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Shite in Miniature II


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Both in this thread, and in DMs to Datsuncog, I've spoken about my efforts to go cold turkey on tat collecting for a while. Life is currently a maelstrom of conveyancing chaos, during which I'm supposed to be boxing stuff up or getting rid of it ahead of the move, not having new stuff delivered.

The problem is I have the eBay app on my phone, and occasionally I have the need for entertainment on the toilet.

One such time, I idly entered the terms "Superkings" and "boxed" – a combination that seldom seems to come without a humungous price tag. Boxed, biggish Matchbox products that don't command a kings ransom tend to fall towards the less desirable end of the spectrum. Proper tat.

So, I present my BNIB Matchbox Superkings actual tat.

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I'm no collector of royalist memorabilia. In fact I tend to ridicule it and the deranged giffers who collect it. Turns out I'm a massive hypocrite, then. Presented as a shameless cash-in on the '81 royal wedding, this edition of K-15 "The Londoner" wasn't Matchbox's finest hour in the eyes of aficionados of the brand.

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However, while this casting didn't exactly go down as one of the greats, it's one I never had as a kid. I always had a bit of a hankering for one, and – cloyingly cynical marketing aside – the silver finish of this version tickled my fancy more than the too-shiny red variation.

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I've long had a soft-spot for the humble Daimler Fleetline DMS, which The Londoner kinda almost portrays; my school bus contract was served by Partridge of Hadleigh, who ran a motley selection of ex-London DMS stock to balance out the exotica (Plaxton Paramount 4000, Bedford YMT Duple Lasers, phwoaaaar).  Alas, The Londoner is a little crude, rather squarer and blockier than the MCW / Park Royal bodied original, and the upper deck window pillars are way too thick, allowing space for only five instead of the six of real life. That said, other details are quite nice. The engine grilles, the bodyside strapping, all enough to denote that a little effort was made.

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What's more, unlike Londoners produced to the smaller scale, this one has windows. The interior is much the same, though, still with an actual staircase.

There's no sign of the cheery bell that early releases were fitted with, but the opening side door mechanism survives, adding spectacular play value. Or it would were the mechanism not hopelessly gimcrack and unreliable in operation. 

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 It rolls well, too. Had I had one as a nipper, I suspect it would have been at quite an advantage compared with many similarly scaled models when it came to a high-speed dash across the sprung wooden floor of the school hall.

So there we have it. It's tat, yes, but nice tat, with its heart in the right place.

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Just a heads up, Wilko are selling Hot Wheels singles for 75p, and Asda have got 5 packs for £5.

In other news, I bought a Cambuster. It has no scoop and a couple of missing exhausts. But it has a yellow base when it should be black

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I think this is similar to Gus's Gulpers and Milligans Mills getting parts mixed up on the production line - that base belongs under Bazooka.

I also got a fairly tatty Case Tractor from the same seller to go on the back of the K-17 Dyson Low Loader set I've been piecing together

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7 hours ago, RoadworkUK said:
19 hours ago, flat4alfa said:
Am looking forward to your matching* commemorative and boxed Corgi Metro emoji39.png

I confess, I'd quite like one. 100% for the "significant moments in the history of the Metro" angle rather than any Diana worship.

You're welcome to mine for not a lot, I have no reason for it.

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20 hours ago, RoadworkUK said:

 

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I'm no collector of royalist memorabilia. In fact I tend to ridicule it and the deranged giffers who collect it. Turns out I'm a massive hypocrite, then. Presented as a shameless cash-in on the '81 royal wedding, this edition of K-15 "The Londoner" wasn't Matchbox's finest hour in the eyes of aficionados of the brand.

 

I'm distinctly ambivalent about the royals too, apart from Prince 'wandering hands' Andrew who I am decidedly unambivalent about.

There is something quite sweet and rather old fashioned about this, especially as it dates from the era when the main market for toys in general and Matchbox cars specifically was still children. I was about 4 when Charles and Diana got married so I can't really remember much about it, although I do remember it being on the telly and on mugs and biscuit tins for years afterwards. I suspect kids at the time were much the same as kids today and probably didn't give a fuck about the wedding or the royals unless they got the day off school or something. It strikes me that this was a 40something year old marketing man's idea of what might fly off the shelves, god knows if anyone actually bought one.  

Excellent purchase cheers for sharing.

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23 hours ago, bezzabsa said:

Whats the best 'newbie' airbrush to use? always looked at them, but never bit the bullet...fancy one with compressor rather than the 'bottle' sort

I've often wondered. I have an ancient one that I think is a Badger copy and it does the job. Unless I need a specific colour mix I find it easier to aim a rattle can at my cars. I would think almost anything will work if it's an occasional hobby

8 minutes ago, warch said:

I was about 4 when Charles and Diana got married so I can't really remember much about it

Me either, big fuss about it on TV etc but didn't really register. Charity shops and boot sales are always bristling with "commemorative" items that aren't worth a bean now.

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On 7/2/2020 at 2:29 PM, DoctorRetro said:

Picked up this Ambulance from Amishtat today, first job was to give it a good clean

I'm not sure whether I should do a repaint, leave as is, or do a mad custom job. 

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The light will be an interesting fix, as the glass is broken ?

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Evening.  Just wondered if you still have this and if so is it available?

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On 12/13/2019 at 9:21 AM, bunglebus said:

Another Superkings Charger, in need of work so in the customising box for this one

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After one of these, the Matchbox SuperKings K-22 Charger.  Already have a couple of the modified 'dragster' variation, but the original has eluded

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