Shite in Miniature II

[155V6]

10 minutes ago, FakeConcern said:

Ha ve a few of these...

I saw the beige version at the car boot this morning,but left it as it had hardly any paint left.I do have these ones to hand

 

 

[Datsuncog]

I've had a few early Lesney caravans come and go over the years, but the only one I have to hand these days is the late '70s No.31 Caravan:

Never owned one of these until I bought this example in June; I just felt I was unlikely to ever find a better one, and a fiver didn't seem too outrageous.

Obtained from the market at the same time as the similarly boxed RR Shadow II.

Quite the rig, you'll agree...

Out of the way, peasants...

[Datsuncog]

4 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

Have a few of these...

That's fantastic - and all you need to do is put up a little sign on the lawn saying 'Earwig Holiday Park - Rentals Available', and you'll be coining it in before you know it...

[Jon]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

That's got some serious aerodynamic mods to the grille and headlights! 

I've just sorted through my messy garage archives and pulled out this artefact:

Given to my Dad, when my parents replaced the second hand family 145 with a second hand 245, I think in Germany (hence sticker top right - I have the matching keyring, somewhere). 

Despite being too young to witness the 145 and also too young to even remember the 245 before it was replaced with one of the very first Cavalier estates, I pored over this brochure, when given it some years later.

 

(Tiny image sorry, as full image was displaying upside down, despite editing right way up)

 

Anyway, this is a roundabout way to say I reckon the Volvo Experimental Safety Car was the influence to the front end styling.

Yes, thats definitely the answer and not just clumsy casting by the PlayArt crew. Indeed, they even added extra massive wheels, presumably to keep pedestrians safe by driving entirely over them.

Anyone have a ropey version to recreate a VESC?

[bunglebus]

I wish, never found one! 

But I do have an Alme so that's alright 

[quicksilver]

Ooof, a 1/18 scale Carmine Red Maxi!

https://diecast-madness.co.uk/shop/ols/products/cml152-3

200 quid though. Not that long ago you could buy a real one for that.

[Jon]

7 minutes ago, quicksilver said:

Ooof, a 1/18 scale Carmine Red Maxi!

https://diecast-madness.co.uk/shop/ols/products/cml152-3

200 quid though. Not that long ago you could buy a real one for that.

Glad that such an item exists but I do wonder how many people will shell out that much dosh for one. 

Also, the 3/4 views are not that convincing...

A bit too squashed and overly square curves, by my eye. That said, I don't have one in my garage, so hard to reference.

And those personally irking post-2001 plates, with odd spacing.

I honestly think one of your 1:76(?) versions are far more convincing!

[Split_Pin]

11 minutes ago, Jon said:

Glad that such an item exists but I do wonder how many people will shell out that much dosh for one. 

Also, the 3/4 views are not that convincing...

A bit too squashed and overly square curves, by my eye. That said, I don't have one in my garage, so hard to reference.

And those personally irking post-2001 plates, with odd spacing.

I honestly think one of your 1:76(?) versions are far more convincing!

I agree, the little Oxford version is lovely. I bought one in this colour as it's the same as a neighbours example which was used as a van, OHS65V. I coveted that car.

[quicksilver]

I agree there's something not quite right about it that I can't put my finger on. The mirrors are too big and I think the wheelarches and sills stick out a bit too much. It's a pretty good effort but not quite good enough for a £200 model.

The little Oxford isn't quite right either. I think it's too straight and doesn't droop enough towards the rear but that's much less noticeable in such a small scale. It looks much better with the inside of the window frames painted black as I did on this one.

[flat4alfa]

Did someone say Majorette caravans?  No?  Must be my head talking to itself again

200, 300 and R-series etc (around 1:65 scale) saw these:

 

1966 Sterckeman Lovely with sealed door, in two-packs with Citroen DS

 

Late-1960s-early-70s Digue Baronette GT with opening inward door, in two-packs with Chrysler 180, BMW 3.0 CSI, Peugeot 504

 

1970s Sterckeman Lovely 400 with opening door(?), in two-packs 'Super Tandems' with Chrysler 180, VW K70

1977-85 Caravane St-Tropez with opening door(?), found in two-packs with Simca 1100, Ford Capri, Renault 18

