Shite in Miniature II

[Split_Pin]

2 hours ago, quicksilver said:

It reminds me of the Metsec-bodied Leyland Atlanteans in Jakarta, so not a 'British Bus' at all but an Indonesian one!

https://busesworldwide.org/wp/?page_id=40104

 

Good shout, I have never seen one of those before although I was aware that some new Ailsas were made for bus companies there. A quick Flickr search reveals at least one other observation the same as yourself when the poster said the same as I did originally. 

On closer inspection, it does have a complete AN68 rear bustle, something I didn't know how to identify when I last saw one of these models in the metal. I want one now I know its a real bus!

[flat4alfa]

40 minutes ago, quicksilver said:

It reminds me of the Metsec-bodied Leyland Atlanteans in Jakarta, so not a 'British Bus' at all but an Indonesian one!

Wow!  I have just fallen into an Interweb pit of buses I never knew existed

It's exactly it - check out the arse and the side windows

Leyland Atlantean, wearing a Duple Metsec Body, assembled by Amalgam Body in South Jakata. 

Some more stuff:  https://awansan-com.translate.goog/tag/karoseri-amalgam/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=fr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Which means the one back here deserves some fixing up, now it's been determined is valuable and @Split_Pin will pay handsomely for one!

Majorette British Bus, you have a reprieve.  Paintjob on the way soon, in period Jakata City livery, perhaps

The revelation was announced and shortly after, the Tomica, Matchbox, Jumbo, Realtoy and Corgis turned up to make friends.

 

[quicksilver]

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

Good shout, I have never seen one of those before although I was aware that some new Ailsas were made for bus companies there. A quick Flickr search reveals at least one other observation the same as yourself when the poster said the same as I did originally. 

On closer inspection, it does have a complete AN68 rear bustle, something I didn't know how to identify when I last saw one of these models in the metal. I want one now I know its a real bus!

 

33 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Wow!  I have just fallen into an Interweb pit of buses I never knew existed

It's exactly it - check out the arse and the side windows

Leyland Atlantean, wearing a Duple Metsec Body, assembled by Amalgam Body in South Jakata. 

Some more stuff:  https://awansan-com.translate.goog/tag/karoseri-amalgam/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=fr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Which means the one back here deserves some fixing up, now it's been determined is valuable and @Split_Pin will pay handsomely for one!

Majorette British Bus, you have a reprieve.  Paintjob on the way soon, in period Jakata City livery, perhaps

The revelation was announced and shortly after, the Tomica, Matchbox, Jumbo, Realtoy and Corgis turned up to make friends.

 

Happy to have enlightened you both! I only know about them because a friend was involved with Metsec when they were built. A model kit was made and he assembled one to present to the bus company and show them what the finished product would look like. It's a very bizarre thing to model as a 'British bus' and I wonder how a French toy company even became aware of its existence.

[Split_Pin]

What a strange and very niche choice to make a toy out of, especially as they intended to call it British. I would have expected a Metrobus, if the DMS and Titan were already licensed to Matchbox. Having said that, Lledo included a Titan in their 'Marathons' range.

Ebay are a bit expensive for the Majorette bus so I'll need to keep an eye out elsewhere!

[quicksilver]

I've never had one or paid them much attention but I thought the Marathons bus was supposed to be an ECW or Roe-bodied Olympian as it doesn't have the recessed square back window of the Titan. It's so crude it could be anything really. The big coach was another off-the-wall choice, a Neoplan Jetliner of which only one was sold in the UK, and I could never figure out what the smaller coach was intended to be.

[bunglebus]

Who would like a bent-wing Flying Bug for just £7.50 (reduced from £15) 

Or this excellent selection for just £9? Don't think I'm going to find any bargains in this corner of Somerset 

[sierraman]

In Sheffield we had those Duple buses from Hong Kong, Brightbus brought over a load of Dennis Tridents with that body and twin axles specifically for school contracts. An acquaintance of mine used to drive them, he said they were a bit hairy in the wet. 

[flat4alfa]

6 minutes ago, quicksilver said:

The big coach was another off-the-wall choice, a Neoplan Jetliner of which only one was sold in the UK, and I could never figure out what the smaller coach was intended to be.

I thought it was Spaceliner

A Jetliner can only go up to 42,000 feet.  It's important when you are taking 49 elderly ladies off to Cleethorpes.

