Shite in Miniature II

[155V6]

16 minutes ago, FakeConcern said:

Apologies to anyone expecting my  “Fakes Firenza Free No Spot on or Lone Star Diecast Shite Sale. So bad even I don’t want them” sale this evening. I’ve just got home much later than expected and can’t  be bothered to do it now, plus I want my dinner!

I’m pretty sure when I do finally get around to it, it will be the biggest anti-climax since Millennium Eve.

Soz

Food & beer are more important than toy cars 😀

[bunglebus]

15 minutes ago, w00dy said:

Nipped in to B&M to find a mostly raided Fast and Furious selection, but picked up this Charger. Shame there was no 240Z, but otherwise I don't think I'm missing much.

Wheels are crap, 14s on the front and 20s in the rear, both with rubber band tyres

Ooh that's one I want to find

[RoadworkUK]

Oops, I did it again...

A BNIB 1:18-scale model car, bought having possibly had one too many ciders while watching live music in the wilds of Devon turned out to be TWO BNIB 1:18-scale model cars, bought having possibly had one too many ciders while watching live music in the wilds of Devon.

Still. In the words of Orbital, it's better to regret something you have done than to regret something you haven't.

So, what have I done this time?

This. I've always been quite keen on Revell stuff, and there aren't many Mk1 Audi TTs to choose from. To be honest I've wanted to get my hands on one of these for quite a long time, but they rarely seemed to come up for less than a brisk scalping. Ideally I'd have liked one in silver, for the full Bauhaus 'concept car made real' effect of the early launch cars. But Avus Blue isn't a bad compromise.

It is, indeed, BNIB, and again I'm the first to ever remove the plastic securing strips. FEELS GOOD. 
Feels SO good.

Looks quite good, too. The main thing is that they captured the TT's shape absolutely perfectly, to my eyes, anyway. 

I've never thought the TT was an especially good looking car. It's pig ugly, really. However I do recognise it as a design classic, and I can't help but admire it. A TT deserves a spot in my collection, particularly a base model TT, which has the same 1.8 turbo engine as my own A4. This is the first model I've ever bought to have a model of the engine in my own car.  How very exciting.

It strikes me that this model comes from a bit of a transitional period in Revell's history. They were following the right lines, but they weren't quite nailing the detail in the way they would soon. I rate the Opel Manta of the same rough age as being markedly better, and the Renault Clio V6 and Renault 5 Turbo 2 that would follow soon after absolutely blows this TT away.

That's not to say it doesn't do some things well, though.

The interior is, for the most part, great. Certain details, such as the 'alloy' support struts, the HVAC controls and the air vents are really nicely rendered, complete with knurled, silver-finished surrounds to the latter. The steering wheel is ace, too. Only the dash cluster disappoints, with oddly small cut-outs for the instruments and a rather simplistic housing. Ha'porth of tar stuff.

Things are 'adequate' under the bonnet, too. Creditably, the engine looks pretty good. The '5V Turbo' decal is true to life, the oil filler is picked out, as is the intake manifold and injector dooberries. It's all a bit over-shiny, but it's passable. Front headlights pass muster, too.

A few dozen points must be awarded to the wheels and, particularly, the tyres. They're great, with their Michelin Pilot SX branding and dimension markings – even down to the load ratings. The centre cap is nice, too, if a bit shiny. Brake discs and calipers are modelled, too. Always nice to see.

I really like the accurate clamshell bonnet opening, and the overall feel of the thing is more model than toy. Good. I can't be letting a toy into my amassed adult collectibles, can I?

Only thing that really lets this model down for me is the rear lights. They're frankly terrible. Yes, Revell has made an effort to represent the roundy-bits in each unit, but there's no depth or detail to speak of. They're the most toylike aspect of the whole endeavour, so much so that I forgot to take an up-close picture.

So that's that. No more suspiciously 1:18 car-shaped parcels are expected, and there's a whole year until the next festival.

