Shite in Miniature II

[danthecapriman]

They really should have stopped with the first narrow version of the super fast wheels imho. The big wide later wheels really did ruin the early models in many ways. I wonder why they did go for the big wide wheel on everything though?

[bunglebus]

I think the phat wheels seem more resistant to getting bent axles/crazy camber angles

 

[danthecapriman]

2 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

I think the phat wheels seem more resistant to getting bent axles/crazy camber angles

 

Most likely. Mind you, if some ham fisted little brat is going to stand on their toy cars any little axle/wheel will get bent. The real issue here is children not being taught to look after their toys so weird old men in the future can have the toys! Same goes for some kid’s obsession with breaking out plastic glazing! Many a nice old diecast has been ruined by having their windows stabbed out. 
Bloody kids shouldn’t be allowed toys!

That gigantic wheel arch is now glaringly obvious and annoying on the hot rod Mercury now you mentioned it!😆

 

[Datsuncog]

Less frosty this morning, which is a good thing.

Both for me and the cherry tree.

But the problem with being in early is...

In an attempt to out-nemesis The Nemesis, I've also jumped in ahead of Market Blokey...

Probably not the done thing to steam on ahead, and set his stall out for him?

It's all there in those banana boxes under a sheet - normally stallholders with non-perishable goods rock up on Thursday afternoon to drop off their wares for a Friday morning start.

However, tempting though that is, I might just go and grab a coffee instead...

[bunglebus]

8 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

That Escrote looks absolutely awesome btw!

I agree, great job. Hateful casting that it is, why did they make the wheelarches part of the base FFS?

[Datsuncog]

Sustenance procured.

And Tat Stall finally open for business.

I was just tidying the £10 Vanguards for a quick pic, when...

YOINK.

Well well well.

You-know-who swooped.

But it's okay - there was nothing he was after that I didn't already have, in one form or another.

And he remained unfailingly polite, offering to put them back so I could take a few pics once he realised he'd interrupted my little photo session.

All Fords today, then - his haul consisted of a Classic Capri, two 105E Anglias, and two Mk3 Zephyrs - the maroon one plus a black police version.

Right, let's try again.

Largely the same stuff as last week, to be fair.

Oxford Diecast still rattling about loose...

And no idea what's going on with this mono-headlight Vanguards Cresta PA in a smashed Matchbox Dinky E-Type box.

This Triumph triple pack was nice - but also swiftly Nemesis'd.

If I'd seen it first, I might have taken it... but shoulda woulda coulda. He passed it over to me so I could photograph it, as I'm clearly the Photos Guy now...

The Heller ClicClac Land Rover was back!

Or at least, 95% of it was back.

Damn fragile things, these. There ought to be stuff on the sides, and on the roof. But not a bad survivor, all the same.

And then suddenly... a Tat Box appeared.

The two of us fell upon it like a pair of seagulls fighting over a punnet of dropped chips.

There was some Corgi 1/36 racing stuff - both World F1 and Indycar - plus various Corgi/ Lesney/ other bits, all priced at £5 a throw.

I know @flat4alfa put out an APB last night for a Dodge Monaco station wagon - and this one's available, though not all that cheap.

Nemesis was swift to pick up on the tyreless Dinky Austin Taxi...

And a barely-worn Hudson.

He also nabbed the Bedford O- Series dropside, despite the missing headlights.

Corgi Riley Pathfinder with a bent roof remained unclaimed, as did a more beat-up Hudson with a missing front axle.

Busted-window Corgi Thunderbird, scruffy VW breakdown truck, and paint-free Dinky D-Type Jag - not bad, but not really good value.

Lesney King Size Merryweather ladder turntable missing a critical piece of equipment! Dinky quad gun tractor not bad despite missing tyres.

Early Lesney Foden sugar tanker also missing an axle. Dauphine caravan lacking much in the way of paint, but otherwise alright.

No idea who made this incomplete 'T-T Sidecar'

Another Morestone, or Crescent product?

Schonka Tonka. Skipless skip truck?

These Lesney Superking Scammell Crusaders may have had '10p' scrawled on the roof, but they were not 10p.

Annoying, as I need one to go with the 50p trailer and container grubbed up late last year. I didn't much fancy forking over a fiver - these aren't hard to come by.

I owned a similar Britains (?) Police motorbike when I was little - but it was worse than this one.

Lastly, this in-a-state 1/18 Tonka Polistil Porsche 911 appeared on the stall at the very end - but it's quite a bit knackered, in truth. I had one of these new - the removable hood and fold-down sun visors were a nice touch, though all long gone from this example.

