Shite in Miniature II

[bunglebus]

Mrs is in Tesco. WTF

[MiniMinorMk3]

15 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

Recently looking back at @eddyramrod's excellent "Life of Shite" thread and then seeing the excellent work on Minis by @MiniMinorMk3 I was inspired to get on with turning a beaten up Dinky plod Mini Clubman into a replica toy of my old black 1275GT. Here for reference (with Mrs Concern)

People will think I am copying you as one of my next projects is to restore the Police Clubman I got from @bunglebus

into a model of the 1275GT I had a few years ago.

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

15 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

 

The rear bumper of the Dinky had over riders cast into it which I had to file off, took way longer than I wanted. I don't remember any Clubmans/Clubmen (?) having them IRL, perhaps @MiniMinorMk3 can tell us if they did? Either way mine didn't. I wish i could have thought of aneasy way to remove the raised number plate and make a recess like the real thing. I could only think to cut it out completely and fix a new flat plate set back, but decided I CBA so left it. Painting the rear lights sent me cross eyed...

 

My GT had over-riders on the rear.

They were an optional extra in the early days of the Clubman and GT. Here is some information from my October 1969 part list.

Part No.17 is the over-rider with the profile that fits the Clubman GT bumper.

[MiniMinorMk3]

Small update on the current Mini Projects.

I have filed and smoothed the joints on the Vanguard

This just needs those painting and some final details to finish.

The Corgi has had a second coat on the base...

and the first, and probably only coat, on the body.

I'll am leaving it for a few days before I use some black to get the roof edge straighter, put the bumpers and headlamps on, final detail and assemble. I also have the same problem of not being able to see so good as I could years ago. Most of the time I do not see the errors until I have taken the pictures.

Due to the trouble with vision I might have to invest in one of these.

Cheapo version

Cheapo but looks OK

Blow the budget but will probably be excellent

All available from Lighting | Modelling Tools | Model Accessories (emodels.co.uk)

[Tenmil Socket]

Anyone near Bristol that could help me acquire the Volvo please?

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

12 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Anyone near Bristol that could help me acquire the Volvo please?

 

That's an absolute bargain at a fiver. It would probably make at least ten times that if auctioned on Ebay.

[Tenmil Socket]

35 minutes ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Due to the trouble with vision

Do you wear glasses? I didn't until about 18 months ago but they have made a massive difference!

[MiniMinorMk3]

1 minute ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Do you wear glasses? I didn't until about 18 months ago but they have made a massive difference!

I have done for the last 15 years. Started of with just readers then had to have distance ones about 10 years ago. I am probably due a retest now.

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Due to the trouble with vision I might have to invest in one of these.

Cheapo version

 

1 hour ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Do you wear glasses? I didn't until about 18 months ago but they have made a massive difference!

I've got various aids, used to use these 

With various levels of magnification,  but the focal area is quite small. Then I grabbed a pair of reading glasses from Poundland which are great, but then I've got pretty decent eyes anyway. Worth a try though

[danthecapriman]

Decided to get the next projects lined up ready to follow the two trucks I’ve been building. Go for something a bit simpler this time!

First, Bond partwork Dodge RAM pickup. 
Nice looking 1988ish long bed version of the first generation RAM pickups.

   
Stripped. Still a couple of stubborn bits of old paint clinging on that I’ll scrape off later. 
Nice casting, although the back of the cab is actually a separate plastic part that slides in from underneath. No idea why they did it like that but whatever! Just means I’ll need to mask the window in that off and paint it as a separate part.

      
Plan for the Dodge is a simple paint job. Grill needs the chrome surround adding in place of the black it’s got at the moment, and the centre bars doing in a duller silver. 
I’ll also be deleting the light bar/roll bar in the rear bed (which might fit another truck Im doing!).   
    
Joining the Dodge in the stripping booth is this Vanguard’s Escort mk1. 
Picked up as a damaged and unboxed one. Other than some missing bits and worn scratched paint it’s not too bad.

  
Stripped. Paint came off almost instantly on this one! 
It’s actually a really nice casting under the thick factory paint. As it was some of the details were difficult to see as the paint filled them up.

  
Not decided with this one yet, but it will definitely not be yet another RS/Mexico/Rally version! Im thinking standard low spec car in a cheapskate paint colour! You know, like most of them were in the day!

[bunglebus]

I'm in Newcastle this week, not much nearby in terms of toy car retailers - but I did find this

The actual shop area is tiny but is stacked floor to ceiling with interesting stuff from model kits to new Matchbox/Majorette/Hot Wheels and also a display case full of old stuff for sale.

Unfortunately the owners didn't want me taking pictures inside as they've had problems in the past, despite me explaining it might lead to additional sales. Out the back looked like an avalanche had occured in my loft, piles of stuff all over the place. 

