Shite in Miniature II

[danthecapriman]

31 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Plain red from 1971

First release was in fact the deep metallic red, with removable axle covers.  Same as the one I got off you in one of your FIRE sales: 

I wonder, did you ever find the ladder? 🙂

Here it is today, snuggling up at Merryweather Meet 2024

Number plate is JBR 254G - which I had never noticed before...

Original box art.  Think it would be good to fit those chrome cap regular wheels sometime on one

Didn't make the 1969 catalogue.  First illustrated in 1970 catalogue, depicted moving along, with a funky wheel set

For 1971, a photograph, at last.  But a bit dull

While on the 1971 box it was absolutely belting along

I thought I’d sent you a ladder? Maybe I found them, then packed them away😬

You can get the repro ones on eBay.

[quicksilver]

3 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

All three were always different, not least due to being Leyland or AEC.  So not derived from each other, completely separate tooling and the size differences proves that.  

@Datsuncog's write-up linked above must be the most comprehensive, now that diecastfire.co.uk site is dead

LS 35-A MERRYWEATHER FIRE ENGINE
Mainline 1969-1974 , Twinpack 1978-1979

Was a Superfast from day one, despite initial box artwork wearing regulars which were only found on pre-production examples.  Metallic red clearcoat over gold primer.

MI 111 (MB 13) Merryweather SNORKEL Fire Engine
1983-2002, Multipack 1996-2007. 

BUT!  In 1981 for a special tie in to a US TV series called Code Red, a series was launched USA-only.  As it was based in Los Angeles, they had an LA theme to them.  Perhaps to make the Fire Appliance appear more familiar to US peoples, Lesney cut the centre out of the cab roof and the rear tank, fitted seating and the Snorkel moulding.  This was some time before this revised casting joined the 1-75 series in 1983.  All this time I thought it was post-bankruptcy Matchbox International change.

So they cut the roof off an obviously British appliance to try and make it look more American?! That was clearly a great success* and I wonder what American kids made of this abomination that looked like no fire engine anywhere in the world.

[bunglebus]

I found a much more obviously American (and much newer) fire truck while sorting out in the loft

Pierce Dash is dated 2008

[flat4alfa]

19 minutes ago, quicksilver said:

So they cut the roof off an obviously British appliance to try and make it look more American?! That was clearly a great success* and I wonder what American kids made of this abomination that looked like no fire engine anywhere in the world.

It seems they lapped it up, as the casting ran for 22 years and (at least) 27 variations!

MBI also supplied as blanks for Code 2/3 efforts

The Japanese must have liked it too, as it ran 1984-87

[bunglebus]

Mrs is in the charity shop

They want a tenner for it though

[Spottedlaurel]

Not unreasonable if it's the 1/36 version?

[flat4alfa]

First released USA-only 1981/2 just named as SNORKEL both on packaging and base.  Produced by Matchbox (Lesney) Made in England.

MBI were proud enough to release it as a mainline for 1983, packaged and listed as SNORKEL FIRE ENGINE

Mattel realised its potential as a Premium.  TWICE!

Production continued until finally bowing out 2002 as part of the Matchbox 50th anniversary, with a rename to FLAME CHASER (not Snorkel) on the packaging

In a stunning dayglo yellow with contrasting blue interior, along with 'Metro Alarm' tampo.  If that wasn't enough, there was further excitement for collectors - the '50' roundel and 'MATCHBOX'  logo were on one side only, and not all had them.  It was boxed facing left, so when in the box you had no idea which type it was.  The aisles were chaotic.

[bunglebus]

11 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

In a stunning dayglo yellow with contrasting blue interior, along with 'Metro Alarm' tampo

This could be your lucky day, as a rare opportunity to purchase one has just arisen

[bunglebus]

This makes me feel better

 

[sierraman]

I have the Code Red P1 Fire Pumper.

[flat4alfa]

On 30/01/2024 at 14:51, ETCHY said:

The Merryweather is possibly quite an early one as the roof where the bells are mounted is body colour it's normally bare steel.

21 hours ago, ETCHY said:

I note your Merryweather has a roof like mine that's painted. Yeah I think there's something concerning number of wheelnuts signifying early or later. The nozzle on my perished hose (that sounds like something from Viz🤣) is brass too.

Are the 8-bolt hubs cast, or plastic?

Are they sheet metal bells pinned onto the roof piece?  Or cast bells?

[flat4alfa]

38 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

This makes me feel better

Charlie Mack - legend. 

