Shite in Miniature II

[Datsuncog]

Just remembered I have this one in the collection too:

Not sure of the caravan's parentage, but it looks kinda European while having the door on the UK side. The Beetle's a left-hooker, though.

As with all (well, most) Hongwell Cararama, it's very detailed for a toy while also being slightly crude for a collector model.

So the horizontal casting split for the all-metal body kinda spoils it a little, while the grab handles and towing gear are actually quite delicately rendered.

These were superb value in the early 2000s though, so I shouldn't complain too much.

I also had a Mini Countryman towing a tiny wood-framed two-berth van, which I think was a Marks & Spencer gift range item, but I sold that on a few years ago now.

Interesting 'perspective' packaging - haven't really seen that before or since.

[FakeConcern]

A quick tour of the caravan shite in the summer house...

I can't remember what they all are, but I'll try

Majorette, MB & Wiking

Large Majorette Corgi, Dinky, Siku, copy of Majorette? Siku, two Majorettes & MB Travel Trailer

Teeny tiny Wiking

Corgi Juniors

Wiking, Matchbox & Dinky

Majorettes, the long twin axle one on the left is one of my faves

Majorettes and a Corgi copy

Majorette

Matchbox & Matchbox King Size

Couple of Corgis and a made in China special

Siku, Corgi copy & Corgi

Siku

Kees copy?

Kees

Unusual and rather nice King Size

Lastly a few More Matchbox

Apart from those in the Jeremy Dickinson print reconstruction in the house...

[Split_Pin]

You've all got me toddling off to ebay looking at toy caravans now! I love the larger Corgi one with the awning.

[danthecapriman]

Mail drop this morning!   
Which will now allow me to show you all my grand plan!

Todays arrivals are a Dinky Big Bedford drop side and Matchbox Superkings Bedford CF2. Nice enough as they are tbh, but not so nice I’m going to destroy a good original. So, as some of you may know I used to work for Southern Electric as a fitter, which got me interested in their fleet of vehicles. These will be getting stripped and modified/painted into Southern Electricity liveries as a small collection I fancy!

Big Bedford will become one of these 4x4 versions. These were used for all sorts, but being 4x4 were particularly useful for driving through fields/forests etc etc loaded with telegraph poles and cable drums. Even new or old switchgear and transformer’s. The winch was often used to pull overhead line wires up with.

The CF2 being a short wheel base will become one of these. 
Southern Electricity mainly had standard long wheel base CF’s but also had a smaller fleet of 4x4 versions.

And finally, the Spot-On Commer!

Will become,

I need a Dodge 50 now. But I don’t think anyone does one.

[Noel Tidybeard]

modify a dodge tradesman or sportsman thats what chrysler did

[danthecapriman]

15 minutes ago, Noel Tidybeard said:

modify a dodge tradesman or sportsman thats what chrysler did

This is what I need! 
I didn’t join until 06 so most of the old stuff was gone by then. But, there were a handful of these still around! Each depot used to have a dedicated fault location ‘thump test’ van. These were generally not used that much but almost always were elderly vans with some pretty complex expensive equipment in the back (hence why they rarely got replaced!). 
In Portsmouth depot (my depot) we had an A reg Dodge 50! Must have been the oldest vehicle still on the company! It was also, as far as I can tell, the only vehicle left in the original green/beige livery. Naturally I absolutely loved it, and got to drive it a few times. Quite an experience!! Nobody else on the road ever fucked with you while you were driving this thing!   
Poole Depot had a J reg Renault version in the later silver livery which was in incredible condition for its age. Both were scrapped though probably around 2010ish. The equipment in the backs was now available in a suitcase sized case that could be put in a car boot so that’s what replaced the vans.

When the Dodge 50 was a current van though they were dished out to all the trades - jointers, linesmen and fitters. Basically they were mobile workshops with all our tools, parts etc, racking, a workbench & vice and some even had a small pillar drill attachment! They also had gas bottle storage for the burners. 
They were all replaced by Sherpa/Freight Rovers and Transits, which were then replaced with newer Transits and then Sprinters. 
My last two vans were Sprinters, a 60 reg and a 66 reg, so maybe a nice larger scale one of those will be on the wanted list too! Although the blue livery on the 66 reg one wouldn’t be easy to do with the logo and graphics.

[sierraman]

I think the water board and Gas used those Dodge 50’s, I can’t be sure but I think in the back sunk into the floor they had a big fuck off compressor. 

