Shite in Miniature II

[andy18s]

1 hour ago, andrew e said:

That’s excellent! What’s the price exchanged to pounds? Need any swaps!

It'll work out at around £25 delivered to me here in Bg. Postage to the UK can be sorted but not advisable untill all the various strikes and stuff are sorted.

 

[ETCHY]

16 hours ago, barrett said:

aye up lads. Just thinking about this page in 'the book'

and I reckon every one of those Spanish Dinkys turned into Pilens later on. Need to double-check my lists but I think that's right. Now, I know I'm only supposed to be collecting the Pilens that weren't based on other company's castings, but...

Difficult to resist this one, particularly taking into account the psychological scarring 'the book' left me with

Although the period of cars might not be my favourite, I do think toys really came into their own when real cars had big plastic bumpers which could be easily moulded in 1/43'rd scale like this. Interestingly* the bumpers here are separate bits, not part of the base as with the Solido R14

I don't think  I've ever even seen a Spanish Dinky irl so no idea how much of the base was changed, but I can extrapolate there was probably a big 'DINKY TOYS' logo on the bottom there

I think these are my only three ex-Dinkys, but I'll probably pick up a few more as the Pilens seem to be worth a fraction of the originals despite being indistinguishable, and built in the same factory by the same people at (almost) the same time.

Hello
What book is that, looks interesting ?

Cheers

[Datsuncog]

Hot Wheels 5-Pack deals to be had at Tesco today, kids:

£10 each or two for £14 - but only if you have their Magic Card.

No new Hot Wheels to be found down the toy aisle though, and the Matchbox is just a depleted selection of last week's.

I took a rummage just in case, but most stuff worth having had been removed.

Just the one Cycle Runner paired motorcycle trailer left - but hang on a minute...

That's not the same bike as mine.

Ah - I hadn't noticed.

Maybe one of you did, further upthread, and I missed it?

Those scallywags at Mattel have been at it again - two different bike loads.

Pity they don't demount like the old Lesney-era bike trailers/ Holden pickup did, but still - another headache for series completionists!

 

EDIT: seems MB have been doing this for a while now - all Motorcycle Trailers so far have come with two different bikes loaded.

MBX Cycle Trailer | Matchbox Cars Wiki | Fandom

[Split_Pin]

6 minutes ago, ETCHY said:

Hello
What book is that, looks interesting ?

Cheers

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143203606083?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=815C3ZuwTru&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=ZRO7rX7WRjq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Don't though.

You'll never be the same.

[bunglebus]

20 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Don't though.

You'll never be the same.

I just have, but I wasn't the same to start with

[AndyW201]

Postman just called,

One of my fave new 'small' diecast releases of the year, but extended searching in my area had failed to turn one up. So, many many thanks to @flat4alfa for sending me this one. This place etc....

A lovely rendition of an unusual subject. For the size and price point, the detailing like the wood panelling and badging are superb. Even has a set of tiny mudflaps!

[captain_70s]

New smol car acquired.

Trying to get a model of every car I've owned, with this Maxichamps 740 GL being the latest.

Here it is with the rest of the crew...

Acclaim is a Corgi and I plan to strip it and modify it to be a more accurate replica of my own car. Dolly is Vanguards 1850 Automatic, as close to my 1850HL as is available. I have a white metal kit of a Dolomite 1300 with which to replicate WAC 257S, but that's on hold until my real cars are finished...

[ETCHY]

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143203606083?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=815C3ZuwTru&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=ZRO7rX7WRjq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Don't though.

You'll never be the same.

Thanks for that i've now just bought it..
Oh god another rabbit hole to go down !😄

[MiniMinorMk3]

Talking of Dinky Triumphs

[Dick Longbridge]

So, after @flat4alfakindly gave me dibs on this McDonalds Hotwheels light up car from @danthecapriman, I decided to have a poke around this arvo. 

Dremelage on the battery holder to free the rogered old cells. 

New ones in. Seamless. Ish.

The moment of truth. Will it wurk? 

[flat4alfa]

Hollowback lives!

Now to find the rest of the 2005 series!