[quicksilver]

Sorry, yes 684 ALP was a Spaceliner. The Jetliner was a lower version that was marginally more successful. The problem with the Spaceliner was that with all the seats on the same level it was legally a single-decker and had to pass the tilt test as such with so much weight high up. Beavis ordered it as a 57-seater like the German ones but had to reduce it to 49 to get it through the tilt test; that's the same capacity as a standard coach negating the benefits of the extra saloon length.

Interesting that it has Euroliner branding as that was a much later and more successful Neoplan model. Also, why did Lledo never make the model in Beavis livery, the only one that would actually be authentic?

[flat4alfa]

Or when it was operated by Buddens.

A double-hit to the model bus economy.

Notice it was later re-registered A3 ALP (in 1995) 

[Datsuncog]

Parcel touched down today.

It was cunningly wrapped, I'll give it that. But I got through the multiple tape layers, eventually.

And within...

Can you guess?

You probably can.

Yup, it's Sunday morning's unexpected eBay score - a Spot-On Series II Land Rover 109.

Well patinated, and missing a bumper corner, but by no means completely trashed.

The tyres may make an MOT inspector furrow their brow, but - as they say - it's only original once.

Also, the rear axle seems mounted just slightly forward of where it looks like it should be.

And there's the money shot:

The 'Made in Northern Ireland' lettering on the base was applied inconsistently by Tri-ang, and consequently the only ones I've owned have all read 'Made in the United Kingdom'. But I knew they were out there.

And now I have one. Not that I'm one for mad jingoistic flag-waving, but there's just something nice about holding a little piece of diecast history that's returned to within fifteen or so miles from where it was made, over half a century ago.

Who knows where it's been since then - but it's here now.

All thanks to @egg for the listing tip-off!

 

[egg]

That's alright isn't it? Could restore, maybe just replace tyres, or even just straighten the tow hook. But nice as is for the money.

[Datsuncog]

And I couldn't not pull a few rival equivalents in for a quick pic...

The Spot-On's 1/42 scale makes the Corgi SII look a bit puny, in comparison:

Corgi's unusual non-factory slopey roof is also very obvious here.

Dinky SIII Landie is, surprisingly, much more similar to the Spot-On in terms of scale.

In fact, I almost started to wonder if Lines Bros had reworked their old Spot-On casting to create a new Dinky version with opening doors and bonnet - but no, I don't think they did.

They're quite similar, but there's way too many small differences to make a direct reworking likely.

I just really like these pickups, which is why I keep buying 'em - though I wouldn't say no, if a Spot-On Station Wagon version turned up for cheap...

[Datsuncog]

1 minute ago, egg said:

That's alright isn't it? Could restore, maybe just replace tyres, or even just straighten the tow hook. But nice as is for the money.

I might try straightening the towhook, as a first effort - though it is still functional!

[flat4alfa]

7 hours ago, mat777 said:

I'd always liked the unusual looks of the Toronado

What you really want is the Tekno from Denmark.  Also branded as a Kirk.

It has opening things everywhere, a very detailed engine bay (that could get a bit muddy as they forgot to fit inner fenders)

An interior to pimp to, along with a fair sized trunk big enough to hide a deceased Jimmy Hoffa

Look at the details under there.  A Toronado of this age was FWD, something Universal Hobbies weren't aware of it seems for theirs

The most valuable are with black trunk and hood

I think probably the best of the lot

[MiniMinorMk3]

56 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

 

 

Corgi's unusual non-factory slopey roof is also very obvious here.

 

Series 1 roof

[Datsuncog]

Yes indeed - but not a Series 2 roof!

Curious, given how fastidious Corgi normally were about correct detailing.

In fact, it seems to be something even Van Cleemput had trouble with - in the Great Book of Corgi, he maintains the #438 S2 Land Rover launched in 1962 was "the basic 406 Land Rover with suspension added plus a plastic hood" - referring back to the 1957 release, which was an S1.

But the #438, like my green version above, was a completely new casting, including a diecast base and sprung suspension - albeit with some visual similarity to the earlier #406 version, mainly because the roof treatment was carried over from the S1 to the S2.

Still, he oversaw the manufacture of over ten million of the blighters, so I can probably forgive him for becoming a bit desensitized to them...

[MiniMinorMk3]

17 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Yes indeed - but not a Series 2 roof!

Curious, given how fastidious Corgi normally were about correct detailing.

 

The problem still persists with Vanguards

 

[flat4alfa]

Carlotta wanted to show you something.

 

 

 

 

 

It's not her Ferrari

The fantastic Ferrari 512S Speciale concept, designed by Filippo Sapino at Pinifarina which was unveiled at the 1969 Turin Motor Show

 

It's not the model by Mercury

or the Pilen

or the Mebetoys

Not even the Hot Wheels in smaller scale

No, not that either.  She wanted to show you the Matchbox prototype that never made production

Which is a shame.

