Shite in Miniature II

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, danthecapriman said:

Capri please

The ART CAR BMW just needs lacquering to preserve it.

[danthecapriman]

10 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Capri please

The ART CAR BMW just needs lacquering to preserve it.

You can have the Art car BMW for your mantle piece if you want!

[bunglebus]

Doing a bit of wombling in Wimbledon today. Visited two Sainsbury's, various smaller Tescos, Morrison's, Waitrose and TX Maxx - only found these on my first stop

Braille edition Twin Mill is a rather lovely idea for blind kids

Lastly this as it has some weird foreign body trapped in the blister 

I also had a mooch around the charity shops, only one had cars - in the horrible crinkly bags of 5, mostly the utter garbage Christmas cracker standard stuff other than a Blaze Buster and Corgi MK3 Escort. No sale.

I did buy these though - not because of Datsuncog's recent vinyl musings but because I saw a FB post about album covers with cars on, thought one would make a nice picture for my outhouse - but I ended up with these instead

I left the Showaddywaddy album behind though, sorry

[Dick Cheeseburger]

1 hour ago, danthecapriman said:

@bunglebus found these spares cars in the big mystery box. Any good?

BMW & Mustang are in a bad way paintwise, I’m not sure they’re much good at all really. Capri is good except one wheel is mangled! Griffo is good but missing a door.

 

@Dick Longbridge I couldn’t find any of the Mercury Commuter wagons in this lot, but there’s more coming later in the week so I’ll keep an eye out. 
However I did find this Cougar Villager wagon? It’s pretty nice really, tow hitch is broken but that’s about all that’s wrong.

Thanks for the thought Dan, but I'll hold out for a greenie!

[Split_Pin]

12 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

 

I did buy these though 

 

I loved that track as a teenager. I have never seen the artwork for it though, very unusual for the early 1990s.

[danthecapriman]

Here’s a weird variation I was totally unaware of, until today, with the Corgi Jr’s Buick Regals.

Spot the difference?

Why did they do this?? The chrome bumper & interior car is one I got ages back, the other I got in the big mystery box job-lot. Strange they made the bumper & interior in flat grey plastic instead.

Apparently this is a rarer colour for these too…

Orange! 

 

[155V6]

48 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Doing a bit of wombling in Wimbledon today. Visited two Sainsbury's, various smaller Tescos, Morrison's, Waitrose and TX Maxx - only found these on my first stop

Braille edition Twin Mill is a rather lovely idea for blind kids

Lastly this as it has some weird foreign body trapped in the blister 

I also had a mooch around the charity shops, only one had cars - in the horrible crinkly bags of 5, mostly the utter garbage Christmas cracker standard stuff other than a Blaze Buster and Corgi MK3 Escort. No sale.

I did buy these though - not because of Datsuncog's recent vinyl musings but because I saw a FB post about album covers with cars on, thought one would make a nice picture for my outhouse - but I ended up with these instead

I left the Showaddywaddy album behind though, sorry

What you need is this Fat Boys album.I used to listen to it quite a lot,it's from a time when Rap music didn't take itself so seriously

[bunglebus]

One day I'll line up all my Regals (and SD1s and Sierras) got about 12-15 of each, all different 

[sierraman]

Any sign of stock at Morrison’s? 

[MiniMinorMk3]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

 

I got that when it was in the charts.

 

I got this as a Christmas present when I was 5 or 6 years old. Unfortunately it was purged when we moved house when I was a teenager.

Have fun identifying all the Corgis, Dinkys and matchbox on the cover.

[flat4alfa]

2 hours ago, 155V6 said:

What you need is this Fat Boys album.I used to listen to it quite a lot,it's from a time when Rap music didn't take itself so seriously

Had the 12" of Stick 'em since new

Ought to dig it out and surround it with Corgi Regals, for a photoshoot

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Have fun identifying all the Corgis, Dinkys and matchbox on the cover

and working out what they're now worth

[Split_Pin]

2 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

Here’s a weird variation I was totally unaware of, until today, with the Corgi Jr’s Buick Regals.

Spot the difference?

Why did they do this?? The chrome bumper & interior car is one I got ages back, the other I got in the big mystery box job-lot. Strange they made the bumper & interior in flat grey plastic instead.

Apparently this is a rarer colour for these too…

Orange! 

 

I'm not a huge fan of the 1/36 Regal but the Juniors version is one of my favourites. Such a great, 70s US domestic subject. I have the Kojak issue.

[egg]

Hi all - not been in this thread in months, what's the status on finding the Matchbox Citroen Ami please? Ta.

[bunglebus]

24 minutes ago, egg said:

Hi all - not been in this thread in months, what's the status on finding the Matchbox Citroen Ami please? Ta.

