Shite in Miniature II

[Jon]

Cor blimey, that's a beautiful 16 you picked up there barrett!

 

I recently picked up this tatty old Land Rover, which is the first Spot On that's entered my hoard collection.

It's a nice casting yet not as weighty as I'd expected a Spot On to be, since they're a cut above their Dinky and Corgi compatriots.

 

Also nice that the interior blends in so well with this sandstone quarry scene. Actually, hang on a minute.....

 

 

I've got 2! Both with terrible paint, so at least one can see a repaint at some point (probably never).

 

They certainly weren't buttons but also weren't offensively expensive, either - I got both for less than the cheapest one I could find on Ebay at the time, which is my arbiter of 'value' . Would love to find another Spot On or two but I'm in no rush, as the chase is much of the fun, eh 'shiters?

[flat4alfa]

4 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

There was a somewhat melted Mk1 Escort slot car shell in Market Blokey's 50p box the other week - appeared that someone had tried chemical cleaners and it had all gone a bit pear-shaped (almost literally); if it's still there on Friday, and it's of any interest, I can pull it out for you? (See terrible pic below, cropped from a photo of the entire box - Scalextric shell?)

Yes that's a Scalextric shell, only in red on the re-re-release (AFAIK) so it's not the vintage pressing that collectors get excited about

If it's a pound or so, yes maybe.  I could do a bit of a custom effort, perhaps as a banger, or a convertible.  Or van it.

[Split_Pin]

4 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Got this Majorette MK1 Mundano if anyone wants it?

 

20190605_105649 by RS, on Flickr

20190605_105705 by RS, on Flickr

20190605_105712 by RS, on Flickr

 

Working sunroof and steering

 

20190605_105758 by RS, on Flickr

20190605_105753 by RS, on Flickr

20190605_105804 by RS, on Flickr

Yes please

[155V6]

19 hours ago, 155V6 said:

Sure I've got a Prelude somewhere,I'll have a look tomorrow & see what else I can find.

I've just spent an hour pulling out one of my big cupboards of stuff looking for this,but no luck,so it must be in the other one.

I did find this Zylmex Supervan though.The real one was posted a while back as a possible influence for the Matchbox Stretcha Fetcha 

[flat4alfa]

21 hours ago, barrett said:

Check this out! I didn't have an R16 model for my shelf of small cars wot I have owned and managed to pick this up for a bargain price on ebay. It's a 1:32 Solido 600 series from the very early '70s. Solido released three 1:32 models -this, a 504 and an Opel Commodore - but the range only lasted three years and was quietly forgotten. It probably didn't help that the real R16 was restyled not long after the toy was launched, leaving Solido with a stock of obsolete castings. It's actually a little less detailed than a contemporary 1:43 and much more toy-like, and the proportions are quite odd, but these things are incredibly rare and I've never seen another for sale.

It's a pretty substantial thing, when compared to a Solido 1:43 Ami

I never knew

It seems the three were sold with trailers under the Maxicar subbrand

[vulgalour]

I'm really pleased with how well this built back up.  This is the first shot of primer, no filler work, and it looks really good already.  The headlights, grille, and bumper were all one casting originally, I split them so I can blend the headlight cowling into the wing properly since that's supposed to be body coloured rather than chromed and should help the model look more real.  I ran out of primer to do the interior panels, I'm just happy the body is mostly done now.  Filler work shouldn't be too challenging, the majority of the body is in very good shape, it's just a couple of the panel joins that need the work really.

[Amishtat]

Looking forward to seeing it in paint! 

[Sudsprint]

Has anyone any advice on how to remove the transfers without damaging the paintwork as I want to turn this into a camper van?

[Split_Pin]

Nail polish remover works great.

[flat4alfa]

Nail polish remover is Acetone.  You might find the 'chrome' gets removed as well as the decals.

