Jon

I was a (semi) regular at the York racecourse toy and train fair, circa 1994-97. On reflection, it was a good father/son bonding experience, as my Dad took me along and then decided he'd like to start collecting Mercedes (but only in black, his favourite Benz shade!) and Royal Mail stuff, for some reason (coincidentally, I became a driver for Royal Mail in York, a few years later).
I sold almost all my diecast wares to emigrate in 2010 but last year, I rediscovered an often thought about but presumed sold item, languishing in my parents loft. It's now sitting on my living room bookshelf here in NZ and is well overdue some photos.
If the fair is still being hosted on a Saturday, make sure to head to the car boot sale literally around the corner, behind the racecourse, as it's a bloody good'un (runs until late October). A few items from last year's car boots also came home with me and two are also on the bookshelf!

I was a (semi) regular at the York racecourse toy and train fair, circa 1994-97. On reflection, it was a good father/son bonding experience, as my Dad took me along and then decided he'd like to start collecting Mercedes (but only in black, his favourite Benz shade!) and Royal Mail stuff, for some reason (coincidentally, I became a driver for Royal Mail in York, a few years later).
I sold almost all my diecast wares to emigrate in 2010 but last year, I rediscovered an often thought about but presumed sold item, languishing in my parents loft. It's now sitting on my living room bookshelf here in NZ and is well overdue some photos.
If the fair is still being hosted on a Saturday, make sure to head to the car boot sale literally around the corner, behind the racecourse, as it's a bloody good'un (runs until late October). A few items from last year's car boots also came home with me and two are also on the bookshelf!

Oh my. Would swap Gama Consul coupe for Politoys Quattroporte.

Thinking man's Dinky Zodiac.
Fun fact: A friend over here bought an absolute basket case RHD one 6-7 years ago, for less than £500. Rumour was it was sold new in Australia and the naughty owner met his end in it, via the assistance of others. Grim.

I was a (semi) regular at the York racecourse toy and train fair, circa 1994-97. On reflection, it was a good father/son bonding experience, as my Dad took me along and then decided he'd like to start collecting Mercedes (but only in black, his favourite Benz shade!) and Royal Mail stuff, for some reason (coincidentally, I became a driver for Royal Mail in York, a few years later).
I sold almost all my diecast wares to emigrate in 2010 but last year, I rediscovered an often thought about but presumed sold item, languishing in my parents loft. It's now sitting on my living room bookshelf here in NZ and is well overdue some photos.
If the fair is still being hosted on a Saturday, make sure to head to the car boot sale literally around the corner, behind the racecourse, as it's a bloody good'un (runs until late October). A few items from last year's car boots also came home with me and two are also on the bookshelf!

I was a (semi) regular at the York racecourse toy and train fair, circa 1994-97. On reflection, it was a good father/son bonding experience, as my Dad took me along and then decided he'd like to start collecting Mercedes (but only in black, his favourite Benz shade!) and Royal Mail stuff, for some reason (coincidentally, I became a driver for Royal Mail in York, a few years later).
I sold almost all my diecast wares to emigrate in 2010 but last year, I rediscovered an often thought about but presumed sold item, languishing in my parents loft. It's now sitting on my living room bookshelf here in NZ and is well overdue some photos.
If the fair is still being hosted on a Saturday, make sure to head to the car boot sale literally around the corner, behind the racecourse, as it's a bloody good'un (runs until late October). A few items from last year's car boots also came home with me and two are also on the bookshelf!

Well then... a reminder that the mornings are maybe taking a little bit longer to get started this time of the year, but dawn still comes.

Not many leaves on the ground, but the tree canopies are looking a little thinner, somehow.

But we know what we're here for.

And so do all these folks, apparently. Club 7:30 is seemingly welcoming new members.
Nemesis was ahead of me once more, and setting out the dregs of the Lledo-era Vanguards on the rickety camping table while Market Blokey added some of the Corgi Classics commercials that we've previously seen.

Mmm... just the commercials left, then.
Up top, on the main stall, were some large tinplates - Tri-ang, maybe?

There was also this Tri-ang train set; plastic, but quite nicely detailed and seemingly complete.


And also a lot of motoring-themed books:

Like, a lot of books.

Many of which were titles I've owned in the past - the sort of Colour Library Books publication I would have been over the moon to receive from my grandparents for like my eighth or ninth birthday.

