Shite in Miniature II

[MiniMinorMk3]

10 minutes ago, sierraman said:

Or as most people do, abandon ship 60% of way through, bollocks deep into £600 worth of bits. What happens with these if the suddenly stop selling the mag due to poor sales? 

I have seen these kit type part works turn up at auctions.

I've never seen the appeal of these kit type parts works because of the total cost. You could buy a few decent resin cast 1/18ths for £1300, or about 4 CMC models.

[danthecapriman]

5 minutes ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

I have seen these kit type part works turn up at auctions.

I've never seen the appeal of these kit type parts works because of the total cost. You could buy a few decent resin cast 1/18ths for £1300, or about 4 CMC models.

You quite often end up with a glut of the earlier parts on eBay. Probably where someone started collecting but then lost interest or ran out of money for it each month. 
Likewise the partwork collections, loads of the early released ones around but progressively fewer and fewer of the later models from the collection. The Atlas best of British police cars is a prime example… absolutely loads of the first release Jag mk2 on eBay!

[bunglebus]

Nice RS2000 and Volks-Dragon in that lot @MiniMinorMk3

I think I need to give buying big lots a miss for a while, takes forever sorting through them and decided which to keep 

[danthecapriman]

17 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Nice RS2000 and Volks-Dragon in that lot @MiniMinorMk3

I think I need to give buying big lots a miss for a while, takes forever sorting through them and decided which to keep 

It’s quite addictive though I found. Especially buying the lots where it’s all just a big pile of vehicles or crappy photos not really showing much. You don’t know exactly what’s in there until you start sifting through it all.

[danthecapriman]

I’ve not had a huge amount of time for my model projects lately with decorating and other stuff going on. But I have managed a little bit here and there. I’m hoping once I’ve got the garage fully sorted though it’ll create a little bit of space to get on with more.

I have though got the partwork AEC Regent stripped fully ready for a few modifications before painting. Very easy to strip down really. Loads of glazing to drill out though! 
Some bits like the bonnet and bulkhead behind it are separate plastic parts so will need masking & painting separately. I need to run a small file around the windows to get rid of the last bits of stubborn paint.

I’ve been looking around on the off chance there might be any suitable decals I could use for its new livery, but drew a blank. Until a chance discovery of these 1:64 sized decals.

Decided to chance it as there isn’t anything else unless you make your own. They arrived this morning and actually, on offering them up on the bus, they look absolutely perfect sizes for the sides (biggest ones) and front & rear (next size down). Which will certainly make this project a whole lot easier!

Once I’ve got the workbench clear in the garage I’ll give the casting a dusting of etch primer then file down and fill the old destination board from above the rear door/platform then make up a thin plastic card panel to cover the front destination blind as these were panelled over in the later white livery. Then I’ll give it another coat of primer before I start putting the white top coat on.

[quicksilver]

Some absolute shite icons in the latest batch of CMAC 1/76 3D prints.

Montego. Also available as an estate, which I don't think has ever been modelled before. That one is still in the to-do box.

Belmont

And last but very much not least, it's only a flippin' Tagora. Never did I ever think something so obscure would be modelled in this scale.

[eddyramrod]

9 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Well my four boxes turned into two boxes as the auction house said they were running low, so I combined them into to two lots. With fees I spent £180 on 200+ bits of knackered old tat. Again I purchased these mainly for the Minis and Metros, have I said I collect these before.

So two boxes of stuff to sort through.

Box one. What an assortment.

There's a couple of rusty Tonkas in the mix and a couple of old British diecasts.

Lots of flaky paint again. My guess is some of these were stored in a damp shed.

Second box.

Again quite a variety of shite

Lots of dust on some of these. They must have been at the top of the pile.

Well it's time to strat cleaning up and see what I have in more detail.

There's a couple of things I'd be very interested in, if they're going to be available!  Should I PM?

[Split_Pin]

12 hours ago, quicksilver said:

Some absolute shite icons in the latest batch of CMAC 1/76 3D prints.

Montego. Also available as an estate, which I don't think has ever been modelled before. That one is still in the to-do box.

Belmont

And last but very much not least, it's only a flippin' Tagora. Never did I ever think something so obscure would be modelled in this scale.

@quicksilver I've been in the website but can't see any of these for sale. How do you get the files?

[quicksilver]

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

@quicksilver I've been in the website but can't see any of these for sale. How do you get the files?

The website is very out of date. He sells the recent stuff as printed models through eBay under the username m0rris122.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?item=176765036247&_ssn=m0rris122&_sop=10

[Split_Pin]

Thank you 😀

[Split_Pin]

Shame you can't get the files as it would be fun to print it. Nevertheless I've gone for a Rover 600 as you can't get a model of one of those anywhere at all. My wife has got materials so I can make the lights and windows 😀

[MiniMinorMk3]

First up in for the cleaning and sorting were the Minis and Metros.