Well worth a look if you're nearby, I did make a purchase...

Fantastic Toys & Collectables
07812 511001

https://g.co/kgs/dzsqhJ5

[sierraman]

Dropped in Poundland today, to my surprise they had loads of new Matchbox in at £2 a pop, the Green GTI and a Bronco purchased. 

[Spottedlaurel]

19 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Not decided with this one yet, but it will definitely not be yet another RS/Mexico/Rally version! Im thinking standard low spec car in a cheapskate paint colour! You know, like most of them were in the day!

Like this Mk1 I saw back in 2002?

Inevitably it doesn't look like that any more....

[Spottedlaurel]

29 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

I'm in Newcastle this week, not much nearby in terms of toy car retailers - but I did find this..........

Nice to find somewhere like that, never know what you'll stumble across there. Thinking of which, I must find an excuse to visit the little shop in Stowmarket again at some point soon.

In the meantime, I'm off up to Nottingham next week and I wondered what there might be up that way. The Entertainer and Smyths are pretty close to where I'm going, and on the way home it looks like I can drop by a place called Mark's Diecast Models in Stapleford. Doesn't appear to have a website, but has a lot of stuff on eBay: marksdiecastmodels | eBay Stores

Any recommendations for other places while I'm up that way?

[danthecapriman]

20 minutes ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Like this Mk1 I saw back in 2002?

Inevitably it doesn't look like that any more....

Exactly like that! 
It’s such a shame that so many of the 2 door basic models have ended up turned into yet another Mexico/RS or rally car. That blue one is exactly what an Escort mk1 should look like. Basic cheap transport, and exactly how the vast majority of them were. A Mexico or whatever top end model barely gets my attention anymore tbh, but seeing one like that is definitely a real head turner.

[bunglebus]

Here's what I bought. Superfast Pontiac Grand Prix, obviously overpainted but all there. I've got a few regular wheels ones but the Superfast is a harder one to track down - looks like it was originally metallic pink like quite a few of this era

[sierraman]

Anyone recommend a good aerosol paint stripper? 

[danthecapriman]

Had some more arrivals today. These two were in one from Europe with some others.

ovloV 343. I’ve actually got two of these now (yes, ones for painting!) and a Triple9 version in yellow. Nice looking models.

 

And this tiny chap! 
Morris Mini. Apparently from the same collection as the Volvo but not one I’ve ever seen before. It’s clearly an older model than some of my others, details are a bit coarse or less of them! The paints quite thick on it too, but I like it! Certainly looks good to my non Mini expert eyes!

[eddyramrod]

2 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

looks like I can drop by a place called Mark's Diecast Models in Stapleford. Doesn't appear to have a website, but has a lot of stuff on eBay: marksdiecastmodels | eBay Stores

I've bought from him before on ebay.  Didn't realise he had an actual shop!

[MiniMinorMk3]

4 hours ago, bunglebus said:

I'm in Newcastle this week, not much nearby in terms of toy car retailers - but I did find this

The actual shop area is tiny but is stacked floor to ceiling with interesting stuff from model kits to new Matchbox/Majorette/Hot Wheels and also a display case full of old stuff for sale.

Unfortunately the owners didn't want me taking pictures inside as they've had problems in the past, despite me explaining it might lead to additional sales. Out the back looked like an avalanche had occured in my loft, piles of stuff all over the place. 

Well worth a look if you're nearby, I did make a purchase...

Fantastic Toys & Collectables
07812 511001

https://g.co/kgs/dzsqhJ5

I live on Tyneside but had no idea that shop was there. I have not been to Granger Market for years as I rarely go into town. They place does not show up when searching for model shops in the North East, just goes to show that relying on FaceBook for your publicity is not that good as there are quite a few of us who do not use it and have no interest in using it. I might go and have a gander sometime.

3 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Like this Mk1 I saw back in 2002?

Inevitably it doesn't look like that any more....

I had a mate at college who had an Escort like that. It was a boggo 1100 in that very shade of blue. In an attempt to make it go faster he cut scoops into the bonnet and plumbed it up to the carb to get a ram air effect. We then cut up an old Beetle bonnet that I had to make a front air dam. It looked absolute shite. In the end we took it for a drive in a car park scrapping it along the walls and just generally ruining it completely. It was only a temporary car whilst my mate repainted his Rover 2000 TC.

[danthecapriman]

Fella’s and fellet’s, any of you come across anything like this before on models or toys?

I recently bagged some of the 1:43 Jaguar partwork cars in a little bundle, but the one I was mostly after was this mk10. 
Problem is, the windows shouldn’t look like that! I did buy it knowing the problem but I’d like to put it right.

