Shite in Miniature II

[Datsuncog]

12 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Looking closer the BMW 323 appears to be devoid of decals. Is it a Graffic Traffic?

Not sure - there seems to be a cardboard box under it, resembling the US-release yellow with red grid patterning boxes. I think the Graffic Traffic sets were all blister-packs - though the big Charlie Mack book doesn't mention the MB39 BMW as appearing in that guise.

Might be this one, with the side tampo hidden behind the Model A?

Supposedly this variant was supplied as a two-pack alongside a boat and trailer for 1991 and 1992, but apparently things are pretty fluid in this place...

[Datsuncog]

3 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

I can see a Majorette Saviem and Matchbox Leyland 'pipe truck' too, in addition to the two above steering rigs. 

There were some rich pickings to be found in the 50p boxes, back in the day!

Majorettes seem to be really thin on the ground lately; can't figure out why.

[flat4alfa]

Talking of BMW

We are on page 

[flat4alfa]

Possibly the tiniest scale model of one would be the 1:87 Herpa

[MiniMinorMk3]

17 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Correct, I mistitled it on Flickr.

Have a Politoys 1600 instead

 

 

 

Anorak says no. Bullet turn signals again, early 1500 Squareback.

 

15 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

Ideal* for patio games diorama with Airfix SRN4 hovercraft which is scale 1/144 then!

I'll go now.

I built one of those when I was about 10 years old. I think the little cars were made of clear plastic.

[MiniMinorMk3]

14 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Talking of BMW

We are on page 

 

Originally named 1600-2 for a few months, as modelled by MiniChamps.

[flat4alfa]

21 minutes ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

I think the little cars were made of clear plastic.

It seems they were, yes

Two of each, too

[MiniMinorMk3]

22 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

I suspected it was a Vitesse, with that mirrored triangular section in the corner of the packaging... just seems a ludicrously over-large case! The Renault totem is quite a nice touch, though.

 

Apart from a couple of twin set F1 Quartzos the only big box Vitesse that springs to mind is the promo DS that floated on water.

Norev did use mirrored boxes for both their own issues and various dealer issues.

They did a series of old Renaults using some of teh old plastic moulds.

And newer metal ones.

The 206 CC

With folding roof.

Nice old MG

 

[Datsuncog]

Quick zip through town yesterday lunchtime indicated that the local Poundland branch seems to be going back in time.

Yup, they've restocked with a load of 2022 Hot Wheels.

I guess it means that anyone who missed out on some of the motorbikes the first time round can do ok...

Also, I thought that the first release of the Volvo 240 drift wagon had violently yellow-tinted glazing, but this one seems much less bright.

I had about three of 'em, but sold them all on so can't even check.

No particularly interesting Matchbox - still just the early 2023 shiz restocked.

Surprised that Matchbox are 50p dearer than Hot Wheels in Poundland, while in Tesco it's 30p dearer the other way round.

Guess it's down to wholesaler offers, mebbe...

[MiniMinorMk3]

The postman has just been.

What's in the box under the packing peanuts?

A little white box.

With more peanuts!

Under the peanuts.

Lots of little plastic bags and some bubble wrap.

In the bubble wrap is a white metal body...

 

and floor with a vac-form window.

Photo-etch details and headlamps.

Chrome bits, wheel arches, roll cage etc etc.

Interior bits and tyres.

Decals.

Yes it does say Hot Wheels.

This is an SMTS kit that GPM (Grand Prix Models) have added some decals to...

to create the car driven by Bill Brack in 1968 Trans Am races.

I spotted this kit a year ago on their site, but the price was a little steep. When I ordered the Micro Sol they had it on sale at 10% off, I still did not bite. But then the other day I got an email and it had been reduced by another 10% so I could not resist. AT the moment it will be added to the other kits that are waiting, but with the decal projects getting my modelling bug restarted it might get built later this year.

 

[barrett]

It's overcast and miserable here today so not easy to take photographs, but here's some more detail of my top choice from the little job lot fo Politoys that was delivered the other day. They worked out at £15/car which I think is a proper bargain.

The Politoys Export Iso Grifo is Number 553 and, like others in the range, is a simple toy-like effort with only opening doors, but it's charming and carries quite a bit of weight

The proper Grifo wheels are a nice touch. I've never had the Corgi version, but I'd say this one is actually a touch less detailed  although the overall effect is very nice. If I could have picked a different colour I would've, but I can't complain about a near-mint Politoys at this price

[MiniMinorMk3]

By the way, if you want some decals for projects, you might want to check out the ALO site. They do stuff in 1/43, 1/24 and 1/18.

