Shite in Miniature II

[AndyW201]

Early visit to Tesco on the way to work paid dividends,

I know, old news on here now, but it still felt like a lottery win. Only the one on display though, sadly.

For once, they had re stocked with a few new mainlines too,

Cracking detail on these Matchbox mainlines lately, nice colour too on the Bini,

[Remspoor]

Citroen DS

Matchbox in yellow.

Corgi in red.

[Datsuncog]

On 2/16/2022 at 5:58 PM, sierraman said:

That Celica looks like a copy of the Matchbox Hong Kong issue? 

 

On 2/16/2022 at 7:22 PM, bunglebus said:

They're all Kidco castings rebranded, as far as I know there's no link to Matchbox - got a pic of the one you mean? England/Macau/China I'm familiar with, was there production in HK too?

Yes, there was a small range of four cars developed by Matchbox in Japan, made in Hong Kong, and sold in the southern hemisphere during the late 70s/ early 80s.

I understand they were the first Matchbox toys designed outside England, and the first to be numbered above the longstanding 1-75 range, in response to their Japanese importer complaining that they were finding it hard to sell models of unfamiliar cars like Ford Cortinas and Citroen CXs to kids in Japan. They look a bit Tomica-like to me.

At the time, Lesney were grasping the idea that their 'one size fits all' policy of selling the same range worldwide may not be the best approach to marketing, and allowed their US operations to develop the 'Roman Numerals' range of 12 cars as exclusives for their own market. They were still made in England, but only sold in the US.

Not long after, by the early '80s, more models were developed for specific markets as the Matchbox range fragmented...

I've never seen any of the HK models in real life, though the Mitsubishi Galant was sold for 1981 only in the US as the MB63 Dodge Challenger (the badge-engineered version of the Galant coupe sold Stateside) and I once saw one in a model shop - which confused me greatly...

[sierraman]

I have a couple of Roman numeral issues, the Viper Van and Midnight Magic. I think a few made it here in multipacks from Tesco.  

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

I have a couple of Roman numeral issues, the Viper Van and Midnight Magic. I think a few made it here in multipacks from Tesco.  

I have a few of them, Lady Bug came from the USA when exchange rates and postage were more favourable 

Flying Beetle was a lucky job lot find

These two aren't part of the series but appear to be identical other than the base text - Sleet N Snow and Flying X

And a big fat fake - Silver Streak made from a Mod Rod

[junkyarddog]

I recently bought these in our version of Poundland. 

Smoll Eddy seems to be reasonably impressed. 

"Life's a gas(ser)M8"

 

[bunglebus]

I thought I'd use the opportunity of being at my dad's near Solihull to go die cast hunting in the charity shops - there used the something like 17 in one road but now it's down to 9, and I found naff all except a bunch of Lovejoy Minors at £7 a pop

Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's, B&M and Poundland also had nothing to offer. 

Maybe I'll find something on my journey home...

[Spottedlaurel]

Charity shop purchase this morning:

Complete with my almost finished '57 Chevy in the background.

How does the baseplate on this one tie-in with the other HK-made Matchbox discussed on the previous page? I presume the plastic bodyshell is similar to the standard diecast.

Still glowing after 40 years.

Also got these in the week:

The Corvette will probably be an engine donor then maybe built as a kerbside if I want a quick and simple project, bonus glue and paint came with it. The Mojave Mule is a Chevy Luv, I wasn't sure how good it would be but I thought I could merge it with a part-built different version of the Luv I already have.

 

However I think it deserves to live on its own right. With a little bit of detailing it'll make for a nice display piece. If I was sufficiently skilled I'd try and make an Isuzu or Bedford KB out of it, but I'm not.

[bunglebus]

New set out in Smyth's, only bought one...and something else

[bunglebus]

21 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

How does the baseplate on this one tie-in with the other HK-made Matchbox discussed on the previous page? I presume the plastic bodyshell is similar to the standard diecast.

I think they came as part of a set with track etc. I've got a couple and a Super GT with glowing windows that I can't find any info on

[Remspoor]

Matchbox Army.

