Shite in Miniature II

[RoadworkUK]

4 minutes ago, sutty2006 said:

Is it Franklin mint?

Not even Franklin "pretty good nick". It's by Universal Hobbies.

[sutty2006]

2 minutes ago, RoadworkUK said:

Not even Franklin "pretty good nick". It's by Universal Hobbies.

Interesting!! Looks good with its attention to detail. Shame about the steering wheel. 

[RoadworkUK]

2 minutes ago, sutty2006 said:

Shame about the steering wheel. 

It is. But even that doesn't trouble me too much. Actually seems that the original rim had a bit of girth to it, anyway. Oh, and the Ford script embossed into the floor mat!

 

[RayMK]

1 hour ago, RoadworkUK said:

I really enjoy the spectacle of veteran cars – witnessing the Beast of Turin yelling its way up the Goodwood hillclimb like some possessed Edwardian fireplace is pretty heard to beat. Thing is, I really don't know much about them. Same goes with steam locomotives, which entertain me no end, even though I'm much more of a diesel and electric traction perv.

Where was I?

So, aaaages ago I bought a 1:18 Ford Model T van by Eagle Collectibles (another name under which some Universal Hobbies things were marketed), in a probably bogus NYPD livery. But irrespective of the level of bullshit involved in it, I rather like it.

Seems this is a model that's pretty much ignored by the general public, so I snapped it up on eBay for very few quid. However, I remember thinking it a real shame that the other versions were rather thinner on the ground. These include the Tourer model, which is represented in two different variations, with the roof up or down.

Bam!

One of my chance early morning eBay perusal sessions astride the crapper pulled this up. BNIB, no bids £13.50 (plus £8 bloody packing). I watchlisted it out of curiosity, and when it hadn't attracted any bidding a few days later I cast my own. Next morning I woke to find myself £21.50 poorer but theoretically one Model T better off.

Anyway, it arrived today and I think it's splendid. I can't pretend to have any Model T expertise, but I'd say it does a convincing enough job of looking like one to make me happy. 

It's the standard of the model itself that impresses me, though.

The rubber floormats, with their embossed Ford scripts – which probably aren't true to the original, but might well be faithful to some over-restored heritage machine that Ford has stashed away in Dearborn, Michigan or somwhere – look fantastic, as does the seat upholstery and the minimal interior detailing. 

The only thing i can really criticise is the steering wheel, which, to scale, would be about the same cross section as my arm. Still, the bronzework looks nice.Check out the woodgrain on the firewall and the toolbox attached to it.

And check out how the bonnet opens, butterfly-style, on a piano hinge. Engine detail is basic, but then the engine itself was pretty rudimentary.

Best of all, though, this model has a feeling of gravitas to it. It is most definitely a model, not a toy, and comfortably removed from the Lledo / Days Gone By dreck.

It feels like respectful homage to the original. I really like it.

I agree with you. Very nice models, though at 1/18th scale they need a lot of display space.  I bought the first issue Corgi Classics when I was in my early teens - not because of any  assumed 'collectors' status or as an investment😃.  I simply liked them.  I bought the Model T first, then most of the others but not the Daimler.  I still have all of mine in excellent condition, with their boxes, including the Rolls Royce and its bubble pack.  I've also got a couple of ERTL (I think) vintage vehicles which were free gifts at fuel stations in the USA when I was there on business in the 1990s.  Again, attractive models with no particular value or following.  All that matters is whether YOU like them.  No, I do not have many Lledos Days Gone except for the ones (vans) I inherited when my mum died.  She liked them.  Fair enough, but they seem to lack charm.   

Edit: I'll get some better photos in due course, but you can spot the Corgi Classics towards the top right (edit: left!) of this photo which I took in the 1980s.  The open top Bentley is a Spot-On and the two larger Model A vehicles are Hubley white metal kit builds which I mentioned a few years ago on here.  The ERTLs came later so they are not on this photo.

