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Shite in Miniature II


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On ‎12‎/‎1‎/‎2019 at 3:27 PM, bunglebus said:

Dig out your baggy jeans, we're going back to 1991

Fantastic!

On ‎12‎/‎1‎/‎2019 at 4:30 PM, Split_Pin said:

Interesting that the Ergomatic cab was having one last outing as late as 1991 by serving as the front cowl of the 'Snorkel' turntable. Judging by the fact that the headlights are part of the bumper, I'd say it was part of the same casting that dated back to the 1960s?

Because I'm rather tragic, I actually trawled through some old catalogues last night to see just what was the oldest casting in the 1991 Matchbox catalogue...

The MB13 Snorkel Fire Engine does indeed appear to be a direct reworking of the old MB35 Merryweather Fire Engine, first seen in 1970.

335401727_MB35MerryweatherMB15Snorkel.thumb.jpg.9b7d4478539ebab1cd6126f8925c3e85.jpg

1253708074_MatchboxMB35cMerryweatherFireEngine.jpg.3c52db2f961115a708560092e10afb39.jpg

The Merryweather made it through to 1974, but then, shamefully, this detailed scale replica was retired from active service - in favour of the rather lurid MB22 Blaze Buster, which looked like nothing I'd ever seen.

Matchbox_MB22_Blaze_Buster.thumb.jpg.2723674f34498d52ad9396caeb7a7f63.jpg

Meanwhile, the GMC-based MB13 Snorkel Fire Engine from 1977 featured an extendable plastic boom, complete with firefighter...

Matchbox_MB13_Snorkel_Fire_Engine_1977.thumb.jpg.3e08551ea532ceef38d887812fe5984d.jpg

...and unusually both the Blaze Buster and Snorkel were effectively replaced in 1983 by this reworking of the older Merryweather casting, whereby much of the roof had been cut away and the back end modified to accept the GMC's movable turntable.

Matchbox_MB13_Snorkel_Fire_Engine_1983.thumb.jpg.00b4228f63a386587289f9bb28fa0757.jpg

I'm not sure whether this retrograde step was something Lesney already had planned, or merely an opportunity taken by new owners Universal Toys to rationalise the Matchbox range while saving money.

An all-new fire engine - the MB 18 Fire Engine, seemingly based on an Oshkosh design - did show up the following year in 1984, but still the old Snorkel didn't go away.

Matchbox_MB18_Fire_Engine_1984.jpg.a6066edf2af1404397249f0c86d3b1a9.jpg

Even though the MB 18 was clearly more of a US-style rescue appliance, the very British Snorkel continued to be sold in the US - possibly because its flanks leant themselves to tampo-printing much better than the Oshkosh.

Matchbox_MB63_Snorkel_Fire_Engine_Los_Angeles.thumb.jpg.11f24b180ea9fca447a8da05c941d0db.jpg

Matchbox_MB63_Snorkel_Fire_Engine_Ridge_New_York.jpg.d2b6521309f3fe70ed824c4ab263ec4e.jpg

But they didn't just make them until 1991 - seems they were still appearing on and off in the UK range until at least 2002, now marked as the MB14 Flame Chaser.

1087611620_MatchboxMB14_snorkel_yellow_uk.jpg.1311b2f5ec04a316b4a4d59260388bf3.jpg

Even after the model disappeared from the mainline range, it appears the casting continued to put in playset appearances until even more recently.

mb_snorkel_city_play_set.jpg.416030e8f8954536387d0a4c2514fa43.jpg

What a trouper. Many many variants are listed here, should you wish to lose an hour of your life...

http://www.diecastfire.co.uk/New/mb63_snorkel_fire_engine.htm

 

I never had the original Merryweather version of the fire engine, but I bought the Snorkel in a 20-car gift pack from Woolworths probably about 1990.

It annoyed me slightly as I'd never seen a fire engine with the main cab open; in fact, it seemed a bit stupid. And I'd been to our local fire station with the Cubs, so obviously I knew all about firefighting technology.

I think I'd quite like to find an early Merryweather version now.
 

Apparently some very rare pre-production versions with non-superfast wheels exist, as shown on the first run of boxes, but the vast majority were fitted with five-spoke Superfast wheels.

