Shite in Miniature II

[MiniMinorMk3]

21 hours ago, sierraman said:

I had a large arch 1600TL but it was silver - wasn’t a faded pink either as it was silver inside as well. Possible colour trial. Left it at my mums in the loft and with the best of intentions she slung it as it was a bit tatty. But then thoughtfully she kept all the shit stuff that subsequently we found was completely worthless. 🙄

 

 

13 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

To continue the Corgi Golden Jacks conversation of earlier, here are all my originals from when I was a kid...

 

Now I have at least one of all the Golden Jacks models, I think the only model that started out with standard wheels is the Toronado. The Rover in a previous life had spun wheels, but no sun roof and the Trans O Lite headlamps so quite a bit different.

 

And the Hillman Hunter is the only casting that was made in Golden Jacks only. All the others got revamped in new colours as Whizzwheels.

[sierraman]

9 minutes ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

 

 

And the Hillman Hunter is the only casting that was made in Golden Jacks only. All the others got revamped in new colours as Whizzwheels.

Exactly same as that one. Oh well… 

[Tenmil Socket]

22 hours ago, sierraman said:

I had a large arch 1600TL but it was silver - wasn’t a faded pink either as it was silver inside as well. Possible colour trial. Left it at my mums in the loft and with the best of intentions she slung it as it was a bit tatty. But then thoughtfully she kept all the shit stuff that subsequently we found was completely worthless. 🙄

I remember when I was kid my mum was constantly threatening to throw all my toys away if I didn't tidy my room. I never thought she would but one day I went up to my room and she'd thrown all my stuff into a neighbours skip 😆

I spent ages searching through all the rubbish until I found my red Corgi XR3i that I got off Weetabix... still got it today!

[danthecapriman]

Bit more progress on the MAN today. It’s taking ages to get it done!

Rear mud guards on having been cut down to fit. Diamond plate walkway behind the cab. Trailer air hoses made from some spare nut/bolt locking wire wrapped around a screwdriver. Air tanks refitted. Fuel tank cut down and fitted. 
I’ll tidy up the wire air hoses after the glue dries.

Cab has had the lhd wiper holes filled, I’ll sort something out for rhd ones later. Cab interior has been disassembled and put back in rhd too.

 

Currently the cab is being sprayed in its colour coat, interior is in primer drying. Just a bit of work left on the chassis then that can be painted too. It’s getting there!

This might become my next truck project.

   
Originally a Spanish partwork Ebro Coke bottle truck (you can see the original rear bed in the background). Ebro were a company who built Ford Thames trucks under license in Spain, as well as some similar designs of their own. This one is identical to the British Thames ET6 truck, so there not much to do really with the basic truck. I’ll swap it to rhd of course and find or make a new, more British looking, load bed for it, then a paint job in something suitably dull and British!😄

That blue dropside body in the pic might be a candidate or maybe a scratch built flatbed.

[Christine]

Look what's landed.. bog stock Civic prefacelift , like mine !  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ll

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

Another thing that came to the surface from a the bottom of a box was this.

Joal Mercedes 230 SL

Nice bright red paint, but poor panel fit.

Opening doors with a nicely detailed interior for era.

Spare wheel in boot.

Crude engine casting under bonnet.

It's lost an eye over the years.

This also has steerable front wheels and I'm sure it was originally the cast for the Tekno Mercedes 230.

An old Tekno for comparison

[bunglebus]

4 hours ago, Tenmil Socket said:

I spent ages searching through all the rubbish until I found my red Corgi XR3i that I got off Weetabix... still got it today!

This one?

 

[Tenmil Socket]

40 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

This one?

 

Indeed! I think mine has the same wheels as the bottom one.

[ETCHY]

22 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

To continue the Corgi Golden Jacks conversation of earlier, here are all my originals from when I was a kid...

Now I have at least one of all the Golden Jacks models, I think the only model that started out with standard wheels is the Toronado. The Rover in a previous life had spun wheels, but no sun roof and the Trans O Lite headlamps so quite a bit different.

and more than one of some of them...

I do have the wheels for those you can see missing and few spares as well

I mentioned in a previous post that some models were all set to be Golden Jacks and changed at the last minute to Whizzwheels even though the boxes had been printed, here's my childhood Miura in box that the young me pulled half the sticker off

the end flaps have this on them

also the colour of the jacks does vary and on the wheel less RR are properly silver

 

Fantastic collection, I mean just wow !
Is there any chance of a better look at the Rolls Royce's ?

