Shite in Miniature II

[flat4alfa]

John agrees

[andy18s]

Todays collecting involved another Scooby for the err, collection..from Portugal again.

And a cheap trailer from a Majorette box set that I'll probably get some different stickers for.

[MiniMinorMk3]

17 hours ago, Remspoor said:

For the mini lovers have you got this one in your collection?

1/43 scale Austin Mini 850 Ebro service van by IXO

https://www.ebay.com/itm/332754663745

 

That is a security lock.

I do not have that one, but then they are plenty of those IXO/Altya issues that were only sold on Mainland Europe. I've seen a full size van with that kind of lock on, but I can not remember were and weather it was a Royal Mail or Post Office Telephones van.

57 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

But there's often something new. The Monte Mini was quite nicely done.

 

The 177 Mini must be one of the most modelled competition cars ever. I have various versions from the original Corgi up to the IXO and Vitesse releases.

Morris version

Austin version

Whizzwheels

Polistil

Minichamps BMW Dealer version

Vitesse Square Box

Vitesse diorama

An assorted collection of works Minis including IXO 177

 

[flat4alfa]

Hot Wheeling homage

But they ran out of number ones

[flat4alfa]

I wish I hadn't fallen down the rabbit hole of TINY CITY Hong Kong Minis,  There are loads of interesting ones including the tat stall one

[Datsuncog]

But... I didn't leave empty handed, you'll no doubt be relieved to learn.

These two were kinda on my 'historical regret' list, so I felt it would be imprudent to let them slip through my pastry-sticky digits once again.

The Moving Parts Nissan Xterra is, as expected, a parallel import via China.

Google Lens knows all.

It's not a colour which photographs all that well, truth be told.

I've skipped over rather nicer pale blue (2019 release) and yellow (2020) variants of this one before, and not bought them - so I guess this 2021 release is my third-place runner-up prize.

It's maybe not the most exciting car ever modelled, but hey - I love a gimmick.

Hot opening tailgate action - once something found on mainlines, but not for a long long time.

(Now there's a conundrum for you - what was the last Matchbox mainline offered with opening features? Was it the original version of the Express Delivery, which I believe came with an opening rear loading door?)

Ah well. As I said before, I'm on something of an uncharacteristic AWD fixation right now - so I guess this pleases me well enough.

And I also nabbed this...

The 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS.

Now I've picked this one up before - 2020 maybe? '21? - and never opened it.

It went, with so many others, in the 2022 Purge.

And then I saw it again recently in a post on here, and felt that pang of regret.

So - opportunity does knock twice, sometimes.

It's here, and it's opened now.

It's minimally detailed, and quite lightweight - in a way it reminds me of early 1990s Hot Wheels like the Holden Commodore.

But it's quite handsome, in an understated way.

And it pleased Colin, as it was his first sale of the day - he did me both of them for £5, knocking a quid off the sticker price.

Perhaps unusually, he spat on the fiver before popping it into his cashbox.

Apparently, it brings luck to do that with the day's first takings - even more so if there's no change to give back.

I was unaware of this tradition, despite spending much of my working life in retail.

It also reminded me to try to have exact change in future, for multiple reasons.

So yeah - in some ways, it's a strange little place, St George's Market. But where else would I want to be on a Friday morning?

"Forget it, Jake - it's Georgietown."

Happy Friday, kids. Have a good 'un.

[flat4alfa]

14 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

 

It's maybe not the most exciting car ever modelled, but hey - I love a gimmick.

Hot opening tailgate action - once something found on mainlines, but not for a long long time.

(Now there's a conundrum for you - what was the last Matchbox mainline offered with opening features? Was it the original version of the Express Delivery, which I believe came with an opening rear loading door?)

Quote

2006 was the official last year for basic range issues with opening features, as the MB528 Police Car with opening rear was last seen in the basic range at that point, alongside the MB504 Jeep Liberty which had opening doors but had debuted in 2001 [lamleygroup.com]

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

FRIDAY PUZZLESHITE

I'll have a go at that on my laptop later - making me go cross-eyed on my phone 

[MiniMinorMk3]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

I'll have a go at that on my laptop later - making me go cross-eyed on my phone 

I've done it but will post up later so others can have a go.

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, andy18s said:

Ooh

 

[sierraman]

The mini seems to be a right swine to model, I’ve seen very few where they’ve got it ‘right’. I had a 1/18 Majorette Cooper years back and that was mostly there in proportions. It had a wicker pattern on the doors, I don’t believe they were sold in the U.K. and were a rip off of a

[Datsuncog]

Looks quite like the Solido 1/18, right enough.

It was a decent shape.

The Corgi Classics mid-90s offering was definitely one of the worst.

[quicksilver]

There's something about the Mini that makes it difficult to model even though it isn't an especially complex shape. Hard to put your finger on it but a lot of models somehow just look a bit wrong even when all the defining features are there - they're unmistakably Minis but not quite as they should be for various niggly reasons.

[MiniMinorMk3]

I think it is to do with all the compound curves, and being a small car it is far easier to mess up the proportions.

One of the most dissapointing large scale versions are the 1/18th Kyosho models. The front is too flat and square. For the price they were quite poor.

[MiniMinorMk3]

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

The mini seems to be a right swine to model, I’ve seen very few where they’ve got it ‘right’. I had a 1/18 Majorette Cooper years back and that was mostly there in proportions. It had a wicker pattern on the doors, I don’t believe they were sold in the U.K. and were a rip off of a

 

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

Looks quite like the Solido 1/18, right enough.

 

Those Solidos are not 1/18th scale, they are 1/16th.

[sierraman]

The camber on the wheels is a bit cack, mine did that. I also had the 1/18 Mercedes SL600, would have loved the 605 as well. All long gone now I’m afraid! 

