Shite in Miniature II

[Datsuncog]

I'd kinda worried this might happen... the new 'hybrid working arrangements' taking me back into Belfast on a Friday.

I've stayed away from the market for a while.

But I thought I'd chance it today. Just have a browse. Get a coffee. That sort of thing.

On the way over, I received a banking app notification to say my pay had hit my account.

Well, I can now confirm that's a load of bollocks.

[Datsuncog]

'Good' news: there was no 50p Tat Box.

So no danger of me having to stagger back to the office with two bulging carrier bags filled to bursting with shonky-axle Matchbox and scratched Corgi Juniors.

Nope, everything on the stall today was reassuringly expensive.

I did get a bit of a nostalgia tug for these very clean boxed Corgi Classics from the late 80s/ early 90s, but £10 a throw is rather more than I'd care to pay for them - even if it would have been an opportunity to pick up identical MIB examples of my childhood Corgi Classics, of which I so carelessly discarded the packaging.

Plenty of Days Gone stuff, too - if you like that sort of thing. Code 2  Matchbox Transit was appealing.

These MoYs were so dreadfully overblown, with their goldplate bodies and plastic display bases, they were almost brilliant. If only Liberace collected diecast...

BP promo Corgis were nice, but I've already got all I'll ever want of these.

This Trafalgar generic 'Classic Car' also fell into the so-bad-it's-good camp.

Apart from a strong attraction to a 1/43 Oxford Diecast MG ZA Magnette, my resolve held fast.

I am mighty! I am in control! I am... ooh, hang on, what's that in there?

[junkyarddog]

YAY tat Friday!!!🤣

 

[sierraman]

Where’s the 50p tat box?!?!

[bunglebus]

Thanks to @barrettfor spotting a Facebook listing, Kinsmart 1:28 Lupo just arrived

Came with this Maisto pimped out Mk4 R32

Dug out the Welly version 

[Datsuncog]

No 50p box today, for good or for ill... 

I've since discovered that much of Market Blokey's stock comes from an auction house in Belfast, so what he's selling depends on what's come through the auction.

It also explains the price fluctuations. If a job lot of, say, thirty old Corgis has hit £150 then they'll be a lot dearer on the stall than if he secured the same box for £50. Sometimes they're worth it, sometimes not. By his own admission, he's not really that interested in model cars, they just sell well.

Mainly to idiots like me.

He did recognise me, of course, and asked where I'd been for the past lot of months. 

I muttered something about changing work patterns (not entirely untrue), and pretended to become very interested in a Twinkle annual from 1978.

Because it's not like I used to travel in specially every Friday morning or anything just to browse dust-choked diecast.

The Nemesis was there, perhaps unsurprisingly - still wearing the same blue zippy tracksuit top. Maybe it's his lucky charm.

He seemed to have a few boxed 1/43 Oxford items stashed behind the stall, plus a poorly repainted Corgi Ford Classic and a Jaguar Mk X missing its bootlid, and was by now thumbing through the BP promo Corgi Juniors.

There was also another fella I didn't recognise sifting the diecast, and clearly also on matey terms with Market Blokey.

Not that I have competition or anything. No no no.

That would be silly.

But... try as I might, I was lured. By a brace of Dinky, of all things.

Yes, I'm a weak, weak man...

[junkyarddog]

That Opel Rekord is lush!!

[bunglebus]

7 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Funny you should buy that - this is tantalisingly close to being finished, but the decal sheet for the back and number plate was faulty and wouldn't peel off

Also - was that a Corgi Minibus with unbroken glazing, or is it the same one that I used to ask about every week?

[Split_Pin]

Hey, in that picture of the Corgi Classics, the Morris Minor panda car is interesting as its the first ever issue of that casting and very short lived. You can clearly see the thick quarterlight pillar. The later releases had a thinner pillar and front wings that curve round to meet the headlamp properly. They also changed the roof sign, wheels and added cast detail to the windscreen.

I made a YouTube video on it. Unsurprisingly it's the least viewed on my channel....

