Shite in Miniature II

[Datsuncog]

As those of you who frantically scour my 1:1 car thread may be aware, the Yaris of much crispiness has been giving me some headaches lately with its brakes.

It's always the brakes on this thing.

Two consecutive MOT fails on brake lines arrived last night, with an apparently weeping union join on a new set of lines deemed unacceptable.

Fortunately, the garage that did the work was still open last night, so I took it back down, got it nipped up, and booked a last-minute test for this morning.

Unfortunately for me, this means that I'm here...

When I'd much rather be here:

But. Such is life.

And I'm hoping that if I manage to squeak a pass in the next ten minutes, I can blast down the A8 into Belfast and see if there's anything left worth picking up... because, just to heap misery upon misery, Market Blokey messaged me yesterday...

Oh, the agony.

Catch you on the flip side, kids...

[TheOtherStu]

I got giddy too soon

[flat4alfa]

[bunglebus]

This morning's side mission has taken me to Tesco, BuM, Smyths, The Range, Poundland and Home Bargains. Nada.

[eddyramrod]

Have to admit, I didn't think of The Range yesterday.  I might have to rectify that if the rain stops.

[bunglebus]

Entertainer in Lakeside have got loads but only up to M case - can't find N anywhere and I really want the blue Golf Treasure Hunt 

[flat4alfa]

This morning's side mission, under the pretense of getting something from a pharmacy, resulted in a Poundlanding.

It was dry and  sunny out!  I'm told it will be 25 deg C today.  Unlike the dampness in other parts of the UK.  Improvement #1

Said Poundland was a bit of an ergonomic disaster, what with projecting stands set as hurdles in the slim walkways and grubby zombies wandering about.  Found, tucked into an aisle corner, were a few cheap toys.  The ones on pegs were mostly fallen onto the shelf below.

Amongst those were these:

At last.  The Mercury Comet El Segundo Cyclone job that could almost pass for the Super Treasure Hunt version, if you squint a bit.  Improvement #2

Oh look it's that Time Shifter Treasure Hunt thing.  Improvement #3

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

Market Blokey messaged me yesterday...

Wait - you're on Blokeymedia?

Can you do pre-orders?

[flat4alfa]

YAY!

Quote

Those 998 cubic capacities are going to be off the limiter right now 😃

[bunglebus]

We I did have a small success this morning. A few weeks ago my VW collecting nemesis posted a pic of a new Hot Wheels monster truck on Facebook, and I just found one

I'm still pretty irritated that he found a preproduction Matchbox Beach Buggy at the boot sale I go to, on a day I was there. He always seems to be one step ahead of me every time 

[Datsuncog]

Well then... 

Even at the astounding speeds a 998cc Mk1 Yaris is capable of, it still took me a little over half an hour to get from Larne into Central Belfast.

It wasn't helped by the biblically heavy rain, nor by getting stuck behind a motorcade of three huge mushroom silos being moved in an Oversize Load convoy along the A8 at about 40 mph - with flashy-light support vehicles travelling down the centreline of the dual carriageway, to prevent anyone trying to pass.

This sort of yoke:

But!

Are we daunted?

We are not.

[flat4alfa]

Your efforts have already been celebrated

This just happened

 

[Datsuncog]

Squelchy squelchy squelch.

Umbrella = FUKD

But, at long last...

Smell that?

That's victory, that is.

Vanguards were promised, and Vanguards there were.

Early Lledo ones, for the most part - and it's kinda sticky that most of these models are over twenty years old now.

Some of the boxes were quite faded, but otherwise in decent enough nick.

So a quick bit of tidying, and what do we have?

Assorted '50s and early '60s passenger cars and commercials, for the most part - some in police flavours.

And more, including not just one but two Consul GT patrol cars.

And some P6s, in civvy and service modes.

All priced at £7 each, or three for £20.

And some of the larger Corgi Classics commercials were up top:

How much?

Plus this giant Heavy Haulage set, at £20:

I always aim to leave things better than I found 'em.

[RoadworkUK]

GAAAHHHHH Consul GT, please, if mint.

[Datsuncog]

A quick sprint round the other stalls revealed that there was nothing visibly new elsewhere - Colin's Irish Tat stall had the same stuff as last week, while Larry's Independent Traders had nothing at all with wheels.

I was a bit surprised, as I thought something might have remained from last week, especially the dearer stuff - though cutting across to Alan's Emporium of Eternal Optimism revealed why:

Ah, he's had Larry's remaining stock.

