Shite in Miniature II

[Junkman]

https://www.amazon.com/PINEAPPLE-Minifigure-Fruit-Accessory-Friends/dp/B01C8O73P0

[59Impala]

I think I have that Tomica RT bus somewhere in my stash of too many models. Got some of their cars and vans in 1/43 and 1/64, they are pretty good. On a different matter I've been busy trying to sort out stuff in my model display room (admittance 50p, full body cavity search on way out ) and yesterday a friend and I measured up the middle of the room and I can get another six display units there with room to spare. So onto the interweb to have a look around, the ones I have are sold by Argos but thought I'd see what other independent retailers had. Found the same ones on another site so decided to order the six I wanted as I like to support the little guys. But......for some reason I could only order four and only three extra sets of shelves. So I sent them an email via their contact form, slightly sarcastic but not aggressive or rude wondering why I couldn't buy what I wanted. This is their reply:

 

Hi 

 

First of all why the tone of the email all you need to do is simply advise of the problem and we can help? thee is no need to be so aggressive in your email.

 

You can purchase the items over the phone the reason why you may not be able to buy this all in one go is because it is payday weekend and therefore it  gets very busy so people have been buying and the stock is too low for you to purchase in bulk. its a simple problem that can be fixed with a phonecall. 

 

what cabinets do you want and where is delivery to?

 

thanks

 

Poor English and punctuation, no name on the email and I thought pretty rude bearing in mind I wanted to spend 1100 quid with them. And the idea of a website is so that I don't have to phone them about their bloody stock levels! I have to admit that I did reply and was quite polite until I told  them where to shove their effing cabinets, lol. Then got a reply saying 'Wow you sound like a lovely lol'. Don't know about you lovely people but that really isn't the best way to get my business! Anyway long old waffle comes to an end, Argos got the order and are delivering on the 11th, cabinets will get built and filled and then I'll bore you with more photos of my stuff. Gratuitous photo to relieve the boredom.

 

 

 

[mercrocker]

I have to say (tea tray poised over head to deflect angry missives from independent traders) that I am increasingly finding this kind of attitude amongst smaller companies.  I am not talking about the local shopkeeper who might be a bit Basil Fawlty - we have had a few of those in our town and I actually find them funny - but the basic inabilities to maintain a website, properly inform spending customers about problems etc.   At least with John Lewis you can send a slightly miffed message and not get a snotbag response.     

 

I can take snooty tailors, garage-owners with a bit of attitude or the odd condescending barman or barber but I would definitely be taking my business elsewhere for a bit of bloody furniture.    For the record (in case they are reading) my tailor is not snooty nor is my barber prone to condescension.....

 

Just enjoy putting the models on display - I know I would!

[Pillock]

Then again if I was trying to compete with Argos and Amazon and probably not making much profit on stuff, and someone said me a self-confessed "sarcastic" email about my stock, I'd probably "flip the table" and stomp off. It can't be easy going against the big boys these days. 

 

Email is very easy to miss the tone of, maybe it came across as far more sarcastic than intended. Always worth defaulting to "polite" imho.

[chaseracer]

Context is all.  And it often doesn't come over in writing.

 

*,   , etc.

[Spottedlaurel]

French boot sale find:

 

 

1:24 scale? Might be rehousing this one when I get back, which now makes me think why didn't I buy the other one they also had for sale? Box slightly tattier, but would still have displayed nicely. Very reasonably priced, sadly they had no others which were of interest.

 

More sales to be attended, will be keeping my eyes open......

[Split_Pin]

I've got a couple of those, 1/24 scale, both purchased from sierraman of this parish. One is a yellow taxi and the other a red rally car. Quite hard to find in as good condition as that, the boxes can get tatty very easily.

[Spottedlaurel]

Cheers for the info. I haven't been able to find many for sale on eBay, the only similar red one wasn't boxed and is listed at several times more than I paid.

[Split_Pin]

Avoid eBay for Bburagos, massively overpriced. Facebook, here or bootsales are a better bet.

[RoadworkUK]

It can be quite fun comparing eBay 1:18 listings against the prices actually achieved in 'completed sales'.

 

This may be one reason that I've not had a single one this year.

[sierraman]

There's not much demand for 1/18 exotic stuff at the moment, but because someone saved up six months green shield stamps in 1992 to buy a Burago Ferrari Testarossa people feel they are worth a fortune.

