Shite in Miniature II

[sierraman]

2 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

High Riders were different, a separate chassis to turn a 4x4 into a drag car or a normal car into a 4x4

 

Can’t have been a high rider, it was definitely a proper monster truck, I had the Ruff Trek as well. I’d have got them maybe 1994 ish. I’ll have to look for it.

[sierraman]

Mud slinger it is, just looking them up on eBay, even a rough one is $16 on eBay. Hope I haven’t chucked it out! 🤣

[bunglebus]

Cool

[sierraman]

[Datsuncog]

4 hours ago, bunglebus said:

From the same 1986 catalogue, first reference I can find to the monster trucks

1987 is the one up there ^ somewhere, same pic was used for 1988 too.

Anyone know the story behind the "Awesome Kong" one becoming the Wagon Wheels version? Google isn't helping much

Bit odd that the catalogue page marks the range as 'Super Trucks', but the inset photo of the Flyin' High in its blister pack shows 'Super Chargers' on the packaging.

The small print at the bottom of the page says 'TM The Superchargers is a registered trademark of TVI, inc. Used under licence.'

I'd thought that maybe a TV cartoon production company might be behind this line in some way, but a quick look online shows that TVI Inc. returns most hits for a US and Canadian chain of for-profit thrift stores, trading under the names Savers and Value Village, but which stocks mostly secondhand goods (specifically clothing, books, and homewares) - although they did sell some new items in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s.

However these new items were principally overstocks and past-season lines from other retailers, similar to the TK Maxx business model - not specifically commissioned toys or anything like that. So I don't think it's anything related to that crowd, then.

 

That's one of those utterly inconsequential things that's going to bug me!

[flat4alfa]

4 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Anyone know the story behind the "Awesome Kong" one becoming the Wagon Wheels version? Google isn't helping much

No idea, problem with the licencing?  It was a real thing too

 

[Bear]

Addiction is not healthy...

But the old nostalgic sets make me happy.

Some new arrivals in the box from @bunglebus

A trip to the car wash...

Don't forget to snow foam:

Ready to shine!

A very specific era of my life sort of captured here.

Really needs an XJ40, SD1 with sliding roof, XR4i, BMW Bauer convertible, 57 Chevy (pink/flames), Volvo 480 and Mercury Sable to complete.

Don't go to pieces...

Camaro shown with inspiration for what I'd like to do with it.

[Datsuncog]

On 2/27/2023 at 11:34 AM, bunglebus said:

 

5 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Anyone know the story behind the "Awesome Kong" one becoming the Wagon Wheels version? Google isn't helping much

 

51 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

No idea, problem with the licencing?  It was a real thing too

 

According to the Charlie Mack book, the Wagon Wheels monster truck was an on-pack promotional offer by the eponymous biscuits, for the UK only.

Produced in 1988, apparently quite rare - and the only Code 2 promo he lists for the Super Chargers/ Super Trucks/ Mud Racers range.

Looking closer, your Wagon Wheels variant seems to use the same body casting of the old Ford F100 Mini 4x4 as used for the SC-1 Bigfoot model, rather than the newer Ford F150 Custom used for the SC-6 Awesome Kong II model.

Still, all useful info so far on these - many thanks!

[bunglebus]

39 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Looking closer, your Wagon Wheels variant seems to use the same body casting of the old Ford F100 Mini 4x4 as used for the SC-1 Bigfoot model, rather than the newer Ford F150 Custom used for the SC-6 Awesome Kong II model.

So it does - the similar paint job fooled me

[sierraman]

I’m not even sure the later issues were officially marketed in the U.K., the only ones for sale are in the USA

[flat4alfa]

By 1987 I'd discovered ladies, passed my driving test, had the back seat fitted out; so toy cars were left well behind in the past.  Did see real life Monster Trucks doing their thing at Santa Pod and other showgrounds though

I hadn't appreciated until this thread (aside from Bigfoot anyhow) that most of them were based on real trucks. 

