Shite in Miniature II

[sierraman]

Latest restoration! I think yellow quite suits it. 

[cms206]

Popped into a local "antique emporium" for the first time in ages. They had a metric fucktonne of model railway stuff, but normally have a few rummage boxes of toy cars and stuff.

 

So what did I turn up? Not much - a lot of spares donors in the box but I'm not time rich so not really looking for projects. These were a quid each - lifted the Volvo due to the odd wheels.

But on the way out... well the tag said "UNTESTED, SOLD AS SEEN"...

... missing a mirror and a tail light, but look at it!!! 1/16 scale Rico Toys Mercedes O305! How could I say no for a tenner, even if it'll never run again?

[sierraman]

Jesus. I had one of those, my dad’s boss at the time gave us one when his kids had grown out of it. They were minted so used to chuck out all sorts of cool stuff like this. It’s a Spanish built Rico. I think, could be wrong but Argos sold them?

[Zie]

Well its an improvement from the last time I was in Asda. 

No idea why it's upside down. 

[FakeConcern]

Lately I've not had the time (or energy) to work on the million projects I've started so I've just been spending a few minutes at a time and managed to almost complete the two Dinky Lotus Cortinas I started ages ago.

I have actually been to the opticians and got my first ever pair of proper precription glasses and they do help a bit with stuff like this.

The Mk2 came with only one axle set of wheels and I couldn't find any suitable replacements in my spares box so I fitted Corgi Golden Jacks Hunter Minilites, I think they look ok, but I'll put the proper ones on later now I've picked some up. The Lotus badges are too big as the hole punch I have is broken and the smallest circle cutter wouldn't do the job.

I wondered if I should outline the rear lights in silver on the Mk1, but decided that as they don't have the "ban the Bomb" bars, it would just hilight that they look wrong, I think the earlier pre Airflow casting looks better from the back.

The new glasses halped a lot when painting the grilles on both cars, the lines are still a bit wobbly as they both had two holes for the spot light bars and the grill bars had to be completed with filler. I decided to cut the front bumper on the Mk1 and print the three vents in the centre rather than try to cut tiny holes.

I think the green is just the right colour. Now I think I should have painted white below the bumper on the Mk2

I nearly forgot this

A lot of filing and grinding effort was involved in getting the Corgi Elan engine to fit and the stupid car won't even hold its own bonnet open!

The Mk1 is waiting for Steve Flowers to send out some seat backs

You may be wondereng why I didn't put a C or D number plate on the later Airflow large grill Mk1, well the book I had as a kid and still have shows this plate which I didn't understand as a kid and still don't. However I always think of it so put it on

I've almost finished the rally Dinky Corsair as well, needs to have some rally numbers and the three spot lights added on the front

The Dinky rally Capri has stalled as the doors need more paint ( @sierraman I never get yellow paint down as well as you have above, always too thin in places or running off the lower edges!)

The Corgi Chrysler Imperial has been masked and painted rather than taken apart and now waiting parts

Lastly does anyone know if you can get rectangular jeweled lights like on the Capri, I can't see them on the Model Supplies website?

[Spottedlaurel]

Stuff from a boot sale visit on Sunday:

Favourite/best buy is probably the Escort Cabriolet, in really nice condition and just 20p.

[sheffcortinacentre]

The plt is a Dagenham reg & may be from one of the preairflow works cars.

[FakeConcern]

10 minutes ago, sheffcortinacentre said:

The plt is a Dagenham reg & may be from one of the preairflow works cars.

Thanks for that!

Why had I never thought to look?

 

[eddyramrod]

2 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

does anyone know if you can get rectangular jeweled lights like on the Capri, I can't see them on the Model Supplies website?

I've been looking too, haven't been able to find any yet.  If I do I'll lay in an extra set.

[Datsuncog]

3 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Stuff from a boot sale visit on Sunday:

Favourite/best buy is probably the Escort Cabriolet, in really nice condition and just 20p.

The Siku T2 crew cab is delightful - one of my absolute favourite castings. I found one in a rummage box at an autojumble in about 1990 and I've had it ever since!

[bunglebus]

A shop full of RC stuff - not my bag unfortunately 

[bunglebus]

Found a few old diecast in an antique shop - that AMC works out at £14.26 if anyone's interested....

[bunglebus]

New CMC list - I have to say I have absolutely no interest in the Yellow Submarine, or the ice cream van that's very similar to the introductory version

[sierraman]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

New CMC list - I have to say I have absolutely no interest in the Yellow Submarine, or the ice cream van that's very similar to the introductory version

I’d like to think one day they’ll reproduce the late 70’s early 80’s range. 

[Tenmil Socket]

19 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Stuff from a boot sale visit on Sunday:

Favourite/best buy is probably the Escort Cabriolet, in really nice condition and just 20p.

