Matchbox Monday works its way to a mini dive back

Well, I had high hopes for Working Rigs in 2026. The presentation last July alluded to the range being increased to 18 models, and it felt like we were getting a reduction in carry forwards. Then, the first batch appears, and we are still at 16, and the carry forwards are even more. I do feel that, even within the Matchbox portfolio, the Working Rigs series is the range that they are neglecting. Of course, we could argue that Convoy, action drivers playsets and Hitch & Haul were all neglected too, leading them to be cancelled (for now, I am still hopeful). Honestly, I can't imagine we won't see something from Convoy as a tie in to the upcoming film. And with a lack of new playsets at the moment, surely something must be brewing. Perhaps we are just in a holding pattern, and when the movie comes out, we get an explosion of Matchbox products. As I said, I am hopeful that there is still a strong light at the end of the tunnel. This film has got to be a game changer, surely! So, with Wheel Collectors sending over the first batch of 2026 Working Rigs for me to peruse, I should get on with them. However, this report has ended up exceptionally short, so I decided to do a mini dive back at the end. Because, why not?

We start off by seeing a new look. Yay! This is number 6 of 16 for 2026, and features the RW002 Garbage King HD. However, you might just make it out on the package (I didn't do a decent shot before ripping it apart), they accidentally marked it down as Garbage King XL. That is an entirely different casting, but uses the same front cab. Oops! It doesn't bother me, as I am tearing models apart, but somebody wasn't proof checking details properly. 

Now, this is the first time that I have actually got this casting. However, I do know of the history. Back when Working Rigs was first envisioned, Matchbox called it Real Working Rigs, and models were given manufacturing numbers based on the "Real" and "Working" parts. And the first batch arrived at the end of 2008. RW002 was then the Autocar ACX Garbage Truck. By the end of 2009, we had seen 3 different looks. These were green/white Waste Management, orange/white Consolidated Refuse Systems and all-blue Appalachian Waste Systems. In 2010, they did an orangey yellow ECO liveried release and in 2011 a white/red Alleo design. After this, we did not see the casting as was again. Because, when Working Rigs returned in 2019 (minus the "Real" at the start), they were no longer able to use the Autocar license. So, they simply changed the cab to their original design that had been used on various other models. The back half was still the same. And the manufacturing number stayed the same, RW002. It returned in all blue J Yanouzas Waste Services design. I never started reviewing these until later, so never got any of the earlier examples. Surprisingly, this is the first time it has been used since the 2019 re-tooling. 

It comes in green and silver and features an El Segundo Waste Services livery. This is a fictitious livery that they created themselves. El Segundo has their waste collected by EDCO. They have white vehicles with burgundy stripes. Honestly, why have they not approached them to make models of their vehicles? But, saying that, when they do have their own liveries, they do put a lot of effort into them. I like this green and silver combo. They do go together well. And the logo looks realistic, and also features various other logos that you would associate with this type of vehicle. Including a caution sign on the side where the wheelie bins would be collected from. 

And it comes with one attached to the side, which does pivot up and down, enabling them to dispose of any trash in it. 

Both this, and the Garbage King XL, are fun models for play value. On this one, the wheelie bin contents are disposed of, and once the bin is out of the way....

The whole rear section tilts up, enabling anything that is thrown inside to be disposed of.

As the rear opens up to enable anything inside to come back out. 

I think this is a really cool casting. Why have they neglected using it? Oh, I am using that word again. It deserves more action. I think this one is fantastic. An easy 10 out of 10 from me. 

I love the front look of these. Both the RW051 Garbage King XL and this RW002 Garbage King HD have the same cabs, and these are shared with a number of basic range models. This sort of makes the whole casting design a recurring theme, doesn't it. They really need to work more on these in giving us a variety of vehicles. The cab is very realistic, and I am happy to see a variety of casting being made for different uses based on this cab design. And give us more Garbage King HDs. I might go and find the 2019 issue, just for the fun of it. 

Next up, number 9 of 16 for 2026 is the RW045 MBX Flame Blaster. It looks extremely familiar. 

And that is because it is the exact same RW045 MBX Flame Blaster that debuted in the number 2 slot last year. Exactly! I could find no variation of any kind between this one and the debut release. Why have they just done the same thing as last year? I do know it was quite a popular vehicle, so perhaps there may be a few who never found it. Well, they do get another chance. Plus, there are a small minority who may want packaging changes. 2026 packaging is very similar to 2025 packaging on these. Aside from not now including a "new for 2025" roundel on the front, and it sporting a different number out of 16, that's all you get. I am not a massive fan of carry forwards. I do understand why they do put them in places. But, my biggest gripe with them is if they are a carry forward of something that has only just appeared. A 2025 and 2026 release? Yes, I know, when I was growing up, Matchbox was entirely different. Models would run for years unchanged (officially, you might see variations as time went on)We had a Chevy Blazer in the basic range that ran 11 years in 1 look. 3, 4 or 5 years of continuous production was not unheard of for many models, across many ranges. But, times change. What worked in those days no longer works now. Everything evolves, and that includes toys. Which, at the end of the day, these are. So, when I see something that appeared last year, then simply done again one year later, I get annoyed. Either give it a new livery for year 2, or give it a rest. Give us something different. After all, the RW036 MBX Fire Stalker debuted in 2013. Still waiting on a second outing. Or redo that debut release. It has been 13 years! 

