Shite in Miniature II

[Spottedlaurel]

Bear with me on this one.....

When I was younger, I was struck by the similarity between the Alfa Giulietta and its 75 successor. How much the latter was a development of its predecessor I don't know, but I remember thinking how similar the doors and general wedgy shape looked, even if Alfa hadmade some attempts to disguise the fact. My dad ran two Giuliettas in succession as company cars from 1980-85/86, so I was reasonably familiar with the earlier car.

Not his.

Majorette obviously thought the same thing and could use this to their advantage, as I found when I compared these two:

Giulietta from a 50p tat tray at a secondhand diecasts/toys/games shop I visited last year, and the 75 picked up at a toy fair last weekend. They are both now on display in my cabinet at work and I took the opportuniy to take a few compare and contrast photos.

 

The wheelbase is similar, and I reckon the body casting and baseplate was just modified. They even kept it as No. 271, but the 75 was no longer made in France?

At the front it seems like all they did was chop a little bit out of the grille and change the headlights. They retained the Giulietta's slotted panel above the bumper, which didn't make it to the 75.

They did more at the back end, but I wonder if the glass is the same just more of it is hidden below the shallower window of the 75?I'm reasonably sure the interior is shared between them.

They changed the bonnet from the original clamshell arrangement to the 75's more conventional affair, although oddly they have the centre portion recessed when I think it should be raised?

Front bumper/spoiler looks very similar, if not the same.

Rear has been revised.

In fairness both look like what they're meant to be, and the 75 is a bit compromised at 1:1. Just interesting to see how one model developed into the next.

[Split_Pin]

The pillars and and general thickness of the metal on the 75 is greater. The 75 also has 2 faint swage lines at the left and right edge of the roof. The glass at the back is also wider on the Gulietta. But it does look like the casting on the 75 is much rougher and cruder so perhaps it was indeed much modified frkm the earlier model. It no longer says made in France as by that time, production had moved to Thailand.

I have a Bburago 1/24 Guilietta and 75, I'll do a similar comparison!

[Datsuncog]

Surprised at how bright it was this morning - light filtering round the blinds even at 6.30.

I'm sure it was pitchy-black last week at the same time.

Spring's a-springing, it seems.

[Split_Pin]

I remember collecting my TT from Warrington at the end of February last year and being surprised at the daffs in full flower on the managed beds at the side of the road. We are still several weeks away from that up here in Scotland. Plenty of crocuses though and the snowdrops never fail to appear at the end of January.

[EyesWeldedShut]

My sister is now up in Elgin and they get the flowers much earlier than Ayrshire where we used to be. 
Down here (up a hill in W.Wales) it's still brass monkeys' - we'll get the daffodil flowers in about a fortnight. Right now it's a blizzard  

[sierraman]

Funnily enough I noticed the daffs in our garden this morning, a few crocuses coming through at the allotment as well. Going off topic... 😂

[Split_Pin]

14 minutes ago, sierraman said:

off topic

From yellow daffs, to yellow DAFs.

There, back on topic!

[danthecapriman]

Down here on the south coast everything is starting to come out. Daffodils, crocus’s, hyacinths. I’ve even got tulips here with a big bud on them!

Have a crocus (Pickwick variety!) 

[Datsuncog]

Okay, so a few technical difficulties with my phone this morning - not quite sure what's going on, but after freezing up, refusing to restart, then refusing to switch back on again, it's now claiming a corrupt SD card so I'm still trying to work out how to access the photos from today's stall.

Most vexing.

However, to avoid the howls of anguish and continuous mashing of F5 refresh keys, I should probably advise that you're not missing out on too much - the only real tat to be seen today was the return of that aluminium flight case that we first saw all the way back in September last year, and then again in October. To be honest anything worth having from there has already been had!

I'll get some pics up once I've figured out what the problem is!

[bunglebus]

Weather here in Essex is absolutely foul, any early blooming flowers have either been drowned or blown away I reckon. 

Still, that means no outside jobs today so I'll get in the loft and try to sort out another batch of cars to sell

[danthecapriman]

9 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Weather here in Essex is absolutely foul, any early blooming flowers have either been drowned or blown away I reckon. 

Still, that means no outside jobs today so I'll get in the loft and try to sort out another batch of cars to sell

It is here too. Constant rain and wind. It actually feels like it’s been raining for the last six months! I don’t understand how anything can be coming back to life after a winter like that!

But, we’ve hit March now so the end is in sight!

[andrew e]

Just post the cake picture 🤣

[MiniMinorMk3]

Small amount of progress on the Corgi Mini projects.