I had the one called Baseline in recent times, but it is missing.  I suspect given to the charity shop in a bundle without realising what it was

[flat4alfa]

The purple one you have is Rapid Transit from 2004

Seems to be a lot less common compared others as part of the McDonald's promotions. The casting was a mainline for years though

[Split_Pin]

1 hour ago, captain_70s said:

New smol car acquired.

Trying to get a model of every car I've owned, with this Maxichamps 740 GL being the latest.

Here it is with the rest of the crew...

Acclaim is a Corgi and I plan to strip it and modify it to be a more accurate replica of my own car. Dolly is Vanguards 1850 Automatic, as close to my 1850HL as is available. I have a white metal kit of a Dolomite 1300 with which to replicate WAC 257S, but that's on hold until my real cars are finished...

Nice 740, I like that. I had a couple of K&R replica white metal Dolomites, a Sprint and a 1300, they built up superbly.

[Tenmil Socket]

2 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143203606083?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=815C3ZuwTru&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=ZRO7rX7WRjq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Don't though.

You'll never be the same.

Thanks, just bought one. Aptly named site for this forum. I’ve bought from them before.

[danthecapriman]

Had a mess around with that knackered Corgi Ford H truck I got today.

Here it is as it came. The Holmes wrecker version with the crane section entirely missing. That made it cheap.

 

A quick look over it and it’s dead easy to get the back off. Two small rivets under the back hold the chequer plate bed onto the red side casting. Once they are drilled out the chequer plate bit actually holds the red bed casting onto the artic version tow pin. With the chequer plate bit prised off the red body simply slides off. Nice bit of design from Corgi I think.

 

The only down side is the black plastic clip that holds the tilt cab down is attached to the back of the red body section with a rivet. Drill this out to free the plastic tab and you can see on the back of the chassis casting behind the cab is a stepped piece it’s supposed to sit on. My chassis however has no metal in the middle of it to rivet the plastic tab onto? Don’t know if they’re all like that or not? 
So instead I’ve sanded the grey paint off, scratched up the surface for a good key and glued it in place with impact adhesive. Tbh, you probably don’t really need the tab as the cab will just sit there on its own perfectly fine but since it’s there I reused it.

Once the glue had gone off I had to give the rear axle a tweak as it was slightly bent. It’s not bad now.

[danthecapriman]

Now time to play test it!

 

 

Im well happy with it actually! Paint scheme on the cab conveniently matches the later version trailer perfectly. Looks almost like it was meant to be a pair! 
So I’ve now ordered some bits, horns/mirrors/exhaust and a set of new rubber! 
Both the tractor unit and trailer need a wash now but it was an easy little project to do, and used up a spare trailer and a cab that probably didn’t have much hope for anything else.

I might repaint the cab roof in black too, it’s quite heavily chipped and scratched. But I don’t want it to stand out as being too nice!

 

 

 

[ETCHY]

1 hour ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Talking of Dinky Triumphs

Can anyone explain what that feature is supposed to be that's on Steeds Jag ?

I remember seeing it in the 1977 Dinky catalogue & it showed the bad guy somehow bouncing off it like on that box pic' above. Thing is I don't understand how it would work, it's something i've pondered since i was 7 !

[bunglebus]

All the paint fell off the Mebetoys Simca. Casting is superb

I didn't buy it with the intention of doing this but I realised I have paint of a very similar colour. 

While I was fiddling with that (including a nerve wracking time bending the door hinges for a better fit), this arrived;

The Matchbox Sand Racer is not an easy one to find this side of the pond, as I understand it the mould broke shortly after production started, so it was short lived and only ever in this colour. Of course it did have a previous life...

...as a Kenner Fast 111.

There are two others (Jeep 4x4 and Bronco) but this and the Mustang were the two I really wanted to pair up

[bunglebus]

2 minutes ago, ETCHY said:

Can anyone explain what that feature is supposed to be that's on Steeds Jag ?

I remember seeing it in the 1977 Dinky catalogue & it showed the bad guy somehow bouncing off it like on that box pic' above. Thing is I don't understand how it would work, it's something i've pondered since i was 7 !

It isn't anything. There was discussion about there being some sort of mechanism inside the car but there wasn't. The art just showns the bad guy falling away from the car

[Tenmil Socket]

33 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

All the paint fell off the Mebetoys Simca. Casting is superb

I didn't buy it with the intention of doing this but I realised I have paint of a very similar colour. 