AEC

Two Ferrets

 

Ford 3 Ton

Saladin

Saracen

Antar and Tank

[bunglebus]

Here's the Porsche I bought earlier

And the other thing - more Hot Wheels VW monster trucks

[Spottedlaurel]

Monogram '57 Chevy refresh completed:

 

Mostly the original brush-painted enamel lightly wet sanded and polished, new chrome trim done with bare metal foil, new wheels and tyres, parts salvaged from other kits and the rear axle and springs kindly sent to me by a chap on PistonHeads.

I like the mid '80s look it has with the Centerlines and straight paint, but still with a bit of '70s rake. It's how I remember 1:1s being built exactly at the time I first put it together. Certainly not one of my best builds, but it's great to see it on display again after 30+ years of sitting in the parts box.

[Datsuncog]

On 2/19/2022 at 1:17 PM, Spottedlaurel said:

Charity shop purchase this morning:

Complete with my almost finished '57 Chevy in the background.

How does the baseplate on this one tie-in with the other HK-made Matchbox discussed on the previous page? I presume the plastic bodyshell is similar to the standard diecast.

Still glowing after 40 years.

 

Quote

How does the baseplate on this one tie-in with the other HK-made Matchbox discussed on the previous page?

I presume the plastic bodyshell is similar to the standard diecast.

I don't think there's any tie-in between these Glo Racers and the rest of the Matchbox diecast range - from previous research rummagings, it seems that they were adapted from the defunct Powertrack range and made by Universal Toys in Hong Kong under contract to Matchbox - ironically, the very company that would buy up Lesney just a year or two later.

I'm still unsure which Hong Kong toymaker manufactured the four Japanese-designed Matchbox Superfasts - but it could well have been Universal.

There doesn't seem to be much commonality between the Powertack/ Glo Racer Datsun 280ZX and the standard MB67 Datsun 260Z 2+2 version, but I'd quite like to see them side-by-side.

Interestingly, the Datsun wasn't ever made available as a slot racer - possibly it was still in development at the time the Powertrack range was wound up, and only later brought in as a Glo Racer.

I waffled on a bit about the Glo Racers range a year or two ago.

On 5/23/2019 at 4:59 PM, Datsuncog said:

Just been doing a bit of digging on these, as nothing was coming up in my old Matchbox catalogues. Also, a Matchbox TR7 seemed... weird.

Seems that the Glo-Racers were derived from the short-lived Matchbox Powertrack range, a small-scale Scalextric/AFX/Tyco competitor, of which the TR7 was one of several cars available.

https://powertrackshak.blogspot.com/2008/02/triumph-tr7-pt-111-uk-143753-us.html

It seems at least some of the old Powertrack mouldings were shipped to Hong Kong not long before Lesney hit the buffers in 1982, and reused as the Glo-Racers range, with some minor modifications.

This appears to have been originally released as a Powertrack Racer:

Like this...

In this set...

This one wasn't - though maybe there was the intention to release it as a Powertrack car before the whole range was binned off, and losses cut?

Interesting stuff!

On 8/28/2020 at 3:00 PM, Datsuncog said:

Now, something a bit different - and I'd watched in horror as the other lad rummaged through the box like he was mixing cement, hoping that he wouldn't snaffle these. Thankfully he didn't, so I did.

It's a pair of Matchbox Glo-Racers, which were an odd short-lived range produced for Lesney by Universal Toys in Hong Kong, based on the Powertrack slot cars.

After the Powertrack range was discontinued in 1982, the moulded bodies were modified slightly before being paired with diecast bases to make a range of non-powered toy cars - with their gimmick being that the bodies would glow in the dark.

The BMW 3.0 CSL is based on the PT105 Powertrack car, and here called 'Light Beamer' (geddit?)

The Triumph TR7 is known as 'Quicksilver' and based on the PT111 Powertrack car.

Other than some toybox wear to the tampo print and a spot of damage to the B-pillar on the CSL, these are in pretty good shape.

50p each, if you fancy them! ***BOTH SOLD!!!***

[sierraman]

I read somewhere the Glo Racers were manufactured by a company called Lash Tameron then licenced Lesney?

