Shite in Miniature II

[bunglebus]

24 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

That's nice; I had one just the same, and I was never quite sure if the bonnet was meant to come off completely or if there was something wrong with my example... a surprising design decision!

It is an odd idea as the front is easily lost - and probably had to be revised due to 'elf and safety

12 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Give us a shout when you are passing chap, I'm near Falkirk! Sadly there are no model shops up this way any more, they've either shut down or gone online. The monthly swapmeet is OK but Covid saw it off over a year ago.

Going to Perth, unfortunately I won't get a lot of free time other than sneaking off on my lunch to do a bit of Hot Wheels hunting!

[bunglebus]

3 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

What size is that Langheck 935 ?

Fairly big - about 208x91mm

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

How's the casting on your orange one? Mine are both awful, the top of the right hand wing has a big problem - it seems to have been moulded so that it sticks out past the side trim

This is after a fairly aggressive sanding - tempted to get the finger sander on it!

Just as an aside, my better example has painted headlights, the tattier one had clear plastic

Top of wing is ok but it has the same odd ‘split’ to the coach line on that side. Ok on the other.  They must have damaged  the die when removing the Volvo badge further down ?

[bunglebus]

Found another on eBay that seems the same. I hadn't realised there was a change to the casting from the UK produced ones

[flat4alfa]

Also noticed the coach line on the ‘damaged’ side is shorter at the rear than the other side.  Equal length on the English ones.  

[Noel Tidybeard]

22 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Also noticed the coach line on the ‘damaged’ side is shorter at the rear than the other side.  Equal length on the English ones.  

there should be a vent at the end of the trim line

[bunglebus]

That's another poor area on mine, the "shoulder" along the side is all wrong under the rear side window on the right

But OK on the left

Doing a bit of internet research, all the orange ones have the dodgy wing

and quarter panel

But so do the beige ones, which were made in England - so I think we can blame Dinky rather than Polistil

[OM646]

On 17/04/2021 at 20:34, FakeConcern said:

I've been continuing with my quest to own a model of a Volvo C30 in every scale available and first got a 1/43 Cararama from Amazon having been mucked about on ebay...

It's very well detailed for a fairly small scale...

I also got these three together on ebay...

Scale is 1/72...

Also very well detailed...

 

Because they're made by Hongwell (Cararama I believe)

Here next to a Matchbox example for an idea on the scale and also how good they are, the Matchbox looks pretty nice on its own, but next to these...

1:43 Cararamas are exceptional value. Love my white one!

[flat4alfa]

13 hours ago, Noel Tidybeard said:

there should be a vent at the end of the trim line

Only the Matchbox 245 it seems.  The Dinky 265 didn't get the vent

On the left flank (when in driver's seat) the only casting difference is the removal of the wing/fender badge

While as seen in previous posts, there are clear and identical differences on all the Polistil castings, implying the fault was with the die

How would a die get damaged in use?  Did Dinky let an apprentice loose with a power tool to try and repair it?

[bunglebus]

4 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

the entire front wing trim line seems to have been picked-out

It's not so much picked out as the top section of the wing is too thick and protrudes over the side trim.

[flat4alfa]

I meant the die was picked-out

The deeper the die was cut into, the prouder the cast would be at that same position

[bunglebus]

Yes I agree  all very odd, maybe the die became damaged?

The rear quarter is stranger as material must have been added at that point

[flat4alfa]

What colour are you going to do your primered once-orange one?

1976 colours

1980 colours

[bunglebus]

Something along these lines

[bunglebus]

Hopefully looking a bit better now. I always seem to fight casting flaws with Dinky, the Mini traveller and MK1 Escort are equally awful

so to make myself feel better I slapped the Playart Mazda pickup back together. I need to paint lights etc in and maybe paint the interior, not sold on the gun rack either so might leave it off

don't know if it's obvious but it's two shades of blue faded up the sides

[flat4alfa]

[flat4alfa]

Had this for a while.  It's a 1973 Pontiac Firebird by NewRay in 1:32.

Die-cast and quite tidy I think.  It has opening doors, authentic Pontiac wheel design that may not be right for 1973, but then nor is that a factory colour pattern.  The rear bumper seems to have been glued home a bit wonky and there is a casting flaw a top of screen, but for the ~£6 price tag new, a fair bargain I think.

There is also a Trans Am version without the large engine poking out of the hood and getting in the way while parking.

These come in boxes showing the Pontiac name and logo prominent on the front, while NewRay logo is at bottom corner.  Gives the impression they are authorised models, and GM trademark copyright is mentioned on the packaging

Underneath is a pretty good representation, even down to the leaf spring shackles. 

