Shite in Miniature II

[andrew e]

The M3 looks ace in (Dakar?) yellow, turquoise Audi ain’t bad either 👍

[Datsuncog]

Ooft! Loving that Firebird, and also the Lotus F1, weirdly.

Good to see the latest cases are filtering through; annoyingly my nearest Tesco-Entertainer has just been newly stocked up with loads and loads of L cases, so I doubt I'll be seeing much for a little while yet. But I'm sure I'll find the ones I like before long.

Tesco have started carrying Team Transports now - reduced a bit, too.

The Honda Accord, Porsche Carrera and Sauber Mercedes were all available yesterday, in varying quantities.

Be interested to see how well these Premiums sell in stingy ol' Carrickfergus - going by the gaps on the pegs, so far I think one of the orange Volvo 142s has sold, and that's it. 

[bunglebus]

Oh I did notice one thing - the case today had been resealed with red tape before I opened it, and the new barcode labels were already on the cards - so they're not being applied at store level, possibly at the warehouse. The conspiricist in me things it's very likely any Super Treasure Hunts are very likely going to vanish at the same time...

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Can anyone remember who made the late 1980s Folksfarkem Caddy diecast? I seem to remember it was possibly Siku or Darda? I'm sure it had chunky wheels on it - can't find anything online after a quick search. 

[bunglebus]

Siku - one I'm still looking for

[sierraman]

Went out to Matlock yesterday, loads of junk shops but nothing came home, did spot a Playart Toyota Corona but it was ROUGH and they still wanted a quid for it. 

[IronStar]

Found the 02 Mystery Models baggie. Chuffed!
Thanks for the seam trick @bunglebus

 

 

[Nibbler]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

Siku - one I'm still looking for

I have one, but it’s a complete wreck. I would really like to find one in decent condition.

[egg]

Does this 'no-name' made in China thing actually have a name pls?

[IronStar]

14 minutes ago, egg said:

Does this 'no-name' made in China thing actually have a name pls?

Supposedly made by Jin Dei Le, part of the series called Gearbox. More details here:
 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ambassadorhl/25172367546

 

[egg]

31 minutes ago, IronStar said:

Supposedly made by Jin Dei Le, part of the series called Gearbox. More details here:
 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ambassadorhl/25172367546

 

Thanks, as they suggest - does look like the top half of the casting at least could originally be Yatming.

[FakeConcern]

17 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

I’d love to fondle it for a while too, but it’s perhaps too valuable for the likes of me

Let’s see if you can get it working first - does the wheel on the back turn the black connector on the underside? If so then it’s worth finding out a pair elastic bands to fit.  One small one to the wheel and the other longer one to the underside that will twist to ‘wind-up’ and build the tension 

American collectors tend to insist on bright clear photos (if not, they will bug you to supply them), so list it with international postage on eBay's global shipping programme. Then we can watch it play out from the comfort of our lounges!

And why would they bug you?  Because Jettin' Vette is worth hundreds of Dollars over the water:  https://www.southtexasdiecast.com/hwguide/revvers.html

The wheels don't turn the mechanism which looks a bit distorted to me and the black hook is too close to the body to get an elastic band on to it so making it work was a let down!

15 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

Revvers page from a 1973 Mattel Trade Catalogue

Oh look they did a Camper Set as well...

Which wasn't just a dragged trailer, it was also fitted with the Revver motor at the rear...

Hey wait a minute...  haven't we...?

Ah yes, the previously discussed rear axle position on the current Drift Camper might have some Mattel history behind it after all.  Maybe.

That similarity between the caravans is very interesting.

14 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

The back of the Revver range card:

RUB A LITTLE TALCUM isn't what I'm used to seeing associated with Hot Wheels, but there is always a first if you're that way inclined!

That's great, I didn't manage to find anything like that, thanks!

[morrisoxide]

18 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

That great, never seen one and they go for plenty when complete 

Approx how long and wide is it?

I'd never seen one either, it's about 165mm long by 65mm wide.

[Jon]

Here’s something I don’t think I was aware of:

Presumably a US only release, and a final hurrah for the T2 Bay window casting? Interesting to see the card was printed in the US - did the casting head to the card for packing, or vice versa?

