Shite in Miniature II

[danthecapriman]

33 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

DanBox touched down yesterday morning.

Huzzah!

Very, very well packaged.

And inside are...

Many wonderful things from the 1960s Lesney King Size range.

Cheers for that, dude! Very pleased with this lot - more detailed perusal to follow.

Of course, as luck would have it, only MrsDC was at home to receive parcels yesterday, since I was away out attending a transport planning meeting.

She hasn't mentioned it. Yet.

I guess I could say it's gardening equipment?

Given the absolute state of the back garden in the new place, regular Matchbox aren't gonna be up to the job this time round - it's gonna take King Size heft to get it all done...

(Flashback to three years ago:

Ah, 2020. What a weird old year you were.)

Glad you like them!😁 Also glad my packing efforts are appreciated too!

Let me know when you want paying for the other bits & bobs you put aside for me btw.

[flat4alfa]

On 2/21/2023 at 12:02 PM, flat4alfa said:

There was a USSR-made release (brand KIEV) using the Politoys moulds.  Initially die-cast from around 1980, later in plastic which ran to 1990.

Did a bit more research on these Soviet efforts.  

Not only was there one in AS colours

But translating off an example box

and a bit of effort elsewhere, found out the factory was the Vatutin Electromechanical Toy Factory, Kyiv

Think I'll endeavour to find one of those instead

Not only because @barrett is on the Antique Shop Hotline sorting a deal, but also what with the announcement today from the Kremlin...

[Split_Pin]

2 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

DanBox touched down yesterday morning.

Huzzah!

Very, very well packaged.

And inside are...

Many wonderful things from the 1960s Lesney King Size range.

Cheers for that, dude! Very pleased with this lot - more detailed perusal to follow.

Of course, as luck would have it, only MrsDC was at home to receive parcels yesterday, since I was away out attending a transport planning meeting.

She hasn't mentioned it. Yet.

I guess I could say it's gardening equipment?

Given the absolute state of the back garden in the new place, regular Matchbox aren't gonna be up to the job this time round - it's gonna take King Size heft to get it all done...

(Flashback to three years ago:

Ah, 2020. What a weird old year you were.)

Ha I remember we were all doing that during the first  lockdown!

[sierraman]

3 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

DanBox touched down yesterday morning.

Huzzah!

Very, very well packaged.

And inside are...

Many wonderful things from the 1960s Lesney King Size range.

Cheers for that, dude! Very pleased with this lot - more detailed perusal to follow.

Of course, as luck would have it, only MrsDC was at home to receive parcels yesterday, since I was away out attending a transport planning meeting.

She hasn't mentioned it. Yet.

I guess I could say it's gardening equipment?

Given the absolute state of the back garden in the new place, regular Matchbox aren't gonna be up to the job this time round - it's gonna take King Size heft to get it all done...

(Flashback to three years ago:

Ah, 2020. What a weird old year you were.)

‘I’ve just noticed that guy next door again playing in the flower beds with some toys...’

[Datsuncog]

Aside from pissing about in the flowerbeds... further arrivals happened today.

Mmm-hmm.

The eagerly-awaited next instalment in the Corgi Model Club collection - the #245 Buick Riviera.

Very yes.

Such a nice model, and with the wire wheels fitted too (also seen on the E-Type 2+2).

Metallic blue paintwork on this one seems especially lustrous...

And you'll be relieved to learn the Trans-o-lite system works very nicely, at both ends.

Phew! What a cracker!

Trans-o-lite instructions included in the box:

And the usual blurb.

The towhitch is quite a big lump of a thing, but it doesn't spoil it for all that.

I owned a slightly more careworn original example a couple of years back, but passed it on a while ago to someone here.

I thought mine was a paler blue, funnily enough, but I think it's the same mid-blue shade as the repro version.

I have to admit, I'd been thinking of cancelling my membership but I couldn't pass this one up...

[Datsuncog]

I've just had a look through the Tat Archive, and it seems that I've actually owned two of the buggers.

The pale blue one went to @bunglebus  all the way back in December 2019...

While the darker blue metallic version with missing tyres went to @flat4alfa in January 2021.

The repro's staying with me!

[flat4alfa]

2 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

The darker blue metallic version with missing tyres went to @flat4alfa in January 2021.

It's awakened!  It must have heard you talking about it

The Dinky Buick Riviera also got word.  So they decided to do a bit of a pose for the camera.