Yep, that's still £10 each.

And £2 on the Majorettes and Matchbox (and the Pixar Cars):

Thanks, but nah.

[Datsuncog]

Much as I'd have loved to tarry, and snaffle a scone or two, I was aware that I was kinda chiselling work time - so back out into the rain I went.

But not empty-handed.

Anyone here like Mk1 Granadas?

[flat4alfa]

@eddyramrod isn't that the red over silver PA Cresta you were after

[RoadworkUK]

Goodness me. If that Ghia with the vinyl roof is going begging... in place of the patrol car.

.... although if you've already procured the latter for my benefit, I won't leave it homeless and you £7 down.

[Datsuncog]

10 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

@eddyramrod isn't that the red over silver PA Cresta you were after

Yup, I noticed that one too... dunno if it's a bit dearer than the preferred scrap prices, at £7 or a smidge under, but it did look very clean.

Two other PA Crestas too - pink over white and plain white.

 

9 minutes ago, RoadworkUK said:

Goodness me. If that Ghia with the vinyl roof is going begging... in place of the patrol car.

.... although if you've already procured the latter for my benefit, I won't leave it homeless and you £7 down.

Well, I was going to scoot back over shortly so - if you like - I could see if one of the patrol cars is still there as well/ instead?

At £6.66 a go, they're not bad value when bundled together...

 

I've had a PM asking for the Flame Red Ghia, and I kinda like the grey left-hooker for some reason... so I might hold onto it, for now.

 

[Noel Tidybeard]

interest in yurrupean consul/granada

[RoadworkUK]

I'm more into civvie-spec stuff, but if it's a case of Granada or none, I'll gladly swoop on a patrol car!

[AndyW201]

GAH! Late to the party again. Would like one of the rozzer Consuls, the racing spec  A35 or the willow green early P6 on the off chance  that they're there on another day please Tim.

[Datsuncog]

I think we all enjoy a Grandud, and this is a casting I'm very fond of - I was delighted to acquire the Roman Bronze version on release, but I also liked the Onyx Green one as well.

I don't really need two Ghia's though, so happy to pass this one on to @RoadworkUK!

These are all really dusty, BUT in a way that's not a bad thing since I know from bitter experience what some enthusiastic buffing with a yellow duster can do to the fragile little windscreen wipers and the like.

These boxes are the annoying variety which offer no accommodation for the door mirrors once stuck on - so the luckless collector gets a Sophie's Choice of gluing the mirrors on and accepting it can never again go back into the packaging, or forego the mirrors and have annoying great holes in the casting all the while it's on display.

Pity the poor diecast collector.

The red version loses the vinyl roof, but gains painted alloys

Again, mirrors remain bagged and as new. This one's also been rehomed by agreement!

And lastly, this little oddity:

A European base spec Consul left hooker, complete with a sheet of assorted number plates from various different countries.

Also, much dust.

For some reason this is the one I like the best - but if I do decide to shift it on, I'll give @Noel Tidybeard first refusal!

Weirdly, the grille and wheels depicted on the box are not at all the same as what's attached to the model.

Most peculiar.

[Datsuncog]

6 minutes ago, RoadworkUK said:

I'm more into civvie-spec stuff, but if it's a case of Granada or none, I'll gladly swoop on a patrol car!

Not a bother, the green one's yours!

 

1 minute ago, AndyW201 said:

GAH! Late to the party again. Would like one of the rozzer Consuls, the racing spec  A35 or the willow green early P6 on the off chance  that they're there on another day please Tim.

Cool - I'm steeling myself to head back out into the tempest here, so I'll see what remains.

If all three are still there, are you happy for me to splash a £20 on them? Or have you a ranked preference?

[RoadworkUK]

Cheers Tim. Also top bombing on the Yaris. Ye Olde 306 passed its MOT today, too, so good vibes must be floating around.

[sierraman]

14 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

I think we all enjoy a Grandud, and this is a casting I'm very fond of - I was delighted to acquire the Roman Bronze version on release, but I also liked the Onyx Green one as well.

I don't really need two Ghia's though, so happy to pass this one on to @RoadworkUK!

These are all really dusty, BUT in a way that's not a bad thing since I know from bitter experience what some enthusiastic buffing with a yellow duster can do to the fragile little windscreen wipers and the like.

These boxes are the annoying variety which offer no accommodation for the door mirrors once stuck on - so the luckless collector gets a Sophie's Choice of gluing the mirrors on and accepting it can never again go back into the packaging, or forego the mirrors and have annoying great holes in the casting all the while it's on display.

