Shite in Miniature II

[bunglebus]

I don't find die casts in charity shops often, just now and again someone obviously clears out a load of 70s Matchbox for reasons I don't want to think about. 

There are usually some at the boot sales but we normally do four each weekend to find them. Heavy rain last night and a serious case of CBA meant I haven't gone today but I will tomorrow 

[bunglebus]

Aiming for another batch of cars for sale at 7pm today. Can't promise Matchbox just yet but Siku Tomica and Hot Wheels blackwalls are facing the chop...

[FakeConcern]

4 hours ago, RoadworkUK said:

I have three geographical centres for charity shop mooching; Manningtree, Twickenham and (occasionally) Colchester, and all three are piss poor compared with the regular diecast bonanzas everybody on here seems to regularly encounter.

It's disappointing, but I suppose it helps my abstention.

We have lots of charity shops nearby and almost never see any die cast in any of them.

3 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

Everybody?  Are you sure about that?  Barrow and the surrounding (land-based) communities are a diecast desert.  Hell, we're a boot sale desert!  I'm at the mercy of ebay and the kindly chaps on here.

 

Mind, the wife says I have more than enough already.  Can someone explain this concept to me?

We have a good boot sale nearby on Sundays in the summer which does sometimes have stuff worth getting, but this year it's been cancelled a lot due to wet conditions (tomorrow included). I have started to go to Toy & Model fairs this year having been alerted to some within reach of home by @barrett.

 

Surely your wife can understand the concept of the number of toy cars needed as being n+1?

[AndyW201]

A trip around the local haunts brought some limited success this week. It seems on Teesside we're only about 6 months behind now...

Again, I think every household in the UK has one of these now, but as an inveterate Merc-licker, I'm pleased to finally find one. At Entertainer as well, normally all the desirable stuff gets hoovered up before I get there.

So I hunted for anothe couple to make up the 3 for 2.

I do like a purple car so grabbed this. The paint is really nice on this, and the tampos look good.

Yet another Then & Now release, but under no circumstances am I going to be trawling the shops looking for the older generation counterpart.

#cured #kiddingmyself

A trip to the small local Asda revealed a handful of recent HW on a clipstrip,

A solitary long card Scooby

 

And amazingly, Tesco had some new Matchbox for the first time in several months.. In addition to the ones I got from B&M recently, there were these,

Surprised Matchbox didn't do this as a standard model, as the MK1 Civic was, as Hot Wheels have already done a modified N600, but it's a cute wee thing.

I do like an Ice Cream van. I was surprised when Matchbox released this, as I don't think there will have been many Morrison or Cummins bodied Bedford CAs on the streets of the US, but I'm happy they did it all the same.

I have one from a few years ago, in a lighter shade of pink, the earlier casting with the metal front end, which I removed the shit US style graphics from and scraped and scuffed up a bit, to resemble the knackered old ex-Tonibell one that used to operate around our estate when I was a little 'un in the late '70s.

For a cheap small toy, it's pretty well detailed with a Carpi type machine, cornet racks, fridges and a sink,

I was chuffed to find this, despite having almost never heard of an Autozam before Matchbox modelled it. It's a nicely modelled little thing.

[AndyW201]

A quick scoot around Morrisons was disappointing. They're changing everything around and what was the toy department, including an empty Hot Wheels rummage box occupies half a shelf unit dumped near the tills. To think most of my Hot Wheels new case finds used to come from there...

Wasn't all tears though, on the end of an aisle was a stack of Majorette 5 pack gift sets at a tempting 50% off...

Yes, like a twat, I spent a tenner on a 5 pack just to get one particular car. You might be able to guess which...

Yup.

I didn't even know Majorette had done a 190, but this one is a little beauty, almost as good as the Hot Wheels Evo 2 premium, which I also have. Pleasing details include the glazed headlights, plus the fact they have gone to the trouble of modelling the different sized door mirrors, as on the real thing.

Nice badging and tail light detail, plus the Evo 2 rear wing and rear screen visor.