[Burnside]

Managed to pick up these two Majorettes at TK Maxx Tamworth. 

Really pleased to get the Suzuki Swift. Had the 500 just to go with the previous version they did.

The other Majorettes I passed on here.

Also had this nice Jimmy for £14.99 that I was tempted with, but decided against it. Hopefully I don't regret that later!

[danthecapriman]

26 minutes ago, sierraman said:

I think the water board and Gas used those Dodge 50’s, I can’t be sure but I think in the back sunk into the floor they had a big fuck off compressor. 

Definitely remember the water board having them. All over blue livery down here I think. 
 

Funny story about one of SEB ones… 

One was fitted out in the back with some special pumps and a big oil tank. It was a dedicated vehicle for pumping up the pressures in old high voltage oil filled cables. When it got old, it either had to be fully refurbished or replaced so the company decided to spend the money and have the thing basically completely rebuilt and repainted. 
One day, literally a few days after it came back, a guy I used to work with and his mate took the van out to do a cable pump up. They took a shortcut through a narrow lane in Cosham which had a low railway bridge…

These Dodge vans are big! One almost fits under the bridge. Almost…

They went under the bridge at full speed and came out the other side with no windscreen and no roof left!!😆     
They guy I knew said he was sat in the passenger seat reading the paper when it happened and it was shocking when it did! All of a sudden there was a massive jolt, followed by lots of noise and broken glass flying around then the cab became very bright and lots of wind coming in! 
The roof was totally removed, sides and front end bent to buggery and the pumps in back were damaged too. Then the bridge had to be closed and inspected. The van was obviously totally written off! 

[sierraman]

34 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Definitely remember the water board having them. All over blue livery down here I think. 
 

Funny story about one of SEB ones… 

One was fitted out in the back with some special pumps and a big oil tank. It was a dedicated vehicle for pumping up the pressures in old high voltage oil filled cables. When it got old, it either had to be fully refurbished or replaced so the company decided to spend the money and have the thing basically completely rebuilt and repainted. 
One day, literally a few days after it came back, a guy I used to work with and his mate took the van out to do a cable pump up. They took a shortcut through a narrow lane in Cosham which had a low railway bridge…

These Dodge vans are big! One almost fits under the bridge. Almost…

They went under the bridge at full speed and came out the other side with no windscreen and no roof left!!😆     
They guy I knew said he was sat in the passenger seat reading the paper when it happened and it was shocking when it did! All of a sudden there was a massive jolt, followed by lots of noise and broken glass flying around then the cab became very bright and lots of wind coming in! 
The roof was totally removed, sides and front end bent to buggery and the pumps in back were damaged too. Then the bridge had to be closed and inspected. The van was obviously totally written off! 

I’d imagine that went well in his annual appraisal 😂

[danthecapriman]

13 minutes ago, sierraman said:

I’d imagine that went well in his annual appraisal 😂

It was a long time ago. I’d imagine he was probably sacked there and then!

I watched some guy in a transit tipper do it one day. Same bridge! He had a load of long pvc gutters in the back, but they were so long he had them in at an angle sticking up over the cab roof. As he went through the bridge they all hit it and shattered into a million pieces! You should have seen his face when he got and saw it. 
He probably had them that long for a job and they were all totally destroyed after that.

 

This bridge.

It’s all been replaced now, but none of the warning chevrons were there. The old bridge was lower I think and one of those really old iron type ones.

[MiniMinorMk3]

Here's a couple of the caravans Maxis I've had over the years.

First up is a 1/43rd scale white metal one made for the Maxi Owners Club. One of only 250 examples

Front bumper is too high.

The windscreen is too sallow and the side windows look too tall

Look better from the rear

Second is a 1/43rd scale resin cast from Silas. Again made in small numbers, but they did do other colours.

This being a more modern model it catches the shape well.

The badging and trim detail is all stuck on foil parts which have a habit of pealing off.

This example has lost the rear hatch trim.

This one was number 97 of 100.

 

 

I have no caravans at all. 

[andrew e]

Bit bigger than we are used too! Tamiya 1/10th TT01E chassis with a WRC Subaru shell.

I built the chassis last year, painted it in the summer (You spray from the inside on the clear lexan plastic, the vents and back windows are actually heavy spray tint you can see through just about) and today whilst dying I finally stickered it all up.

Fully functional RC but not likely to be used in anger - I have battered ones for that! (Besides the shell is far too low for the wheels to turn). Don’t look too close at the stickers, like I said I’m dying today!