ALO Decals & Models

[danthecapriman]

Does anyone know of any 1:43 bulldozer models? 
I’ve got another project coming up but just looking around for a few things to make it up out of. I could do with a bulldozer or similar at 1:43, nothing too ‘toy’ like as the rest of the project is more towards the ‘model’ look. It needs to be roughly the right size to fit on a truck trailer as a realistic looking load. Anyone know of anything?

Also, what scale is the Dinky Euclid dumper truck? The one with the little handle on the side to wind the dumper up.

[Datsuncog]

2 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Aha - that Norev looks to be the casting I'd mentioned while discussing Dan's Argentinian R18 estate.

A quick look online indicates that the models from this range are still pricey enough...

1/43 Renault 18 R18 Turbo Gris 1982 Norev ref: 7711224122 | eBay

No estates available that I can see!

[Christine]

[RoadworkUK]

15 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

So nearly there with the Hiace:

That is absolutely fabulous. 

[quicksilver]

16 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

The proprietor sounds like an absolute crackpot. 

I have that same HW steering rig, in very tidy condition which I think came from St Georges, if not definitely one of you lot for what can't have been more than a couple of quid. Jings.

Reading that tale of his bizarre business practices reminded me of Bernard Black from Black Books, someone who runs a shop despite obviously hating people and making no attempt to hide his contempt for his customers. I wonder if Dylan Moran ever visited that shop and took inspiration from him.

[MiniMinorMk3]

4 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

Does anyone know of any 1:43 bulldozer models? 
I’ve got another project coming up but just looking around for a few things to make it up out of. I could do with a bulldozer or similar at 1:43, nothing too ‘toy’ like as the rest of the project is more towards the ‘model’ look. It needs to be roughly the right size to fit on a truck trailer as a realistic looking load. Anyone know of anything?

Also, what scale is the Dinky Euclid dumper truck? The one with the little handle on the side to wind the dumper up.

NZG make all types of plant. Unfortunately it is in 1/32nd or the usual commercial vehicle scale of 1/50th. I've seen them in the flesh and they are works of art and thus they costs £s lots.

English - NZG-Modelle GmbH

JCB also sell some diggers, but again the are 1/32 and 1/50. I think these are rebranded Siku models.

JCB Die Cast Models | Die Cast Scale Models | JCB Explore

[Datsuncog]

Took the head staggers and unboxed the Premiums Escort RS1800 from last week.

It's a corker.

Fairly weighty, too.

For such a small model, the level of detail's fairly impressive.

I tend to think of these as quite pricey items at £9, but then again a new Oxford Diecast 1/72 model costs something similar these days...

I'm quite enjoying all the slightly more workaday British/ European/ Japanese vehicles coming from Mattel at present - for so long, their output seemed to be focused on European exotics and American muscle cars, and I've only got a certain level of enthusiasm available for them.

Mk2 Escorts prepped for tarmac rallying are something of a rural Ulster institution - it's amazing how many oul lads on hill farms way up in the Sperrins have something squat and square under a tarp in the corner of a barn... "Aye, she's Cosworth BDA engined... had a wee knock in her on one of the night stages on the Circuit of Ireland back in, lessee, must be '94 or '95... but I'll get her going again!"

Growing up, there were two brothers down the road who had sundry knackered performance Mk2s rotting away in their front garden, along with a few Mantas and (more unexpectedly) a Delta HF Integrale.

So, in a way, this feels like a very local model - and kinda special because of it.

Special enough to evict the Group 2 P6 from its trailer?

Maybe.

[Datsuncog]

Also took another stroll down memory lane earlier with this lovely arrival:

As-new and boxfresh Lesney No.12 Citroen CX estate, from the @outlaw118 attic-clearance sale on eBay.

This is one I can specifically remember drooling over down at the local newsagents when I was very smol.

I just love the boxes on this era of Matchbox - the illustrations are very evocative, somehow.

I never had a new CX, but I bought a used one for 50p off a kid from my class who'd brought it in to smash up in the playground.

I then let it go during the big pre-house move clearance of early 2022 - and then happened upon it again at the market a year later, along with more of my childhood toys.

So I bought it back, again for 50p.

Ideally, I'd like to have mint/boxed versions to have alongside some of my well-used originals, so this helps to kick off that process!

[ETCHY]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

Also took another stroll down memory lane earlier with this lovely arrival:

As-new and boxfresh Lesney No.12 Citroen CX estate, from the @outlaw118 attic-clearance sale on eBay.

This is one I can specifically remember drooling over down at the local newsagents when I was very smol.

I just love the boxes on this era of Matchbox - the illustrations are very evocative, somehow.

I never had a new CX, but I bought a used one for 50p off a kid from my class who'd brought it in to smash up in the playground.