I definitely had this one, thrilling the younger me with the wonder of Duesenbergs and Cords and pre-war Cadillacs.
How I went from this to a worrying interest in seventies Chryslers and Vauxhalls is anyone's guess.
Also some lovely old magazines:

I didn't have a chance to flick through them to find out how to make your tyres last for 50,000 miles, as promised by the issue on the right, but I'm going to guess it involved retreading them yourself using a red hot poker from the kitchen range...
But where, where was the tat?
I mean, there were a few Lesney buses kicking about:

But most of the tat today was of the decidedly non-wheeled variety.
Not that a charming novelty money box featuring a mechanism whereby a pig balances coins on its nose before feeding them to a comedy Irishman isn't fun, and all...

Or, indeed, a toffee tin apparently featuring Theresa May and her 2016 cabinet playing at pirates:

We're here for diecast, dammit.
Oh, here it is.

I was a (semi) regular at the York racecourse toy and train fair, circa 1994-97. On reflection, it was a good father/son bonding experience, as my Dad took me along and then decided he'd like to start collecting Mercedes (but only in black, his favourite Benz shade!) and Royal Mail stuff, for some reason (coincidentally, I became a driver for Royal Mail in York, a few years later).
I sold almost all my diecast wares to emigrate in 2010 but last year, I rediscovered an often thought about but presumed sold item, languishing in my parents loft. It's now sitting on my living room bookshelf here in NZ and is well overdue some photos.
If the fair is still being hosted on a Saturday, make sure to head to the car boot sale literally around the corner, behind the racecourse, as it's a bloody good'un (runs until late October). A few items from last year's car boots also came home with me and two are also on the bookshelf!

Oh my. Would swap Gama Consul coupe for Politoys Quattroporte.

Thinking man's Dinky Zodiac.
Fun fact: A friend over here bought an absolute basket case RHD one 6-7 years ago, for less than £500. Rumour was it was sold new in Australia and the naughty owner met his end in it, via the assistance of others. Grim.

I was a (semi) regular at the York racecourse toy and train fair, circa 1994-97. On reflection, it was a good father/son bonding experience, as my Dad took me along and then decided he'd like to start collecting Mercedes (but only in black, his favourite Benz shade!) and Royal Mail stuff, for some reason (coincidentally, I became a driver for Royal Mail in York, a few years later).
I sold almost all my diecast wares to emigrate in 2010 but last year, I rediscovered an often thought about but presumed sold item, languishing in my parents loft. It's now sitting on my living room bookshelf here in NZ and is well overdue some photos.
If the fair is still being hosted on a Saturday, make sure to head to the car boot sale literally around the corner, behind the racecourse, as it's a bloody good'un (runs until late October). A few items from last year's car boots also came home with me and two are also on the bookshelf!

I was a (semi) regular at the York racecourse toy and train fair, circa 1994-97. On reflection, it was a good father/son bonding experience, as my Dad took me along and then decided he'd like to start collecting Mercedes (but only in black, his favourite Benz shade!) and Royal Mail stuff, for some reason (coincidentally, I became a driver for Royal Mail in York, a few years later).
I sold almost all my diecast wares to emigrate in 2010 but last year, I rediscovered an often thought about but presumed sold item, languishing in my parents loft. It's now sitting on my living room bookshelf here in NZ and is well overdue some photos.
If the fair is still being hosted on a Saturday, make sure to head to the car boot sale literally around the corner, behind the racecourse, as it's a bloody good'un (runs until late October). A few items from last year's car boots also came home with me and two are also on the bookshelf!

Had a splashdown myself today - a mystery box of wonders from across the sea:

Boing! A triptych of tat, courtesy of @FakeConcern.
Lesney King Size Mercedes ambulance is tired, but complete bar a tyre.

However, I'm not sure if it's so knackered that I can justify busting it open to fillet its glazing unit and wheels for my otherwise very tidy example.
Still, it gives me something else to prevaricate about for the next decade or so.
Trans-o-lite action Corgi Commer PB crew pickup is nice, though.

Despite some (very neat) touching-up of the paint, it still looks like an authentically worn original.

Crew bench still in place in the back, too.
Since I've now got several of these (I think this might be no.5), I was expecting to be able to indulge myself in some hot and heavy body-swapping action; but no!

This one isn't like all my others, with their little turny-clasps on the base to release or retain the rear body. No, it's all been sealed at the factory.
Never mind - it's still great!
But of course, the real show-stopper here is the Corgi 'Santapod Gloworm' Capri funny car.

Although I've seen one or two of these before, they've usually been pretty trashed.

This one's been well-used, but not really abused. The paper stickers are showing evidence of their 50+ years, but the paint isn't bad.

