Shite in Miniature II

[sutty2006]

Been in the loft again. This collection of stuff was in a box that I kept in my grandads green house. He would fire his parafin heater and I would play in the dirt on the floor. 
 

some corgi juniors and matchbox stuff. The blue bus is a Titan. 

[danthecapriman]

Finally!! 


 

Just need to go through everything now. 
 

[danthecapriman]

  On 04/05/2023 at 09:44, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Step away from the car now. The only thing I'd do is get a replacement bumper and lights, that paint finish is great.

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‘If’ it remains like that, it’ll probably need a coat of varnish or something over it. The red is a mixture of original and new(er) paint and it’s flaky in places. 
 

Do I repaint the old thing or not!?!😬

[danthecapriman]

First things first.

Ive been after one of these for a while but couldn’t find one. Got one now though! And it’s a little beauty!

Same guy also had a Mercury Cougar so that is now mine too. 
 

 

[Split_Pin]

  On 04/05/2023 at 11:24, danthecapriman said:

First things first.

Ive been after one of these for a while but couldn’t find one. Got one now though! And it’s a little beauty!

Same guy also had a Mercury Cougar so that is now mine too. 
 

 

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You can go off some people you know 😅 😤

[eddyramrod]

That Celeste is lovely!  There's a place in my collection for one of those.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Apropos of nothing, but when I was a kid studying the Colt brochure , I assumed the Celeste was for girls because why would anybody choose that over a GTO two pages on ?
Carry on.

[Datsuncog]

Something I didn't get around to posting last week: Matchbox 2022 Hitch & Haul packs have finally touched down in Norn Iron, courtesy of The Entertainer.

A fair few individual mainlines from the early 2023 case are there in the display too, priced a few pennies less than those in Tesco. Plus multipacks, and Skybusters.

Rodeo set features quite a handsome Jeep Wagoneer, plus a plastic-bodied reworking of the venerable Lesney Pony Trailer from 1968 - as well as two plastic cowboy figures and two cactuses.

Unlike the original, the tailboard doesn't open on the pony trailer anymore.

Fire Rescue set comes with two generic models - the 'Hazard Squad' fire truck and 'MBX Ambulance', along with a pair of temporary barriers, some firefighters grappling a hose from a hydrant, and a billboard advising "Don't play with matches! Play with Matchbox!"

Duly noted.

Since nothing in this one actually hitches or hauls anything, with no towbars to be seen, I reckon it's a bit of a cop-out. Essentially we've just got a Two-Pack with a few cheapo extras.

Off-Road set features a reworking of the venerable Jeep 4x4 (first seen all the way back in 1984) in National Park get-up together with the Trailer Trawler - plus figures of a bear, a wolf, a presumably rather concerned hiker, and what seems to be a blank trailhead map board.

A little sign advising "Don't play with bears and wolves! Play with Matchbox!" might also have been useful here, just to avoid any potential litigation.

Construction Zone set contains another two generics - the 'Tilt 'n' Tip' truck and the 'MBX Cement Trailer' - alongside a pair of construction workers, a single temporary barrier, and a ludicrously oversized wheelbarrow that's bigger than the cement mixer barrel.

The cement trailer seems to be unique to the Hitch & Haul sets - unlike the others, I don't think it's ever been available as a mainline release or included in other multipacks.

For me, it's probably the least interesting of all the sets.

There are only four sets illustrated on the back of the packs - though all four of these also appeared in the 2021 range too.

It's possible that four more packs were supposed to be released in the second half of last year, but didn't show up for whatever reason - the Matchbox Wiki shows eight sets in the revamped 2021 range.

Hitch & Haul (2022) | Matchbox Cars Wiki | Fandom

There are gaps left for other releases on the '22 release page, but they're still empty except for a reference to the 'Crocodile Country' set - which has no pics, but is listed as including a generic 'Swamp Raider' 4x4 and a raft boat on a trailer.