[FakeConcern]

19 minutes ago, ETCHY said:

Fantastic collection, I mean just wow !
Is there any chance of a better look at the Rolls Royce's ?

Thanks, I'm not sure how I ended up with so many C3 Corvettes though!

I put some wheels on the one without (it came with a selection of the wrong ones)...

They should have the mascot on the radiator, I've never seen an intact one irl though

I do have several Whizzwheels versions and a pink Bentley, I should dig them out some time too

Opening everything...

I love the dashboard decal

Also really nice they have the spare wheel in the boot

even if one's painted red!

[danthecapriman]

15 minutes ago, FakeConcern said:

Thanks, I'm not sure how I ended up with so many C3 Corvettes though!

I put some wheels on the one without (it came with a selection of the wrong ones)...

They should have the mascot on the radiator, I've never seen an intact one irl though

I do have several Whizzwheels versions and a pink Bentley, I should dig them out some time too

Opening everything...

I love the dashboard decal

Also really nice they have the spare wheel in the boot

even if one's painted red!

Those Roller’s look great. I’ve never had any variation of those smaller early ones. The only one I do have is the bigger later type in silver & black. 
I wonder how they look against the Dinky Roller? Whose was best!?

[ETCHY]

32 minutes ago, FakeConcern said:

Thanks, I'm not sure how I ended up with so many C3 Corvettes though!

I put some wheels on the one without (it came with a selection of the wrong ones)...

They should have the mascot on the radiator, I've never seen an intact one irl though

I do have several Whizzwheels versions and a pink Bentley, I should dig them out some time too

Opening everything...

I love the dashboard decal

Also really nice they have the spare wheel in the boot

even if one's painted red!

Great stuff thanks for that, they're cool.
Yeah that dashboard decal & the door trims look great.

[ETCHY]

I think the thing that strikes me increasingly with these older models & things like Golden Jacks or the Transolite's too that Corgi did, is how much they were "pushing the envelope" for what are just toys not models (at the time) for collectors.

The design & engineering that went into these features really is something, Also the detailing like the transfer on the dash' & the doortrims on the Rolls, it's just fantastic.

 

[FakeConcern]

Anyone who has the Great Book Of Corgi by Marcel Van Cleemput will probably agree it’s a really interesting read and a mass of facts and information. I found it frustrating in one area though as Van Cleemput lists each model release and states the scale (if known) that they worked to. Now if like me you often wonder what scale a particular Corgi is, you have to look through the book and find the entry in date order. So I had the idea of writing up all the known scales into a table on Word, I also included the date of first release. In some cases I have added in different versions, but I didn’t include the date production stopped as it can be misleading where a different colour or finish replaced it and also I didn’t think of it at the time.

Anyway I imagine some of you will be interested and I hope this pastes in ok...

Corgi Scale according to Marcel. R Van Cleemput

Number		Model		Scale
384	1970	Adams Probe		N/A
165	1972	Adams 4 Engine Dragster		N/A
380	1970	Alfa Romeo Pininfarina P33		1/43
419	178	AMC Jeep		1/36
291	1977	AMC Pacer		1/36
1143	1968	American La France		N/A
218	1960	Aston Martin DB4		1/46
309	1962	Aston Martin DB4 Competition		1/46
261	1965	Aston Martin DB5 James Bond 007		1/46
270	1968	Aston Martin DB5 James Bond 007		1/43 or 1/45?
271	178	Aston Martin DB5 James Bond 007		1/36
216	1959	Austin A40		1/43
236	1964	Austin A60 Driving School		1/47
201	1956	Austin Cambridge		1/46
300	1956	Austin Healey		1/45
485	1965	Austin Mini Countryman		1/42
450	1964	Austin Mini Van		1/42
225	1961	Austin Se7en		1/42
418	1960	Austin Taxi		1/47
601	1961	Batley Leofric Garage		1/44
267	1966	Batmobile		1/50
403	1956	Bedford		1/44
1101	1957	Bedford Carrimore transporter		1/47
1105	1962	Bedford TK Carrimore transporter		1/47
1130	1962	Bedford TK  Chipperfields Horse Transporter		1/47
224	1961	Bentley Continental		1/46
900	1964	Bentley 3 Litre		N/A
274	1970	Bentley T Series		1/43
1102	1974	Berliet Cab Unit		N/A
392	1972	Bertone Shake Buggy		1/40
308	1981	BMW M1		1/36
152	1959	BRM Grand Prix  Racing Car		1/45
290	1976	Buick Police/Kojak		1/36
245	1964	Buick Riviera		N/A
437	1962	Cadillac Superior Ambulance		1/55
347	1969	Chevrolet Astro1 Astro Vette		1/43
338/304	1968	Chevrolet Camaro SS		1/47
327/325	1980	Chevrolet Caprice (Corgis longest car)		1/36
229	1961	Chevrolet Corvair		1/47
310	1963	Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray C2		1/46
300/387	1970	Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray C3		1/6
223/220	1960	Chevrolet Impala		1/50
486	1967	Chevrolet Impala kennel club		N/A
423/431	1978	Chevrolet Van		1/36
246	1965	Chrysler Imperial		1/52
287	1974	Citroen Dyane		1/36
436	1963	Citroen Safari		1/48
272	1981	Citroen 2CV		1/36
210	1960	Citroen DS19		1/48
259	1966	Citroen Le Dandy		N/A
284	1971	Citroen SM		1/44
510	1970	Citroen TDF		1/47
464	1963	Commer Ambulance/Police		1/45
161	1971	Commuter Dragster		1/43
156	1967	Cooper Maserati F1		N/A