I think the body's only meant to hinge at the back, rather than come straight off - a bit of warping at the hinge seems to have occurred.
I could try bending it back, but my track record on this kind of work isn't exactly stellar.
So I might leave it.
It's very nicely engineered though, with a pivoting spring-loaded catch at the front keeping it altogether.

While I didn't have a lot of time to play with it today, I think I'll be coming back to it before long...
All in all - GR8 CELLAR WUD REKOMMEND
Cheers, dude!

Well York Racecourse classic show came up trumps with the miniature shite and full size shite. 
£1 each from 3 different stalls.
I also had a lengthy chat with a bloke with several boxes crammed full of egg cups and six 1/18 scale cars that he'd priced at £100ish each because of the shipping to the UK. The very same that where in Tk Maxx years ago.





The Pickfords Van is almost mint with roller back door. However the pooch in the Jeep has been removed unfortunately.
I have been looking for a Husky Olds for ages that wasn't silly money now I have one.

Here’s a small selection of my Capri’s. These are just ones I can find pics of, there’s many many more but you’ll have to wait for pics of them!
Vangaurds Mk1 & Mk3, Minichamps Mk2.


Corgi Mk3, I have at least 3 of these in different colours.


Earlier Corgi Mk1, there’s probably 5 or 6 of these here in various colours.


Matchbox Mk1. Again, loads more colours of this one here - quite possibly all of the colour variations except the Super GT type.


Matchbox Speedkings/Superkings Mk2. This is a Bulgarian one in a really nice dark metallic blue we didn’t get here. I’ve got a couple of the uk versions too.


Dinky Mk1 in a weird brownish red colour.


Otto Mk2. Expensive model but very nice.


Ford 1:1 scale Mk2! Cobbled together by a ham fisted bunch of scousers, then rebuilt by a short tempered foul mouthed heathen!🤣

 
Once the move is over I’ll dig them all out together! 

Oh my. Would swap Gama Consul coupe for Politoys Quattroporte.

Thinking man's Dinky Zodiac.
Fun fact: A friend over here bought an absolute basket case RHD one 6-7 years ago, for less than £500. Rumour was it was sold new in Australia and the naughty owner met his end in it, via the assistance of others. Grim.

Oh my. Would swap Gama Consul coupe for Politoys Quattroporte.

Thinking man's Dinky Zodiac.
Fun fact: A friend over here bought an absolute basket case RHD one 6-7 years ago, for less than £500. Rumour was it was sold new in Australia and the naughty owner met his end in it, via the assistance of others. Grim.

Model Crapis what I have owned...
I had an Airfix  (no pics of this) that I finished in Humbrol purple, my mum got rid of all the tpys I hadn't taken when my parents moved house in 1986 (?) I've still not forgiven her...
Also still have this Roger Clark Corgi Mk1owned  from new was until recently yellow

Now white again with a teledial wheel red one bought for my Tri Deck

I have another teledial one somwhere that I robbed the wheels from to make a Lancia Whizzwheels for the Tri Deck.
Also have a Dinky Mk1 that a misguided young me cut a sunroof in

Lastly a Matchbox Superkings bought just because

Oh my. Would swap Gama Consul coupe for Politoys Quattroporte.

Thinking man's Dinky Zodiac.
Fun fact: A friend over here bought an absolute basket case RHD one 6-7 years ago, for less than £500. Rumour was it was sold new in Australia and the naughty owner met his end in it, via the assistance of others. Grim.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I bought a Hot Wheels '70 Chevelle panel van. I've had it so long I don't have a before pic but I think it was this one in wonderful* Star Trek livery

Some time ago I pinched the Real Riders off it and stuck it in the spares box. 
For some reason it caught my eye again and I stripped the paint...and left it sitting around again. 
Anyway - I finally got around to doing something with it, I nearly put a huge set of rims under it but it looked awkward, so a smaller set I removed from an old Super Treasure Hunt were installed instead. Paint is a light to dark fade that looks totally different in reality to the pics! The top is quite a light green like Crystal Green used on early MK3 Escorts etc if that helps. Theres a dusting of white pearl under the clearcoat too. Interior is cream and definitely not filler primer...
Gave the bumpers a polish up as the casting was a bit rough. Eyes felt like they were out on stalks doing the lights etc but I'm happy with it.

We're just a few quotes short of completing the NorfolkNWeigh hardback issue of 'Expressions of distaste for the Siku Ford Granada'. 
A hearty tome, following on from the bestseller, 'Ways to Rid the World of Days Gone (By)'. Numerous authors.