Opening doors are a bonus, and the interior is a decent stab at the real thing. Particularly the dash, including the three auxiliary gauges in the console.

The Clio is another winner.

Glazed headlights again, and nice detail on the bumper.

Opening doors are the party trick on this one too, again nice interior detail for the size,

Nissan Cefiro is an unusual addition. I'm sure this was the forerunner of the Maxima/QX that we got over here?

Opening bonnet on this one, giving a decent bit of engine detail.

Weird having TWO Corvette ZR1s in here but at least they're slightly different versions, hardtop on and off.

Opening bonnet is a nice feature, but as can be seen in the above pic, the fit isn't brilliant when it's closed...

Same with the open version,

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, AndyW201 said:

I'm pleased to finally find one

I've got one reserved here for you, with a red Alfa! Now you can open one too...

[Spottedlaurel]

2 hours ago, AndyW201 said:

A quick scoot around Morrisons was disappointing. They're changing everything around and what was the toy department, including an empty Hot Wheels rummage box occupies half a shelf unit dumped near the tills. To think most of my Hot Wheels new case finds used to come from there...

Wasn't all tears though, on the end of an aisle was a stack of Majorette 5 pack gift sets at a tempting 50% off...

Yes, like a twat, I spent a tenner on a 5 pack just to get one particular car...................

I nearly did this morning, there were just two of this particular set left in my local branch. I'd have only been after the Cefiro, and I already have a couple of different ones in individual packs.

[FakeConcern]

I'm not into this small scale, but I might have to look out for one of these!

[flat4alfa]

13 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

I'm no expert on older HWs, apparently this screen-less version of the Dune Daddy is a promo from 1980 - does that sound right?

Yes this variation was never fitted with the screen.  The Mexico production of Dune Daddy in 1983 did not either.

12 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Datsuncog sorted me out that same Dune Daddy a while back, and I picked up another in near identical condition more recently - yours looks like it's survived a lot better?

As you say, apparently a promotional item but why they chose to remove the screen I don't know - I thought they'd just gone missing

Well, it goes like this...

In 1980, four 'new' versions of previously-deleted Hot Wheels models with 'Red Line' wheels were released - but not by Mattel.  There was a reason why they were Red Lines as late as 1980 and not the standard 'Black Walls' fitted since 1977.

Back in 1975, Mattel produced a number of Hot Wheels designs for a Proctor & Gamble soap promotion.  The original agreement was for ten different models, which were cost-reduced variations fitted with unpainted plastic bases and bodyshells painted in base enamels.  However, Mattel had already produced half the bulk order when the promotion was cancelled by P&G due to final costs.

Wisconsin Toy Company specialised in reselling superfluous stock.  In 1980, four of the five moth-balled stock were acquired by Wisconsin to package and distribute themselves.  As such they were never on a blister card, but in clear bags stapled to a header card or 'baggie' as they like to say in the US of A:

Note the Hot Wheels logo used is quite different from the traditional logo.

The Wisconsin models were:

Dune Daddy in dark blue with flowers.  The plastic windshield was omitted.

Swingin’ Wing in yellow enamel with orange graphics outlined in purple.  As per the 1973 Shell promotion version, the namesake rear wing attachment and pull-out rear engine was omitted.

Volkswagen in orange with a bug graphic on the roof.  It used the non-sunroof casting with plastic engine.  I assume it was produced alongside the Herfy's Hamburgers promotion as it shares the paint and roof tampo design

Warpath in red with blue and white stripes and stars.  Surprisingly, it retained the opening rear hatches.

Buzz Off in dark blue with a beetle graphic was the fifth.  It was not part of the Wisconsin acquisition, as Mattel released it to the Japanese market in 1977.  Finding one of those will be fun and expensive as not just because they were an official boxed release but due to production halting during the run.