As it looked quite good

[warch]

2 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Yes indeed - but not a Series 2 roof!

Curious, given how fastidious Corgi normally were about correct detailing.

I always found that error in the design of the Corgi Landrover very glaring, the smart new design of the truck cab roof for the Series II was iconic and instantly recognisable. Bearing in mind how much mileage Corgi got out of the moulding (and that they redesigned it as a SWB) it wouldn’t have killed them to sort the bloody roof. The Spot On version is way superior. 

[AndyW201]

I had a delivery too, I was away to Scotland in the truck today, so took it out with me for the grand opening.

So another edition of the (thankfully occasional) series; Thursday's Thunderously Tedious Tacho-break Tat.

(Coming from the cab of a Mercedes Atego, rather than my front room sofa, for a change.)

Eh, what's this? iPhone, don't think so M8...

Ah, good packaging idea that, actually. What's inside then, squire?

Yeeeeeesssss!! This is a big holy grail find for me. This time I've had to buy unboxed as it was the only way I could get a cheap (ish) one. 

So, what we have here is the Vanguards Allegro in 1500 Special Limited Edition flavour, in lovely Tara Green. 

What makes this so special (pun unintentional, honest) is that it's the last Vanguards Allegro I needed to have the full set. Not that I'm a completist in any way, as I've proved on here. No way.

It all started in 2004 when I bought this bad boy, (I have to admit the giffer/boy racer mods were added by me. Apologies to the rivet counters....😆)

I already had a few Vanguards at that time, and got their Harvest Gold Allegro to kind-of go with the car. (Even though mine was Antique gold... and a two-door... and a series 2...). And I thought I'd see how many I could get hold of. Which turned into a bit of an obsession.

So I now have the Harvest Gold, Damask Red, and Blaze Orange 1300 DLs,  White weathered 'Hidden Treasures" 1300 DL,  Brazil Brown metallic 1300 DL, Metropolitan Police 1300, (what a bastard that was to find at one point, now you can't move for them), Cosmic Blue metallic 1500 SDL, Patrick Motors and Leyland ST works rally versions, Reynard Bronze 1500 Special, Lagoon Blue 1750 Sport Special, and now the Tara Green Special LE. Oh, and the only one modelled that I've seen in the flesh,

JBY 794N, the Citron yellow 1500 SDL parked next to mine in these pics was modelled by Vanguards in the Austin Centenary twin pack with an Austin 1800. I was lucky to get the Allegro model individually, loose, for a few quid off ebay.

Lucky (for you lot) I'm almost 400 miles from home, as I'd be getting them all out of the loft and the display cabinet and photographing them all...

For one of the earlier castings from the early 2000s, the Allegro doesn't stand up too bad, only things like the painted on sidelight/indicator units date it a little. The later releases of the higher spec models titivated the casting a little. The front driving lights in their pods look great, (I fitted a pair later on to my own car, which set off the équipe front air dam better.) Grille looks great too, only a slightly squiffy headlight spoils the picture here.

Again, painted tail lights, but at least they're in a seperate moulding. But the boot trims and badges look nice although the tampo printer seems to have slipped a little when the badges were applied... The Special badge is tiny but still readable.

The side stripes and the LE logos are really nicely done. The wheels still date from a time when Vanguards would use generic steel wheels and chrome hubcaps for almost any '60s/'70s car. The only time Vanguards ever really bothered with wheels for the Allegro was on the 1750 SS, where they did actually tool up the unique SS wheel covers, which they did a pretty good job of. (They are one of my favourite wheel trim designs of all time, which is why my real Allegro got a set.)

But the hubcaps on this LE do at least have the ring in the centre, like the Allegro ones and the black stripe is there going around the outside of the cap like on the Special-spec trim rings on the real car (which BL borrowed from the Maxi HL).

As Vanguards started out modelling the series 1 DL and SDL spec cars, there are a few inaccuracies in the interior, like the 2 dial dash, Quartic wheel and lack of head restraints, (Yes, my real Allegro was a series 2 but gained a Quartic wheel...) But it's still recognisable as an Allegro dash and at least with this one, Corgi took the time to model the interior in beige but the dash in black, like on the real car. A lot of the other releases had it all moulded in one colour. I've always liked how Vanguards captured "those" door handles too, with seperate mouldings, looking just like the real things

And they took the time to paint the sills Matt black to simulate the series 2 sill covers. Correct Matt black window trims, mirrors and wipers too, as on the real LE.

