Shite in Miniature II

[Datsuncog]

Sadly I didn't have time to finish my coffee at the table, or finish cropping the pics, as time was ticking on...

On my circuitous way out, I passed by Alan's Emporium, just in case he'd got a load of mint Lone Star Impy models in, but I'll never know - the man himself wouldn't be hurried in his setting-up, and so the 50p Tray remained bare just before 9.

Ah well.

Amidst all the general bustle once I got home and logged on to the network, there wasn't really a great deal of time for diecast funsies... but I managed to get a few snaps of what I came away with, which I'll belatedly share now.

First off - no, I couldn't pass up the Ford transporter.

It's clearly led a hard life, with many of the fragile bits missing and a fair bit of paint loss.

It's also somewhat faded, and the axles have taken a whack at some point.

But the 'hydraulic' deck still works alright:

And the engine detailing remains as fine as ever:

I know it's hardly hyper-detailed, but I still think this is impressive going for a 60yr old toy.

Wonky axles can be more clearly seen here:

And the exhaust stack has also vanished into the mists of time. I know these bits can all be got via Steve Flowers or assorted eBay sellers, but it's not so much of a priority right now.

I also didn't realise that the trailer's jockey wheels automatically come down and then retract whenever the tractor is uncoupled or hitched up again.

That's a pretty neat trick.

Overall - I'm pleased with this, even at the price. I'll probably keep an eye out for a better, more complete example but I've wanted one of these for a good long while.

[Datsuncog]

Continuing with the trucking theme, I also became unaccountably enamoured with the Siku MAN.

Like the rest of the range, this is a hefty big thing with plenty of metal in it.

The tractor unit locks on to the trailer by means of a retaining lever, which is probably what kept these from getting separated like so many others in the box.

There's also another lever on the trailer, which rotates through about 240° and in doing so raises or lowers the bed by about 4mm.

Well, alright.

There's also a large plastic box riveted on to the end, for ropes and chains and other heavy haulage paraphernalia.

The cab has a few chips to the leading edges and the door mirrors have snapped off, but it's still quite an impressive big thing.

Available for £10, if anyone's keen to re-home it!

[Datsuncog]

And making up a haulage hat-trick, the Super Kings K126 DAF 3300 proved just too nice to pass up.

I believe this is meant to be carrying a helicopter on the trailer, but I couldn't see one in the box.

But regardless, the tractor unit is magnificent.

In common with others in the range the front wheels turn whenever the yellow lights on top are pressed.

I've never seen one of these outside of a Matchbox catalogue, so it's good to finally hold one. Like the Siku, it's weighty!

A few chips to the paintwork, some yellowing to the white wheel centres on one side, and the wing mirrors have broken away at the bottom of their fixings but haven't yet parted company with the model - I daresay a dab of glue will fix them.

Also available for a tenner!

[Datsuncog]

I'm a sucker for Matchbox at the minute, and this box van was sufficiently unusual to draw me in.

Not because it's amazingly detailed or anything, but because it reminded me that until quite recently Matchbox mainlines still came with opening features, rather than these being the stuff of a separate, much more expensive 'Moving Parts' range.

Diecast base and cab are also unlikely to feature in current releases - those I've found with a diecast base recently tend to have all-plastic bodies (Bedford Ice Cream Van, FedEx delivery truck). The box section and door are both plastic, however - one corner's yellowed a little, though I don't think it's that noticeable in the pics.

I do feel like Matchbox have come on massively in recent years, in terms of detailing, subject matters and general 'feel' - but this is quite a nice bit of street furniture from their slightly earlier era, anyway.

Staying with me, for now.

[FakeConcern]

The Postie brought a nice big box of tat from @155V6 today...

Mrs Concern is very pleased with the Siku transporter and yacht and I'm very pleased with all my stuff

The Transformer Buggy is great and Mrs Concern is super dooper pleased with that...

Really fast delivery too...

[Datsuncog]

Staying smol, I also took a shine to this:

It's a fuel tanker by Yatming.