1983-01 Caravane ...now that is a long run of 18 years! Opening door, found in two-packs with Peugeot 604, Mercedes 450 SE, Ford Sierra, Ford Mustang, Volkswagen Golf (Mk III), Toyota Runner, Renault Kangoo and big Pinder Circus set

 

1977-79 / 1998-99 Caravane Residentielle with opening door, skylight and rear window. Showing a full-furnished interior, Le Manoir de Roi!  Found as singles or in the big Pinder Circus set

 

2018-21 ERIBA Puck with opening door, found in two-packs with either Volkswagens Beetle, T1 or T3

2018-21 Airstream Sport with opening door, found in two-packs with either Volkswagens Beetle, T1 or Ford F-150

 

There was also the larger 1:36 scale Serie 3000 from around 1980.  Opening door as you would expect, in two-pack with Chevrolet Blazer, later 'Super Movers' with Range Rover

[bunglebus]

On 09/10/2023 at 13:20, bunglebus said:

American Editions 33 Willys for a start. There are a couple of variations on this one, mainly black or silver bases - I managed to ruin my silver base while trying to clean a mark off the roof, which irritated me enough to buy this one. I had the black base version when I was young so it has a special place in the collection 

Guess what? I put this away and realised it was my black base version that I ruined cleaning the roof! So:

Oh and they both have the "STREEY ROD" text on the base - I think they eventually corrected this

[flat4alfa]

34 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Oh and they both have the "STREEY ROD" text on the base - I think they eventually corrected this

It seems they were still stamping it as STREEY as late as 1997!

It gets better though, the initial England production had it as STREEI

See http://www.cfalkensteiner.com/Matchbox/Catalog/MI/MI001-200/MI108/ChF-MI108.htm

[bunglebus]

Wait there's a black one?

I have the white and some other versions

 

[flat4alfa]

Only got early Macau grey base one here and it will stop there.  Don't want this one for sure

[flat4alfa]

9 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Wait there's a black one?

It was a 1990 Kelloggs promotional, likely USA only.  All UK got was the four Kelloggs Model A Vans.

USA also got this a mainline

[bunglebus]

Dinky 190 Caravan

Fake Maisto copy thing

THIS

Hongwell

Corgi Juniors

Barlux

Superkings K6

Matchbox 57 Eccles

Less common colour Matchbox

Majorette Airstream

Siku teardrop

 

[sheffcortinacentre]

The K6 is a really good representation of a late 70's Europa ( 70's caravan geek)  model/toy static caravans are very scarce, anyone have/know of any?

[ETCHY]

8 hours ago, Jon said:

Glad that such an item exists but I do wonder how many people will shell out that much dosh for one. 

Also, the 3/4 views are not that convincing...

A bit too squashed and overly square curves, by my eye. That said, I don't have one in my garage, so hard to reference.

And those personally irking post-2001 plates, with odd spacing.

I honestly think one of your 1:76(?) versions are far more convincing!

It's too "flat" & touch too wide. I like it though but not at that price.

[Split_Pin]

I am less than a fan of 1/1 caravans but the smol ones above are just great! I currently only have the one, a Corgi Juniors paired with a yellow SD1 but my Majorette cars are now crying out for one! The Superkings example is lovely and would go well with my Jaguar XJ6. 

[sierraman]

I am yet to see the advantage in touring caravan holidays but I’ve got a Havens site worth in the loft, I’ll take a look later. 

[danthecapriman]

Here’s my current continental touring rig!

The only other caravan I’ve got is a little Matchbox common one, which has had a cooking accident and been on fire! I did that as a kid stupidly but it didn’t really ‘take’ and for some reason I kept the caravan.

[quicksilver]

Majorette Caravane Residentielle with added aircon covering the hole where the sunroof broke off. It's far too big for the quoted 1/100 scale and more like 1/76.

Modified Majorette Camping Car Deluxe. Majorette had trouble scaling their caravans as this one is too small for 1/60.

 

[Jon]

I know there's one or two of you on here that like a bit of unusual Matchbox and/or Sierra castings, so here's one I wasn't aware of:

My First Matchbox/ELC(?) version.

 

Yellow wheels on the yellow XR4x4 also, but they could be painted (especially as the spoiler looks to have come off the grey version).

 

Made in China, apparently. Should this be some almighty holy grail item, these are on Trademe right now, so I can bid if anyone's keen. I'm guessing not, so posted here more for curio interest.