Those decals are stuck home, not tampoed or similarly etched on.  So a hot water soak might just be enough to peel them off

[Amishtat]

Excuse the shit photos but check out this monster. Spotted (and furtively papped) in the reception of a BT workshop 

[bunglebus]

9 hours ago, Sudsprint said:

Has anyone any advice on how to remove the transfers without damaging the paintwork as I want to turn this into a camper van?

 

I've used both nail polish remover and meths - but both have always taken a bit of paint off too. Maybe I'm too heavy handed as it works for others.

 

My Matchbox 911 saga continues - the one I bought at the bootsale, despite being the "same" casting, is shit. I suspect the moulds were worn out as it's really poor. Problem is my original one has a bent pillar.

 

20190606_145750 by RS, on Flickr

20190606_145900 by RS, on Flickr

20190606_145834 by RS, on Flickr

 

Presto, fixo;

 

20190606_150237 by RS, on Flickr

[flat4alfa]

localizio heatio; fixo?

scorchio!

meterologicos mit Paula.

 

 

[bunglebus]

Had this Lone Star Hang Over arrive today

 

20190606_124951 by RS, on Flickr

[Jon]

Hey Amishtat, that BT TK Bedford is an absolute thing of beauty! Presumably that was scratch built in period, which only makes it all the more amazing that it still exists in such good condition. I don't think there's any need to furtively pap that whatsoever, as surely it wouldn't be too unusual for someone to appreciate such a well made model  - with bonus Sercks, too!

 

 

Anyway, as all you right royal Shiters know, last weekend was Queen's Birthday weekend. This part of the world being part of the colonies, we duly salute Her Maj with a long weekend to celebrate, which rather like any national celebration, makes all the big retailers game for grabbing a buck or two from hapless punters, who just can't resist a bargain*. Previously, I'd only partaken in one such scramble in the sales, when our telly broke on Christmas eve a few years back.

 

 

 

This time though, those sneaky marketing bods got to me and made me part with a whole $7 for these:

Excuse the cat bits - I've no idea why all of a sudden they take interest when I'm taking a photo and nonchalant at all other times. I'll admit that the Spider Man dune buggy was a filler element since it was 5 for $7, as was the '96 Carrera to a degree, although it has a nice Caramac interior. The Polizei 911 is nice and the Dodge LI'L Red Express is excellent, except for it not being red. What I really wanted though was the SIII Land Rover, as I'd known of this for a few months but not come across one, until now. It took a bit of burrowing in the big bin to find but was the star pick and well worth the crushing embarrassment that is a man in his late 30's rummaging through toy cars on the aisle end of a large store, with no decoy children in tow. But little was going to stop me, at the equivalent of 73p per Hot Wheels! 

 

 

My hopes were that I'd look to cut the SIII up and make it into a mini copy of my late SWB SIIA but the grille is cast in plastic rather than the decal I was hoping for, so it won't be getting the chop. What I did notice the other day however, is that Corgi very kindly answered my request by giving their Junior Land Rover pick-up/tow truck the late SIIA front:

 

Plus they had the decency to add a windscreen divider, unlike the HW SIII.  So I'm now on the look out for one of those instead.

[Datsuncog]

19 hours ago, bunglebus said:

My Matchbox 911 saga continues - the one I bought at the bootsale, despite being the "same" casting, is shit. I suspect the moulds were worn out as it's really poor. Problem is my original one has a bent pillar.

That's good fixerage - plus, fascinating to see the two castings in the raw. Huge amount of difference between the crisp, earlier one and the worn-out later one... bonnet lines vanished, headlights blending into the body, number plate letters that look like doodles... thanks for that!

18 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Had this Lone Star Hang Over arrive today

Very underrated stuff, Lone Star... personally I think this is the nicest 1/64ish casting of all the early Range Rovers; Matchbox's was rather too blocky (and only done as a Rolamatic), Corgi's was too small and delicate (and weird with the Vigilant roof), Majorette's ok but still not quite right, Siku's offering a close second to the Lone Star version.

Looks like yours still has the fragile axle supports in place, too - well bought!