Not seen any in the UK or pics on FB - I found one in Germany last week. Hopefully now more retailers can sell them it will mean less missed cases/better supply

 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Funny how tastes change. For many years, I've favoured 'larger than Matchbox' sized diecast. The slightly larger examples always seemed more impressive.

It's only now that I am really starting to look at old Lesney/Matchbox diecast and appreciating just how intricate they actually are.

Amongst some other models, I received this Superfast Lincoln Continental from Dan.

It's a strange one - overall it's in quite tidy condition but at some point the bootlid has completely disappeared without trace. It's a lovely old thing - it still looks striking and it's a diecast I've never owned before. Obviously first thing I did after cleaning it up a bit was head to ebay to see if there are any dirt cheap bootlid donors. Unfortunately not - does anyone else have one? If not, I'm tempted to break out the filler, fill the recess, shape it a bit and paint the 'lid' black. 

Whilst browsing ebay, I discovered this gem:

I've never been a fan of the earlier wheels, but suddenly I look at that example and fear a new rabbithole has opened! I like everything about it (apart from the price). I fear I'll have to avoid looking on ebay for similar era Lesney...

Is there a diecast collector's helpline? 🫣

Edit: Comparing the earlier and later models again, how brutal were Matchbox with hacking out the wheelarches to fit the Superfast wheels? I always preferred the later wheels but seeing the body intact in the earlier design, I think I prefer the earlier models.

[bunglebus]

3 minutes ago, Dick Longbridge said:

Is there a diecast collector's helpline?

0891 505050

[bunglebus]

In all seriousness, 60s-70s Matchbox 1-75 series have outstanding detail considering their size. Only make I think possibly trumps them is Lone Star

I know it's battered but exterior and interior detail is all reproduced plus jewel headlights and four opening bits

Such a shame these all got simplifed further than the Matchbox Super GTs

A lot had working steering similar to Matchbox too

[danthecapriman]

30 minutes ago, Dick Longbridge said:

Funny how tastes change. For many years, I've favoured 'larger than Matchbox' sized diecast. The slightly larger examples always seemed more impressive.

It's only now that I am really starting to look at old Lesney/Matchbox diecast and appreciating just how intricate they actually are.

Amongst some other models, I received this Superfast Lincoln Continental from Dan.

It's a strange one - overall it's in quite tidy condition but at some point the bootlid has completely disappeared without trace. It's a lovely old thing - it still looks striking and it's a diecast I've never owned before. Obviously first thing I did after cleaning it up a bit was head to ebay to see if there are any dirt cheap bootlid donors. Unfortunately not - does anyone else have one? If not, I'm tempted to break out the filler, fill the recess, shape it a bit and paint the 'lid' black. 

Whilst browsing ebay, I discovered this gem:

I've never been a fan of the earlier wheels, but suddenly I look at that example and fear a new rabbithole has opened! I like everything about it (apart from the price). I fear I'll have to avoid looking on ebay for similar era Lesney...

Is there a diecast collector's helpline? 🫣

Edit: Comparing the earlier and later models again, how brutal were Matchbox with hacking out the wheelarches to fit the Superfast wheels? I always preferred the later wheels but seeing the body intact in the earlier design, I think I prefer the earlier models.

Must admit, I’ve gone the opposite way! I used to love the small Matchbox/Corgi Jr size and used to go for them. Then I stopped collecting for many years and recently got the bug again, but this time favoured the bigger Dinky & Corgi Toys sort of sizes…

As part of collecting these though I’ve been turning up quantities of the smaller scales at the same time and that’s spurred me on to collect more of these too! As they’ve been turning up in my job-lot boxes I’ve been keeping certain ones I like or I’m missing from my old collection. 
I agree though, considering the age of these ‘toys’ the detail is excellent and they include features like interiors, opening doors and boots, opening bonnets with an engine beneath all in that tiny size! They are brilliant even half a century after they were made.  
Some of the little Husky’s are lovely little models too. Just a bit of a shame so many have been battered to hell over the years.

Could you make a replacement boot lid for your Lincoln out of plastic-card? Maybe then sand it down to get the shape close?

 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

3 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Must admit, I’ve gone the opposite way! I used to love the small Matchbox/Corgi Jr size and used to go for them. Then I stopped collecting for many years and recently got the bug again, but this time favoured the bigger Dinky & Corgi Toys sort of sizes…

As part of collecting these though I’ve been turning up quantities of the smaller scales at the same time and that’s spurred me on to collect more of these too! As they’ve been turning up in my job-lot boxes I’ve been keeping certain ones I like or I’m missing from my old collection. 
I agree though, considering the age of these ‘toys’ the detail is excellent and they include features like interiors, opening doors and boots, opening bonnets with an engine beneath all in that tiny size! They are brilliant even half a century after they were made.  
Some of the little Husky’s are lovely little models too. Just a bit of a shame so many have been battered to hell over the years.

