Shite in Miniature II

[bunglebus]

New bits and bobs for today include an ex-Ghostbusters Citroen

No FWD drag cars wheels here, unlike another recent find

Another eraser

These ETRL Speed Strips seem to keep materialising lately

The pics

Nice clean MFM

A couple of the battery powered alarm cars, one even emits some distressed squawks

Corgi bonus

Lastly a late model Corgi Mini - nicely done but not for me

[500tops]

Picked this Sierra and Le Sabre up this morning 

[matt79]

1 hour ago, bezzabsa said:

Thats the one, But Vinted is not allowing me to sign up???

I think Vinted are having software issues at the moment, which might be the cause.

[quicksilver]

CMAC is doing some wonderfully off-the-wall stuff recently. I guess that's the beauty of 3D printing - having done normal Mk3 Cortinas it wasn't a lot of work to tweak the file and make the South African bakkie. Really pleased with the colour on this - a random cheap can of 'shimmer copper' from Poundland that looks a lot like 1970s Ford bronze, and I even found a bakkie that colour for sale in the UK.

My early 2000s coach fleet has also had an upgrade to its service vehicle fleet. The Morris Ital and Bedford HA were getting long in the tooth so they've been replaced by the modern* sophistication* of a Maestro and an Astra, along with a VW Caddy for general fetching and carrying. The Caddy looks odd riding at standard height as I'm so used to seeing them slammed nowadays.

 

 

[bezzabsa]

1 hour ago, quicksilver said:

CMAC is doing some wonderfully off-the-wall stuff recently. I guess that's the beauty of 3D printing - having done normal Mk3 Cortinas it wasn't a lot of work to tweak the file and make the South African bakkie. Really pleased with the colour on this - a random cheap can of 'shimmer copper' from Poundland that looks a lot like 1970s Ford bronze, and I even found a bakkie that colour for sale in the UK.

My early 2000s coach fleet has also had an upgrade to its service vehicle fleet. The Morris Ital and Bedford HA were getting long in the tooth so they've been replaced by the modern* sophistication* of a Maestro and an Astra, along with a VW Caddy for general fetching and carrying. The Caddy looks odd riding at standard height as I'm so used to seeing them slammed nowadays.

 

 

how much Matchbox/lesney stuff is available to 3d print?

[bunglebus]

I need to start sleeping at night instead of scrolling endless eBay and Vinted listings.

Boxed Quasar is exhibit A

It does indeed have a free Robug leaflet (whatever they were)

Guisval Peugeot is a cute little casting

This was my big win though

Interior detail is good 

Boot has a spare wheel recess

Under bonnet area also nicely detailed

Party trick has to be four opening doors though

Full reclining seats are rather trick too

It's had a bit of giffer detailing but I'm well impressed with it all the same. You also wouldn't want to drop it on your foot, it's hefty!

[quicksilver]

I've been experimenting with some of my random Graff City paints. This Renault T High is done entirely in French colours: Peugeot Silver, Citroen Wicked Red and Renault Extreme Blue, and yes masking the cab was a fiddle. Handily I've discovered the latter is a near-perfect match for Humbrol Baltic Blue 52, the shade I use for the coach fleet.

And I combined Vauxhall Royal Blue with a generic ice blue (from Lidl IIRC) on this Scammell.

Transfers are all home-made.

[danthecapriman]

19 minutes ago, quicksilver said:

I've been experimenting with some of my random Graff City paints. This Renault T High is done entirely in French colours: Peugeot Silver, Citroen Wicked Red and Renault Extreme Blue, and yes masking the cab was a fiddle. Handily I've discovered the latter is a near-perfect match for Humbrol Baltic Blue 52, the shade I use for the coach fleet.

And I combined Vauxhall Royal Blue with a generic ice blue (from Lidl IIRC) on this Scammell.

Transfers are all home-made.

They look fantastic. Really like the Scammell!

Whats your technique for the transfers/decals? I guess you just print on a home printer with decal paper?  
I need to start doing some myself but don’t really know where best to start!

[quicksilver]

14 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

They look fantastic. Really like the Scammell!

