Shite in Miniature II

[bunglebus]

How much is the Escort?

[Datsuncog]

15 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

How much is the Escort?

He didn't say, and I didn't ask, but generally anything he's offered me has been about a tenner.

I only had a tenner plus some shrapnel for diecast funsies this morning, so I felt it would be unwise to spunk the lot on a repaint before the Tat Boxes appeared.

That said, if it had been a good original Escort I probably would have...

I sold this mint/ boxed NOS one on here a few years back, for not much more than a tenner.

Bought from an old-fashioned newsagent in Mulhouse c.1995.

Regrets, hey?

[danthecapriman]

27 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Mine was the fire breathing 1.6, sorry 

What colour is that? 
I remember seeing Fords of that sort of time in that colour but can’t find what it’s actually called. A neighbour had a mk3 Escort the same.

 

[Datsuncog]

8 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

What colour is that? 
I remember seeing Fords of that sort of time in that colour but can’t find what it’s actually called. A neighbour had a mk3 Escort the same.

I was trying to work that out too - my '86 Mk2 Fiesta was Mistral Blue, which was really hard to photograph as it looked really grey in certain light but verging on lavender at other times. Unsure if the Sierra is that same deceptive shade... think it might be a different shade of blueish grey though.

[flat4alfa]

8 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

[AndyW201]

35 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Mine was the fire breathing 1.6, sorry 

Ah, those 1990s yellow bump strip inserts take me back...

Nice 190E style trims too!

[flat4alfa]

1983 - 84

[bunglebus]

12 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

What colour is that? 

I don't actually know but likely Mistral. Grey primer with a coat of clear blended in surprisingly well

[bunglebus]

12 minutes ago, AndyW201 said:

Ah, those 1990s yellow bump strip inserts take me back...

Nice 190E style trims too!

Yellow electrical tape. Powder coated wiper arms and window winders though!

[Datsuncog]

Not sure now, I'm leaning more towards Ceramic Blue than Mistral Blue!

Mine in Mistral (though looking very blue in this pic):

[sierraman]

31 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

What colour is that? 
I remember seeing Fords of that sort of time in that colour but can’t find what it’s actually called. A neighbour had a mk3 Escort the same.

 

Washing Machine Discharge Pipe Grey, I think they changed it later to The sea at Skegness in February Grey. 
 

I remember going down Nottingham to look at an 84’ 3 door in that miserable blue they used to come in. The engine was fucked on it, I got talked out of it eventually. Probably fortunate as I would have been straight down to Fibresports to get the Cosworth kit. 

[Datsuncog]

So the diecast boxes finally, agonisingly, started to be unpacked, with The Nemesis at the helm.

Luckily*, there wasn't much to be missing out on.

There were Beetles, just like last week.

Tinplate friction-drive had no maker's markings, though was quite nice all the same - even if the proportions were a little bit approximate.

There were various modern-ish emergency service vehicles in the mix...

Mostly cheap rubbish though, and mostly quite knackered.

I don't know who thought to carefully preserve so many of these rubbishy toys in plastic bags, as they're mostly the sort of cheapo Motormax and RealToy playset items you'd buy from Poundland packaged in a tube.

But, apparently, someone did.

Just wish they'd looked after the good stuff, rather than protecting the weird Teamz generics and Siku G-wagen rip-offs.

1/43 Hongwell items have had a rough time of it in the toybox.

Passat's posable front wheels were quite a nice touch, though. Didn't know they did that.

Some tatty Saico Minors and dusty Bburago roadsters also put in an appearance, along with Brum and apparently his ocularly challenged identical twin.

Some Routemaster buses were similarly in the mix - quite clean Dinky and Budgie versions.

And enough FX4 taxis to start your own rank: 1/43 Corgi Whizzwheels; early and late versions of 1/35 Corgi; a pair of Corgi-clones by Motormax; and a Welly pull-and-go version all to be had.

Playworn Lledo Promotionals Beetle - funnily enough, I found my original copy of Diecast Collector Issue 1 the other day.

Dunno what happened to my freebie Beetle that was taped to the front page, though.

Apparently a small number were made in yellow, and those are 'the collectible ones'.

Could be worth a small fortune. A very, very small fortune.

Big Polistil March Ford was interesting, though:

I remember these from '70s Scalextric catalogues, principally.

Wheels perhaps a touch on the Carlos Fandango side.

Frua-bodied Maserati was quite nice, though missing a windscreen:

Base states 'Grani & Partners'.

Who?

Corgi 007 Lotus Esprit in wet mode was kinda tempting...

Some sticker wear, but not too knackered.