   
Taking the body off (and there’s evidence someone’s been in here before me!) shows the rear window has some sort of tinting paint on it. The others almost look like they’ve faded in the sun and gone opaque.

I gave the car a quick wash when I got it as it was pretty grubby, but it did nothing to the window colour.

Anyone got any suggestions or ideas how to make these clear or clear-ish again? 
I did think about some of that polish for plastic headlights? Or maybe trying some kitchen cream cleaner with the little gritty bits in? 
Im not really sure what’s going on with it tbh! The back window definitely has some paint on but the others???

 

Ive got a mint boxed one too and that one is crystal clear.

 

[bunglebus]

That looks like it's reacted to a chemical.

I'd try polishing it first, but if it's inside and out that'll be hard.

Next trick would be the old floor polish dip, and lastly I'd try spraying it with clear lacquer - fair chance that will react too though - I tried a bit of tinting spray on a yellow Hot Wheels glass unit and it ruined it completely 

Does it look clear when it's wet? If not I'd say it's game over

[quicksilver]

1 hour ago, danthecapriman said:

Fella’s and fellet’s, any of you come across anything like this before on models or toys?

I recently bagged some of the 1:43 Jaguar partwork cars in a little bundle, but the one I was mostly after was this mk10. 
Problem is, the windows shouldn’t look like that! I did buy it knowing the problem but I’d like to put it right.

   
Taking the body off (and there’s evidence someone’s been in here before me!) shows the rear window has some sort of tinting paint on it. The others almost look like they’ve faded in the sun and gone opaque.

I gave the car a quick wash when I got it as it was pretty grubby, but it did nothing to the window colour.

Anyone got any suggestions or ideas how to make these clear or clear-ish again? 
I did think about some of that polish for plastic headlights? Or maybe trying some kitchen cream cleaner with the little gritty bits in? 
Im not really sure what’s going on with it tbh! The back window definitely has some paint on but the others???

 

Ive got a mint boxed one too and that one is crystal clear.

 

That looks like a particularly bad case of UV degradation. Some clear plastics seem prone to it and the cloudiness goes right through the plastic so I don't think it can be polished out. I haven't seen any suggestions that it's repairable unfortunately.

[danthecapriman]

55 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

That looks like it's reacted to a chemical.

I'd try polishing it first, but if it's inside and out that'll be hard.

Next trick would be the old floor polish dip, and lastly I'd try spraying it with clear lacquer - fair chance that will react too though - I tried a bit of tinting spray on a yellow Hot Wheels glass unit and it ruined it completely 

Does it look clear when it's wet? If not I'd say it's game over

No, if it’s wet it still looks opaque.

I don’t suppose there’s anything left to lose by polishing it!?

[danthecapriman]

45 minutes ago, quicksilver said:

That looks like a particularly bad case of UV degradation. Some clear plastics seem prone to it and the cloudiness goes right through the plastic so I don't think it can be polished out. I haven't seen any suggestions that it's repairable unfortunately.

There’s a little bit of the same cloudiness on the sides of the headlights too so I bet it’s been sat somewhere in full sun for a long time. 
I reckon the paint inside the rear window was some effort to try and fix it or disguise it as tinting.

I’ll try a good polish and see what happens. It can’t hurt it anymore. I’ll have to make something or adapt something if it comes to it.

[Datsuncog]

Yup, as others have said, that's UV light damage alright.

The model shop I used to work at kept display models in the window, and for slow-selling lines, after a year or two the glazing would go that same milky white all the way through. 

Very annoying - generally they'd then get sold off cheap, probably for parts. Vanguards and Oxfords seemed particularly susceptible.

Lovely big model all the same!

[danthecapriman]

Cheers fella’s. I’ll see what’s what tomorrow and have a go but it sounds like the glazing at least is toast. Shame, but hey ho!

I might have found at least a potential solution. If it fits. It’ll take a while before it arrives though so I’ll continue stripping the Jaaaaaaaaaag, then see if I can cobble something together to replace the windows. 
If nothing else the old windows will make a pattern for cutting new from plastic sheet, or my idea of a fix will work. On of the two!

I fancied doing a custom mk10 when I got the mint boxed one last year but I’m not stripping that one! In a way this one’s ideal for that now.

[sheffcortinacentre]

Friend of mine had some photoshops of a 2 Dr pillarless coupe mk10 that looked really good.

[ETCHY]

I remember back in the '80s there was a conversion kit for a convertible Mk10. Can't remember who it was by but the cars were worth nowt then so not sure how many were converted.

Might be an option to do a replica model perhaps ?

[Split_Pin]

UT Models E46 BMWs were particularly prone to the milky windows and for a relatively complex model, there was no solution unfortunately. Mine is well out of the sun but sadly that means it's not very prominent on my shelves either which is a shame.