Shite in Miniature II

[Split_Pin]

Agreed, what a great wee free gift that would have been in its day and very nice to have now.

[Datsuncog]

Took a toddle over to our local friendly out-of-town megabox gigaretail outlet tonight, for the first time in a long time.

The former Homebase unit over there is now housing a much-expanded branch of Home Bargains, with a square footage roughly equivalent to the O2 Arena.

And- there were diecast...

Well, Hot Wheels at any rate. Some of these look like recent releases, but I think they've been covered upthread already.

Five-packs had the usual one decent model to four meh-models.

Mind you, the same money could net you a dozen rubbish models of questionable representation... mmm, tempting.

POWER DRIVING YO

These piqued my interest, though:

Welly's cheerily mixed-scale 'Taxis of the World' mini-collection.

Now, I highly doubt the RRP here is genuinely £15.00, but I've always got time for a VW Beetle dwarfing a Chevrolet Caprice.

I'd thought that the Toyota was perhaps a Tokyo taxi, but no:

It's a rather non-specific 'Middle East' taxi, apparently. Well well well.

The TX4 actually does look pretty good, mind - could be worth the price of admission alone.

I actually had these in my basket, but got smacked with a premature bout of buyer's remorse and put them back.

Of course, I now anticipate a chorus of folks who would have been only too happy to re-home them... daaah!

[bunglebus]

If I see them I might get a set, mainly for that Mexico taxi Beetle, but I'm not excited enough to demand you return to purchase them for me.

 

[Datsuncog]

On 5/9/2021 at 1:35 PM, bunglebus said:

Just going through my spares box, anyone recognise this guy?

Still no joy on this lad - I'd got it in my head that it was a figure supplied with a Corgi three-model emergency set that included a helicopter, but trawling through my run of 1970s and 80s Corgi catalogues reveals nothing even approaching him.

Search continues...

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

If I see them I might get a set, mainly for that Mexico taxi Beetle, but I'm not excited enough to demand you return to purchase them for me.

Well, I may have to go over again anyway - we'd actually headed over to the retail park to obtain a specific pet product, only to find that Pets at Home shuts at 8 these days, and it'd just gone 8. HB, on the other hand, was open til 10... so if you fancy a taxi set, I'll be happy to nip in!

[bunglebus]

2 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Still no joy on this lad

I was pretty certain where it was from at the time but hadn't checked:

I remember buying this set after winning about £50 on the premium bonds, and being allowed to use half of it on toys. Also got a Corgi Mini and the Police Peterbilt recovery vehicle 

[flat4alfa]

[egg]

Bugger. First resto attempt of the year, and tuf* tot axle retainers don't give you a lot of grace...

Goes without saying I've lost the broken bit!

[bunglebus]

My Tat Wednesday contribution.  £1 each in a charity shop if anyone fancies  anything. I'm working nearby so can pop back. Other shops will be explored in due course 

 

[Datsuncog]

Not a bad little grouping of Lesney/Corgi/Majorette there, though nothing I don't have (or had).

£1 a throw feels slightly optimistic, but I guess since it's for charity, they'll be wanting to maximise their revenues for good causes and all that, so I shouldn't gripe.

CX Safari's always a winner!

[bunglebus]

Yeah I had similar feelings. Might grab the CX and Firebird/Transam later

[bunglebus]

Well I've checked out all the other charity shops and unless you wanted a Corgi copy London bus in a box, or a Cararama size Inspector Morse Jag keyring for £6, there was nothing else.

I did gently berate the woman at the till for selotaping the price label over the original stickers on the Rolamatics Rangie, but careful cutting with a blade hasn't left it looking too bad

CX and Pontiac were similarly taped, paint damage was already on the big Bird

 

[Burnside]

On 5/10/2021 at 8:26 PM, bunglebus said:

Cool. As they're plastic is shouldn't be too hard to give some of them some damage too, bit of dust, weathering etc

 

On 5/10/2021 at 8:53 PM, junkyarddog said:

Too clean looking, and no ravenous dog🤣

Looks the biz otherwise.

 

On 5/10/2021 at 9:32 PM, eddyramrod said:

 

Excellent work!  But I agree, needs a guard dog, and a sea of mud, littered with random parts.

Thanks all, agree hopefully when I make another. I'll make it more weathered. An I will definitely try and add some extra security!

On 5/10/2021 at 10:44 PM, Split_Pin said:

Looks great that @Burnside. I spy a Cavalier and a Calibra there.

I went through a phase of buying lots of repainted/modified 1970s and early 1980s 1:87s back in the mid 1990s. I think they were all created by ine person but found them in different stalls over the years.

I think I've got enough, together with an old semi detached house to make a hoarders shite house/car combo!

Cheers @Split_Pin, there a another Cav hiding in there along with a Nova & Belmont too. 

I've got a few that have been modified as well, but are mostly just wheel swaps.

