Amishtat

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1963 AUSTIN 702 DIESEL LORRY, SPARES REPAIR OR RESTORATION, SAVE IT FROM SCRAP! | eBay

Fans queuing outside the Electric Circus music venue, formerly the Palladium cinema, in, Collyhurst, Manchester, 29th May 1977. On the bill are Warsaw (later Joy Division) in their debut concert, as well as Buzzcocks, Penetration(!) and John Cooper Clarke.

All this talk of Bburago 1:18s is quite timely, given what arrived today, more of which anon.
1:18 will always be "my" scale. Ever since Christmas 1988, otherwise known as The Christmas of Two Bburago E-Types, I've loved them. Bburagos were my gateway drug, and then, as the scale became more popular and more brands joined the fray, my collection grew and continued until deep into adulthood (I'm deeply an adult). 
DC is dead right about their general worthlessness; our local antiques emporium / junk shop has a selection of unboxed examples of the most commonplace types (Porsche 356A, Mercedes SSKL etc) with £30 paper tags on them. They're unlikely to ever be sold and elicit a LOL from me every time I see them. 
Bburago models did gradually improve. They were rather shown up circa 1992 by what newcomers Maisto could offer, with such novelties as spring suspension and generally rather more detail. The first Maisto I bought was an XJ220, while on holiday in Florida at age 12, and my jaw dropped.  Actually, until they grew more widespread at places like Tesco several years later, subsequent visits to Florida yielded further Maistos, with a C4 Corvette, a Dodge Copperhead, a VW Export Sedan (Beetle) and Boxster prototype all originating from KayBee toys at the Florida Mall, Kissimmee.
'Twas around the turn of the century that I discovered AutoArt, and their models kind of put everything else into perspective. I snagged a VW Phaeton from the Ian Allan book / model shop in Birmingham, and that was it. Since then, I became increasingly obsessed with detail. The earlier Bburago releases that I own still have masses of nostalgia value (especially the E-Type, whose proportions are just wonderful). Alas, AutoArt models cost a million pounds each now, and I've missed out on certain incredible releases of theirs (Porsche 928, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Mazda RX7 etc). But on the other hand I still have a house to live in.
Anyway. Enough preamble.
My model Sierra obsession is well documented among these pages, and today it rather reached a head.



Yep. 
Among alerts that make my phone explode from time to time are the weekly discount notices from CK Modelcars of Germany.
As it happens I was quite interested in a Renault Fuego, and I was umming and ahhhing about whether to go for the Turbo for Those Graphics or the GTS for Those Wheels. And now there's a version with louvres over the rear screen. And all were handsomely discounting, making choice all-but impossible. And then I scrolled past – and then rapidly back to – this Sierra Cosworth RS500.
I had no idea that Solido made such a thing. I immediately put it in my CK Modelcars basket, went to check out, and then got an error message that said something along the lines of "We won't import to the UK unless you spend more than £135, because of VAT rules and that"
So I went on eBay and found another supplier for actually slightly less money, and it arrived this morning.

It's pretty bloody spectacular.

Proportionally, I reckon it's more or less bang on. I'm really pleased that key lines have been captured, including the concave section to the front wings, and the really subtle surface that starts at the door mirror and eventually forms the bootlid. Basically it looks like a Sierra Cosworth.

Yeah, the casting could actually be better – the front wheelarches are very slightly malformed, and the joins around the wheelarch extensions, sills and bumpers could be a bit more crisp. Plus, as is the fashion these days, there aren't many opening features. Just the doors. Terrible shame there's no engine on display, but never mind.
Yeah, the headlights are ever-so-slightly bulgy-out, and I'd like it if the grilles were open, but the details are generally fantastic. Most particularly the decals, which absolutely nail the Ford typefaces of the 80s.
It's generally great inside, too.

The centre console, shifter gaiter, handbrake, coin tray and cassette box are great, and check out the little plaque between the electric window switches.
The button count for the radio, with amplifier below, is correct for the Ford ECU2 sound system – except reversed!

Another oddity:
Look at how gorgeously modelled the electric mirror adjuster on the driver's door is. But why is there one on the passenger door, too?
The dashboard is a little boxier than it should be, but details like the correct red lines at 30 and 70mph on the speedo make up for it.
Anyway. There we have it. Until somebody does the decent thing and makes a 1:18 1983 Sierra Ghia in Glacier Blue, this is as close to peak model Sierra as I'll ever own.
 

Miss_155 rung me last week.She said she'd got me some cars from the charity shop she volunteers at sometimes,but that I might not like them all.I wasn't sure what to expect 🤔
First were these Yesteryears,not my sort of thing,although I do quite like the Packard
Next was this Corgi Mini,I do quite like these but this one has had a hard life
The best came last though,it was this Corgi Lotus Elan

It's in just the sort of condition I like them in,although the tyres had turned rock hard & were crumbling
I had this one I got last year,I'd bought it a new set of tyres,a driver,& a screen which I haven't fitted yet
Five minutes later,& I have this one.It's one of my favourite finds this year 😁
 

I bought myself a new project today.


this 1992 K reg 240 2.0 Torslanda Estate, a friend won it in a raffle from a banger racer 6 months ago and it's been sitting at his yard since, he wanted to get it back on the road himself but too many projects etc meant i was able to buy it off him.
The crash damage is unrecorded and the damage looks superficial to me so hopefully a easy fit, something has ripped the back bumper off, the paint is proper pogwiesel pink so needs a good polish but it fired up ok and has only done 49000 miles and has mot until November so fingers crossed its ok!