But it's the colour that makes this model, possibly the reason why this is the version that comes up for sale the least, and fetches the highest prices. Tara Green has to be one the best BL colours. The model is in lovely condition too, for an unboxed job. Apparently it's been on the seller's model railway layout from new. Shame he never kept the box, but I suppose if it was boxed, I wouldn't have it here now...

[Datsuncog]

Well, it's not raining...

So hop in, buckle up and let's hit the road - cos we're going LIVE to the Tat Market...

[flat4alfa]

[Split_Pin]

I was just going to say that!

[flat4alfa]

For page 1425

Dinky France 1425, Matra 630 from 1967-74

Also listed in UK catalogue 1971-78

Anyone had one of these? It’s one I look out for but never seen one, even in France. Atlas also did their reissue a few years back.  It is rarely found unboxed with the front lid intact, because it wasn't fixed by a hinge.  It was a lift-off piece.

The 630 originally ran a British BRM 2.0 V8, then for 1968-on Matra’s own 3.0 V12.  Both those years were a reliability disaster, but it did fare far better for 1969, taking 4th 5th 7th at Le Mans.  Piers Courage from Colchester was a driver of the car coming 4th.  Sadly he died at Zandvoort the following year.

[flat4alfa]

3 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

I was just going to say that!

It’s the desperation 😁

[Datsuncog]

Right right right...

All very colourful in the market this morning - but it's tat we want, and tat we shall have.

And the Tat stall did not disappoint - even though it was already busy with fellow sad-acts collectors having an eager rootle through everything.

Some of these we've seen a few weeks back - not the same box of repaints, but some repaints nonetheless.

The Cole's Crane Truck was new though, and - unlike the offering at the nearby stall - was complete with its hook and all four stabilising legs, and in reasonable overall shape.

Qualitoys Turbine Truck in giraffe transporter guise lurking behind.

At £20 the crane truck wasn't exactly cheap-cheap, though I've yet to see Supertoys for a fiver anywhere round here - but temptation was swiftly removed, as our chum The Nemesis took a shine to it.

He also had this rather lovely Dinky Bedford TK box van in his 'find' pile:

Nice.

Meanwhile, this Dinky Mercedes rigid truck is one I've coveted for a while - but at £20, I dunno.

Yes at £10, but I don't think I want it that badly to shell out that much.

Corgi Jeep FC conveyor at £10 - looked intact, but I wouldn't go putting those rubber belts to hard graft.

Dinky Criterion ambulance, later-issue Corgi Impala patrol car and a Britains dumper were also pleasing to behold, though the door at the back of the bloodbox was missing.

More late-90s Corgi Classics were also in evidence up top - £10 on these.

Though these older releases were a slightly more bargainous £5 a throw, on the little camping table off to the side:

Nemesis did take all the Mini vans and the Transit wrecker, though.

Some other lad was filling his boots with £5 Classics Thorneycroft buses and Blackpool trams - well, he's welcome to them.

Meanwhile, there was a tat box, of sorts...

Not the 50p sort, though.

But even so... let's dive in...

[bunglebus]

Weird beige vintage era job and Scarab? look interesting 

[flat4alfa]

Wassat

[Datsuncog]

It was all a bit of a wildcard - quite a jumble of Corgi, Dinky and Lesney from multiple eras and having been subjected to varying degrees of fuckery.

It seems that about £5 is the going rate for these.

I wasn't sure if this one was a Dinky or not - and neither was The Nemesis.

No baseplate, no maker's name.

But a bit borked, despite its relatively recent paint job.

Both bits of this Lesney grader had been thoughtfully kept together.

Corgi Stingray in silver was so-so - crash damage to the front bumper was annoying.

Corgi Aston with early wheels was worn, but honest enough.

Two of these Lesney gooseneck dump trucks were present.

Plenty of racing action, in both Corgi and Dinky flavours.

A pair of Jeep FCs; red one missing something, possibly the cherry picker arm or conveyor elevator.

Budgie Scammell Scarab was a bit less common.

No trailer, sadly.

Later Corgis were pretty rough.

More Lesney King Size construction vehicles in okay condition.

Smaller Lesney too, though suffering from varying levels of repaint.

This was annoying.

A fairly decent Lesney Massey Ferguson combine harvester, with just slightly bent bits at the side. With the best of intentions, I tried to bend it back into its original shape - and BANG - the probably sixty-year old metal gave way.

Fucksticks.

I should have known better.

I'm now in a lather about whether 'you break it - you buy it' applies...