 

 

Number		Model		Scale
452	1956	Commer Dropside Lorry		1/56
428	1963	Commer Ice Cream Van		1/55
508	1968	Commer Minibus		1/45
283	1971	Daf City Car		N/A
9021	1964	Daimler 38HP 1910		N/A
394/396	1973	Datsun 240Z		1/43
484	1967	Dodge Kew Fargo		1/56
1126	1961	Ecurie Ecosse Racing Car Transporter		1/48
457	1958	ERF Platform Lorry		1/56
314	1965	Ferrari Berlinetta250		1/47
323	1973	Ferrari Daytona 365 GTB		1/36
344	1969	Ferrari 206 Dino Sport		N/A
154	1963	Ferrari Formula One		1/46
378/298	1982	Ferrari 308 GTS		1/36
217	1960	FIAT 1800		1/47
232	1961	FIAT 2100		1/47
240	1963	FIAT Jolly		1/40
314	1975	FIAT X19		1/36
303/311	1970	Ford Capri 3 Litre V6		1/43
342/343	1980	Ford Capri 3.0 S		1/36
1611971		Ford Capri Gloworm Dragster		1/43
1160/1157	1976	Ford Tilt Cab Car Transporter		1/48
370	1982	Ford Cobra Mustang		1/36
200	1956	Ford Consul		1/46
234	1961	Ford Consul Classic		1/46
491/440	1966	Ford Consul Cortina Esate		1/47
313/402	1970	Ford Cortina GXL/Police		1/43
334	1980	Ford Escort		1/36
316	1972	Ford GT70		N/A
901	1964	Ford Model T 1915		1/40
320	1965	Ford Mustang Fastback Coupe		1/46
391	1972	Ford Mustang 007		1/43
329	1973	Ford Mustang Rally Car		1/43
299	1982	Ford Sierra 2.3 Ghia		1/36
67	1967	Ford 5000 Super Major Tractor		N/A
420	1962	Ford Thames Airborne Caravan		1/44
447/474	1965	Ford Thames (Anglia) Ice Cream Van		1/46
801/348	1980	Ford Thunderbird 1957		1/36
214	1958	Ford Thunderbird Hardtop		1/48
215	1960	Ford Thunderbird Open Sports		1/48
1137	1965	Ford Tilt Cab H Series		1/48
1138	1966	Ford Tilt Cab H Carrimore Transporter		1/48
1142	1967	Ford Tilt Cab H Series Holmes Wrecker		1/48
292	1977	Ford Torino Starski & Hutch		1/36
1140	1981	Ford Transit		1/36
424	1961	Ford Zephyr Estate Car		1/46
419	1960	Ford Zephyr Estate Car Police		1/46
55	1961	Fordson Power Major		1/40
409	1959	Forward Control Jeep		1/44
241	1963	Ghia L 6.4		1/48
271/203	1969	Ghia Mangusta de Tomaso		1/44
381	1970	GP Beach Buggy		1/45
233	1962	Heinkel Bubble Car		1/40
302	1969	Hillman Hunter		1/43
206	1956	Hillman Husky		1/44
251/328	1963	Hillman Imp		1/43
273	1982	Honda Ballade		1/36
345	1981	Honda Prelude		1/36
1118	1959	International Tow Truck		1/48
1121	1960	International Chipperfields Crane		1/48
301	1970	ISO Grifo		N/A
164	1971	Ison Bros Wild Honey Dragster		N/A
307	1962	Jaguar E Type		1/46
335/374	1968	Jaguar E Type 4.2 Litre 2+2		1/43
238	1962	Jaguar Mk X Saloon		1/49
208	1957	Jaguar 2.4 Saloon		1/47
286	1974	Jaguar XJ12C		1/36
320/319	1978	Jaguar XJS		1/36
803	1983	Jaguar XK120 1952		N/A
455	1957	Karrier Bantam		N/A
342	1970	Lamborghini P400 Miura		1/46
332/372	1967	Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato		N/A
406	1957	Land Rover 109WB		1/46
417	1960	Land Rover 109WB breakdown		1/46
438	1962	Land Rover		1/46
421	1976	Land Rover		1/36
262	1967	Lincoln Continental Executive Limousine		N/A
155	1964	Lotus Climax F1		N/A
318	1965	Lotus Elan S2 DHC		1/42
319	1967	Lotus Elan FHC Hard Top		1/40
315	1976	Lotus Elite		1/36
269	1977	Lotus Esprit 007		1/36
151	1958	Lotus XI		1/40
1152/1100	1971	Mack Truck		1/48
1109	1983	Maestro MG 1600		1/36