[Split_Pin]

More great prose from you chap, many thanks. 

I had this model in grey when they first came out and stupidly sold it at a car boot 10 years ago in the Great Purge™️. I forgot just how nice it was. I especially regret selling it as when I got my 1/1 scale TT, prices for these had risen crazily, more than I was willing to pay.

I ended up spotting a Maisto Roadster example at St Georges market which Tim lifted for me. While mine is a coupe, the Maisto is the right colour and they modeled the 225 version with twin tailpipes and detail differences in the engine. I can see that some areas such as the headlights aren't quite as good as the Revell, but things like the interior and wheels aren't too far away at all. I really like it.

I'd still like a Revell one again though, I'll have to look out for a cheap unboxed example perhaps.

[RoadworkUK]

Cheers! It was specifically the Coupé i was after, though, for the shape, but I'd completely forgotten that Maisto had a shot at the mk1 TT! It looks good, too, judged by the pics I can find. Maisto generally has a good stab at things, and quite often dredge up much more detail than you'd expect at the price. I'd say the body casting of the Revell is just a hair more crisp, though. And it has separately detailed side indicator repeaters, which are quite obviously the most important thing in the entire world.

[Cookiesouwest]

Continuing my 'I've already got it, but it was cheap' mistakes policy, this arrived. Dennis Lance / Wright in local to me livery.

Also just been emailed, my latest order has been dispatched. It's Datsoncogs fault. Will explain, when it arrives.

[Cookiesouwest]

Another delivery this morning. This time a job lot of 10 from an auction. 

Might keep a couple, but the rest are ebay fodder, to keep my account ticking along.

[bunglebus]

Let's try and get some of my boot sale and eBay etc finds in order - starting with Majorette.

Got this black and gold Charger out of the small toy shop in Sutton Coldfield 

The next four were an eBay job lot

And these two appeared at the boot sale today

[bunglebus]

Waifs, strays and weirdos next. 

Hot Wheels Firebird is pretty tidy

I've got a few of these Porsches, quite a decent casting really with opening parts etc

This one from @flat4alfa maybe not so much

No idea on the maker of this RX-7, guessing it is supposed to be a pull-back but doesn't work now

Those with long memories might remember I found a plastic MK1 Golf by K.S. Toys. Spotted this Merc by the same maker lurking in a job lot, and not only got the roofrack but the trailer too this time

Zylmex Merc C111 with different decals to my current version

Another one spotted in a job lot - tidy MC Granny

And a Transporter courtesy of the Alfabox

Along with this unusual split bus speaker by Welly

[Cookiesouwest]

2 hours ago, Cookiesouwest said:

Another delivery this morning. This time a job lot of 10 from an auction. 

Might keep a couple, but the rest are ebay fodder, to keep my account ticking along.

Balls

Not exactly mint, as described.

Nearly all have paint chips, so won't be keeping any.

These will all go for a loss.

Auctioneers tell fibs lol

[bunglebus]

Here's some bigger stuff 

Matchbox Porker looks good in black, but Mrs BB hates red interiors, strange woman

Polistil Polo is minty cool, and doesn't have too many broken bits

Some Corgis in new (to me) liveries. BRANDCHEF Sierra is not one I remember seeing previously 

[bunglebus]

A few Matchbox have joined the fold, two Roadblasters 

These Holdens from the boot sale

The "other" Wildlife Truck

A 5

And my best find this morning 

[bunglebus]

A few boxed bits, starting with a Fast 111 - one of the pre-Matchbox castings

Hot Wheels, Matchbox and Oxford VWs courtesy of Herr Alfa

Coincidentally my friend bought me this Oxford while he was on holiday 

He got himself a yellow one, which bizarrely all have black C pillars

[bunglebus]

Finally, my staff car arrived 

[MiniMinorMk3]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

 

The real one in action at the 2018 Oulton Park Gold Cup

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

More UT/Pauls Model Art

1995 Edition 2

Contents

1992 BMW 3er Saloon

1994 DTM C-Class

1993/94 DTM Alfa 155

1995 DTM Presentation Models. The F1 cars are part of teh Minichamps Michael Schumacher Collection and the BMW 7er is part of teh Minichamps 1/24th scale range.