Despite best efforts, I couldn't locate a matching tractor unit anywhere in the box - nor do I have any idea what it was originally paired with.

But I remembered that I do have this, stashed away...

Hmm.

Not sure - I think the tanker's a wee bit small, especially around the wheels.

But hey, sometimes you gotta try these things?

[Datsuncog]

While out getting a few groceries at lunchtime, I also picked these two up; a Matchbox Nissan Sentra and a Hot Wheels Pontiac Firebird, from B&M and Poundland respectively:

They're ones I've kinda liked for a while, but not quite enough to put my hand in my pocket.

Realising they're unlikely to get any cheaper, and someday soon they'll be gone, today I took the plunge.

Not really Market Tat, admittedly, but all are welcome on Tat Friday, no?

And on the subject of diecast from elsewhere, this finally showed up today:

Yup, the slightly delayed January release from Corgi Model Club: the #302 MGA roadster.

It's a basic enough little thing, but still quite charming.

Windshield is best described as 'rudimentary', though.

There's been a fair bit of animated discussion on the CMC Facebook page over this release, with a few folks getting quite sniffy about such an early model getting a release in the collection.

As ever, there seems to be certain purists holding the opinion that the best Corgis were the mid-60s releases, and that's all the Club should focus on - no early blue-box stuff, absolutely no Whizzwheels. And they want a Batmobile, and they want it now.

(There's licencing issues being worked through, apparently, but it's getting kinda tiresome that each time a forthcoming new release is trailered, the usual berks start snarking about how "I don't see a bat on it...")

I guess this is what ends up happening when you're selling toys to appeal to people's inner six-year-old selves.

I quite like it; I'd be happy enough with more reproductions of the 1950s models, although to my eye the wheels look weirdly flattened; I appreciate that the crimped axle ends have had to be recessed to pass current toy safety regulations, but they still just look slightly off to me.

I think the base here is diecast rather than the original tinplate too.

Blurb is supplied also:

Much blurb. 

But yeah - I've been waiting for this one for a few weeks, so I'm glad it showed up in the end. Even if, from next month, the cost's going up by another £2.

[Datsuncog]

So, y'know what - I think that's it, finally.

For the remaining half-hour that's left of it - Happy Friday, kids.

[Datsuncog]

6 hours ago, sierraman said:

I’m missing something, what’s Irish about a Talbot Sunbeam? 😂

They fall under the heading of 'things that culchies love'.

These two would cut you for a Sunbeam, hai.

 

"Does she diff?"

[Reluctant Adult]

On 06/02/2024 at 21:41, sierraman said:

I don’t know how you’d do a standard one unless you could find a way of grinding the engine cover down to remove the spoiler.

…here’s my effort from c. 1987, engine bay filled with Isopon, skinny Corgi  wheels fitted then Humbrol enamelled in a suitably miserable hue 😀

[Reluctant Adult]

1 minute ago, Reluctant Adult said:

…here’s my effort from c. 1987, engine bay filled with Isopon, skinny Corgi  wheels fitted then Humbrol enamelled in a suitably miserable hue 😀

And here’s a WIP from c. 10 years ago where I Dremmeled off the rear spoiler. One day I’ll paint this beige…

[ETCHY]

12 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Sadly I didn't have time to finish my coffee at the table, or finish cropping the pics, as time was ticking on...

On my circuitous way out, I passed by Alan's Emporium, just in case he'd got a load of mint Lone Star Impy models in, but I'll never know - the man himself wouldn't be hurried in his setting-up, and so the 50p Tray remained bare just before 9.

Ah well.

Amidst all the general bustle once I got home and logged on to the network, there wasn't really a great deal of time for diecast funsies... but I managed to get a few snaps of what I came away with, which I'll belatedly share now.

First off - no, I couldn't pass up the Ford transporter.

It's clearly led a hard life, with many of the fragile bits missing and a fair bit of paint loss.

It's also somewhat faded, and the axles have taken a whack at some point.

But the 'hydraulic' deck still works alright:

And the engine detailing remains as fine as ever:

I know it's hardly hyper-detailed, but I still think this is impressive going for a 60yr old toy.