Has edited Matchbox magazine (USA) since 1978

Has published at least 9 books
Collecting Matchbox: Regular Wheels 1953-1969
Lesney's Matchbox Toys: Regular Wheel Years, 1947-1969
Lesney's Matchbox Toys: The Superfast Years 1969-1982
Matchbox Cars
Matchbox Toys: The Tyco Years 1993-1994
Matchbox Toys: The Universal Years, 1982-1992
The Big Book of Matchbox Superfast Toys: 1969-2004 Volume 2: Product Lines & Indexes
The Big Book of Superfast Matchbox Toys: 1969-2004 Basic Models & Variation Lists
The Encyclopedia of Matchbox Toys

 

I wonder which year his wife left him though.

[flat4alfa]

9 hours ago, bunglebus said:

The one I found is the dayglo yellow Fire Eater version, it's that awful I don't appear to have taken any pictures of it when it turned up, probably in a job lot

When you said 'Fire Eater' yesterday I was confused as that was a Hot Wheels casting.  Well two Hot Wheels castings actually.

So yours is 'Fire Chaser' after all.  But also shows how lairy day-glo colours confuse the mind! 

Quote

Hot Wheels Fire Eater is this one 

Running since 1977!  Last issued 2021, by this time the retoolings and plastic content are obvious.  44 years, eh.

That's all very well, but Corgi Juniors experts should recognise Mattel's Hot Wheel Fire Eater II produced 1994-98.

Yes, it's the inherited casting from 1970, ERF Fire Engine Water Tender

Well, the 1974 retool to be correct

It lived 1970-98.  Throughout its 28 years, it was still named ‘Fire Tender’ on the base

[Bren]

I have the juniors one on the first card. I bought mine - and the simon snorkel - because they were the first picture card issues and both had metal bases - they don't turn up that often.

[sierraman]

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

Charlie Mack - legend. 

Has edited Matchbox magazine (USA) since 1978

Has published at least 9 books
Collecting Matchbox: Regular Wheels 1953-1969
Lesney's Matchbox Toys: Regular Wheel Years, 1947-1969
Lesney's Matchbox Toys: The Superfast Years 1969-1982
Matchbox Cars
Matchbox Toys: The Tyco Years 1993-1994
Matchbox Toys: The Universal Years, 1982-1992
The Big Book of Matchbox Superfast Toys: 1969-2004 Volume 2: Product Lines & Indexes
The Big Book of Superfast Matchbox Toys: 1969-2004 Basic Models & Variation Lists
The Encyclopedia of Matchbox Toys

 

I wonder which year his wife left him though.

The day he arrived home with those earrings and that shirt. 

[ETCHY]

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

Are the 8-bolt hubs cast, or plastic?

Are they sheet metal bells pinned onto the roof piece?  Or cast bells?

The hubs are plastic, the metal bells are separate.

[ETCHY]

5 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

Plain red from 1971

First release was in fact the deep metallic red, with removable axle covers.  Same as the one I got off you in one of your FIRE sales: 

I wonder, did you ever find the ladder? 🙂

Here it is today, snuggling up at Merryweather Meet 2024

Number plate is JBR 254G - which I had never noticed before...

Original box art.  Think it would be good to fit those chrome cap regular wheels sometime on one

Didn't make the 1969 catalogue.  First illustrated in 1970 catalogue, depicted moving along, with a funky wheel set

For 1971, a photograph, at last.  But a bit dull

While on the 1971 box it was absolutely belting along

Great info'.

I may be back shortly, i'm just about to disappear down another Rabbit hole..

[ETCHY]

8 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Hold on just one cotton pickin' minute - these aren't the same either

I've looked at loads of those & never noticed that.
My soon to be emptied wallet thanks you 😄

[bunglebus]

41 minutes ago, ETCHY said:

I've looked at loads of those & never noticed that.
My soon to be emptied wallet thanks you 😄

Well you can buy those! Updating my thread now...

[flat4alfa]

14 minutes ago, ETCHY said:

I've looked at loads of those & never noticed that.
My soon to be emptied wallet thanks you 😄

So it's at this point we don't mention the King Size / Super Kings LEYLAND casting differences?

King Size K-4 Leyland Tipper Truck.  The first one, with red plastic hubs and separate tyres.  L E Y L A N D lettering below the angled-end grille really needed detailing.   LE Transport livery

Super Kings K-4 Leyland Tipper Truck.  Extra chassis bracing, wider one-piece wheels.  Wates livery

Big MX BM-14 COMPLETE MINING SET contained this adapted one with a fitting for the tipping mechanism tool.  Hours of fun on the garden rockery.

