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Shite in Miniature II


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Up for another edition of 'Why did they model that?' with my latest purchase?

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Politoys M-533, the OSI Fiat 1200S coupé. A little gem of a model with four opening flaps, jeweled front lamps, red plastic rear lamps, detailed engine, even a separate chromed fuel filler cap, tilting seats, even model-specific steel wheels and hubcaps. It's a stinker of a day here today, so these photos don't really show up the lovely metallic green/blue paint. Another winning casting from this incredible time for Italian diecast, with no effort at cost-cutting.

So, what is it? Well, Officine Stampaggi Industriali (OSI) was set up by ex-Ghia boss Luigi Segre in 1960, initially as a sort of prototyping/manufacturing base for other car makers. Rather than the traditional coachbuilding model of buying chassis and then restyling them in-house, I believe OSI was meant as a place where manufacturers could outsource the design and prototyping of experimental models, or models meant to be produced in very low volumes. The Fiat 1200S was styled, natch, by Michelotti and was actually produced in a small series in both open and closed versions. It was also offered in Austria and German as a licence-built Neckar-Fiat with some minor styling changes.

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A pretty little thing, and very acurately captured by the guys at Politoys. OSI's most successful enterprise was the Italianised Ford Anglia Torino, and they were also responsible for the lovely Ford Taunus 20M coupé - modelled in period by Marklin

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They also built the three Alfa Scarabeos, most famoulsy modelled by Dinky

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The Daf city car concept, which made it into a Corgi miniature

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And the wild 'Silver Fox' Bisiluro, which was modelled by Politoys, but only as a crude, toy-like model which isn't very appealing, although there was a lovely 1:66 Politoys Penny version

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So, one could concievably build up a nice little OSI collection, should one be inclined. The 1200S is by far the hardest one to find, but this was a comparative bargain on ebay. It arrived with only one tyre, but I stole three more from a Vitesse DKW Junior which are a nice fit. After a clean up it looks great and I'm well pleased. My Politoys fan club baseball cap is in the post.

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On 6/24/2020 at 1:22 PM, flat4alfa said:

Sciroccos.  My one went for a wander earlier (I am no film director!)

 

My one is also the one with the whistling siren that makes my wife hit the roof.   Video effort above was posted a while back

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There are two types.  One with the siren sound and 'grille' opening on rear of roof on one side, the other without the grille and is silent.  Both are unbranded but have 'No.782' on base

Your Facebook expert must be a millenial and not realise that Walmart or K-Mart (competitors - not same firm) had no presence in the UK back when this range was imported.  More likely Woolworths.

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8 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Yup, one day. I have in mind them stacked on an overgrown bit of ground at the back of a garage building. The latter would be a cutaway, so a lift or two and WIP/finished cars could be displayed.

I need to learn some weathering techniques first. I ended up watching this the other night:

Looked fantastic. I wouldn't do something that extensive at 1:24 (it'd be huge!) but it certainly gave me something to think about.

Yup, a 1/24 scrappie would be phenomenal, but would certainly need some space to do it right!

Brilliant video, that - and I only discovered last week that Everard Junction and Triplerich of this parish are one and the same person...

Mind blown.

Still, when you look at the Granada resto thread and then the 00 gauge scrapyard, you can see the same attention to detail throughout.

Well worth a look, if you haven't watched it!

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26 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Your Facebook expert must be a millenial and not realise that Walmart or K-Mart (competitors - not same firm) had no presence in the UK back when this range was imported.  More likely Woolworths.

More likely they're an American. Still be interesting to know who made it

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A chance visit to Tesco for some bin liners yielded a Mercedes W123, Porsche 914, Plymouth Savaloy and a Polizei spec Golf Mk1. At fucking last. 

I half considered buying all the W123s in the basket but I’m not a cunt so I left them for fellow miniature enthusiasts. I do intend picking one up to make a Tenerife Taxi from though soon. 

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3 hours ago, bunglebus said:

By sheer coincidence, another plastic VAG with a motor just arrived. Can anyone ID the maker of this clockwork Scirocco?

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Shame the grille is missing. 

Still motorised but now French - Majorette Motor Renault 5

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Were there a couple of these in the V70 when you and the Doc met me on my last day at work? Can't remember and can't see  clearly enough to tell. 

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47 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

I don't remember seeing one or I would have snaffled it at the time. 

Mine needs taking apart as the noises don't noise and the front wheels aren't attached properly

Yes, most likely it's still in the Volvo then.. On another note, if any of you come across a Matchbox Dodge Coronet would you mind grabbing me one please? 

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4 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Brilliant video, that - and I only discovered last week that Everard Junction and Triplerich of this parish are one and the same person...

Mind blown.

Still, when you look at the Granada resto thread and then the 00 gauge scrapyard, you can see the same attention to detail throughout.

Well worth a look, if you haven't watched it!

Oh yes, I'd read that on the Granada thread and still didn't twig!!!!!

I think Triplerich may also be Gideon Coe off 6 Music......

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On 2/22/2021 at 8:47 PM, Amishtat said:

Yes, most likely it's still in the Volvo then.. On another note, if any of you come across a Matchbox Dodge Coronet would you mind grabbing me one please? 

Want me to have a look in my Tesco too?  Golf and Coronet shouldn't be an issue, they certainly weren't last week!

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More arrivals from ebay...

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The Thunderbird and Hornet do have their plastic cases but I pulled them out before I remembered to take this pic.  I've bought these two to repaint.

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They unscrew easily enough.  However I need to remove the figures, especially as the Thunderbird is going to be the Thelma & Louise car and thus really needs two women in it rather than two men.  That is proving to be less simple than it first appears, as they seem to be stuck to the seats, or worse, moulded there (I hope not!).  I'll let you know what happens...

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