However, there are no cross-references to this particular set on the individual model pages - so it may not have ever existed/ seen release.

I wouldn't be surprised if they're not selling terribly well, though - an £8 sticker price for two models that would otherwise retail at below £2 individually, plus some cheap cracker-grade plastic figures, doesn't exactly seem like tremendous value for money.

I can only hope that they might soon appear at OMG HALF PRICE, because I'd probably have the Rodeo and Off Road sets if they were out at £4... it's just not quite interesting enough to tempt me as they stand.

5-packs at £9.60 and a ten-pack for £16.80 offer some minor savings on individual items, but still pricey enough - even with a supposed 20% off.

But then the toy business is a bit cut-throat, and I'm sure The Entertainer has its work cut out trying to keep city centre stores open against supermarkets with loss-leader promotions and big-box retailers like Smyths...

Any Matchbox on the pegs is probably a good thing these days, after the sad years of the Tesco monopoly!

Now, if we could just see some Moving Parts releases that aren't being sold by eBay scalpers...

[bunglebus]

Poundland had this case, yet more of the same mix that's everywhere 

[sierraman]

The twin packs are awful value really at £8, either that or I’m really tight. 

[Datsuncog]

  On 03/05/2023 at 07:17, sutty2006 said:

Enjoying my collection so far. 

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Excellent! And just to ask, are you all sorted now for an IMSA Audi '90?

I've one set aside for you here, but see you've you one in your current collection - if you still fancy a second then no bother, but if not I'm happy to offer it out again on here!

[Split_Pin]

  On 04/05/2023 at 13:16, Datsuncog said:

Excellent! And just to ask, are you all sorted now for an IMSA Audi '90?

I've one set aside for you here, but see you've you one in your current collection - if you still fancy a second then no bother, but if not I'm happy to offer it out again on here!

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I sent him 2 a few weeks ago.

[sutty2006]

Yes I’m all good on Audis right now thanks. One is in my collection, the other is probably in the bath. Thanks! 

[Datsuncog]

That'll do well!

Availability of these Hot Wheels seems a bit better than some of the cases from previous years - either that or we've all become so enamored by them that we're raiding the stores twice a week...

Already got one going out to AndyW201, so if anyone else is desperate for a(nother) IMSA Quattro, hit me up!

 

[danthecapriman]

  On 04/05/2023 at 11:46, Split_Pin said:

You can go off some people you know 😅 😤

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  On 04/05/2023 at 11:47, eddyramrod said:

That Celeste is lovely!  There's a place in my collection for one of those.

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It is a really nice model. I’d say definitely one of Matchbox’s best! 
If you get the chance, I’d recommend getting one.

[Datsuncog]

That Celeste does look fantastic. Here's hoping there's better availability coming soon - Poundland had a load from the Moving Parts range a year or two ago, so if they'd start stocking them I'd be well pleased.

I'd be even more pleased if they mistakenly priced them at 50p again.

[bunglebus]

Been out mooching around the shops. Smyths have lots of Premium offerings

And I found the elusive Quattro

[bunglebus]

A few bits landed on the mat while I was out, such as a tidy Rockets C111

Marx Bulldog Beetle that isn't blue

Plus a Hot Wheels Gleam Team Corvette - do I attack it with the Molotow?

Pleased to see Wiki list my pink 959 as having a very hard to find wheel variation  too

[bunglebus]

I also bought one of these

Some of the cards are glued in, some I bought separately and are loose. 

I thought these would be like Stinky Stickers and have a specific place for each one, but you can put any card in a space - for some reason the previous owner put several the same in with very strong glue

[andy18s]

@Datsuncog @danthecapriman do either of you have a 1/43 or close 2cv to sell? 

The Mrs wants to decorate 1 for a friend and as you both are holding boxes for me I'd thought I'd ask.

Ta

[Datsuncog]

  On 04/05/2023 at 16:10, bunglebus said:

I also bought one of these

Some of the cards are glued in, some I bought separately and are loose. 