I got into them as a kid, as occasionally my parents would stop by two shops that sold 1:87 Cars. Me and my Brother could only afford a few back then. So like most of us, I've been making up for lost time. 

Sounds like you have a healthy collection there too. You should definitely build a house scene! 

[MarvinsMom]

22 hours ago, egg said:

Bugger. First resto attempt of the year, and tuf* tot axle retainers don't give you a lot of grace...

Goes without saying I've lost the broken bit!

could you not superglue a washer, or part of a washer in behind the broken axel mount  to hold the wheels and axel on?

not as good as it not been broken, but that repair would at least be kinda invisible?

[bunglebus]

There was one charity shop closed yesterday, so scoped it out today. Here's what I didn't buy due to broken or missing parts

lorry missing its top

BMC has no glass

Cattle truck has no sides

Crane boom broken where hook should be

Ambulance missing tailgate.

All still there for 50p each if there's any interest

[bunglebus]

Of course I didn't leave empty-handed 

Pickup is missing its grille but I have a spare

 

[Datsuncog]

Ohhh, nice.

Just the kind of 50p tat we've been missing!

Wasn't there someone on here looking for an Alvis Stalwart?

[egg]

9 hours ago, MarvinsMom said:

could you not superglue a washer, or part of a washer in behind the broken axel mount  to hold the wheels and axel on?

not as good as it not been broken, but that repair would at least be kinda invisible?

My brain has been working the same way! Just come on here to say I have no metal washers smoll enough, so an Aldi rubber ring will save it from the bin and at least give this tiny item hope.

Yes paint will be touched up.

[junkyarddog]

The joys of Zamac.

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

Wasn't there someone on here looking for an Alvis Stalwart

Don't remember seeing anything but it's the 2nd I've found recently. One of those castings I was convinced I had but didn't. Think the other has green wheels

Edit: yes

 

[Datsuncog]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

Wasn't there someone on here looking for an Alvis Stalwart?

 

27 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Don't remember seeing anything but it's the 2nd I've found recently.

Just had a look back; @andy18s had asked me to keep an eye out in the tat boxes for such an item, probably 1yr+ ago now.

Not exactly a massive rarity, so I'll probably just keep looking for one to add to his tat box.

Enjoy yours!

 

1 hour ago, egg said:

I have no metal washers smoll enough, so an Aldi rubber wing will save it from the bin and at least give this tiny item hope.

Good going! And an excellent use for all those teeny-tiny rubber washers you get in a mixed box of o-rings, that otherwise have limited functionality.

These were pretty cheap toys when new so the fragility's not surprising, but hopefully this one'll live to fight another day. 

[flat4alfa]

Anyone into Simca Vedettes?

This Minialuxe model was also supplied from the extensive @64A60 collection.  It has a plastic body with aluminium base, stating VERSAILLES 1/32 Autorisation SIMCA JOUET MINIALUXE. 

The Versailles was the mid-range trim, this body without the later rear fins would date 1954–57 but it's likely a tad younger than that.  The friction flywheel motor is now running well, after an oiling and adjustment.

The roof/glazing is from a separate clear piece that had been painted on the inner side and glued home.  The base was also glued.

Sadly, this example is missing both bumpers, both rear lights, a headlight jewel and the boot lid (which was once an opening thing).  But it is generally crack-free, the all important grille is there and so is the hot-stamped Versailles script at each rear quarter.  Excellent for the age of it!

 

@64A60 thought it could be restored and modelled on this '59 Ariane owned by artist Walter 'Outlaw' Carta who frequents London and Milan:

However, I think it's nice enough as it is, so how about just adding some lettering to be a Jean Sunny stunt show car, as Simcas were a favourite in his stunt shows:

 

Could* be an interesting and unique slot-car stunt-show effort, too

That is, if Doris is willing.  She usually is more than willing, after downing a few Camparis.

[Remspoor]

Enjoy you Friday.

[Lord Sterling]

On 5/11/2021 at 11:37 PM, Datsuncog said:

Took a toddle over to our local friendly out-of-town megabox gigaretail outlet tonight, for the first time in a long time.

The former Homebase unit over there is now housing a much-expanded branch of Home Bargains, with a square footage roughly equivalent to the O2 Arena.

And- there were diecast...

Well, Hot Wheels at any rate. Some of these look like recent releases, but I think they've been covered upthread already.

Five-packs had the usual one decent model to four meh-models.

Mind you, the same money could net you a dozen rubbish models of questionable representation... mmm, tempting.

POWER DRIVING YO

These piqued my interest, though:

Welly's cheerily mixed-scale 'Taxis of the World' mini-collection.

Now, I highly doubt the RRP here is genuinely £15.00, but I've always got time for a VW Beetle dwarfing a Chevrolet Caprice.

I'd thought that the Toyota was perhaps a Tokyo taxi, but no:

It's a rather non-specific 'Middle East' taxi, apparently. Well well well.