312	1971	Marcos Mantis		1/43
341/305	1968	Marcos Mini Marcos GT850		N/A
377	1970	Marcos 3 Litre		1/44
324	1966	Marcos Volvo 1800GT		1/44
1959	1959	Massey Ferguson Tractor		1/40
493	1975	Mazda B 1600 Pickup		1/36
303	1958	Mercedes 300SL		1/46
802	1982	Mercedes 300SL		1/36
805	1983	Mercedes 300SC		N/A
230	1962	Mercedes Benz 220 Coupe		1/48
285	1975	Mercedes Benz 240D		1/36
393	1972	Mercedes Benz 350SL		1/43
247		Mercedes Benz 600 Pullman		1/52
388	1971	Mercedes Benz C111		N/A
1145	1969	Mercedes Benz Unimog 406		1/48
406/407	1980	Mercedes Ambulance		1/36
302	1957	MGA Sports Car		1/45
327	1967	MBG GT		1/45
345	1969	MGC GT Competition		1/44
200	1976	Mini 1000		1/36
227	1962	Mini Cooper		1/42
334	1968	Mini Cooper Magnifique		1/41
282	1971	Mini Cooper Rally		1/41
317	1964	Mini Cooper S		1/42
341/305	1968	Mini Marcos GT850		N/A
275	1981	Mini Metro		1/36
288	1975	Minissima		1/36
202	1956	Morris Cowley		1/46
306	1971	Morris Marina		1/43
226	1960	Morris Mini Minor		1/42
316	1963	NSU Prinz		1/40
237	1962	Oldsmobile Sherriff Police Car		1/49
235	1962	Oldsmobile Super 88/Man fron UNCLE		1/49
264	1967	Oldsmobile Toronado		1/51
276	1968	Oldsmobile Toronado		1/51
329	1980	Opel Senator		1/36
373	1981	Peugeot 505		1/36
219	1959	Plymouth Sports Suburban		1/49
343	1970	Pontiac Firebird		1/47
397	1973	Porsche Audi 917-10		1/36
385	1970	Porsche 917		N/A
321	1978	Porsche 924		1/36
330/371	1967	Porsche Carrera 6		N/A
509/382	1970	Porsche Targa 911		N/A
1128	1963	Priestman Cub Shovel		1/45
162	1971	Quartermaster Dragster		1/43
263	1966	Rambler Marlin Sports Fastback		1/48
461	1972	Range Rover Vigilant		1/43
389	1971	Reliant Bond Bug		1/43
9031	1965	Renault 12/16 1910		N/A
294	1977	Renault 5TS		1/36
384	1983	Renault 11		1/36
222	1959	Renault Floride		1/47
260/202	1969	Renault R16		1/43
307	1981	Renault Turbo		1/36
205	1956	Riley Pathfinder		1/48
279	1979	Rolls Royce Corniche		1/36
9041	1966	Rolls Royce Silver Ghost 1912		N/A
273/280	1970	Rolls Royce Silver Shadow		1/43
468	1964	Routemaster Bus		1/65
204	1956	Rover 90		1/47
252	1963	Rover 2000		1/46
275/281	1968	Rover 2000TC		1/46
338	1980	Rover 3500 SD1		1/36
1127	1964	Simon Snorkel Fire Engine		1/48
1126	1977	Simon Snorkel Fire Engine new casting		1/48
1148	1969	Scammell Handyman Mk111  Carrimore Transporter		1/48
1146	1970	Scammell Handyman Mk111  Tri Deck Transporter		1/48
315	1964	Simca Sports Car		1/44
407	1957	Smith’s Mobile Shop		1/55
207	1957	Standard Vanguard		1/46
211	1960	Studebaker Golden Hawk		1/49
340	1967	Sunbeam Imp		1/42
457	1981	Talbot Matra Rancho		1/36
336/375	1967	Toyota 2000GT James Bond		N/A
276	1981	Triumph Acclaim		1/36
231	1961	Triumph Herald Coupe		1/44
301	1956	Triumph TR2		1/44
305	1960	Triumph TR3		1/44
150	1957	Vanwall Racing Car		1/46
203	1956	Vauxhall Velox		1/46
256/492	1965	Volkswagen 1200 Rally/Police		1/44
433/434	1962	Volkswagen Delivery Van/Kombi		1/47
400	1974	Volkswagen Driving School		1/43
239	1963	Volkswagen Kharman  Ghia		1/46
431	1964	Volkswagen Pick Up		1/47
490	1966	Volkswagen Breakdown		1/47
289	1976	Volkswagen Polo		1/36
228	1962	Volvo P1800		1/46
1156	1977	Volvo BM Concrete Mixer		1/48