24 small scale Metros.

Unusual pale metallic blue, pity most of it has done a Ford Mink imitation.

Also a white one.

Two style of number 5

and both Datapost numbers. Again a shame they are in such poor shape.

Only five big Metros this time. The Hepolite is fairly good and one of the red ones is decent.

1/36 Corgi Minis

This one has most of it's decals still, but does have almost complete loss of chrome.

This one is doing a great impersonation of a Ministox.

Other Corgis include...

two Juniors Sprints, one with decals and one without.

Two Fina give aways.

A Minissima...

complete with rear door...

and a nice old Morris Mini Minor with no tyres.

Now for the Dinkys.

Pale blue Austin Countryman.

Police Mini Cooper with wonky bonnet.

A quick drop of glue and now it looks a lot better for display.

Two metallic red Minis.

The car with tyres is K reg.

The Speedwheels is L reg.

Also ones a Cooper S and the other is an automatic.

A Clubman Panda...

and three Clubman Bronze.

One is an early version with the jewelled headlamps. That has a slightly bent roof, as does the one on the right.

Remnants of plate on rear of early one.

Finally a bunch of Matchbox.

Only one has it's decals still.

This is what Captain Scarlet must have driven on his days off.

Grey two tone paint.

One chipped Mini Ha Ha.

 

[Tenmil Socket]

16 hours ago, quicksilver said:

Some absolute shite icons in the latest batch of CMAC 1/76 3D prints.

Montego. Also available as an estate, which I don't think has ever been modelled before. That one is still in the to-do box.

Belmont

And last but very much not least, it's only a flippin' Tagora. Never did I ever think something so obscure would be modelled in this scale.

I don’t know how you manage to paint them so neatly at such a scale!

A colleague got a 3D printer at Christmas and has been bringing in all sorts of things that he’s been printing.

I asked him if he could print me a Ford Escort and he explained that so far he’s only managed to find a file for a MK1 Polo. I said I’d be happy with that! 

[Lord Sterling]

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

Shame you can't get the files as it would be fun to print it. Nevertheless I've gone for a Rover 600 as you can't get a model of one of those anywhere at all. My wife has got materials so I can make the lights and windows 😀

I know you are talking about plastic printing 3D models, but for reference or something, Conquest Models did actually do a Rover 600 in 1/43 guise. Not a great looker but good to know it exists.

[danthecapriman]

28 minutes ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

First up in for the cleaning and sorting were the Minis and Metros.

24 small scale Metros.

Unusual pale metallic blue, pity most of it has done a Ford Mink imitation.

Also a white one.

Two style of number 5

and both Datapost numbers. Again a shame they are in such poor shape.

Only five big Metros this time. The Hepolite is fairly good and one of the red ones is decent.

1/36 Corgi Minis

This one has most of it's decals still, but does have almost complete loss of chrome.

This one is doing a great impersonation of a Ministox.

Other Corgis include...

two Juniors Sprints, one with decals and one without.

Two Fina give aways.

A Minissima...

complete with rear door...

and a nice old Morris Mini Minor with no tyres.

Now for the Dinkys.

Pale blue Austin Countryman.

Police Mini Cooper with wonky bonnet.

A quick drop of glue and now it looks a lot better for display.

Two metallic red Minis.

The car with tyres is K reg.

The Speedwheels is L reg.

Also ones a Cooper S and the other is an automatic.

A Clubman Panda...

and three Clubman Bronze.

One is an early version with the jewelled headlamps. That has a slightly bent roof, as does the one on the right.

Remnants of plate on rear of early one.

Finally a bunch of Matchbox.

Only one has it's decals still.

This is what Captain Scarlet must have driven on his days off.

Grey two tone paint.

One chipped Mini Ha Ha.

 

For some reason the thought just hit me, but - would these clean ok in the dishwasher on a lower temperature wash?

Ive done car parts in there before but never tried diecast vehicles😆

[sierraman]

19 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

For some reason the thought just hit me, but - would these clean ok in the dishwasher on a lower temperature wash?

Ive done car parts in there before but never tried diecast vehicles😆

Yeah that kind of thing doesn’t go down well domestically. 😂

[andrew e]

22 hours ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Anyone planning a monthly subscription for this lovely looking thing?

If anyone does, I took these pictures late last year at the Peugeot museum in Sochaux (recommended!) so here’s your reference 👍 No I didn’t realise how long the wheelbase was in the flesh either!