The TX4 actually does look pretty good, mind - could be worth the price of admission alone.

I actually had these in my basket, but got smacked with a premature bout of buyer's remorse and put them back.

Of course, I now anticipate a chorus of folks who would have been only too happy to re-home them... daaah!

I'd be interested in a pack of thise world taxis if they are still there?

[sierraman]

19 hours ago, bunglebus said:

There was one charity shop closed yesterday, so scoped it out today. Here's what I didn't buy due to broken or missing parts

lorry missing its top

BMC has no glass

Cattle truck has no sides

Crane boom broken where hook should be

Ambulance missing tailgate.

All still there for 50p each if there's any interest

Did you know the MB1 Mercedes Ambulance was prototyped as a hearse. You could create a replica?

[Datsuncog]

Friday once again...

The anticipation. The adrenaline. The laser-guided, precision split-second timing that spells the difference between ignominious defeat or perpetual glory.

The auld dolls in leopard print coats.

Well, it's all here. It's Friday, it's The Market. In the next half hour, anything could happen...

I might add to the mix, 'idiots in Vauxhall Vivaros who inexplicably pull out of a side road into heavy traffic and get t-boned by an innocent Seat Ibiza, thereby causing long tailbacks on the A2 and enabling The Nemesis to get to the Tat Stall first' - if that doesn't sound weirdly over-specific.

So I wasn't the first to arrive at the tat stall this morning.

And I was able to snoop on what The Nemesis had already nabbed, while he was otherwise engaged in peering at that Spot-On Bullnose Morris with no nose (how does it smell? etc etc) that's been on the stall with no takers since forever.

It's driving me up the walls that I can't identify the taupe/pinky saloon car with the missing doors. Some sort of Polistil, or Mira model? Or a Majorette? Graaaah.

I also had half a mind to pick up the LDV ambulance for myself today, but clearly that wasn't gonna be happening either.

But! My own whinging aside, what was on the stall?

1/76 buses!

(And one or two 1/50 ones and all)

Days Gone and Models of Yesteryear!!

More Days Gone/ MoY/ old-style Lledo Vanguards/ random Italian stuff!!

Ooh, hang on - some genuinely new stuff!

Let's take a closer look...

More to follow, tat fans!

[flat4alfa]

20 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Lucky Toys Massivesome Onesome please

[Datsuncog]

So, naturally I was a bit excited to see some actual new tat for the first time this year. Like the green haze of the mountain ash coming into leaf, it's a long-awaited sign of natural progression. Or something.

So what was in the all-new tat box?

 Well, some older 70s MoY stuff, which I wasn't all that bothered about.

But plenty to catch the eye, if not the wallet.

Little 'n' large AMC Pacers, though not in brilliant nick, it has to be said.

A Majorette Mk3 Golf that's suffered a bit of roll-over damage, plus a Lesney Vauxhall Guildsman in later Streakers colours.

A pretty comprehensively trashed Speed Kings Mercury Cougar.

More banjaxed Lesneys - King Size fire ladder, Superfast GMC tipper with wonky axles, a Flying Bug without any wings, and a stray Husky Mk10 Jag with the usual bumper and chrome plating woes.

Bburago Porker with glazing difficulties.

Big Lucky Toys rip-off of the Matchbox Gruesome Twosome; bit playworn, but not too wrecked.

Unhappy Fiat X1/9 by Corgi; one of those late 70s Corgi Cubs in the vague shape of a Jeep, plus a somewhat useless Superkings fantasy fire engine. And that Flying Bug again.

Welly VW Corrado had some scrapes, but was otherwise decent enough.

Late-era Lone Star generic truck making a mockery of the fantastic models that preceded it in the range.

Buses buses buses... Corgi RMs in open-top Disney and Silver Jubilee colours, plus a Matchbox Fleetline. All somewhat tatty.

Whizzwheels RMs, in smaller-scale and larger-scale formats.

Again, a bit trashed.

Moving up to some of the other boxes, yet to be put out on the stall...

We've seen all these before on our first week back - and I have a couple of standing orders from Shiters, so more to come on these...

Boxed stuff, most of which has appeared last year.

These have deffo been seen before.

Also this, which tempted me but I dunno if I really want to go down the whole vintage/veteran route...

Limited edition 1985 Corgi Classics reissue of their 1960s original Classics. In Very Brown. Mmm.

Corgi Oriental Omnibus Co issue - Dennis Trident? The box didn't say what it was...

So that was about it, really - some purchases were made, and then I wandered off to see what else the market held for me...

More to come!!

[Datsuncog]

5 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Lucky Toys Massivesome Onesome please

Heh, I thought that might tickle you... 

Already procured!

[flat4alfa]

Think if the big Pacer glazing is bearable for pennies I'll take it.

[flat4alfa]

I forgot to say please.