Shite in Miniature II

[Jon]

2 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Another Tesco find, didn't know this was coming out

Shall we?

Think this deserves a custom base to put it back on terra firma

I've a feeling that the wheel arches might be a bit too big to work with, should you be wanting to emulate the original. 

Sounds well worth a stab, though. Or at the very least, paint the existing wheels white or yellow or something, to emulate the 1980's monster trucks.

[sierraman]

3 hours ago, bunglebus said:

No! I'll never get an original so this is as close as I can get

Are they rare or something? 

[egg]

This was in my latest Cogbox

A pretty common model, and seemingly somewhat unloved by the matchbox collecting community as a result - you can get a very nice one on eBay relatively cheaply. So prime for a restoration then! So tempted to put a chrome coachline along this - but it will inevitably go wrong!

[eddyramrod]

6 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

Nice work as usual @eddyramrod! That XK120 looks great in those colours and I've just got ask what kind of wheels are lurking under the rear spats?

Thank you kind sir!  You'll be pleased to know I did the whole job: the rear wheels are the same set of wires.

@danthecapriman those are looking tremendous!  Love that little Fiat, I had one of those in 1986  

[danthecapriman]

4 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

Thank you kind sir!  You'll be pleased to know I did the whole job: the rear wheels are the same set of wires.

@danthecapriman those are looking tremendous!  Love that little Fiat, I had one of those in 1986  

It’s a nice little thing! I’ve got a couple of the green version already but never seen the red one until spotting that one.

Stripped a Bond Dodge Monaco cop car down now. Nice casting and it came apart nicely too.

The other side needs a bit of panel beating though!

Should be fixable I think with a few passes of filler. I might shave off all the waist trims and do this as a base model car in a suitable 70’s colour.

Chevy Nova got some bright trims painted in today too. 
Interior has had a few details picked out, so this one’s about ready for reassembly now. 
Doing those bright trims doesn’t half do your eyes in!😄

 

Forgot to get photos and I can’t be arsed walking back to the shed now, but the MAN chassis has various bits painted - cab steps, chequer pate walkway behind cab, air cylinders, air hoses etc. just needs to dry. 
That one’s close to reassembly now too. Just a few bits to do on the cab.

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

On 21/05/2024 at 20:55, danthecapriman said:

Thinking about it, the cans both those cars were painted in were getting low, so I wonder if it’s spraying with lower pressure when the can starts getting empty which leaves that spattering effect? Could it help to heat the can up first to help thin the paint and increase the pressure a bit?

 

On 21/05/2024 at 21:01, FakeConcern said:

@danthecapriman I see what you mean about the cans getting,low but I usually find if I can keep it level then they still work ok. I did also have a problem with a can I bought on t'internet which turned out to have a "special" wide angle nozzle and that gave a similar finish. That had to be stripped and I re did it by replacing the nozzle with an old one I'd soaked in Cellulose thinners.

When I get a bit of sputter from a paint can that is running low I turn the nozzle 90 degrees, or 180, to get the last dregs from the can.

[bunglebus]

3 hours ago, sierraman said:

Are they rare or something? 

In demand at least. I've bid on a few and got nowhere

[bunglebus]

4 hours ago, Jon said:

I've a feeling that the wheel arches might be a bit too big to work with, should you be wanting to emulate the original. 

Don't see a problem myself 😁

[danthecapriman]

21 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Don't see a problem myself 😁

I wonder how close that is to the original version. The arches look slightly bigger to me but that’s about all?

[bunglebus]

Bound to be various small differences, I've got the '56 Ford Hi Tail Hauler one that I was going to base swap with an original 

But there are loads of differences, it's a different casting really

 

[155V6]

On 22/05/2024 at 18:18, bunglebus said:

The Mrs returned from Tesco with yet more Hot Wheels 

And a T-shirt!

I got one of those t-shirts for myself,thanks for the tip off!

They also had this MK3 Cortina shirt,but only seemed to have it in XXXXXL size

The toy section was.partly closed & in the process of being changed to The Entertainer.A lot of the stock had been reduced,Matchbox 5-packs for £7.50

& singles for £1.58

[bunglebus]

I saw those too and a Shelby one. I owe you for a Tonka Fairlady if you want a Cortina shirt, I get about quite a lot!