MB35_Merryweather_Regular_Wheels_Box_Illustration.thumb.jpg.7d14abe73663a5d6fbce71c648d42a78.jpg

I also find it interesting that Lesney went to the trouble of basing this casting on an AEC, even though they had several Leyland versions of the shared Ergomatic cab already in the range.

Matchbox_MB35_Leyland_8-Wheel_Tanker.thumb.jpg.f5338f1e5b6dd4c6a3fd9f743cae50c1.jpg

So there we go. Introduced 1970, still showing in the catalogue in 1991, and kept going to 2002... but is it the oldest?

 

23 hours ago, 155V6 said:

The Dodge cattle truck in the twin pack must have been about 20 years old by then too.

Ah, I think we have a winner...

The Dodge Cattle Truck made its debut all the way back in 1966, although rather confusingly it wasn't quite the same model.

Matchbox_MB37_Dodge_Cattle_Truck_Regular_Wheels.thumb.jpg.510bcab02e346fab3fc9d24ea3daa9d6.jpg

The Dodge K-series chassis proved a versatile one, however, soon appearing with an extra axle as the MB4 Dodge Stake Truck, in 1967...

Matchbox_MB4_Dodge_Stake_Truck.jpg.e913cab9d7d72ec599bf1ec11d938faa.jpg

...and as the MB63 Crane Truck in 1968.

Matchbox_MB63_Dodge_Crane_Truck.jpg.b0ec4a5f7036391664dd3a53eebbd5ae.jpg

The Stake Truck bowed out in 1971, with the Cattle Truck and Crane Truck getting the chop in 1972.

 

But stay!

In 1976, the Dodge Stake Truck returned - but was now retooled with only a single rear axle, and slightly confusingly renamed as the MB71 Cattle Truck, along with the same plastic livestock as before

Matchbox_MB71_Dodge_Cattle_Truck_Superfast.thumb.jpg.cba5899551154d1b95ab16c9a148fb38.jpg

Rather incredibly, this stayed on as a mainline model until 1981, and then lived on for a further twelve years in two-packs and in gift sets.

64793679_MatchboxMC-7FarmSet1991.thumb.jpg.17410cc10fdc1e9654f5e374723606d4.jpg

In fact, the whole 1991 Farm Set contains some ancient castings - the MB17 Pony Trailer casting dates from 1968, while the MB40 Hay Trailer matches the Dodge as a 1967 release.

But even after the Dodge appeared to be finally pensioned off in 1993, it unexpectedly returned, still basically unchanged from 1976, as a mainline model for 1999.

Matchbox_MB88_Dodge_Cattle_Truck_1999.thumb.jpg.4f4da24f7593759d0a0c042cbc62b2dc.jpg

Before putting in yet another encore as a US special edition - in 2002.

Matchbox_MB71_Dodge_Cattle_Truck_2000s.jpg.107a09f33980ae1f8e5ba1e6c77574db.jpg

35 years (on and off) in the Matchbox lineup is pretty impressive for any casting.

Possibly its ongoing popularity was due to it looking more 'American' (its real-life counterpart was actually styled by Ghia), and the more familiar Dodge name finding ready acceptance in the US market? The vehicle it was based on, the Dodge K-series, was sold in the US too - although marketed under the Fargo and De Soto badges.

It's a bit surprising though, as the Dodge was never as common a truck on UK roads as the Bedford TK, Leyland Ergomatic or Ford D-series - all of which Lesney also modelled, but none of which lasted very long

Have we seen the last of it?

Never say never...

 

The other mainline castings still hanging on past their tenth birthday in 1991 were:

  • MB03 Porsche 911 Turbo, unchanged bar colourways since its casting debut in 1978 - though, as an earlier restoration showed, the tooling was utterly knackered by the time the last models were churned out in 1993.
  • MB09 Caterpillar D9 Bulldozer, introduced 1979 and kept ploughing right through to 1999
  • MB21, Chevrolet Breakdown Van, based on a cut-down version of the 1979 Chevy Van -  and would run through to 2001 in this format, though the 4x4 panel van version would keep going until 2007
  • MB25 Ambulance, introduced for 1977, this Chevrolet truck based unit would appear sporadically until 1999
  • MB29 Tractor Shovel, surely also worthy of a longevity award, having first appeared in 1976 and remained in the range until 2014 - 38 years!!
  • MB34 Dodge Challenger, now a hopped-up version of the road car which first showed up in 1976, and which would hang around in the US market until 1998
  • MB36 Refuse Truck, calmly plying its necessary trade since 1979 and would appear as a mainline until 2006
  • MB43 '57 Chevy, introduced in 1979 and still with a wonky front end with a tendency to come loose - impressively this stayed a mainline until 1995, after which it spent three more years as special edition casting
  • MB56 4x4 Jeep, with its body casting derived from the Hot Rod Jeep of 1970, this came tantalisingly close to its 30th birthday, only being deleted in 1999.

And there's also some other relics lurking in the two-packs, plus US-market-only oddities in the gift-packs, but that's maybe quite enough for one afternoon...

Phew!

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I do like the Leyland Ergomatic cab, it was a cool design & represented pretty advanced Truck cab ergonomic thinking  back in the 1960's.

It did however have one big problem. To make it spacious & comfortable for the driver they off-set the engine hump inside.. great for right hand drive not so good in LHD export markets though whereby the driver ended up cramped thus costing sales..

Not Leyland's smartest move !

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33 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

The Merryweather made it through to 1974, but then, shamefully, this detailed scale replica was retired from active service - in favour of the rather lurid MB22 Blaze Buster, which looked like nothing I'd ever seen.

Thanks for the post. I have to agree about the Blazer Buster, I never liked it - it didn't seem to make any sense to me as a child!

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Charidee shops have provided some minishite today;

 

Funny enough 1st up is a Matchbox fire engine - the Fire Pumper

 

49158660187_995bb6beac_4k.jpg20191202_150911 by RS, on Flickr

 

Mercedes trailer, not sure what it's from

 

49157964038_715f1b77a2_4k.jpg20191202_150934 by RS, on Flickr

 

Rod Roller (again) with working tiller steering

 

49157941673_1aa8d2b632_4k.jpg20191202_150830 by RS, on Flickr

 

HW Thing that hasn't lost its roof

 

49158426626_003a2aeadd_4k.jpg20191202_150805 by RS, on Flickr

 

Maisto copy/re-used casting of the Matchbox version. This is a "VW Champer" apparently

 

49157917103_ffb01abd04_4k.jpg20191202_150639 by RS, on Flickr

49157917843_9bb9639b84_4k.jpg20191202_150703 by RS, on Flickr

 

Kidco Lock-Up Nissan Z, sans tyres

 

49158341411_7553684318_4k.jpg20191202_150507 by RS, on Flickr

 

Had to chuck in a couple to make it up to the 5 for a quid so

 

49157834898_dba496b707_4k.jpg20191202_150354 by RS, on Flickr

49157833478_7b67f7f5e5_4k.jpg20191202_150426 by RS, on Flickr

 

I mean look at the state of that Trams-Am! The 57 Chevy I can make nice but that one's going in the sin bin

 

Riddler Mercury needs a screen re-alignment

 

49158532757_f7a50ea4ec_4k.jpg20191202_150245 by RS, on Flickr

 

This one I got with you lot in mind - 1:43 Bburago Xantia anyone?

 

49157804173_5b1834783e_4k.jpg20191202_150154 by RS, on Flickr

49157812738_7f1ebe4117_4k.jpg20191202_150201 by RS, on Flickr

49158515812_428695e647_4k.jpg20191202_150207 by RS, on Flickr

49158307016_2345f82b51_4k.jpg20191202_150223 by RS, on Flickr

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I had a couple of parcels come from eBay today.The 1st looked like a load of old junk in the picture when I 1st saw it20191202_173743.thumb.jpg.ebff6b4252ff11881b088631887c8dfd.jpg

But what's that at the back?

It's  Hotwheels Redline Heavyweights dumper truck,& it's all there ?

20191202_173817.thumb.jpg.6e292f70686927d25ca88c0cdebfefe7.jpg

20191202_173829.thumb.jpg.83d17f1ef6cce71c6b9f93651a4e14d5.jpg

Really happy with that one ?

