Shite in Miniature II

[MiniMinorMk3]

I've had a few of those Gama 1302 Bugs, mostly in the green gold metallic.

The casting goes back to the Gama hard case days.

The gold coin was used to loosen the screw holding the car to the base.

If you have yellow Gama models, it's best to keep them away from bright light.

This one must have been on a very long holiday in Southern Europe.

I've also had the 1302 in the generic red that Gama dipped a lot of their later production in. Here's a 411 in that red.

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

And back on the Land Rover theme, here's a couple of Series 1s from the Matchbox Collectibles range.

First up is YYM35054 from the First Great 4x4s Collection

Great chassis detail on some of these Matchbox models.

Scond is YYM38052 from the Great Outdoors Collection.

This looks like some hideous fictitious livery from an over enthusiastic model designer.

Does have a dawg and guns on the back

More Land Rovers to follow during the week.

[bunglebus]

Had some bits land while I've been away, starting with a pair of Zodiac Toys Midnight Roadsters - as far as I can make out, Zodiac imported various Hong Kong area castings and sold them as their own brand. Don't know yet who made the Thunderbird....

...but the '57 Chevy is definitely the same one I have loose, itself branded both MC Toys and Zee Toys!

Then there's this mint Playart Jag E Type 

[AndyW201]

Finally got round to opening the couple of parcels I've had recently from fellow miniature-shiters.

First from @Tenmil Socket

Hmm, seems we share the same tastes in breakfast-time fare. Aldi FTW! Inside was something equally tasty...

 Only taken me approximately 40 years, but I finally have an original blue Acclaim. I did have the later red driving school version, but it was this one I always wanted. Obvious party trick with this one was the steering front wheels via the mirrors (which are slightly clunky looking but they need to be like that really,)

but things like the wheels which kind of looked like the real ones, cast in badging and a well rendered shape were things that really appealed with this to me, as a kid. 

This one's in not bad nick, with very minimal paint loss, but as can be seen, under previous ownership, someone's gone a bit mad with the red. Don't know if it's been an attempt at detailing, or a full re-colour, but luckily most of it has been removed.

I had a rub over it with some household wipes, and managed to get some more red out of the crevices,

Some of the red on the rear bumper and drivers mirror was a bit stubborn, so the bumpers, along with the mirrors and side rubbing strips and rear grilles were touched in in black, and the wheels, grille and headlights got a dab of silver,

The effects were, well yeah, bloody non-existent in these pics...

There were also a few smol Ford Focii to fill the box up 

I got the white ST ages ago, I think it's in 201 jnr's stash of cars now. I've never seen the orange one before though, so it's nice to have. It's not really far off the Tangerine Scream colour available on the real ST. I do like Realtoy cars, they had a decent level of detail for the price that Tesco was knocking them out at and I liked most of the subjects that they modelled.

I got the blue MK1 RS in a recent DanBox, so I fancied this white version. I do like the seperately moulded race seats in these. Shame about the wheels on this version though...

[Spottedlaurel]

On 7/30/2023 at 8:26 AM, bunglebus said:

Both the Golf and Beetle please - sorry just seen your post! Also after the blue Golf if it appears

Thank you 

OK, I'll look out for them....

[MiniMinorMk3]

This was one of my favourite Matchbox models, I had all three variations in the late 60s and early 70s.

I guess this model is one of the reasons I like big coupes. 

The reason I have posted this is that Ian Tyrrell has just posted a great video telling the history of the ISO Griffo. As usual his videos are a good what with lost of good historical information and an excellent example of the car to look at.

 

[bunglebus]

3 minutes ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

This was one of my favourite Matchbox models, I had all three variations in the late 60s and early 70s.

Matchbox seemed to like releasing that in blue for some reason

[AndyW201]

Next was a, erm, tube of cars from @vulgalour,

Another chance for me to get some more older Matchbox castings in the collection for a very reasonable price. These have also been beautifully restored and detailed with far more skills than I could hope to have!

First off, this MB Cortina. The metallic red one I had as a kid was always one of my favourites. I've been meaning to get a half decent replacement over the years, but the prices you see on eBay for sub-50p tat box examples is a piss take. This one has had a touch of the Crayfords due to a squished roof, and has been done very nicely in a shade not dissimilar to Signal yellow.

This may become a 2.0S convertible at a later date...

I had to have a Mercedes, so nabbed this SL in a nice grey, again with some extra detailing,

Funny that I got the Corgi Whizzwheels Lotus Europa the other week, I now have the Matchbox version to keep it company,

Looking great in the Gold Leaf style colour scheme,

I've always liked the VW fastback too. I had a shoddy narrow wheel example back in the 80s but it had hardly any of its purple paint left and none of its A pillars! This one looks more period in AS beige,

And this autobahn-stormer to finish,

The CSL looks tough in gunmetal grey, great detailing too on this one,

[egg]

1 hour ago, AndyW201 said:

The effects were, well yeah, bloody non-existent in these pics...

