Shite in Miniature II

[Datsuncog]

20 hours ago, AnthonyG said:

@Datsuncog, interested in some of the Buragos, can I start a new box with the blue Tipo, the ‘Abarth’ silver Cinquecento, and the Lancia Delta S4 please. 

Sure thing! I'll set those aside for you - they're good value, anyway!

[AnthonyG]

5 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

 

Did he meet his fortune teller
Got it off with no propeller
Did it up, it's on with Stella
What a way to finally smell her

Flies away in his Zephyr
Tom feels it more than ever
And in this perfect weather
They'll find a place together

In the seat, where he centres his emotion
All the world can pass him by
Flies away in his Zephyr
They'll find a place together

whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, do you
(Yeah) yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Whoa) whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, want to?
(Yeah) yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

 

‘Empire made’ - that’s going back a bit!

Presumably Hong Kong.

[quicksilver]

I finished the last batch of 3D printed cars this week and now have a collection that looks like part of the FOTU showground

The Mini has been modified to model my neighbour's car. He was amazed when I showed him as he's never seen a model of a Clubman estate before, much less his actual car.

[Split_Pin]

1 minute ago, quicksilver said:

I finished the last batch of 3D printed cars this week and now have a collection that looks like part of the FOTU showground

The Mini has been modified to model my neighbour's car. He was amazed when I showed him as he's never seen a model of a Clubman estate before, much less his actual car.

Those are brilliant. I especially love the Rover 400 as I have never seen a model of that before.

[quicksilver]

2 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Those are brilliant. I especially love the Rover 400 as I have never seen a model of that before.

It's a 200 and AFAIK is the first model of an R8 ever made in any scale. It's surprising that such a popular car was totally ignored by the model makers for so long.

[flat4alfa]

44 minutes ago, AnthonyG said:

‘Empire made’ - that’s going back a bit!

Presumably Hong Kong.

Lincoln International was a New Zealand business.  Because it is said to be 'Empire Made' it was most likely produced by Lincoln in Hong Kong, after they moved manufacturing from Auckland, New Zealand

[flat4alfa]

22 hours ago, morrisoxide said:

So to my shock I find the Mercury Comet and the Chevette, then because of the three for two I was looking for a free one with nice wheels then I spot the Alfa!

I've never seen any of those three in the flesh...

[egg]

54 minutes ago, AnthonyG said:

‘Empire made’ - that’s going back a bit!

 

There were some 60's Hong Kong 'Lucky toys' in the miniature ebay thread in the open section that were also stamped 'Empire made' recently.

[flat4alfa]

39 minutes ago, quicksilver said:

It's a 200 and AFAIK is the first model of an R8 ever made in any scale. It's surprising that such a popular car was totally ignored by the model makers for so long.

Rover France had some commemorative models made in Pewter and you see them listed on eBay.fr now and again.  They were of the 216 GTi, 216 GSi and 416 GTi.  They're about 2.5-3 inches long, so near 1:43.  Mounted on oval wooden plinths.

The Rover 216 GSi 16v in past listing eBay photos:

Rover 216 GTI 16v :

 

[Datsuncog]

Forgot to say, this showed up on Tuesday:

Hot on the heels of the much-delayed Oldsmobile Staff Car, it's the August '23 release from Corgi Model Club - the #211S Studebaker Golden Hawk.

I wasn't overly enthusiastic about this one, as - despite the car being an impressive bit of automotive design from the Raymond Loewy design studio (though not actually Loewy himself) - this Wurlitzer-on-wheels mid-50s era of septics isn't quite my bag.

But I have to say, it's winning me over...

The detailing is very good, with crisp casting picking out the tail fins and moulded side stripes, while the bonnet cooling fins and doorframe detail is nicely rendered.

The faintly aggressive jutting jaw is well replicated - it's worth remembering that this was kinda the daddy of the muscle cars of the 1960s. A 5.8 litre Packard V8 powered the (comparatively small bodied) Golden Hawk for the first two years of production, before Studebaker put their own supercharged V8 into it, making for one of the fastest road cars of the era.