While I was fiddling with that (including a nerve wracking time bending the door hinges for a better fit), this arrived;

The Matchbox Sand Racer is not an easy one to find this side of the pond, as I understand it the mould broke shortly after production started, so it was short lived and only ever in this colour. Of course it did have a previous life...

...as a Kenner Fast 111.

There are two others (Jeep 4x4 and Bronco) but this and the Mustang were the two I really wanted to pair up

That Simca casting is great!

[MiniMinorMk3]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

All the paint fell off the Mebetoys Simca. Casting is superb

I didn't buy it with the intention of doing this but I realised I have paint of a very similar colour. 

 

That's a nice crisp casting but the roof looks a bit tall.

The Mira Chrysler 150 is fairly good, but the roof looks a bit low.

The Solido Simca looks spot on. Also both the Mira and Solido have red rear light lenses for extra detail points.

 

[Split_Pin]

Side by side the Joal is a copy of the Solido but with much softer suspension.

[FakeConcern]

3 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

Had a mess around with that knackered Corgi Ford H truck I got today.

Here it is as it came. The Holmes wrecker version with the crane section entirely missing. That made it cheap.

 

A quick look over it and it’s dead easy to get the back off. Two small rivets under the back hold the chequer plate bed onto the red side casting. Once they are drilled out the chequer plate bit actually holds the red bed casting onto the artic version tow pin. With the chequer plate bit prised off the red body simply slides off. Nice bit of design from Corgi I think.

 

The only down side is the black plastic clip that holds the tilt cab down is attached to the back of the red body section with a rivet. Drill this out to free the plastic tab and you can see on the back of the chassis casting behind the cab is a stepped piece it’s supposed to sit on. My chassis however has no metal in the middle of it to rivet the plastic tab onto? Don’t know if they’re all like that or not? 
So instead I’ve sanded the grey paint off, scratched up the surface for a good key and glued it in place with impact adhesive. Tbh, you probably don’t really need the tab as the cab will just sit there on its own perfectly fine but since it’s there I reused it.

Once the glue had gone off I had to give the rear axle a tweak as it was slightly bent. It’s not bad now.

I've never seen one with that black tab and don't understand why you'd need it. Mine doesn't and never has had it and the one reviewed on Model Auto Review doesn't either so you live and learn!

3 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

Now time to play test it!

 

 

Im well happy with it actually! Paint scheme on the cab conveniently matches the later version trailer perfectly. Looks almost like it was meant to be a pair! 
So I’ve now ordered some bits, horns/mirrors/exhaust and a set of new rubber! 
Both the tractor unit and trailer need a wash now but it was an easy little project to do, and used up a spare trailer and a cab that probably didn’t have much hope for anything else.

I might repaint the cab roof in black too, it’s quite heavily chipped and scratched. But I don’t want it to stand out as being too nice!

 

 

 

That looks just right with the Carrimore, no wonder you're pleased (being a sad git I looked at sold items to see what you paid-bargain!) and like you I like them to be a bit playworn rather than "mint". However I think a repaint of the roof and new mirrors would improve it no end.

I'm really getting into these transporters and a bonus is that Mrs Concern likes to have these displayed with cars loaded in the dining room!

I'd quite like to look for an older Bedford one next, better not though

[andy18s]

 

Police style - 1:40 - Lancia , Alfetta , Ford , Talbot , Porsche , Lamborghini - Printed in Italy - 1983

[FakeConcern]

8 minutes ago, andy18s said:

 

Police style - 1:40 - Lancia , Alfetta , Ford , Talbot , Porsche , Lamborghini - Printed in Italy - 1983

I've not seen Mk3 Escorts in that sort of scale so thanks for that post. Do they have a huge shovel front spoiler tho?

[andy18s]

yep,they all have the large spoiler. These are for sale for around £15 from my Portugese contact who ships them to Bulgaria to order. 

[danthecapriman]

1 hour ago, FakeConcern said:

I've never seen one with that black tab and don't understand why you'd need it. Mine doesn't and never has had it and the one reviewed on Model Auto Review doesn't either so you live and learn!

