Shite in Miniature II

[Split_Pin]

I thought I'd start a new thread on this as I have been researching (looking shit up on Wiki when I should be working) now defunct Eurpean model car manufacturers from the 1960's to the 1990's.

 

Does anyone remember if they had models by companies like Bburago, Polistil, Pilen, Norev, Guisval, Guiloy etc?

 

I had these to start off with (generic internet pictures):

Bits kept falling off (replaced it with a mint one again in 2003)

 

Too low for the carpet:

 

Solid and heavy:

 

Local bully buried the example I had of this. It survived and I found it - still has mud in the grille today lol:

 

 

I have purchased a fair few models from these manufacturers since, but I remember the above the best.

 

What models did you have as a kid from an obscure manufacturer?

[dollywobbler]

Good grief. I think I had that first Metro as a kid! Well, it's having some sort of flashback effect on me as well. I was a right Metro lover as I also had the red Corgi and the Scalextric MGs.

 

I still have a load of Burago stuff. Sold some via this very site so there's a thread in the annals somewhere. Dollywobbler's great model clearout or something. The remaining models are now safely back in the loft again.

[RoadworkUK]

I honestly can't remember how many 1:18th scale models I have, I know it's over fifty. Regrettably, none of them are by particularly obscure firms. From where I'm sitting I can see Chrono, Ertl and Revell.

 

I started with Bburago and Maisto but soon realised there was a whole world out there and bought my last Maistos on holiday in Florida in '95. Since then it's been Auto Art, Minichamps etc.

 

I did have some awesome little 1:64 models by Monogram, beautifully accurate plastic injection moulded bodies on die-cast chassis. They used to sell them in the little post office in Polperro in the early 90's, not seen them anywhere since.

[morris_ital_lover]

Facepalm moment as I can't remember the bran but I've managed to pick up a plastic 1/32 Volvo 144 which was originally made for Volvo IIRC... tis mint but enitrely useless to me.

 

As for shite toy firms, Majorette were a classic, they always fell to pieces My renault 5 that I bought in 2000 fell to pieces instantly, 8 year old me was very very unhappy!

[eddyramrod]

 

I picked up the Norev R30 in red some years ago, and painted it pale blue metallic to match the one I used to have! I have a vast collection of models in all sorts of scales, some of which I've had since I was very small, and I'll be 53 soon.... As you might imagine, not many are pristine. Polistil is represented, as are Impy, Minix, Yat Ming and all the usual suspects. Somewhere I think I even have a couple of Budgies. Mrs R doesn't see the point, of course...

[Mr Lobster]

now defunct Eurpean model car manufacturers from the 1960's to the 1990's.

 

Does anyone remember if they had models by companies like Bburago, Polistil, Pilen, Norev, Guisval, Guiloy etc?

 

 

Norev, Bburago and Guiloy still very much alive. Don't see much by Guiloy these days mind but Bburago and Norev are very active.

 

Carry on.

[Split_Pin]

Argh, fail, of course they are. I've got a Norev Audi A6 in 1/18 too

 

I was thinking of the old plastic 1/43 ones!

 

Glad to see I'm not the only one who has a love for these makes! By the way, despite the square headlamps, that Renault 20 doesnt say so on the back, and you can faintly see

'30' where Norev have tried to obiterate it from the die

 

I started off with a shedload of little Corgis and Matchbox, but everyone had them. I hankered after the unusual ones as I I didnt get them very often.

 

Granny_L bought me the 1/24 ones as there was a good shop in Largs that stocked them.

 

Also, on my holidays to Crail, a wee shop called 'The Rummle' always had a carousel of Majorettes. As they were 72p each, my £5 2 week holiday pocket money went a long way!

 

I remember getting these (net images):

 

[Spiny Norman]

I remember having a few Polistil models when I was a kid.

One was a lovely blue 1/24 rally spec Renault Alpine A110 with very authentic looking mud splattered on it.

Still got a few Bburago models of things like the Bugatti EB110 and Diablo, also a Bugatti T37 Atlantic.

 

[Split_Pin]

Renault sounds ace!

 

I have a FIat 128 and Lancia Fulvia Coupe with the mud-splatter treatment

[Simon M]

As for shite toy firms, Majorette were a classic, they always fell to pieces My renault 5 that I bought in 2000 fell to pieces instantly, 8 year old me was very very unhappy!

 

I'm surprised at that - I always regarded Majorette as pretty sturdy and well made, with thick metal and lovely springy suspension! Certainly the ones I was buying in the early/mid 80s were - maybe they started to cut costs or something like that?

 

Somewhere I have a Majorette model of some kind of yellow pick-up truck, no make or model is listed and I've always wondered what it was supposed to be. If I can find it I'll post a pic on here and see if anyone knows.

[RoadworkUK]

Somewhere I have a Majorette model of some kind of yellow pick-up truck, no make or model is listed and I've always wondered what it was supposed to be. If I can find it I'll post a pic on here and see if anyone knows.

 

Wouldn't be a Dodge Dakota, would it? I had one of those....

 

Some of the Majorettes had functioning pop-up lights. I have a 300zx and a Celica so equipped. Playworn, of course.

[Mr Lobster]

The Majorette stuff is great, wouldn't have thought that quality wise its any worse than Matchbox / Hotwheels.

 

I like Majorette though because they make normal road cars. I got Lobster Jnr a Citroen C6, Mk1 Twingo and Seat Leon the other week. All Matchbox and Hotwheels seem to produce is mainly pimped supercars and US stuff with the odd 'normal' car if you are lucky.