For any VW completionists, this is up for sale, with bidding starting at £25…

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/toys-models/die-casts/matchbox/1970/listing/4849564561

Same seller also has a carded Mk2 Escort in white, at a slightly more palatable £12.50.

[155V6]

6 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Siku - one I'm still looking for

I've got one,no top for it though 🙁

[bunglebus]

23 minutes ago, Jon said:

Here’s something I don’t think I was aware of:

Presumably a US only release, and a final hurrah for the T2 Bay window casting? Interesting to see the card was printed in the US - did the casting head to the card for packing, or vice versa?

For any VW completionists, this is up for sale, with bidding starting at £25…

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/toys-models/die-casts/matchbox/1970/listing/4849564561

Same seller also has a carded Mk2 Escort in white, at a slightly more palatable £12.50.

Think the Pizza Van version saw out its days as a Bulgarian release

All with the pop top though - white one is the closed version like the military release from decades earlier

[bunglebus]

Whistle stop tour of Maldon. Some scrote has had the Porsche out of the Team Transport set - I let the lady checking stock know and had an interesting conversation about their delivery day

Poundstretcher don't have any Porsches, and the familiar mixes of long and short card Matchbox 

Several green Golfs and silver Moggies, the short cards aren't scanning still so it looks like I bought some sticky balls. I don't really need any extras at the current level of humidity 

[flat4alfa]

13 hours ago, morrisoxide said:

I'd never seen one either, it's about 165mm long by 65mm wide.

Oooh that approximates to the one they did at 1:30 scale and I would like to buy it if possible, to build into slot car alongside the Airfix 1:32 420

[flat4alfa]

19 hours ago, bunglebus said:

any Super Treasure Hunts are very likely going to vanish at the same time...

Find the warehouse location

Sweep location proximity on Marketplace and eBay

Find culprits

Arrange a ‘meeting’

Do a mafia-style infiltration of the operation

Dig holes in the nearby fields to dispose of culprits 

Then realise you’ve watched too many Scorsese movies and have a cup of tea instead

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

Oooh that approximates to the one they did at 1:30 scale and I would like to buy it if possible, to build into slot car alongside the Airfix 1:32 420

You want to cut up a Lucky 🤨

Sacrilege 

[bunglebus]

New stuffs in Smyths

5 pack

Team Transports - all the Liberty Walk ones AWOL of course 

And Slide Street premiums

 

[Datsuncog]

Probably should catch up a little on last week's Matchbox finds...

Both of these came via the model shop in Smithfield Market, which has always stocked a reasonable amount of Matchbox products across the ages (albeit at a price, and sometimes with rather dubious authenticity of boxes). It seems that the proprietor is sourcing increasing amounts of premium lines as well as mainlines - as these two 2024 releases indicate.

I was super-pleased to find the 1974 Toyota Celica GT Liftback on the Collectors Series peg - it's the one I'd been most interested in acquiring since I found out about this year's releases.

I've never seen another, and probably won't without resorting to eBay scalpers or the tender mercies of AliExpress.

I was slightly less pleased about the price, however - a rather salty £12 on this one. So - is it six times better than a boggo release?

Well, it has a bit more tampo decoration on it than your average mainline, true - although the black stripe between the wheels has a bit of a smudge on the offside, annoyingly.

It also boasts 'True Grip Tyres', which are indeed rubberised - but which otherwise look pretty much identical to the standard nylon wheels fitted to various mainlines. That said, they look about right for this era of car, and aren't as clunkily oversized as the unique wheels fitted to the Audi 100 Coupe.

The proportions also look a little off to my eye - am I imagining things, or is this thing a little short and humpy in profile? I'm no Celica buff, but these seemed to be quite lithe looking cars in real life.

The tip-up bonnet with a detailed engine bay beneath is very nicely rendered, though. And, unlike a few of the Moving Parts I've picked up, it does open properly.

Although, tragically, after only a couple of goes I became aware that the mechanism had taken the paint off the grille.

OH NOES MY INVESTMENT PIECE 

Well, that's annoying.

Still, a surreptitious tickle with a black Sharpie had it looking presentable again. Phew.

Even so - bit of an oversight from the designers. Or are these things never meant to leave their protective packaging?

The base is... functional. And plastic. It's nothing special.

Verdict: yes, I do like it. I really like it - BUT I think these Collector Series are wildly overpriced for what you get.