No idea why this one has all words and logo scratched-out

If you're interested, I'll post-up the Trans Am variation.

[flat4alfa]

TAT WEDNESDAY CHARITY SHOPS VISIT CONCLUDED

The BMW Z1 is by MC Toy 1:39, while the big plastic patriotic RT Bus is I assume from the 1960s and worth a fair bit more that the 50p sticker

[sierraman]

29 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

TAT WEDNESDAY CHARITY SHOPS VISIT CONCLUDED

The BMW Z1 is by MC Toy 1:39, while the big plastic patriotic RT Bus is I assume from the 1960s and worth a fair bit more that the 50p sticker

I don’t think they’re that old tbh, I had one in the late 80’s.

Any sign of anything new on the Matchbox front in Tesco? 

[Datsuncog]

3 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

If you're interested, I'll post-up the Trans Am variation.

Interest registered...

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

TAT WEDNESDAY CHARITY SHOPS VISIT CONCLUDED

Me too - my usual favorite had some new deposits in the basket of tat, and despite my irritation at the insistence of the woman to bash all my new finds about as she counts them, she's only been charging me 25p each

First up, Matchbox stake truck. Probably got several but I couldn't leave it there - a child might have ended up with it!

I don't think I have a Toe Joe though, and yellow is I believe unusual. Tow bit is missing of course

Reno 11 TURBO is probably the pick of today's haul

FAB!

Pretty decent Corgi R5 turbo nutter with intact mirrors

Landie, feels quite weighty despite made in Chi-na

And a Wimpy van with no name base

On my return home I had a couple of deliveries, more mini Hot Wheels

But this is the pièce de résistance. I have been after one of these for ages, all it needed was a pair of headlight jewels

I don't think these came with anything really representing an engine, can't find a picture of one anyway

 

[RoadworkUK]

I'm currently on holiday just outside Glastonbury. Last time we came here I scored a pretty nice Matchbox mk4 Cortina. This time:

Nowt.

That concludes today's update.

[Frogchod]

When did Buragos get so expensive? 

Beer made me buy it now anyway... 

Need even more beers for the Norev one 😢

[Spottedlaurel]

2 hours ago, RoadworkUK said:

I'm currently on holiday just outside Glastonbury. Last time we came here I scored a pretty nice Matchbox mk4 Cortina. This time:

Nowt.

That concludes today's update.

Is there still a model shop at Cheddar Gorge?

[Spottedlaurel]

Update on current plastic projects:

The 131 Abarth is looking like a Fiat of 40+ years old, with patches of filler. As I'm building it as a road car there's a little bit of de-rallyfication to go through, plus some sink marks to fill.

Skyline GT-R is my current quick, simple build. I bought it in the early '90s from Everybody's Hobbies in Ipswich, by then a Toymaster it would appear, but still with some great stuff.

Been painted and clearcoated, now needs polishing. Must stay away from those raised lines.....

Tamiya Beetle not actually a current project, but picked up cheaply as it had been started and I wanted to see if the wheels I got with a Porsche 911 would fit. They do, ditto the headlights, so this one can become an '80s Cal Looker.

[flat4alfa]

4 hours ago, sierraman said:

I don’t think they’re that old tbh, I had one in the late 80’s.

Ah.  So I'm not sitting on a gold mine then!  😄   As I have a collection of them now.  They seem to find me out.

Had a wander about the Interwebs and found the name Springwell Mouldings Tonbridge who have been been running since 1955.  Seems pretty crude for an eighties toy though - would it be there was a genuine 1960s run, and they dusted-off their original moulds later in life?  Either way, it looks like the 50p investment might return ok, looking at these completed listings.  Not that we should be gloating about charity shop achievements...  but saying that, the charity must have had a few hundred out of me by now, to spend on their board directors pay.

Anyhow, the point of getting a few together was to lop the upper deck off one and create / adapt into a triple decker

So, a bit more cutting / shutting, a purple paint job, cellophane sheet glazing, a lighting circuit, motorise; hey presto! a slot car version of this for my increasingly petulant daughter:

Really, it's another of those back-burner 'projects' intended to keep me out of the pub.  ....and because no other muppet has made one.  Might as well get on with it now.  Have found a chassis with some short gearing too.  Might need to lower the centre of gravity somewhat, for the bends...

[sheffcortinacentre]

7 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

Had this for a while.  It's a 1973 Pontiac Firebird by NewRay in 1:32.