Whats your technique for the transfers/decals? I guess you just print on a home printer with decal paper?  
I need to start doing some myself but don’t really know where best to start!

Pretty much, I just draw them up in MS Word, print on clear inkjet paper and give them a couple of coats of spray lacquer. There's nothing really complicated about it as long as you remember the limitation that you can't put light-coloured transfers on a dark background. The best thing to do is get yourself a few sheets and have a play with them. I'm sure a man of your talents will be producing great-looking transfers in no time.

[danthecapriman]

7 minutes ago, quicksilver said:

Pretty much, I just draw them up in MS Word, print on clear inkjet paper and give them a couple of coats of spray lacquer. There's nothing really complicated about it as long as you remember the limitation that you can't put light-coloured transfers on a dark background. The best thing to do is get yourself a few sheets and have a play with them. I'm sure a man of your talents will be producing great-looking transfers in no time.

Cheers!

Ive heard you can’t put light colours over dark paint, apparently you need to use a white version of the final transfer first or something like that to stop the paint colour messing up the transfer colour.

What varnish are you best using? Acrylic I guess??

[quicksilver]

33 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Cheers!

Ive heard you can’t put light colours over dark paint, apparently you need to use a white version of the final transfer first or something like that to stop the paint colour messing up the transfer colour.

What varnish are you best using? Acrylic I guess??

I just use automotive acrylic rattle can lacquer. There's a few things you can't do but once you know those limitations there are usually ways round them.

It's impossible to print in white because basically every printer ever made assumes the paper is white and leaves white areas unprinted so they turn clear. This can be exploited for some interesting effects though, like the ACT logos here that were drawn with white text on a blue background so the white turned clear and the paint colour shows through.

For dark-coloured models, or if you want white areas on your transfer, you'll need to use the white decal paper. I've found this a bit more challenging, firstly in finding a background colour that matches the paint, and then cutting them out accurately: too far away and you'll see the white border, too close and you might cut through the ink and make it run. Here's an example: orange print on clear paper would be invisible on a black model so these are printed with a black background on white paper.

I'm not an expert and I've just learned by trial and error. The paper isn't expensive so just try things and see what works. It's always a good idea to include spares of whatever you print in case you mess one up applying it; sometimes the ink can run unexpectedly or the decal tears or folds up on itself. I always use Micro Set to help them stick as I've found they can start peeling off without it, and lacquering the paint first helps to give a smooth surface, especially on metallics.

[danthecapriman]

7 minutes ago, quicksilver said:

I just use automotive acrylic rattle can lacquer. There's a few things you can't do but once you know those limitations there are usually ways round them.

It's impossible to print in white because basically every printer ever made assumes the paper is white and leaves white areas unprinted so they turn clear. This can be exploited for some interesting effects though, like the ACT logos here that were drawn with white text on a blue background so the white turned clear and the paint colour shows through.

For dark-coloured models, or if you want white areas on your transfer, you'll need to use the white decal paper. I've found this a bit more challenging, firstly in finding a background colour that matches the paint, and then cutting them out accurately: too far away and you'll see the white border, too close and you might cut through the ink and make it run. Here's an example: orange print on clear paper would be invisible on a black model so these are printed with a black background on white paper.

I'm not an expert and I've just learned by trial and error. The paper isn't expensive so just try things and see what works. It's always a good idea to include spares of whatever you print in case you mess one up applying it; sometimes the ink can run unexpectedly or the decal tears or folds up on itself. I always use Micro Set to help them stick as I've found they can start peeling off without it.

Thanks. 
I’ve ordered some paper so I’ll give it a try when it arrives.

Stupidly, I hadn’t considered the problem of printing in white!😄 it never occurred to me actually! I’m not a computer person though in my defence.

I assume when you apply the varnish/lacquer you just spray one side of the whole sheet? Not both sides?? 
Likewise, if you cut the paper you need to spray it so the cut edges don’t end up running?

I usually put a coat of varnish of one type or another over any decals after they’re applied and dry just to seal them and stop any peeling.

[quicksilver]

Just now, danthecapriman said:

Thanks. 
I’ve ordered some paper so I’ll give it a try when it arrives.

