Shite in Miniature II

[sierraman]

Dropped by Tesco last night whilst out for something else. None yet. Next deliver is on Sunday. So close, I think I can smell the diecast. I’ve no doubt someone with questionable hygiene will be there at 9:59am to buy the lot to make 11p on eBay, but it’s progress. 

[155V6]

Matchbox Mk1 Capri will be out in a 9-pack at some point,so it may be a way to get one if we've missed out on the single cars

[155V6]

On 9/24/2021 at 4:46 PM, Datsuncog said:

Haven't seen The Trainer King around for several weeks now, as it happens... not sure if he's also given himself a metaphorical tummyache too, from guzzling too many diecast goodies, and has now put himself on a strict Dinky-free diet - or if he's been stricken with COVID-19, and is currently at death's door.

I know he annoyed me a bit at times, but I deffo don't wish that on anyone.

As it happens, I was at the market last week, and this week too - last week because I had a flu jab booked at the pharmacy on the corner, and today cos I had a bit of time to spare before attending a funeral. I wasn't there for early-early doors, but headed in around 8.30 or so (usually the time when The Nemesis was still nosing around).

You may be relieved to learn that you diecast-crazed cats haven't missed very much: there's been no 50p tat box lately, and in fact no old toys anywhere to be seen. Just some giffer-magnet Days Gone, '80s Corgi Classics, and Matchbox MoYs.

Is anyone's pickle particularly tickled by this lot?

No, I thought not.

It's possible that this blurry snap of a boxed Siku airport fire appliance and a Sapeurs Pompiers water tender by Solido might have garnered a flicker of interest - but not at £10, I wouldn't have thought.

This piece of retro gaming was quite nice, though I didn't open it to see what was inside.

Some great box illustrations, anyway.

No diecast of interest on any of the other stalls, so could it be that Tat Friday has naturally run its course in Belfast, anyway?

It's possible.

But... I did buy something.

Something with wheels.

Something which I'd been semi-jokingly threatening to buy for years now - pondering aloud on occasion about exactly at what point I'd finally crack, and open my wallet for a Matchbox Model of Yesteryear.

Friends, today was that day.

But be sure, it wasn't just a lightly chipped metallic peuce Daimler, or a zingy yellow Spyker (with all the plastic seats fallen out).

Nope, this was something I'd secretly coveted for a long, long time.

Look at that. Special Edition and all.

I know.

Not just a model - a legend.

Ringing any (fire) bells?

That's right, it's this monster.

It's from way back when Matchbox (under Tyco's leadership) decided that selling models in shops was old-hat, and in future they'd offer their collectables via mail order instead.

Around this time, the impressionable teenage DC would receive bumf through the door every few weeks, extolling the exemplary virtues of Matchbox Collectibles' latest 'Beers of the World' collection (various old castings hacked into brewer's drays and vans), or their 'French Heritage' collection (the same Citroen Type H van with different logos like Yoplait, Président Brie and Taittinger Champagne - cruelly press-ganged and painted up at the last minute from what should have been a Matchbox Dinky collection model - the missing DY-34).

And then there was the Fire Engines Series.

Now, as a general rule, I'm not particularly interested in fire engines.

Which makes it all the more perplexing that I can't seem to stop buying the fuckers.

But even then, back in 1994, the sight of the flagship model from the MoY Fire Engine series, the Ahrens Fox Quad, atop the marketing guff with all its breathless sales patter, was quite enough to make me want to toddle down to the TSB and empty out my meagre PassBook funds, in order to write a very large postal order for the entire series. Just so I could have that one model.

I didn't, though. Sensibly*, I waited a few years before liquidating my assets in order to buy a fucked MkV Cortina with no floor.

Ask me about my Dogecoin investments.

But I never stopped wanting the Ahrens Fox Quad, for reasons that still aren't really all that fathomable.

So today, a 27-year old dream came true.

Well, kind of.

Is it as good as I'd hoped?

Of course not. I mean, it's detailed and all, like the marketing flyer assured me, but the interim decades of collecting Vanguards has kinda pushed the envelope a bit for what 'detailed' looks like - and it's a bit beyond a separate steering wheel and chrome-effect handbrake, these days.