Now has a full set of tyres.

[flat4alfa]

On 2/18/2023 at 1:24 PM, NorfolkNWeigh said:

Sorry mate, it’s going to be painted white like the one I had when I was 8, I peeled the stickers off my James Bond one, even at that age I was devaluing cars.  I’ve only got one other Rocket , a P1800, but have an excuse now to start looking for track and jumps and loops and…

Will a Rockets chassis fit a Whizzwheels casting?   I would hope it would.  I have this here red Whizzwheels, see

If only to offer a last-ditch attempt for the SAVE THE LIME GREEN PAINT campaign

[flat4alfa]

On 2/20/2023 at 5:54 PM, bunglebus said:

Why is this Pontiac so hard to track down?

Are they scarce then?  Oh.

Had a Superfast in the purple as a boy and it was lost, so got this red pre-Superfast one a while back when it came up.

It seems the Matchbox 1964 Pontiac Grand Prix Sports Coupe was run for a good 5 years.  The purple was final year only.

The Hot Wheels '67 Pontiac GTO popped over for a chat.  Mainly because there isn't a Hot Wheel '64 example here it seems.

Then the Husky '65 Oldsmobile Starfire Coupe arrived to play the 'show off yer opening things' game.

[flat4alfa]

Of course now I have a pang of regret for not getting the purple Moving Parts range retool for 2019

[bunglebus]

I mean I've had others but it seems sought-after and doesn't come up as often as others. Never had a Superfast one

 

[flat4alfa]

Is there an outlet in the UK that can supply reproduction Hot Wheels parts?  They definitely exist, at least in the US.

I have these early ones with bits missing

[Clockwise]

Custom Firebird needs a screen 

Beatnik Bandit needs a glazed canopy

Hot Heap needs an interior and screen

Custom Mustang was almost finished (until I chipped it) and needs a bonnet / hood

[bunglebus]

11 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

Is there an outlet in the UK that can supply reproduction Hot Wheels parts?

Not any more as far as I can tell - I bought some Redline parts from Marshall Motors but he now only has limited old stock and has changed the nature of his business to a jewelery shop. I bought some wheels off him recently, other than that it's ebay for Brightvision parts

[bunglebus]

On 18/02/2023 at 21:04, morrisoxide said:

I got this Maverick not to customize but Matchboxize! No that's not a word.

Out came Aldis own Dremel and removed the stupid arches, bonnet scoops, chin and rear spoiler. Swapped the wheels for Matchbox steels.

I was in two minds about the wing mirrors, but I slipped with the Dremel so off they came.

And hot off the radiator with Christmas sale 15p rattle can paint from Poundland.

The colour looks different in this light so I'll post up some outdoor shots at some time. 

If anyone else fancies doing this, the '71 Maverick Grabber has a more stock body with just a duck tail/chin spoiler to remove

 

[sierraman]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

Not any more as far as I can tell - I bought some Redline parts from Marshall Motors but he now only has limited old stock and has changed the nature of his business to a jewelery shop. I bought some wheels off him recently, other than that it's ebay for Brightvision parts

I’ve often thought there must be a market for doing repro Superfast Wheels, the early to mid 70’s type. 

[FakeConcern]

Well now I’m disappointed as the Riviera I got for Mrs Concern doesn’t have the wire wheels! She doesn’t car though so oh well.

Just out of interest, if those wheels are the shared with the E Type, what about the Mustang Fastback? Any others use the wheels?

[andy18s]

[bunglebus]

Found a big Smyths - they had this premium  series that has the green Volvo in it - none left though

Also a green Syclone in a 10 pack that I've not seen before

[bunglebus]

Trip to Smyths was not entirely wasted

El Segundo Coupe is the Coupe Clip but with wheels windows and interior 

[danthecapriman]

This green Volvo?😁

Well worth hunting one down imho!

Id quite like the green Mercedes in the same range too.

[bunglebus]

Delivery from @Macscrooge

50p well spent in a charity shop

Got a few bits in the post. This General Lee has seen better days but may be saveable

Thing these trailers are early Lesney but I'm not sure

Came with these two

Also found this Matchbox Beetle with spelling error base

Shame it's a bit shabby

 

[AnnoyingPentium]

Like @bunglebus I also have a decent package... and a parcel from @Macscrooge came through the door too.