Stupidly, I hadn’t considered the problem of printing in white!😄 it never occurred to me actually! I’m not a computer person though in my defence.

I assume when you apply the varnish/lacquer you just spray one side of the whole sheet? Not both sides?? 
Likewise, if you cut the paper you need to spray it so the cut edges don’t end up running?

I usually put a coat of varnish of one type or another over any decals after they’re applied and dry just to seal them and stop any peeling.

Yep, just spray the printed side. No point doing anything to the backing paper as that's just going to end up in the bin. When using clear I varnish the whole lot and don't bother varnishing the individual decals again after cutting them out as I haven't ever had problems with the water making them run. Ink runs are more of a problem when using coloured backgrounds on white papers so a coat of varnish after cutting might help with that though.

You don't need to fill a whole sheet in one go either. I cut the printed strip off the top before varnishing it and then put the rest of the paper back in the packet for next time. My printer will cope with anything down to about 1/4 of the original A4 height. You need to set the printer to the glossy photo paper (or equivalent) setting and probably the print quality to high, but that depends on your model of printer.

[danthecapriman]

18 minutes ago, quicksilver said:

Yep, just spray the printed side. No point doing anything to the backing paper as that's just going to end up in the bin. When using clear I varnish the whole lot and don't bother varnishing the individual decals again after cutting them out as I haven't ever had problems with the water making them run. Ink runs are more of a problem when using coloured backgrounds on white papers so a coat of varnish after cutting might help with that though.

You don't need to fill a whole sheet in one go either. I cut the printed strip off the top before varnishing it and then put the rest of the paper back in the packet for next time. My printer will cope with anything down to about 1/4 of the original A4 height. You need to set the printer to the glossy photo paper (or equivalent) setting and probably the print quality to high, but that depends on your model of printer.

Top man! Thanks for that👍

I’ll give it a go and post up the results.

[bunglebus]

I bought myself a lovely new printer and some decal paper for just this reason. Still not worked out how to actually make decals and resize them etc 

I did test my Poundland paint out though

[bunglebus]

Toy fair today, here's some of what you could have had...

...and what I obtained 

[FakeConcern]

Which door is missing from @eddyramrod's?

Is that the toy fair in a school at Raleigh @bunglebus? It always looks great and I'd like to go again, but the last time we went the Dartford crossing was shut, so was the Blackwall tunnel and two of the bridges! It took about four hours to get home and put Mrs Concern off the idea.

 

[Tenmil Socket]

16 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Toy fair today, here's some of what you could have had...

...and what I obtained 

That 50p table would have got rinsed!

[junkyarddog]

Found the VW and Porsche from Silver series Vintage club today.

The VW casting and paint is cracking!!

They look worn and lived in,just like us Eh Smoll Eddy?

"Speak for yourself M8"

[sierraman]

3 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Toy fair today, here's some of what you could have had...

...and what I obtained 

HW R5 Turbo is a bargain, they go for some good money on eBay 

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, junkyarddog said:

Found the VW and Porsche from Silver series Vintage club today.

The VW casting and paint is cracking!!

I've bought those two off Vinted as I didn't think they'd stay on the pegs long. Apparently they're in Smyths but I've not seen any. The Beetle is formerly a premium casting, and very nice as you say

[bunglebus]

4 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

Is that the toy fair in a school at Raleigh @bunglebus? 

Yes that's the one, and I had a bit of a bonanza today, as one of the regular sellers was having a clear out. As well as the usual carded modern Hot Wheels and Matchbox, he had several boxes with less than mint cards at a pound each. Well!

[bunglebus]

In my main pic earlier you'll see lots in the plastic boxes with various prices marked on them from £2-£5 roughly - but again they were 50p. I wasn't even the first to raid them, but still came away with lots.

I know everyone else hates them, but 50p for a Siku Granada?