[bunglebus]

51 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Volkswagen in orange with a bug graphic on the roof.  It used the non-sunroof casting with plastic engine.  I assume it was produced alongside the Herfy's Hamburgers promotion as it shares the paint and roof tampo design

That one is a seriously sought-after release, especially as it is one of the few versions of the Custom Volkswagen with no sunroof. Obviously silly money to buy now

[bunglebus]

Talking of which, I bought a Hot Wheels Custom Volkswagen Beetle 

[Richard_FM]

14 hours ago, Reluctant Adult said:

On the MG Maestro prototype in the pics Corgi had  got the bumpers right… anyone know why they grew to comedy proportions for the production version?

I briefly had one of these but the lights stopped worked very quickly so my parents got it exchanged for a Rover SD1 police car my Mum still has around for my Nephew to play with.

[Spottedlaurel]

16 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Datsuncog sorted me out that same Dune Daddy a while back, and I picked up another in near identical condition more recently - yours looks like it's survived a lot better?..........

It's OK, I wouldn't say significantly better:

 

Also purchased these today in local PoundStretcher and The Original Factory Shop:

PS had Toyota AE86, Honda NSX and Mitsubishi 3000 GT in the same series, but at the price they were I could barely justify getting the Celica.....

Tesco and Morrisons still had nothing new.

[AndyW201]

7 hours ago, bunglebus said:

I've got one reserved here for you, with a red Alfa! Now you can open one too...

Bloody hell, didn't know that! I'd all but given up on the Alfa too. Out of interest, you haven't got a spare orange MB Kadett by any chance?

[bunglebus]

5 hours ago, AndyW201 said:

Bloody hell, didn't know that! I'd all but given up on the Alfa too. Out of interest, you haven't got a spare orange MB Kadett by any chance?

Yes - I very nearly bought some more the other day too. I'll put one aside for you 

[155V6]

A couple of charity shop finds from yesterday.I wasn't particularly bothered about the Supra,but they were two for a pound

[bunglebus]

Who made the ovloV?

[sierraman]

Corgi

[Split_Pin]

One of their best castings of the late 80s in my opinion. I've seen that variation before but didn't know that it had an Aberdeen Volvo dealer advertised on it.

[Datsuncog]

Some Majojos in TK Maxxxxx on Friday night...

Porsche has already been profiled upthread and was indeed very nice; E-Type was a new one on me but I quite liked it too, except for maybe the ultra-low-profile-tyre style of wheels.

Alpine A110 also pretty appealing, it has to be said - I don't collect Majorette as a general rule, but these are... giving me thoughts.

They're not, like, cheap-cheap but they certainly feel a little bit more special than Mattel products, so maybe worth the extra? I like these rather more than Siku's current offerings, to be brutally honest.

'Metal Series' is an interesting concept, though I kinda like models to look as much like the real thing as possible - so they don't quite land for me.

Twice the price because it comes with a metal tin is a bit perplexing too.

Patriotic 2CV and VW collection good-vibes T1 also available, though.

'Street Cars' range has some pretty nice renderings of, well, the kind of cars you'd see out in the street.

Y'know, had I been in there by myself... I might have buckled.

Luckily*, I had spousal glares to keep me on the straight and narrow.

However, I had no such supervision yesterday morning, when I was left to my own devices down the town.

So I feel I can't really be held fully responsible for what happened next.

Seems like quite a few places have new stock out, finally - after six months of nothing Hot Wheels on the shelves but a single unwanted Experimotors screwdriver car, today Poundstretcher was positively overflowing with recent longcard releases.

Very neatly displayed, too.

No need for digging through the hangers here - these were all pre-sorted, with the same model on each peg.

Mind you, at £2.50 a throw, you're deffo paying for the privilege.

Maybe a three-for-two or other discount promotion is on its way, eventually?

Home Bargains had also refilled its toy aisle, with plenty of recent-case Hot Wheels to be found.

They were rather less accessible, and flanked by a pair of teenaged Saturday workers bitching about their co-workers, so I didn't feel that an impromptu photoshoot was advisable.