 

The next lot was badly listed,but the pictures showed a couple of interesting things20191202_174103.thumb.jpg.2a40e7ebbb626c784baaf235c6339488.jpg

The Cavalier is mint & hasn't been opened,the rest are all very good too.

Total cost for both lots including postage was £10,still some bargains out there!

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Yes, endless trawling of the job lots on ebay is one of the keys to bargain hunting. It's a reasonable pastime if you have a bit of time on your hands.

I look at it this way, it stops me buying another full size pile of 90s shite that will cost me a hell of a lot more!

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I feel like I've been neglecting the other makes with my catalogue scans, so dust off your Acorn Electron, it's 1985

 

49159674897_4b36dba78b_3k.jpgCorgi 1985 01 by RS, on Flickr

49158956758_9350739d6e_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 02 by RS, on Flickr

49159441841_4905f196a8_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 03 by RS, on Flickr

49159671917_bee250a14e_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 04 by RS, on Flickr

49159670857_a6b639301a_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 05 by RS, on Flickr

49158952413_017796d80b_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 06 by RS, on Flickr

49159437241_397cfe4f06_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 07 by RS, on Flickr

49158949508_bb0150197b_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 08 by RS, on Flickr

49159434961_59e4258c3c_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 09 by RS, on Flickr

49158947493_baf13bad05_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 10 by RS, on Flickr

49159432791_8f4f4da9de_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 11 by RS, on Flickr

49159662997_aa77fe7ac8_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 12 by RS, on Flickr

49159430196_655dc2f6d4_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 13 by RS, on Flickr

49159429236_c2833bce11_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 14 by RS, on Flickr

49159659847_fe9c0b9526_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 15 by RS, on Flickr

49159426771_83e4ca04c1_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 16 by RS, on Flickr

49159657397_46d9f7a1e7_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 17 by RS, on Flickr

49159656617_3255a56c8a_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 18 by RS, on Flickr

49159655577_e579a7d066_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 19 by RS, on Flickr

49158936568_f2135625c7_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 20 by RS, on Flickr

49158935343_dae3301932_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 21 by RS, on Flickr

49159420546_428656748b_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 22 by RS, on Flickr

49158933078_e6055efd9d_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 23 by RS, on Flickr

49159417806_f44b233202_5k.jpgCorgi 1985 24 by RS, on Flickr

49158931168_eae3ee5613_3k.jpgCorgi 1985 25 by RS, on Flickr

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Very interesting year for Corgi, that one - first year under new management, with new packaging, new models (some of which never made production, like the flip-roof Merc SEL) and new budget lines like the 1/43 Turbos range... just a pity they never made a full-size BMW 635, Saab 9000 or Opel Manta.

Cheers for all your scannage, most appreciated!

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On 12/1/2019 at 11:31 PM, morrisoxide said:

 

I thought it came in the cardboard box? Anyway for 33 Quid I walked.

IMG_20191201_141929 smoll.jpg

There's some good videos on youtube warning you about this sort of thing. The guys shows what the scammers do, they open a blister pack using solvent and then do something 'unique' to the car, wrong wheels, no paints like above, etc and then reseal it with the hope of charging a big premium for it. 

Here's an example video:

 

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Have to say, I don't quite get the whole 'errors' thing... having worked in retail for many years, it was pretty common to find at least one or two Hot Wheels in a case that were packed upside down, missing an entire axle, or tampo printed completely squint.

I always just thought it was shit quality control, and it annoyed me...

I mean, as a collector of various types of useless tat I can kinda see the appeal of owning something super-rare, but this sorta thing leaves me cold - especially when these can be easily faked, as shown in the video. A rare colour, or unusual wheels, then fair enough I suppose - but no glazing? Missing parts? So what?

But then I know people who will pay insane prices for 'mispress' vinyl records, e.g. LPs that have the labels stuck to the wrong sides, or typos on the sleeve etc.

Nowt as strange as folk.

Maybe I should have squirrelled the missing-axle Hot Wheels away, rather than tossing them in the discount bin...

 

Now I look at that 'paintless' Cortina upthread again, the body does look kinda mottled and matt - the way a shell does once it comes out of caustic solution.