Nemesis VW/Porsche collector bloke appeared this morning after not seeing him for most of the year, I put his nose out of joint slightly picking up this P-911 right in front of him

Should look nicer after a go over with a bit of touch up paint

Universal Polo

Despite blacked out windows, they do have an interior 

QC wasn't very good though, there's no paint on this rear corner

This one's a shame, I'd say this RM livery Corgi was mint before it got chucked in a tray of cars

Jeep sans driver

Possibly the oldest find today, Lesney Karrier Refuse Collector isn't one I've had before

This one's a few years old too, Maserati 4CLT

Complete Refrigerator Truck 

Regular wheels Lambo is 25% deficient in the wheel department, but I'm sure I can find one

Late release boat trailer

Funny enough, I was discussing the comparative rarity of the yellow "broomstick" Marzal compared to the white Porsche 910 that was on a seller's stand today, and then I find this

Colour changer stuck in one of infinite different shades

Not a version of the Rancho I'd come across before

Pop-Up Camper is quite a fun one, with the guy asleep inside etc

Onto bigger stuff. I spotted a mint in box Milligan's Mill online earlier for £cheap, bought it, then found this lovely example today

King Size ambulance isn't quite as good, has the usual missing door tops...

...but it did come with a customer at least

There were several nice Solidos on offer including a Sierra and two MK3 Escorts, but I just lifted the Fiesta

I've never had the Kenwood Transit before, and this has the best fitting doors of any of the earliest version I've experienced 

Only fly in the ointment is a cracked 'screen, I planned on nabbing one out of a spares vehicle but the base is rivetted on! I'm sure all my others are screwed in place.

Same seller has this. Bearing in mind he's been trying to flog me a windowless, badly overpainted, glued back together 356 for £10, quite why he only wanted £6 for this one I'm not sure

Three wheels had "whitewall" stickers including foil hubcaps, I've taken two off and left two as found. I think these might be period aftermarket accessories like the number plate etc

50p Corgi Heinkel

These two were more than 50p, and I already have examples of them, but they were too good to leave behind 

[eddyramrod]

6 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

Which door is missing from @eddyramrod's?

Is that the toy fair in a school at Raleigh @bunglebus? It always looks great and I'd like to go again, but the last time we went the Dartford crossing was shut, so was the Blackwall tunnel and two of the bridges! It took about four hours to get home and put Mrs Concern off the idea.

 

The same one that's missing from that!  Naturally, lol...

[bunglebus]

26 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

The same one that's missing from that!  Naturally, lol...

I did comment to the nemesis at the time that it was a left door that was required, typically 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Any ideas on this little Porsche? It's about 4cm long. No maker's mark anywhere. 

[Split_Pin]

On 01/11/2025 at 14:52, bunglebus said:

New bits and bobs for today include an ex-Ghostbusters Citroen

No FWD drag cars wheels here, unlike another recent find

Another eraser

These ETRL Speed Strips seem to keep materialising lately

The pics

Nice clean MFM

A couple of the battery powered alarm cars, one even emits some distressed squawks

Corgi bonus

Lastly a late model Corgi Mini - nicely done but not for me

Mini was part of a set of 3 for Woolworths in around 1990. The other 2 were the Jet Black and the Ritz.

[bunglebus]

35 minutes ago, Dick Cheeseburger said:

Any ideas on this little Porsche? It's about 4cm long. No maker's mark anywhere. 

That's a proper weirdo, Google Lens doesn't find any matches. Looks a bit like Marx but not with that base, and they normally have open window appatures 

[eddyramrod]

We've just had a weekend away and on the way back, slipped into the big boot sale at Bolton Wanderers.  There was a chap selling diecasts, including a bag-for-life marked at 50p per item...

I have a handful of these little Ford vans.  They're a nice model, certainly in this kind of condition for 50p!  So then I started padding out the order.

Corgi Junior Mercedes bus is to give me a second chance at this one...

https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_18614-Mercedes-Benz-O-309-T2-1969.html

I have cut one down already but didn't do a very good job.  Round 2 commences in the spring.  Then I added these, just because I felt sorry for them...

XK is Corgi; TR is Del Prado.  They're both eminently restorable.  There's no rush.

 

[sheffcortinacentre]

10 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Toy fair today, here's some of what you could have had...

...and what I obtained 

Are the first pic Matchbox power track cars or some TCR.