Shite in Miniature II

[MiniMinorMk3]

A lot of Solido Hi-Fi models were just older castings rebranded.

[Split_Pin]

I've got both of those as Century of Cars instalments which I think was issued as late as 2003!

[bunglebus]

Here's that Moving Parts Anglia - I reckon I might be ordering these online somehow 

[sierraman]

Not a cat in hells chance that will be in The Entertainer. They’ll still have the shelves full of Push me Pull you and those Kangoo vans. 

[bunglebus]

Interestingly another Smyths was showing four of the F&F 911s in stock, but there were no signs of this set when I walked in. I need to keep an eye on their website 

A job lot was waiting for me when I got in. All just for one tiny plastic van

But being as there's one on eBay now for £200, I think I did OK

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195751499861?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Th3Htcb7Qim&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=X5RtjeAxSP-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[bunglebus]

I buckled in Smyths and bought a new set of premiums

 

[Zie]

After seeing nothing new locally for a few months new, B&M had a few of these and the RX7 on the shelf. 

[IronStar]

Found a treasure hunt in the filling station last night 😄

 

Those F&F Hot Wheels look nice, I wonder if we’ll get them over here.

[sierraman]

Attending a swap meet this weekend. Looking forward to it tremendously. 

[Datsuncog]

Some long-overdue pics of that 2024 release Matchbox '64 Lincoln Continental

It's a sizable toy - so much so that I understand these aren't available in the Power Grab cardboard box assortment, as it's simply too big for the standard size box - and only just about fits onto the blister cards.

Printed detail is restrained to lights, badging and silver edging to the wheel arches, window surrounds and waistline.

It does capture the shape and feel of the real-life Continental pretty well. The wheels suit it too, and seem to complement the overall proportions.

The base is functional rather than super-detailed, with some rudimentary drivetrain efforts amidst all the lettering.

Grille and bumper are quite well rendered too; however my only real issue with this example is that the paint is quite orange-peely on the flat bits. I mean, it's not the worst in the world but ideally it'd be a deep glossy black, and not kinda ripply.

The white interior does lift it a little, helping it look 60s-classy rather than totally gangster.

I once had a plain black Hot Wheels Continental too, probably picked up new sometime in the early 2000s - annoyingly I no longer have it to compare, though I've a feeling the Matchbox would probably come out the winner...

Verdict: some minor quality control issues, but I really like this one.

I don't tend to buy Mattel mainlines online due to scalpage and the postage tending to be more than the model, but this one came via an online seller who only charged me a quite reasonable £2.50 to add it to my existing order.

While few modern Matchbox can be considered truly rare, the Continental does seem to be a little less common - while the 2024 cases have trickled down to most Tesco, Poundland and independent toy stores near me, I've yet to see this one in the shops.

Bafflingly, the '66 Dodge Charger in deep metallic green from the same mix is equally delightful to my eyes yet seems to be plentiful everywhere. So possibly Mattel do have a fiendish plot to restrict production of certain models in order to create scarcity, and hence build a bit of buzz amongst collectors. Who knows?

I'm perplexed at how hard the Jaguar XJ6C is to find, too... that remains my #1 target, for now. I mean, I expect I'll find one at some point - the frustrating lack of blue Volvo 240s tormented me sorely last year, and now I could have any number of them - so I guess it's a matter of patience...

[warch]

My brother got me a lovely little 1/76 Oxford Diecast Astra GTE for my birthday. It's actually rather nicer in real life than the close up photos suggest, a lower ride height and more in scale tyres would improve it no end. The wheels are actually fine, the tyre had slightly come off in the second photo. Amazing that such tiny models have separate wheels and tyres. 

[Tenmil Socket]

2 hours ago, warch said:

My brother got me a lovely little 1/76 Oxford Diecast Astra GTE for my birthday. It's actually rather nicer in real life than the close up photos suggest, a lower ride height and more in scale tyres would improve it no end. The wheels are actually fine, the tyre had slightly come off in the second photo. Amazing that such tiny models have separate wheels and tyres. 

Mad how these tiny models have such great detail and you get larger models were detail is crap!

