Shite in Miniature II

[Split_Pin]

They're the slots where the roof attaches to the sides.

[Datsuncog]

Looks like there might be some small rust holes at the back of the Tonka Beetle's running board - or it might be black paint showing through, as it seems to have had red paint applied there at some point.

Looking forward to seeing this one rejuvenated - though I think it kinda looks good as-is, in terms of paint... that's the kind of patina that just can't be replicated!

It could definitely use headlights and undamaged wheel hubs, though.

[junkyarddog]

50 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

that's the kind of patina that just can't be replicated!

It could definitely use headlights and undamaged wheel hubs, though.

I have to agree,I love the wear on the paint.

[MiniMinorMk3]

18 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Are they expensive?  Mint ones would be amazing 

The example I found sold for £20 in 2009. They do not turn up very often so if found should be snapped up.

[MiniMinorMk3]

Something for the Ford lickers, a selection of Detail Cars Capris. The irony is the detail is a bit poor, with single tail pipes and tampo chrome trim on the hockey stick.

Art no.305 is an attempt at the face lift Mk1 with the larger rear lights, but still has the Mk1 longer fake vents on the rear quarters!

 

[Split_Pin]

I had 2 DetailCars Fiestas and a few others, the makes of which now escape me. Again, I didnt keep any of these as I felt Minichamps were a bit better. I thought my memory had become distorted when I recalled thar they were originally released by Corgi but I can see the logo there. I'm also sure that latterly the Corgi branding had disappeared. 

Anyone know what the deal was with these?

[bunglebus]

3 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

I really like that Tonka Beetle. Looking forward to seeing the progress!

 

2 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Looking forward to seeing this one rejuvenated - though I think it kinda looks good as-is, in terms of paint... that's the kind of patina that just can't be replicated!

It could definitely use headlights and undamaged wheel hubs, though.

 

1 hour ago, junkyarddog said:

I have to agree,I love the wear on the paint.

I hope no-one's holding their breath for that one! I have no idea how to go about replacing the bumpers. I was having a conversation the other day with a work contact who mentioned having a pretty high spec 3D printer - an avenue I might try and pursue for plastic parts if he's willing to make them for me. However there's nothing on Thingiverse for Tonka Beetle bumpers funny enough!

My other one has 3/4 of a rear bumper but no front. I suppose making silicone moulds and casting one might work but again, never done it, don't have any of the kit

 

[sierraman]

11 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

 

 

I hope no-one's holding their breath for that one! I have no idea how to go about replacing the bumpers. I was having a conversation the other day with a work contact who mentioned having a pretty high spec 3D printer - an avenue I might try and pursue for plastic parts if he's willing to make them for me. However there's nothing on Thingiverse for Tonka Beetle bumpers funny enough!

My other one has 3/4 of a rear bumper but no front. I suppose making silicone moulds and casting one might work but again, never done it, don't have any of the kit

 

I would make one out of Aluminium and solder it. 

[Datsuncog]

2 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

I had 2 DetailCars Fiestas and a few others, the makes of which now escape me. Again, I didnt keep any of these as I felt Minichamps were a bit better. I thought my memory had become distorted when I recalled thar they were originally released by Corgi but I can see the logo there. I'm also sure that latterly the Corgi branding had disappeared. 

Anyone know what the deal was with these?

I can't remember much about DetailCars, other than the model shop I worked at in the mid-90s still had a lot of their C4 Corvette and Mercedes SLK models languishing unsold in the stockroom, largely unwanted even when marked down to £5.

I had the #301 Capri in yellow and black, but I wasn't very happy with its overall proportions and detailing either.

(Yes, crappy anachronistic numberplates cribbed from a Corgi Classics sticker set added by moi - it was the best I could do at the time.)

I ended up selling it, in favour of keeping my orange Vanguards Mk1 1600 GT XLR.

I'd thought the same casting was re-used for a later magazine partwork, but comparing the two photos shows that they're not quite the same.

I seem to recall that the Corgi tie-in was nothing to do with manufacture, and was simply a distribution arrangement - presumably Corgi thought they might sell better to UK collectors with the Corgi logo on the box?

I don't think DetailCars appeared in Corgi catalogues at the time - they had a separate catalogue although, sadly, I don't have mine anymore and I can't recall what appeared within.

The fact my shop had so many suggests that very large discounts had been offered to take them in quantity.

A European version of the #304 cream Capri found online doesn't have the Corgi branding on the outer box, but seems otherwise the same.

DetailCars Platinum - 1:43 - Vintage Ford models 50s and - Catawiki

I don't remember any of the others shown here being offered in the UK, though.

The choice of subject matter might suggest DetailCars were a German outfit?