[Datsuncog]

23 hours ago, junkyarddog said:

That Opel Rekord is lush!!

It's nice, isn't it? I thought it was another Corgi Fiat 1500 at first, but after pulling it free from the other tat I realised it was an Opel.

It's had a fairly hard life in the toybox, by the looks of things, but it just appealed to me somehow... dunno why.

And I thought it was a Rekord too - I'd no idea Dinky had ever modelled a Kapitän P2. A weird choice, as they couldn't have been a common sight on British roads. But as a left-hooker, maybe made with an eye on their export market?

Apparently #177 was made between 1961 and 1967, and although not one familiar to me, isn't especially rare.

But that's okay - and it's a keeper for now, anyway.

By which I mean I'll be shoving it furtively into the box under the bed later.

[Datsuncog]

23 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Funny you should buy that - this is tantalisingly close to being finished, but the decal sheet for the back and number plate was faulty and wouldn't peel off

Yes, it was expressly because of your restoration find that I was moved to pick up this #250 Mini Cooper S police car!

Like yours, it's a 'smooth bum' model, with the bootlid and lights decal mostly still intact.

Again, it just appealed.

And I like the opening bonnet with engine detail, a lot.

Some light cleaning later should make it less grubby.

Another one I'm planning on keeping!

The pair of them cost me £15, so not cheap-cheap - my preferred price point would have been a fiver each. But, y'know.

23 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Also - was that a Corgi Minibus with unbroken glazing, or is it the same one that I used to ask about every week?

Nope, that's a new one. Very nearly mint! Perfect glazing, paintwork shiny and only one or two very small chips (which may have been inflicted in the box, annoyingly).

But probably not cheap-cheap either...

[sierraman]

I’ve noticed Atlas copies of the Dinkies are nearly as dear as the real thing now. 

[quicksilver]

2 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

I am mighty! I am in control! I am... ooh, hang on, what's that in there?

 

Could it be...the return of the hallowed Tat Friday?

How much did Blokey want for that Metosul Atlantean just out of interest? I do have one (and very nice it is too) but probably paid a lot more than what he's after. A tenner a go for boxed Oxford trucks isn't bad either, not that I need any more.

Edit: just spotted the other Atlantean on the left, is that another Metosul or the Dinky original?

[andrew e]

ALL HAIL TAT FRIDAY!

Just take pictures this time, don’t take orders!!!! 

[Datsuncog]

Because I'm clearly an idiot, I went back over to the market at lunchtime.

Ostensibly, I was just checking that I'd definitely turned the Corolla's headlights off - as I'd turned them on while driving in, but in my reverie to get into the market, couldn't remember turning them off (and the warning buzzer is a smidge unreliable) - but, upon confirming that were indeed off and I shouldn't need to cadge a jump to get home, well sure wasn't the market only just across the road...?

Okay, so I wanted that MG Magnette.

Thankfully, it was gone - as was the Sunbeam-Talbot, also by Oxford.

Temptation crisis = averted.

I took a closer look at some of the other wares:

That Code 2 Transit promo, apparently for a dry rot repair specialist.

Actually quite a nice livery, and no doubt similar to the actual vans run by this company - maybe more accurate than many of the simplified liveries for well-known brands that made up the mainline versions?

The 'Classic Car' is seemingly not a generic thing, but a fine scale model of a 1928 'SS' - ok, I'm going to guess Mercedes W06, as opposed to a product of Swallow Sidecars?

Yup, that looks identical.

Looks like the diecast connoisseur could also have revelled in the scale perfection of a 1910 'Bene Limousine' or 1910 'Fort T'.

Amazing that I haven't heard of Trafalgar before.

Also: buses.

CMN stuff seems to hold its value well, so £10 for this Alexander-bodied Dennis seemed a reasonable shout.

This Japanese (?) single-decker was something of an oddity too:

While EFE Mercedes hoppers seem ever-popular, especially when still boxed.

I thought about it - but I can't see myself buying stuff speculatively again. Too much scope for mission creep and hoarding on my part.