Just opened my recent eBay auction win and this was the first I dug out… 2p postage! 
 

[AndyW201]

AliExpress arrival,

Packaging not too bad,

Aye, seems to have survived alright. No cracked case anyhow.

My 1/43 collection has pretty much all centred around cars of my childhood, stuff I grew up with, i.e '70s/'80s. However, when it comes to bread-and-butter street furniture of that era,  Vanguards ends up as my default choice, and, there are only so many Mk1 & 2 Escorts, Capris and  Mk3 Cortinas a guy can have really. (Especially with the two Mk2 Capris I had on pre-order unfortunately getting released one after the other). So I've recently found myself being drawn to models of cars from earlier on in my driving days before marriage, mortgage, kids, etc. 

This Saxo fits into that era perfectly. I've always liked small hot-hatches and back in the '90s/early'00s, I was fully into the Max Power/Fast Car/Revs car & cruise scene. I did fancy a Saxo at one point, and back in 2002, I nearly ended up with a new VTR when the local Citröen dealer was doing them cheap. Sadly, even back then, I wasnt exactly the size and shape for a Saxo, so I ended up at the Vauxhall dealer next door and an Irmscher kitted Corsa C SXi, which I could fit comfotably into, weirdly. (Was the last brand new car I bought that, common sense took over, after).

Having recently got the Solido Peugeot 106 Rallye, and been thoroughly impressed with it, I fancied an example of its close cousin. For a car that was so ubiquitous, and that so many ageing ex-boy racers remember so fondly, its quite hard to find a sporty Saxo in miniature (barring the cheap rally part work versions). Universal Hobbies did a lovely phase 1 VTR, (£££££££), Paradcar offered a built-up kit version (£££££££), the most common is this Norev phase 2, but you're still talking expensive over here in Rip-Off Britain. Step forward AliExpress, The white and black versions were already sold out, but there were a few Mauritius blue ones available and taking advantage of a weekend sale on there, with tax and shipping, it still ended up costing about a third of what they cost over here...

Detail is pretty good, this casting has been out for quite a while now (I think this is one of about six colourways released), and does show its age a bit.

Good interior detail too.

The typical VTR wheels are done very nicely. Strangely its badged as a VTS but Im sure that the phase 2 VTS had bigger 5 spoke alloys and a 16V badge on the rear quarter. Mind, it wasnt unknown back in the day for those badges to be swapped out. (A mate had a Furio which was a 1.4 with VTR bodykit and suspension, and the first thing he did to it was to put a pair of VTR badges on it...)

All in all, a good model of a car that was beloved by so many young lads wanting a cheap quick fling-around car, but now, all of a sudden, virtually extinct.

 

[Datsuncog]

11 hours ago, bunglebus said:

New CMC list - I have to say I have absolutely no interest in the Yellow Submarine, or the ice cream van that's very similar to the introductory version

Mmm, yeah... not really all that brilliant in terms of forthcoming releases.

I've already skipped the #447 Anglia Ice Cream Van for exactly the same reason; although the subsequent Olds Toronado with Golden Jacks appeals to me, as does the Batmobile. But it's all downhill from there... rally Mini, Chev Impala Police, Olds 88 and Bentley are all just previously issued castings in different colours and yeah - I'm not really sure that I want a Yellow Submarine either...

[flat4alfa]

Sorry to say, I cancelled from release #7

I could see it was just repeating what was already here, in some form or another

 

[bunglebus]

I don't mind some recolours as that's exactly what Corgi did anyway - I definitely wanted the African safari Beetle as well as the Polizei version. There's no way they could keep making new castings forever. I'm just not especially excited about the Thames ice cream van, I'm sure if you either had it as a kid or coveted it but didn't get your hands on one it would be appealing, just not for me. 

It's not an easy decision to deliberately create gaps in a collection but these aren't £1.79 Hot Wheels 

[Tenmil Socket]

On 01/09/2024 at 11:55, Datsuncog said:

£5 for loose Days Gone?

Some nice recent Matchbox items, but hard to see someone paying those prices when they're cheaper new and boxed...

He was selling an old red Ever Ready square battery for a fiver 😂

[MiniMinorMk3]

On 03/09/2024 at 19:38, FakeConcern said:

You may be wondereng why I didn't put a C or D number plate on the later Airflow large grill Mk1, well the book I had as a kid and still have shows this plate which I didn't understand as a kid and still don't. However I always think of it so put it on

 

 

 

On 03/09/2024 at 21:27, sheffcortinacentre said:

The plt is a Dagenham reg & may be from one of the preairflow works cars.

Airflow Lotus Cortina production started in August 1964. 784 BOO was a press car and maybe Ford still had some allocated three-number three-letter plates to use up. The car was featured on the original Airflow Lotus Cortina brochure.