[Datsuncog]

20 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

I suppose making silicone moulds and casting one might work but again, never done it, don't have any of the kit

Sounds like you're teeing yourself up for a winter project here...

Gedeo Siligum Silicone Moulding Paste 300g | Hobbycraft

[MiniMinorMk3]

On 11/8/2022 at 10:43 AM, Dick Longbridge said:

Looks hawt

 

The same colour scheme as Didier Auriols 1986 French Rally Championship winning 6R4.

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

58 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

 

I hope no-one's holding their breath for that one! I have no idea how to go about replacing the bumpers. I was having a conversation the other day with a work contact who mentioned having a pretty high spec 3D printer - an avenue I might try and pursue for plastic parts if he's willing to make them for me. However there's nothing on Thingiverse for Tonka Beetle bumpers funny enough!

 

 

Front only has two over riders.

A couple of layers of plasticard, with the correct bend put in, stuck together for thickness. All you need to do then is mould the over riders.

[MiniMinorMk3]

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

I had 2 DetailCars Fiestas and a few others, the makes of which now escape me. Again, I didnt keep any of these as I felt Minichamps were a bit better. I thought my memory had become distorted when I recalled thar they were originally released by Corgi but I can see the logo there. I'm also sure that latterly the Corgi branding had disappeared. 

Anyone know what the deal was with these?

Looking at the catalogues I have Detail Started in 1992, making  Lamborghini Diablo, Ferrari 348 and Jag XJS models. They were soon joined by Jag XJ200, most of the contemporary Ferraris and the Nissan 300 ZX Turbo. All their early stuff had opening doors. The final car to feature opening parts was the Porsche 356. They started then to produce models with no opening features, some better detailed and proportioned than others.

The first catalogues I have are from Germany and looks like the models were sold through the Roco trade mark (they did a lot of small scale stuff for train layouts) stuff. 

The 1994 and 1996 are from the original company based in Italy CDC srl.

As Datsuncog says, the Corgi was just a trade mark tie up. I have also seen them with Revell branding.

 

[andy18s]

Picked this Chevette up from a local marketplace seller yesterday.

It's not branded and the seller didn't know but its very well detailed for a 1/43 scale.

The plan was to repaint it in white,and stick a plate on it to replicate the wife's 1st car but it's too good looking to mess with really.

And being lhd wouldn't look right anyway. 

Again,don't know why the pics have flipped...

[MiniMinorMk3]

Looks like that is from the Opel Collection

[bunglebus]

A couple of things that Tesco will DEFINITELY be getting in

That Ami is rather excellent, why do I feel like attaching it to a spare monster truck chassis? 

[Split_Pin]

Great knowledge @Datsuncogand @MiniMinorMk3 in Detail cars, I knew you'd both know!

[sierraman]

48 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

A couple of things that Tesco will DEFINITELY be getting in

That Ami is rather excellent, why do I feel like attaching it to a spare monster truck chassis? 

When do these arrive? 

[AndyW201]

6 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

I can't remember much about DetailCars, other than the model shop I worked at in the mid-90s still had a lot of their C4 Corvette and Mercedes SLK models languishing unsold in the stockroom, largely unwanted even when marked down to £5.

I had the #301 Capri in yellow and black, but I wasn't very happy with its overall proportions and detailing either.

(Yes, crappy anachronistic numberplates cribbed from a Corgi Classics sticker set added by moi - it was the best I could do at the time.)

I ended up selling it, in favour of keeping my orange Vanguards Mk1 1600 GT XLR.

I'd thought the same casting was re-used for a later magazine partwork, but comparing the two photos shows that they're not quite the same.

I seem to recall that the Corgi tie-in was nothing to do with manufacture, and was simply a distribution arrangement - presumably Corgi thought they might sell better to UK collectors with the Corgi logo on the box?

I don't think DetailCars appeared in Corgi catalogues at the time - they had a separate catalogue although, sadly, I don't have mine anymore and I can't recall what appeared within.

The fact my shop had so many suggests that very large discounts had been offered to take them in quantity.

A European version of the #304 cream Capri found online doesn't have the Corgi branding on the outer box, but seems otherwise the same.

DetailCars Platinum - 1:43 - Vintage Ford models 50s and - Catawiki

I don't remember any of the others shown here being offered in the UK, though.

The choice of subject matter might suggest DetailCars were a German outfit?

I thought the Detail cars releases were Solido castings? Or a lot of them were? Quite a few of the castings ended up in the 'A Century Of Cars' partwork series from yonks ago, with Solido on the base.