The rear fins are impressively exuberant for a 1956 model year design, though Detroit would make them bigger and wilder as the 1950s drew to a close.

I was aware that the Golden Hawk was a top of the line model for Studebaker, but not that at launch in 1956 there was an entire Hawk range - the Flight Hawk, Power Hawk and Sky Hawk were lower-spec'd models using broadly the same two-door bodyshell, though some were styled as pillarless coupés - but only the Golden Hawk came with the fins, extra chrome, and a luxury interior.

The lesser models came equipped with the smaller 4.7 litre V8, though the lowly Flight Hawk had to make do with a 3-litre straight-six under the bonnet.

By 1958 though, the three lesser models had been combined by the ailing Studebaker concern into the more affordable Silver Hawk, but the Golden Hawk remained largely unchanged.

As the blurb states, the Golden Hawk was only the second non-British car produced by Corgi, the first being the Citroen DS of 1957. Hitting the toyshop shelves in January 1958, the early versions of #211, which came with glazing but no interior, were blue with gold detailing on the fins - while the rare motorised version (#211M) was white with gold fins. However, Mettoy soon realised their mechanised versions were too expensive and fragile to make sales sense, and discontinued the entire range. 

For 1960, the model gained a vacuum formed interior and a new sprung 'Glide-a-matic' suspension, plus spun wheels rather than plain discs. This merited the 'S' suffix to be added to the model's code, denoting 'Suspension'.

The revised Golden Hawk also benefitted - if that's the right word - from the vacuum-plating machine recently acquired by the Swansea factory to produce separate chrome-effect plastic components.

Realising that entire models could be plated, Corgi really went to town with their new device - and so, more true to their name than their real-life counterparts ever were, the majority of the #221S models were plated in gleaming gold or silver-effect.

A number of others received the same treatment - the Mercedes 300SL, E-Type Jaguar and Simca Coupé, plus the 'Golden Guinea' boxed set sold through department stores which consisted of a gold-plated Golden Hawk, Chevrolet Corvair, and Ford Consul Classic.

But Corgi also made a smaller number in painted gold, with white fins - and this is what's been replicated here.

A number of Husky models also got the vac-plate treatment too, like the MkX Jaguar. I bet they were pretty exciting at the time - but these days, are they as appealing?

Personally, I don't think so - I think they're a bit gimmicky, a bit tacky, and remind me too much of the 'premium' plated Matchbox Models of Yesteryear that came mounted on ashtrays and cigarette boxes, as seen in any given car boot sale near you. I'd rather have a replica of a car that looks like the real thing as seen on the road, than one that looks more like it's been designed for a despot with a taste deficit...

But then, Vanguards are still chucking out special 'chromed' versions of their castings for collectors to lap up - so what do I know?

Overall - much better than anticipated!

But I'm champing at the bit for next month's Lotus Elan S2...

[flat4alfa]

Those Studebakers (the real life things that is) have been on my Dream Garage want list since I was young.  I've already bought them in my head and have them in that garage.  However,

At the age of thirty seven
I realized I'll never ride
Through Paris in a Studebaker
With the warm wind in my hair

So I bought 1:43 models instead and went to the pub.

[egg]

14 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Forgot to say, this showed up on Tuesday:

I see the scalpers retail arbitragers get to work on these pretty quickly. But as a standard punter - how would you rate the value for money? Is the dopamine hit proportionate to the price?

[FakeConcern]

I was never a fan of the Golden Hawk even as a kid I thought they looked gawky (Golden Gawk?) and felt the same about the chrome plate effect and never had one of those E Types because of that (I have a tatty one now) but I shan't be getting any Golden Hawk.

A new Corgi Elan? My fave eva Corgi? Which one is it going to be? Detachable chassis or not? I joined the Corgi Model Club to get a Monte Mini, but un joined without getting any more models, now I wonder if I can re join to get a new Elan?