Good grief! This is the RW040 Cement King HD. Oh, they got the moniker at the end correct. It is number 15 of 16 for 2026. 

It was number 1 of 16 last year. Seriously? It feels like we are just redoing the 2025 series again with a couple of extras scattered in. The only difference again is with the packaging. For 2026, we are seeing multiple languages being used for names, which we didn't in 2025. And, aside from the number being different, the warning sign top right is now grey, not blue. But, the model is 100% the same as it was. Yawn! I am not impressed. I give both of these a big fat 0 for inclusion. I could have forgiven them if they redid the 2021 release in white and grey. Or, if they dug out the looks on the earlier RW001 Mercedes-Benz Actros Cement Mixer, like they did with the 2019 release. But, just doing last year again gets a huge no from me. 2 different 2025 models just rehashed for 2026. It almost feels like they are giving up with the range. 

Which brings us to the last model in the batch. The RW050 International MV Box Truck. Sigh! This casting debuted back in 2021 in white with a Speedy X-press side design. Well, that is not so bad, I hear you say. 5 years removed? Is that good? No. They carried it forward to the 2024 range, which means that this is the third time that we have seen this look. Ugh!

I bring in the original from 2021. It was 5 years ago. I remember when 2024 came, I could not see anything different to the original. But, this time, I am seeing something.

This is the newer run. On the surface, they look the same. 

But, the newer run is a brighter white than the creamier look of the older run. The grey of the base/front grille is also slightly different. 

And when it comes to orange, 2026 appears to be darker. Not just with the tampo printing. 

But also on the opening rear section. It's not much, but it is just about enough to say okay. And that is all I can say.

Which is a shame. This is a fun casting. But, for a third outing in 6 years in the same livery, I am not scoring this one well either. A 1 out of 10. A dismal array of model, with only the 1 new one being worth the fuss. 

And to make it worse, it debuted in 2021, seeing the same design in both 2024 and now. Yet, we had this lovely look for 2022. Why didn't they do this again? It's still only 4 years old, but having a second outing is better than a third. 

And who can forget the awesome Goodyear livery we had in the 2023 release. 

3 different looks to date, and one of them has been used 3 times, the others 1 each. This is something that they often do. Keep repeating the same ones, rather than rotate around the selection. I have to admit to being very disappointed with this particular batch. There was just the 1 standout. And, well, as I did run mega short here, I guess I should have a little fun at the end of pull out a few classics from the collection for a run through. As we are in Working Rigs territory, I am going to be using a few utility style vehicles. 

I am doing 2 classics to fill up the space in the report. The first of them is a classic from the Lesney era. The MB23-B Atlas. This was an original design from back in the Lesney era. When they launched Superfast in late 1969, they started their move into more fantasy and futuristic looking vehicles. This was one that appeared in the 1975 range, with a similar type of thing that Garbage King HD and XL have. It uses the same cab section as the later MB37-C Skip Truck that came out the following year. When it appeared, it came with a dark blue cab section, with a large amber window and a chrome interior. It sported an unpainted base, and came with a large orange dump on the back, and some large spiro wheels. 

The dump was fixed only at the rear, and so would lift and pivot back to dump any contents out. 

The first runs came with a red and yellow chevron side label going along the dump. But, that didn't last long. It was only a matter of months before they just gave up and ignored adding labels. 

In 1976, Lesney launched a new series of wheel designs. 5-arch and dot-dash. However, they did not make them that large at first, and the spiro wheels on vehicles like this carried on until early 1977, when they finally replaced them with a large dot-dash wheel. 

It was shortly after this that they decided to stop chroming interior pieces. They started appearing in grey later on in 1977. 

And they also started painting bases silver instead of leaving it unpainted. There are crossovers with unpainted bases and silver bases on grey interiors and amber windows. Chrome interior models always sported unpainted bases. 

Their next step, by the end of 1977, amber windows had given way to clear. By now, the silver base was the norm, but unpainted bases on a model with clear windows does exist. I don't have one. I am not that fussed, as you really only notice when you turn it over. 

Now, this was how the model continued on through the 1980 range. But, as with anything that had production for a number of years continuously, the shade variation collector can have some fun. the dark blue varies quite a bit between an almost purple shade to a more medium looking blue shade. 

Plus, there was a point in 1980, where Lesney decided to switch things up a bit and give us an orange interior. It didn't last, and it went back to grey again. 

After 1980, Lesney decided to split the range between models available in the US market, and other markets (hereafter known as Rest of World, or ROW). They decided to drop the Atlas from the US range, but ROW markets kept it going for 2 more years. They thought it would be a good time to refresh it with a different look. However, nobody can count. They had more body sections left than dump sections. So, the new look saw a transitional look, as when the orange dumps ran out, they put on the new silver ones on the last remaining blue bodies. 

