Shite in Miniature II

[bunglebus]

Found this last night - not sure if this is the same Zodiac who imported various Hong Kong pull-backs etc

https://zodiactoys.wordpress.com/

[FakeConcern]

10 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

A nice round dozen pics for you here.  We'll start with some primering...

You'll see those again sooner or later.  Meanwhile, I finished not one, not two, but count 'em, three of the Spot-Ons I've been restoring, all owned from new.  Humber sports a lovely new roofrack courtesy of the equally lovely @RayMK of this parish.

And here's the Humber with the owned-from-new caravan I restored a while back...

Now then... Dinky Albion cement mixer.  The yellow one is a later copy by Joal but it's good enough for comparison.  The old Dinky didn't have its bucket, and a sloppy repaint hadn't worn well either, so I did the decent thing and cut away the bucket mountings.  The load bed is a tipper body, from a trailer I think, but since it didn't have any sort of chassis under it I thought it would look the part here...

Pleased with that!  And from there we move on to the Bond partwork Sherpa van, which is the grey one in the next set.  The green one is the same van with the dents filled in and a set of Vanguards Vauxhall Velox wheels.

Again, I think it's turned out quite well.  Now... Corgi Beach Buggy.  I mentioned in an earlier post that I'm a bit averse to metal models of fibreglass cars.  They offend me at a basic level I can't quite describe.  Nevertheless, I seem to have a handful of these little things, including two for restoration.  Look at these pics, I'll be back...

So, above you see a complete Buggy.  The black thing is the plastic piece that sits within the chassis and forms the suspension.  As you can see, one of the suspension arms is broken and I've had to do some surgery on it, but it's better than the one for the other project Buggy, which is missing altogether!  Steve Flowers doesn't do parts for this model.  Oh dear.  But all is not lost!  Now look at the Cortina estate.  It has a similar suspension arrangement, but including the bumpers, which take a bit of a beating.  I'm restoring one and decided to replace that part, which fortunately Mr Flowers does offer (£7.00).  You can see the new part.  This left me with the old, damaged Cortina suspension piece.  Putting the Buggy part against it showed that they were close enough for width, although I did have to chop some length out of the middle, and remove the end pieces.  Windscreens are flat, so they're easy enough (just as well, as they're often broken) and both projects are missing a steering wheel.  I can cobble some up from my spares box, which is an expanding series of ice cream tubs.  I haven't tried to reassemble the Buggies yet; I'll let you know how it goes (complete with non-standard colours).

The blue Cortina is one I hand-painted decades ago to match one I encountered in Leeds one night in 1979 or possibly 1980.  I had gone over in my Anglia to a student party, and late that night we thought it was  a fun idea to see what was happening where these guys lived as they were having a party too.  The next hour or so consisted of a good-natured and painfully slow-motion chase around the city.  Those were the days!

Looking great as always Eddy, thanks for the update!

I should have said when I posted a quick pick of my tat haul from the toy fair on Sunday that the orange Beach buggy was for you, no roof or steering wheel, but otherwise ok

[eddyramrod]

That's very thoughtful, thank you!  How many items in my box now?

[MiniMinorMk3]

Random diecast of the day.

Tomica Dandy Honda City Turbo II.

Box is a bit worn

Car is nice and shiney

But doors are a bit crude.

What's that in the back?

Is it some luggage?

No it's a little fold up motorbike.

Just like the real thing

[FakeConcern]

1 hour ago, eddyramrod said:

That's very thoughtful, thank you!  How many items in my box now?

I'll PM you lateron

[andrew e]

If you want current  Tomica try plaza - you need a fair sized order as postage is £20 sadly, but you are buying the diecast very well. 

https://www.plazajapan.com/toys/tomica/?sort=priceasc&_bc_fsnf=1&in_stock=1

You normally get a rubber too 😎

Honda City current:

https://www.plazajapan.com/4904810291893/

[bunglebus]

The bikes are molded into the back of the Hot Wheels version too

[bunglebus]

Got a couple of little bits in the post. Hot Wheels is another with the screaming wheels that only came in sets apparently 

This is probably more interesting though. Lone Star Eldorado is already enjoying a bath in some paint stripper, I did try and straighten the towbar but wasn't too upset when it snapped off, no need for that on a land yacht 

[FakeConcern]

I really like the Auto Pilen Volvo/Daf I picked up the other day and as a look on ebay has shown them to be rarish/expensive I'd like to fix up the one I have despite the missing steering wheel, dash, front bumper & both A pillars plus broken screen.