I can well see how a vehicle that hasn't had an axle attached might, for some reason, make it all the way through the manufacturing process and wind up being packed without the defect being noticed, but fully assembled and packed with no paint whatsoever? Ah, c'mon...

 

That said, opening blister packs using solvent is a brilliant idea and I will be stealing that - but only so I can keep the packaging illustrations intact and use the card backings to line one of my display cases.

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I’m a complete nerd for buying every sodding variety of matchbox but I wouldn’t pay a premium for one. Typical was a lot of the early 70’s cars you see with Gulf and Castro’s stickers on, loads of these stickers were either in gift sets or escaped when they folded U.K. operations back in the 80’s. 

That said I spent a whole 50p yesterday on a BMW 323i Cabrio as it was made in Thailand as opposed to the one I already have that’s a macau issue. I know I’m tragic...

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Got some mini shite boxes for odd diecast for about 30p a pop from wish.com. not great quality, but keeps the dust off!

Edit, cheaper on eBay, gotta watch wish: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25x-1-64-Clear-PVC-Protector-Display-Box-Show-Case-For-Diecast-Model-Toy-Car/163740499894

IMG_20191203_112333.thumb.jpg.911a422162cd230838c1f6a0eb0682d8.jpg

1232760680_IMG_20191203_1123432.thumb.jpg.6b05dd1faf0a8cf15ccbbfd4eae921b5.jpg

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1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

Have to say, I don't quite get the whole 'errors' thing... having worked in retail for many years, it was pretty common to find at least one or two Hot Wheels in a case that were packed upside down, missing an entire axle, or tampo printed completely squint.

That said, opening blister packs using solvent is a brilliant idea and I will be stealing that - but only so I can keep the packaging illustrations intact and use the card backings to line one of my display cases.

 

I like errors - just makes it unique. This one clearly fell out of the tampo applying thing as it has damage and no graphics. I've got quite a few error cars

 

34944283414_77b0513b71_b.jpgP3040002_zpse1if4xmv by RS, on Flickr

 

I also use the cards to brighten up my display cases, I've found thinner sold in little bottles at Wilko applied to the back of the card works well, a few applications and 10-15 minutes sees the blister fall off. PVA glue is good for putting them back together

 

48013199807_9abb4238a2_4k.jpg20190606_141702 by RS, on Flickr

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29 minutes ago, cms206 said:

Took me a few days to dig it out, but here it is; I thought it was greeny blue but it's not.

Also found variations on my Corgi Novas I hadn't noticed while I was digging through the box... anyway, Escort.

20191203_113728.jpg

20191203_113737.jpg

20191203_113803.jpg

Thanks for the pics, I appreciate it. The plastic around that front rivet looks like it's perhaps been molten?

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On ‎12‎/‎1‎/‎2019 at 11:53 AM, Split_Pin said:

@Datsuncog I can't believe how your timeline of your approach to model cars was exactly like mine and during the same period.

I think I've mentioned before but I had a best friend from about 1987 to 92 whom was an only child and went to a private school. He had lovely model cars, new ones almost every week too. That was when I first saw a 1/18 Bburago and 1/43 models by early producers of detailed cars in display cases such as Bang, Brum, Best, Eligor, Box and of course Vitesse. I only had a pile of Corgis and Superkings. However there was mutual respect there because his dad had all but one of his cars 'stolen' as a child (I think 'cruelly given away' is more probable) and I had all my Dads and 2 Uncle's Dinky and Corgi cars, some boxed. 

I recall my first ever proper 'model' car was a 1953 2cv in grey. It even had the little speedometer to the left of the steering wheel! 

Anyway, after we drifted apart, when Vanguards, Minichaps and and Trofeu came along, the cars he once had seemed crude in comparison. I am of course nostalgic about all of these cars now and the models I had too!

Heh, I reckon there was certainly a pathway for us chaps of a certain age... probably a blend of cultural influences, retail availability and natural inclination!

Funnily enough, my dad also lost all but one of his substantial childhood car collection when his older brother took it upon himself to sell them all to a second-hand dealer in Smithfield Market, because he was "too old for that sort of thing now".