Other than the rubberised tyres - which are noticeably quieter than the plastic ones, should you ever find yourself rolling it across a tabletop - there's no real difference in detail or functionality compared to the Moving Parts range, which typically retail at half/ one-third the price of the Collector Series cars. I felt the same about the green TR6 I picked up last month too.

Love 'em or hate 'em, the Hot Wheels Premiums with unique wheels and metal bases do at least look and feel a bit more special in terms of finish and heft than the standard versions (even if the mid-price Silverlines can be very nearly as good, sometimes) - you wouldn't mistake one for a mainline. With this one... mmm, not sure.

Hinky paint on what's meant to be a high-end release for collectors isn't a great look - but then, I've heard a lot of anger online about slipping quality control standards on recent Vanguards releases too. And the finish wasn't great on that super-premium Matchbox BMW E30 rallye in the acrylic box profiled the other week...

But - if you kinda like it, what else can you do?

[AndyW201]

20 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

New stuffs in Smyths

 

 

 

Hnnnnnggg! Gullwing  and Renntransporter!!!! Much want!

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, AndyW201 said:

Hnnnnnggg! Gullwing  and Renntransporter!!!! Much want!

I can grab one this afternoon if you like?

[morrisoxide]

4 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

Oooh that approximates to the one they did at 1:30 scale and I would like to buy it if possible, to build into slot car alongside the Airfix 1:32 420

That's two people on the "if I get bored of it list" a chap on faceache who had one as a kid, is after it as well.

Who would have thought? From the bottom of a rummage box of tat, to being wanted by all and sundry.

I'm going to try make the missing door handles and bumper half  then maybe send it his way... If I get bored of it that is. Probably not though. 

[bunglebus]

I'd like it too but I'm sure one with appear out of the ether at some point 

[bunglebus]

It seems like whenever I see minor celebrities, I find good diecasts. Not so much today though, four old E cases in Entertainer is all I get for photobombing a couple of fake looking Z list TV idiots

But a few bits touched down at home today - starting with some older Hot Wheels, most of which I stumbled across on a FB sales page. 

Redline Ford J-Car isn't especially uncommon (still hunting for the rare "hidden hinge" version), but is a little unusual in that the body has clearly been prepped for Spectraflame paint and is very shiny where the white has chipped off

Lots of blackwalls including some Crack-Ups. Unfortunately my 3D print man has gone AWOL as the backs for the pickups was one of the things I'd planned to get reproduced

Brighter red Citation than the maroon ones I currently own

Real Riders equipped pickup is a good score

Think this is a later release, Hot Ones or similar 

Lintoy Merc included for comedy value of front leaf springs mostly

Spotted this Schuco Piccolo 911 the other day, it can be quite hard to date these as I think they had a long production run with few changes

2p for scale

AliExpress is surprisingly expensive for these Matchbox Jaguars, but I found another supplier that wasn't horrendously pricey. Two purchased as this is crying out for some mods

[Datsuncog]

The other Friday find, then...

It's the Moving Parts 1970 AMC Javelin.

And very nice it is too.

We may have already had this one profiled a few months back, so I'll not waste too many words pontificating - but the delicate striping and lettering are just lovely, as is the door handle detail.

Wheels are standard mainline items often put on older vehicles, and they look just right.

The engine also looks tasty, and has a fully-functional bonnet with no paint removal tendencies - but it's a bit of a pity that tampo print wasn't applied to the headlights and grille too, as they look pretty blank compared to the detail elsewhere.

The base is good enough - maybe even a little more detailed than the Celica?

For less than half the price of the Collector Series cars, at £5.50 these aren't necessarily cheap - but are very pleasing.

[bunglebus]

Job lot arrival. When is a Darda not a Darda?

When it's a weird copy from a brand I don't recognise 

Also in the box are the often lost bits from the Unimog and trailer set I remember having as a kid

Fisher Price dude from 1974 - anyone recognise him?

Unexpected bonus was the missing guy from the Volvo/240Z rally set, the other two live on my workbench and did a weird Power Rangers handshake thing when I put them together 

[andrew e]

Fisher-Price adventure figure? 

https://www.fpclub.org/adventurefigures.html

I always hankered over the camper and scrambler bike!