3 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Hey, in that picture of the Corgi Classics, the Morris Minor panda car is interesting as its the first ever issue of that casting and very short lived. You can clearly see the thick quarterlight pillar. The later releases had a thinner pillar and front wings that curve round to meet the headlamp properly. They also changed the roof sign, wheels and added cast detail to the windscreen.

I made a YouTube video on it. Unsurprisingly it's the least viewed on my channel....

I'd no idea that Corgi had two different castings for the Minor - well spotted!

Well well well.

Just don't go telling me the early panda cars are worth £11 squillionty...

There were some more older toys up top on my second pass, but they were all fairly poor in terms of paint and glazing.

Pass, I'm afraid.

Other stalls had a few bits and bobs also, but nothing much to tempt.

Yes, that's £75 for an Impala taxi with a broken sign, and £60 for a fairly chipped Bentley. With boxes, but still - jog on.

Friendly stall is friendly.

Mind you, I can only guess what sort of disaster might have necessitated these signs...

[Datsuncog]

32 minutes ago, quicksilver said:

Could it be...the return of the hallowed Tat Friday?

How much did Blokey want for that Metosul Atlantean just out of interest? I do have one (and very nice it is too) but probably paid a lot more than what he's after. A tenner a go for boxed Oxford trucks isn't bad either, not that I need any more.

Edit: just spotted the other Atlantean on the left, is that another Metosul or the Dinky original?

Not sure - but probably around £5 to £10, going by what I paid for the Kapitān and Mini... struck me as an unusual one, anyway! Some paint chips and two missing tyres must reduce its appeal somewhat, mind.

The other Atlantean was a messy repaint of a Dinky original,rather than a Metosul.

Agreed, a tenner for the boxed Oxford trucks seemed very reasonable - another stall the next aisle over was selling new ones for £27.99...

11 minutes ago, andrew e said:

ALL HAIL TAT FRIDAY!

Just take pictures this time, don’t take orders!!!! 

Heh, yes indeed! 

I'm not sure when I'll next be in Belfast on a Friday - things are all a bit weird at the minute with work- but yes, a more documentary and less acquisitive approach may be no bad thing...

[RoadworkUK]

28 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Also: buses.

Oh dear oh dear oh dear.

[Datsuncog]

44 minutes ago, RoadworkUK said:

Oh dear oh dear oh dear.

Nope, didn't see them at the market.

[Cookiesouwest]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

Because I'm clearly an idiot, I went back over to the market at lunchtime.

Ostensibly, I was just checking that I'd definitely turned the Corolla's headlights off - as I'd turned them on while driving in, but in my reverie to get into the market, couldn't remember turning them off (and the warning buzzer is a smidge unreliable) - but, upon confirming that were indeed off and I shouldn't need to cadge a jump to get home, well sure wasn't the market only just across the road...?

Okay, so I wanted that MG Magnette.

Thankfully, it was gone - as was the Sunbeam-Talbot, also by Oxford.

Temptation crisis = averted.

I took a closer look at some of the other wares:

That Code 2 Transit promo, apparently for a dry rot repair specialist.

Actually quite a nice livery, and no doubt similar to the actual vans run by this company - maybe more accurate than many of the simplified liveries for well-known brands that made up the mainline versions?

The 'Classic Car' is seemingly not a generic thing, but a fine scale model of a 1928 'SS' - ok, I'm going to guess Mercedes W06, as opposed to a product of Swallow Sidecars?

Yup, that looks identical.

Looks like the diecast connoisseur could also have revelled in the scale perfection of a 1910 'Bene Limousine' or 1910 'Fort T'.

Amazing that I haven't heard of Trafalgar before.

Also: buses.

CMN stuff seems to hold its value well, so £10 for this Alexander-bodied Dennis seemed a reasonable shout.

This Japanese (?) single-decker was something of an oddity too:

While EFE Mercedes hoppers seem ever-popular, especially when still boxed.

I thought about it - but I can't see myself buying stuff speculatively again. Too much scope for mission creep and hoarding on my part.