I thought these would be like Stinky Stickers and have a specific place for each one, but you can put any card in a space - for some reason the previous owner put several the same in with very strong glue

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That's nice - never seen one of those collector card albums before!

I was aware of the cards themselves, and thought Matchbox kinda missed a trick by not putting a card relating to the actual model purchased inside the box - it seems it was just a random selection. I picked up a sealed Chevy Blazer a few years ago, which had a Camaro IROC-Z card in it.

I guess a kid who bought/ received new models on the regular would quite likely end up with duplicate cards, even if they didn't have duplicate models - but if the idea was that you glued your cards into the album and then sent it off to Matchbox to get a free model for every page you completed, then you had a big incentive to stick in the duplicates too...

Seems like maybe Matchbox weren't sure if they were promoting a loyalty card scheme, or a collector's card scheme?

Still a very nice little piece of collector's ephemera from... crumbs, was that really 37 years ago?!

[danthecapriman]

  On 04/05/2023 at 16:37, andy18s said:

@Datsuncog @danthecapriman do either of you have a 1/43 or close 2cv to sell? 

The Mrs wants to decorate 1 for a friend and as you both are holding boxes for me I'd thought I'd ask.

Ta

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Not come across any in that size yet. 
I’ve got a Corgi Jr’s 2CV and Dyane available, but might be a bit small for what your after?

Ill certainly keep an eye out though.

[danthecapriman]

Anyone know what this is from?

It sort of looks familiar but I just can’t think what from.

[Datsuncog]

  On 04/05/2023 at 16:37, andy18s said:

@Datsuncog @danthecapriman do either of you have a 1/43 or close 2cv to sell? 

The Mrs wants to decorate 1 for a friend and as you both are holding boxes for me I'd thought I'd ask.

Ta

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Don't have any 2CVs at the minute, I'm afraid - though if it's not time-sensitive I could keep an eye out?

Solido produced a 1/43 70s 2CV with the rectangular headlights and they crop up every so often; also Vitesse modelled the earlier 50s/60s version with the corrugated bonnet.

Matchbox Dinky released a version in the early 1990s based on the Vitesse casting, but they're not all that common.

[Datsuncog]

  On 04/05/2023 at 16:55, danthecapriman said:

Anyone know what this is from?

It sort of looks familiar but I just can’t think what from.

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It's from the Matchbox Superkings K-19 Ford D-Series security van/ money box.

Usually heard rattling round in the back!

[sierraman]

  On 04/05/2023 at 16:55, danthecapriman said:

Anyone know what this is from?

It sort of looks familiar but I just can’t think what from.

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Back of a matchbox Superkings bullion  van

[danthecapriman]

  On 04/05/2023 at 16:58, Datsuncog said:

It's from the Matchbox Superkings K-19 Ford D-Series security van/ money box.

Usually heard rattling round in the back!

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  On 04/05/2023 at 17:01, sierraman said:

Back of a matchbox Superkings bullion  van

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I knew someone would know! Ta.

Is that the bullion van that had three? Little combination dial things on the back door? 
I remember having one as a kid so that’s probably where I remember the gold trolley from.

[sierraman]

  On 04/05/2023 at 17:06, danthecapriman said:

 

I knew someone would know! Ta.

Is that the bullion van that had three? Little combination dial things on the back door? 
I remember having one as a kid so that’s probably where I remember the gold trolley from.

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I can’t remember, I do have one with the cargo somewhere, I’ll check sometime.

[flat4alfa]

  On 04/05/2023 at 09:50, MiniMinorMk3 said:

The values of Spot-Ons always amazes me.

I picked up this restored Tonibell Bedford as part of a lot and promptly stuck it on Ebay. As it was a restoration I thought it might make £10-£20. I got over £60 in the end. 

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Cor I which you'd offered it on here first!  I was outbid on those for months.  Bought a rough but complete Army one for just under £20

[sierraman]

What is the rarest/most desirable Spot On?