Should have said in alphabetical order and model numbers included

I also noticed a couple of discrepancies such as the Elan solid base and detachable chassis shown as different scale.

The 270 1968 re vamp of the James Bond DB5 states the model is 1/45, the text then says "This new version was just slightly longer than the original 261, by about 6mm at a scale of 1/43, but was much wider.

 

[bunglebus]

Holy spreadsheet Batman, that was a long post!

My boss picked up the Retro Matchbox set in Sainsbury's

 

[FakeConcern]

1 minute ago, bunglebus said:

Holy spreadsheet Batman, that was a long post!

Oh yeh sorry about that, I'll delete it if it's too annoying.

I could just PM it to those who want it.

[andrew e]

Don’t delete it! It’s a great resource!

[danthecapriman]

Look how many different scales they used across a 30 odd year period!

I wonder why they didn’t standardise them? You’d think it’d be easier and better all round to just pick a common scale and stick with it. Then your whole range works together and looks the right size. 
I can see the point with buses and trucks as a big truck in the same scale as a car would be a big toy and probably cost much more but still.

I wonder if old imperial measurements for sizing things = odd scales too though?? I mean, 1:46??? 
It’s the same now to a degree though. Why do Corgi make a big truck series in 1:50 scale? It’s not a common scale and there’s nothing else in that scale like cars etc. 1:43 you could understand as it’s a very common scale that also matches in with model trains in O gauge but 1:50… nothing!

[FakeConcern]

Corgi weren't alone though look at the Dinky FB Victor compared to HA Viva! I believe Matchbox originally made the toys to fit the box as well.

As a kid I would have much prefered a standard scale, younger viewers were lucky that all the later Corgis were standardised at 1/36 except the Majors which strangely were still 1/48!

I don't know much about train sets but Mrs Concern has discovered that OO scale can mean either 1/76 or 1/87, not much difference in rolling stock maybe, but the people look very different.

[bunglebus]

On 20/02/2023 at 17:54, bunglebus said:

Not  sure why I wanted this strange Toby Toys tractor unit but maybe I'll give it a mirror polish

I found this again the other day sorting out stuff to eBay, and thought I'd give it a polish. Didn't realise I'd had the idea right from the start!

I could go shinier but it was just something to amuse myself with on a sunny evening after work. Just a bit of sanding then a wire brush in the Dremel with T Cut

[danthecapriman]

55 minutes ago, FakeConcern said:

Corgi weren't alone though look at the Dinky FB Victor compared to HA Viva! I believe Matchbox originally made the toys to fit the box as well.

As a kid I would have much prefered a standard scale, younger viewers were lucky that all the later Corgis were standardised at 1/36 except the Majors which strangely were still 1/48!