[Datsuncog]

Just remembered I have this one in the collection too:

Not sure of the caravan's parentage, but it looks kinda European while having the door on the UK side. The Beetle's a left-hooker, though.

As with all (well, most) Hongwell Cararama, it's very detailed for a toy while also being slightly crude for a collector model.

So the horizontal casting split for the all-metal body kinda spoils it a little, while the grab handles and towing gear are actually quite delicately rendered.

These were superb value in the early 2000s though, so I shouldn't complain too much.

I also had a Mini Countryman towing a tiny wood-framed two-berth van, which I think was a Marks & Spencer gift range item, but I sold that on a few years ago now.

Interesting 'perspective' packaging - haven't really seen that before or since.

[FakeConcern]

A quick tour of the caravan shite in the summer house...

I can't remember what they all are, but I'll try

Majorette, MB & Wiking

Large Majorette Corgi, Dinky, Siku, copy of Majorette? Siku, two Majorettes & MB Travel Trailer

Teeny tiny Wiking

Corgi Juniors

Wiking, Matchbox & Dinky

Majorettes, the long twin axle one on the left is one of my faves

Majorettes and a Corgi copy

Majorette

Matchbox & Matchbox King Size

Couple of Corgis and a made in China special

Siku, Corgi copy & Corgi

Siku

Kees copy?

Kees

Unusual and rather nice King Size

Lastly a few More Matchbox

Apart from those in the Jeremy Dickinson print reconstruction in the house...

[Split_Pin]

You've all got me toddling off to ebay looking at toy caravans now! I love the larger Corgi one with the awning.

[danthecapriman]

Mail drop this morning!   
Which will now allow me to show you all my grand plan!

Todays arrivals are a Dinky Big Bedford drop side and Matchbox Superkings Bedford CF2. Nice enough as they are tbh, but not so nice I’m going to destroy a good original. So, as some of you may know I used to work for Southern Electric as a fitter, which got me interested in their fleet of vehicles. These will be getting stripped and modified/painted into Southern Electricity liveries as a small collection I fancy!

Big Bedford will become one of these 4x4 versions. These were used for all sorts, but being 4x4 were particularly useful for driving through fields/forests etc etc loaded with telegraph poles and cable drums. Even new or old switchgear and transformer’s. The winch was often used to pull overhead line wires up with.

The CF2 being a short wheel base will become one of these. 
Southern Electricity mainly had standard long wheel base CF’s but also had a smaller fleet of 4x4 versions.

And finally, the Spot-On Commer!

Will become,

I need a Dodge 50 now. But I don’t think anyone does one.

[Noel Tidybeard]

modify a dodge tradesman or sportsman thats what chrysler did

[danthecapriman]

15 minutes ago, Noel Tidybeard said:

modify a dodge tradesman or sportsman thats what chrysler did

This is what I need! 
I didn’t join until 06 so most of the old stuff was gone by then. But, there were a handful of these still around! Each depot used to have a dedicated fault location ‘thump test’ van. These were generally not used that much but almost always were elderly vans with some pretty complex expensive equipment in the back (hence why they rarely got replaced!). 
In Portsmouth depot (my depot) we had an A reg Dodge 50! Must have been the oldest vehicle still on the company! It was also, as far as I can tell, the only vehicle left in the original green/beige livery. Naturally I absolutely loved it, and got to drive it a few times. Quite an experience!! Nobody else on the road ever fucked with you while you were driving this thing!   
Poole Depot had a J reg Renault version in the later silver livery which was in incredible condition for its age. Both were scrapped though probably around 2010ish. The equipment in the backs was now available in a suitcase sized case that could be put in a car boot so that’s what replaced the vans.

When the Dodge 50 was a current van though they were dished out to all the trades - jointers, linesmen and fitters. Basically they were mobile workshops with all our tools, parts etc, racking, a workbench & vice and some even had a small pillar drill attachment! They also had gas bottle storage for the burners. 
They were all replaced by Sherpa/Freight Rovers and Transits, which were then replaced with newer Transits and then Sprinters. 
My last two vans were Sprinters, a 60 reg and a 66 reg, so maybe a nice larger scale one of those will be on the wanted list too! Although the blue livery on the 66 reg one wouldn’t be easy to do with the logo and graphics.

[sierraman]

I think the water board and Gas used those Dodge 50’s, I can’t be sure but I think in the back sunk into the floor they had a big fuck off compressor.