Shite in Miniature II

[bunglebus]

2 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

I got for @bunglebusassuming I've got the right person from the Emergency Channel!

Also hope I picked up the corrects models!

Yes - glad you knew it was me as I struggle remembering names Vs usernames. Much appreciated, let me know what I owe

1 hour ago, morrisoxide said:

 I thought the 55 Chevy was a colour changer but it isn't, unless they stop working?

Yes they always stop working, usually end up stuck part way between the two colours. Matchbox and Maisto ones seem to fare better

[bunglebus]

Looks like the GTO I found today is from '98

[AndyW201]

Had a delivery yesterday that I've just got around to opening.

Thanks have to go here to @bunglebus for bringing my attention to the seller in the Miniature eBay thread. This guy had a load of diecast on sale including a lot of dealer edition models in special packaging. I had my eye on a few as I'm a sucker for models in dealer packaging especially unremarkable everyday chod. Most of what I was watching went over what I wanted to pay, but this stayed tantalisingly close to the starting price, and I won it.

I'm a big fan of early 2000s Skodas, we've had a couple of MK1 Octavias in the household and they were genuinely excellent cars, as well as doing many thousands of miles as a cabbie in a Mk1 Octavia SDi which wasn't actually as miserable as that might sound...

Im also fond of this generation of Superb with it's "ordered a Rolls-Royce Flying Spur from Wish" styling.

Must admit, at first I didn't know whether these were a hatch or a saloon until I was looking around one in the dealer when one of our Octys was in getting new coil packs fitted during a recall and realised that it was both! With two switches on the underside of the boot, press one and the boot lid opens like a normal three-box saloon, press the other switch and the whole lot opens like a hatch with a massive opening. Clever.

This one, like most modern Skoda models is by Abrex and is up to the standard of models by most European makers. Little details like the washers built into the headlights stand out. The flying duck badge is done nicely too.

Some nice details inside , similar to Minichamps with the touchscreen and climate control units highlighted, and the dials visible.

Wheels are done well with a bit of disc/caliper detail and nice tiny Skoda badges.

Not a bad model in all. Only my second Abbrex Skoda, the other being a Yeti with some interesting Matchbox style  dealer packaging.

Been wanting a MK1 Octavia model for ages but Abrex only did the estate, the period Kaden hatch is a bit toy like and the IXO rally partwork doesn't really grab me

There is a road going model of a vRS by IXO as part of the DeAgostini Famous Czech Cars partwork series which is lovely but sellers on eBay are taking the piss with prices. I'm hoping Jumajo might eventually get hold of them...

[MiniMinorMk3]

11 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Looks like the GTO I found today is from '98

That looks like teh one from Two Lane Black Top

[MiniMinorMk3]

8 hours ago, AndyW201 said:

 

I'm a big fan of early 2000s Skodas, we've had a couple of MK1 Octavias in the household and they were genuinely excellent cars, as well as doing many thousands of miles as a cabbie in a Mk1 Octavia SDi which wasn't actually as miserable as that might sound...

 

Those Abrex models are Superb, and are quite competitively priced.

Here's a Yeti ready to catch some crims.

They've done some great versions of the earlier cars aswell.

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

That looks like teh one from Two Lane Black Top

Hmm I have some spare 55s laying around...

And these were in my wheel order

[danthecapriman]

Got home this morning to find a pile of parcels waiting for me in the snow outside the front door!

Pair of Sierra’s.

A mk2 Astra, with a Chevy badge!

Renault Fuego. I don’t think we had this type or age Fuego over here in the UK but my intention here is to back date it to the early non GTA type we did have. 
There used to be a silver C reg one of these parked up outside the corner shop I used to see all the time when I walked home from school. Maybe I’ll do it as a replica of that one. 
Im not a French car fan at all really but these, and quite a lot of the Renault’s of the same sort of age do have quite a nice style to them. After they moved away from the ugly era before them!

[Datsuncog]

2 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

Renault Fuego. I don’t think we had this type or age Fuego over here in the UK but my intention here is to back date it to the early non GTA type we did have. There used to be a silver C reg one of these parked up outside the corner shop I used to see all the time when I walked home from school. Maybe I’ll do it as a replica of that one. 

You may have seen them already, but IXO did a Euro-spec early Fuego in silver, about fifteen or so years ago.

Might save you a lot of hassle if you fancy a replica of the one you remember from your school walk; not that I'd be upset to see you work your magic on the red one, of course...

[danthecapriman]

35 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

You may have seen them already, but IXO did a Euro-spec early Fuego in silver, about fifteen or so years ago.

Might save you a lot of hassle if you fancy a replica of the one you remember from your school walk; not that I'd be upset to see you work your magic on the red one, of course...

I’ve never seen that silver one! 
I do know they did a green one and there’s a red one in the James Bond partwork too. Both euro style cars.