I don't know much about train sets but Mrs Concern has discovered that OO scale can mean either 1/76 or 1/87, not much difference in rolling stock maybe, but the people look very different.

With model railways/train sets,

O gauge = 7mm/1 foot = 1:43 scale 

OO gauge = 4mm/1 foot = 1:76 scale

HO gauge = 3.5mm/1 foot = 1:87 scale

Originally most toy trains were in O scale, then a range of road vehicles came out sized appropriately for use alongside the trains which is where 1:43 scale came in. 
HO gauge is half of O gauge (hence the name ‘HO’) which is fine and well… except it isn’t! HO gauge works out perfectly where European and USA railway models and their associated loading gauge (essentially the size of the train) is concerned, which is why almost all HO stuff is of foreign outline/origin. 
The problem is that in Britain we use the same track gauge as most of Europe and US but our loading gauge is smaller because our railways are so old, most of the infrastructure (tunnels, platforms, bridges etc) was built smaller and therefore to avoid demolition of loads and loads of these structures and rebuilding them bigger to fit bigger trains they remained and our trains stayed in a funny smaller size despite the track gauge being the same. 
OO gauge was/is a compromise scale to suit that and stop the models looking slightly odd.

A few companies in the past (Lima being one) did produce a small but unsuccessful range of British HO but it never took off. 
The common advertising for model railway products being OO/HO only really relates to the track gauge and size. Most OO rolling stock will work fine on HO track and vice versa.

You can sometimes get away with certain things from OO and HO gauge used alongside each other, but it becomes noticeable with other things. People and vehicles are easily noticeable when you put a 1:87 HO car next to a 1:76 OO scale car for instance.

[Split_Pin]

That Honda Civic kit looks great. I'd love to find a source of standard everyday, relatable subjects like that.

[RoadworkUK]

I've been trying to hold off from tat gathering a bit of late, having developed a fear that I was heading on rather a Magpie / Mr Treebus trajectory. Sometimes the critical mass of tat offerings becomes such that I can't overcome its gravity. Such as the recent sale by  @danthecapriman, which turned up impeccably boxed 'n wrapped about a month ago, but I've been too disorganised to publically acknowledge.

Star of the show is undoubtedly the massive Superkings Ford Transcontinental drawbar rig, which I particularly enjoy for the fact that it has Harwich written on it in big letters; said port is about eight miles down the road from me, so the above feels like it belongs somehow.

Dan is also responsible for the Chromaflair Corgi Rockets Aston, Bond Esprit and assortment of Sierras, which will go in my ever-growing Sierra sanctuary. As will the interloper in the crowd, the dismally, superlatively approximate Chinese no-name XR4i, which came in a second immaculately packaged consignment from  @Datsuncog a few days after my birthday. Which was nice.

I'd forgotten exactly what Tim had in store for me, and was pleased to recall that I was giving Gumdrop a home.

As a child who liked cars while growing up in the '80s, it was inevitable that Gumdrop, the anthropomorphic Austin Clifton Heavy 12/4 would find his way into my life. I had numerous Gumdrop books as well as an audio cassette narrated by Richard Briers (who better?).  I doubt many of today's kids would understand what Gumdrop is/was now, nor would they care.

Sad.

Anyway, Gumdrop is nice and Oxford's 1:43 rendition is lovely. Typically Oxford in that the shutlines aren't terribly well defined and some of the plastic parts are a little cheesy, but its heart is in the right place and I really like it.

I also like this early Vanguards release, the ubiquitous Mk1 Granada. Even though every single time I see it I find it impossible not to think "That looks like a big Hillman Avenger". Somehow, the Vanguards model does this more than the 1:1 car itself.

I think that's partly to do with how the headlights and grille are resolved in the model; the grille should sit slightly proud of the headlights, rather than being flush with it. Still, the whole looks right enough, and the concave rear end is fairly well reproduced. And if you want a 1:43 Mk1 Granada, well, this is it.

And there is some surprisingly impressive fidelity in a few places; the windscreen wipers seem to be much finer than any other detail on the rest of the model. I'm undecided as to whether to fit the mirrors. I guess I might as well, although the car isn't likely to go on display, it'll just disappear into my hoard so i can be amused by it next time I see it in 20 years time or so.

Speaking of detail, though, the star of the show must be bus-shaped.