Wonky axles can be more clearly seen here:

And the exhaust stack has also vanished into the mists of time. I know these bits can all be got via Steve Flowers or assorted eBay sellers, but it's not so much of a priority right now.

I also didn't realise that the trailer's jockey wheels automatically come down and then retract whenever the tractor is uncoupled or hitched up again.

That's a pretty neat trick.

Overall - I'm pleased with this, even at the price. I'll probably keep an eye out for a better, more complete example but I've wanted one of these for a good long while.

Those car transporters are brilliant even the Corgi decal is just cool, really interesting looking model.

Proper gives me the horn.

[bunglebus]

I've been mooching around Manchester this week, popped into BuM and spotted this monster truck twin pack

There was some stegosaur type one behind it too - not my cup of tea, but further along I found this one

which has the last of the four crushed cars I'd been hoping to find as I'd customised the other three already. But what's this?

Oh yes, all four of the original release single colour versions, perfect. They'll be getting released from their packaging ASAP

[bunglebus]

Got a somewhat monochromatic delivery from Modelmatic while I was away

The RS200 was the one I really wanted but the Cuda is pretty cool too. The others I'm not fussed about so if anyone @Spottedlaurel wants them, hit me up before they go on eBay tomorrow 

[bunglebus]

What else is in this pile of boxes? How about some Road Blasters?

I assume someone's dad/uncle/neighbour advised Junior that they'd be worth much more with the packaging, well they were slightly more than the original £1.00 I suppose.

They're in perfect condition so presumably haven't been played with but yet some of the accessories are missing. I have all the bits for the Corvette at least

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

12 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Staying smol, I also took a shine to this:

It's a fuel tanker by Yatming.

Despite best efforts, I couldn't locate a matching tractor unit anywhere in the box - nor do I have any idea what it was originally paired with.

 

The Yatming came with various tractor units.

12 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

 

And on the subject of diecast from elsewhere, this finally showed up today:

I quite like it; I'd be happy enough with more reproductions of the 1950s models, although to my eye the wheels look weirdly flattened; I appreciate that the crimped axle ends have had to be recessed to pass current toy safety regulations, but they still just look slightly off to me.

 

The originals had recessed axle ends.

I think it is a very good copy of the original. It also came in a metallic green, so scope for a cheaper Corgi version to be issued in a few months.

[bunglebus]

Lastly some loose bits and bobs

Tomica Beetle - odd recesses in front of the upper door hinges as if it used to have opening doors?

Yet another variant of the MC Toys Golf

A couple of Matchbox twin packs

Some bigger bits include this Corgi Merc taxi - usual cracked pillar and doesn't seem to have been fitted with a tow bar for some reason

B1600 - just a wheel variation as I already have this one with the later ones

Rover was the main one I wanted, brilliant casting with loads of moving bits

Last but by no means least, this Polistil Honda Z

A bit of sun fading and a broken bumper, but by Polistil standards it's mint. Tilty seats and nice engine and interior detail are pleasing

[MiniMinorMk3]

Day 6 of the 5 Porsche Project.

The Valvoline car now has tyre decals.

The Obermaier car has all it's decals on...

including wheels.

The Spirit of America has wheels done.

The Danone car has all the decals on including wheels.

Finally the Hens Swop Shop has all it's decals on.

That just leaves the tyre decals on the Spirit of America car, fitting the wipers and mirrors and any extra detailing and touch-ins to be done.

[bunglebus]

I like Lucky Toys, particularly the copies of better known manufacturers castings. 

Like this Mini Mite (not a series I knew of previously) coach

FWD of course!

[junkyarddog]

Today's find is this common and really unremarkable Husky Bin lorry.

The fact is,this little cheap playworn model has survived since the 1960s intact makes it rather endearing really.

 

 

[danthecapriman]

8 minutes ago, junkyarddog said:

Today's find is this common and really unremarkable Husky Bin lorry.

The fact is,this little cheap playworn model has survived since the 1960s intact makes it rather endearing really.