The periscope was a bit broken, though the mechanism did still function after a little persuasion:

But for £5 - as apparently all the stuff up top was priced - mmm. Dunno.

There's a lot of rubbish up here...

[MiniMinorMk3]

16 hours ago, bunglebus said:

The Corgi is probably better detailed and has opening doors (better than a bonnet?)

But I prefer the Matchbox because I had the Volvo/Datsun rally set as I kid after I won £50 on my Premium Bonds and was allowed to spend half on whatever I wanted. Bought that, the Corgi Mini in Silver and the Matchbox K-20 Peterbilt recovery truck with steering. That was a good day.

Nice Kyosho version of the Safari 240Z

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

Frua-bodied Maserati was quite nice, though missing a windscreen:

Base states 'Grani & Partners'.

Who?

Italian promotional company since 1950s, today using Hong Kong production for partwork series of 1:43 scale diecast for Edison Giacattoli  and DeAgostini

Yes I looked it up

https://www.hobbydb.com/marketplaces/hobbydb/subjects/1-43-maserati-collection-series

https://www.carmodel.com/trademark/edison-giocattoli

[Datsuncog]

And there was similarly a lot of rubbish on the side tables, too.

Market Blokey had a large collapsible crate full of mostly Lledo, and hoiked a heap of them out onto this baize card table.

He made an effort to put some of them on their sides, to display more effectively, before giving up and wandering off.

I finished neatening them up, as I'm helpful/ weird.

OOCs for a quid?

OMG.

Also assorted MoY and Solido Age d'Or models...

And quite a few Corgi Ford Cargos, mostly confectionery-related.

Plus this ERTL Dick Tracey sedan of uncertain type:

(I'm sure someone on here knows what it's meant to be!)

All well and good, but somehow still all a bit meh...

[MiniMinorMk3]

2 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

 

Just these fine* collector-grade** investment pieces*** to make it worth my while trekking in?

 

1 of 50,000. I bet there's still a few boxes of those waiting in wholesalers warehouses for the market in early Oxfords to change.

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

Plus this ERTL Dick Tracey sedan of uncertain type:

Itchy’s car, 1939 Chevrolet Master

Apart from being thought to be the only time a ‘39 Master modelled, it also sticks out as one in the ERTL Dick Tracy series that was scaled larger, nearer 1/64 so fits well with Mattel cars 

Die-cast bases on these ERTL too, to me though they aren’t ‘rubbish’ what with the separate rubber tyres

 

The film car had a modified grille 

[Datsuncog]

So, clearly desperate for a quality diecast fix, I started hoking in the boxes behind the stall.

Yeah, not a lot there either. Lesney Super King 'Londoner' buses all dingless. Most of the rest either Days Gone or just cheap unbranded tat.

Solido 1950 Chevrolet possibly ok for £5.

1/30-ish plastic Model T truck with apparently explosives in the back was nicely rendered and kinda interesting - pity the bonnet had gone AWOL, though.

And more stuff lurked beneath in the collapsible crate...

Amidst the investment-grade* Lledos were various Models of Yesteryear - no RAF Crossleys, I'm afraid, though there was this coal wagon version:

And a Ford Model A with eminently robbable towing gear.

Presumably these were also available for £1.

Solido Ford V8 missing a headlight and with some chips to the edges, annoyingly.

Plenty of the ubiquitous Matchbox Ford Model A box van promos, of course.

And a few other oddities, including some reasonable Lesney Superfast.

And, lord help me, at these low, low prices some of the MoYs were starting to look kinda appealing...

Oh, I really shouldn't.

No, I really shouldn't.

So - I didn't.

Though the trailer made me look twice...

One by our old friends Winross.

Heavy, and with peculiar rubber legs.

No sign of a tractor unit that I could see, though.

[AndyW201]

40 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Yellow electrical tape. Powder coated wiper arms and window winders though!

I went high tech. I got a yellow Moto-Build graphic for the windscreen  made up at a stall at Santa Pod and an extra strip of yellow vinyl made up for the bumper strips for the Metro, which I cut into lengths.  I never really referred to it as a Rover 100.

#Partridge.

The Sierra's colour reminds me very much of Ceramic blue, same as my old Escort MK3 popular I had back in the early '90s. In an attempt at turd-polishing, I added Capri alloys, XR3i spoiler and a set of "Stylistick" graphics but it still didn't stop my mates nicknaming it "the Panda Car"...

[MiniMinorMk3]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

 

While we were waiting, Nemesis offered me this refinished Solido Mk2 Escort:

It's a nice wee thing, though again the repaint had chipped off in a few places. The interior and inside the door had also been painted up in tan gloss paint, while the external panels were more of a satin finish.