Final rub down...

and first coat of paint on roof.

The interior has had the final details done.

On the Green Vanguards I have done the first shaping of the ends of the base and put in some finishing filler.

I have also filed off the silencer as I am going to put a centre exit pipe on instead.

 

[bunglebus]

A few new Matchbox in Tesco, including a very skinny tractor

[bunglebus]

I'll be sticking some more cars on my for sale thread at 7 - what doesn't get earmarked will go on eBay Sunday afternoon 

[Datsuncog]

3 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

I'll be sticking some more cars on my for sale thread at 7 - what doesn't get earmarked will go on eBay Sunday afternoon 

Oh, well that's handy - MrsDC's away out with her knitting group/ yarn harpies this evening, so sounds like that's my evening's entertainment sorted...

[flat4alfa]

[Datsuncog]

Fear not, Tat Friday is still attempting to get off the ground... I'll start with what pics I've managed to recover, and the rest... Well you may have to use your imagination!

Less dark, but still brave and nippy this morning.

The Nemesismobile was already in place as I puttered past, so I had early warning that bargains were unlikely to be mine today.

There was quite the throng around the main tat stall by the time I stumped up...

Seemed that there was a load of old footballsing programmes newly arrived, and this was apparently worth fighting tooth and nail over.

Honestly, some people, eh?

Still, it meant that I could get a crack at the Tat Box unhindered...

Mmm. Déjà vu, once more.

[flat4alfa]

Corgi Daktari Land Rover is a less-common colour to find and it looks reasonable 

...for a couple of quid

[Datsuncog]

This selection was last offered up to our expectant eyes in October and November last year, so in a way it's kind of stale, sadly...

Many of these are quite heavily playworn, while others have had been subjects of enthusiastic, if not exactly competent, repaints.

Ford was ok; Land Rover suffering some structural unease.

MG and Vanguard a bit the worse for their adventures in Humbrol-land.

The squeezed-in-a-vice Corgi MkX Jag was still here...

As was a DS with similarly inflicted wounds.

But it wasn't all horror.

This pair of Corgi Chevies - Impala and Corsair - were actually alright; however, I already own examples of both of these in slightly better shape.

Daktari Land Rover was also reasonable, though the Dinky Rambler beneath has the baseplate coming away.

Corgi Buick Riviera and Dinky Merc were both just tired, rather than wrecked. Probably decent project material.

Corgi Ghia suffering from bumper and glazing damage, though otherwise complete (unlike many).

Hongwell Minis kinda suffering from their months spent locked in the case, with paint and bumper damage, but possible parts donors or projects in their own right.

I suppose it all comes down to the price...

...and I'm not sure what he wanted on these! They were £10 last year, but there's a chance he may have softened a bit here. £5 would still be kinda pricey for most (especially the stuff that's been attacked with tools), but if they were less... well. I'm sure we've not seen the last of them, so if there's anything you're mad keen on, do sing up...

[Datsuncog]

By the time I got my snout out of the trough, a few more things had appeared up the top of the stall.

Crumbs! Surely this cornucopia of Lesney MoY goodness is enough to encourage anyone to take up smoking. Three ashtrays and three beautiful cigar boxes, in a choice of gold and silver finish.

I tell you, emphysema never looked so stylish.

Also, those Solido Age d'Or fire vehicles, those Havana Club promo '50s cars, and assorted partworks and confectionery related freebies.

It's fine, but...

This New Ray Civic in an odd scale was interesting, mind:

As were yet more tin toys, presumed mostly modern repros:

Although rumour has it that Homer and Moe playing pool could be a 1920s original.

And some trainshite also appeared - a few loose HSTs, and boxed locos too.

Meanwhile, the Days Gone box of £2 dross showed up...

With slightly better Shell promotion freebie Ferraris, but still... nah.

So, feeling slightly underwhelmed, off I sloped...

[flat4alfa]

You've changed your shoes

[Datsuncog]

A quick scuttle round the rest of the stalls brought not much - Colin on the Irish Tat stall had the recent Rover P5B by Oxford Diecast:

Which I have to say, did tempt me.

I also quite liked this HiAce, though it's pricey enough - and what would I do with it?

'Give Children Like Toys'

Well, okay.

I took a turn round to the Charity Stall, who did have a 50p rummage box - but the only wheeled items were a broken Majorette breakdown truck and a Disney Pixar 'Cars' character in the shape of an F1 car.

My pics didn't turn out, but you can imagine.

Alan was just starting to think about maybe taking the tarps off his stall...