So - some nice enough stuff to have a look at, but nothing to give me an itchy wallet.

That being the case, I continued on round the stalls...

[AndyW201]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

I agree, great job. Hateful casting that it is, why did they make the wheelarches part of the base FFS?

I've always reckoned they were trying to recreate the brightwork on the arches and sills of the early Escort Super, as shown here on the Vanguards one.

[Datsuncog]

Alan seemed to have been enjoying a bit of a lie-in, as his stall was only just getting put together at 8.30. He told me that he'd been over to Manchester and had picked up some new diecast stock - but he might not get it out on the stall today, and to "call back in an hour or two".

Nice of him to give me a heads-up and all, but I'll not be here in an hour or two... gotta get back home and boot up the laptop shortly.

Colin from the General Tat stall was apparently off on holiday - but someone else was minding his stall for the week.

No new Vanguards or Oxford this time round.

No new Hot Wheels either.

But the Superfast Custom Ford Sedan was still there - as requested by @flat4alfa

Sorry, Padre - not today.

Safely procured.

The Charity Stall had very little in the way of interest this week - there was a large-ish 1950s tinplate sedan in fairly playworn condition seen peeping from a box, but it was then gone, under suspicious circumstances - or so The Nemesis informed me.

Further drama unfolded when the proprietor of Paddy's Antiques Shitshow, home of the £80 scratched Corgis, then began a rather loud and animated conversation with a pair of gentlemen who, I think, he initially accused of stealing some books from him - before pivoting to yelling at his hapless assistant for leading him to believe that some books had been taken.

Lawks.

I'm not really sure what the outcome was, but there was a lot of yelling and swearing and red shouting faces, and then the security lads had to come over.

He was still stomping about and muttering by the time I came to leave.

I tell you, it's all happening here.

As I completed my final pass-through, I noticed a few old comics on the Tat Stall...

Heh, I used to get Buttons each week. And Playhour, the odd time.

But as I idly leafed through the others, and noticed some other oddities from the 90s in there, I realised they were all very familiar...

Ah... these were mine, weren't they? 

Yes. They must have formed part of the joblot of assorted rubbish I sold on to Market Blokey in January 2022. Although I'd liquidated an enormous childhood comic collection around 2016, I'd kept a small selection, just as a nostalgia capsule of sorts.

They mustn't have made the cut during the pre-move clear-out.

There was a tug, I'll not lie.

It's kinda hard to walk away from an object you had when you were three.

Still, that's what I did. Hard as it is, sometimes it's the only way.

So I think that's kinda it for this week... Maybe not the most edge-of-the-seat thrills for everyone this time round, but hey - where else would you want to be on a Friday morning?

Til next week... Happy Friday, kids.

[bunglebus]

I nearly took one of those Britains bikes apart for its wheels (Honda Cub needs them) but they sell OK so they got a reprieve

[flat4alfa]

37 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

But the Superfast Custom Ford Sedan was still there - as requested by @flat4alfa

Safely procured.

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

No idea who made this incomplete 'T-T Sidecar'

Another Morestone, or Crescent product?

Budgie No.264 Racing Motorcycle Sidecar Outfit.  From 1962.

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

I owned a similar Britains (?) Police motorbike when I was little - but it was worse than this one.

Britain’s Norton 850cc Police Patrolman, new for 1974

[Datsuncog]

2 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

So I think that's kinda it for this week...

But stay!

Slight coda.

On the way home, I swung by Screwfix to collect an order, and called into B&M to see if they had any more bamboo plant labels (they didn't).

But it would be rude not to take a rapid stroll down the toy aisle on the way to the exit, wouldn't it?

Looks like they've refilled on Flying Customs.

Some of the pegs contained Lightyear character cars faced over, but still - there were loads of the blighters.

However a thorough, if somewhat fumbling and clumsy search along the pegs revealed absolutely no white Shelby 500GTs.

Bah.

Only one each of the pink '55 Chevy and blue Chevy Nova Wagon. Two or three red Plymouth GTXs, around three or four Firebirds, and loads and loads of Custom Ottos, Barracudas and Mustang Mach 1s (five to seven of each).

How vexing - though I think everyone's sorted now, one way or another?

I just need to sort my shit out, metaphorically, and get parcels in the post...

No new Matchbox, though I did come away with something for myself...

Yup, after the Plow Master 6000 a week or two back, it seems I can't resist gimmicky little commercials with plasticky bits.

I've kept picking this latest version of the Garbage Scout up and putting it down again for weeks now; a surefire sign that I'd regret buying it if I ever did so, but would equally regret not buying it should I hold my resolve and refrain.

