Shite in Miniature II

[quicksilver]

58 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

I hope you bought that slot  car!!  There is cash waiting here for it!  Never seen one before, but I do know a bit of the potted history on them, hence my daft enthusiasms.

It's a Playcraft Highways (of Northampton) and late-fifties.  They were the genesis for HO-scale slot tracks as the majority of subsequent manufacturers adopted the track gauge, slot type and other aspects.  Although to be correct, they were aligned to the British 00 1:76 scale to sit alongside the model railway systems.

Playcraft was swallowed by Mettoy, who in-turn sold the slot car side to Aurora USA, the very same firm who developed into the massive (in US market  anyhow) A/FX system popularity which still runs a national championship even today.  Aurora sold these as their 'Vibrator' series and ran to mid-sixties in this chassis format still retaining the British 00 scale (yet marketing them as HO).

And why so enthusiastic?  Because it used a unique, vibrator drive system based around a 20v AC door 'buzzer'.  Yes you read that right.  Unfortunately, Wrenn (of Basildon) ripped-off Playcraft by patenting an identical system as their own, which is why Mettoy had to dispose of it to a foreign brand.

I was on the right lines but still way off. Never heard of Playcraft Highways, which is surprising considering how influential they were and Playcraft being a local company.

[bunglebus]

Jurassic Park shiz in Poundland 

[bunglebus]

Working rigs in Poundstretcher 

[flat4alfa]

24 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Jurassic Park shiz 

Tiny Tom might not agree that it's all shiz though, he loves his visits 

"Get down from there!  You'll hurt it" - shouted the Warden from his Ford Explorer

[bunglebus]

Got a whole bunch of slightly less than perfect plastic Norevs. I actually think the boat might be the nicest of them

[sierraman]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

Working rigs in Poundstretcher 

Seen those but they don’t seem to have the sliding bed recovery wagon in. 

[bunglebus]

Also found some Kidco Key Cars, with their original keys 

Majorette Express

Another Corgi copy, H.W. 305. Just a different variation really, found this one before.

"No name" Corgi Merc minibus

Matchbox Monteverde Hai had some permanent marker stripes

Cleaned up nicely with some Acetone. Still missing its stickers of course

[danthecapriman]

Here’s my Matchbox Capri.

Do I dare ever open it!?

[sierraman]

Just now, danthecapriman said:

Here’s my Matchbox Capri.

Do I dare ever open it!?

Open it, that’s what they’re for. You could cut it from the back with a craft knife maybe to keep the blister fairly intact. 

[danthecapriman]

How many colours do those Capri’s come in? 
 

Green, blue/silver, yellow… anymore?

[flat4alfa]

27 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

How many colours do those Capri’s come in? 
Green, blue/silver, yellow… anymore?

Keep an eye on https://matchbox.fandom.com/wiki/1970_Ford_Capri

The updates are a pretty good effort, and would very likely list any special release versions exclusive to stores such as Walmart US.

[danthecapriman]

4 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Keep an eye on https://matchbox.fandom.com/wiki/1970_Ford_Capri

The updates are a pretty good effort, and would very likely list any special release versions exclusive to stores such as Walmart US.

Mines actually ‘metal flake green’ then. 
I thought they’d made them longer than it says on there. Obviously not.

[flat4alfa]

2 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Mines actually ‘metal flake green’ then. 
I thought they’d made them longer than it says on there. Obviously not.

The lines represent 'model year' rather than release date, as septics seem to work to a schedule some months in advance.  So a '2021' was probably first seen as pre-production examples even before 4th-quarter 2020. 

Might not be many more variants done as mainline, as according to Lamley the model has proved to be a slow seller in the US

[flat4alfa]

Doh!  I just replied obvious knowledge to someone with a MY '73 Marquis...

[bunglebus]

37 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

according to Lamley the model has proved to be a slow seller in the US

Because Mattel are imbeciles when it comes to knowing their target markets. MK1 Capri was a barely known Mercury in the states, popular in Europe and especially the UK. 

I suspect the only reason the MK1 Escort RS1600 is popular in the states is because of the Fast and Furious car, otherwise that would also be a slow seller.

Why didn't they ensure plenty of availability in Europe on that premium Ford set with the Supervan/RS1800/RS1600 etc?  They seem to take the sadly common attitude that the USA is the centre of the universe.

Anyway - how would they know how well any individual car in a case sells? They only know how many cases they sell surely?

[bunglebus]

9 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Skoda Type 736 Buggy

Lesser-known models from ŠKODA AUTO’s 125-year history: The ŠKODA BUGGY Type 736 - ŠKODA Storyboard (skoda-storyboard.com)

 

 

19 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

'Buggy Skoda' - well, okay.

See, it's REAL!

[Datsuncog]

14 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Please tell me you picked that up!

 

9 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

I hope you bought that slot  car!!  There is cash waiting here for it!  Never seen one before, but I do know a bit of the potted history on them, hence my daft enthusiasms.

It's a Playcraft Highways (of Northampton) and late-fifties.  They were the genesis for HO-scale slot tracks as the majority of subsequent manufacturers adopted the track gauge, slot type and other aspects.  Although to be correct, they were aligned to the British 00 1:76 scale to sit alongside the model railway systems.

