Shite in Miniature II

[Jon]

Wow, that Mercury 128 is a little Bobby Dazzler!

Seeing the Barrett collection is like seeing the scale model pages in C&SC. But with old stuff.

I've got a Solido Peugeot 104 with tyres and wheels that have reacted the same way. I wonder if there's a market for reproduction rims for Sablons and the like, or if the bubbled rimz are just accepted as the brutal reality of collecting them?

[sierraman]

I believe Polistil did a Fiat 128, I had one a few years ago, really nice model but like early Bburago had loads of fragile bits stuck to it which probably lasted no more than an afternoon in most hands. 

[bunglebus]

10 hours ago, barrett said:

non-collection

A very nice non-collection it is too. Love these unusual die casts 

[chodweaver]

I just realised, the Dinky Mini Marcos i had as a kid was one of those few examples of a model that was better proportioned than the full size original. When years later i saw a real mini marcos, i was a bit shocked...

Mine was lost in house moves or clearances of course - I'd sort of like to still have that. It was (in my mind) in far better nick than all the ones that Google show me for sale. Istr it had the removable wheels, but i don't remember them being the minilites that seem to have been the usual. I remember them as being more like Compomotives...
/wistfulmusing

[RoadworkUK]

12 hours ago, barrett said:

Not sure what engine that's supposed to be, but it doesn't look like a Lambo V12 to me

If I recall, the Marzal was going to have half a V12 mounted transversely, so a straight six. Like the Chevy Epica. So the model might actually be accurate after all.

Also I am glad that you haven't developed a habit of collecting die cast models. It would be a real bore to read about them here and I'm sure I'd not look forward to every update with surprising glee.

[mitsisigma01]

14 hours ago, Justwatching said:

1965 Lincoln Continental in 1:64 by Greenlight.

Unfortunately, the rear sits lower than the front on this one. Unintentional gangster lean. 

Take the bodies out of the boot !!

[Split_Pin]

4 hours ago, sierraman said:

I believe Polistil did a Fiat 128, I had one a few years ago, really nice model but like early Bburago had loads of fragile bits stuck to it which probably lasted no more than an afternoon in most hands. 

Ive got one of those, thankfully it's immaculate. The bodies are stronger than the earth itself but anything stuck to it is made of chocolate.

[bunglebus]

2 hours ago, chodweaver said:

I just realised, the Dinky Mini Marcos i had as a kid was one of those few examples of a model that was better proportioned than the full size original. When years later i saw a real mini marcos, i was a bit shocked...

Mine was lost in house moves or clearances of course - I'd sort of like to still have that. It was (in my mind) in far better nick than all the ones that Google show me for sale. Istr it had the removable wheels, but i don't remember them being the minilites that seem to have been the usual. I remember them as being more like Compomotives...
/wistfulmusing

I had a terrible one and passed it on. Pretty sure it had the Minilites but they're all interchangeable within reason

[eddyramrod]

2 hours ago, bunglebus said:

I had a terrible one and passed it on. Pretty sure it had the Minilites but they're all interchangeable within reason

In theory they might be, but in reality, these are scale versions of a ten-inch Minilite; something no other Golden Jacks model had!  All the others were scale 13-15 inch.

I agree with the comment above about the proportions; I've seen maybe a handful of 1/1 Mini Marcosses (Marcae?) and they all looked dumpy and poorly-built.  The model looked positively sleek and certainly beautifully-made.

[sierraman]

No sign of anything new Matchbox in Tesco. Annoyingly on the Lamley group page loads of articles about all the ones we cannot get in the U.K...

[Datsuncog]

More lunchtime smolness again today:

It's a very early blackwall version of the long running Hot Wheels Mazda MX-5/ Miata, which I've owned from about 1991.

I was impressed by this one because not only did it appear when the MX-5 was still pretty new, but because it was more akin to a factory finish.

I'm now aware that most of these early mainlines came with yellow 'Miata' graphics on the bonnet and some with additional multicolour stripes up the side, and I don't think I'd have been as drawn to it if I'd seen it like that.

Maybe not quite as curvy as the real thing - and those are some HUGE wheelarches - but for the size, it's not bad at all.

The tiny separate sidelights, smaller than a grain of rice, are a nice touch. If you hold the car up to a window, they seem to illuminate in a mild Trans-o-lite manner, because they're moulded to the windscreen.

I tried really really hard to keep this one good, but it does now have a chip on the front bumper.

Like the Siku VW Type 2 Doka and Mercedes estate, this one also lived on my model rail layout as it had sufficient realism to meet my exacting* standards.

It's also why the windscreen has yellowed a bit.

The interior's reasonably detailed though, with good seats - even if the blank steering wheel lets it down a little.

There used to be the plastic figure of a scooter rider (Hornby Scenic) in the driver's seat, but I don't know where he's got to these days.

And underside detail too! Mr Mattel, you ARE spoiling us.

These are all just little cars I've had in my Matchbox carry-case for decades now - so it's kinda nice to bring them out and really look at them again.

As ever - a keeper.

[Split_Pin]

That links like another tactile delight!

[Datsuncog]

It is! Metal shell and base, so slightly heavier than you might expect - and the detail's pretty crisply cast in, too.

There's definitely something about a fresh casting release; the new tooling just makes it look so nice. I've had a couple of later releases of the MX-5 from the tat boxes, and after a few years (and million examples) they're not quite so nice...