Pity the poor diecast collector.

The red version loses the vinyl roof, but gains painted alloys

Again, mirrors remain bagged and as new. This one's also been rehomed by agreement!

And lastly, this little oddity:

A European base spec Consul left hooker, complete with a sheet of assorted number plates from various different countries.

Also, much dust.

For some reason this is the one I like the best - but if I do decide to shift it on, I'll give @Noel Tidybeard first refusal!

Weirdly, the grille and wheels depicted on the box are not at all the same as what's attached to the model.

Most peculiar.

It’s not base as it’s got Ghia wheels on. 

[flat4alfa]

@Datsuncog would you grab the red over silver PA Cresta please if still there 

[AndyW201]

17 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Not a bother, the green one's yours!

 

Cool - I'm steeling myself to head back out into the tempest here, so I'll see what remains.

If all three are still there, are you happy for me to splash a £20 on them? Or have you a ranked preference?

Oh brilliant Tim, cheers. Yeah, if you can grab all three, that's fine, but the Consul is really only required as a wheel and spotlights donor for another I already have so no great panic for that one. The P6 is one Ive never had in early form, despite collecting Vanguards for 27 years, so for £7, I do fancy that one, and the A35 has those hubcap-less steelies that I like.

[flat4alfa]

@Datsuncog is the two tone Rover P4 still there? The Burgundy and silver grey one

And the black roofed white Cooper

If so then that would make the three.

But If you are not there any longer, it would not make three.

Thanks.

It is a bit of a dramatic morning.

[Datsuncog]

1 hour ago, AndyW201 said:

Yeah, if you can grab all three, that's fine.

Good news.

These were still available!

Quote

The P6 is one Ive never had in early form, despite collecting Vanguards for 27 years, so for £7, I do fancy that one, and the A35 has those hubcap-less steelies that I like.

Some variance between the wheels as depicted on the box and what's actually in the box, but these seem in fine fettle other than some light surface dust.

Quote

The Consul is really only required as a wheel and spotlights donor for another I already have so no great panic for that one.

Handy that you say the Consul's only needed as a donor...

Wheels and spotlights are fine, but there's some damage to the front corner in several places, a wiper's been torn off, and it's filthy.

Plus the box is quite torn in places.

But - I guess it's cheap-ish, and it maybe doesn't raise the same moral quandary to tear into an already damaged model?

 

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

@Datsuncog woukd you grab the red over silver PA Cresta please if still there 

 

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

@Datsuncog is the two tone Rover P4 still there! The Burgundy and silver grey one

Sad news: both of these had been snaffled in the intervening hours.

There were two other Crestas - turns out the other pair were two-tone pink and lemon-and-white versions; but the boxes were so faded it was hard to tell earlier.

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

And the black roofed white Cooper

The black-roofed Cooper was still there, but I'm afraid I didn't see your post until after!

However, there's a fair-to-middling chance that if it was still there by 1.30, as the stall started to pack up, it'll still be there next week...

Quote

It is a bit of a dramatic morning.

It absolutely has been.

So this was the state of play by 1pm:

And having procured my various bits and pieces, as I mithered and prodded at the other wares on the stall, a fairly corpulent gentleman with a head like a beer keg rocked up, and inserted himself behind the stall.

Market Blokey duly produced a large cardboard box from beneath the stall, and ushered this chap over to an empty stall nearby.

As he rifled through it, rather unsympathetically I thought, I spotted some unmistakable 1970s Lesney packaging...

Sidling over, and pretending to take a hitherto unsuspected interest in a stack of Country & Western CDs, I could see they were all military models, and mostly still boxed - Matchbox Battle Kings, Polistil, Airfix, Crescent, and what looked like some Soviet models too.

I didn't want to seem too nosey, but as I leaned fractionally closer I could here terse negotiations taking place sotto voce, involving words like 'all of them', 'ninety', 'sixty' and 'eighty'.

Then barrel-head started ladling them into a couple of well-worn B&M bags, with precious little apparent regard for their immediate wellbeing.

Job done, he grunted, handed over some notes and barelled off through the lunchtime market hordes.

Is this... the guy who took the boxed Corgi Ford H-series semi trucks last week?

The big-hitter who gets entire boxes set aside for him?

A guy with seemingly all the interpersonal skills and finesse of a water buffalo?

Goodness me.

If this is the next-level Tat Boss, I'm gonna have to get some training in...