Cute, but realistic

So a question for those who know Pilen models, how to get it apart? It has a tab at the front just below the grill that was maybe hidden by the front bumper

Well either I need glasses or that pic is out of focus, but hopefully you can see what I mean.

I can't see any rivets/screws in the base so thought that the rear bumper may pull off to release the base, but I cant seem to prise it off

So any ideas how this comes apart?

[Split_Pin]

I really wish I'd kept the mint example I had. 

On models where the method of attaching the base to the shell isn't obvious, I always start by trying to remove the rear bumper as nine times out of ten it's acting as some kind of lock tab.

[sierraman]

9 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

I really wish I'd kept the mint example I had. 

On models where the method of attaching the base to the shell isn't obvious, I always start by trying to remove the rear bumper as nine times out of ten it's acting as some kind of lock tab.

Bburago used to do that on the 1/43 scale. 

[w00dy]

Nowt exciting, but nice to find something I wanted in a picked through selection at Aldi.

Pretty nice detailing, but I could do without the winking headlights

[junkyarddog]

18 minutes ago, w00dy said:

Nowt exciting, but nice to find something I wanted in a picked through selection at Aldi.

Pretty nice detailing, but I could do without the winking headlights

Still got to find one of those.

[MiniMinorMk3]

12 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

I really like the Auto Pilen Volvo/Daf I picked up the other day and as a look on ebay has shown them to be rarish/expensive I'd like to fix up the one I have despite the missing steering wheel, dash, front bumper & both A pillars plus broken screen.

Cute, but realistic

So a question for those who know Pilen models, how to get it apart? It has a tab at the front just below the grill that was maybe hidden by the front bumper

Well either I need glasses or that pic is out of focus, but hopefully you can see what I mean.

I can't see any rivets/screws in the base so thought that the rear bumper may pull off to release the base, but I cant seem to prise it off

So any ideas how this comes apart?

 

12 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

I really wish I'd kept the mint example I had. 

On models where the method of attaching the base to the shell isn't obvious, I always start by trying to remove the rear bumper as nine times out of ten it's acting as some kind of lock tab.

I would also assume it's the rear bumper that holds it together. 

Is there anyway of looking into the rear arches to see where the bumper fits, you may be able to get a small screw driver in to push on any tabs.

If not try cutting the bumper off at the rear and pushing the tabs through. The pic below shows were the bumper goes through the body.

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

Random Diecast of the Day.

Diapet (by Yonezawa Toys) Mini Advantage.

A bit crude and very toy like

Interior is basic but they did take the time to do a heated rear window.

Nice chrome engine under the bonnet and orangecators on the front. Also scale is 1/35, so very similar to the later Corgi Minis.

Base is graphite grey. The wheels are silver, but they should be white. This is odd, because other Diapet Mini 1000 models have white wheels.

However, there is a odd error on the drivers side

Diapets with white wheels showing that the door gaps replicate what came out of the Austin Rover factory.

[eddyramrod]

WANTED WANTED WANTED

At scrap price, obviously!  I don't care which livery (there are three or four that I know of) or even how much paint is left on it, because it's going to get painted.  I also don't mind ending up with more than one because they can all get painted eventually.  The essential one is to represent ODT 656L, which was my boss's van way back in the 70s, which I got to drive.  If it comes from someone who already has a box running for me, even better.  I know there are several of you!

[FakeConcern]

13 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

I really wish I'd kept the mint example I had. 

On models where the method of attaching the base to the shell isn't obvious, I always start by trying to remove the rear bumper as nine times out of ten it's acting as some kind of lock tab.

I've tried to get a pen knife blade in to lever the bumper off, but it won't go in the gap as it's so small.

48 minutes ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

 

I would also assume it's the rear bumper that holds it together. 

Is there anyway of looking into the rear arches to see where the bumper fits, you may be able to get a small screw driver in to push on any tabs.