[AndyW201]

10 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

I've been reading up on K214 OWP as the name of the owner is shown on the box. I'm on the Cavalier Owners Facebook page so punched in his name and the first thing that came up was a picture of the model with his 1/1 version. Apparently he got 10 free models as payment for letting Corgi use his car as a base.

He took it on a Gumball run from Aberdeen to Ibiza in 2014.  Apparently, in their quest to promote 'Gumball' as a 'luxury' event they completely excluded his car from all footage, instead concentrating on Ferraris and such like. So much so that he got a ribbing, to the point of being wide, from some Welsh chaps in a Ferrari (which later turned out to be a rental) saying his Cavalier would break down and would get in the way on the track session. Later, as he was letting it cool after a fair few no doubt hard laps, in limps the Ferrari at walking pace, pissing out oil. The rear diff seal had popped which was allegedly an engine out job to replace. They had to get recovered back to Wales from Ibiza. He says the Cavalier never missed a beat.

You'll also see from the description on the back of the box that the car spent its entire life in Scotland, Aberdeen to be precise. Cavaliers and Scotland do not get on well at all and he unfortunately had to scrap it because it turned out to be terminally rotten.  Exactly why I bought mine from as far afield as Hereford and it certainly won't be seeing any salt!

The same fate befell the GSi that Corgi also modelled and the red SRi isn't on the road any more either.

What's odd is that there are 3 road versions, at least 2 touring cars and I think there is a police version too but each has been made in extremely limited runs. All have material differences in the bumpers and other parts. It seems like a lot of effort to go to for such small runs and charging not particularly much fornthe finished product. The chaps on the FB page have been saying how hard they are to get a hold of.

Anyway, I'm delighted with this!

It didn't help that at that time, when Corgi started modelling more modern classics and more European flavoured subjects (Golf Mk2, BMW E30, Fiesta XR2, Cavalier Mk3), with some versions, out of a typical run of about 1500, only half would be in RHD UK registered form, and the other half would be LHD and (usually) German registered which didn't go down well with collectors over here. This explains the blue GSi and black Turbo being so rare.

This was also around about the era when certain castings were produced with Motorsport variants in mind and I think the Cavalier was one of these as the BTCC versions sold really well. Sadly I think they spent so much on creating a realistic interior for the race cars, the interior of the road version was disappointing to say the least.

Compared to most other Vanguards interiors, the seats in the Cavalier are terrible! Doesn't stop the Turbo being one of my faves in the collection though. The wheels alone make the car for me!

[Split_Pin]

On the post 1980 Vanguards subjects, where most interiors are black, you can't really see them anyway, even if they are well recreated. Plus the reflections from the windows make them even harder to see! Thankfully, as you say, the exterior is excellent. They went to a lot of trouble to make at least 4 different sets of wheels for the Cavalier as well. The Turbo was the only one that got these 5 stud versions  but I guess 3000 wheels made it a worthwhile production run. Can't wait to get it!

[sierraman]

I’ve made an investment yesterday in a model I’d been after for ages. The Superkings Log Truck from 1983, I’d wanted one since seeing one at a Swapmeet ages ago. Waiting for it to arrive by post!

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

I’ve made an investment yesterday in a model I’d been after for ages. The Superkings Log Truck from 1983, I’d wanted one since seeing one at a Swapmeet ages ago. Waiting for it to arrive by post!

The pink one?

[Noel Tidybeard]

46 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

The pink one?

shirley that would be moar like 1973?

[bunglebus]

As mentioned on the miniature tat thread, I did a buy on this Dinky VW Fastback, on the strength of three not-great photos and a description that said it was a Passat!

It's pretty good. Had one bent door top which I've straightened as much as I dare, bearing in mind I wanted this as one top is broken off on my other one!

Also on the doormat was the Zamac version of the Hot Wheels Beetle, not sold over here so was a good find at £2.50.