A little dab or two with DOT4 on the end of a cotton bud may help remove some more residual red paint (on the metal, I'd be more cautious on plastic)

[MiniMinorMk3]

1 hour ago, AndyW201 said:

Some of the red on the rear bumper and drivers mirror was a bit stubborn, so the bumpers, along with the mirrors and side rubbing strips and rear grilles were touched in in black, and the wheels, grille and headlights got a dab of silver,

The effects were, well yeah, bloody non-existent in these pics...

 

Two thinks I would try to get rid of the red.

First up is lighter fluid. Swan, Ronson or Zippo brands are good. I use it to get rid of price label glue on the plastic model cases, so it should be safe around the glazing on the car. Dip Johnsons cotton buds in some to help get into the door shuts and window edges.

If it is still stubbon then some enamel thinners might help. Do not use cellulose as this will most definitely cloud the windows.

[bunglebus]

23 minutes ago, AndyW201 said:

Next was a, erm, tube of cars from @vulgalour,

Looks like one of the cigarettes from the 5th Element

[bunglebus]

2 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Don't know yet who made the Thunderbird....

Tis another Zee Toys Grippers

[Snake Charmer]

1 hour ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

This was one of my favourite Matchbox models, I had all three variations in the late 60s and early 70s

Snap, that and the Dodge Challenger. 

[Shite Ron]

On 7/29/2023 at 6:39 PM, eddyramrod said:

More Code 3-ing from the @FakeConcern batch!

Both of these were white already, being police cars, but I've mercilessly stripped them anyway and repainted them, to be civilian cars.  The Imp needed very little, just the front number plate reshaping a bit and the hole in the roof hidden with filler.  The Cortina needed holes filling too, once I'd straightened out the roof with pliers, but also, the police version has a horn speaker cast into the front of the chassis.  Fortunately I have the remains of a bronze scrapper, which included the chassis so I used that, meaning I still have a police chassis spare.

Stripping action has been happening today so there will be more to show in a while.  I need to butter up Mr Flowers now.

Great work Mr Ramrod, I really wanted the Cortina as a civilian car as a child but couldn’t find one. I love the way you have modified it from police spec. Just like the 1:1 scale back when they were decommissioned and everyone fitted a vinyl roof to hide the holes. Superb attention to detail for period correct modifications.

[vulgalour]

@AndyW201 tubes have never failed me yet when posting custom diecast, that's why the Cortina is still in one piece.  Glad to see they all got there safely and have a good home.

[FakeConcern]

A few months ago Mrs Concern found the Corgi 261 007 Aston she had as a child and decided to display it with my tat. She knew villain was missing  so one was supplied in a Steve Flowers order. When we had a proper look at it, we found broken suspension (why did they change to plastic instead of the steel spring) and the passenger seat wouldn’t lock down as the top of the seat was broken off and more Steve Flowers action occurred. So today I had a chance to look at it and after fiddling around to make the suspension fit and work I fitted the ejector seat which stayed down for a few seconds and then released itself. Stupidly I turned it over to see the problem and POW it fired across the room and I lost the spring! What a pisser! I didn’t even hear it land. Now they aren’t expensive from Steve Flowers or on ebay, but postage makes it very dear plus the wait for Steve’s stuff is two weeks or more, oh well.

I have been having some fun with tiny tat though, recently acquired a Matchbox King Size Gran Fury and a car trailer (from F1 set maybe?). I stuck a Mustang dragster on the trailer and then put them together and love the result.

I think it should have motorbikes on the back, but I don't care

I also got a strange futuristic trailer that should live on a tractor and noticed it is the same colour as the Caper Cart so ...

It also is just the right size for a Mini...

[bunglebus]

That Mod Tractor/Caper Cart/Mini combo works really well!

Got loads of the flat trailers, usually found behind a Mercury Commuter and under a single seater 

[FakeConcern]

9 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

That Mod Tractor/Caper Cart/Mini combo works really well!

Got loads of the flat trailers, usually found behind a Mercury Commuter and under a single seater 

Is this a car trailer? Thinking of bidding for it on ebay as I'm now obsessed with trailers...

[bunglebus]

Yes - there are lots of colours to find!

Some of these might be the result of UV damage etc but there are definitely blue, black and yellow versions, plus two distinct bed types 

It also comes as a boat trailer

 

[Noel Tidybeard]

the mod trailer can be made into a camping trailer with a king size skip inserted upside down!

