Shite in Miniature II

[RoadworkUK]

Loving your SunStar Escorts.

[bunglebus]

Those of you who do model making, dioramas etc - any idea what this stuff is in the bed of the pickup? Looks ideal for something I'm doing but don't know what to search for

[eddyramrod]

Part of the deck of a model boat?  Or, taken from a 1/50 scale flatbed trailer?

[bunglebus]

2 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

Part of the deck of a model boat?  Or, taken from a 1/50 scale flatbed trailer?

Maybe. I was thinking part of a doll's house or scale building of some sort. 

[High Jetter]

Floorboards, going by the nail pattern. Plastic moulded.

[eddyramrod]

22 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Maybe. I was thinking part of a doll's house or scale building of some sort. 

That's a possibility.  I remember having some buildings by Britains (50 years ago) but I think the planks would be bigger than that in relation to the Corgi pickup, and I can't think of any smaller buildings that might supply such a piece.  Railway scale would be too small.

[Split_Pin]

I'm pretty sure those firemen were also included with the Superkings Simon Snorkel fire tender. I've still got some kicking about somewhere.

[bunglebus]

They look like the same type but in different poses. Interesting to know though!

 

I bet Flat4Alfa adds some comedy speech bubbles

[bunglebus]

OMG Hot Wheels have made a MK2 Escort. I expect the set will be £ridiculous but hopefully the casting will end up in the mainline eventually 

 

[eddyramrod]

On 6/26/2021 at 9:35 AM, bunglebus said:

OMG Hot Wheels have made a MK2 Escort. I guarantee the set will be £ridiculous but hopefully the casting will end up in the mainline eventually 

 

EFA

[andy18s]

These sets are available to pre order for £40

[eddyramrod]

Thus proving @bunglebus's point!

[andrew e]

£40 isn’t dear when you think how much RRP is on a single vanguard Cortina…. It’s 2021 folks!

[andrew e]

Just a heads up for any Essex mini-shitters who were visiting  Rayleigh Sunday 

[sierraman]

1 hour ago, andrew e said:

£40 isn’t dear when you think how much RRP is on a single vanguard Cortina…. It’s 2021 folks!

It is expensive when you think about it but I suppose it depends how much you are devoted to your hobby I guess. 

[barrett]

Had my own personal tat friday with a package a long-desired 60s diecast. It's another one from 'the bible' which always intrigued me as a kid, if only because I had never seen one in the flesh

Yes, the 1967 Corgi MGB GT. Perhaps not a particularly shite subject, but one that struck me as particularly well-modelled and interesting because, whilst the real thing is one of, if not the most numerous old cars around, the toy version seemed like some rare exotic jewel. This is certainly the first time I've had one in my hot sticky hands in the 20-odd years since I first learned of its existence

So, does it live up to my own personal hype?

Absolutely! It's not only remarkably accurate and detailed, but it really seems to embody the spirit of the prototype. The front end in particular is beautifully done with an accurate grille, the little bump in the bonnet, jewelled headlamps etc

The rear lamps are a little lost with the red paint, but the badge tampo is superb (if, perhaps, not quite to scale)

The opening hatchback is inspired and has a really nice sprung action. Rear screen still in place, but the luggage is missing

It just looks great from every angle, and the wire wheels are a nice touch. I'm still not sure why this model seems to scarce - a quick search of ebay suggests about 30 examples are currently for sale, mostly MIB examples for loads of money. Searching for the approximately contemporaneous Lancia Fulva Zagato shows at least twice that number on offer in every possible condition. Why did a common, popular car like an MGB seemingly sell much worse than something 99% of kids would never have seen in real life?

Anyway, I'm really pleased to finally own this one. Thanks to @155V6 for making my dreams come true

[Amishtat]

They're a nicely done little thing aren't they? I didn't know they were particularly rare. 

[flat4alfa]

On 7/9/2020 at 5:28 PM, flat4alfa said:

 

Am also surprised the Corgi MGB is rare.

Ought to get Eddy's old one finished-off then!

 

[barrett]

Well, a rare Corgi is still pretty common. It does seem to be much less easily available than most of the late 60s output though. Even in 1985 the authors of that book claimed 'It will not be particularly easy to find'...

If there was a choice of 30 Politoys Lancia Flavia Sport Zagatos on ebay at any one time I'd be more than happy, so I guess everything is relative

[Jon]

Hi everyone.

Had a slightly easier time at work this week (only about 60 hours, this time) and I even managed to go to my favourite model shop, too - cheered me up no end, that did. So there'll be more photos to come as and when I have the chance.

