Jump to content

Shite in Miniature II


Split_Pin

Recommended Posts

I have had a quick Google and it appears that there was a Routemaster bus that had a horn and a Superhauler-type Leyland Landtrain in Yorkie livery.

There was also a MK2 transit tipper but I cant work out what it did. However in the late 1990s I bought a reissued version of the transit in non electronic form. You pumped the roof beacon and some sort of ratchet mechanism raised the tipper.  It had the same colour scheme and black opaque windows as the original.

I regret selling my MIB yellow Maestro.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’ve got the full thing at home I’m the Edward Force book which is a mine of useless information like this. Here’s a summary IIRC of what everything does

Road Hog -Horn

Transit Tipper - has a jack hammer attachment that makes a noise

Leyland Roadtrain - remote control powered by some gubbins in the trailer

MG Maestro - lights 

Landrover - siren 

Radio Van - radio obviously

Routemaster

I think there was a HCB Angus Firestreak as well included with this

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

My friend had a Chevrolet Caprice fire chief car, I presume it was just a siren or something.

Aye. An absolutely horrible, jarring siren that makes you want to tear your head off, plus a flashing light on the roofbar.

20190515_234346.thumb.jpg.2cf1a30b3f499a7fadac40e334a8d0df.jpg

My wee Radio Luxembourg van works nicely though - as far as AM stations go, of course.

1 minute ago, Split_Pin said:

I have had a quick Google and it appears that there was a Routemaster bus that had a horn and a Superhauler-type Leyland Landtrain in Yorkie livery.

There was also a MK2 transit tipper but I cant work out what it did. However in the late 1990s I bought a reissued version of the transit in non electronic form. You pumped the roof beacon and some sort of ratchet mechanism raised the tipper.  It had the same colour scheme and black opaque windows as the original.

I regret selling my MIB yellow Maestro.

The Transit tipper was part of a small range called Corgimatics, along with a Mercedes Skip Truck. The idea was added play value without batteries - think it was a series of ratchets and springs that worked them. There were probably meant to be more commercials developed for the range, but it didn't happen. Your 1990s one seems to be a direct re-make of the original 1982 toy.

I also regret selling my MIB yellow Maestro. Even though, as far as castings go, it was a bit rubbish.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From the 1983 catalogue:

20190425_224133.thumb.jpg.c164ac6f941f68fd7f2d4f16bf537c0b.jpg

The opposite page showed the Caprice fire chief, the Chevrolet radio van, and the Road Maintenance Land Rover, where the Landie had no electronic element but the compressor trailer housed the 9V battery and generated a 'drilling' noise.

I didn't think the Transit tipper appeared in the Corgitronics range (Corgimatics, yes), but then all sorts appeared from them in '84 as they tried to liquidate stock, and some weird combos appeared. It's quite possible they found a load of compressor trailers but not enough Land Rovers, so just bucked the compressors in a box together with a Transit...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎3‎/‎1‎/‎2019 at 3:20 PM, Datsuncog said:

It's from Mettoy's final fling, the Corgitronics range - the cash-strapped company's attempt to woo back the 80s kids who'd had their heads turned away from 'traditional' toys by the shift in the trade towards Atari and Star Wars. It was hoped that a range of cars that beeped, blooped and made drilling noises would add extra play value.

Trying desperately to keep costs down, Corgitronics mostly reused existing castings to wrap a 9v battery and some wiring - and thus the Starsky and Hutch Ford Torino was reborn in black and gold as a 'Road Hog' complete with beeping noises; the Land Rover 109 Wagon reappeared in both Police livery and also as a Road Maintenance crew bus towing a 'drilling' mobile compressor; the venerable Routemaster bus gained the same 'beep beep' horn; and a smaller-scale Leyland Roadtrain truck came with a motor in the trailer that powered it forward and back, while making reversing signal noises. The long-running Chevrolet van gained a small radio receiver and Radio Luxembourg decals, which was pretty cool. The range's sole brand-new casting, the MG Maestro (launched in tandem with the real car, as Corgi often did in the 1950s and 60s) came with working head and tail lights, in a nod to their 1960s heyday.

But it arrived a bit too late to make a significant difference. Mettoy called in the receivers in October 1983, having outlived Dinky by four years and Lesney by a year.

^^^^ My own musings on Corgitronics, from when I picked the Caprice up back in March this year.

I've had the Radio Luxembourg van for years; think that was a 1990s car boot sale find.

I had the HCB Angus Firestreak (broken switch after a fall from a desk in school), the Police Land Rover, and the MG Maestro (swapped for a Corgi Classics Scammell Highwayman, to my eternal shame).

The Torino Road Hog is a nice find, though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

33 minutes ago, sierraman said:

I’ve got the full thing at home I’m the Edward Force book which is a mine of useless information like this. Here’s a summary IIRC of what everything does

Road Hog -Horn

Transit Tipper - has a jack hammer attachment that makes a noise

Leyland Roadtrain - remote control powered by some gubbins in the trailer

MG Maestro - lights 

Landrover - siren 

Radio Van - radio obviously

Routemaster

I think there was a HCB Angus Firestreak as well included with this

There is also a roadworks genset trailer which looks pretty cool.