Could you make a replacement boot lid for your Lincoln out of plastic-card? Maybe then sand it down to get the shape close?

 

I guess tastes evolve over a lifetime so they could well change again a few times! 

I've never used plastic card before. Something like this?  

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143672817475?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=viR3F-bVQ86&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=FV05_6LQQo2&var=442657325606&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

How you work with the stuff?

[danthecapriman]

19 minutes ago, Dick Longbridge said:

I guess tastes evolve over a lifetime so they could well change again a few times! 

I've never used plastic card before. Something like this?  

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143672817475?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=viR3F-bVQ86&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=FV05_6LQQo2&var=442657325606&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

How you work with the stuff?

That’s the stuff. You can get a mixed thickness pack too which is handy. There’s A4 sized sheets of various thicknesses in one pack so you don’t have to buy them individually.

It’s styrene plastic so it’s pretty soft and easily worked & cut, you can glue it together with polycement adhesive like you build Airfix kits with. I use it a lot for my model railway stuff and once used laminations of it glued together to form a front roof section of a Leyland FG truck that I converted from a flatbed into a British Rail mobile workshop truck. 
You just glue it together to get the basic size and shape then use small files or sandpaper etc to work it into the final shapes you want. The thin sheet can be cut with scissors but you need a sharp craft knife for thicker stuff.

Once you get the hang of it it’s easy to work it. Of course you could use the plastic to form the basic foundation of the boot lid then use model filler to sculpt the final shape on top of the plastic and sand that to final shape.

This is an assorted pack I usually use

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185765689241?epid=1305750348&hash=item2b407f7799:g:dlcAAOSwYW5gU3DE&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA8K1D5AqkLHsQaR0WKI6S%2BHApp0CgQB5tS1MFYba9UoHx8SA39VIp2JxBqkCbhXhqfxFL%2FQAFZ8fOI4K6kj%2FiHV4biWBbc5E3k8yniZtTAd8hoxj3HoyV57XKsgV5P%2BHu4FdOK26FTP8OsTPm7TJkoQVUlY%2BCRS32NJ8SfD0utNer6Q1UoirZS81ZcWJLhsSHzO6hdMYTFAKX8hCf1IRk36hUfNl0Cxfcd91A6nlb%2FIXMr7SapgwzZWHCEyQG54SQHaCV2cUVKddPVf98aDsPvAOnQpTnnbhALOdsvP7FgBtgz05Naf194mTc9gC2Gmew3g%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR77Hu4_FYQ

[bunglebus]

It's alright for fairly flat shapes. I've made bases out of it a couple of times, and a tailgate for the Corgi Transit

[flat4alfa]

Dinky Toys #157 BMW 2000 Ti Lux 

It is not quite a looker

It has more bloat than a Fat Boy having a Wipe Out

But there could be a reason for the gawkiness, it contains some devilish wizardry

To light pollute the neighbourhood

Thanks to @danthecapriman allowing a deal on this, one model that has escaped my fondling up until now.

I think I wore him down, to be fair.

[danthecapriman]

4 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Dinky Toys #157 BMW 2000 Ti Lux 

It is not quite a looker

It has more bloat than a Fat Boy having a Wipe Out

But there could be a reason for the gawkiness, it contains some devilish wizardry

To light pollute the neighbourhood

Thanks to @danthecapriman allowing a deal on this, one model that has escaped my fondling up until now.

I think I wore him down, to be fair.

Thats brilliant! What was wrong with it in the end? Or did I just have crap batteries!?

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, danthecapriman said:

Thats brilliant! What was wrong with it in the end? Or did I just have crap batteries!?

Perhaps you didn't have quite enough devilish wizardry, I don't know

[flat4alfa]

9 hours ago, junkyarddog said:

One of yesterday's finds was this Matchbox Turbo 2 with a wonky wheel,but with a full complement of tyres.

I have this one from a car boot sale last summer sans tyres!

Fixed!

Still works too!

There was a similar* tyre swap back here too, but because this Peugeot motor was borked.

So will a Matchbox Turbo 2 tyre fit a Matchbox Speed Rider?

Well that doesn't look promising, the wheel design is quite different

Well I never, we have some fitment.  Most unexpected.

But for how long though?  Will the tyres spin on the wheels and leave it standing?  Or will the tyres just fly off and clout the skirting board?

Well let's just add a battery cell and see

FFS !

[flat4alfa]

4 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

Had the 12" of Stick 'em since new

Ought to dig it out and surround it with Corgi Regals, for a photoshoot

Could not find

But did find a LP with some Fat Boying that was able to stand-in for it

The Regals showed up en-masse

It was chaos

[Datsuncog]

7 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

Here’s a weird variation I was totally unaware of, until today, with the Corgi Jr’s Buick Regals.