Super Kings K-37.  Facelift grille, added roof board, L E Y L A N D lettering above grille, new bumper incorporating headlamps inside.  LAING livery.

I bet, if you didn't know all this, you'd be in complete Ashok.

[ETCHY]

22 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

So it's at this point we don't mention the King Size / Super Kings LEYLAND casting differences?

King Size K-4 Leyland Tipper Truck.  The first one, with red plastic hubs and separate tyres.  L E Y L A N D lettering below the angled-end grille really needed detailing.   LE Transport livery

Super Kings K-4 Leyland Tipper Truck.  Extra chassis bracing, wider one-piece wheels.  Wates livery

Big MX BM-14 COMPLETE MINING SET contained this adapted one with a fitting for the tipping mechanism tool.  Hours of fun on the garden rockery.

Super Kings K-37.  Facelift grille, added roof board, L E Y L A N D lettering above grille, new bumper incorporating headlamps inside.  LAING livery.

I bet, if you didn't know all this, you'd be in complete Ashok.

Great stuff.
I'll just pay my wages straight to ebay 🤣.

Here's a fascinating (or not) fact as you mention Ashok Leyland. My other half's incredibly cool late grandfather set up the foundry at Ashok Leyland in India back in the day. One of his first jobs was to send back to Leyland requesting boots for the workers as many of the Indian guys were going to work barefoot/in sandles (in a bloody foundry !)

[bunglebus]

But what about this one?

[flat4alfa]

Yeah and this one

And this one

You haven't lived until you've had both thick and skinny wheel Waite tippers.

[Spottedlaurel]

Going back to the small Ergomatics, it took me more than 30 years to get all six of them as MIB-ish Superfast:

 

I had the pipe truck and site hut truck when I was young. The former with its plastic pipe-carrying gear removed was just the right size for the later plastic containers. I presume they changed from the earlier cast-in metal spikes for safety reasons?

Very equitable in doing a 50/50 split between the Leylands....

And the AECs.

[flat4alfa]

Now that's a surprise.  50:50 spilt AEC and Leyland.

It's a pity they didn't go further and include an Albion

Or Atkinson 

Not sure, but it doesn't seem that Scammell used the Ergomatic cab, despite adopting the T45 cab later

[bunglebus]

That #17 Horsebox doesn't pop up too often, just one regular wheels 

 

and one Superfast have landed here

Definitely had this #17 Bedford when I was a nipper though

 

[danthecapriman]

12 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

That #17 Horsebox doesn't pop up too often, just one regular wheels 

 

and one Superfast have landed here

Definitely had this #17 Bedford when I was a nipper though

 

I had the Bedford version as a kid, they seem quite common. 

It’s the AEC horse box that I found most difficult to find out of all the small scale Ergomatic’s. No idea why, it just doesn’t seem anywhere near as common. Especially with the door still attached. 
I’ve never seen the later speed wheel one though.

[FakeConcern]

I picked up a load of shite tat (tatty shite?) in Hastings today mostly for parts, but some were interesting

Corgi JPS Lotus (missing air intake) and trailer boith £1 at different junk shops

Strange Europa with something missing from rear deck

A bit of research suggests JUJ like this (only shite)

I like it!

A Bburago 900 Turbo I also like

Revell metal A4 bought for the wheels, but in pretty good nick only missing a door mirror.

Never heard of Revell metal before!

Smashed up Nurev plastic DS19 missing the front bumper/grille.

Broken rear bumper

This 1/43 Trans Am which seems unusual in 1/43 scale so I'll keep it

In pretty good shape

No idea what make it is and couldn't find out with a quick search on t'net.

Funny all the talk of Dinky & Matchbox Fire engines as I also picked up this Corgi version

All procured for the wheels!

[Spottedlaurel]

Forthcoming attraction!

Miss SL's BF has had this set of Argos Chinese cheapies since he was young, and he was very fond of them (still is, for sentimental reasons). Full set inside in excellent condition, still in the plastic tray.

He brought them over at the weekend for a game of "Guess what the heck they're meant to be". I took photos tonight, will post them here at the weekend for similar puzzling fun.

[Datsuncog]

Found a reasonable Superfast AEC donkey wagon in different (later?) colours just before Christmas, for £not that much.

It looks better in real life than in pics, for some reason...