 

[AndyW201]

3 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

On the post 1980 Vanguards subjects, where most interiors are black, you can't really see them anyway, even if they are well recreated. Plus the reflections from the windows make them even harder to see! Thankfully, as you say, the exterior is excellent. They went to a lot of trouble to make at least 4 different sets of wheels for the Cavalier as well. The Turbo was the only one that got these 5 stud versions  but I guess 3000 wheels made it a worthwhile production run. Can't wait to get it!

You definitely struck gold with the Cavalier, you will love it. I noticed earlier that the Turbo being bid up to £21 on eBay is unboxed! Madness! My criticism of the interior was TBH quite half hearted. If they had at least put the correct open headrests in, it would have been so much better. But now I'm going to have to go in the loft this weekend and get mine down for a fondle...

They also did a pretty good job of the late SRi turbine alloys on the police versions. Just wish they'd bring out a 'civilian' SRi with them on. Especially looking at all the Mk2 SRis they've released. Apparently the Merseyside police one is quite sought after.

 

[sierraman]

4 hours ago, bunglebus said:

The pink one?

No yellow! 

[Split_Pin]

2 hours ago, AndyW201 said:

You definitely struck gold with the Cavalier, you will love it. I noticed earlier that the Turbo being bid up to £21 on eBay is unboxed! Madness! My criticism of the interior was TBH quite half hearted. If they had at least put the correct open headrests in, it would have been so much better. But now I'm going to have to go in the loft this weekend and get mine down for a fondle...

They also did a pretty good job of the late SRi turbine alloys on the police versions. Just wish they'd bring out a 'civilian' SRi with them on. Especially looking at all the Mk2 SRis they've released. Apparently the Merseyside police one is quite sought after.

 

You can get a partwork example from Jumajo with a much better interior but it's LHD.

[barrett]

22 hours ago, RoadworkUK said:

I really enjoy the spectacle of veteran cars – witnessing the Beast of Turin yelling its way up the Goodwood hillclimb like some possessed Edwardian fireplace is pretty heard to beat. Thing is, I really don't know much about them. Same goes with steam locomotives, which entertain me no end, even though I'm much more of a diesel and electric traction perv.

Let me enlighten you to the joys of the Model T Ford, as you've not experienced one in real life. It can be summed up in my two journeys in a Model T. Journey 1: complete without disaster. Return home, pull slowly into yard, coast along at 15mph, apply brakes. Brakes insufficient to halt progress. Roll gently into fence. Break fence. Lightly bend Model T.

Journey 2: Run a big end.

I'd be remiss not to point at that neither a Model T nor the Beast is a Veteran car, though. Veteran cars are those built prior to 1905 (ie, on 31st December, 1904, or before). The Beast and the early Ts are Edwardians.

[bunglebus]

Nipped into B&M for something, they'd had the K case of Hot Wheels come in but most of it was already gone! 

Found the regular Treasure Hunt though

 

[Nibbler]

Today’s find! Siku MAN Reisebus and a Matchbox Porsche. In really like Siku. Good quality stuff.

[RoadworkUK]

1 hour ago, barrett said:

 Veteran cars are those built prior to 1905 (ie, on 31st December, 1904, or before).

Dammit. See, at all points in my life, other than when I wrote my Model T essay above, I actually knew that.

 

[andrew e]

If you want to further ruin your evening Google how model T pedals and controls work. Your heads bound to explode.

One day I will give Neil Tuckett a bag of cash for a huge big meccanno  set with blue oval stamped all over it.

 

[AndyW201]

5 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

You can get a partwork example from Jumajo with a much better interior but it's LHD.

Oh yes, that one's on my radar. It's almost an exact copy of N392 XHN, a 1.7D Envoy I was saddled with at a taxi firm back in the day. It even gained a set of GLS alloys like on the model.

[RoadworkUK]

2 hours ago, andrew e said:

If you want to further ruin your evening Google how model T pedals and controls work.

Aye, that's one reason I'd love to try one.