Maybe I’ll keep an eye out for a euro spec car instead.

[FakeConcern]

17 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Yes - glad you knew it was me as I struggle remembering names Vs usernames. Much appreciated, let me know what I owe

Yes I impressed myself with that haha.

PM sent

[bunglebus]

https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2024/01/tesco-the-entertainer/

[flat4alfa]

17 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Looks like the GTO I found today is from '98

Surprising for a Premium that they didn't name it' 70 pontiac GTO "The Judge" edition, as that is what they have modelled it on, you can see the fender badge in front of the door.  There should one on the trunk lid too, but Matchbox put it on the spoiler instead

Matchbox first released this GTO casting in 1996, which did have 'The Judge' on the packaging 

Mattel did their own Hot Wheels release in 2011, without a rear sticker tampo but curiously added the Ram Air IV tampo to the hood scoops.  The dimensions are much better on the HW

 

The Two-Lane Blacktop GTO wasn't a real Judge (one of 3800) it must have had the stripes and spoiler added by the supplying dealer, everything else was Pontiac options list

Brochure page

Options brochure entry

The (F) is for factory fitting only.  Which means the dealer with Universal studios on the phone was able to get hold of what was needed - except for the four iconic 'The Judge' stickers

 

[flat4alfa]

On 08/01/2024 at 12:53, danthecapriman said:

Renault Fuego. I don’t think we had this type or age Fuego over here in the UK but my intention here is to back date it to the early non GTA type we did have. 

There used to be a silver C reg one of these parked up outside the corner shop I used to see all the time when I walked home from school. Maybe I’ll do it as a replica of that one. 

Might be better to seek out a Solido, cheaper than IXO and you also wouldn't need to spoil that nice red second-facelift GTA.  In Argentina they were proud of that one as the Max was the 2.2L and as quick as the European Turbo

This Solido Renault Fuego lives back here.  Obviously budget, but reasonable detail in 1/43

The made a good representation on the rear window, the same window I was told never to break on my old Fuego, as they were unobtainiumed. 

Mine was 8 years old at the time, picked up for £250; those were the days.  It was a black 1.6 GTS and went very well, very comfy seats, but was deeply unfashionable

The number plate on the model implies it is a car registered to Département 28

Which is here:

So now you know, the Gendarmerie there did away with emergency roof lights.  Probably

[MiniMinorMk3]

2 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

You may have seen them already, but IXO did a Euro-spec early Fuego in silver, about fifteen or so years ago.

Might save you a lot of hassle if you fancy a replica of the one you remember from your school walk; not that I'd be upset to see you work your magic on the red one, of course...

 

1 hour ago, danthecapriman said:

I’ve never seen that silver one! 
I do know they did a green one and there’s a red one in the James Bond partwork too. Both euro style cars.

Maybe I’ll keep an eye out for a euro spec car instead.

 

19 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Might be better to seek out a Solido, cheaper than IXO and you also wouldn't need to spoil that nice red second-facelift GTA.  In Argentina they were proud of that one as the Max was the 2.2L and as quick as the European Turbo

Minichamps did the GTX in Metallic Blue and Gold. They have also issued it in their budget Maxichamps range.

I've also had one of those cheapo Solidos. I've never seen it in civilian attire.

 

[danthecapriman]

40 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Might be better to seek out a Solido, cheaper than IXO and you also wouldn't need to spoil that nice red second-facelift GTA.  In Argentina they were proud of that one as the Max was the 2.2L and as quick as the European Turbo

This Solido Renault Fuego lives back here.  Obviously budget, but reasonable detail in 1/43

The made a good representation on the rear window, the same window I was told never to break on my old Fuego, as they were unobtainiumed. 

Mine was 8 years old at the time, picked up for £250; those were the days.  It was a black 1.6 TL and went very well, very comfy seats, but was deeply unfashionable

The number plate on the model implies it is a car registered to Département 28

Which is here:

So now you know, the Gendarmerie there did away with emergency roof lights.  Probably

Apparently the Fuego actually made the best seller status in its class in the uk for 81 and 82! Quite an achievement for the time over here. 
You’d never have guessed that though, you never see them over here anymore! Presumably all rotted away?

The C reg one I used to walk past as a kid must have been about one of the last ones? Didn’t European production end much sooner than South America? And nothing replaced it either. 
Seeing that C reg one as a kid I was always a bit intrigued by it. I knew of the Fuego, but you didn’t see them much even that long ago. I always liked that black accent strip thing that ran down the sides. It almost made the car look like it was banana shaped! Bent up slightly in the middle! That car didn’t often move though, it was always parked in the same space in the same lay by outside the shop, almost always parked behind it was a maroon VW Passat which was a D reg I think. It was one of the 5 door hatch/coupe style ones. I always thought that was a cool car too!

