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Posted

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

20220220_104834.jpg

  • Like 2
Posted
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

Posted

Matchbox Army.

AEC

AECArmyRear.thumb.jpg.4e5d07053faf845e89a2da39ef5213c2.jpg

AECArmyFront.thumb.jpg.efbf81adb54165ee0d7cecac31dc48f7.jpg

Two Ferrets

FerretScoutCarSecond.thumb.jpg.cb3b4bdf53cbb4219d56d187a1bbe624.jpg

 

FerretScoutCar.thumb.jpg.c6f267085650632eb255f4a77a64de8d.jpg

Ford 3 Ton

Ford3TonSide.thumb.jpg.0e6ecc307bb50ffc06a42e9dacc9b397.jpg

Ford3TonRear.thumb.jpg.3f46d75435c488b10eba63e5dc91db2d.jpg

Saladin

Saladin.thumb.jpg.b207e32f2db47a59c48e134990652a7b.jpg

Saracen

Saracen.thumb.jpg.1847436417e9dda75e757fb6be50b483.jpg

Antar and Tank

ThorneycroftAntarSideMatchbox.thumb.jpg.80c12ae2e4b29ff3c79c6d20409ed870.jpg

ThorneycroftAntarTankMatchbox.thumb.jpg.e7bfea7623f5bef99ff83739b52c562a.jpg

  • Like 2
Posted

Here's the Porsche I bought earlier20220220_151248.thumb.jpg.d8cebdbfeb3b0cb3bb9b0ff6bf3bc453.jpg

And the other thing - more Hot Wheels VW monster trucks

20220220_151339.thumb.jpg.4b5a9851d9f6ae5dd0fe847ccb00b15a.jpg20220220_151138.thumb.jpg.98da896f5c5ad37b740b570d995aa897.jpg20220220_151157.thumb.jpg.25443fc3c577785cbc82167174d5d036.jpg

  • Like 3
Posted

Monogram '57 Chevy refresh completed:

1:24 Monogram 1957 Chevy kit

 

1:24 Monogram 1957 Chevy kit

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.

1:24 Monogram 1957 Chevy kit

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.

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

Charity shop purchase this morning:

IMG_8655.thumb.JPG.f5722bb83ef0b3c8d27f8e335b8609b3.JPG

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

IMG_8654.thumb.JPG.54d0ae3ebc0658f225b540d8ff377506.JPG

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.

IMG_8657.thumb.JPG.7f48586ce1f0ba2e35d0d0869575afb0.JPG

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.

MB67_Datsun_260Z_purple.thumb.jpg.3728ffe9a7068b57c256b8915c05ee1b.jpg

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.

292786555_MatchboxPowertrackTriumphTR7.jpg.db7510e90e9be9d7a79e52ff2ca73a68.jpg

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:

1122940473_MatchboxGlo-RacersChevroletCorvetteStingray.thumb.jpg.42b3af8179f50f2c106e820f269eaa07.jpg

Like this...

1728594033_MatchboxPowertrackChevroletCorvetteStingray.thumb.jpg.1ed0e1f9b039c90075fa9894a4cbe4e0.jpg

In this set...

853999195_MatchboxPowertrack2000Set.thumb.jpg.9b1cc75f37d12e135db66ac319dab188.jpg

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?

852764809_MatchboxGlo-RacersDatsun280ZX.thumb.jpg.00f2bd3133803d4516a619012d8b6c45.jpg

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.

20200828_121508.thumb.jpg.487c0e542875e2dfa6a22f9ba5a43a3b.jpg

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.

20200828_121555.thumb.jpg.30198ce4ad4450456486019b18b8fafd.jpg

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

20200828_121818.thumb.jpg.79bb1fdfc47ecd40d6261d6f6c67b26e.jpg

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

20200828_121612.thumb.jpg.2fa15e178ad07cd6029f0deebdc4e296.jpg

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.

20200828_121851.thumb.jpg.2058d759d9d48e2d466773c42bfc64be.jpg

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

Posted

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

Posted

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

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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

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That Phantom RS2000 is the pick of the bunch obviously.

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

20220221_122009.thumb.jpg.57121294fa31b61fef356028df6a40d0.jpg20220221_122151.thumb.jpg.18c5bcf4cd42ea2f4e04390e610f7f5e.jpg

  • Like 3
Posted
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.

Posted
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. 