Still, it is very nice, and genuinely pristine - not a mark or even a speck of dust on it, so it's clearly been kept boxed all these years. All the hoses and pressure valves seem a bit fragile, so for this to be fully intact is a bit of a bonus.

I'm sure I'll grow bored of it, but at least it has the all-important Certificate of Authenticity. So that collectors know it's the real deal, authentically mass-produced in a Chinese sweatshop, and not something I've cunningly whittled in my shed.

Maybe I'll make my tenner back one day, maybe not. But I'll enjoy fondling this one later, for sure... when Mrs DC's not around to become irked at the sight of it.

A very good Friday, to one and all.

Hey Tim,if you go back at any point & that Siku Fire Appliance is still there,I'd have it for a tenner.Only if you're going there anyway though.

[sierraman]

1 hour ago, 155V6 said:

Matchbox Mk1 Capri will be out in a 9-pack at some point,so it may be a way to get one if we've missed out on the single cars

I’ll grab that for me  the kids for Xmas. 

[Datsuncog]

1 hour ago, 155V6 said:

Hey Tim, if you go back at any point & that Siku Fire Appliance is still there, I'd have it for a tenner. Only if you're going there anyway though.

Sure thing - I'll keep an eye out if I'm passing again.

It was pretty much the only thing worth having!

[AndyW201]

Another Merc-in-Miniature arrived today.

Another Minichamps as well, so it's a pretty good one. They did a myriad versions of the W/C/S124, but this one particularly  appealed, one of the reasons being...

the simulated wing vents signify this one being a lowly diesel version.

Though perhaps not that lowly!

It's a well rendered thing, and pretty bulky, much like the real thing. Sadly the saloon version doesn't get the opening bonnet (with nice underbonnet detailing) and boot like the Minichamps coupé and convertible do. It's in pretty good nick for a nigh-on 30 year old model that has been on display. However, some of the drivers door mirror has broken off and the grille star is missing. Sadly this seems to have been part of the grille moulding rather than the models of the later cars which have a sturdier metal star fitted.

Other than that, nice front end detail on show. Nice to see this design of alloy wheel featured which was a factory accessory on 124s,190s and early C Classes, making a change from the more common 8-holes.

As expected, the interior is a treat, especially from a model dating back to the early 90s, including what looks like some aftermarket door cappings...

Loving the auto selector, just like the real thing, and check out the '80s style carphone! Just superb.

And another thing about this model, which made me want it, is the colour scheme. Signal red over Corsair red with black leather is very evocative of one of my old Mercs, my old 190E 2.6 Sportline,

(I know, wrong model, wrong size but I can't afford a Minichamps 190....)

[bunglebus]

4 hours ago, 155V6 said:

Just got back from my second collection this week,here's some pictures.

You did well if that lot was £20. I've been eyeing up those Polistil Rollers on eBay lately.

[bicycle repairman]

off down the out back,sprayed it gold if you look at the colour off the lid diffrent shade mr morgue must off mixed it lol but i quite like it,aussie gold 

[flat4alfa]

3 hours ago, bunglebus said:

I've been eyeing up those Polistil Rollers on eBay lately.

I have both.  They are quite shonky to my eye.

Will do photos so you can suppress the clickety-button urge.

[flat4alfa]

45 minutes ago, bicycle repairman said:

off down the out back,sprayed it gold if you look at the colour off the lid diffrent shade mr morgue must off mixed it lol but i quite like it,aussie gold 

Lucky the colour turned out more authentic!   Not only that, it represents the millionth Holden, a proper 1963 Holden EJ Special, in Cameo Gold with Kashmir White roof

Double-win

[bunglebus]

2 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

I have both.  They are quite shonky to my eye.

Will do photos so you can suppress the clickety-button urge.

I'm quite impressed with the 1:30 Silver Spoon

 

[flat4alfa]

Part of the Silver Shadow / Bentley T fleet in 1:43, together in a row

From left to right : POLISTIL ; ELIGOR ; SOLIDO ; DINKY ; CORGI

 

The Polistil Silver Cloud III Coupe is not a Shadow, so was not allowed to this party..   as, despite both Polistils being stamped 1:43, they got that one way-off as it's a good size up.  So will be photographed tomorrow perhaps with the Spot-On Bentley Continental as nearer the Spot-On scale.  And because Tat Wednesday.