[bunglebus]

Monster trucks...yeah!

[Datsuncog]

3 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

The small print at the bottom of the page says 'TM The Superchargers is a registered trademark of TVI, inc. Used under licence.'

 

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

I hadn't appreciated until this thread (aside from Bigfoot anyhow) that most of them were based on real trucks. 

Aha... neither had I.

Wonder if that's what the licencing small-print is about - the owners/ operators/ promoters of the real-life trucks collectively copyrighting and licencing the image rights to their vehicles to Matchbox, possibly through a third-party agency.

I suppose that would have helped them retain control of any toys produced using these specific designs and vehicles - and avoid anyone making cheap knock-off copies (or, at least, allow a solid basis to take legal action against anyone producing cheap knock-off copies).

[bunglebus]

A bit too cold to work on real cars today, but I did brave the outhouse and had a tinker with a few projects. 

Hot Wheels ovloV was going quite well until the paint reacted - decided the dayglo yellow isn't the right colour anyway 

Sorting through the parts donor box - sods law I've ended up with two of these with the same door missing!

Kids shouldn't be allowed toy cars. This is what greated me inside the Matchbox  #6 Ford pick-up - bearing in mind it's already had a scrub in the sink

Definitely DOA this one, it's literally dissolved in places

[sierraman]

That needs preserving in its current state

[bunglebus]

Anyone recognise this Pug 504? Doesn't seem to match either Majorette or Norev

[Datsuncog]

Pretty sure that's a Norev Mini Jet 504...

 

I had one; albeit it had been overpainted in gloopy white gloss paint - and then I had a crack at it with my infernal Tamiya chrome paint pen.

Then the baseplate fell off it.

I don't remember what happened to it, in the end.

Probably for the best; it'd keep me up at night otherwise...

[Christine]

[bunglebus]

Never seen that one!

[Christine]

swap 4 hotwheels  civic EK9 type R ?  

[flat4alfa]

35 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Anyone recognise this Pug 504? Doesn't seem to match either Majorette or Norev

Saw that listing and pondered myself.  Then looked at the rest of the lot and postage and ignored it.

[flat4alfa]

14 minutes ago, Christine said:

Crikey that's not listed on Fandom or MBXforum !

[Christine]

SWAP 4  HOTWHEELS HONDA CIVIC TYPE R EK9  THEN !!!

 WD  PREFER A BUNGLEBUS  REPAINT IN SIMILAR COLOR  TO NIGHTFIRE RED !

 

rARE INNIT ,  THERE'S SEVERAL ON EBAY--    "57 CHEVY SUPERCHARGER " ...

[Christine]

I want it to look like this ...

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

Definitely DOA this one, it's literally dissolved in places

"Well I'll be dipped!"

[bunglebus]

28 minutes ago, Christine said:

swap 4 hotwheels  civic EK9 type R ?  

I'm sure I can find you one of those

[MiniMinorMk3]

38 minutes ago, Christine said:

 

31 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Never seen that one!

Also comes with yellow tyres

 

Buy now while stocks last

 

Matchbox International 4 '57 Chevy in dark red, Super Chargers Monster Truck! | eBay

[Christine]

Looks wank .. the bonn...the   hood  is loose on that one too, maybe it's supposed to fly up  when a boy  launches it !!  

[bunglebus]

Ever seen one of these? 

Came up when I was searching Matchbox Super Chargers - base is 1987 Macau

[155V6]

 

2 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Pretty sure that's a Norev Mini Jet 504...

 

I had one; albeit it had been overpainted in gloopy white gloss paint - and then I had a crack at it with my infernal Tamiya chrome paint pen.

Then the baseplate fell off it.

I don't remember what happened to it, in the end.

Probably for the best; it'd keep me up at night otherwise...

This reminded me I have one & a few others

504 & 305

Horizon & Solara

Broken Visa with a keychain stuck to it