Quite pleased with this wee lot.

[Bren]

While in Southport I bagged this for a measley £12 -

I already have the later issue - I generally don't like duplicates unless it's the likes of the superfast mk IV cortina or mercury - but for the money I couldn't say no.

[morrisoxide]

12 hours ago, bunglebus said:

If anyone else fancies doing this, the '71 Maverick Grabber has a more stock body with just a duck tail/chin spoiler to remove

Ah! Yes that would have been easier didn't know that existed  

Strange how they changed to metal B pillars and the grille has spotlights now.

[bunglebus]

There is a newer release too I've now realised

[FakeConcern]

Well Mrs Concern is super happy with the Majorette caravan and Jeep combo recently aquired from @Macscrooge. She originally fancied the "Jerry Leadbetter" Volvo as a tow car, but has decided the Jeep with surfboards is a better match for her summer house remit.

Meanwhile I have been looking at the Monte Mini I got from @danthecapriman. During the time when I didn't know if Dan had one available, I bid on two suitable (for the Corgi Major transporter) rally Minis. One was the Austin Cooper S Sun Rally Mini 333 and being sold by the chap who lives near me that I bought some other Corgi & Dinkys from, but I was outbid. The other was the Monte Mini with signatures on the roof, which I won.

I will add that I 100% blame this thread for my escalating thirst for vintage die cast. Back in 2020 when you all claim to have been going die cast mad I was still very much keeping it in check and only buying toys for Mrs Concern to put in the summer house. Now I can't even wait for a member to tell me if they have a toy before recklessly bidding on all and sundry...

 

The one from @danthecaprimanshould have the roof rack and spare tyres and originally I had thought I'd Isopon the roof and re paint it maybe change it completely to one of the others that would have come with the transporter. However now I have it, I have decided it's far too nice to do that and I may have to get a repro roof rack & wheels! As a stop gap I've stuck some insulation tape over the holes in the roof. It really is a lovely model.

Left to right, Corgi Club Monte Mini 339, Signature Mini 321, Monte Mini original 339.

Very strange slight differnces, the earlier (left) one has a square section rear bumper...

...and larger door hinges than the newer two...

So, should I fill and paint the roof, or get a new rack & wheels for the Monte Mini?

[danthecapriman]

I reckon a new roof rack would look best. At least then you won’t have to alter the original paint.

 

[FakeConcern]

16 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

I reckon a new roof rack would look best. At least then you won’t have to alter the original paint.

 

I'm thinkg that too...

 

It's too nice not to, Steve Flowers list grows even longer...

[sierraman]

So... at last found a Morrisons that had Matchbox, bit of a twat to get to but I was passing so it was neither here nor there. Would have liked to have found the Sentra but picked a Rivian up, such a strange looking device that I had to have it. 

[barrett]

Okay, just for @flat4alfa here's a close look at Politoys No. 529 Alfa Canguro. The real thing was a Giulia TZ-based prototype styled by Giugiaro at Bertone and was bodied in fibreglass. This is a great example of these classic-period Politoys I reckon, amazing level of detail and fit & finish

The model was released in 1967 and was only available in three colours: solid red, as per the real thing, silver and this metallic red. It's not the most accurate, but it's the best looking. Silver seems to be far and away the most common for some reason

Lots of detail - there is a separate engine block, air filter and even washer bottle under the bonnet. The dash on this is particularly nice with a little grab-handle on the passenger side

Quite basic underneath, though. I can do a 'who did it worse?' with my Mercury version, which came out a year earlier in 1966

The Mercury is clearly much more basic, and oddly it's significantly larger. I'd hazard a guess the Politoys one is the more accurate size.

The other addition was no. 502 (ie, the third car in the M500 range) the Siata 1500 TS, which was launched in 1965

Another great unusual subject here and not something many kids would have been familiar with

It's pretty faithful to the real thing, actually. This is clearly more toy-like than the Canguro and it's interesting to compare these first Politoys M cars with the later '60s stuff. They really did move fowards in leaps and bounds in a short space of time

Cast-in engine detail is a big difference, and simpler interior, but lots of opening bits and it feels quite sturdy

This is another one which got a USSR re-tool and these versions are much more common, although I've noticed the prices for these USSR Italian toys creeping up in the last few years

Anyway, just two more sleeps until I can get to Arundel during shop hours...!