Playcraft was swallowed by Mettoy, who in-turn sold the slot car side to Aurora USA, the very same firm who developed into the massive (in US market  anyhow) A/FX system popularity which still runs a national championship even today.  Aurora sold these as their 'Vibrator' series and ran to mid-sixties in this chassis format still retaining the British 00 scale (yet marketing them as HO).

And why so enthusiastic?  Because it used a unique, vibrator drive system based around a 20v AC door 'buzzer'.  Yes you read that right.  Unfortunately, Wrenn (of Basildon) ripped-off Playcraft by patenting an identical system as their own, which is why Mettoy had to dispose of it to a foreign brand.

Sadly, I didn't pick anything up from the Tat Stall yesterday - didn't make it in until after 11, took some pics and was then on my way...

Coming back, after 1, the main stall was already packed away - so I had to content myself with some of the 50p Corgis remaining on Alan's Emporium.

Much as I love buying up unusual stuff speculatively, this trait is kinda what caused me to scoop up excessive quantities of diecast a few years back! I can't get on with eBay these days, so I'm less inclined to take a chance on stuff unless I know for sure someone wants it.

Apologies, then - but I will keep an eye out for both the Guisval Buggy and the Playcraft Jag at future events...

[FakeConcern]

4 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Got a whole bunch of slightly less than perfect plastic Norevs. I actually think the boat might be the nicest of them

That boat is lovely! I want one for Mrs Concern's summer house now...

3 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

Here’s my Matchbox Capri.

Do I dare ever open it!?

I don't remember seeing that colour on a Capri except on this BMW engined one...

[bunglebus]

[danthecapriman]

It reminds me of Ford Onyx green. 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

24 minutes ago, FakeConcern said:

I don't remember seeing that colour on a Capri except on this BMW engined one...

 

He knew that colour choice would spark discussion on a beige car forum, didn't he? 

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

That is not just green. That is the green of envy.

[Spottedlaurel]

The Capri case seems to be getting easier to find around here now. I debated whether to get another one yesterday, but decided against it. The shopping bag already contained this lot from a coupe of charity shops:

 

Majorette Land Cruiser and MC Toy 2CV were 50p each. Funny thing is, I woke up early and before I got back to sleep I was idly thinking about finding a Majorette stash in a charity shop, then when I walked into town yesterday morning and popped into the Red Cross shop there was one sitting at the top of the tub.

The rest were 20p each, hence buying some parts/restoration examples. HW dragster might be a wheel donor, the Beetles are by Corgi and Realtoy (the latter quite nice, shame about the broken bumper ends but might look OK completely debumpered?), Land Rover by Matchbox (Thailand) and not one I recall but I was at work by 1987, Superfast Boss Mustang and plastic base Lone Star Impy Jaguar have bost lost their bonnets, '80s Fox Mustang by Chinese maker unknown but has the reference DC118 on the base, Porsche 956 by MC Toy (Macau), and Corgia Sierra has a mysterious bit of rust staining and some corrosion (TADTS). Perhaps suitable for a banger conversion? I had similar thoughts about the 1:43-ish Mercedes at the back, which conveniently has a screw-fix base for easy dismantling. Happy for most of them to be rehomed, if for example someone with a fondness for Beetles and modifying diecasts was interested....

[Spottedlaurel]

Also popped into the collectibles shop, as he usually has a few diecasts.

A rather better example of the Boss Mustang here. I already have these Superfast.

 

The Corgi Land Rover was of interest to me, but I didn't know whether the Dinkys had sufficient value to make it worthwhile. At least one had been repainted. Sorry, haven't got a clue what they are apart from remembering one being a Packard.

[eddyramrod]

15 minutes ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Sorry, haven't got a clue what they are apart from remembering one being a Packard.

OK, from back left:  The blue one is an early 50s Studebaker Commander; then a contemporary Hudson (Commodore, I think); then the Packard as mentioned, which was a bit later, more like 1957; as are the next one, a Dodge Kingsway, and at the front, a De Soto Fireflite.  How much were they?

[Spottedlaurel]

Just now, eddyramrod said:

OK, from back left:  The blue one is an early 50s Studebaker Commander; then a contemporary Hudson (Commodore, I think); then the Packard as mentioned, which was a bit later, more like 1957; as are the next one, a Dodge Kingsway, and at the front, a De Soto Fireflite.  How much were they?

Thanks, £30 for all of them (including the tin?!). Might be possible to get a bit off, his stuff doesn't seem to move very quickly. He's had a box full of boxed 1980s Corgi stuff all year.

[eddyramrod]

He'll have those a while too.  Fiver each is top whack for resto projects and well beyond what I would choose to pay.  Thanks for taking the trouble to remember though!

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, Spottedlaurel said:

80s Fox Mustang by Chinese maker unknown but has the reference DC118 on the base...

....Happy for most of them to be rehomed, if for example someone with a fondness for Beetles and modifying diecasts was interested....

Can't say I know what that Mustang is, sorry - wheels look like Motormax though

Why do I feel like that last comment was aimed at me? 😄

[Spottedlaurel]

40 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

He'll have those a while too.  Fiver each is top whack for resto projects and well beyond what I would choose to pay.  Thanks for taking the trouble to remember though!

No worries. I'll keep looking in there and see if they drop or what else he turns up.

[Spottedlaurel]

10 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Can't say I know what that Mustang is, sorry.

Why do I feel like that last comment was aimed at me? 😄

Well it would have helped if I'd have quoted the correct reference number, should be D118:

 

 

Apparently by Zee Toys.