo, white New Orleans and red San Diego outings. I am not sure if these can be brought back. I don't know the legalities when it is a real livery. But, in 2013, it was added to a Mission Force set in yellow. Could they have redone that? 13 years. A long time to wait for it to return. Much better than 2 years ago. Because of this, I am scoring this a 1. Yep. I'm being bad again. Consistent with a solitary point for not being an immediate return. Out of all the older ones to bring back for the first time, they went with the most current. 

They could have even brought back the 2020 look. It was the first one I picked up, but 6 years is just beyond my theory of a 5-year cycle for kids to move in and out of toy cars. I could have lived with that one returning. 

Obviously, the 2023 outing will not return. It's 70th Anniversary specific. They are never having another 70th Anniversary, so that is a 1-off look. 

But, bringing back the last one was just a bad choice in my eyes. It needed more time out to at least be interesting again. 

On that note, I do believe I am done for another report. This batch of Working Rigs saw 1 amazing new design. One of the best of the year. I love the UPS look.

It also gave us 2 carry forwards that they dug into the archives to bring back, and both were really cool to see again.

Along with another 2 that I feel were total letdowns. Both were from 2024.

So, as these head off, my thoughts start moving towards next week's basic range return. I have the second half of batch E & F (or as Mattel calls it, mix 5) to finish off. Until then, I hope everybody has a safe and happy week.