[bunglebus]

I had the SL with some of its chrome remaining - sold on as I'm also not a fan of this treatment 

See also Hot Wheels Super Chromes

and footballer's Range Rovers

[Datsuncog]

[Amishtat]

10 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

Rover France had some commemorative models made in Pewter and you see them listed on eBay.fr now and again.  They were of the 216 GTi, 216 GSi and 416 GTi.  They're about 2.5-3 inches long, so near 1:43.  Mounted on oval wooden plinths.

The Rover 216 GSi 16v in past listing eBay photos:

Rover 216 GTI 16v :

 

That must be what I saw in a Blackpool junk shop in 2018. Went again in 2020 and it hadn't moved,might be there still.

[Datsuncog]

Right, well... this is where things get a wee bit sticky.

No MOT'd Yaris = no way for MrsDC to get to work.

Other than using the Corolla, of course.

So, if Tat Friday is to go ahead, then other forms of transport will need to be deployed...

Namely, feet and then train.

But that's alright - sure what could be nicer than a lovely 6am walk in the soft autumnal dawn?

Quite a lot, it turns out.

Urghhhh.

Aaaagh.

Seems that my umbrella isn't all that waterproof.

But! I'm not gonna let any more ripoff Tomica Skylines slip from my grasp... so, what must be, must be.

Nearly there now...

[flat4alfa]

[eddyramrod]

I have to go out in a few minutes, going to miss it all, as usual!

In other news, I dropped into Ulverston Indoor Market yesterday, specifically the model stall; but he had no Tat Boxes at all, someone cleaned him out.  So I had a look in most of the charity shops, nothing for us there either.

[MiniMinorMk3]

13 hours ago, quicksilver said:

The Mini has been modified to model my neighbour's car. He was amazed when I showed him as he's never seen a model of a Clubman estate before, much less his actual car.

 

Just before Tat Friday kicks off good and proper I thought I'd bung up some Clubmans.

I have an unmade kit (I will build it one day)

I have both of these Kess models buried somewhere 

I think I have one of these Sparks, but my memory is starting to fade

New to the market are these Mini Mania models, but as they are £100 I'm gonna wait until they show up at an auction before getting them.

Product Search (grandprixmodels.com)

 

 

[Cookiesouwest]

I don't usually buy brand new models, but I've dipped my toe into Northcord code 2 model, commissioned by Model Bus Creations (MBC).

No idea why, but I bought 4 of them. One didn't seem to be enough somehow. I've also ordered others but they have not made it from China yet.

Image from ebay. Mine arrived wrapped in tissue paper, as is standard for a new Northcord model.

I can't bring myself to remove the wrapping yet, so I had to nick the image from ebay.

[Split_Pin]

I thought CMNL had ceased trading many years ago.

[quicksilver]

2 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

I thought CMNL had ceased trading many years ago.

They did, but got revived as Northcord Model Co.

[Datsuncog]

So then... off the train, and a hop, skip and a jump down a rather soggy East Bridge Street...

To a different entrance to the market, for a change.

I mean, they say a change is as good as a holiday.

Which is fortunate, as by strange coincidence this is the closest I'll get to a holiday this year.

Upon entering, though...

Drat. Pipped to the post again.

But, to be fair, a quick scan of the boxes indicated that I wasn't missing out on much this week.

It was all just recent-ish stuff; nothing old, and no sniff of a 50p box.

And also - like myself - the contents of the boxes were really wet.

As in, some of the boxes were falling apart because the cardboard had got so badly saturated.

Apparently, Market Blokey had taken his wares up to the Ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle - a venerable and ancient country harvest fair that's been held on the last Monday and Tuesday of August since time immemorial - and it had absolutely lashed down out of the heavens for 48hrs straight.

That might have explained why he was a bit terse.

It might also explain why the wares on display today were priced at a rather eye-popping £10 a go.

Yes, really.

Even the MoYs.

Blimey.

I mean, I guess if he schlepped all the way up there and paid ££££ for a stall only to come away with £8.30 in sales and a mild case of Trench Foot, I can understand why he might be trying to recoup some of his costs...

But £10 for some soggy EFEs and Corgi Classics with squashed boxes is, to put it mildly, brave.

