Shite in Miniature II

[MiniMinorMk3]

A Schabak Sierra yesterday

[bunglebus]

Biggest BuM I've ever seen! Of course I entered it immediately, but despite going up and down repeatedly, I left unsatisfied 

[bunglebus]

Asda next door had a huge toy dept - all Majorettes gone, just a solitary Merc SEC for my troubles if anyone needs it?

[barrett]

Hello men. I've been very broke recently so went a while without picking up anything new, but I have had a couple of post-payday packages arrive this week. First up, I struggled to resist this lovely AMT Ford Torino dealer model that @bunglebus found recently, which he very kindly sold me for what it cost him despite it almost certainly being worth quite a bit more on the open market.

It's big!

Not sure why, really, but it's found a shelf space to sit on for now.

More on-brand for me are these

I already have the Indra, but I couldn't resist a couple of boxed Pilens. The Mangusta is something I've been looking for for a while.

I've always been curious about the origins of this one. According to my source, Pilen No 313 was launched in 1970 in this bronze and a chrome-plated version. Having never seen one up close, I've never been able to figure out if it's based on an existing casting or if it's a 'unique' Pilen before

It's probably most closely related to the Dinky version, which also has the opening engine cover, and has a base which forms the front and rear valances like this does

However, after studying photos of al the other 1:43 Mangustas online I reckon this is actually a unique casting, as none of the details match up. Obviously the main difference is this one has opening doors, but that means the entire construction of the roof and pillars is quite different. The inclusion of the glass roof is an oddity for a model launched in 1970 (only the 1967 prototype had this feature) but only Solido built a production-type version with a solid roof.

I think the jury is still out here, but there's enough different to make me think this is a Pilen original, and as such I've added it to my list.

sidebar - what's the origin of the Nacoral Mangusta?

Fixed engine cover, but opening bonnet and doors. Glass roof, but valances are part of the body casting. Is this another original?

The 'new' Indra is a bit more complete than my old one

This is one of my favourites - the opening boot in particular (and this is difficult to describe) just fits so nicely (the one on the left is actually slightly open) - there's a lip in the body casting and another lip in the bootlid so the shutlines are miniscule. Unneccessary and expensive and very satisfying.

Time for a group shot I guess

That's nine (I think) 'originals' and a couple of re-casts. Really glad I don't collect these things or else it could get out of hand.

[RoadworkUK]

40 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Asda next door had a huge toy dept - all Majorettes gone, just a solitary Merc SEC for my troubles if anyone needs it?

I'd love the SEC if you're up for posting it to my corner of Essex... I can't imagine when I'll get a chance to go diecast-hunting myself.

[morrisoxide]

2 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Got two days kicking my heels around Leeds, die cast hunting is not going well.

Leeds City Center is pants for miniature tat.

If your out Otley way, there is a very good shop at the top of the Kirkgate Arcade on the main street, maybe worth a stop by if your close. The chap who owns it has a MGZT V8 and a 60's Ford Fairlane.

Every time I go there it's like a meeting place for blokes who like to chinwag about smoll tat.

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, barrett said:

 a couple of boxed Pilens.

Did you notice the ones on the toy fair stall I posted? Didn't ask prices but he was fair if not cheap

[bunglebus]

Final stop for today, fed up getting rained on. Success in Entertainer, already opened boxes still had lots of goodies inside

Nothing in this dump bin despite digging all the way through it. These things are murder on the cards

[bunglebus]

9 minutes ago, morrisoxide said:

Leeds City Center is pants for miniature tat.

If your out Otley way, there is a very good shop at the top of the Kirkgate Arcade on the main street, maybe worth a stop by if your close.

I can go where I want for the next two days really, only restriction is parking a Luton nearby

[bunglebus]

There's a big Sainsbury's right by the Entertainer so I had a look in there too - several new MB 5 packs out, despite being tagged at £12(!) they're £6.99 at the till. Bought two others which ill show later!