[bunglebus]

Personally I think the Solido is the worst of the bunch, possibly not helped by the colour - and a colour coded grille? On a Rolls-Royce? Pretty sure that's treason. That and the bumpers make it look like one of those American fellows has customised it

[bunglebus]

Still no Matchbox 

[bunglebus]

This hobby gets out of hand easily. I was looking for something in the outhouse and decided to count my project and parts cars.

381.

I don't think I have enough years left to complete them!

[flat4alfa]

I daren't even start counting.

[flat4alfa]

On 9/24/2021 at 11:07 AM, flat4alfa said:

Lucky Toys 'Massivesome Onesome' has been fiddled with.  All 16cm of it.

Front axle would not move due to broken holder tabs.  Fixed* that with a bodge adaption that Roadkill would be proud of.  Axle now rotating.

Rear friction flywheel motor removed, oiled and now free-wheeling properly.  Reseated housing in base and axle now at proper riding height.  We have a runner!  Albeit quite growly.

Now to do a compare with the Matchbox 1-74 original

WHO DID IT WORSE?

Matchbox Gruesome Twosome, or the Lucky Toys no-idea-what-they-called-it-even-though-I-did-look

No idea if this design was ever based on a real concept, even in a drawn form, but it's still a classic Matchbox 1-75 from the 1970s

Good enough even, to be copied and scaled-up, to around what would be nearer 1:20 scale (if it existed)

The all-plastic Lucky might have just the one engine, bit it is a pretty decent homage to the die-cast original 

It makes up for the missing engine with EXTRA EXHAUST PIPES

Not only that, there is detail on the chassis of the cooling system pipes from an assumed radiator at the front.  I never knew friction flywheel motors needed water-cooling.  Now you know.

[bunglebus]

 

[bunglebus]

Wish I knew what was going on with this one, which I think is a copy as the Lucky logo is missing. What was the sticky-out bit on the window for?

 

[bunglebus]

On 23/09/2021 at 09:23, bunglebus said:

Quite liking this, I'll dig out an original for comparison. 

 

[sierraman]

Is the original a International Harvester? The new Field Car looks a bit more like seventies Bronco. 

Which the new Bronco from Ford looks bloody fantastic, everything the Defender could have been.

[bunglebus]

I don't think it's a licenced model, although it does look like a Scout

[flat4alfa]

[barrett]

Been a while since I've had anything to report because, you know, I don't collect toy cars. However I did manage to snag a cheap, early casting of the Politoys Export Ghia V280 in the right colour.

A close comparison with the later issue show the casting is actually slightly different - the early car has a metal dashboard as part of the main casting, the later issue has a separate plastic dashboard (which doesn't fit particularly well). The early one is definitely much cleaner and sharper, and of course the deep glossy paint and accurate wheels make it a much nicer thing to handle.

It's still pretty basic comapred to the M-series cars, but a nice piece and one I'm glad to have. It actually cost less than the silver version, despite being significantly harder to find.

[bunglebus]

It's been a while since I've done one of these, but the weather's a bit crap and we're all suffering from various degrees of cold symptoms - so I grabbed the 1973 Corgi catalogue out of the pile awaiting scanning. Definitely a good era for Corgi, and it was quite nice mentally ticking off the ones I have. However I don't recall laying eyes on the Mach 1 Mustang in white before - anyone else?

 

[155V6]

I really like the Whizzwheels versions of some of the older models.Some of the American cars were quite a few years old by 1973.

[bunglebus]

It's an interesting one - can't find any images of the white "59" Mustang, and the "Starfighter" dragster was renamed "Silver Streak" at launch. I thought the purple Rover 2000 was another one that wasn't made but they are out there. Also don't remember seeing the Camaro in blue with a raised roof, I think the later Whizzwheels cars must be less common than their earlier counterparts

[andrew e]

1973 was the year of corgis infamous Columbian toy fair disaster, with only the marching powder Unimog making the shelves.

[Bren]

Father christmas may / may not be bringing me a whizzwheels camaro.

[sierraman]

Picked this up the other day, £2 plus postage on t’ebay. One that had been elusive at car boots etc.