Die-cast and quite tidy I think.  It has opening doors, authentic Pontiac wheel design that may not be right for 1973, but then nor is that a factory colour pattern.  The rear bumper seems to have been glued home a bit wonky and there is a casting flaw a top of screen, but for the ~£6 price tag new, a fair bargain I think.

There is also a Trans Am version without the large engine poking out of the hood and getting in the way while parking.

These come in boxes showing the Pontiac name and logo prominent on the front, while NewRay logo is at bottom corner.  Gives the impression they are authorised models, and GM trademark copyright is mentioned on the packaging

Underneath is a pretty good representation, even down to the leaf spring shackles. 

No idea why this one has all words and logo scratched-out

I you're interested, I'll post-up the Trans Am variation.

Honey comb alloys are correct on 2nd gen 70 1/2-76 Trans am's.

[flat4alfa]

4 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Interest registered...

Interest accepted.

A 1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

By NewRay, in 1:32 scale

With a chicken on the hood

The right nose.  One head lamp attempting escape.  Same flaw at screen top 

The right arse, with a properly-fitted bumper.

Verdict: I think I'll take a closer look at this NewRay range.

[Datsuncog]

3 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Me too - my usual favorite had some new deposits in the basket of tat, and despite my irritation at the insistence of the woman to bash all my new finds about as she counts them, she's only been charging me 25p each

First up, Matchbox stake truck. Probably got several but I couldn't leave it there - a child might have ended up with it!

I don't think I have a Toe Joe though, and yellow is I believe unusual. Tow bit is missing of course

Reno 11 TURBO is probably the pick of today's haul

FAB!

Pretty decent Corgi R5 turbo nutter with intact mirrors

Landie, feels quite weighty despite made in Chi-na

And a Wimpy van with no name base

On my return home I had a couple of deliveries, more mini Hot Wheels

But this is the pièce de résistance. I have been after one of these for ages, all it needed was a pair of headlight jewels

I don't think these came with anything really representing an engine, can't find a picture of one anyway

 

Brilliant charridee shop haul there - that Matchbox R11 looks fantastic. Yellow Toe Joe is indeed rather less common than the metallic green version; but find a red one if you want to retire to the Cayman Islands...

 

1 hour ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Is there still a model shop at Cheddar Gorge?

I hope so! Recipient of many of my holiday pounds, that lad, carefully counted out of my little beach coin holder that was kept exclusively for going-away.

(Anyone else have one of these?)

 

40 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Ah.  So I'm not sitting on a gold mine then!  😄   As I have a collection of them now.  They seem to find me out.

Had a wander about the Interwebs and found the name Springwell Mouldings Tonbridge who have been been running since 1955.  Seems pretty crude for an eighties toy though - would it be there was a genuine 1960s run, and they dusted-off their original moulds later in life?  Either way, it looks like the 50p investment might return ok, looking at these completed listings.  Not that we should be gloating about charity shop achievements...  but saying that, the charity must have had a few hundred out of me by now, to spend on their board directors pay.

Anyhow, the point of getting a few together was to lop the upper deck off one and create / adapt into a triple decker

So, a bit more cutting / shutting, a purple paint job, cellophane sheet glazing, a lighting circuit, motorise; hey presto! a slot car version of this for my increasingly petulant daughter:

Really, it's another of those back-burner 'projects' intended to keep me out of the pub.  ....and because no other muppet has made one.  Might as well get on with it now.  Have found a chassis with some short gearing too.  Might need to lower the centre of gravity somewhat, for the bends...

I thought that looked like a Springwell moulding - I remember them through to the early 1990s, usually in seaside shops alongside buckets and spades. Nice big things; I had a Springwell car ferry, and I've no idea what became of it - much bigger and more detailed than the plastic Matchbox ferry. Hey ho.

12 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Interest accepted.

A 1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

By NewRay, in 1:32 scale

With a chicken on the hood

The right nose.  One head lamp attempting escape.  Same flaw at screen top 

The right arse.

Verdict: I think I'll take a closer look at this NewRay range.

That's nice - I'd go for the standard over the mega-motor version, but that's just me. Lotta car for the money, though. Cheers for that!

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Tamiya Beetle not actually a current project, but picked up cheaply as it had been started and I wanted to see if the wheels I got with a Porsche 911 would fit. They do, ditto the headlights, so this one can become an '80s Cal Looker.

Hell yes. Looking forward to seeing that one finished! Tasteful guards red 80s 'looker or OTT graphiced 80s 'looker?