[barrett]

23 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Did you notice the ones on the toy fair stall I posted? Didn't ask prices but he was fair if not cheap

I did! I can't say I'm that interested in 'liveried' cars though, particularly when the civilian Renault 12 is in such a nice colour

There's a not-too-expensive (unboxed) axample on ebay at the moment, actually, but I can't afford to spend any more money on fripperies this month

[Datsuncog]

Had to nip over to Screwfix early doors today, so took the opportunity to have a peep at diecast availability in the north Belfast area...

B&M (open from 8am, tat fans) had a decent selection, though nothing much new.

Plenty of Hot Wheels, but mostly racer, custom and fantasy type releases left on the pegs. Some of the packaging was quite torn - kids, eh?

Matchbox were now properly in their own space, rather than on clip strips dangling along the aisle.

Nothing we haven't seen before, though. Seemed to be a mix of 2022 and 2023 releases.

Loads of those annoying little baggage truck things, too.

Also still some Flying Customs to be found, though only four varieties left - just one Firebird and one Mustang Mach 1, and the rest were all Barracudas and Custom Ottos.

Nipped across to a smaller Tesco branch which I don't normally frequent - and they'd a good lot of 2023 case Matchbox on the shelves:

But again, we've all seen these before.

Hot Wheels not quite so abundant - and only the Challenger held any vague interest.

Called across to a biggish Poundland store in the main shopping centre, and there was a slightly better Hot Wheels selection to be seen, in terms of realistic vehicles:

More Matchbox here too - first time I've seen mainlines in this branch.

One solitary long card 'Matchbox Collection' model - the fairly unappealing Speed Trapper.

Some oddities in their Far Eastern cheapo 'Nitro Legends' range though - a custom Beetle pickup...

And a reasonable enough stab at a C3 Corvette:

I've seen worse. Much worse. And two for £1 will keep some car-lovin' kiddies happy, I reckon.

Lastly, I swung by another Poundland branch over in the nearby retail park:

Much more space for Matchbox here - a good selection, and much cheaper than those at Tesco.

Makes me wonder how come Poundland can sell current mainline Hot Wheels and Matchbox for £1.50 a throw, when 'every little helps' Tesco are wanting £2.00 and £2.20 respectively?

I'm guessing Poundland aren't making a loss on each sale (well, they were two weeks ago, but that was a different matter...), so that's some fairly hefty profiteering on Tesco's part.

I noticed that this branch had the older paired Camaro from yesterday's 'Then And Now' find:

I thought about it - but I didn't.

I did pick up a Toyota Tacoma from B&M, though.

I've been hemming and hawing about this one for a while, but since it was the last one there, I finally took the plunge...

Others I'd looked at seemed to have really rough, gappy castings around the headlights which put me off - but this one looks fine.

Removable camping rig is an appealing novelty, I'll admit.

And base detail quite good too.

It's not really a vehicle I've a huge amount of interest in - as far as I can tell, the Tacoma is basically a HiLux but not as good - though I've enjoyed seeing plenty of them rescued by Matt's Off-Road Recovery on YouTube, so I guess there's an element of amusement there...

(I'd quite like to see a Hot Wheels version of his 'Banana' Cherokee or, better yet, the MORRvair...)

EDIT: Looks like Johnny Lightning already muscled in there...

[bunglebus]

54 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

 custom Beetle pickup...

Argh I saw a load of those and didn't bother investigating - I could do a custom using that Beetle! Now I've got to try and remember which of the dozens of shops they were in...

[morrisoxide]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

I can go where I want for the next two days really, only restriction is parking a Luton nearby

I can't see a Luton van being a problem to park around there, I usually park up a side street.

Google Maps link Here if anyone else is interested.

I should get some pictures next time I go as the shop doesn't seem to exist on google?

[bunglebus]

Here are a load of new Hot Wheels I picked up starting with a recoloured Mustang 

Bloody Unimogs, I just can't help myself!