Still, not everything was £10.

These were £20.

And this vast oddity was £100.

Yup, a 1/6 scale Honda Gold Wing by Guiltoy, in a very dusty box.

There was some interest from The Nemesis towards this one - but ultimately he must have decided it was a bit rich for his blood, as he left with only a 1/18 Solido Fiat 500 and a pair of boxed Universal-era Matchbox Code 2 double decker buses.

However, almost immediately afterwards another punter did stump up the readies for it - a fella I've mentioned in passing before as a member of what I've come to think of as 'Club 7:30' - those familiar faces gathered round the stall as it unpacks of a Friday morning.

This particular chap, of rather dour demeanour, had earlier drawn my attention by standing right at my elbow while I was snapping the contents of the tubs and repeatedly muttering under his breath "Everyone's a fruit and nut case" to the tune of Tchaikovsky's 'Danse des Mirlitons' from the Nutcracker suite, like in the old Cadbury ads.

I wasn't sure if this was a comment towards me, or towards himself...

Other tat was also available. This looked like the contents of someone's hall drawer emptied out.

I've never seen an old local driving licence like this before.

Guess my grandparents would have owned similar licences at one stage.

Nice bit of history, and I know this address too.

But if I start collecting ephemera, where will it end?

Oh, hang on, I know this one...

Of course, the benefit of a one-price-fits-all policy was that for some items, £10 was probably about right...

I've bought some of these 1/50 Corgi Classics commercials in the past, then had to ditch them in the interests of domestic harmony.

I'm kinda drawn towards these, though.

Hnnnng.

I felt I ought to go for a walk and see what else was happening, before I did anything rash due to a blend of sleep deprivation and hypothermia...

[flat4alfa]

I do wonder how documents like that get discarded. Last electoral roll entry for a Robert Miskelly was 2013. It’s pretty unlikely he had no family as there are 100 Miskelly listed in Newtownards alone!

[Datsuncog]

Probably just stuff from a house clearance he bought cheaply at auction, I'd say - I once bought a bureau at an auction which had a drawer still stuffed with a load of papers and things, which presumably the family didn't want.

Nothing major, just old postcards from the 1980s, heating oil receipts, novelty holiday keyrings, passport photos and long-out-of-date bus timetables mixed in with perished rubber bands, dried-up ballpoint pens and rusty paperclips.

Funnily enough, all the stuff in the drawer also related to a house in Newtownards in Georges Street, just a stone's throw away from Frances Street - though I didn't buy the bureau in Ards.

I guess if there's a whole house to clear, either some stuff gets overlooked or there's just so much that only selected items can be retained.

Interesting to see that the licence was only valid between 1961 and 1964 - maybe he'd hoarded loads of expired licences!

[Cookiesouwest]

Like buses, I don't post for ages and then lots turn up at once.

I've not bought anything at auction in ages, as prices are well above retail and that's before commission and shipping is taken into account.

So I've had to stalk ebay to get my fix.

Also like buses, this model does not come up for sale very often, then in this case 6 come along at once. I already have one but really like it, as I see the actual bus on a weekly basis when visiting Bristol. So I bought 4!!!. Much more expensive than they were even a year ago. Inflation is hitting the diecast market hard.

Then I bagged this at less than usual price. No other reason, than I like the livery.

 

[flat4alfa]

89 Frances Street is now an modern apartment block

That telegraph pole looks to be of the period though, so maybe he bumped into it on occasion after a session in the Tudor Tavern on the roundabout.  That's what I would do.

[Cookiesouwest]

Two more to share. Both Bristol FLF.

The first I already had, but like the livery and they don't come up that often (can you see a pattern developing?). Bristol Green and Cream. 

Then this. Also not seen on eBay that often, so I grabbed it. Looks good in a modern (ish) livery.

Apologies for interrupting tat Friday.

You can now return to normal service.

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

Drat. Pipped to the post again.

Oh!  A different footwear style.

So does this mean my Adidas Gazelles need to go then?  Perhaps I do need to update my wardrobe to keep up.   Arghhh.