[155V6]

3 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

I saw those too and a Shelby one. I owe you for a Tonka Fairlady if you want a Cortina shirt, I get about quite a lot!

Thanks for the offer,but I'm sort of glad I didn't get one.I'm not really that keen on the base/L MK3s.If it had been a GXL or GT though.....

[sheffcortinacentre]

I'm interested in one of those shirts.

[sierraman]

7 hours ago, sheffcortinacentre said:

I'm interested in one of those shirts.

I’m amazed you hadn’t got one already! 😂

[Datsuncog]

Called past Tesco yesterday evening, but there's no sign of any diecast changes here yet - although all the Hot Wheels and Matchbox dump bins looked pretty depleted, with only a couple of models rattling round the bottom of each (mostly unwanted Deora IIIs languishing in the HW tub; while Polaris Razrs, luggage trolleys and motorcycle trailers from the 2023 mixes predominated in the Matchbox container).

5-packs are still all older 2023 releases, none from this year. 

Everything still at full price, too - not sure whether it's just Tesco being a bit crap at stocking out, or whether there's plans here too for The Entertainer to take over the toy merchandising side of things.

We'll see. But since the only branch of The Entertainer I've visited locally also seems to be a bit crap with keeping Matchbox on the pegs, my hopes aren't exactly sky-high regardless...

[Datsuncog]

Meanwhile...

If he thinks he's here to hoover up diecast bargains at the market, he's gonna be disappointed...

[MiniMinorMk3]

12 hours ago, 155V6 said:

I got one of those t-shirts for myself,thanks for the tip off!

They also had this MK3 Cortina shirt,but only seemed to have it in XXXXXL size

 

The sizes should be L, XL, GXL, GT and E.

[Hertz]

Had this set as a kid and remember my Dad standing on the Dodge van when he came into my bedroom. I was gutted as loved this set. He tried to buy anther one but couldn't find it. Roll on 41 years and I found one on Ebay Dad! Fits nicely with the other larger scale Porsches in the collection.

 

[junkyarddog]

48 minutes ago, Hertz said:

Had this set as a kid and remember my Dad standing on the Dodge van when he came into my bedroom. I was gutted as loved this set. He tried to buy anther one but couldn't find it. Roll on 41 years and I found one on Ebay Dad! Fits nicely with the other larger scale Porsches in the collection.

 

Ooh,that's interesting,think I picked up that Porsche recently.

I have the van and sure I've got a trailer too!!😊

[danthecapriman]

@Datsuncog buying the new style Matchbox road/building sets made me think back to this,

Anyone else remember that advert!? 
I never had one but remember the advert perfectly for some stupid reason!

[Jon]

I've been thinking of @Datsuncog's dilemma re: Matchbox Airport enjoyment at age 40+, and wonder if it's a context of the age ratio of consumer/product? Would it be more acceptable to enjoy a set from our own childhood, or perhaps even earlier, so it's seen as a collectible?

On this point, I took a look at the Mattel range of play sets and noticed a distinct difference between some form of realism (Matchbox) and pure shite whimsy (Hotwheels), such as a fire station with integrated loop the loop.

That said Hotwheels do have this on offer:

Which handily stows into a very adult looking briefcase, for the man about town.

 

The colours may be garish, but thankfully 1979 era Hotwheels has that issue sorted:

I've many a memory playing with this Caramac effort (which was my brother's - I had the much less interesting construction site version), which probably answers why I like the aesthetic and colour tones of this time. And look how pared back the layout is! Excellent space for single-digit-aged me to stuff with cars - again, a similar theme played for real on my driveway...

[Datsuncog]

2 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

@Datsuncog buying the new style Matchbox road/building sets made me think back to this,

Anyone else remember that advert!? 
I never had one but remember the advert perfectly for some stupid reason!

I remember the Intercom City sets alright, but I don't seem to remember the advert - it's possible they weren't shown in Northern Ireland though, we probably got 'Big Jim' Megaw telling us about all the offers available at Super Crazy Prices instead...