 

This is the last Paul's Model Art catalogue that UT models were listed. In the 1996 edition the 1/18 DTM models became part of the Minichamps 1/18th scale range. I think it was Paul's Model Art that held the licence for DTM model, and not UT, hence why those became Minichamps models.

I'm now off to look in my catalogue collection for any UT catalogues I might have to see what the range was after 1995. 

[junkyarddog]

TODAY I HAVE BEEN MOSTLY BUYING.......

Majorette......

 

[bunglebus]

[flat4alfa]

6 hours ago, bunglebus said:

This one from @flat4alfa maybe not so much

Ah, ok. I thought you liked cartoony things and could be a project idea

[bunglebus]

Oh I like it - just saying it's perhaps not the most accurate representation of the 911!

[sierraman]

Ex @155V6 DAF 2600 restored.

[Jim Bergerac]

4 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

1992 BMW 3er Saloon

I'm now off to look in my catalogue collection for any UT catalogues I might have to see what the range was after 1995. 

I had an UT E36 but it was a red sporty one, love that they did the base one too.

[w00dy]

I'm still hopeful that I'll find either of the Majorette T25s, but no luck today. This Silverado is nice though

[Spottedlaurel]

Had something of a nightmare last night, dreaming that I attended a toy fair at Brentwood with @bunglebus and AS member from a long time ago Reallyloud (who does like his diecasts etc too), but only three stalls had been set-up and a fourth was underway but didn't look promising. No tat boxes at any of them!

I'm not sure if that inspired me to have a good sort out of what I had purchased this year, but after finding homes for all the carded HW/Matchbox/Majorette stuff, I'm now left with working out where to put all this lot:

Good job I hadn't started putting them away. Just found another half a dozen Majorettes in another box, returnees from the work display cabinet after I'd refreshed it with a few of my holiday purchases.

[bunglebus]

ITALIA Capri is a good find, some chancer wanted about £8 for the last one I saw at the toy fair

[Datsuncog]

I should probably put the remainder of Friday's Tat Voyage to bed before the weekend finishes... even though it feels like a month has passed since then, for some reason!

So after sloping off from the main Tat Stall, sans any boxed Corgi Majors, the next logical step was to have a quick peek at Larry's Independent Traders to see if he had owt to tickle me...

Well now...

The big but incomplete tinplate racer was still there, amidst the Action Men (some of whom were missing assorted limbs and heads), but the boxed Matchbox were interesting...

Mattel-era Mack box van in Pepsi livery, plus Universal-era Shell Scania and Peterbilt tankers.

However, hopes of OMG BARGAINS were dashed as these were swiftly scooped into the Glass Case Of Many ££££, along with the knives and knuckledusters and other fun* toys.

Some mild probing revealed the Convoys had a tenner each on them, though the smaller light-blue-box Peterbilt was up for a fiver.

Ehhh... not ridiculous, but a bit above what I fancied paying for stuff I'm not madly in love with.

But! Is that... a 50p Tat Box I see?

Well, yes and no.

As I began to guddle and arrange items for better pics, Larry started pulling some of items out to stuff into the display case for spendy things.

The Corgi Volvo artic in Wimpy colours found itself getting a sudden 10x price rise.

Inflation, hey?

So did this mildly knackered Matchbox Dinky Ford van...

I'm definitely not seeing a fiver's worth there - especially with a missing headlight.

Most of the items were fairly recent Matchbox items - though I'm acutely aware that the term 'fairly recent' now means less than 30 years old to me...

Matchbox Mercedes G-Wagen in Polizei colours, and the later airport foam unit rendering of the old Superfast Motorhome casting probably both dating from the late 1980s/ early 1990s.