10 hours ago, Jon said:

What I really wanted though was the SIII Land Rover, as I'd known of this for a few months but not come across one, until now. It took a bit of burrowing in the big bin to find but was the star pick and well worth the crushing embarrassment that is a man in his late 30's rummaging through toy cars on the aisle end of a large store, with no decoy children in tow. But little was going to stop me, at the equivalent of 73p per Hot Wheels! 
My hopes were that I'd look to cut the SIII up and make it into a mini copy of my late SWB SIIA but the grille is cast in plastic rather than the decal I was hoping for, so it won't be getting the chop.

It's surprisingly nice, that little Hot Wheels SIII - though the lack of split screen is perplexing. I finally opened mine during the week...

And +1 for the faint and pointless embarrassment of grubbing through dump bins as a grown man!

Quote

What I did notice the other day however, is that Corgi very kindly answered my request by giving their Junior Land Rover pick-up/tow truck the late SIIA front:

Plus they had the decency to add a windscreen divider, unlike the HW SIII.  So I'm now on the look out for one of those instead.

Nice little model that one, too - the lairy metallic purple tow truck version's my favourite, I think. I might have a spare one in my 'to go' box - though I appreciate that international postage may render it a smidge uneconomical...

[Datsuncog]

On ‎6‎/‎5‎/‎2019 at 1:26 PM, bunglebus said:

Got this Majorette MK1 Mundano if anyone wants it?

Working sunroof and steering

That's brilliant - I didn't realise those came with working steering.

Is it a 'Tiptronic' system like Matchbox used in the 1960s where you press down on the side you want it to steer towards - or just allows you to position the wheels so you can push it round in a circle?

On ‎6‎/‎5‎/‎2019 at 1:29 PM, Jon said:

I recently picked up this tatty old Land Rover, which is the first Spot On that's entered my hoard collection.

It's a nice casting yet not as weighty as I'd expected a Spot On to be, since they're a cut above their Dinky and Corgi compatriots.

I've got 2! Both with terrible paint, so at least one can see a repaint at some point (probably never).

They certainly weren't buttons but also weren't offensively expensive, either - I got both for less than the cheapest one I could find on Ebay at the time, which is my arbiter of 'value' . Would love to find another Spot On or two but I'm in no rush, as the chase is much of the fun, eh 'shiters?

I've said it before, but I absolutely bloody love your background pics Jon! I'm sure they're a pain in the hoop to set up, but please be assured your efforts are appreciated!

Top buying on those Spot-Ons, by the way. That LWB Series II is a cracker, and even in a playworn state still look great.

I was absolutely fascinated by Spot-On when I was about ten or eleven; there was a book on the range in the local library which I must have borrowed about twenty times. Only ever owned two, a beat-to-shit Cresta PA and Morris 1100 - and the fact they were made just up the road from me was an additional source of fascination.

On ‎6‎/‎5‎/‎2019 at 7:16 PM, 155V6 said:

I did find this Zylmex Supervan though.The real one was posted a while back as a possible influence for the Matchbox Stretcha Fetcha 

That's mega! Cheers for posting that, it's a real oddity but looks a pretty faithful rendering of the original.

 

Stand by for Market Tat updates, kids... there's been another motherlode, so it may take a wee while to get all the pics up.

[Tenmil Socket]

10 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

I've said it before, but I absolutely bloody love your background pics Jon! I'm sure they're a pain in the hoop to set up, but please be assured your efforts are appreciated!

Indeed!

[Datsuncog]

So! A veritable smorgasbord this morning at the (unexpectedly sunny) market. A spring in my step, a twinkle in my eye... and tat as far as the eye could see.

Horrible Dinky Routemaster repaints; various other Cogi and Dinky commercials Tinplate racers and cop car; a Corgi 'Vega$' Ford Thunderbird (never even heard of the show, but it must have been big c.1980 as this model is all over the early 80's catalogues).

There had been previous enquiries from thread regulars on both the Batmobiles and the Leyland Atlanteans: Batmobiles (red wheel versions) are a fiver each - all in need of varying degrees of restoration - while the mint/boxed Atlanteans are a tenner each.

