Shite in Miniature II

[155V6]

Looking at those,I think I may have the Toyota as well 🤔

[155V6]

Here we go,the Jeep has a daag in the back that smells of bananas 😂

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, FakeConcern said:

I’d have been disappointed if you didn’t...

There's a Majorette wiki but there's no Volkswagen 1302 page yet. I'm useless at Wiki editing 

[155V6]

I found these as well with the coloured wheels,different series though

[bunglebus]

Don't know if this was one of the smelly versions

 

[Split_Pin]

@RoadworkUK many thanks for the review of a UT BMW, it looks fantastic.

I get quite excited by UT as Leisuretime in Falkirk always had a wide range of 1/18s in the 1990s and Bburago and UT were always the more plentiful.  The latter were well outside of my price range but when both they and I got older, they fell within my reach. 

I have a BMW E46 328i, an E36 Coupe Touring car, Escort Cosworth, McLaren F1 and Ferrari F355. I particularly like the E46 as its a cut above what I would have been able to afford in the 1990s (even although its a bit crude by todays standards). I recall they made a 318i 4 cylinder version too.

[flat4alfa]

11 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Don't know if this was one of the smelly versions

 

Not that one, apart from no tampo indicating what we are supposed to be trying to smell, the full set of nonsense was as over the page:

Toyota Hilux ‘Apple Jazz’

Ford Mustang Convertible ‘Dunkin Orange’

Ford Thunderbird ‘Cool Coconut’

Jeep Cherokee ‘Rockin Banana’

Mercedes 500SL ‘Strawberry Speedster’

Porsche 911 Turbo ‘Chocolate Wave’

But knowing Majorette it was likely part of a series.  I wonder which…

[eddyramrod]

Painting and stripping going on already today.  What can I say?  I was up early!

So... I have a couple of items going in for their third caustic bath, because there's still paint on them that I want to get rid of, but in a second tub I've got two shells I only painted yesterday.  I painted them both silver, which is unusual for me, I don't like silver on cars unless it's actual chrome/stainless, in which case bring it on like a 1958 Buick!  Well I looked at them first-thing and decided that not only do I not like them on principle, but also, the silver is too bloody bright.  So after a quick pass with the handheld wire brush, they are in a bath of their own.  What colour/s to use when I paint them again, is anybody's guess at this stage.

One of the shells going through its third bath is a Leyland Ergomatic chassis-cab by Matchbox King Size.  It carries a tipper body, which stripped remarkably easily and now wears a lovely fresh coat of beige, having previously been silver.  The chassis-cab was maroon.  Not sure what colour that's going to be, but blue or green both look possible.

[MiniMinorMk3]

16 hours ago, RoadworkUK said:

The cost of living crisis has hit home in a big way. Namely, it's virtually impossible to find new 1:18 scale models for less than £50 these days. What's a fella to do?

Well,  I could do the sensible thing and not buy them. But that does little to appease the FOMO pangs of a childhood that I ought really have moved away from by now, but which keeps bobbing to the surface like dead goldfish in a hot pond.

The other thing you can do is buy second-hand models that nobody is particularly interested in, that have somehow lasted for 25-odd years without having been unboxed. And that's exactly what I did, giddily intercepting an eBay listing while slightly inebriated at the Beautiful Days festival a few weeks ago. It arrived on Saturday, to no little rolled-eyes contempt from my other half.

When I was 17 or so, UT models always seemed a step above the Maisto / Bburago norm. That bit more exotic and special. They certainly weren't stocked in any of my go-to diecast purveyors; the three I bought at the time (McLaren F1, Ferrari F355 and Ford Escort Cosworth) came from motorshows at Earls Court and the NEC.  UT, along with Gate were, I believe, precursors to AUTOart, and some of UT's latter releases ran AA fairly close for detail.

This one somewhat predates that era, though. As you've possibly spotted, it's a BMW Z3. But not just any Z3 – the base model! For whatever reason, I really like it when model companies choose to depict models other than the flashiest range-toppers. UT actually modelled a whole host of Z3s; I have the Goldeneye-spec Z3 3.0i elsewhere, and they also did the 'Breadvan' Z3M and a number of other versions, and they also went as far as updating the model when the facelift front and rear lights arrived.