[sierraman]

1 hour ago, danthecapriman said:

It was a long time ago. I’d imagine he was probably sacked there and then!

I watched some guy in a transit tipper do it one day. Same bridge! He had a load of long pvc gutters in the back, but they were so long he had them in at an angle sticking up over the cab roof. As he went through the bridge they all hit it and shattered into a million pieces! You should have seen his face when he got and saw it. 
He probably had them that long for a job and they were all totally destroyed after that.

 

This bridge.

It’s all been replaced now, but none of the warning chevrons were there. The old bridge was lower I think and one of those really old iron type ones.

Very difficult to sack someone on the spot these days. You have to go through all the motions, he’d probably these days get a first/final written under capability. 

[flat4alfa]

[flat4alfa]

Cor.

Siku Caravan

[sierraman]

9 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Fromage Frais an A series County

[Noel Tidybeard]

1 hour ago, danthecapriman said:

It was a long time ago. I’d imagine he was probably sacked there and then!

I watched some guy in a transit tipper do it one day. Same bridge! He had a load of long pvc gutters in the back, but they were so long he had them in at an angle sticking up over the cab roof. As he went through the bridge they all hit it and shattered into a million pieces! You should have seen his face when he got and saw it. 
He probably had them that long for a job and they were all totally destroyed after that.

 

This bridge.

It’s all been replaced now, but none of the warning chevrons were there. The old bridge was lower I think and one of those really old iron type ones.

just looked on streetview and before 2022 you can see the old bridge which you will be amazed to hear was 9'9" as opposed to new one pictured at 9'6"!!!

[flat4alfa]

16 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Less common colour Matchbox

Of course I had to go and find out what 500 meant.

Kilometres?

Miles?

Proclaimers special edition?

 

No.

'Holiday Club' Twin-Pack from 1987-88 [TP-116]

[Burnside]

On the Caravan front, my Brother kindly brought me this for my B'day last month.

A 1:87 Herpa minikt with a MK2 Astra / Opel Kadett E hatch. 

Anyone see the one problem I have with assembly though? 

[danthecapriman]

25 minutes ago, sierraman said:

Fromage Frais an A series County

Ford A series Reynolds Boughton conversion.

[155V6]

Wiking caravan.The ADAC Mercedes is the only thing I've got with a hook,apart from a Mk 2 Golf which didn't look up to it 😕

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

Fromage Frais an A series County

So there were at least four Reynolds Boughton RB44 with SEB in different configurations

HBL 333W ; LLJ 67W ; CBK 696W

[flat4alfa]

31 minutes ago, Burnside said:

On the Caravan front, my Brother kindly brought me this for my B'day last month.

A 1:87 Herpa minikt with a MK2 Astra / Opel Kadett E hatch. 

Anyone see the one problem I have with assembly though? 

Am I seeing that right?  Handy...

At least you have a good template to make the other side out of plasticard!

Then join the club forum for 'Herpa modellers needing the other half of their kit body'

[flat4alfa]

1969-71 Dinky Toys Caravane Caravelair 'Armagnac 420'. 

1:43 scale with an opening door.  The tow frame looks like it would last all of five minutes.

A real one

A brochure

A suggestion of what you can tow yours with while up on the shelf

And the outfit to wear while out on the patio playing with Dinky Renault and Caravane

[danthecapriman]

33 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

There were at least four Reynolds Boughton RB44 with SEB in different configurations

HBL 333W ; LLJ 67W ; CBK 696W

I was told, but so far I’m yet to see pictorial evidence, that when Land Rover stopped doing the 4x4 FC SEB struggled to find anything suitable to replace them. Apparently, they actually bought a batch of UAZ452 4x4 vans to trial!! God knows how that happened or how it went. 
Id love to see pics of them though. They’d look so weird in a British utility company livery!

[flat4alfa]

4 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

I was told, but so far I’m yet to see pictorial evidence, that when Land Rover stopped doing the 4x4 FC SEB struggled to find anything suitable to replace them. Apparently, they actually bought a batch of UAZ452 4x4 vans to trial!! God knows how that happened or how it went. 
Id love to see pics of them though. They’d look so weird in a British utility company livery!

[danthecapriman]

15 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Where the hell did you find that!? 
That’s fantastic. I’m off to eBay…

[sierraman]

I bet that would have been delightful to work with, I’m surprised given the levels of Russian apathy in the early 80’s they opted for it. 

[bunglebus]

6 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

You have the jetski from that set I was talking about!