I've got the green Mk1 Cortina, as above, as well as the red Capri GT, got them both from the autojumble at the Ripon classic car show in the early 2000s. I liked the Capri at the time as it was about the only affordable Mk1 with half decent detail. However, like yourself, once the Vanguards Vista Orange GTXLR came out, I had a new favourite. I find the Cararama Capri to be pretty good at capturing the shape and proportions, and you can't argue with the price, but the detailing is pretty clumsy and the opening doors make it a bit toy like.

(Still hunting for the Detail Cars yellow Fiesta 1300S, but the prices they go for nowadays are just silly!)

[bunglebus]

3 hours ago, sierraman said:

When do these arrive? 

Well they're mix two of 2023, so by Mattel logic about a month - if normal Tesco operation continues, either February or never.

70 years of Matchbox logo on the cards. Is it too much to ask that the country that they originated from gets a decent supply of them?

[Cookiesouwest]

A very large box has arrived from over the water

I will unpack it as soon as my boss stops droning on and on,via Teams.

 

[bunglebus]

Don't think I found this mix in Tesco before - only had one of each

[Cookiesouwest]

So, my Dealer, as Mrs Cookie calls him, has sent a package for my latest fix.

And what a fix it is

A very large box, superbly packed to protect the precious contents.

Huge thanks to @Datsuncog for taking the time and no doubt hassle of getting these bought, packed and shipped.

Thank you.

[Datsuncog]

Alright! Glad it all touched down safely - the box doesn't look like it got too bashed in transit!

Hopefully that's a few more ticked off the list, or the basis for future trades - enjoy!

 

[Datsuncog]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

Don't think I found this mix in Tesco before - only had one of each

Ah, cool - I'll be keeping an eye out locally for that W123 wagon in black, looks pretty nice.

[Datsuncog]

16 hours ago, AndyW201 said:

I thought the Detail cars releases were Solido castings? Or a lot of them were? Quite a few of the castings ended up in the 'A Century Of Cars' partwork series from yonks ago, with Solido on the base.

I'm pretty sure that the first DetailCars releases from the early/ mid 1990s were developed in-house: they were mostly modern Ferrari and Lamborghini supercars, and I don't think they had any link to Solido - in those days, anyway.

The place I worked at stocked a good range of Solido 1/43 diecast alongside DetailCars, and I'd like to think I'd have noticed!

It's quite possible there was a later tie-in, though: I wasn't aware that DetailCars had produced a Mk1 Fiesta, but looking at pics online it does bear a strong - though not identical - resemblance to my Solido example (bought in 2004).

I was going to boldly state that they were the same casting, but the fuel cap looks quite different between them - Solido's seems much larger.

Hmmm.

[MiniMinorMk3]

Here's some more from the Detail Cars range.

Mk1 Cortina which is not the Corgi Classics casting, despite the tie up with distribution.

BMW 502

One of my favourites, the BMW 3.0 CS

Corvettes in coupe and open and closed roadster versions

Mercedes-Benz SL is open and hard top

MG Midget

Porsche 356 is various road and track versions

VW Concept 1 Cabrio

 

[AndyW201]

3 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

I'm pretty sure that the first DetailCars releases from the early/ mid 1990s were developed in-house: they were mostly modern Ferrari and Lamborghini supercars, and I don't think they had any link to Solido - in those days, anyway.

The place I worked at stocked a good range of Solido 1/43 diecast alongside DetailCars, and I'd like to think I'd have noticed!

It's quite possible there was a later tie-in, though: I wasn't aware that DetailCars had produced a Mk1 Fiesta, but looking at pics online it does bear a strong - though not identical - resemblance to my Solido example (bought in 2004).

I was going to boldly state that they were the same casting, but the fuel cap looks quite different between them - Solido's seems much larger.

Hmmm.

Yep, I was fairly sure that the Solido Fiesta was the same as the Detail Cars casting, albeit with the wider arches of the rally version and the fuel cap crudely tacked on to the usual Fiesta location,

But like you, I'm not sure now.

Its due to the Century of Cars partwork I think I've got confused between Solido and Detail Cars. I subscribed to it at first (then got bored with it, like most partworks!) and I was certain that, for example, the MG Midget and bathtub Taunus, badged as Solido for the partwork were Detail Cars castings,

Dunno, I'm confused now! I've still not got over finding out that the 'Corgi' Mercedes CLK was one of many Chinese 'High Speed' castings that were sold over here with Corgi packaging. Another odd tie in...

 

[RoadworkUK]

Seems like fair winds must be blowing in from Norn Iron; a fresh consignment from mr D.Cog arrived far more quickly than sundry mainland-sourced eBay winnings from much longer back.

Usual exemplary packing, all traces of which have now been vanished to prevent unwelcome interest from my other half.

Cheers, Tim!

[bunglebus]

I buckled and bought a Team Transport

Here are those Matchbox from Tesco too