Shite in Miniature II

[flat4alfa]

On 5/21/2023 at 7:22 PM, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Missed this one

Are they your scans?  Only I had the magazine for years and only sold it in recent times

[Datsuncog]

Probably time to wheel out my gripe again about how, after Mattel took over from Tyco in 1997, Northern Ireland had no Matchbox rep for over a year and Mattel UK could not have given less of a shit.

The toy and model shop I worked in at the time started stocking Tomica and Siku instead, because we just couldn't persuade them to bother their arse to sell us any Matchbox stock. 

The shop in question had been a Matchbox stockist since it opened in 1962, and I can remember getting some of my most prized childhood examples there in the early '80s. They still had a 1960s countertop display showing the current full 75-model range. I'd get to point at the one I wanted, and the owner would then pull out a boxed one from the stock kept in drawers under the big mahogany counter. It was the kinda magic that builds a lifetime attachment to a brand.

It's probably a topic for the Grumpy Thread, but it kinda boils my piss the way Mattel will tickle the bollocks of their US Ambassador to Collectors by printing their names onto models as cute l'il Easter Eggs for those in the know, while collectors over here spent years literally hoking around filthy understocked Tesco shelves just to try to find a release or two.

My opinion of them is... not good.

[flat4alfa]

39 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Yep as above I found another blue Merc 220 like my recent boot sale buy

Wot boot sale buy?  Missed that.  Didn't know any were in the country

Hang on, does that mean you have one spare now then?

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

No name on the own brand ones

Sourced from Motor Max

[bunglebus]

On 21/05/2023 at 14:12, bunglebus said:

I'll get pics up later, for now here's my one boxed buy

 

8 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Wot boot sale buy?  Missed that.  Didn't know any were in the country

Hang on, does that mean you have one spare now then?

Unfortunately not, gone to a mate but I'll keep 'em peeled

[MiniMinorMk3]

21 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Missed this one

Are they your scans?  Only I had the magazine for years and only sold it in recent times

Yes. I scanned it many years ago. I purchased the mag of Ebay after seeing the car at Shelsley Walsh in 2013. I still have the mag somewhere, but it will be buried under the last 10 years of acquisitions. Here's some video I took at Shelsley

 

19 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Probably time to wheel out my gripe again about how, after Mattel took over from Tyco in 1997, Northern Ireland had no Matchbox rep for over a year and Mattel UK could not have given less of a shit.

The toy and model shop I worked in at the time started stocking Tomica and Siku instead, because we just couldn't persuade them to bother their arse to sell us any Matchbox stock. 

The shop in question had been a Matchbox stockist since it opened in 1962, and I can remember getting some of my most prized childhood examples there in the early '80s. They still had a 1960s countertop display showing the full 75-model range, and I'd get to point at the one I wanted and the owner would pull out a boxed one from behind the big mahogany counter. It was the kinda magic that builds a lifetime attachment to a brand.

It's probably a topic for the Grumpy Thread, but it kinda boils my piss the way Mattel will tickle the bollocks of their US Ambassador to Collectors by printing their names onto models as cute l'il Easter Eggs, while collectors over here spent years literally hoking around under filthy Tesco shelves to try to find releases.

My opinion of them is... not good.

I've not been a fan of Mattel since they got the exclusive rights to sell Ferrari models back in 1998 and then did nothing with it. I gave up collecting Ferraris in the end and sold off my collection of road, race and F1 cars.

[quicksilver]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

Probably time to wheel out my gripe again about how, after Mattel took over from Tyco in 1997, Northern Ireland had no Matchbox rep for over a year and Mattel UK could not have given less of a shit.

The toy and model shop I worked in at the time started stocking Tomica and Siku instead, because we just couldn't persuade them to bother their arse to sell us any Matchbox stock. 

The shop in question had been a Matchbox stockist since it opened in 1962, and I can remember getting some of my most prized childhood examples there in the early '80s. They still had a 1960s countertop display showing the full 75-model range, and I'd get to point at the one I wanted and the owner would pull out a boxed one from behind the big mahogany counter. It was the kinda magic that builds a lifetime attachment to a brand.

It's probably a topic for the Grumpy Thread, but it kinda boils my piss the way Mattel will tickle the bollocks of their US Ambassador to Collectors by printing their names onto models as cute l'il Easter Eggs, while collectors over here spent years literally hoking around under filthy Tesco shelves to try to find releases.

My opinion of them is... not good.

Mattel. I just do not understand them at all. From hideous fantasy castings to weird livery choices, wasting money on duplicated and reworked castings and utterly haphazard distribution, very little they do makes any sense to me. I've heard it said that they actively discourage collectors from contacting them with suggestions.

Hot Wheels hold no appeal to me and apart from the occasional one as a base for rebuilding and improving neither do modern Matchbox.