[bunglebus]

I thought I had a terrible sparkly green version of that MX-5, maybe not. Two red ones have passed through my hands, neither as nice as yours though

 

EDIT here's the sparkly one

 

[Split_Pin]

That last one is so late 80s/early 90s!

I love looking back at these mad releases. Majorette released a few crackers such as a dayglo green Mk2 Golf and the pink and white MK2 Transit Minibus. Matchbox got in on it too with their dayglo versions of regular castings. 

[Jon]

I've a couple of MX5s on cards, picked up at my favourite model shop in Auckland, mostly for the nostalgia of a 90s Hotwheels on card at not horrendous prices;

like @Datsuncog, I've got a red one, bought new in Leeds c.1993, which I'll hopefully find again iagain coming weeks.

I was also drawn to its depiction of a normal car and the all metal base added to the tactility - like holding a pebble, if you will.

[Jon]

Anyway, here's another core slice of nostalgia I managed to pluck out my stash of wonderment over at my folks' house, in the 2 minutes of peeking I allowed myself:

 

This, along with an early Corgi Juniours Nova in red with white stripe and the large scale Corgi Mini Metro in orangey red, we're seminal toy cars to me. Words can't describe the joy that a yellow Sierra with brown bumpers and red interior and tail lights emotes to me. I'd say this is akin to @Datsuncog's beloved red Cortina. So how lucky was it to find it sat at the top of a now quite buried collection of die casts!

I doubt I've seen this in at least 20 years. Later on, I got a 1/36 Corgi Sierra that had opening doors and the most excellent wheel trims ever but it was a police car, so major points deduction - civvy stuff was my bag.

I've even (hopefully, still) got a Siku Sierra which is a lovely old piece but I found myself internally defending the plucky little Corgi's delicacy back in the day, over the German maker's over-engineered rendition. Plus, it wasn't yellow, with brown bumpers and a red interior with red tail lights, so no competition, really.

This one may be coming back to NZ with me..

[Split_Pin]

Agreed you definitely need to take that back with you. I have the 1/36 scale twin of it!

[Datsuncog]

There's something that zings right to your core when you reconnect with something from your childhood...

That's awesome dude, glad you got a few precious minutes with your own stash of wonderment!

Funnily enough, I have the twin of your Sierra, in broadly similar condition...

Also owned from new, it's one I just couldn't bear to get rid of during the big clearout of 2018...

And it lives in here, with the other long-term residents.

Enjoy your time back in the UK, and hopefully you'll get a chance to rediscover each and every one of your own treasures!

[bunglebus]

Makes mine look almost mint...

[Datsuncog]

Get it together, Tesco.

Four MB baggage carts, two HW Mod Rods, and the remnants of multiple tea-leaved models.

Woeful.

[bunglebus]

I've said it before but as much as the lack of detail on the 80s Juniors annoys me, they knew how to get their money's worth out of each casting, I must have 10 or 12 different Sierras, SD1s and Buick Regals. 

Interesting and frustrating in equal measure collecting them, even the run of the mill police car has turned up with three different sets of wheels so far

[sierraman]

By the 80’s the Corgi Juniors were very much the poor relation of the company. I don’t think apart from a handful they brought any new models out during the 80’s. 

[andrew e]

The Mustang junior was sharp, Escort, metro, transit wrecker, Traffic and Sierra but that’s about it off the top of my head? The rest seemed blunt sadly.

[Jon]

The Juniors Mk3 Transit was much more accurate than the Matchbox equivalent but the sprung wheels and clear rear window on the latter were much nicer touches.

Been to the Lakeland Museum today, so have some pics of the nicer examples of the miniature tat (they actually have a glass display cabinet with a shelf dedicated to Days Gone and Corgi Cameos!)

 

The white Whizzwheels SL must be a lot less common than the blue version?

 

[RoadworkUK]

4 hours ago, bunglebus said:

.... even the run of the mill police car has turned up with three different sets of wheels so far

The middle set of wheels are the only acceptable ones IMO. The others somehow look cheap 'n nasty. Or more cheap 'n nasty.

[500tops]

On 9/13/2022 at 4:00 PM, 500tops said:

I managed to get back for a second look. Sadly the box has been heavily picked over, but I still managed to liberate a few stragglers which I'll upload in a bit...

I couldn't resist another rummage 😂

When I got there there was a woman in her 60s knelt on the floor pulling stuff out left right and centre - so  I flounced off! 3 attempts later she was at the till with a good few treasures. With the shop about to close I set about having a quick dig n pull and here's what I ended up with... Some I'm not even that keen on but I kinda felt sorry for 'em.

What the fuck is wrong me? 🙄😂

 

[bunglebus]

It's an illness with no cure...

[junkyarddog]

The Revin' Rebel is reasonably difficult to find.

Couple of nice colour variations there too,the green Jeep for one,they are mostly red.

[155V6]

A few midweek arrivals 

Another Minichamps Ford Puma.This is the 7th different one I've got,it seems to be the only limited edition so far.I just need to find the purple one now.And the red one with black wheels 

Efsi Fiat Ambulance.

I think this is a later issue as it has a CE mark on the box,and the Fiat name has been removed from the base.Not bad for something from the £1.00 box at the local toyfair

Corgi Rockets Aston Martin DB6This is the harder to find dayglo orange version,I've been after one for a while.It does have a few chips,& has the wrong size wheels fitted,but I should be able to find some the right size in my spares stash 😂