[sierraman]

I had a really decent Mira 1/24 Kadett GSI as a kid. Needless to say flogged it when my folks cleared the loft. That and a Barcelona Taxi Scorpio. 

[sierraman]

Wasn’t Mira, it was Guiloy. I’m talking bollocks. 
 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115045440257?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=PeEpwtzuSeu&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=0gRg2HOGS5y&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[bunglebus]

4 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

I once had a plain black Hot Wheels Continental too

 

[AndyW201]

Latest finds include some Matchbox from a mix Ive not seen before, including the green Charger mentioned  a few posts back. Despite being seemingly common elsewhere, its the first time I've seen one in any shop around here,

In fact its refreshing to find one thats not in that horrible 70th anniversary livery. Can appreciate what a nice casting it is in a "normal" colour scheme,

Nice colour on this version of the Forester,

Detailing really is nice on Matchbox of late, shame Mattel dont really want us to buy them over here...

In one of those rare moments of our local Asda selling premiums, I grabbed this as I do like an E46 coupé. Mattel really need to give Crass & Spurious stuff a rest  though, even hardened collectors are sick of it now...

[sierraman]

Yeah it’s been done to death hasn’t it. I can’t stand the films to be honest, just the usual shouty American crap. 

[sierraman]

Final touch…

[AndyW201]

Also, thanks to a heads-up from @bunglebus last week, I went into Home Bargains on the hunt for some of the Majorette Tune-Ups, as Ive always been a big fan of Majorette since I was a kid, and a price of £1.99  (£7.99 rrp) didnt seem bad. So I grabbed a few to see what was in them,

So, first up, we got a RenaultSport Megane. Good stuff, I do like a model hot hatch, and I've got the previous shape Megane Koop by Majorette up in the loft somewhere. Almost all the vehicles in this collection have some sort of opening feature too, which makes the £1.99 seem even more VALU.

Up yours Matchbox Moving Parts!

So, as part of the Tune-Up package, we have a wide-arch bodykit, complete with rear wing and some extenders for the tyres, for a deep-dish look. 

Next, we have the Lambo Urus. Apparently, in the Tune-Ups pecking order, this one is in the "Super-Rare" category, which is one down from the "Ultra-Rare" gold  Bronco chase car. Yeah, dont think I'll be retiring on it though...

Slightly clunky towbar gives away that these are normally found in twinpacks towing a trailer/caravan/racecar etc. Opening doors are the feature here.

Winter sports is the theme on this one, with gold-plated skis no less, which you can probably afford if you have a Urus...

Was pleased to get a Jimny next, I've fancied the Majorette version for a while.

Its a nice little thing,

Naturally, the tune-up kit here is a bit OLLI, complete with extra spare wheel.

Next up was another Megane. Arsehats! Still, its the chance you take when they're all mystery boxes.

Next, Dodge Viper. Okay, fair dos, its a fairly nice model, if a bit in-your-face livery wise.

Opening doors again,  and the mirrors look pretty good.

Like the Megane, it has a clip on piece representing a wide arch bodykit and extensions for the wheel rims again.

Yay, I like Majorette Golf GTis. Not the grey livery that I wanted, but never mind.

Bit of a clunky roof rack affair going on, the beach graphics probably give a clue,

Yep, a bodykit, and in a bit of a nod to the old Matchbox Mk1 Golf, a surfboard.

And in another nod to days of yore, like old Majorettes, this Golf has junk in the trunk, albeit a bangin' sound system this time rather than badminton rackets, or suitcases...

So, a bit of relatively cheap fun there pissing about with kids toys. The Tune-Up bits probably arent really our cup of tea for most of us, but if I was still the 12 years old me who used to create body kits for my Matchbox Astra GTEs, Golf GTis and Escort cabbys from blu tack and old greetings cards (rather than a miserable middle aged old fart), I'd bloody love getting something like these.

[flat4alfa]

11 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Some long-overdue pics of that 2024 release Matchbox '64 Lincoln Continental

It's a sizable toy - so much so that I understand these aren't available in the Power Grab cardboard box assortment, as it's simply too big for the standard size box - and only just about fits onto the blister cards.

Printed detail is restrained to lights, badging and silver edging to the wheel arches, window surrounds and waistline.