This 1:76 BritBus Leyland Swift is absolutely terrific. The separately modelled headlights, the tampo work, the etched, separately fitted wipers, the photo-etched engine cooling grille, all are really, really excellent...

... and unlike models from EFE and the like, the detail doesn't diminish inside, where you have separately fitted rails, seats and countless other details. Really nice. If you like buses. And I do. Some of them, anyway.

I really, really wish my newer phone was as good at macro stuff as my old one was.

 

[Datsuncog]

Just realised, upon seeing an ad while scrolling Instagram earlier, that I accidentally bought two-thirds of the Majorette Black Edition giftpack last Saturday:

Funny thing was, I could have bought the black Audi R8 as well (lower right), but I already have a Matchbox version, so I didn't.

So it seems that someone's buying the whole set just for the Mercedes G-Wagen.

Wonder if they know the Jada version on Tesco shelves is apparently the same casting?

[flat4alfa]

11 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

Oh yeh sorry about that, I'll delete it if it's too annoying.

I could just PM it to those who want it.

Thanks for putting that together. I reckon I have a few entries of my own to add to it if you want

Please PM it to me as my OCD has kicked in

[flat4alfa]

10 hours ago, bunglebus said:

I found this again the other day sorting out stuff to eBay, and thought I'd give it a polish. Didn't realise I'd had the idea right from the start!

I could go shinier but it was just something to amuse myself with on a sunny evening after work. Just a bit of sanding then a wire brush in the Dremel with T Cut

That does look special now

I remember when you beat me to it in the DanSale I was disappointed but look at it now it went to the right person 🙂  

We need to seek out a streamlined tanker trailer for it

[flat4alfa]

On 29/04/2024 at 15:07, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Joal Mercedes 230 SL. This also has steerable front wheels and I'm sure it was originally the cast for the Tekno Mercedes 230. An old Tekno for comparison

Can confirm neither of the Tekno examples remnants here have steerables

[bunglebus]

32 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

That does look special now

I remember when you beat me to it in the DanSale I was disappointed but look at it now it went to the right person 🙂  

We need to seek out a streamlined tanker trailer for it

Well it's in the to go pile if you want it.

Not quite sure what it original dragged around, found these two pics when I bought it but the back is much stubbier on them

There's a Marx version on eBay but again, much shorter at the back

[flat4alfa]

On 29/04/2024 at 18:55, danthecapriman said:

I wonder how they look against the Dinky Roller? Whose was best!?

There are only Whizzwheels examples back here, but to compare, the original Corgi Shadow casting (left) is near accurate* with its overall approx scale average of 1:43.  The Dinky (right) dimensions are quite off, as the slim width is way out; taking the overall scale to approx 1:38 :

I wondered for a while if Dinky intended to fix a faux-woodgrain sticker effort on their Shadow, as the did on their Silver Cloud Coupe. Dinky Shadow:

Corgi had a better go on their Shadow MPW and Bentley T :

A comparison showing the upscaling of the Corgi 'Corniches' from 1:43 to 1:35 (approx measurement) :

For arse and side comparison, here they are in a line with Polistil; Eligor; Solido.  Not a great comparison as a ‘Corniche’ boot lid is very different to a Shadow saloon boot lid 

[Remspoor]

On 29/04/2024 at 15:16, danthecapriman said:

Bit more progress on the MAN today. It’s taking ages to get it done!

Rear mud guards on having been cut down to fit. Diamond plate walkway behind the cab. Trailer air hoses made from some spare nut/bolt locking wire wrapped around a screwdriver. Air tanks refitted. Fuel tank cut down and fitted. 
I’ll tidy up the wire air hoses after the glue dries.

Cab has had the lhd wiper holes filled, I’ll sort something out for rhd ones later. Cab interior has been disassembled and put back in rhd too.

 

Currently the cab is being sprayed in its colour coat, interior is in primer drying. Just a bit of work left on the chassis then that can be painted too. It’s getting there!

This might become my next truck project.

   
Originally a Spanish partwork Ebro Coke bottle truck (you can see the original rear bed in the background). Ebro were a company who built Ford Thames trucks under license in Spain, as well as some similar designs of their own. This one is identical to the British Thames ET6 truck, so there not much to do really with the basic truck. I’ll swap it to rhd of course and find or make a new, more British looking, load bed for it, then a paint job in something suitably dull and British!😄

That blue dropside body in the pic might be a candidate or maybe a scratch built flatbed.

The Fordson would look great as a coal wagon. Very British and dirty dull.