Lotus Europa was a modern 21st century rendering , but was pretty trashed - plenty of chipping, plus bent and rusty axles.

I'd never seen a chip van version of the Majorette Ford Econoline ice cream van before - and in Spanish, too.

As I was dithering and fiddling with my phone, a woman sidled up and started rummaging through the box herself, pulling out a few diecast including the knackered Europa.

Well, plainly this would not do - so I took the only sensible option and started filling my hat...

[Datsuncog]

A quick scuttle found the rest of the stalls was in order, just in case there were other wonders to be found...

But this proved to be a smidge optimistic.

Alan's famed 50p Tat Tray had also moved upmarket today.

Sorry, HFM?

Blimey.

Best of luck shifting those, dude.

Paddy's Antiques Shitshow was also experimenting with alternative display arrangements:

Yup, his diecast live in this basket now.

They're still £40 a throw, like.

Nothing says 'valuable antique treasures' like a plastic rummage box.

Though he'll also do you affordable collectables too:

Wow. Bargaintastic.

A sweep back round to Tat Central indicated a more enlightened approach to both merchandising and pricing:

The Corgi Jaguar did appeal, it's true, but I left it for today.

The OOC Bristol was showing the effects of last week's soaking, with a fair bit of box coggling.

So - time for a spot of breakfast, and a quick review of the morning...

(The coffee shop was all out of knives for scone spreading purposes)

[sierraman]

It’s a shame there isn’t an ETF index linked to the Belfast Diecast prices with rocketing increases of 10 fold like that. It 

[junkyarddog]

Some of yesterday Majorette finds.

 

[Datsuncog]

Well then... at what point did my impulse control fail on Friday?

The very near mint Majorette Patatas Fritas van was too good to pass up for 50p - it's a bit weird, it's one I didn't know existed, and it's brown.

'Nuff said. A keeper - for now, anyway.

The G-Wagen isn't quite as pristine, but deffo worth having for the price.

Available, if anyone's keen!

[**EDIT - now claimed!**]

Same goes for the Peterbilt Amoco tanker and Airport Crash Tender Unit. Very clean for toys that must be knocking on 30 years old now.

[**EDIT - Foam Unit also spoken for!!**]

Two from the Airport 5-pack, as identified upthread:

I've had the Chevrolet airport shuttle casting before, though tampo'd up - rather darkly - as a prisoner transport bus.

This version's a bit less sinister.

The Airport Express bus seems to be a generic casting - and as it happens I already have this one in green, as the vehicle that came with the Matchbox bus station playset acquired back in June:

These are all very clean, in fact really as good as new - and yes, I picked them up to form part of the small but growing box of toy vehicles which my nieces will probably one day enjoy ignoring, much to my chagrin.

Ditto these two:

A generic looking fire turntable ladder, and a GMC (?) airline fuel tanker.

And these:

An airport fire ladder, badged at the front as a Dennis, and a Ford Expedition fire chief SUV thing.

But if anyone's super-keen on any of these - just say the word!

The Corgi Volvo's not really a surprise - but I do like it.

Pricey enough for the market stall, but I much prefer it to The Saint version and was already making machinations about how to acquire one, so... happy with this.

And lastly - a Corgi Mercedes 300 SL gull-wing.

It's to replace a childhood version which suffered very badly at my careless hands, and probably ultimately went in the bin.

The foldy-up doors and little button on the base that pops the bonnet are everything.

It's in perfect condition, and even the box is in timewarp condition. I love it.

I've been looking out for one of these for a good long while, and was annoyed to miss out on a tidy unboxed one on the stall a few months back, which got Nemesis'd.

This one looks like it's never been opened - and, happily enough, came in at the same price as the loose one - just a fiver.

Not bad for a pristine 40-yr old toy.

All in all - probably worth dragging myself in for:

So - a very belated, very Happy Friday to you all.