So I went to grab a coffee, in the splendour of the just-refurbished Drop Hopper coffee shop.

Again, no pics, but you can imagine.

They've also upped their bun game considerably...

[Split_Pin]

Those Civics are worth quite a lot now especially in that condition.

[Datsuncog]

Suitably refreshed, but also conscious that some men were due to imminently call at the house to fix the garage door and I was 12 miles away poking at kiddies' toys, there was only time for a quick dash round the stalls again before heading on.

Market Blokey had garnished his ashtrays with a few of the more presentable toys from the case, but it was still a bit of a busted flush today.

Although, looking back at the pics, I should have made him an offer on the Dinky Mighty Antar.

There was also a cheap Hong Kong tin tray which brought back memories, as it was exactly the same as one we kept exclusively for leaving out on Christmas Eve, for Santa's glass of sherry and a mince pie:

(My folks were always oddly insistent that Santa would definitely prefer sherry over a glass of milk; though admittedly, skimmed milk at room temperature isn't great - so maybe they had a point.)

And this lovely piece of etched folk-art, commemorating the sleepy townland of Drumcree in 1998.

I guess they ran out of room to add the riot police, soldiers, razor wire and petrol bombs.

Fun times. Ah well.

And with that, it was time to go...

With just the one small purchase.

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

Looks like the aftermath of the dodgy curry I had the other week

[Datsuncog]

Yup, I was pleased to be able to snaffle this still-sealed Majorette Range Rover fire appliance and water trailer twin-pack from the £2 box of (largely) Lledo and Corgi Motoring Memories...

One which @Spottedlaurel had requested back when it first appeared last month.

 

So I'll set that one in with the others in your box!

And, ultimately, that wasn't quite all for the day...

[Datsuncog]

A lunchtime recce out to Abbeycentre to collect an order from Argos brought me dangerously close to a branch of Smyths...

So I went in.

It was full of children, mostly crying.

So I went out again.

In between though, I managed to find another Forza Mk2 Escort, just chilling there on a peg, which was handy as I know @bunglebus has been on the lookout for one.

I also nabbed another two Hot Wheels for myself - the totally batshit Mazda kei van monster truck, and the nicely stock RX7 FC which I've had my eye on for a while.

Hard to photograph the rotary Mazda in the box; still, that's a state of affairs that probably won't last long.

[danthecapriman]

Today I have been finally doing some detail painting on various things I’ve repainted then set aside as I couldn’t find or get to any of my tins/jars of model paints, brushes etc.  

Did some sorting out recently and found my modelling box with my paints inside so no excuse now!

Selection of the first batch.

Dinky Pontiac has been getting its silver trims added. 
I was using a jar of Railmatch silver paint but it is incredibly thin and was barely covering at all. I had to go over it several times to get it to really show up.

   
So I gave up with that new fangled shizzle and dug out a tin of Humbrol silver. This tin came from my grandads model making shed and it’s probably almost as old as I am! But, after a good stir, it’s absolutely spot on.

Dinky Transit.

Bond partwork Cortina mk4.

Bond partwork Peugeot 504. 
Im well happy with the colour on this one. Really suits it I think, and so much nicer than the black it came in.

Dinky D series cement mixer cab. Loads done on this one! 
Black around all the windows to resemble the glass rubbers, dark grey for the grill - these were plastic on the real ones so I thought the grey would look better than black. Lined the grill with silver, as it should be and finally did the bumper silver too. Some of the ARC trucks seem to be silver or black bumpers.

[Datsuncog]

A scoot through Poundland closed off the day's diecast thrills - this is the only store I'm aware of in the Greater Belfast area which has this mix of late-2023 Matchbox.

It's where I found the Volvo 240 in January, and today it yielded up a blue release version of the 1970 Ford Ranchero, a green version of the '36 Ford Coupe, and this silver Lamborghini LM002 which I didn't even know had made it through as a mainline.

I was very fond of the LM002 when I first learned about it as a kid, as it seemed so improbable but also looked quite purposeful. Taking a Countach V12 and shoving it into an off-roader seemed wonderfully deviant; it was only much later I realised that Lamborghini's main business was tractors, plant equipment and marine engines, so really it was the supercars which were the weird aberration in the company, not the rugged stuff.

I also didn't know that it was a failed attempt to gain military orders, after which dismal efforts were made to bling them up in leather and flog them to insanely wealthy scions of the Saudi royal family as just another overpowered toy to break in the dunes.

Still - nice that there's a small affordable effort available that I can slip into my pocket!

The others are lovely too, but it's the 'Rambo Lambo' that gets my vote.