 

EDIT: Others beat me to it on the genset!

I love the idea of listening to 1215 and other crackly AM stations on the Chevy van, late at night.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

Ah righty, so the XR3 chassises didn't get fitted in the end?  Do you still have them at all.  Either way yes I could do something with them., Aren't loft finds fun

I do have a built Aston on a Revell chassis and two boxed unmade Aston kits, as well as boxed unmade MGB; SO!  the missing pieces are already here.

The Miura; I do have one already and it is running well.  Will ponder what I have there

Not quite - the XR3 chassis were fitted to both Aston shells and used for years, and they handled much better than the standard Mk3 Escort (which was always a bit tall and prone to toppling over).

But, ultimately, I reunited the top and bottom bits of the Escorts whenever I sold on my various slot cars a few years back - sorry! These are just the Airfix kits, so mebbe not that much use,

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Had a 1968 Hot Wheels Custom Eldorado turn up today - I have three now, an original worn one, this one, and one I'm Customising. I'll see how much I get spanked for replacement glass for this one.

 

48043531012_3c2e8aef0d_z.jpg20190611_132428 by RS, on Flickr

 

Remember Kidco LockUps?

 

48043511091_d40b03f34d_k.jpg20190611_132517 by RS, on Flickr

 

48043529811_bc2425ee92_z.jpg20190611_132532 by RS, on Flickr

 

HW Hi-Raker Corvette is looking much healthier now;

 

48043619662_dd42bf7e25_z.jpgIMG_20190611_144613_656 by RS, on Flickr

47987353293_ff3293a005_k.jpg20190602_183210 by RS, on Flickr

Link to comment
Share on other sites

^^^ Top job on that HW Corvette: I would never have guessed it was the same model. Very nice wheels and all!

I never had any of the Lock-Ups, either in Kidco guise or the Matchbox rebranding exercise (though had a couple of Key Cars).

They seem to turn up now and again in the market tat boxes, but they're always hideously battered. Yours looks pretty decent; good find!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have recently been suffering with 'can't be arseditis' and thus have not visited for a while. Nor have I foisted any of my recent-ish purchases upon you. Until now. So out with my old racetrack base from the Corgi Silverstone Gift Set and here are some of them. Corgi Ecurie Ecosse transporter was a wreck apparently so the guy restored it and for fun made the three Jaaaags into team cars. He also did the Commer race support vehicle. Nice guy too, does nice restorations especially of Spot-On stuff and doesn't charge a fortune for them.

 

IMG_0213.JPG

IMG_0214.JPG

IMG_0215.JPG

IMG_0216.JPG

IMG_0217.JPG

IMG_0218.JPG

IMG_0219.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Remember Kidco LockUps?

That Datsun looks mint. I had a Dodge Monaco fire car that I got from my Cousin. I never liked it because he had lost the key and burnt the chassis trying to unlock it,  a fire car with actual fire damage!

Some new 50p finds. I have some plans for the Dodge/Renault truck things. I had the Fox Mustang as a kid, that was held together with blue tack and tip ex. I have loads of those Mercurys I just can't resist them.

 IMG_20190511_135727.thumb.jpg.fb0508b15e67deebc8be9cbb60786659.jpg

I didn't realize the roof on the Stang was so tweaked. But strangely it still has the rear window, even though the side windows are shot. I do like it when the headlights are molded in with the glass.

IMG_20190511_135731.thumb.jpg.fff28cde458bd5505bcf3475d38580d8.jpg 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

Sorry, I should have done a search...

Nah, sure I manage to miss stuff all the time on here, and it's hardly like anyone's hanging on my every word (as I do blather on)

...just couldn't be arsed typing it all out again, so was lazy and quoted myself.

I really do like the Corgitronics stuff though; it was a brave effort to re-imagine what toy cars could be. In more favourable circumstances, it'd be interesting to think where they may have ended up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, sierraman said:

A bit like the Big MX Range Matchbox offered sometime in the mid 70’s. They had a power tool thing that turned a knob which operated a tipper ram or a winch etc. Again an abject failure but worth a bomb now. 

That's fascinating - I wasn't really aware of that range existing. The Mike Piggott article's a good read.

Must try to complete my collection of Matchbox catalogues - seems that 1972 and 1973 were the years that Big MX was featured, and those are ones that I'm missing.

Cheers for that!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/1/2019 at 3:20 PM, Datsuncog said:

The range's sole brand-new casting, the MG Maestro (launched in tandem with the real car, as Corgi often did in the 1950s and 60s) came with working head and tail lights, in a nod to their 1960s heyday.

I have this, didn't know it was part of the Corgitronics range, just a one-off; as the base doesn't have the Corgitronics logo

WP-20190611-20-42-36-Rich.jpg

The bulbs have gone walkies, but it can be encouraged to light the way by popping a slim LED torch inside.  I might just replace the base with a slot car one (having wider wheels to fill the arches) and run 12v bulbs, especially as the proper Scalextric Maestro is worth more than I can bear.  Saying that, I paid way too much for it on an eBay shilling bidding war, as you do.