[flat4alfa]

57 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Unfortunately not, gone to a mate but I'll keep 'em peeled

I'm Shaw you will, thanks

[FakeConcern]

Her is my updated not my Hot Wheels collection of Minis

Great fun taking the chassis out, poor Beatles Mini feeling left out

I thought the 77 Union Jack Mini had the roll cage missing, but it seems it never came with it as there's no clip for it on the side and the vestigal rivet post in the roof fouls the cage. I had expected to be able to swap all the bodies/chassis for extra fun

[bunglebus]

This was a good few years ago

 

[flat4alfa]

On 6/6/2023 at 8:59 PM, RoadworkUK said:

Not going to write war and peace about this one (you're welcome), but after the Metro I posted last, I inevitably succumbed and spent money that I haven't got on something I don't need.

Except I so do.

My excuse for buying it is that, having owned an Acclaim as my first car, when I was 17 back in 1998, it was inevitable that I'd own the model at some point. Of course, mine was finished in Champagne (BL for beige) and didn't have hilariously over-sized door mirrors to operate the steering with, but still, it's the closest I'll ever have to a model of ELR 90Y (Elroy to its fans)

And it isn't a bad model; attention to detail is good, down to the accurately picked out side rubbing strips, and the (unique to this model?) wheels have a stab at representing the pattern of holes found on the Acclaim's standard 13in steelies.

I had to have this version, too, and in this packaging, which closely resembles the Acclaim dealer literature that would have been in circulation at the time, circa 1981 – when both the Acclaim and yours truly were brand new. The packaging has obviously had its window replaced prior to sale, so it isn't 100% original, but I doubt there are many survivors anyway. 

I didn't fancy the driving school version, with its enormous roof-mounted steering wheel, half as much.

Sadly, it's destined to have rather a dull life with me. It'll remain in its box, undisturbed for the most part, until it eventually forms part of a legacy that some poor fucker will inherit. Which, incidentally, is exactly how I came to own ELR 90Y in the first place.

Somehow missed this post, sorry

They are a bit special.  Don't know why but it's probably one of my favourites from Corgi, a sort of guilty pleasure.  Oo-er.

There are two Acclaims back here, one with detachable roof wheel

along with a Prelude for company

The Triumph Acclaim measures to 1:33 scale, yet Honda Prelude measures to 1:35 scale, which makes the Prelude look a bit weedy

Even more so, as in real life the Prelude is based on the larger Accord platform, not the Civic

Ken likes his Honda Ballade because it matches his outfit.  The roof wheel departed years ago so Ken put a colour-contrasting flower in.

Doris prefers her Acclaim not because it almost matches her top, but more because it reminds her of 'that' steamy weekend in Preston.

Ballade you say?  Yes, Ballade.  They actually did that.

@RoadworkUK posted up Ballade brochure scans some years back, and surprisingly they are still in the forum site image store.  I hope it's ok to direct-link to them here, for reference

Anyhow, this is the real Acclaim once owned by me for a short while, and although my set of pics are now lost off the forum store, I found @trigger's set are still up on his flickr library.  I hope he doesn't mind, but then again he was the next custodian of the steed and did gr9 work on it and kept it over a year

Wanted one for years, but with a young child seat to contend with, it proved way too small inside and it had to go sadly. 

It was replaced by a Citroen XM, but I'm better now.

[flat4alfa]

3 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Unfortunately not, gone to a mate but I'll keep 'em peeled

I dashed over the hill to the big Poundland late-open store in next town, all because of today's Chester revelation.

Took the roffle-win red Corsa, which belted along up and down the lanes

But.  Not one of the Matchbox blue Mercedes set there at all.  Did find the chase Hot Wheels Cherokee, first one seen.   Then went B&M next door, useless HW stock and now don't have any Matchbox at all.  Car Park murder to get out of too.

Then belted along down and up the lanes, back again.  Even hit 80, a tad foolish.

Wife wondered what I had been up to, as I went straight into garage to hide the Cherokee purchase.

[RoadworkUK]

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

 

@RoadworkUK posted up Ballade brochure scans some years back, and surprisingly they are still in the forum site image store.  I hope it's ok to direct-link to them here, for reference

Completely forgot I'd posted those! One of my favourite brochures from the JDM portion of my collection.

I, too, have the Corgi Prelude... somewhere. Bought it for 50p at the Beaulieu Autojumble years ago. It's tidy enough, bar an annoyingly cracked windscreen. 

Your own Acclaim looks a treat. Frustratingly, I have zero photos of mine.

[Noel Tidybeard]

triumph acclaim you say- no i haven't got a problem, no, not at all

yes and i got the other shade of blue as well☺️

[eddyramrod]

Oh that's why I can't find one!

[danthecapriman]

A friend got one of those Corgi Acclaim’s when we are at school. I still remember it now. It was that lovely blue and I was very jealous of it!

Sadly little Dan never did manage to get himself one!🥲

[Noel Tidybeard]

4 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

Oh that's why I can't find one!

[Jon]

9 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

A friend got one of those Corgi Acclaim’s when we are at school. I still remember it now. It was that lovely blue and I was very jealous of it!

Sadly little Dan never did manage to get himself one!🥲

If you don't mind waiting until January, you could have these, if interested?