I had a boxed Sintra bought cheap on Trademe (rather a niche item in NZ) and also a boxed Calibra in blue, which I sold last year. @Split_Pin ended up with the Sintra and possibly Calibra too but that may have gone to @AndyW201.
I'm semi tempted by the Opel GT, as it's obviously a direct re-hash of the original casting - wobbly wheels 'n all. I'm sure I'll get round to making a decision, one day.
I seem to have amassed quite a few Gama and Conrad VWs and BMWs of the 70's & 80's and also won a couple of other 80's castings a while back, the latter of which which I've yet to take photos of on the kitchen hob/my wife's yoga mat catalogue.

Mrs_Jon has just come back from a holiday to California, which gave me ample time to replace our flood damaged kitchen floor (chipboard makes terrible flooring - who'd have thought?!) and demolish the kitchen, ready for a new one. I also had chance to go to my favourite model shop in Auckland when I dropped her at the airport - but that's for another post...
 
Today's subject was the result of an auction ending whilst I was carefully dismantling our pantry, to save the solid wood doors and framing for some as yet to be determined use. I like to think my nonchalant attitude to placing a bid in the dying couple of minutes and being so engrossed in another activity that I didn't care if I lost, meant that I ultimately ended up winning, instead. Or something.
 
Anyway, a little box arrived, forthwith:

It being a blue oval product, there was some tax involved but not at the average going rate, from what I can fathom. Prior to seeing this listing, I wasn't aware of this casting!
 

Ooh!
 

Aah!
 

A Gama 1/43 Ford Consul coupe, in lovely nick. This era of subject and casting are RIGHT up my alley.
 

It being a continental model, there's no vinyl roof (or gopping Ghia grille), so it looks a bit more Morris Marina than Granada coupe. I can live with that.
 

Blue headlamps are a touch alternative but they break up the front end a bit, admittedly.
 

'Comically oversized yet correct font' rear badges are present. Indeed, it's overall quite a good stab at the rear end, which is one of the best bits of the Mk1 Granada/Consul.
 

Side on, it works well and you can see that they were attempting some realism with the wheels. In 3/4 profile, theyre a bit too convex to look accurate, and the bits of flak left on some of the trims do no favours - but this is a 70's car modelled in the 70's, so that's period quality control, for better or worse.
 

This is also what counts as a scale interior at the time - but it adds to the charm, from my perspective.
 

Not sure if there's a clipped on bit of hose or something missing from this (4 cyl?) engine but with renditions this phoned in, I'll not lose any sleep over it.
 
 
Of course, I had to see how it stacked up to my other period large German Fords:
 

Front ends favour quite well, lined up.
 

Safe to say that Gama put a lot more effort in to an accurate side profile, though. The scale obviously helps but then so does the price point, I'd imagine.
 

Siku lost all interest in accurately portraying the wagon rear end, or pethaps mistook it for a Pinto wagon.
That said, they did furnish the load space with a box containing 6 achingly small road cones, so bonus creativity points there.
 

Anyway, very happy to have this in the fold.
Although it seems Gama cast a Consul saloon, which looks arguably tastier....
 

It never ends, does it?

I've been helping a mate prep this hunk-a-love for auction.

What a magnificent beast, 1974 Opel Commodore 2.8 GS that was registered new in Bury St Edmunds and spent all its life in the area, straight six with two twin choke carbs and a stainless exhaust it sounds amazing and goes like the clappers!

We've been through it fixing a few small faults and mostly cleaning and polishing it and it now looks stunning. I've got the option of buying it but it's a bit big and juicy for me realistically.




His Horizon is probably of interest also, that's going to auction too so I gave it a quick wash and hoover, it's a 1500 automatic with power steering and only 33000 miles, it's not my bag if I'm honest but it's a nice enough old thing.

Remember that low-riding Lesney Minor from St Georges a few weeks ago?

Here it is now:

I straightened the baseplate to raise the ride height and I still need to paint that. I only had black available but as a kid I badly wanted the first civilian issue of the Corgi Classics Minor in black. Although I was actually more pleased with the 2nd civilian release in trafalgar blue I've always liked Morris Minors in black so this was a comfortable choice.

I’ve got the Mack tank transporter but mines missing the littlest bogey wheels set. I liked it so thought I’d keep it and try to find a replacement. So far I have not!
Ive got the others too,    


The tanker came with either Esso stickers or (presumably for the US market?) Exxon stickers. Pretty sure mines Esso.
Theres also the rigid body Mack crane truck, in red with the bull bars on the front.
Ive got all of them, and at least two spare tractor units for messing around with into other things. You can get replacement bits too like the exhaust, wheels & tyres, the bonnet clip parts…