[eddyramrod]

That's the truth!  All the demand, ie the high prices, is for the stuff I want: American cars and 60s/70s chod.  Naturally.  Literally all the stuff I can afford is Ferraris and Mercs, which I have no use for.

[Junkman]

You have to shop what's on sale at Model Car World and CK Modelcars.

 

http://www.modelcarworld.de/uk/shopmatrix.php?userid=2505932&f=MASSSTAB&c=18&f1=STOCK&c1=%3E0&f2=ALTPREIS&c2=%3E0&t=shopsearch3&start=1&dif=480&sort=STOCK&language=uk&filter=price

https://ck-modelcars.de/en/eur/l/t-reduziert/k-alle/scale-2-1-18/a-90/sort-priceup/

 

Also subscribe to their newsletters, they send voucher codes every other week.

 

I bought that recent stash of Wiking at Model Car World with a 50% off voucher.

[RoadworkUK]

I've had a few things from CK Modelcars, including the AUTOart Jag XJS that was as close to being a bargain as an AA ever will be.

[Mr A Lawrence]

First attempt at some restorations.

 

Corgi mini.

 

Before...

 

After...

 

Jaguar xj12.

 

Before...

 

After...

 

Quite pleased with the mini but unsure if I like the jag.

 

Maybe black isn't a suitable colour for a jaguar??

[mercrocker]

Looking good.....That yellow interior isn't helping the Jag.   Maybe repaint that with some art paint or go for a BRG or Primrose for the exterior?

[junkyarddog]

I think it's the glass that's yellow not the interior.

I'm guessing it's white.

 

I think you did a fine job on both.

[eddyramrod]

http://pics.imcdb.org/0is90/jaguarxj6198501dau0fl5.2867.jpg

Black Jag?  Ask Edward Woodward about that!  Yes, I know it was the S3 but close enough.  Of course, this model being the S2, would look rather well in silver, with SNV 696M on the plates...

[Negative Creep]

On the subject of restorations, several of mine were left too near the sun and the windows have fogged up. Can they be saved?

[matt79]

On the subject of restorations, several of mine were left too near the sun and the windows have fogged up. Can they be saved?

Try rubbing them with a little toothpaste? It works on reviving dulled plastic headlamps

[eddyramrod]

You have to shop what's on sale at Model Car World and CK Modelcars.

 

http://www.modelcarworld.de/uk/shopmatrix.php?userid=2505932&f=MASSSTAB&c=18&f1=STOCK&c1=%3E0&f2=ALTPREIS&c2=%3E0&t=shopsearch3&start=1&dif=480&sort=STOCK&language=uk&filter=price

https://ck-modelcars.de/en/eur/l/t-reduziert/k-alle/scale-2-1-18/a-90/sort-priceup/

 

Also subscribe to their newsletters, they send voucher codes every other week.

 

I bought that recent stash of Wiking at Model Car World with a 50% off voucher.

I looked at 1.18 in Model Car World and they start above my budget.

CK, on the other hand, have a couple of very tempting items at tempting prices.  I may have to consult with Management.  She knows I have space to fill so it might not be the battle it usually is.

[Mr A Lawrence]

The original.....

 

The almost* perfect model.

[RoadworkUK]

 

The Corgi 1/18 MGF is pretty good, if you look past the blank, dead, staring headlamps and balloon-profile tyres

[RoadworkUK]

The want for this is very strong, too.

 

[Junkman]

And another Spot On has been restored.

 

Before:

 

 

 

 

 

After:

 

 

[mercrocker]

That's taking DNP to a totally new level......

[Felly Magic]

I think JM got the photos the wrong way round I blame that Impala bloke myself, for making us go all wobbly posting his utterly pornographic stash

[eddyramrod]

Avoid eBay for Bburagos, massively overpriced. Facebook, here or bootsales are a better bet.

Avoid ebay for everything, massively overpriced.

Facebook, even more overpriced if that were possible.

Here, there's only been one item offered that I really wanted and I got that.

Bootsales, in theory yeah, except round here nobody puts their old model cars on the stall.  What they DO do with them I can't imagine, but they keep them well hidden!

[Split_Pin]

Keep your eye open for Facebook Groups, there are a few that crop up with good prices. British Diecast Club is probably the best of the bunch. Sometimes members of the larger diecast pages start their own as well, I've bought loads of 1/64 from one in particular. A quid for a Maisto Granada MK2 being a good example of sensible non-scene pricing.

[Mr A Lawrence]

What is the best scale to go for in terms of choice, detail and affordability??