Picked them up for nostalgic reasons a few months ago. Boxes as you can see aren't great but both cars are mint.

I'm sure we could arrange some sort of a swap!

[Datsuncog]

[Balls, I clearly fell asleep last night before I could finish this and post it... will expand later because - It's Friday. And you know what that means...]

Took a run over to the big Home Bargains earlier, in search of some Matchbox Action City sets- only to find they've now started closing an hour earlier than they used to. And despite it being ten minutes before their new improved* closing time, the doors were already closed and locked.

Bah. Maybe tomorrow.

But speaking of Matchbox...

Yup, it's the Hitch & Haul Rodeo Set from last week - now finally liberated from its blister pack.

Yee, and indeed, haw.

[Datsuncog]

Not all that warm, but bright 'n' leafy out. Young blackbirds all over the place, looking gormless (there's been a nest in the hedge beside the drive).

Sun's been up for hours.

[flat4alfa]

12 hours ago, Noel Tidybeard said:

yes and i got the other shade of blue as well 

THEY DID WHAT

[Split_Pin]

11 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Not all that warm, but bright 'n' leafy out. Young blackbirds all over the place, looking gormless (there's been a nest in the hedge beside the drive).

Sun's been up for hours.

At the solstice it would be good to see a comparison of 8am and the same time in the depths of January!

[flat4alfa]

15 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

GOAT TYING

Erect cactus

RODEO

[RoadworkUK]

Damn you Mr Tidybeard. That means I probably need to find a Honda Ballade, too.
 

[flat4alfa]

23 minutes ago, RoadworkUK said:

That means I probably need to find a Honda Ballade, too.

You'll might enjoy that road, it took me a year!

And that example wasn’t pennies

[Datsuncog]

Okay, so Friday once more... and it's a good 'un.

Of that you can be very sure.

Despite being hampered by idiots everywhere on the road in, I managed to get myself through the market doors not long after 7.30.

The Tat Stall was still unfolding - I later learned that there had been a private event held at St George's midweek, and so all the stalls had been broken down and packed away to accommodate it; hence a scramble this morning to get everything rigged up again.

A distinct lack of diecast caused me a degree of concern, but I headed on over to the Charity Stall in case they had anything.

Charity Blokey clocked me flicking through his 20p CDs hopefully and pointed over to the far side of his stall.

"There's some wee cars, over there in the box..."

Oh, but I'm typecast.

However - he was correct. There was indeed.

Hnnnng.

Some of the stuff from his collectables section last week, plus additional tat too.

The well-worn Kojak Regal we'd seen before - but this Corgi DS Break was new.

Was this Corgi Majors Bedford TK non-ladder wagon here last week?

Jibless Lesney Thames wrecker was new.

Ambulance missing its back doors, irritatingly.

Super GT Monteverdi pair seemed to be glowy-window jobs.

Hong Kong no-name Kenworth had a part-missing bumper.

The x-chassis reminded me of that fitted to the Corgi Lotus Elan - and 'Lotus' lettering on the twin-cam rocker covers would suggest that's what it's from, though it's so small, I thought it was from some sort of Husky version at first.

Two cheapo far-eastern key-car type things - BMW E30 and Merc 560 SEL.

More budget-conscious fun of uncertain parentage to be had with this Porsche, and a 'FIRE BIRD TRANSAN' (sic).

Bashed Lesney Dodge Horse Trailer, Marx Jeep and unconvincing BMW CSL 'Batmobile'.

Beemer by 'SM Toys' - a new one on me.

Cheapo Audi Quattro actually not all that badly proportioned.

WHUT

Plus other more everyday Lesney and Corgi odds and ends, in highly variable condition.

Well... I won't say I wasn't interested.

But, with a moderate selection in my hot little hands, where was Charity Blokey?

Nowhere to be seen, that's where.

I stood, I waited, I fidgeted.

I became increasingly concerned that I was missing out on Great Things over at the main Tat Stall.

So, with FOMO rising to boiling point and aware there was nothing in here that I really wanted, I flung them all back in and scuttled off down to the other end of the market...

[flat4alfa]

Lotus Chassis must be worth picking up

Wildcat Mustang Monster Truck?  That a good idea

How much is La France trailer

[junkyarddog]

Wildcat mustang with the intact engine and stickers is unusual,especially as it's missing the other bits!

[Datsuncog]

However, I needn't have worried - there was STILL no diecast to be seen.

Just as I was wondering if this was to be something of a barren week, Market Blokey clocked me hovering.

"There's some cars in the box there... if you want to do the needful."

He nodded over at a blank bit of the stall.

Oh heaven. Oh rapture.

A virgin Tat Box. All to myself.

And no Nemesis around, weirdly.

It's true, I kinda get a weird thrill out of arranging stuff like this on tables.

Don't kink-shame me.

But what a haul.

Detailed pics to follow ..

[flat4alfa]

Rover Transporter is interesting!

Is Anglia/Thames Ice Cream van original