I like this version best of all, though – mainly for those wheels.

 

 

 

12 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

@RoadworkUK many thanks for the review of a UT BMW, it looks fantastic.

I get quite excited by UT as Leisuretime in Falkirk always had a wide range of 1/18s in the 1990s and Bburago and UT were always the more plentiful.  The latter were well outside of my price range but when both they and I got older, they fell within my reach. 

I have a BMW E46 328i, an E36 Coupe Touring car, Escort Cosworth, McLaren F1 and Ferrari F355. I particularly like the E46 as its a cut above what I would have been able to afford in the 1990s (even although its a bit crude by todays standards). I recall they made a 318i 4 cylinder version too.

Those UT (Unique Toys of Hong Kong) models were made in collaboration with Minichamps. I have some old catalogues were both appear. I'll dig them out and do a scan in the next few days.

[eddyramrod]

Stripping accomplished.  They're all enjoying a rinse in a bucket at the moment.  It's a glamorous life....

[Split_Pin]

1 hour ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

 

Those UT (Unique Toys of Hong Kong) models were made in collaboration with Minichamps. I have some old catalogues were both appear. I'll dig them out and do a scan in the next few days.

I'd really like to see that!

[danthecapriman]

Another early Matchbox truck added to the collection😁

Accessory pack apparently. Is this the rare colour version? I think most of these were blue.

[Datsuncog]

42 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Is this the rare colour version?

Yup, it is.

Well bought!

[flat4alfa]

17 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

Not that one, apart from no tampo indicating what we are supposed to be trying to smell, the full set of nonsense was as over the page:

Toyota Hilux ‘Apple Jazz’

Ford Mustang Convertible ‘Dunkin Orange’

Ford Thunderbird ‘Cool Coconut’

Jeep Cherokee ‘Rockin Banana’

Mercedes 500SL ‘Strawberry Speedster’

Porsche 911 Turbo ‘Chocolate Wave’

But knowing Majorette it was likely part of a series.  I wonder which…

B4stards!

There are more to find

Majorette Mustang Convertible ‘Pineapple Smash’

[flat4alfa]

8 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

One of the shells going through its third bath is a Leyland Ergomatic chassis-cab by Matchbox King Size.  It carries a tipper body, which stripped remarkably easily and now wears a lovely fresh coat of beige, having previously been silver.  The chassis-cab was maroon.  Not sure what colour that's going to be, but blue or green both look possible.

You could make the Matchbox K-4 King Size Leyland Tipper either in the original LE Transport...

...or the later Wates liveries?

or a pre-production yellow?

How about from a brochure cover this two-tone scheme with that red roof, would look good from higher angle.  Glazing colour might stand out more though.

Not sure if the tipper is Comet or Beaver, but I presume the latter as milk isn't quite as heavy as rocks.

“They're minerals, Marie! Jesus!”

[flat4alfa]

What I hadn't realised until you brought these up, is the SuperKings K-37 one I sold away cheap (it was excellent condition too!) last year, had significant casting differences. 

There was very different chassis to accommodate the wider wheels with additional bracing, obviously the cab has the added roof board, but the facelift grille, LEYLAND lettering and bumper.  Did not know this, but is pretty obvious now.

Just the one release in Laing livery too

I was in complete Ashok.

[flat4alfa]

8 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

Not sure what colour that's going to be, but blue or green both look possible.

Or how about replicating the blue / silver used on the Big MX variation

Once again not sure how that would work with the glazing colour.

[bunglebus]

Popped onto an Asda - despite having the posh new toy section it was a disaster area - and things like this really annoy me

[155V6]

2 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

What I hadn't realised until you brought these up, is the SuperKings K-37 one I sold away cheap (it was excellent condition too!) last year, had significant casting differences. 

There was very different chassis to accommodate the wider wheels with additional bracing, obviously the cab has the added roof board, but the facelift grille, LEYLAND lettering and bumper.  Did not know this, but is pretty obvious now.

Just the one release in Laing livery too

I was in complete Ashok.

There could be one of those in the next part of my sale if you wanted to replace it

[FakeConcern]

I think I’m finally ready to do the 1^st instalment of

 “Fakes Firenza Free No Spot on or Lone Star Diecast Shite Sale. So bad even I don’t want them”

Most probably on Friday evening. I’ll post a link here when I’m ready.