I'd no idea that Corgi had two different castings for the Minor - well spotted!

Well well well.

Just don't go telling me the early panda cars are worth £11 squillionty...

There were some more older toys up top on my second pass, but they were all fairly poor in terms of paint and glazing.

Pass, I'm afraid.

Other stalls had a few bits and bobs also, but nothing much to tempt.

Yes, that's £75 for an Impala taxi with a broken sign, and £60 for a fairly chipped Bentley. With boxes, but still - jog on.

Friendly stall is friendly.

Mind you, I can only guess what sort of disaster might have necessitated these signs...

That CMNL Stagecoach for a tenner is an absolute bargain. 

[bunglebus]

New Honda set in Smyths 

And some Team Transports

Oh and a huge Anglia

[barrett]

I hadn't realised how much I'd missed the tat Friday updates @Datsuncog! I do very much enjoy living the vicarious mini tat life - in fact, I'd say my own personal spending has increased exponentially since tat Friday came to an end. Go figure.

That Kapitan is lovely, and just the sort of thing I might pick up. An unusual casting, attractively playworn. Very nice.

[RayMK]

@Datsuncog and @barrett .  The comments regarding the Dinky Kapitan got me thinking. I could not remember mine having any interior detail so, rather than try to dig mine out to check, I looked to see if I'd photographed it on here (orange).  I had, and it has.  It appealed to me when I acquired it in 1967 or thereabouts because our across the road neighbour had one at RAF Wegberg.  It suited his character - large and a bit gangsterish.

[Bear]

At the car wash...

[Split_Pin]

Matchbox Cavalier! Nice find.

[bunglebus]

I made an ass of u and me, I assumed that because the Police decals were stickers, the others were too - they're waterslides.

Dinky 250 Austin Mini Cooper police car done. Only new parts are the jewel headlights and decals, the aerial isn't quite right but was a convenient bit of sprue that was in the spares box. Paint was fun because all modern cars use very bright whites, but Halfords still stock a 70s VW colour because Halfords

Like Noel Edmonds, it has a crinkly bottom but I'll smooth the decal out one it's dried more

[Split_Pin]

18 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

I made an ass of u and me, I assumed that because the Police decals were stickers, the others were too - they're waterslides.

Dinky 250 Austin Mini Cooper police car done. Only new parts are the jewel headlights and decals, the aerial isn't quite right but was a convenient bit of sprue that was in the spares box. Paint was fun because all modern cars use very bright whites, but Halfords still stock a 70s VW colour because Halfords

Like Noel Edmonds, it has a crinkly bottom but I'll smooth the decal out one it's dried more

A great way of making a realistic and robust to- scale-thickness aerial is to take a piece of reasonably thick sprue and carefully warm it over a tealight. About 2 cm above the tip of the flame is ideal. When it starts to sag, gently stretch it.  Once you get it right it will stretch as long as you want. I made some really tall ones for my1/24 police Range Rover and they even wobble and sway if the bedroom window is open.

[Split_Pin]

Like these:

 

[bunglebus]

Saturday boot sale turned up a few bits, Matchbox Ferrari Berlinetta is one I hadn't got my mits on before

But the others were just because I can't leave them behind 

Coach is an unusual yellow base version though

A couple of fair Corgis

One of those annoying bags of cars turned up a few goodies like a Darda KITT

And Siku Porsche 

No name on this Lambo but it looks very Tomica

Also no name on this but for £1 I couldn't resist. Never been played with

Best buy was 50p Rainbow Toys Dempsey and Makepeace Granada though - the daddy of the MC version

[sierraman]

You hardly ever see those Cortinas now at car boots. That said I haven’t been car booting for a while now, just too much work on plus I need to have a clear out, I’ve got way too much stuff, should send the wife to do a car boot with it all.

[bunglebus]

15 minutes ago, sierraman said:

You hardly ever see those Cortinas now at car boots

I do see them but usually squashed beyond repair. Every now and again I idly consider buying every Lonesome Onesome (©️ @Datsuncog) just to see how many I can get - I must see one every week