Naturally, The Brother trousered all the proceeds, and probably used it to fund one of his Friday night revels which, in those less risk-averse times, generally seemed to involve beer and petrol in roughly equal quantities - as apparently he'd typically charge over the Craigantlet Hills to Bangor in his Jaaaag S-Type, get nicely-oiled up in one of the many seafront bars, and somehow manage to pilot his way home again. Hey, it was a perfectly normal social convention at the time, and it sure kept the undertakers and gravediggers busy...

1397489608_JaguarS-Type-ClandeboyeDrive.thumb.jpg.e87bf31a391c3b3bd6fa8a88157388e3.jpg

So this was the only diecast survivor, found many years later under a sideboard in my grandmother's house when it was moved - a well-used police version of the Corgi Ford Zephyr Farnham estate:

20180624_114423.thumb.jpg.0e8a9d6c8863e6e6e1cf10bc53bfdc17.jpg

Weirdly, I didn't know anyone else who was into diecast cars. No-one at all.

I mean, most of my friends had a few Matchbox cars in their toy basket, or Tonka trucks, or a Scalextric set, or (like James-Up-The-Road) the Playskool Bigfoot 4x4x4, but they pretty much grew out of them by the time they were about six or seven and then it was all He-Man and Thundercats figures, or WWF Wrestlers, or plastic guns, or just interminable football. Things I just wasn't really into.

I think I was considered very strange indeed for continuing to be attracted to miniature vehicles past that age (well, not just for that reason, though it was certainly part of it). It was seen as almost infantile amongst my peer group. Like continuing to play with a Fisher-Price pull-along telephone, or something.

However, it did at least mean that I could sometimes blag unwanted models off the ones from primary school, like Andrew Ruston who sold me a small 1950s Lesney coach and a Superfast Citroen CX for 50p, or Richard Henning who swapped me a Superfast Mercury Cougar Villager with a scratched bonnet and a missing tailgate for some rubbery Monsters In My Pocket figurines that came free in a cereal box.

I became quite obsessed with Spot-On models when I was about twelve, as I found a book in the local library all about them (Graham Thompson's definitive guide from 1983, now worth £££ in itself).

Realising the toy factory had been only up the road from me (Castlereagh Rd in Belfast), and then uncovering about a dozen mint and boxed examples in a physics cupboard in school (bought back when the school had opened in 1963, used in experiments to show how speed = distance/time) meant that I developed a minor mania for them, expounding at great length to anyone who would listen about the company history and model range up to the point that the factory burned down in 1967... well, rather like I do now on here, really.

Still, to this day, "so when did the factory burn down?" remains a phrase among some of my longer-standing friends as code for "you really need to calm your tits on this".

There were maybe one or two people I knew who had an interest in cars and owned a few models, but they tended to be into Ferraris and Lamborghinis and had 1/18 Bburago and Polistil models of the same - and certainly no-one who could share my joy at finding a Corgi Whizzwheels Marina Coupe at a swapmeet.

 

But I guess the acquisition of my first 'proper' model went like this...

I think it must have been just after Christmas 1987. My model shop of choice had a display case outside, and in it was a black 1/24 scale VW Beetle convertible by Polistil, with a removable cream plastic hood:

81117329_PolistilS15VWBeetleCabrio.jpg.59ea43cbef8227cedbdb536262b337eb.jpg

I'd spotted the Beetle slightly too late to add it to my 'letter to Santa'. But I'd fallen for it in a big way, and wouldn't stop going on about it. So my dad took me down to the shop along with some money I'd received for Christmas. I think it was £6.99.

The display Beetle was still in the case outside when we arrived, and so I went to see if I could find a boxed one on the shelf.

But instead, my eye was caught by the 1/18 majesty of a Bburago Mercedes 300 SL, in black.

bburago-1954-mercedes-benz-300sl.jpg.3266e0e171ef8708d83d7eb102a9fc11.jpg

I couldn't take my eyes off it, it was so sleek. The fine wheels. The interior (with dials!). But it was also £11.99.

Basically, I blew all my Christmas money on the Merc (which had been partially earmarked for savings), and when we got home I was lambasted by my mother for spending so much on a toy car and my father, as the responsible adult, also received a tongue-lashing for allowing me to do so.