[danthecapriman]

9 minutes ago, sierraman said:

Yeah that kind of thing doesn’t go down well domestically. 😂

What they don’t know won’t hurt them!😆

[MiniMinorMk3]

44 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

For some reason the thought just hit me, but - would these clean ok in the dishwasher on a lower temperature wash?

Ive done car parts in there before but never tried diecast vehicles😆

Even in the washing up bowl with a bit of Fairy older ones can have a reaction on the paint making it dull. Also, what would you use in the dish washer for a cleaning agent. I wouldn't like to trust any dishwasher stuff as I think most of them contain a lot of salt and all that high pressure jetting would probably cause a lot of paint, decal and chrome loss.

[FakeConcern]

Interesting how the later Dinky Mini was updated with the Mk2 rear lights

but kept the Mk1 grill...

Whereas the Corgi Mini Magnifique had what look like MK1 rear lights

with a Mk2 grill...

Green original & blue CMC look to be the same, I had wondered if the CMC lights would be different.

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

There were a few tin plate items for me to clean up.

First up is what could be described as pre-war grand prix car of an LSR car. Very basic with no detail.

Also no one admitted to making it or where it comes from.

Next we have a clockwork car that could be any big American Sedan from the 1940s. I do not have a key so I do not know if it goes.

It has a lever on the back, so could it go in forwards or reverse?

This one was made in Great Britain, but no makers name.

First up from a trio of Tonkas is this green Beach Buggy. It's lost a bot of paint...

and the wheels are worn, but it is complete.

Then we have a tipper truck, again with lots of paint loss...

but the wheels and tyres look good. I might give this on a quick resto with a bit of paint when the weather gets warmer.

Finally we have what looks like a mid 1980s Chevrolet C20 in green.

It has a chrome bed...

and big chrome wheels.

[MiniMinorMk3]

On 21/01/2025 at 12:45, sierraman said:

Hmm Corgi Rover 800 very nice! 

Here's that Rover Sterling in more detail.

Corgi seamed to be pushing the boat out with the red plastic rear lenses.

Lots of opening parts.

They've made a good effort on the V6 under the bonnet.

It has a sunroof...

that slides back.

The dash looks quite good to, for a late Corgi. 

Made in GT Britain.

 

[sierraman]

It’s not q the most detailed model but it’s still a decent rendition. 

[flat4alfa]

3 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Next we have a clockwork car that could be any big American Sedan from the 1940s. I do not have a key so I do not know if it goes.

It has a lever on the back, so could it go in forwards or reverse?

This one was made in Great Britain, but no makers name.

I really like that little thing.  Would be great to see it up and running again!

It's a Louis Marx.  Sold in the USA as one of the pair in the Streamline Speedway set...

.. produced as well at the Dudley factory in UK, hence why your example is 'Made in Gt Britain'

Wind them up with the key,  then the lever on the back releases the sprung-loaded 'motor'.  It was a figure-of-eight track with a raised crossover, which was also made of pressed tin as well as we can see

Later UK production moved to Swansea as 'Marx Motorway' with dubious box art and bare plastic track

Here is what you should see if you opened it up

If we look at the original set cover art, the style of vehicle shows of a two-door, not a four-door sedan.  That's because it represents these, which were originally made by Tipp & Co (in W. Germany, and perhaps why they look like an Adler) and bundled in the set originally.  Those early sets were stamped 'U.S. Zone, Germany'

Tiny Tom likes his one.  But it's never been apart.  Maybe that time will be soon...

[flat4alfa]

And soon came quickly!

As we can see, the motor unit is the same

But oh dear.  On this one, the spring has twanged, with part of it hanging out the bottom.  So it will need to go into the workshop to be fixed.

[sierraman]

Another one I’d been hunting down… a 1981 Greased Lightning. 

[Split_Pin]

6 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

What they don’t know won’t hurt them!😆

They ALWAYS know 😂

[Split_Pin]

2 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Here's that Rover Sterling in more detail.

Corgi seamed to be pushing the boat out with the red plastic rear lenses.

Lots of opening parts.

They've made a good effort on the V6 under the bonnet.

It has a sunroof...

that slides back.

The dash looks quite good to, for a late Corgi. 

Made in GT Britain.

 

There's just something a wee bit exciting about the Corgi 1/36 and Superkings castings released after about 1986. 

Corgi

Rover Sterling

Volvo 740 Turbo

Superkings

Jaguar XJ6

BMW 750il

Rolls Royce Silver Spirit

Sierra Cosworth

 

[flat4alfa]

22 minutes ago, sierraman said:

Another one I’d been hunting down… a 1981 Greased Lightning. 

Is that supposed to be a six(!) cylinder Pantera...

[sierraman]

9 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Is that supposed to be a six(!) cylinder Pantera...

Economy version. Real one had a Ford 5.0 V8!