Another view

Panning to our right... more Dinky and Corgi commercials, plus military. No price bandings evidenced today - everything's individually priced, apparently, but I'd reckon a fiver or so for the smaller stuff and maybe £7 for the bigger articulated trucks.

More repaints, ranging in quality form reasonable (the Dinky Cunningham Sports) to mockable (the Volvo P1800 and the Vauxhall Velox, which looks like it's been dipped in a septic tank then varnished in the dark).

I'd expect £3-5 asking price for each of these.

More old stuff, some newer stuff.

Down below then:

I totally forgot Sierraman wanted this Ford 100E. Will head over shortly and see if it's still there. Most of these are repaints, think £2 each was mentioned before.

 

Budgie Toys along the back: Wolseley cop car, Austin FX4 Taxi, Daimler bloodbox.

And the Reserve Collection boxes are back! Hold on to your hats, we're goin' in.

[Datsuncog]

Box of assorted quality stuff, now...

Various Dinky, Corgi and Matchbox - there were three Matchbox Majors hopper trailers in there, and at least two maroon GMC tractor units. Ver' nice. White Caddy is a DelPrado partwork jobber.

Bad pic, my fault. Mostly unboxed Yesteryears, although...

This Majorette Renault transporter was quite nice. Few scrapes but decent enough. Anyone interested??

More mixed-stuff, older and newer - from 1940s Dinky trucks to 90s Corgis.

Volvo 740 had a few nicks, but otherwise ok - I dithered over that, 

More bad pics (I had to crawl under the stall for these - but think they're just Chinese rubbish.

Odd one - yet more ruined Dinky Routemaster and Atlanteans, plus a load of near-identical EFE/Corgi OOC open-top buses. Actually, there were a lot of mid-90s 00 scale coaches and buses up top, unboxed and very dusty, which I neglected to photograph. Sorta Plaxton Panorama type early 70s stuff.

 

Near-empty box.

Er, let's not.

Finally, the 50p tat boxes have been condensed into just one box - which makes it hard to sort through. No sign of the Scalextric Mk1 Escort shell this week - sorry!

So there we go... apologies for the tight timeframe, but I'll be scooting over again shortly to see if I can nab that Ford 100E. So if anything really takes your fancy, shout out now!

[bramz7]

Majorette Transporter please?

[Datsuncog]

I did make some purchases myself, of course... those of you with eagle eyes may have already spotted them in the pics.

From the top of the stall:

This Siku Range Rover and trailer is unbelievably dusty, and the suspension seems weirdly slack, but it looks totally unplayed-with. One slight chip to a back edge of the horsebox is the only mark on it.

Now that I think about it, going by the assorted dusty buses also on offer, I'd wonder whether someone's model railway diorama has been broken up.

I do like Siku; and I do like this in all its beige glory. Maybe not super-cheap, but I think it was worth a fiver.

 

Then there was this...

One for the slot-car fans: a Scalextrix C17 Lamborghini Miura, missing its decals, guideblade and pinion but otherwise complete, with the Johnson 111 motor still in situ and even the tyres not looking too cracked - not bad, as this must be getting on for 50 years old now.

I'd seen this on the stall a few weeks back and kicked myself for not buying it; I know these are moderately scarce and sell for reasonable sums.  I just love the Miura's styling, though.

 

Some from the tat-box, now...

A Matchbox Lotus Europa in Super GT guise; Matchbox International's 1980s budget line of revived 1970s toys with simplified castings (opening doors deleted on this model, for example). Super GTs were made in China, all with plastic bases, no interior, opaque black glazing and tampo-print 'racing' designs. They were mainly sold in attractively inexpensive multipacks or given away as a 'free model' with Superkings, to counter the cheapo offerings from other diecast competitors such as MC Toy and the no-name competitors...

…like the no-name 'Made In China' Buick Riviera alongside it here. Unusual model , and possibly squeezing into the 'so bad it's good' category?