That looks just right with the Carrimore, no wonder you're pleased (being a sad git I looked at sold items to see what you paid-bargain!) and like you I like them to be a bit playworn rather than "mint". However I think a repaint of the roof and new mirrors would improve it no end.

I'm really getting into these transporters and a bonus is that Mrs Concern likes to have these displayed with cars loaded in the dining room!

I'd quite like to look for an older Bedford one next, better not though

Now you’ve said that, I’ve checked my other H cabs. Non of them have the black tab either with the exception of the other H wrecker I’ve got. It does seem pretty pointless tbh so I really don’t know why they put it on these? Weird.

Im looking into the possibility of creating a custom one next! The Corgi model is a Ford HD (H cab Diesel engine) so I might get another at some stage and stretch the chassis slightly and add a second rear axle to make an HDT (H cab, Diesel engine, Tandem drive axle). How easy it’ll be I’m not sure. Maybe a donor Mack tri axle chassis would be a better start for the Ford cab to fit onto.

[FakeConcern]

13 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Now you’ve said that, I’ve checked my other H cabs. Non of them have the black tab either with the exception of the other H wrecker I’ve got. It does seem pretty pointless tbh so I really don’t know why they put it on these? Weird.

Im looking into the possibility of creating a custom one next! The Corgi model is a Ford HD (H cab Diesel engine) so I might get another at some stage and stretch the chassis slightly and add a second rear axle to make an HDT (H cab, Diesel engine, Tandem drive axle). How easy it’ll be I’m not sure. Maybe a donor Mack tri axle chassis would be a better start for the Ford cab to fit onto.

Sounds a great plan to do the HDT (never heard of it haha) but is suitable (cheap) Mack likely?

You've now got me looking at Mack Tankers, H Cab Express Services and Holmes Wreckers, where will this end. Arrg!

It was so simple when I just liked Minis!

[bunglebus]

Apparently Majorette is back at TK Maxx

[Datsuncog]

Nothing to massively excite at The Entertainer earlier... I'd been hoping to find some Matchbox, preferably in Hitch 'N Haul flavour, but the best they could manage were a few stale police 5-Packs.

Meh. Even with 25% off, still not really a temptation.

There were some mainlines kicking about, but nothing I hadn't seen before - and mostly just the wacky stuff left.

Plenty of mid-level premiums and character releases, some also reduced, but apart from some of the muddy off-roaders it was a hard pass.

I don't even know what these things relate to. Something computery, that those youngsters do on The Twitch?

[/old]

Little to see elsewhere, either - I usually head out for some shopping by myself of a Saturday morning, just to get a few bits and pieces locally, and it'll come as no surprise that this is turning into something of a Supermarket Sweep for diecast...

The town centre Home Bargains had nothing at all of interest - a couple of lairy Hot Wheels playsets was as good as it got for Mattel stuff, other than a couple of HW Monster Trucks priced at a fiver.

I was also over at the 'big' Home Bargains out at the retail park mid-week, and they failed to have much either - no individual models or multipacks that weren't Teamz rubbish, though they still have a fair few of those Matchbox garage playsets.

Poundstretcher had nothing of note - the MB Working Rigs peg was still there, forlornly vacant.

I'm hoping they'll return again someday, but I think that may be wishful thinking.

They did have a solitary longcard Hot Wheels mainline, of a kart, which I hadn't seen there before. But I wasn't tempted.

Poundland surprised me with a single peg chock-full of Hot Wheels, though they were older releases from 2022 - the selection that included the Toyota Space Cruiser in silver.

Good value at £1.49, but nothing I didn't already have.

Recent forays to another branch of B&M, in Antrim, yielded no Flying Customs and very little individual diecast at all - a solitary clip strip of 2022 Matchbox in the household cleaning aisle was the highlight there.

I haven't been into the local Sainsbury's since last Saturday, but I'd be surprised if there's much change there - it's quite a small store, and never has many toys in stock.

However, I've to go and pick up some IKEA cabinets tomorrow afternoon and there's a Lidl, a big Home Bargains and a big Sainsbury's in the same retail park, so I may get a chance to browse...

Stay tuned.