Spot the difference?

Why did they do this?? The chrome bumper & interior car is one I got ages back, the other I got in the big mystery box job-lot. Strange they made the bumper & interior in flat grey plastic instead.

From my understanding, this wasn't exactly a choice by Corgi to use chrome on some and flat grey plastic on others - the truth of the matter was that by the time Mettoy went under in 1984, things had been tricky with the company for a while.

Production machinery at the Swansea factory was becoming ever more worn and temperamental, and the vacuum machine used to create metal plated parts (brought in during the early 1960s) frequently went offline for days at a stretch.

A number of Juniors models from the early 1980s can be found with or without chrome plating, the latter seemingly assembled during 'off days' when the grey injection-moulded interior/ bumper/ grille assemblies couldn't be plated, but were put together with bodies and bases anyway.

I don't think the unplated examples are super-rare or particularly valuable, but they're a bit less common and slightly unusual.

I love the Regal casting, and for years it was the archetypal 'American car' in my head. I had maybe a dozen Juniors versions - a mid-green one like that above; a pale metallic silvery-green one; a deep chestnut brown one; a metallic bronze Kojak one; a yellow one with jacked-up rear suspension and one the same shade with a lower ride height; a flat mid-blue police cruiser; a metallic blue police cruiser; a white with black roof sheriff's car; and a very late black and white police cruiser with a full-width light bar on the roof, from the mid-90s Mattel era.

The only thing which confused me was that I never seemed to see a real-life car like my Corgi versions on the American TV shows I loved so much in the mid-80s.

It was only years later that I twigged that the Buick Century Regal (to give it its full name) was quite an uncommon high-end model, and was unlikely to have been used by police departments as patrol cars.

Although the Corgi Juniors version is pretty good in terms of capturing the 1:1 Regal's shape and styling touches, it doesn't seem to quite replicate the 'feel' of the real thing somehow - by which I mean the Corgi toy comes across as rather better looking and purposeful than the real thing, which I dunno.... just seems a bit frou-frou by comparison, with all its chrome bits and whitewalls. 

Anyway, here - have a few pics of my very own 'custom' Buick Regal, done up like a pizza delivery car using what I believe was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles temporary tattoo.

The stickers on the side were rendered in ballpoint, and referenced a Majorette Renault box truck I owned that had 'Pizza del'arte' tampo printed on the rear, and I figured this sounded plausible enough as a pizzeria name...

This was long before Pizza Hut or Domino's began plying their wares locally, and really I only knew of pizza delivery from US films... so it's a crude but kinda special-to-me model.

Though I got rid of all my other Regals a few years back, I kept this one for nostalgia reasons.

That said, I did find quite a tidy Superman 'City of Metropolis P.D.' Regal from the market late last year:

Most of my old versions had the red lamp punched through the glazing unit and rattling round inside, so I couldn't pass up on this...

[andy18s]

22 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

Sometimes when you’re going through these bulk boxes you find some true horrors. Piss poor repaint jobs, damage that is inexcusable, even ugly models.

But then once in a while you find something that surpasses all that and will give you nightmares for weeks to come.

Like this!

What an ugly ugly little bastard this is!!

I have it in 1/18 if you really want 1....

 

[eddyramrod]

7 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

I love the Regal casting, and for years it was the archetypal 'American car' in my head.

The only thing which confused me was that I never seemed to see a real-life car like my Corgi versions on the American TV shows I loved so much in the mid-80s.

It was only years later that I twigged that the Buick Century Regal (to give it its full name) was quite an uncommon high-end model, and was unlikely to have been used by police departments as patrol cars.

Look carefully, especially at the side profile...

Buford's Le Mans is built on the same architecture, so a very close relative.  See also...

1976 Chevy Malibu, as used by LaRue and Washington in Hill Street Blues.

And here's the Oldsmobile version, the Cutlass.  Although on screen we've seen all the first three used as police cars, in reality the only really likely one would be the Chevy, as the base-priced line.  Saying that though: a small Sheriff department such as that of Buford T. Justice, might have been able to cut a local deal with, say, a Pontiac agency; or might even have been able to hang on the coat-tails of a neighbouring City or Highway Patrol order.

Before I got rid of most of my MB-size cars, I painted a Juniors Kojak Buick in pale blue, to match the Hill Street car.  Somehow I managed to let it go a couple of years ago along with most of the others I had; I've kept the Kojak car, a Metropolis squad car and a yellow taxi, which was a genuine issue.  I have a 1/36 Kojak which I've repainted, but somehow not one in the original bronze.  Something to look out for at the fair on Sunday!

The archetypal American car of my youth would probably be the 1965-7 Ford Galaxie, being one I saw often on the cop shows.  But then I'm older...