[bunglebus]

Super fast delivery from @Ziecheers!

[w00dy]

Those Ultra Hots are awesome. If anyone comes across any more and wouldn't mind posting then let me know.

[bunglebus]

I used to be good at word searches but the mrs was looking over my shoulder and spotting the names way quicker than me

 

[flat4alfa]

Just been out to two towns, two B&M big stores

No Ultra Hots

No Flying Customs either

It's a parallel universe.

 

But did see a Matchbox Jeep Wrangler Superdrift, on one of the three hanging strips of the usual ones, but this was the only one, first ever seen

[bunglebus]

On 14/05/2023 at 21:06, bunglebus said:

 

On 15/05/2023 at 12:00, Datsuncog said:

Guisval Sierra

I gave it a repaint. No casting line removal, detailing etc - just back to stock

[MiniMinorMk3]

On 5/17/2023 at 9:22 PM, RoadworkUK said:

I've been very good lately. Aside from a couple of opportunistic 50p box finds in scattered emporia, my diecast fast has been pretty successful. 

It was bound to come to an end, though, and I thought, with a CogBox™ en route and a Hotwheels 560 SEC winging its way over courtesy of @bunglebus, that I might as well go the whole hog. So I've gone and bought a Metro. And probably the worst kind.

 

Yes. That one.

The cheesy souvenir one. One of the very cheesiest and most cynical model releases to ever be foisted upon the diecast-loving public.

 

I think in 1981 they were still riding the crest of the 1977 wave for tacky Royal souvenirs. It 1977 you could go anywhere without some tat being flogged that had Silver Jubilee on it. Here's one of Dinkys efforts.

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

From the same era comes this Rover SD1 Rozzer mobile. It shows just how much quality at Dinky had dropped.

The traffic officer figure looks OK, but that's about all that can be said.

The light bar is just a bit of red plastic with a sticker on it.

And talking of stickers they were not put on the signs too well either

Why didn't the number plate match the actual model number?

I guess the wheels capture the look of SD1 steels, but the surface is just flat.

Other redeeming features is the black paint on the B and C pillars, and the detail on the lights.

But the worst piece must be the tow hook.

[Datsuncog]

Argh, etc.

In the 'good' branch of B&M, over at Newtownabbey.

They have some Ultra Hots.

Two each of the El Camino and the Dodge Charger.

One each of the Shelby GT-500, the Mercury Cougar, and the Pontiac Firebird.

None of the Sylvia S14, Civic Si coupe or VW SP2.

They look pretty good - spectraflame style paint and lots of extra tampo detailing. Definitely a mid-premium line.

Going by the packs, these appear to be parallel imports from Indonesia - rather than Mattel UK sourced stock.

No label on the pegs - a recurring issue, it seems - but I can confirm they are indeed £1.99 each.

Any interest, kids? Since I have zero self-control, of course I scooped the lot in one fell swoop. Even though I've no real need of them - so all seven seen here are available.

**EDIT: Shelby Mustang, Cougar and Firebird TAKEN**

**One each of the Charger and El Camino TAKEN**

One Brazilian Charger and one El Camino left!!

Still a fair few Flying Colours left on the pegs too, but only the Mach 1, Firebird, Barracuda and Custom Otto left, in varying quantities. 

But aren't they just soooooo April 2023, dahlings?

[andy18s]

 

 

9 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Argh, etc.

In the 'good' branch of B&M, over at Newtownabbey.

They have some Ultra Hots.

Two each of the El Camino and the Dodge Charger.

One each of the Shelby GT-500, the Mercury Cougar, and the Pontiac Firebird.

None of the Sylvia S14, Civic Si coupe or VW SP2.

They look pretty good - spectraflame style paint and lots of extra tampo detailing. Definitely a mid-premium line.

Going by the packs, these appear to be parallel imports from Indonesia - rather than Mattel UK sourced stock.

No label on the pegs - a recurring issue, it seems - but I can confirm they are indeed £1.99 each.

Any interest, kids? Since I have zero self-control, of course I scooped the lot in one fell swoop. Even though I've no real need of them - so all seven seen here are available.

Still a fair few Flying Colours left on the pegs too, but only the Mach 1, Firebird, Barracuda and Custom Otto left, in varying quantities. 

But aren't they just soooooo April 2023, dahlings?

I'm supposed to be on a bit of buying break(ahem) but can I have the Mustang,Cougar and the Trans Am please..

[bunglebus]

Ah - can I have one each of any other than the Brazilian Charger and El Camino please

[w00dy]

If there's an an El Camino and Charger to be had I'll take them please. 

[Datsuncog]

1 hour ago, andy18s said:

I'm supposed to be on a bit of buying break(ahem) but can I have the Mustang,Cougar and the Trans Am please..

Can do!

Typical that I've just dispatched your tat parcel - but I'll keep a look out for any of the others, if you're interested in them too?

48 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Ah - can I have one each of any other than the Brazilian Charger and El Camino please

Daaah! I've only two Brazilian Chargers and two El Caminos left!

But - will check some of the other branches, and see what's what.

45 minutes ago, w00dy said:

If there's an an El Camino and Charger to be had I'll take them please. 

Sure thing!

So that's one El Camino and one Charger left, folks.

[andrew e]

I don't want any, but sterling service @Datsuncog  keeping the Autoshite tradition alive of upsetting wives and girlfriends you’ve never met 🤣

[Datsuncog]

8 hours ago, andrew e said:

I don't want any, but sterling service @Datsuncog  keeping the Autoshite tradition alive of upsetting wives and girlfriends you’ve never met 🤣

And whilst we're on that topic...

DanBox™ touched down while I was out of the house this morning.

The parcel was in the kitchen, and eyebrows were raised, upon my return.

It's good to keep the old traditions alive, yeah?