 

In the same sort of scale, Norev do a range of old retro stuff which is pretty good. Its not available here though sadly but I am trying to do something about that...

[155V6]

Some of the older Majorettes do suffer from metal fatigue,& the paint tends to fall off.I've got hundreds as I think they're great,mainly bought from car boots for not much.I've also got odd cars from Guisval,Mira,Giodi,Yatming etc,I'll get some pics up later.

[Simon M]

Wouldn't be a Dodge Dakota, would it? I had one of those....

 

Very close, looks like it was actually the Dodge Safari model from 1974 with the cover on the back missing - thanks for helping me solve a 30-odd year mystery!

[155V6]

One I had already,some of my larger Corgi & Matchbox cars

I've got a few of those Majorette Dodges too,never could work out the real vehicle they were based on

[mattblack]

Does anyone remember if they had models by companies like Bburago, Polistil, Pilen, Norev, Guisval, Guiloy etc?

 

I had loads when I had my (200+) model Peugeot collection. I had the Polistil 1/26(?) 504 rally car, tour de france car and one that I stripped and 'civilianised'. I've got photos in the loft,will scan them in if I get a chance.

[Split_Pin]

155v6 you have a nice collection of 80s Corgis there.

 

I'd love to own the polistil 504 along with the green rally Citroën cx, cracking big models. I think Polistil putore effort into their rally cars that Bburago, although the range rover is nice.

 

The rally fulvia and fiat 128 that I have come with lots of accesories such as ski poles, jerry cans and spare tyres.

[155V6]

155v6 you have a nice collection of 80s Corgis there.

 

Thanks,here's a few more random ones that I've already got pictures of.

 

A banger yard I made a few years back

 

Majorette & Mira Alpines

 

Minichamps DTM cars including a Mustang

 

Casdon Motorway Services layout

[quicksilver]

Somewhere I have one of those silver Burago Golfs like the one in the OP, along with a few other 1/24. Even when I was little my toy buying habits tended towards the shite - I was always drawn to models of mundane 70s/80s stuff while my peers wanted the latest supercars. Majorette were my favourite as they seemed to concentrate on everyday cars, but I also remember being quite excited at finding a Matchbox-scale Mk2 Granada by some Chinese firm on my local market . These days I collect only in 1/76 scale to go with my model buses - mostly Oxford Diecast and Cararama, plus some Husky, Minix, old Matchbox and a few kits. Latest acquisition is a plastic Mk1 Capri by Lima that looks OMG SLAMMED at the moment but I might put some steel wheels on and paint it beige

[Split_Pin]

 

Not seen a Mira one of these before. I've got a bronze Majorette one, I like the orange headlamps on them

 

Loving the banger yard scene, nice selection of cars in there!

[Mash]

At the opposite end of the spectrum, these Ottomobile resin models in 1:18 scale are awesome. They've now got a 505 in the range and it looks absolutely fantastic!!

 

 

Or how about a VW Santana by Welly?

 

 

I wish someone bring out a range of 1:18 scale British cars - Allegro, Marina, Cortina, Vauxhalls.

[eddyramrod]

I wish someone bring out a range of 1:18 scale British cars - Allegro, Marina, Cortina, Vauxhalls.

 

Wouldn't that be great! You can buy a few now: Mk1 and 2 Escorts, obviously; Minor... errrr... and that's about it. Naturally I have a red Capri, but I'd love to see some other stuff in the big scales. Princess? Granada? PA Cresta! Please!

 

155v6: How attached are you to that Corgi Maestro? I can offer a Mk1 Prelude to swap, choice of colour...? I really need a model of that car...

[morris_ital_lover]

Eddy there's a couple of 'em ebay if you really want one... they are a bit dear mind!

[eddyramrod]

Yeah, that's the problem. I keep an eye on the bay for stuff like this, but at the moment window shopping is all I can do, unless I can find a swap deal. Hence my query above. Cash is simply not an option.

[Mr Lobster]

At the opposite end of the spectrum, these Ottomobile resin models in 1:18 scale are awesome. They've now got a 505 in the range and it looks absolutely fantastic!!

 

The Otto stuff really is good. Its not that cheap at RRP of about £80 (and a price rise due next month) but they are still well worth that. They've some awesome stuff coming as well - if you've seen my Facebook then this probably isn't news but theres a Renault 14, Mk2 Fiesta XR2 and some other properly nice stuff coming over the next twelve months. 1/18 scale Renault 9 due in the next couple of weeks too.

 

That Welly Santana is an odd one. They aren't available in the UK as such but I can get them from a foreign supplier. Trouble is they'd need to sell at like £90 or so and I'm not sure if the quality will be enough to justify the price.

[Lord Sterling]

if you've seen my Facebook then this probably isn't news but theres a Renault 14, Mk2 Fiesta XR2 and some other properly nice stuff coming over the next twelve months. 1/18 scale Renault 9 due in the next couple of weeks too

 

Oh dear, I feel my bank balance is going to be taking a huge hit soon, especially as this is coming out:

 

 

My Dad had one almost exactly the same in the same colour, CAW995T.

[Mash]

Yes i've managed to hold off the Ottomobile desire so far despite Lotus Sunbeam and Fuego but I fear as a true shiteist and model car nut i won't be able to do without the R14.

 

Put me down for one please Mr. L

[Mr Lobster]

Put me down for one please Mr. L

 

No problem, name added to list. No idea when they are actually coming out, certainly not first half of this year anyway!

[sco14]

Is the Renault 14 only available in this colour?

[Mr Lobster]

As far as I am aware, yes.