 

Two other oddities now...

Chevrolet Chevette and Pontiac Pirebird…

By Dinky.

Or not. These were slightly desperate attempts by Airfix-era Dinky in the late 1970s to keep the lights on by repackaging far-eastern models with Dinky branding. It was not a conspicuous success, especially after the Hong-King made Mini Dinky debacle earlier in the decade (lovely little models, but prone to rampant zinc pest from poor quality control at production stage).

After the defunct Dinky name was bought up by Matchbox International in the mid-80s, a handful of Matchbox 1-75s also appeared with Dinky branding on the base, seemingly as placeholders to retain copyright on the name, I've never seen any of those myself.

So! I'll scoot over now - and see if I can nab that Majorette transporter for Bramz7.

If anyone else wants owt, sing out!

[Amishtat]

Dinky Cresta if it's still there please! 

[Datsuncog]

1 minute ago, Amishtat said:

Dinky Cresta if it's still there please! 

Ah, is that what the brown thing is? Sure thing, will check!

I'd not expect more than a fiver to be asked for that - would that be ok? (Hopefully a bit less!)

[Amishtat]

That's the one!  Also the Lesney Zephyr 4 Mk. 3 and whichever is the better FB Victor estate please 

[bramz7]

If seen in time I'll have the DS Safari too, Corgi isn't it?

[flat4alfa]

How much was the slot Miura?

[Jon]

That's a lovely Siku Range Rover and horse box, M.Cog - and you were only just mentioning them earlier on the same page! I have that one boxed in my UK stash but with a red RR towing a white horse box with blue plastic bits, from memory. It must be 20 years since I actually laid eyes on it, so I'm assuming I'm right.

And worry ye not about my background scenes, as I've recently found a way to make them a lot easier and quicker to shoot, which is namely using my SLR camera rather than my phone. It also has the advantage of offering much better picture quality, too! The main drawbacks I find are getting realistic(ish) surfaces to put the models on, keeping them planted when the perspective gets a bit awkward and most importantly, having the house to myself, since Mrs_Jon is unaware of my bizarre hobby of photographing defunct toy cars for mine and other grown men's pleasure. One day I'm sure I'll spill the beans!

[sierraman]

I think it was sheffcortinacentre that wanted the 100E? 

[Datsuncog]

2 hours ago, Amishtat said:

Dinky Cresta if it's still there please! 

Daaaaah, it was gone!

The ONLY BLOODY ONE that was gone from that whole row! Apologies...

2 hours ago, Amishtat said:

Also the Lesney Zephyr 4 Mk. 3 and whichever is the better FB Victor estate please 

Well, a consolation prize, then... the MkIII Zephyr was still there, and I picked you up the original, intact Victor FB - rather than the one which had been messily repainted, and with the (broken) bootlid glued shut. Hope that helps the old tears to dry!

 

2 hours ago, bramz7 said:

If seen in time I'll have the DS Safari too, Corgi isn't it?

Indeedy, and it's yours.

The upper part of the rear tailgate has gone walkies, I'm afraid, but the roof load and occupants are still where they ought to be.

 

3 hours ago, bramz7 said:

Majorette Transporter please?

Boom! Yours, sir. Nice looking big thing, missing a doormirror but otherwise pretty smart.

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

I think it was sheffcortinacentre that wanted the 100E? 

Errrrr...

On ‎5‎/‎24‎/‎2019 at 10:34 PM, sheffcortinacentre said:

On the front of the table 2nd pic is that a 4dr 100e in grey if so I'm interested in that

Yes, you're quite correct - apologies! Shoulda looked a few pages back to check that. Either way, Lesney Prefect is now available for re-homing:

In best Ford tradition, the boot floor appears to have rotted out and been repaired using a big ol' lump of wob…

...but I'd hazard a guess that you fellas would be well used to repairing such things?

*Runs, hides

2 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

How much was the slot Miura?

I reckoned £10 wasn't overly strong money for one of these. I've seen bare shells sell for more!