 

 

I like those! I’ve got the early blue one and later orange one with tyres but can’t say I’ve ever seen a red one.

[flat4alfa]

Hmm, good idea.  Perhaps a trailer wheel change might be all is needed, as although cab looks a larger scale..

when compared to...

So not tooooo bad a scale comparison after all, I think...

The C-900 wasn't fitted with the big powerhouse engines, so a smaller, lighter tanker trailer would be about right?  Especially with just the single rear axle.  Matchbox did label it a C-900 and not C-9000, so in real life it would have run a gasoline engine, not a big Cummins or Detroit diesel.

Lamley also posted some fun on the same mix/match theme a while back:

Quote

I mean it is compatible. It was designed specifically to house the new trailer units in the rear.

I used the tanker trailer that was originally on the MBX Cabover in 2020 as a guide, because you know, tanker – Shell. It seemed to fit.

Which obviously the tanker does too. Slotted in perfectly. So yes, I am seeing this as a likely Convoy issue down the line, possibly as early as the next batch? Who knows.

Now new Convoys are sort of backwards compatible. The older Convoy rears had thinner hooks, which means they will go into the holes.

They do jiggle about quite a bit as their hooks are much thinner, but don’t actually fall out.

And yes, the earlier incarnation was also built with the same hook style which means the original Convoy stuff also fits in.

But what about the really early stuff? Lesney models with a cab and trailer combo. This MB63 Freeway Gas Tanker, also in a Shell livery, is a good example.

I lolled at last photo

[Datsuncog]

5 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

The Yatming came with various tractor units.

Ah, that's handy to know - I think I might have one of those Bernard tractor units lying around doing very little, as it happens...

[bunglebus]

2 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

I like those! I’ve got the early blue one and later orange one with tyres but can’t say I’ve ever seen a red one.

The mechanism is lovely, they survive remarkably well

I only have the blue, does the much newer Corgi use a modified version of the same thing?

 

[danthecapriman]

Here’s my orange one. 
Identical to the original blue version other than having the tyre’d wheels. Although I’m sure some of the orange ones are branded Husky, others are Corgi. Can’t remember which mine is. The orange one must have been released right around the same time as the Corgi Jr’s rebrand.

[ETCHY]

4 hours ago, junkyarddog said:

Today's find is this common and really unremarkable Husky Bin lorry.

The fact is,this little cheap playworn model has survived since the 1960s intact makes it rather endearing really.

 

 

I rather like the stuff that's been played with & loved.

The mint stuff is nice but lacks character somehow IMO.

[Datsuncog]

On 09/02/2024 at 19:46, Hertz said:

 

@Datsuncog If you come across a reasonably priced Volvo FH series lorry in any condition I would be interested.

Thanks for the tat Friday post as always.

Will do - I know Corgi produced a few decent FH models in 1/50, though I think they were mostly Mk2 versions. Will keep an eye out!

You're probably right that it's a Bakewell slice - nothing's labelled in the cafe, so it's just as much of a surprise as the Tat Boxes...

Seemingly I thrive on chaos.

[andy18s]

9 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Got a somewhat monochromatic delivery from Modelmatic while I was away

The RS200 was the one I really wanted but the Cuda is pretty cool too. The others I'm not fussed about so if anyone @Spottedlaurel wants them, hit me up before they go on eBay tomorrow 

Fun fact:the RS200 in  the film is actually a kitcar from RS Automotive...

[andy18s]

22 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

So, y'know what - I think that's it, finally.

For the remaining half-hour that's left of it - Happy Friday, kids.

These are on a uk fbook group at £15 each.

[bunglebus]

I had an unusual encounter while buying those Hot Wheels in BuM yesterday - the lady on the till started asking me questions about Hot Wheels, because she knew a great deal about them, who originally came up with them, all about the original 16 cars from 1968 etc etc. Not what you expect in a general retailer that's for sure! I would have liked to talk for longer but I was already many hours behind when I wanted to start making my way back, and had just had a call to say I had to go back to the job I thought I was done with, to complete one more task. Ended up back home at about midnight in the end