I did, however, snaffle these:

The Nova wagon had, as predicted, been playing on my mind since Friday. The Defender is one I hadn't seen before, and just looks quite nicely done.

I nearly nabbed a dragstrip version of the Chevrolet Chevette, but felt that three models in the shopping basket was a bit much - even though, at £1.49, I think these are the cheapest Hot Wheels to be found these days at a nationwide chain.

A quick toddle through Poundland revealed refreshed shelves with more Hot Wheels and also some fresh Matchbox to be seen, though the Carrick branch still seems to be a case issue behind the Belfast stores.

They also had a few clipstrip hangers featuring some more of the  older longcard HW releases too; who knows where they came from?

No pics, as the toy aisle was full of children, for some reason.

I know.

 

Andy's post upthread reminded me that I'd done a find earlier in the week, while at Tesco...

Yup, some new-case Matchbox releases.

I was a little annoyed to think that there might have been a Volvo 240 or two in here not too long ago - but alas now gone.

But if availability remains as good as the previous case, there should be plenty to go around for everyone.

Still, the li'l Honda was a nice find, despite being an odd choice for an off-roader model.

It's cute, for sure..

Front end tampo detailing is really well rendered, with even the tiny Honda badge legible.

Not really sure what I'm gonna do with these, but hey... it's the thrill of the chase, isn't it? Or something...

[danthecapriman]

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

One of their best castings of the late 80s in my opinion. I've seen that variation before but didn't know that it had an Aberdeen Volvo dealer advertised on it.

It is a nice looking casting. Definitely looks the part imho.

Ive got the green/blue version. Not sure there were many colours for it though?

[Split_Pin]

Grey, green and light blue are the only civvy colours I know of.

[bunglebus]

3 hours ago, sierraman said:

Corgi

Ah ok had a slight whiff of Hong Kong/China about it for some reason! 

[bunglebus]

2 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Alpine A110

Cor! I'll be on the lookout for that one - fortunately there's a black Porsche en route to me from Norfolk (hopefully)

[flat4alfa]

4 hours ago, 155V6 said:

A couple of charity shop finds from yesterday.I wasn't particularly bothered about the Supra,but they were two for a pound

Never seen that Volvo race livery before.  It's fantasy, but David Gillanders did own and race this ex-works 242 turbo which it clearly was meant to represent 

His dealership at Peterhead is still there and carries Kia today

I wonder what the back story was in the Gillanders/Corgi connection 

[JMotor]

Clearing out at my grans.

Forgot I had these! Bought them in the early 2000's. Luckily I had the sense to keep them good!

[155V6]

38 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Never seen that Volvo race livery before.  It's fantasy, but David Gillanders did own and race this ex-works 242 turbo which it clearly was meant to represent 

His dealership at Peterhead is still there and carries Kia today

I wonder what the back story was in the Gillanders/Corgi connection 

They probably just used the 740 as it was a vaguely similar shape.See also Sierra 2.3 Ghia & BMW E34 BTCC models.

[danthecapriman]

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

Never seen that Volvo race livery before.  It's fantasy, but David Gillanders did own and race this ex-works 242 turbo which it clearly was meant to represent 

His dealership at Peterhead is still there and carries Kia today

I wonder what the back story was in the Gillanders/Corgi connection 

Looks like it’s rhd too, quite rare for a 2 door.

[bunglebus]

Fascinating* the things you notice when going through all your cars.

Chinese version of the Matchbox Cavalier is a much deeper red, paint finish is clearly worse than the Macau version too

Rollers come in China and Thailand bases but rather than overstamping the original text it's moved elsewhere on the base 

Nearly missed the casting change on the  step here

Fingers crossed I'll get all the Matchbox sorted out for another sales thread installment later

[bunglebus]

Very small pile of cars acquired today 

Hartoys Porker has a very close copy of Matchbox wheels

Majo Crapi has been joyridden and dumped but may make a nice custom

Decent Corgi Jeep

I always think this was part of a set on the back of a Convoy, but it's a normal release

Laser Wheels 

And a plastic bug