Oh well. Worth it. I loved the Mercedes, and it was the first of many 1/18 Bburago, Polistil, Solido, Maisto and ERTL models I acquired. And although the box got chucked, I did keep it in pretty good nick, too - I didn't play with it roughly, though annoyingly it did develop minor paint chips where the top of the door touched the 'T' on the roof whenever it was opened.

I never did get the Beetle, which afterwards just looked a bit crude and ham-fisted compared to the Bburago. Meh. I was moving on up in my tastes.

Looking back, I find it hard to believe I was quite so young when I got this - but it definitely sticks in my mind as my first 'proper' model, and so much bigger and more detailed than anything I had before (excepting the plastic models that Uncle Brian gave me, but they were way too fragile to play with properly).

 

I know I acquired a few more Bburago models in subsequent years which are linked to certain points in my life (a 1/18 1956 Chevrolet Corvette I bought with some writing prize money in early 1989; a 1/24 Jaguar XK120 I brought into school in P5 for a Show-and-Tell and which, to my horror and distress, was deliberately smashed up by some bullies who snatched it off me in the cloakrooms afterwards; and a 1/24 Ford Mustang in CHiPs livery bought on holiday in Majorca in 1988)

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...as well as various 1/18 scale 1980s supercars procured for me by well-meaning relatives (Porsche 911 Turbo, Ferrari F40, Lamborghini Countach LP500S, Porsche 959 - all by Tonka Polistil).

So I think I'm correct as positioning the acquisition of the Mercedes Gullwing as very late 1987, as it couldn't feasibly have been any later than that

 

And my first proper 'collector' 1/43 model was a Corgi Classics Ford Zephyr Mk2, in dark blue from a model shop in York in 1989. I was very pleased with this one, and soon started to gravitate towards the smaller scale models made by Corgi and also the first of the Matchbox Dinky range in 1991. Not only were they a bit cheaper, but I preferred the feel of them in my hand, somehow, and my shelves started to be filled with Morris Minors, Mk2 Jaguars and Bedford CA vans...

A few Solido 'Age d'Or' US models were also in the mix - a Fire Department Chevrolet truck bought by my grandparents, and a 1940s Chrysler Windsor taxi I bought myself (though it wasn't the car I'd pointed to in the case, but I was too shy to tell the proprietor he'd retrieved the wrong model):

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And then came the elegant Vitesse models... as well as the aforementioned, there was also a Citroen DS19 in lemon yellow, and a Land Rover SII...

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And I was something of a vulture for discounted models: about once a year the model shop would set up a 'sale table' of dead stock or damaged items, and I'd usually be there to pick stuff up for half price - even if, to be honest, the subject matter didn't really grab me that much. But that's how I came to own some Brumm models:

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And broken Solidos (I think this Pug 605 with a broken box, missing tail lights and a splayed shell cost me £3)

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Then there was the random stuff I scooped up while on holiday...

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^^^ From a newsagent in Mulhouse

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^^^^ I picked up quite a few of these ERTLs over the years, generally from Welcome Break services on the M6.

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^^^ This Pontiac GTO inadvertently travelled about 160 miles on the roof of my dad's Ford Sierra, having been set down briefly while I was trying to sort out a tangle of headphone cables and seatbelt at the services, and then forgotten about. I was most surprised to find it still there, pushed up against the roof bars, when we arrived at the campsite.

 

And then there were the pleasingly affordable Lledo Vanguards 'Fifties and Sixties' collection, which offered pretty good value at a fiver a pop from a local market, even if they weren't the same scale as my Corgi Classics.

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And that's not even mentioning all the hopelessly knackered shit I'd bring back from jumble sales and car boots, and then carefully arrange on my bedroom shelves like I was some sort of demented museum curator crossed with a Womble...

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"Oh, I'll restore them all some day..."

 

And where are they all now?

Well, you lot have got them! 

 

So yeah - I think my general compulsiveness to acquire diecast tat has deep, deep roots...

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I am not, by my nature, a thief, but if I had discovered a cache of mint Spot On models as a kid I would absolutely have made every effort possible to nick them from my school. I was also similarly obsessed by this firm when I was young, but not from the book (which I've never seen) but from a copy of the 1989 Mint & Boxed catalogue (which I probably still have, somewhere). In this are hundreds of amazing Spot On models and I was fascinated because, whilst I made a point of combing every car boot sale and school fete for 1960s and '70s diecast toys, I had never, ever come across a single example of Spot On. I loved the variety of subjects and the fine details, if not the weird paint schemes.