Neil is correct. Not sure about the Yugo tailgate but believe the rear roof section to be from an A60 Countryman. 

Cornish Tractor Preservation Club Rally 

There was an OAP polishing convention at the local Moss this morning when I was picking up some shizzle from Toolstation, so I wandered over for a look. 


The far end was the most interesting by far. 

However that all pales into insignificance compared to my drive down to Shipley just now. 
As I pulled out of a junction, I saw something boxier than normal out of the corner of my eye. 
I looked in my rear view mirror, is that a Suzuki SJ? No, dont think it is, what is it? 
Hold on IS THAT A MUTHA FUCKIN RICKMAN RANGER. 

I do believe it is. Apologies for the shite photo and I know I shouldn't be using my phone when driving but it was a fucking Rickman Ranger. 
Imagine if I'd crashed? 
"How did the accident happen?" 
"I was using my phone" 
"Thats illegal son, you're for it" 
"But there was a Rickman Ranger behind me" 
"I mean, that maybe would be pretty incredible but come on, no there wasn't" 
"There was really... heres a ph.." 
"Don't lie to me son, In the back of the car, I'm also arresting you under suspicion of driving under the influence" 

Which is also a 245 not a 242. Nice though.

As a result of mistranslation,the Skoda Fabia was nearly foisted on the public as the Labia. In spite of the last-minute correction and consequent rebadging,to this day they can usually be found in the vicinity of a cunt.

Norway's longest serving police car was retired last year after 26 years of faithful service.

I'm glad it's not just me that gets the odd model out of display or the loft for a bit of a 'fondle'. 
This one came out today for a play.


Its weird, often I'll be browsing on eBay and see something and think, "ah, I haven't got one of those". Then I'll be in the loft and realise I had one all along. Lately I've been browsing Astra coupés, I forgot I got this Minichamps Opel dealer edition during lockdown. As one would expect from Minichamps, it's a lovely thing.
I suppose I'm lucky, spouse wise. I've always been 'allowed' to have a display cabinet in the front room to host 'some' diecast. Naturally I cram in as many as possible...

I'll happily second your last sentence. In need of a roomy machine after the deeply disappointing Transit Connect shat the bed again  we picked ours up from  a local garage last winter (elderly owner had passed away,widow didn't want to see it sitting on the driveway apparently) and it's been a great investment.  Spacious, comfortable,decent economy for a petrol auto and quite a bit more thoughtful design than I'd have expected. I freely admit I expected to dislike it but it's certainly grown on me and been an impressively useful tool,well worth the £250 asked for it. Still plenty of them knocking about locally too,which says something.

Won't be riding his bike or sitting on a bar stool for a while.

Most of mine is in the loft,some in the attic over the barn,some more in the back bedroom (still not unpacked 15 months after we moved here..) and there's some dotted about in the garage too. I wouldn't be able to get away with a wardrobe stash,but this is the second house where I've been able to have a  diecast shelf in the kitchen. For anyone else who feels like trying this,it seems to help if you're at least a foot to eighteen inches taller than your partner..

That Charger is lovely, I'll be keeping an eye out for that if we get them here. For the benefit of the absolutely nobody who was wondering,this is what came home with me from Hawick yesterday afternoon. Corgi Majors Scammell and Carrimore trailer, another to go on the transporter shelf in the cabinet after it's had a wash and been loaded up.
 

After yesterday's boot sale shitshow,today I found myself visiting Hawick for the first time. Not sure what was going on with the traffic but the southbound A7 was diverted through the middle of the town ,which was handy as otherwise I'd not have been sitting at the lights in a position to notice a shop window full of old diecast. Even better,there was a Sprinter-sized gap by the pavement which it seemed rude not to take advantage of. Some rather nice stuff but his prices were all over the place, I had a closer look at a tatty Spot-on 105e Anglia but he wanted thirty quid and even by my low standards it wanted bumpers and a repaint. Have a crappy pic of some of the window display,the silver thing under the gold Lincoln was a Polistil Volvo 164,which is a new one on me. Typically,it was missing bits but he still regarded it as worth forty pounds..I didn't leave empty-handed (some of you know my complete lack of willpower) but that seemed much too salty to me. The Dinky A105 was rather tempting but again rather too much for me.
 

I'm pretty sure you could just chuck totally unfiltered WVO in there fresh from the chippy with no issues. #sustainable #climate #gretahasawideonforsierras

they have quite a following for what they are, certainly a lot more than their competition
i can see them being classics, certainly the early ones are almost there
as i always say, quite simply, they are very good