So... 'something something better to regret the things you did rather than the things you didn't do', or some such cheerily inane pop psychology nonsense?

Just don't tell MrsDC, it's getting increasingly difficult to get the ottoman bed shut with all the Matchbox crammed under there...

[flat4alfa]

Never seen those two before

The bottom one is '16 Toyota Tacoma from 2022 series

[Datsuncog]

35 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Never seen those two before

The bottom one is '16 Toyota Tacoma from 2022 series

Yup, they still had a few of those Tacomas left on the clip strip - also on my want/regret list of personal torment.

I love the idea, but the casting seems a smidge crude around the front - headlamps cast properly without the weird gap would be good, and some detailing would go a long way.

The original 2017 release looks to have slightly better colours, too - bit less stark than the white.

But, I'll probably buckle someday soon...

Stacks of the orange Honda Ridgeline still lurking on the strips, though - at least seven or eight dotted along the toy aisle.

Both originating from the late 2022 case, I believe.

I daresay I'll be back there before long, if you're interested...

[MiniMinorMk3]

14 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

 

I decided on budget resto, so it has an acetate screen, plasticard bucket seats and a (laughably awfull) louvred back window.

 

I've been bidding for some models that would have come with my Tri Deck Transporter and couldn't resist this Firebird it's pretty much mint condition

Shame it has the red spot wheels

 

I like the Red Spot wheels, I think they look a lot better than the tele-dials and imitation Rostyles that came later.

The Escort looks great, I like the rs2000 inspired stripes.

 

13 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

That is weird! And the same on @bunglebus one. So I’m guessing then that the glue must be factory applied and squished out from under the tyres?? I thought someone had done it on mine with the wrong glue (like gorilla glue that expands).

 

I don't think that is glue. It looks like the old rubber and wheel reaction that you get on many European diecasts.

 

13 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

They really should have stopped with the first narrow version of the super fast wheels imho. The big wide later wheels really did ruin the early models in many ways. I wonder why they did go for the big wide wheel on everything though?

The Hot Wheels affect. At the time the best looking small diecasts were Hot Wheels RedLines. The chromatic paint, the wide wheels, the daft engines sticking out, and of course the orange track. Matchbox decided to copy what they did and changed their range, for the worse, to keep up. Then came Corgi Rockets, wide wheels, removable chassis, there were fab. And their red track with the Superbooster that could be made into a circuit. Christmas 1970 changed everything.

[MiniMinorMk3]

Here's something you don't see modelled much, the Dino 308 GT4.

This one is from the crap cardboard box era, also has some odd wheels.

Base still has the four dimples from teh plastic box era.

 

[500tops]

Grabbed these in Poundland earlier.

Matchbox are 50p!

[Datsuncog]

9 minutes ago, 500tops said:

Matchbox are 50p!

[bunglebus]

On 14/04/2023 at 17:24, Zie said:

Found my Hot Wheels Simpsons van.

I have been swindled

[bunglebus]

Still, Mr. Modelmatic cheered me up a bit by dropping this on the mat

[Zie]

1 minute ago, bunglebus said:

Found my Hot Wheels Simpsons van.

I have been swindled

Was it that pesky Nemesis? 

[flat4alfa]

4 hours ago, 500tops said:

Grabbed these in Poundland earlier.

Matchbox are 50p!

You tease.  I've never seen Matchbox in either Poundland near here

[bunglebus]

8 minutes ago, Zie said:

Was it that pesky Nemesis? 

Maybe, but my normal nemesis is strictly VW stuff.

I have a suspect though 

[flat4alfa]

21 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

Shame it has the red spot wheels

FRIDAY FUN FACT

The Firebird was supposed to be a 'Take-Off Wheels' candidate and production was readied for 1969.  The catalogue showed the expected new release as a drawing 

But the red nylon fixed bush type was used instead, so in effect the low-friction 'Red Spot Wheels' as we know them were the first 'Whizz Wheel' design ....or at least that is what the box implied

It did eventually get the all-plastic style, but they are comparatively scarce.  And look naff, to me.  They make the model seem smaller in size?

The question remains, why did they use red nylon?  Is there something in the Cleemput book about that decision?

[flat4alfa]

FRIDAY FUN FACT #2

Mattel did not coin the phrase 'Red Line'.