I then let it go during the big pre-house move clearance of early 2022 - and then happened upon it again at the market a year later, along with more of my childhood toys.

So I bought it back, again for 50p.

Ideally, I'd like to have mint/boxed versions to have alongside some of my well-used originals, so this helps to kick off that process!

Lovely CX estate, I had that one as a kid. Totally agree about the boxes, they are uber cool.
I wish I could find my toy cars again !

[Split_Pin]

3 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Also took another stroll down memory lane earlier with this lovely arrival:

As-new and boxfresh Lesney No.12 Citroen CX estate, from the @outlaw118 attic-clearance sale on eBay.

This is one I can specifically remember drooling over down at the local newsagents when I was very smol.

I just love the boxes on this era of Matchbox - the illustrations are very evocative, somehow.

I never had a new CX, but I bought a used one for 50p off a kid from my class who'd brought it in to smash up in the playground.

I then let it go during the big pre-house move clearance of early 2022 - and then happened upon it again at the market a year later, along with more of my childhood toys.

So I bought it back, again for 50p.

Ideally, I'd like to have mint/boxed versions to have alongside some of my well-used originals, so this helps to kick off that process!

Ah one of my favourites from my own childhood too. I always thought it captured the presence of the real car remarkably well. The opening boot and tow hitch meant I could play at 'holidays' too. I love this era of Matchbox with the numberplates. 

[Spottedlaurel]

Another one here with a fondness for that CX. Mine came as a slightly unlikely inclusion in the Stunt Jump set, but in fairness it was faster than the overly-wide BMW CS with no suspension.

I think it may still be around in one of the boxes that master SL played with, but I've bought a couple more since in case it doesn't turn up....

[bunglebus]

9 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Anorak says no. Bullet turn signals again, early 1500 Squareback.

Just quoting what it says on the base

9 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

It seems they were, yes

Two of each, too

They are fantastic, I'd like one of the Beetles. Being as I've never seen them before they're no doubt unobtanium these days

[bunglebus]

Got a few of those CXs, blue is the nicest looking

White or yellow interiors

Red to hide the mishaps in the ambulance

 

[flat4alfa]

On 24/01/2024 at 21:14, Datsuncog said:

 

Quite an assortment here. Lone Star Ranchero is missing its tailgate, but isn't too bad for a tenner

I wanted it since last visit. Been on my mind since!  But no.  Will leave it for now, time moves on. Well, ok, it doesn't quite! Not in that establishment..

[danthecapriman]

Got a bit more done on the FG today between doing other things.

Rubbed the filler down on the new bits of the chassis sides, then glued the bit of air tank back on I had to cut off during the chassis stretch. 
While the glue dried I started disassembling the cab. Which was an absolute pleasure to take to bits! Everything came off easy and nothing broke either. Marinated the cab for a few minutes in paint stripper then a good scrub with a wire brush, followed up by a warm soapy wash and scrub with old toothbrush.

Once dry test fit on the chassis to see what it looks like!

Im pretty pleased with that! 
The cab just needs the two rows of grill slats filling (just above the big radiator grill), and I’ll fill the two outer holes on the roof. These were just for marker lights but I won’t use them. Then I’ll pinch the cab roof orange beacon light from the donor Pegaso and drill a little hole to fit that.

These two Frod’s have been through the stripper too. An F100 and F150.

Theres something very therapeutic about stripping the paint off these and shining them up afterwards!

[Split_Pin]

It's a great model that. As a bit of an FG anorak (they were built about 5 miles from where I grew up) I was just about to say you need to remove the extra 2 cooling slats that Sava included but you are all over it!

[FakeConcern]

7 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Got a bit more done on the FG today between doing other things.

Rubbed the filler down on the new bits of the chassis sides, then glued the bit of air tank back on I had to cut off during the chassis stretch. 
While the glue dried I started disassembling the cab. Which was an absolute pleasure to take to bits! Everything came off easy and nothing broke either. Marinated the cab for a few minutes in paint stripper then a good scrub with a wire brush, followed up by a warm soapy wash and scrub with old toothbrush.

Once dry test fit on the chassis to see what it looks like!

Im pretty pleased with that! 
The cab just needs the two rows of grill slats filling (just above the big radiator grill), and I’ll fill the two outer holes on the roof. These were just for marker lights but I won’t use them. Then I’ll pinch the cab roof orange beacon light from the donor Pegaso and drill a little hole to fit that.

These two Frod’s have been through the stripper too. An F100 and F150.

Theres something very therapeutic about stripping the paint off these and shining them up afterwards!

That's all looking great! I don't know how you get on with it so quickly...

[FakeConcern]

See if you can spot my silly mistake on this re paint Haha