Posted

More Matchbox copies located. Tractor Shovel fake

20220221_171230.thumb.jpg.87fe8666c1f524afea5058422821926c.jpg

Real

20210820_184142

#34 Formula 1. Fake:

20220221_171254.thumb.jpg.d6ec66b4dc5a84c2f8c7267b491e1f76.jpg

Real:

20210304_113827

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

20220221_171313.thumb.jpg.40afc3452b20248f62b12f3e8d9a240a.jpg20220221_171328.thumb.jpg.60392ce8d280ffc661652d646c914282.jpg

Real:

20190709_11190020190925_103144

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

20220221_165113

 

  • Like 3
Posted
16 hours ago, bunglebus said:

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

20220221_165113

 

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

Posted

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

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

16455331197294066990681957949255.jpg

Posted
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. 

16455331197294066990681957949255.jpg

Have you 'bagged' another Skoda!

  • Like 2
Posted
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

20220222_154318.thumb.jpg.7b06e4ceb2c1e21958f2e3d6b05b6262.jpg

And another Skud

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Others include a Hot Wheels 32 Ford panel

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Matchbox BMW

20220222_154113.thumb.jpg.1002f2ac289bb96c2c807e0966cfb414.jpg

and Red Rider

20220222_154038.thumb.jpg.92bfce4598efbd17e195b6456a3d9b82.jpg

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

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20220222_154310.jpg

Posted

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.

Posted
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

20210502_102532

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

MustangCobraCorgi_PinkLW.JPG.thumb.jpg.2e2a691696287cb52b85e7f38677fecd.jpg

Posted
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

Toy_Town_Hong_Kong_Sarah_Monks.jpg.97ac138e07d4d79df3423046b28b892f.jpg

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

Posted

So how many Corgis got this treatment? Mustang

Ford_Mustang_Cobra_Model_Cars_9330e917-4992-4e57-9be2-49040edca741.JPG

Jag XJS

Jaguar_Track_Car_Model_Cars_690bbb36-e0bf-4911-8eda-35a4f23f397f.JPG

Buick Regal

Buick_Track_Car_Model_Cars_030856e4-b849-4230-9d74-8f68f2e4ff45.JPG

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

Posted
2 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

So how many Corgis got this treatment? Mustang

Ford_Mustang_Cobra_Model_Cars_9330e917-4992-4e57-9be2-49040edca741.JPG

Jag XJS

Jaguar_Track_Car_Model_Cars_690bbb36-e0bf-4911-8eda-35a4f23f397f.JPG

Buick Regal

Buick_Track_Car_Model_Cars_030856e4-b849-4230-9d74-8f68f2e4ff45.JPG

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

Never seen the Mustang with the sidepipes before 😎,I'm just hoping that there are a few Volvo 245s like that out there 🤔

Posted
54 minutes ago, sierraman said:

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

I've had a look through my 82-92 book and can't find any mention of them!

Found a few interesting pics though, looks like some of the sets came with cars with glowing windows

sbazar.png,10,10|jpg,80,,1

233-1.jpg

I know the Cortina came with glowing windows, seen a Porsche 911, the Datsun Z and by the looks of it the Firebird/Corvette. Any more?

Also found the packaging for a Glo Racer

554-1.jpg

  • Like 3
Posted

Somebody's UPS collection in the window of the charity shop when I walked past on my way to Sainsbury's just now20220222_174232.thumb.jpg.8d4bbd49cd7f7d3b3d5f11d5dd34ceea.jpg

Posted

I was looking in the wrong book - 69-82 does indeed list Glo Racers and mention Lash-Tamaron 

20220222_184247.thumb.jpg.0e11afb81e97bdfa5f586fac9e83cb9b.jpg

And here's their packaging without the Matchbox logoSFGLOPORSCHE5GAL.thumb.jpeg.a89fac9525d8757086da972be1af793f.jpeg

  • Like 3
Posted

Found a 928 and 280Z for Glo Racer comparison

20220223_114812.thumb.jpg.895af1ee50becbdc65a7da8e196429e0.jpg20220223_114802.thumb.jpg.e4c70ed06dc5cb5d07cd8fb70ca9aed3.jpg20220223_114642.thumb.jpg.9eb4fd30409685a0891466463f52c052.jpg20220223_114701.thumb.jpg.79e4f48f4a0305d062f188e9e141e5f0.jpg

20220223_114528.thumb.jpg.bb4501a77af77073ed062120f7f80f84.jpg20220223_114519.thumb.jpg.f20a771c7c4ae5fc9969160e3783eb6e.jpg20220223_114447.thumb.jpg.46033e5c3bde7e82ad28aee56fc7b2e4.jpg20220223_114459.thumb.jpg.ad9673fa6ded614ccabdaba4c1ec8c48.jpg

Conclusion: similar but not the same. 280 especially is noticeably larger.

Is there a Firebird the equivalent of the Flash Fire?

20220223_114855.jpg

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