That said, the thing I present to you today, I bought on Trademe a couple of weeks back.

 

The box art, though nice, tells many a lie:

Said contents are neither this shape, nor have opening doors. Not sure what the number 2 and accompanying arrow are telling me here.

 

A nice bit of 'back-o-the-box' art work, to jazz things up. No guesses for what the contents are, if you've read the bumf above - indeed, I revealed on this thread what it was last week!

 

And ain't she a little beauty! Sincerest apologies for low grade potato images, as these were snapped whilst Mrs_Jon was out for a 'run' - about 20 mins jog 'round town.

 

I'm pleased to say that it's absolutely flawless and nary even a sniff of the dreaded zinc pest. The images on Trademe weren't clear enough to decipher the numbers on the base, to see if they corresponded with known good/bad issue numbers but I figured that it looked vaguely Lada shaped still and seemed to be in one piece, so I bought it.

I mean, it's only money, eh?!

 

I will say that the blocks which represent the door handles are a little bit disappointing but that truly is nit picking; on the plus side, I simply can't think of a better shade it could've been painted in. That said, this isn't truly representative, as it's a little darker in real life.

 

Jeepers, this is really a very low grade photo here but it does show the opening bonnet, so I hope you'll forgive me. I promise to update in the distant future with it framed in some borderline dystopian backdrop, with some funky brutalist concrete backdrop, or next to some withered old ladies scrabbling for potatoes or something.

 

For now though, enjoy my line-up of current Novoexport castings. I'd love a Zil and one of those forward control vans (Zaz? Vaz? Something like that) and one of those hatchback Moskvitch things but I'll bide my time until they turn up - after all, it's as much about the thrill of the chase as the acquisition, eh 'shiters?

[Jon]

Actually, I just remembered - I DO have a Zil - and I've photographed it!

 

Sadly, it's not the 'real deal', just a James Bond partwork I bought some time last year, during a miniature shite drought period. Still quite nice though and not too expensive. Plus points for brutalist architecture. I imagine the person in the backdrop had no doubt just finished scrabbling around for potatoes, or something.

 

And here it is, not at all looking imposing, or striking fear into passers-by, through its sheer existence. 

 

It'll do, until @datsuncog feels like he's had enough of his kosher one...

 

 

[Jon]

And whilst I'm spamming with photos and looking through my archives, I remembered I have this one, too:

Again, nifty box art.

 

Contents not quite as nifty, especially with that high top. It is suitably wonky though, unlike later issues.

 

Perhaps a little too wonky, in hindsight. No zinc pest, just a missing screw and a front bumper.

 

I've also got this modern issue Tatra 613, which despite paying over the odds for and having no age, I can forgive as it's BLOODY LOVELY.

 

Almost makes me wonder how much a real one would cost - and how tricky it would be to get over to NZ...

[flat4alfa]

17 hours ago, stuboy said:

That trainer looks lonely.

[eddyramrod]

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

Am also surprised the Corgi MGB is rare.

Ought to get Eddy's old one finished-off then!

 

Yes you should! 

The reason the B is so rare is simple.  A couple of years into production, Corgi decided to convert the casting into the new MGC version, and that's how it stayed right to the end.  Usually in yellow and black.

[Amishtat]

That explains why all the MGCs I've seen have Whizzwheels then. Never knew that. If this post-hangover lethargy would sod off I'd go and dig out my MGB and take a proper look at it, but it's all the way out in the garage.. 

[Amishtat]

26 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

That trainer looks lonely.

Stuboy might be the Nemesis.. Fair play to him if so, that's an arduous journey every Friday. 

[AndyW201]

Get in! Success achieved at B&M!

Finally got the W124 Merc and it's brilliant. 

As already mentioned, the tampos are great, check out the headlight wipers! (On all the 190s I owned with them fitted, I made a point of making sure they worked. The amount of washer fluid they used though was unreal!)

Nice AMG ducktail on the back too.

Will have to dig out my real riders 190 Evo now, see how they compare.

Also got the '96 Carrera variant that I was missing.

Slippery slope, wha......

 

[egg]

Cheers @eddyramrod, super cellar, wud buy agane

To open or not to open?

[sierraman]

Picked up this Alfa 33 for 30p the rear wheel was missing so I rummaged through to find another Bburago to cannibalise. Unsure whether to paint this one or to leave it original? 

[bunglebus]

Doesn't look tea bag as it is - but I thought Alfas had to be red by law?