Lotus Cortina Information – Mk 1 Press Cars

 

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

On 03/09/2024 at 19:38, FakeConcern said:

 

Lastly does anyone know if you can get rectangular jeweled lights like on the Capri, I can't see them on the Model Supplies website?

 

On 03/09/2024 at 22:26, eddyramrod said:

I've been looking too, haven't been able to find any yet.  If I do I'll lay in an extra set.

Have you tried searching for oblong crystals or rhinestones on the interwebs. I purchased packs of round ones to replace jewelled lights, but have never needed oblong ones.

[Datsuncog]

Market day down the town... and Colin's back.

Turns out he's only here every other week.

See, the stock he keeps at St George's isn't the same as the stock he keeps in the van, which is for regional market days.

Which is why that OOC Plaxton Panther in Centenary Livery only seemed to show up at Ards or Carrick markets.

It was probably at Lisburn, Ballynahinch and Nutts Corner markets too, but I don't tend to roam that far afield.

Well, it's here with me now...

Maybe as many miles on it as the real thing?!

[RoadworkUK]

Yay! / Bugger!

(I might actually display this one somewhere, because massive sad-act)

[Tenmil Socket]

Here’s the remainder of my £3 eBay auction win. They forgot to include a Corgi catalogue. The Ferrari looks like it’s got spatulas on top of the engine.

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

38 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Here’s the remainder of my £3 eBay auction win. They forgot to include a Corgi catalogue. The Ferrari looks like it’s got spatulas on top of the engine.

 

It's a good attempt at getting the intercooler detail.

Herpa did an excellent high detail plastic 1/43rd scale one back in the early 1990's

[sierraman]

3 hours ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Here’s the remainder of my £3 eBay auction win. They forgot to include a Corgi catalogue. The Ferrari looks like it’s got spatulas on top of the engine.

 

The trains always fascinated me in the range, they seemed to have sold really well but they’re now not so sought after, yet to ever find one but they did a track set with a crossing and a station. 

[danthecapriman]

33 minutes ago, sierraman said:

The trains always fascinated me in the range, they seemed to have sold really well but they’re now not so sought after, yet to ever find one but they did a track set with a crossing and a station. 

I had that! Pretty sure the track was black plastic sections that clipped together.

I had a red and a green steam locomotive and a yellow and a green diesel. A couple of coaches went with the steam locomotives and some little yellow and red side tipping wagons with the diesels, and a few plain black flat wagons.

They do seem to turn up quite often so must have been popular enough. The track was the first thing to disappear from mine though. I don’t remember it being particularly well made so probably didn’t ever last very long.

[Lord Sterling]

Right, so after all that garage-door and air-con malarkey over the last few days as alluded to in the news 24 thread, I woke quite late today but still had enough time to go and visit a place I've always wanted to visit. 

Mini Europe. I haven't been here since I was about 8. I'm now 41. 

Thankfully it was a bit overcast today so there wasn't many people about and those that were were mainly adults so I was able to get in some good photos.

Of course, the real reason I went was because of the diecast cars they use, I've always been interested and intrigued to what cars/makes they use, they just interest me.

A lot of the cars are unsurprisingly 1/24 scale. Unfortunately, a lot of them are looking tired and very weathered, it's a shame they don't clean them up and repair them, it's certainly something I'd love to do.

Anyway. Mini-Europe is located next to the Atomium.

Anyway, let's look at cars;

Didn't realise this Volvos were nice looking, I think this is next on my shopping list.

Hello, what's this I spot?

Ah, Schabak Escort (there are 2 of them)

I wonder who makes these model Merc Sprinter Vans, again, they are 1/24 scale despite looking a little "Siku"

Oh dear....

Aye aye, whats this VW? More on this later...

The refuse truck actually "drives" around the roads.

Ah! VW...

Yep, another one to add to my shopping list.

OK, what's going on here...

Oh dear, always a BMW eh?

That other Escort again. I'd have loved to taken this home with me, alas its not to be, besides, I think I actually have one.

Les pompiers...

Stolen Merc to be shipped abroad...

This was a German set, so of course they'll have a Mercedes G Wagon on display. 

Trabant on a 'Luxembourg' bridge.

Holidays ain't coming....

European Shite collection?

Range Rover aappears to have lost a rear wheel ☹️

Road works (there are LOADS here in Belgium) but not enough detail.

Peugeot appears to have almost given up ☹️

I must admit, I did kind of enjoy myself after getting through the "weird bloke on his own" anxiety, which is why it was good to go on a slightly overcast day in the week rather than a sunny weekend.

That's another one ticked off my box.

[danthecapriman]

That’s fantastic @Lord Sterling
Really cool thing to see, and make for us saddo’s!!

It’s a pity the windows have all started yellowing from the weather and sunlight but probably not much you can do about that. Some lovely model making on the buildings etc too.