I really was a sad little sod wasn’t I!?😅

[flat4alfa]

Fuego was essentially a Renault 18 Coupe. I was told not to worry about parts, just DON'T BREAK THAT BACK WINDOW

Not sure what best seller award 'class' they slotted it into, but it was never a great seller alongside Opel Mantas and 4cyl Capris, let alone Japanese coupes.

European manufacture finished in 1986, South Americas to 1992

Renault 21 replaced 18, by which time the revival of Alpine was underway instead

[Datsuncog]

30 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

You never see them over here anymore! Presumably all rotted away?

This one turned up at a local tat auction in May 2019 - annoyingly, I wasn't at the auction!

Apparently it sold for something like £200; no idea of the registration, so dunno if it's survived.

I really liked the Fuego, even though it was basically just an R18 in a party frock - just something about the styling. But then I also liked the R15 and R17 too.

[flat4alfa]

On 07/01/2024 at 18:49, 155V6 said:

I went to visit my Brother today,he builds a lot of modern military kits,he gets sent them to review for magazines.One of his latest was interesting,it's an unlicensed 1/35 scale BMW 3 series with gas rockets

Takom are Chinese, they do many kits at the favoured military diorama scale 1:35.  It seems Bachmann is UK distributor. 

The sales blurb for that BMW reads as German civilian cars were private vehicles used to transport weapons, often in the Middle East. The driver would of course be armed to combat attempted theft or sabotage. Which tickled me

There is also a 90s gen-2 Mitsubishi Pajero (Shogun) 

And a couple of VW T3

[bunglebus]

I has Norev Mini Jet

Solido

And Joustra

 

[danthecapriman]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

This one turned up at a local tat auction in May 2019 - annoyingly, I wasn't at the auction!

Apparently it sold for something like £200; no idea of the registration, so dunno if it's survived.

I really liked the Fuego, even though it was basically just an R18 in a party frock - just something about the styling. But then I also liked the R15 and R17 too.

That one is a much more pink version of the one in the Bond partwork, even down to the full size wabasto sunroof!

Must admit I always liked the look of the Renault 18 too, in either saloon or estate flavour it wasn’t a bad looking car. 
The 15 and 17 were nice looking things too.

[Split_Pin]

For me it's got to be the epic black Fuego that Bburago made in 1/24 scale. I always wanted that one but never found it. I liked spotting Fuegos as a kid and there was one that turned up at a Retroshite meet last year. 

[barrett]

£19 for this Polistil 1:24 Fuego on ebay (which has been slightly personalised but nothing major)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204522704050

[155V6]

Handsome!

[eddyramrod]

1 hour ago, 155V6 said:

Handsome!

Ahem...

Handsome!

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

I got to drive a Fuego back in 1984. When at college I worked at a petrol station in the evenings and weekends and the boss had a X reg gold GTX. AT the time I had an Alfa Giulietta, so the Fuego was a very different car to sit it. The laid back dash kind of gave it a very airy feel, and the seats were those typical futuristic looking Renault items that could be found in contemporary 5s. I remember it being on par for power with my Giulietta, but had a much lighter feel. I did like them and the best looking at the time would have been a black Turbo. 

I remember seeing them all the time and I guess it must have been the best selling FWD Coupe at the time as Renault were always giving generous discounts. It's only competition would have been the Mk2 Scirocco, which was horrible compared the the original.

[Spottedlaurel]

I picked up a non-Police version of the Solido 1/43 Fuego at the French autojumble, just gone back to July to find my photo:

 

[sierraman]

I like the Fuego, you used to see a lot in Spain where I believe you could get them with the 2.1 diesel fitted and an appropriately large bulge for your testes. The ones in the U.K. always seemed really ropey, I think they seemed to appear old hat quite quickly. Occasionally you used to see them with a sort of slatted rear window cover? 

[bunglebus]

Bid on a few eBay lots but only won these - but they're in lovely condition. RO80 is obviously my favourite 

[bunglebus]

New CMC list - can't say I'm entirely enthralled about the James Bond Aston, there's a billion out there in various forms already, and the earlier version of the ice cream van has jumped in front of the Toronado I'm looking forward to more

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

Dug out some stuff that's been hiding for a few years and thought I'd post some up.

So it's time for a game of "What's in the box?"

We'll do the top middle first. It's a Herpa 1/43rd Mercedes-Benz E320 Coupe. The first of the E-Class that was just a face lift of the C124 320 CE.

This example is finished in Blauschwarz (blue black) Metallic with a light tan interior.

Nice bits of detail including the headlamp wipers

The alloys look okay and the rear lenses are the correct style with the tinted white indicators.

There is also the E320 model badge printed on the boot.

These Herpas are not as good as the MiniChamps versions with their opening bonnet and boot lids, but then that makes them more available to those on a budget.