It does capture the shape and feel of the real-life Continental pretty well. The wheels suit it too, and seem to complement the overall proportions.

The base is functional rather than super-detailed, with some rudimentary drivetrain efforts amidst all the lettering.

Grille and bumper are quite well rendered too; however my only real issue with this example is that the paint is quite orange-peely on the flat bits. I mean, it's not the worst in the world but ideally it'd be a deep glossy black, and not kinda ripply.

The white interior does lift it a little, helping it look 60s-classy rather than totally gangster.

I once had a plain black Hot Wheels Continental too, probably picked up new sometime in the early 2000s - annoyingly I no longer have it to compare, though I've a feeling the Matchbox would probably come out the winner...

To compare

First release (1964) colour from Matchbox Lincoln Continental, with a Hot Wheels Lincoln Continental, from decades later (2007)

Only the Matchbox has an opening thing - the boot (trunk!) lid.

Only the Hot Wheels has stupid wheels that need changing

[Datsuncog]

6 hours ago, bunglebus said:

That's the one!

Not all that keen on the wheels, or the stance, but hey... Isn't that casting still in the current lineup, just with rather more flamboyant paint?

[Datsuncog]

7 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

To compare

 

First release (1964) colour from Matchbox Lincoln Continental, with a Hot Wheels Lincoln Continental, from decades later (2007)

Only the Matchbox has an opening thing - the boot (trunk!) lid.

Only the Hot Wheels has stupid wheels that need changing

Right enough, I probably should try a comparison between my Lesney original and the new upstart Mattel casting, hey?

[flat4alfa]

27 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Isn't that casting still in the current lineup, just with rather more flamboyant paint?

Yes, still current, as is the convertible casting seen since 2000

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, AndyW201 said:

it's the chance you take when they're all mystery boxes

Just in case you decide you want any more, series one and two all have a code on the box which reveals what's inside - the codes are easy to find online, in fact I posted a pic showing them the other day!

Series three as far as I know has codes which aren't decipherable unfortunately 

BK... ^

The only Golf I didn't get out of series one and two was this one, tantalisingly on display inside the machine I was winning them from!

Still, I'll be back there next weekend so maybe I'll get it then.

The others aren't bad without all the kit attached 

 

[bunglebus]

Today's boot sale bobs

[bunglebus]

Alrighty then, what have we here? Two recolours from Tesco

A version of the Matchbox Lotus I'd not found before 

I saw these last week (and so, presumably, did @andrew e) in the 20p box. Pretty sure the ambulance is a Graffic Traffic 

Not quite so sure about the Plymouth 

MFM Sterling is probably the best I've seen

Tyco era releases with very of their time paint schemes

And some Circus containers - not all the same though?

Redline Tri Baby was 20p

Darda Go Cart is a bit of an oddity 

Not many Corgis today, Renault Trafic that actually has the full name on the base

Battered MK1 Escort 

And an amusingly customised Hot Rodder

Which leads me on nicely to weirdos and copies, starting with a facsimile of this one

An Imperial copy of the Matchbox Sand Digger

A Chinese knock off of a Hot Wheels El Camino 

Far East rip off Matchbox 4x4 pickup - wonder what brand name has been removed from the base?

And my absolute favourite find today, no-name copy of the Matchbox Ford Supervan II

[sutty2006]

Might have started a collection going. There’s a yellow one to get next. 
 

all dated 1979. One made in England, one in France, one in China. 
 

 

[bunglebus]

Got a boxed one

And others that have seen active service, all in this livery for some reason

 

[AndyW201]

@bunglebus, have you got this version of the Poison Pinto? Looks like Zamac?

[junkyarddog]

Some recent finds in no particular order.

Starting with this Corgi Mack crane.

Corgi Ford articulated truck.

Some 10 pack finds are this 71 Nissan Skyline. 

Civic EG.

71,911.

Love the recent Hirohata Merc.

Jag too.

Nice regular wheels caravan.

Utterly ridiculous "Donk" Rivera. 

Lastly this nice Majorette caddy limo.

Smoll Eddy was very taken with this.

"Always fancied havin' a long 'un M8"

😯