 

 

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

 

I sold this mint/ boxed NOS one on here a few years back, for not much more than a tenner.

 

I've had quite a few of those over the years, mostly in the pale yellow.

Base dated 06-76

Even with the Ford tax they still don't go for much more than £10-£15.

[MiniMinorMk3]

9 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Solido 1950 Chevrolet possibly ok for £5.

 

You can find those mint and boxed on ebay for £5, so with no box and even minor damage it's £1 at the most. Most of the 1990s onwards Solido stuff can be found cheaply at toy auctions. They have a very similar desirability and value as Days Gone.

[MiniMinorMk3]

37 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Italian promotional company since 1950s, today using Hong Kong production for partwork series of 1:43 scale diecast for Edison Giacattoli  and DeAgostini

 

Those Edison Giacattoli part works are quite good for rarely made tat.

Here's a couple of cop cars. You could always de-decal the Tipo and make it into an Inspector Montalbano replica.

The detail is quite good for the price.

Alfa 159 looks well done.

 

[Datsuncog]

And so, there was just time to take a swing through the rest of the market...

Irish Tat stall reliably had some more Hot Wheels, though nothing much I was all that covetous about.

Greenlight Chevy tow truck was quite appealing, though.

Also, the A-Team's GMC Vandura:

One of the general collectable stalls had a few bits of Dinky...

Plus one of those 'rustic' 2CVs made out of scrap aluminium.

Prices not displayed, so probably sky-high.

Round at the Charity Stall, a Dinky S.H.A.D.O. Interceptor and a Corgi Thunderbird could be yours, alongside what looked to be a Nazi pocketwatch.

Um, alright.

And these:

Again; alright.

BUT it appeared that Larry, the stallholder, had branched off with another toys/ games/ collectibles stall, just opposite the main charity stall. And he was keen for my custom.

Ok - so unboxed Bburago and similar, Corgi Classics, some cheapo 'antique lorries'... with £10 asked on the Corgi Superhaulers, not quite cheap-cheap.

Not quite my bag, in all honesty.

But hang on... what's this, down on the floor?

Norev Laguna 3, in some sort of weird flocked case with a revolving display base?

For £3?

Now that's more like it.

[sierraman]

That Laguna is brilliant. 

[bunglebus]

7 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Nazi pocketwatch.

Strangely appealing. I wonder if it's actually from the 30s/40s?

[flat4alfa]

2 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

No sign of a tractor unit that I could see, though

In 1/64 and from 1992

Tractor unit with two trailers in set

I think it’s a Ford AeroMax

[flat4alfa]

27 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Strangely appealing. I wonder if it's actually from the 30s/40s?

If it was it wouldn’t be loose on that stall…

Likely one the many quality, but fake Omegas etc around 1970-90 made in Ukraine when were part of USSR

Any newer and it would be Chinese production

[Datsuncog]

Well then. Some purchases were purchased.

The Norev Laguna. Obviously.

I mean, it's a bit modern and all - but I couldn't leave it, at that price.

Also, while not usually my thing, this Dinky Routemaster looked pretty clean.

The paper stickers are a little shonky, and it has late-series cast metal wheels, but I dunno - I just liked it.

Clippie still on board, too.

Ding-ding.

Probably not my worst purchase, at £5.

A wee bit less bargainous at a fiver is this Whizzwheels era Corgi FX4:

This was a hasty modernisation effort by Corgi to update their long-running cab casting for the kids of the 1970s, who apparently wanted to see tinted glass and sports wheels on their toy hackney carriages.

Still with the 'ear' indicators, mind.

I've a lovely boxed example of the later 1/35 release, but never had an earlier one.

Some day, I'll see about finding a 'proper' rubber-tyre one, but this'll do me until then.

For a pound a go, I couldn't quite resist the '39 Chevy from ERTL or the Superfast Jeep CJ5.

I keep buying these Jeeps, then selling 'em.

I'll probably do the same with this one.

And lastly:

A filthy but intact Lesney Super Kings container. With some careful cleaning, this should scrub up alright and provide a better load for my recent Scammell.

Not outrageous, for a quid.

So is that it?

That's it.

Happy Friday, kids!

[AndyW201]

Can I dibsy the Laguna please Tim, if it happens to come up for sale? I like those Renner dealer models.

[sierraman]

Proton purchased. What a delightful thing it is as well! Really should be detailed and in white or metallic blue like I remember them being.
 

They were prime giffer cars, the sort of thing someone in their sixties would have bought in 1991. It would have probably only ever done 15,000 miles on trips to the coast and garden centres, then when the original owners cark it gets passed around the family unceremoniously until it gets stopped by the police sporting 3 hubcaps in 2004 full of some druggies burgling houses in it.