If not try cutting the bumper off at the rear and pushing the tabs through. The pic below shows were the bumper goes through the body.

 

No chance of seeing past the wheel as it pretty much fills the wheel arch.

I'll try a bit more before I cut the bumper off

[bunglebus]

Price update. Nipped unto the small Toys Я Us inside WH Smiths. No surprise that they aren't selling many Hot Wheels at £4 each and £15 for a 5 pack

[bunglebus]

I can feel a cull coming on, I'm getting to the point where I can't put anything away and I don't have any more room in the loft for boxes. I could make room by getting rid of the big pile of stuff earmarked for the boot sale, and getting wardrobes for the bedroom we decorated 6 months ago and kinda just moved into, leaving boxes of stuff in the loft at the time.

However I think I've hoarded rather a lot of stuff that I'm not especially attached to, so I think over the colder months I'm doing to go through it one box at a time and stick cars on here and/or eBay.

It's hard to enjoy your collection when you can't access it easily - all this started after finding a roof donor (or three) for my otherwise mint/boxed Matchbox VW camper, got the new roof all polished up and can't find the boxed one now!

[flat4alfa]

@Datsuncog is the Bank Holiday Tonka 'Maverick' still available?

Don't have one of those

[Datsuncog]

It is! Happy to add it to your box - not in stunning nick, but it might clean up okay!

[flat4alfa]

On 8/27/2023 at 2:15 PM, bunglebus said:

And this larger Saviem tractor which I wasn't familiar with

Owned this one since I was in small trousers.  Bought it in Brittany in 1981

Sadly sold it last year, just before DIECAST TRANSPORTERS GOT BACK IN FASHION ON THIS THREAD

Arse.

[flat4alfa]

7 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

It is! Happy to add it to your box - not in stunning nick, but it might clean up okay!

GR9 as I have a can of yellow bought in Wilko before they dived under

[flat4alfa]

On 8/27/2023 at 12:20 PM, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Random pic of the day

It's all their fault I'm in this mess

[bunglebus]

56 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Sadly sold it last year, just before DIECAST TRANSPORTERS GOT BACK IN FASHION ON THIS THREAD

Arse.

Heavy commercial vehicles are definitely in the firing line for my proposed hoard thinning exercise. 

They're interesting but just don't really do it for me like cars do - so that's up for grabs

[AnthonyG]

@Datsuncog, interested in some of the Buragos, can I start a new box with the blue Tipo, the ‘Abarth’ silver Cinquecento, and the Lancia Delta S4 please. 

[AnthonyG]

Talking of Car Transporters, picked up this at the weekend: 

A fiver from local BHF charity place. Missing some tyres and the tractor unit has lost its windows and interior, but the carrier is in very good condition.

I thought I would be able to pick up a replacement Scammell tractor unit on the bay for less than a tenner posted, however a browse on Monday proved I may have to look at fixing it instead, as these are nothing like as common or cheap as the Bedford TK tractor units. 

A couple of the other complete pairs for sale on eBay were also missing the tractor unit’s windows/interior, so looks like this is common. Despite this, the sellers were still asking considerably more than I paid for the above!

[155V6]

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

Owned this one since I was in small trousers.  Bought it in Brittany in 1981

Sadly sold it last year, just before DIECAST TRANSPORTERS GOT BACK IN FASHION ON THIS THREAD

Arse.

They're not that easy to find.I've got two

The one with the Beetles on has the cab from a container truck as I only found the trailer.I've had the container truck since before you bought your transporter

[FakeConcern]

Back to the Pilen Daf, I tried jamming a blade in behind the bumper a bit more forcefully and it started to ease out until it went pop and the pins holding it in broke off. The centre locating tab is still there so not too bad. It took real force to drive the remains of the pins in so I could actually take the base off though.

Nothing to do with the Daf, but I finally found the roof luggage from my (now lost) childhood Matchbox FIAT and fitted it to the replacement from my recent Cogbox. This will now be hitched to one of the many Matchbox caravans in the summer house by Mrs Concern...

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

Heavy commercial vehicles are definitely in the firing line for my proposed hoard thinning exercise. 

They're interesting but just don't really do it for me like cars do - so that's up for grabs

Yeah I think I will please.   You can't Saviem them all, but that can find a new home here