This thing's very cool, lovely detail too

Might pass this one on

Recoloured drift Maxima

Bit of a casting error on the roof

I'm quite drawn to these blue and white graphics, they've appeared on a few cars recently 

Recoloured Firebird 

Lovely T tops

Corvette is great, happy Mattel do a lot of gassers

Chrome version of the special Twin Mill for blind kids

And a new version of the Honda Cub

[bunglebus]

These are the two 5 packs - tempted to buy the previous Wagons version at that price

[sierraman]

When is the next mix due with the Opel in Orange? 

[flat4alfa]

4 hours ago, bunglebus said:

£6.99 at till, right?

That Merc W123 Wagon was the US Target store exclusive colour

[Volksy]

2 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

 

I did pick up a Toyota Tacoma from B&M, though.

I've been hemming and hawing about this one for a while, but since it was the last one there, I finally took the plunge...

Others I'd looked at seemed to have really rough, gappy castings around the headlights which put me off - but this one looks fine.

 

 

Ooh. I'll have to get one of these.

 

On a recent Hawaii trip, I rented one not dissimilar!

[flat4alfa]

Mattel confuse my head.

 

The Hot Wheels '88 Jeep Wagoneer.  Released 2013.

The Matchbox '88 Jeep Wagoneer.  Released 2018.

Two different castings.  It's not just the base having a winch or not, or having door mirrors or not.  Look at the lower leading edge of the front wing (fender!), going up and over the bonnet lip (hood!).  The bodyshells could never be interchangable.  

[bunglebus]

Went back out looking for Poundlands, found the one I missed yesterday - a few of the new Hot Wheels I found today on the pegs!

Tried several One Belows, just a few Matchbox stragglers

But in one of the Poundlands I was in last night:

WTF they're all the new batch I just bought!

Oh well there was one bonus other than doing 5 billion steps today

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

When is the next mix due with the Opel in Orange? 

I wish I knew. Probably going to be Tescogate all over again, no-one ordering new ones while the old ones clutter the pegs.

[MiniMinorMk3]

6 hours ago, barrett said:

More on-brand for me are these

 

That Torino is fab.

I also like the Pilens, I've always thought they were a good for a 1970's model.

I have a Verem (Solido) Mangusta.

No idea why they did teh engine cover black.

I think I still have it, so if I find it in the next few days I'll take some more detailed shots.

And for the modern diecast collectors, here's one by Minichamps.

The last time I saw one in the flesh was at some HSCC meetings about 10 years ago

[bunglebus]

None of them are a patch on a Zylmex K705 Electra

[bunglebus]

One day I'll finish this Corgi

I got new glass from Mr. Flowers after a slight incident

And as I have the model club re-release there's no need for it to be the original colours now

[flat4alfa]

2 hours ago, sierraman said:

When is the next mix due with the Opel in Orange? 

It's in the Matchbox P Case Mix 5 box

All we can do is keep eyes open, bribe staff in stores, or get your local MP on the case (pun intended)

Video posted 9 days ago.  Title apparently wrong.

[flat4alfa]

40 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

I got new glass from Mr. Flowers after a slight incident

I meant to ask about that.  You dipped the glazing brake fluid right?  It has fogged on you before.

Was there something specific about the glazing plastic?  Same approximate year and just Corgi?

[bunglebus]

I honestly don't know - I've been told DOT 3 is less likely to cause problems than 4, but I just don't use it now, it seems to be safer to use oven cleaner of all things - which I think contains caustic soda. It strips chrome off plastic parts and did a good job on the Anglia and Thames windows/rear doors with no harm to the plastic.

I also get told to use Dettol but it stinks and I've had plastics soften in it.

[flat4alfa]

On 5/11/2023 at 6:58 PM, bunglebus said:

it seems to be safer to use oven cleaner of all things - which I think contains caustic soda

Yes you're right, the most common active ingredient is Sodium Hydroxide, known to our Grandparents as Lye, nowadays as Caustic Soda

The difference of DOT 3 to DOT 4 is the higher boiling point of DOT 4, avoiding brake fade.  It's not likely we would need to boil our toys.

[bunglebus]

DOT 4 has borate ester, which may or may not make a difference