 

[155V6]

A sneak preview of the first two items in  @FakeConcern's sale 😂

[eddyramrod]

4 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

What I hadn't realised until you brought these up, is the SuperKings K-37 one I sold away cheap (it was excellent condition too!) last year, had significant casting differences. 

There was very different chassis to accommodate the wider wheels with additional bracing, obviously the cab has the added roof board, but the facelift grille, LEYLAND lettering and bumper.  Did not know this, but is pretty obvious now.

Just the one release in Laing livery too

I was in complete Ashok.

I had that one, but sold it at the Motor Museum a few months ago.  It was probably in better condition than the older one, but I preferred the look of the old one.  It's taken me a while to make the decision to paint it, but now I've started I'll finish.  I primered the chassis-cab this afternoon.  Still have to decide on colour but I do have a blue that roughly resembles the BigMX type.  The tipper body is in beige and is waiting upstairs.

[flat4alfa]

On the cobblestone streets, our love we find
Firenza, oh Firenza, our hearts intertwine

Firenza, oh Firenza, with your beauty so divine
Tat of romance, where our hearts entwine

[flat4alfa]

Lone Star Flyers - Quaker cereals give-away advert, found in Tiger & Jag comics.

Flyers were promoted in conjunction with Quaker cereals who gave away over 150,000 cars (just these six models).  Each model sent out included a leaflet showing 18 Flyers models to encourage further sales.

Initial production of Flyers were from April 1969, quite likely this dates the advert and campaign. 

[flat4alfa]

When the Flyers range 'low friction' wheels were changed from the shiny ring style to their 'JET FAST MAG WHEELS' five spoke design, this coincided with the 1971 release of new models including the Vauxhall Firenza that @FakeConcern might be giving away on Friday.

The 1971 trade catalogue however did not mention the Firenza by name, just 'New 1971 model' as secrecy was agreed with Vauxhall as part of their exclusive rights.  Note also on this page the drawing of the never-released Ford Capri, also the opening things on the Cadillac which were deleted upon its delayed until 1976 release.

Vauxhall intentionally wanted to launch the Firenza model alongside the real car on the same day (26 May 1971) using the Lone Star model for promotional purposes. 

These were sold in a special blister pack which included a leaflet which had extracts from the real car's brochure

Note the original packing card stating 'A model exclusive to Lone Star' at bottom left.  I'd like to say I wish I'd bought the lot up, but it was unlikely I could have as I was just 6 months old and in big pants.  The price was 25p New Pence, which is ~£4.60 today

Don't know why I bothered writing all that up as it's very likely already in this thread as a teaser excerpt from the forthcoming CogBook™

A brill source of Lone Star info is this site https://www.robertnewson.co.uk/articles/LoneStarImpy/index.html which compiles articles published in Diecast Collector February, March and April 2004.

[FakeConcern]

I've probably mentioned it before, when I was a kid the man next door used to collect the tokens from Sugar Puffs for me and I had the Fiat, Rolls, Corsair & Taunus. I'm pretty that either they just sent you any model and you couldn't choose or sometimes you got something not asked for if your choice was out of stock.

I remember them as really nice toys, wish I still had them now.

[RoadworkUK]

9 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Initial supplies were sold in a special blister pack with a large backing card which included a leaflet which was a miniature of the real car's brochure.

Want quite hard.

[flat4alfa]

3 hours ago, RoadworkUK said:

Want quite hard.

We will need deep pockets

The most recent Vectis auction had a post-launch standard box example in the dodgy orange that went for £150 plus fees, in July this year

Last year, a launch blister pack example went for £350

Fun fact:  There are more Lone Star Firenzas surviving today, compared to the real things.

[RoadworkUK]

3 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

The most recent Vectis auction had a post-launch standard box example in the dodgy orange that went for £150 plus fees, in July this year

Want softens palpably.

[flat4alfa]

The one to sell your belongings for is the Budget Rent-a-Car promotional

But you can't have that one as it has sold over and over.

This one though, could be yours next Thursday

Opening bid is an accessible £120 with only 32.34% slapped on top

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/candt-auctioneers/catalogue-id-srct10256/lot-b5b73bb6-22fe-4b20-b47c-b06d01297e51