[bunglebus]

From yellow Matchbox trailers to yellow Matchbox pickups - I didn't leave the Derby toy shop empty handed

I also bagged this Hot Wheels Transit Supervan - initially the paintjob didn't enthuse me, but when you look closer it could be a period airbrushed custom

Joining them is this one that I realy do not like the paint on whatsoever - but finding the panel van version of the '59 Chevy isn't easy. This could make a sweet custom

 

[andrew e]

Is the bonnet louvred? That’s fantastic!

[Cookiesouwest]

That Honda is lovely

[Dick Cheeseburger]

13 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

I have been having some fun with tiny tat though, recently acquired a Matchbox King Size Gran Fury and a car trailer (from F1 set maybe?). I stuck a Mustang dragster on the trailer and then put them together and love the result.

I think it should have motorbikes on the back, but I don't care

The trailer is from a Superkings Dodge van and Porsche racing car combo. My brother had one which was his pride and joy back in the day.

[MiniMinorMk3]

As promised some more Land Rovers, this time from Vitesse

As is usual with Vitesse, they made one casting and then issued lots of liveries.

As this is an early 1990s model it is a bit crude in both casting and detail. The proportions are quite good and they were a the lower end of the price spectrum.

They did the usual Police...

Royal Mail...

Telephones...

AA...

and RAC version.

However, they did one that Vanguards would never do a Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos do Porto version. It's a pity they did not do more Portuguese types.

[flat4alfa]

11 hours ago, bunglebus said:

From yellow Matchbox trailers to yellow Matchbox pickups - I didn't leave the Derby toy shop empty handed

I didn't know we got those

That Honda T360 is 2022 series

Does this mean we will see this 2023 series?

[junkyarddog]

Picked this up at the weekend. 

No idea about it,apart it seems to be made from resin/plastic.

Nicely detailed,but the wheels dont turn.

I'm guessing it's a kit of some description. 

[flat4alfa]

More Land Rovering.

Lucky Toys series II and Britains series III

Both near or at 1:32 scale.  The Lucky Toys one, despite being Hong Kong and plastic, is worth as much if not more than the Britains in this condition

There is also this Series III, alongside a Defender.

 But it's not just any Defender.  It does this

There is also the ClicLac series III from Heller, a snap-together kit

Many variations on this to collect, this is only a start

 

The most valuable seems to be the Airfix repackage

 

Which came with a dinghy, ideal for the boating shelf in @FakeConcern's summer house museum

[flat4alfa]

15 minutes ago, junkyarddog said:

No idea about it,apart it seems to be made from resin/plastic.

Nicely detailed,but the wheels dont turn.

I'm guessing it's a kit of some description. 

Never seen one of those.  Came in kit form, or finished ready.  You can see from the thickness that it is resin and not plastic, didn't know that

 

[AndyW201]

I had another delivery.

Another big tick off the want list,

I've already got the MK3 Cav in GSi and Turbo form, but it's the early  SRi I've been really after. This is another one I've had to get unboxed as they're still a bit pricy in mint & boxed condition.

I just love the fact that Corgi at the time were brave enough to model subjects like this, at the time, '90s Vauxhalls didn't have as much of a following as they do now. The detailing on this is just lovely, I notice that they fitted actual seperate glazed front driving lights on this version, but sadly went for painted on ones on the GSi and Turbo, which looked a bit cheap.

Obviously, being an early one, it's a different rear end to the other versions, with their bodykits. Like on the GSi/Turbo, the rear bumper seems a tad on the large side but not as bad, the grey lower trim shrinks it a bit. Three pretty different rear end treatments, standard pre facelift, bodykitted pre facelift, bodykitted facelift,

Love the badging decals on the boot,

And the doors,

Great job on the turbine wheel trims too

Interior is a bit of a well known weak spot on these but it does look less half arsed and cheap in the light grey. The dash is well recognisable to anyone who's driven a MK3 (I've done a fair bit over the years...).

I reckon that out of the three road going civilian Vanguards MK3s, this might be my favourite version, by a close margin. 

Only problem now is that I've now got almost everything on the 1/43 Holy Grail list now, which is a little sad. I suppose it's losing the thrill of the chase and all that.

Recent Vanguards releases have been a bit, er, uninspiring. I like an old Ford as much as anyone but there are only so many Mk3 Cortina and Mk1 & 2 Escorts a collector can stand! I fancy the Mercury Grey RS Turbo but that's about it. However Ixo, Solido and Norev have been right on it lately with a load of performance cars and hot hatches form the '80s and '90s so might have to go down those routes.

Might be more opportunity to nab more 1/36 Corgi and MB Superkings too...