WP-20190611-20-44-16-Rich.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’ve only got one example from the MX range and that’s the coal truck but minus the hopper type thing it came with and the coal. I remember swapping it with another kid on our street who also had building bit from the Tractor factory. Wish I’d swapped him that as well now ?

For me the oddities like this from Corgi, Matchbox provide the most curiosity such as the ill fated Seakings or Corgi Cubs. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, sierraman said:

Matchbox provide the most curiosity such as the ill fated Seakings

I pondered helicopters for the moment, remembering the Dinky Sea King, wondered what you meant so fired up the Google and found this:

5589644e-6f79-489c-8eeb-a9ca00a0cac3.jpg

This took me right back!

I'm sure I had one of those ships as a lad

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

I’ve only got one example from the MX range and that’s the coal truck but minus the hopper type thing it came with and the coal. I remember swapping it with another kid on our street who also had building bit from the Tractor factory. Wish I’d swapped him that as well now ?

For me the oddities like this from Corgi, Matchbox provide the most curiosity such as the ill fated Seakings or Corgi Cubs. 

My literal first ever toy car was when I was 2 or 3 and it was a Corgi Cub Police car. Absolutely dreadful thing but quite robust as I still have it and its in fairly good condition. I stumbled across a picture of a 2 or 3 year old me recently, scribbling on some paper at a table and the car is also in the picture.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

I have this, didn't know it was part of the Corgitronics range, just a one-off; as the base doesn't have the Corgitronics logo

Oh, now that's interesting -  I honestly can't remember whether mine said Corgitronics on the base or not, but right enough, it seems the box didn't have the Corgitronics logo either:

1697619817_CorgiC1009MGMaestro.thumb.jpg.8178bb953fb9a2a403b20c314e61c2cf.jpg

The Maestro was shown amongst the Corgitronics range in the 1983 catalogue, and had a five-character code (C1009) which fits in with the other models in that range:

20190425_224203.thumb.jpg.f26521dfeaf4654455fd4b5dcaa9e13e.jpg

But by 1984, the overall Corgitronics range had been axed from the catalogue and the Maestro was shown along with the 'regular' cars - though still with the same Corgitronics Code. Maybe they knew the range wasn't selling that well and the plug was due to be pulled for most of them?

20190425_195217.thumb.jpg.4bf56ffb99a1d85919261414f3c00ce7.jpg

Also interesting that yours has quite a blue tint to the headlights; as I recall, mine were more of the clear type. 

I've never seen one in the AA livery shown in the 1984 catalogue either - possibly another casualty of that year.

 

Yeah, Scalextric Maestros seem to fetch big money these days!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

My literal first ever toy car was when I was 2 or 3 and it was a Corgi Cub Police car. Absolutely dreadful thing but quite robust as I still have it and its in fairly good condition. I stumbled across a picture of a 2 or 3 year old me recently, scribbling on some paper at a table and the car is also in the picture.

This one?

20180610_211149.thumb.jpg.15563531c8d9119d993e2f65294f503d.jpg

20180610_211153.thumb.jpg.1aca20ddc12894601624c7ceaa7182b7.jpg

20180610_211200.thumb.jpg.427920e37d26253a45db6722f43a7176.jpg

I've a bit of a soft spot for these too - especially the Fire Chief car, which as a kid reminded me a little of a Viva HC estate. There's a touch of Vauxhall Firenza to the rear lines on the police car too, I fancy,

2008272804_CorgiCubsC505FireChiefCar.jpg.04e564cb49f7703a0b3083e0c3220668.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

48 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

My literal first ever toy car was when I was 2 or 3 and it was a Corgi Cub Police car. Absolutely dreadful thing but quite robust as I still have it and its in fairly good condition. I stumbled across a picture of a 2 or 3 year old me recently, scribbling on some paper at a table and the car is also in the picture.

I think we’ve lived a parallel life, mine was a Corgi Cubs milk van in blue. They were a basic pre school range of cars, simple 2 piece castings. My youngest is two and she plays with Hot Wheels, she’d probably turn her nose up at a Corgi Cub if they were still available. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

42 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

This one?

20180610_211149.thumb.jpg.15563531c8d9119d993e2f65294f503d.jpg

20180610_211153.thumb.jpg.1aca20ddc12894601624c7ceaa7182b7.jpg

20180610_211200.thumb.jpg.427920e37d26253a45db6722f43a7176.jpg

I've a bit of a soft spot for these too - especially the Fire Chief car, which as a kid reminded me a little of a Viva HC estate. There's a touch of Vauxhall Firenza to the rear lines on the police car too, I fancy,

2008272804_CorgiCubsC505FireChiefCar.jpg.04e564cb49f7703a0b3083e0c3220668.jpg

That's the one. My mum told me it was a Capri, probably because that's what our neighbours had. I think it looks a bit like a combination of that and a MK3 Cortina 2 door.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Also interesting that yours has quite a blue tint to the headlights; as I recall, mine were more of the clear type. 

Blue LED torch perhaps?

Yes trick of the light, it's a LED torch that seems to have been picked up as blue by the camera

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...