They were in fact using the term 'Red stripe'

This was because the late 1960s-on muscle car style of wearing tyres with a red highlight line were named 'red stripe' tires

It's probably a good thing that the 'red line' term was adopted by collectors instead, as the beverage brand Red Stripe trademark existed from the early 1930s at Galena, Illinois, US.  The company sold the recipe to British investors after facing financial trouble, who took the brand and recipe to Jamaica.  Charles Wells were licenced to brew at Bedford UK from 1976.  The first reintroduction back to the US was in 1985 where it remained an imported product, until brewed under contract by Moosehead at New Brunswick USA from 2009.

It's Friday, the sun has just come out.  So crack open a bottle of Red Stripe and play with your Hot Wheels.

If you've got an original prototype rear-loading Beach Bomb VW bus, as has this fella, be careful as it's worth around $150k.

So don't spill beer over it.

[FakeConcern]

21 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

 

That Escrote looks absolutely awesome btw! You’d never know it was the same one!! It’s nice to see it actually finished and looking so good. To think I was going to make it into a stock car!

Thanks for the encouragement, but it isn't finished as I can't live with the terrible rear screen louvre and tried making it again without success so I'll definitely buy a new window moulding as I think it looks good enough to justify the expence!

12 hours ago, bunglebus said:

I agree, great job. Hateful casting that it is, why did they make the wheelarches part of the base FFS?

Thanks! I agree, but it isn't the only one like this and one of the reasons I always liked Corgi more when I was a kid.

11 hours ago, AndyW201 said:

I've always reckoned they were trying to recreate the brightwork on the arches and sills of the early Escort Super, as shown here on the Vanguards one.

You could well be right on this, I did toy with painting the lip orange like the rest of the car, but the thing is a bit ambivalent.

7 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

I like the Red Spot wheels, I think they look a lot better than the tele-dials and imitation Rostyles that came later.

The Escort looks great, I like the rs2000 inspired stripes.

 

I don't think that is glue. It looks like the old rubber and wheel reaction that you get on many European diecasts.

 

The Hot Wheels affect. At the time the best looking small diecasts were Hot Wheels RedLines. The chromatic paint, the wide wheels, the daft engines sticking out, and of course the orange track. Matchbox decided to copy what they did and changed their range, for the worse, to keep up. Then came Corgi Rockets, wide wheels, removable chassis, there were fab. And their red track with the Superbooster that could be made into a circuit. Christmas 1970 changed everything.

I've never been a fan of the Red Spot wheels and they are not without problems, my original Roger Clark Capri has them and the tyres have kind of melted. However that wasn't the reason I said it was a shame the Firebird had them, more because all the pics of the GS20 show it with Teledials!

Thanks for the feedback on the Escort I was pleased with the paint, it will look much better with new windows though.

4 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

FRIDAY FUN FACT

The Firebird was supposed to be a 'Take-Off Wheels' candidate and production was readied for 1969.  The catalogue showed the expected new release as a drawing 

But the fixed red nylon bush type was used instead, so in effect the 'Red Spot Wheels' as we know them were the first 'Whizz Wheel' design ....or at least that is what the box implied

It did eventually get them, but they are scarce.  And look naff, to me.  They make the model seem smaller in size?

The question remains, why did they use red nylon?  Is there something in the Cleemput book about that decision?

That's interesting, I don't remember seeing a catalogue with the Golden Jacks Firebird, pretty sure mine showed it with Whizzwheels. I do have a Golden Jacks Camaro though!

I'm just reading the Cleemput book now and although he mentions the nylon low friction hub, he doesn't say why it was red or why the wheel itself was gold either! I haven't actually finished the book yet, but have already got into Teledial models so it seems unlikey there will be more on this subject.

[bunglebus]

I've been in the loft today, trying to better organise my cars and weed out some to get rid of. Sometimes I don't know what's more annoying, Corgi's seemingly endingless variations or my inability to part with any of them!

Loctite livery Renault Trafic;

Or is it just a "VAN"?

Matra Rancho with three different wheel types

 

Another van with an identity crisis

More wheel swap business

This one says Ferrari on the bonnet and doors

This one only has it on the doors

Gold stripes and Porsche lettering

Just the stripes

I've shown Sierra police car wheel types before, found these two today

 

And these two

Black interior

Red interior

Interior AND wheels different? Wow

5 spokes

4 spokes

Drives me mad I tell ya

[flat4alfa]

Do all three Junior Ranchos have Made in England underneath?

[bunglebus]

19 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Do all three Junior Ranchos have Made in England underneath?

Yes bases all the same

There are some others but I either haven't photographed them for some reason or forgot the differences. There was at least one with different CORGI fonts underneath, and a Firebird with FIREBIRD on the side, plus an identical one with TRANS AM instead