[bunglebus]

Just been into town, had a look in the Charity shops. Much as Oxfam is a bit expensive, our one does at least feel like a proper charity shop with loads of interesting stuff piled high to rummage through. Too many are going posh and just have clothes and books.

Dug these two out of a box of broken McDonald's toys and tatty Days Gone

Not bad for 99p each 

Had to also stop at the Post Orifice on the way home which is conveniently located next to a couple more charity shops - and located a whole box full of interesting stuff for £9.99. Here's a quick overview while I sort out individual pics

That Phantom RS2000 is the pick of the bunch obviously.

Waiting on the doormat at home was a very conveniently timed Glo Racer 928 

[bunglebus]

A few out of that box

[sierraman]

Good find on the Skoda, saw £10 back on one a while back in similar condition on fleabay. 

[Tenmil Socket]

1 minute ago, sierraman said:

Good find on the Skoda, saw £10 back on one a while back in similar condition on fleabay. 

That Skoda is one of my childhood favourites.

[sierraman]

35 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

That Skoda is one of my childhood favourites.

It is mine, I recall finding one on a camping holiday as a kid in Cornwall which I still have somewhere. It’s a shame it only got used in one issue, it had special relevance for me as my grandmas neighbour had a 120 Estelle that I was fascinated with as a kid. 

[bunglebus]

More Matchbox copies located. Tractor Shovel fake

Real

#34 Formula 1. Fake:

Real:

and DeTomaso Pantera, by the same manufacturer as the Fandango etc copies I'd already found. Fake:

Real:

This one also looks familiar but I can't place it - Corgi copy maybe?

 

[hennabm]

16 hours ago, bunglebus said:

This one also looks familiar but I can't place it - Corgi copy maybe?

 

I remember Corgi doing a larger scale of the JPS in the 70s, but don't recall a version in Junior size.

[bunglebus]

Another day, another charity shop bag. See anything interesting? 

Sadly one of two at this parade of shops has closed suddenly. 

[Tenmil Socket]

7 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Another day, another charity shop bag. See anything interesting? 

Sadly one of two at this parade of shops has closed suddenly. 

Have you 'bagged' another Skoda!

[bunglebus]

5 hours ago, hennabm said:

I remember Corgi doing a larger scale of the JPS in the 70s, but don't recall a version in Junior size.

Funny enough, that ^ bag contains what I was thinking of, clearly not the same at all

And another Skud

Others include a Hot Wheels 32 Ford panel

Matchbox BMW

and Red Rider

Plus this Corgi Mustang - don't recall seeing slots in the base before, was there a version with side pipes?

[RoadworkUK]

I had that Mustang Cobra, but with a very fetching green base. Looking at it now, it seems that the model doesn't actually depict any specific features that defines it as a Cobra and not any regular Fox-body Mustang.

[bunglebus]

3 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Corgi Mustang - don't recall seeing slots in the base before, was there a version with side pipes?

Here's another with no slots, so I guess this came as a hot rod version too

Also found out this was one of the castings re-used as a Hot Wheels

[Datsuncog]

On 2/21/2022 at 11:55 AM, sierraman said:

I read somewhere the Glo Racers were manufactured by a company called Lash Tameron then licenced Lesney?

Ah, cool - I didn't know that.

A book I've had on my wishlist for a while is this one: 

Toy Town: How a Hong Kong Industry Played a Global Game

Not sure how much specific diecast information there is, but I'm sure it's a fascinating story anyway!

[sierraman]

Just now, Datsuncog said:

Ah, cool - I didn't know that.

A book I've had on my wishlist for a while is this one: 

Toy Town: How a Hong Kong Industry Played a Global Game

Not sure how much specific diecast information there is, but I'm sure it's a fascinating story anyway!

Basing my information from the back of one of the old rectangular Charlie Mack books

[bunglebus]

So how many Corgis got this treatment? Mustang

Jag XJS

Buick Regal

Those last were apparently called "Jaguar Track Car" and "Buick Track Car (J9)"