Before switching fully over to the red bodies. 

During the last 2 years of ROW only production, the shade of red would vary between a light red and an orangey red. 

And, as time went on, they decided to switch interiors again. This time they went black. After 1982, the ROW market also dropped the model, and it was pretty much retired. But, there is a footnote.

Back in 1986, Matchbox was closing the England factory down, and some castings were shipped over to a new factory that was being set up in China. They were discontinued castings, given some test runs to check that everything worked before real production began. Move forward another 5 years, and the China factory was closing, and a new one was opening to take its place. They did the same again. Sent over some random casting that were not being used and did some test runs. The Atlas was one of the second China factory test subjects. It was made in light blue with a dark yellow dump, a grey interior, maltese cross wheels and a new plastic base. 

This was the only time the casting was used. These test runs of various models were sent out to market (why waste stuff) as either SuperValuePacks in the USA (6 models) or as 3-packs in ROW markets. It was quite surprising they did so much alteration to the model for this test run. Added rivets on the now plastic base (Universal were busy cost-reducing a lot of models at the time to plastic bases).

However, the one thing I always found odd with this one was why they added a raised square in the middle of the dump section? Some questions may never be answered. 

The other model I decided to work through is the MB139 Volvo Tilt Truck. This is another of those castings that Matchbox worked from the same start. In this case, it was a Volvo F-series chassis/cab, as Volvo made the real truck between 1977 and 1993, when the FH-series replaced it. After debuting as a Cable Truck or a Zoo Truck, in 1984, they decided to expand the range by adding a new configuration. This was the only 3-axle version, and the only one where the rear section didn't simply attach to a flat base. With raised sides, we saw a canopy added to the top. It debuted, exclusively in the ROW range, in 1984 in blue with a Fresh Fruit Co design on the canopy. As was the case at the time, most ROW exclusives were still being produced at the England factory, with US exclusives and worldwide issues being made in Macau. 

And as is always the case with England production, shades exist. The difference between the 2 blues here is quite noticeable. You might also find shades to the window tint, and you might even find a canopy where they forgot to tampo print anything. 

However, as time progressed, during 1985, manufacturing for ROW issues also transferred over to Macau. 

While most parts of the model were very similar, the tampo printing on the canopy was the biggest giveaway. If the writing and apple are orange, it is an England made model, but if they are red, it is from Macau. There is no value in crossovers, because they don't exist. But, you could make them up by simply switching the removable canopies. 

In 1986, the ROW market saw a new look. Yellow with a Ferrymasters design. 

This ran until 1988. However, during 1987, production moved on again. This time to China. From this point on, all models were made in China. 

You might have noticed a shade on the base shot. Yes, China was a much darker yellow.

While the model was in the basic range, during 1987, Matchbox issued a G-5 gift set in ROW markets. Production was always in China (as I noted already), and the set featured all white models with a Federal Express livery. Aside from this Volvo, we also saw the Volvo Delivery Truck, a VW Golf GTi, Ford Transit and a Learjet Skybuster. With production running through 1988 as well, we did find some shades. You instantly notice the logo in light or dark purple, but did you notice the trucks are different whites?

For 1989, the model was given another new look. It was now blue, with Michelin printed on the canopy, and the Michelin Man on the doors. It was only available for the 1 year in ROW markets, but you might notice that earlier thicker Michelin writing became a little thinner later. 

1989 also saw the advent of a Commando series. There were 2 teams, with Strike Team being in army green and Dagger Force being in matte black. The Volvo was given a look for both teams. 

Matchbox also released an array of models exclusively in the Swiss market. These were known as the Swiss Collection, and the Volvo was seen in blue with Henniez on the canopy. 

For 1990, something unusual happened. The model was added to the US range as well. They only saw the 1 livery, as Pirelli was run for 3 years, as after 1992, all markets dropped the model. Earlier runs saw the tyre tracks in grey, but later on, these were changed to black. 

And, at the same time that this was happening (1990-1992), the model was also added to the Early Learning series. At first, the model was run with yellow wheels that sported a red hub, but was soon changed to a blue hub. Later runs from 1992 saw hubs left blank. You might see shade variations, and during blue hub production, some actually came without canopies. 

After 1992, the model went on hiatus. However, after Mattel took over, they decided to dig it out for a couple of extra outings. The first was in the 1998 Big Top Circus Adventure pack. It came with a Ford Cargo and Cage and a few accessories. 

After that, it saw 1 final outing, again exclusively to the ROW basic range. It came in pumpkin with a green canopy, and saw apples in the design. A sort of throwback to the debut which also had an apple. Sort of bringing it full circle. After this MB4 outing was run, the model was retired for good.

Well, I think that was a nicer note to finish on. I am done for another week. I hope you enjoyed the dive back. I think I may throw a few random dives in when my articles are a little bit too short. Likely when we get more Working Rigs. After all, this batch only had 1 new look. 

Along with 3 carry forwards with only 1 of those seeing any difference at all to previous issues. 

So, as these head off, I start to look forward to my next report, and back to basics again. Until then, I hope everybody has a safe and happy week.