[bunglebus]

Boot sale one, done 

[Volksy]

16 hours ago, barrett said:

Let me enlighten you to the joys of the Model T Ford, as you've not experienced one in real life. It can be summed up in my two journeys in a Model T. Journey 1: complete without disaster. Return home, pull slowly into yard, coast along at 15mph, apply brakes. Brakes insufficient to halt progress. Roll gently into fence. Break fence. Lightly bend Model T.

Journey 2: Run a big end.

I'd be remiss not to point at that neither a Model T nor the Beast is a Veteran car, though. Veteran cars are those built prior to 1905 (ie, on 31st December, 1904, or before). The Beast and the early Ts are Edwardians.

If you get a chance, read "Another Fine Mess" by Tim Moore, which is pretty much this. 

[Split_Pin]

22 hours ago, AndyW201 said:

You definitely struck gold with the Cavalier, you will love it. I noticed earlier that the Turbo being bid up to £21 on eBay is unboxed! Madness! My criticism of the interior was TBH quite half hearted. If they had at least put the correct open headrests in, it would have been so much better. But now I'm going to have to go in the loft this weekend and get mine down for a fondle...

They also did a pretty good job of the late SRi turbine alloys on the police versions. Just wish they'd bring out a 'civilian' SRi with them on. Especially looking at all the Mk2 SRis they've released. Apparently the Merseyside police one is quite sought after.

 

£41 that went for in the end!

[bunglebus]

I'm back from two very warm boot sales, netted a fair few bits at the first and hardly anything at the second.

I don't really "do" motorbikes, but there were a couple of interesting ones and I need a wheel donor for a project 

Majorette, more to follow

Among others, this St Tropez caravan stood out

A team van has had a hard life

Lone Star

Only a few VWs this week, Connectibles bug

And a tidy Fastback 

Three wheelin' Starsky and Hutch Torino

 A few Matchbox in colours I didn't have, and a Praire I don't think I've laid eyes on before

A horse box where not all the horses have escaped - mostly because they have broken legs

Back to bikes

Britains

[bunglebus]

Interesting things I didn't buy include mildly terrifying Mickey Mouse head

Mildly terrifying 50s medical heater

A whole bunch of toy cars

Know your Talbot book

Del Boy's phone

Tandy RC truck

And a trailer with MG Metro wheels

Stuff I did buy;

Buddy L pickup - there was another one on another table too

Clean Speed Kings Commuter...

...with the trailer thrown in

Jag has the boot adrift, but not broken so can be repaired

A few Dinkys

And Corgis

Comedy Trabant with excellent* panel fit

This is probably the most interesting find, Mira Chrysler in 1:43

[RayMK]

The Dinky coach looks to be a pre-war 29b issue.  Nice one.

If the rear windows have been cast solid rather than as an aperture, it will be the post-war version but still a nice find. @bunglebus

 

[155V6]

Two car boots this morning brought me two models 🤔

The Corgi Yogi Bear Jeep was one I'd forgotten about.The Mercedes truck is by Conrad.I nearly didn't buy it,as it was half buried on the top of the stall & I thought it was a Chinese plastic toy.When I picked it up I found that it was all metal so very happy.Shame the screen visor is missing from the roof,but I couldn't complain for a pound 😀

[155V6]

On 7/1/2022 at 6:55 AM, Split_Pin said:

@Datsuncog I'll take one of the Kadetts please! My local tesco has had a restock and judging by the presence of the backwards/forwards car, its the right case but all the Kadetts have been purged.

It wasn't me that sold you a Cavalier but if anyone has a Vanguards one or a Matchbox one I'd be interested! 

I've got this if you're interested

The paint is a bit flat,but it's yours for the price of postage if you want it.

[Split_Pin]

Wahaey yes please man!

Can't believe it, the 2 Cavs I've been after for ages in the space of 2 days!

Cheers! Pm incoming.

[Tenmil Socket]

I’m made up today… after years of searching I’ve finally bought an RC car that I had as a kid. These normally go for strong money in worse condition than this but I managed to win it for £52 😎