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The Brighton Toy and Model Museum had (and still has) an enviable collection of Spot Ons, which just added to my desire. All this was execerbated by the ridiculous pre-crash 1989 prices for these Mint & Boxed models, and the idea that I'd never be able to afford even a single one. There was also a whiff of intrigue about the whole thing as, by the time this catalogue found its way to me, the company had disappeared in a morass of bad debts and accusations of serious fraud - news story here, in case you weren't aware https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/toy-fanatic-jailed-for-pounds-12m-fraud-businessman-who-won-queens-award-for-industry-created-1512446.html

Anyway, eventually I found a Fiat Multipla for 5p at a school fete - totally devoid of paint, one smashed window and generally down at heel. I was absolutely thrilled with my find, which I lovingly 'restored' as I did most of my car-boot finds with some Humbrol and a manky old brush. In an odd bit of foreshadowing, knowing the toys rarity, I was careful to preserve the tiny fragment of original paint that was left on the front panel of the car in an attempt to preserve a little history and patina. I've still never seen another Spot On for sale outside eBay.

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@DatsuncogMate, I get it. Other than my best and oldest friend, no-one was really into cars, real or miniature. No-one in my family is into cars at all, and I was an only child. So there was just me and the Matchbox I l loved so much, with a few Hot Wheels from the now defunct Arnold's in Brentwood High Street, and a memorable ERTL General Lee that ended up with a broken wheel when I attempted to recreate one of Bo and Luke's jumps off a desk at junior school.

I also bought a few Bburago models as they were so nicely detailed - Mercedes SL gullwing and 80's Ferrari GTO spring to mind. However much as they're nice, there's something about the level of detail vs play value of the 1:64 and 1:32ish stuff that just makes it perfect in my eyes.

Also some little fucker at school binned my Dinky safari Beetle, and although I retrieved it, the decklid was lost forever. I also had my Dinky fire service Transit go walkies, as well as my green Sand Digger. I suspect there may be a few under the floor in my old bedroom as there was a gap where the sloping ceiling above the stairs cut off a corner of my room - when she pops her clogs I'm having the floor up!

Oh and I was also always rummaging at jumble sales for tatty die casts, although I wouldn't have been seen dead in a charity shop as a kid...

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Good news, bad news;

 

Thought you guys might appreciate some pictures from the toy museum at Stansted, so as the GF was up for it we took a drive up there on Thursday

 

49163008833_c7a926a22d_b.jpgScreenshot_20191203-140657_WhatsApp by RS, on Flickr

 

Bollocks. Still, I went a few years ago and the pics are here https://flic.kr/s/aHskYqqrP2

 

In better news, I posted a pic of the fake Sand Digger on a FB group, and someone's only got the one I've been looking for

 

49162930193_5d6bdc8f3f_c.jpgFB_IMG_1575380771290 by RS, on Flickr

49163409526_26b51d1682_c.jpgFB_IMG_1575380778890 by RS, on Flickr

 

Mine was black, but it's 100% the same car, even has a manufacturer's name - Impulse Toys Ltd. I would also say that the one I obtained off here recently was made by the same company going by the way the body is mounted, graphics etc. Now I just have to find one...

 

...eBay may be my friend - close but no cigar

 

 

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Luckily at our infant school we had a (now demolished) car track built from concrete into a banking, it had tunnels, bridges made from wood etc. Distinctly remember bringing into school a Jaguar Sovereign Superkings Police Car, a Corgi Lotus Elite and a BMW M1 to school. Don’t know at the time how it happened but the Jaguar wasn’t accounted for at the end of the day. Wankers. 

Most of my peers were into cars, remember playing with some Skybuster type aircraft in the lower playground and a really thick kid called Craig ended up with an F14 Tomcat or similar landing nose down into his head causing bloodshed. 

I don’t know about a lot of people but didn’t you always get some kids that habitually trashed their toys? There was one on our street, always had really good stuff but wasn’t happy until he’d stamped on it or it resembled a car wreck. You constantly had to watch him as well as he was a tealeaf. 

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