Pricey enough, mind - the ad says the set is '£59 or less':

Cor! I don't think I'd be spending £125 on a Matchbox set these days, no matter how tempting!

[Datsuncog]

1 hour ago, Jon said:

I've been thinking of @Datsuncog's dilemma re: Matchbox Airport enjoyment at age 40+, and wonder if it's a context of the age ratio of consumer/product? Would it be more acceptable to enjoy a set from our own childhood, or perhaps even earlier, so it's seen as a collectible?

On this point, I took a look at the Mattel range of play sets and noticed a distinct difference between some form of realism (Matchbox) and pure shite whimsy (Hotwheels), such as a fire station with integrated loop the loop.

That said Hotwheels do have this on offer:

Which handily stows into a very adult looking briefcase, for the man about town.

 

The colours may be garish, but thankfully 1979 era Hotwheels has that issue sorted:

I've many a memory playing with this Caramac effort (which was my brother's - I had the much less interesting construction site version), which probably answers why I like the aesthetic and colour tones of this time. And look how pared back the layout is! Excellent space for single-digit-aged me to stuff with cars - again, a similar theme played for real on my driveway...

That's brilliant - and good to see Mattel have reworked the classic 'Sto & Go' set (I had the construction site version as well!) for a new generation.

But yeah, I think you're right - there's maybe a cultural difference between an actual plaything from your childhood, and a modern toy that's kinda like the stuff you enjoyed as a child, only even better.

One is pure nostalgia, which is kinda understood and tolerated, and the other's maybe seen as a bit odd...

I think I come down on the odd side.

But it doesn't stop me wanting to carry that set into a meeting and act like it's the most natural thing in the world as I set it up...

[junkyarddog]

4 hours ago, Hertz said:

Had this set as a kid and remember my Dad standing on the Dodge van when he came into my bedroom. I was gutted as loved this set. He tried to buy anther one but couldn't find it. Roll on 41 years and I found one on Ebay Dad! Fits nicely with the other larger scale Porsches in the collection.

 

Slightly different,but very close.

Will have to dig out the van now🤦‍♂️

[danthecapriman]

15 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

I remember the Intercom City sets alright, but I don't seem to remember the advert - it's possible they weren't shown in Northern Ireland though, we probably got 'Big Jim' Megaw telling us about all the offers available at Super Crazy Prices instead...

Pricey enough, mind - the ad says the set is '£59 or less':

Cor! I don't think I'd be spending £125 on a Matchbox set these days, no matter how tempting!

Christ!! That would be why I never had one as a kid then! Not worth spending £59 on!😆

I remember it clear as anything, that advert. For some reason that catchy ‘Intercom city’ in an American accent stuck. Me any my sister used to take the piss out of it every five minutes yelling it at each other in a really overblown fake American accent.

I never have been a big fan of Hot Wheels at all if I’m honest. The play sets were always waaay to fantasy and unrealistic for me, along with many of the HW cars. I was very selective when it came to HW stuff. 
Matchbox and Corgi, on the other hand seemed to make their play sets and vehicles much more life like and believable, but still managing to make it a fun toy. There were exceptions of course but HW were always the opposite, the normal believable stuff being the exception for them. 
People obviously liked them though as they’re so popular.

@Datsuncog I wouldn’t worry about liking those play sets! It’s a nice little thing to set up and display your cars on if nowt else, but there’s nothing wrong with having them because it reminds you of childhood toys, wether you had the original ones or just wanted them (but your parents thought you unworthy of a £59 present!). People collect all kinds of things for whatever reasons so I wouldn’t worry about it. If you like them and it makes you happy bollocks to what anyone else thinks. 

[sierraman]

3 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

@Datsuncog buying the new style Matchbox road/building sets made me think back to this,

Anyone else remember that advert!? 
I never had one but remember the advert perfectly for some stupid reason!

I wanted one as a kid but it was waaayyy too expensive for my parents. Matchbox seemed to go through a phase in the early 90’s (worst possible time!) with a few ranges that were sheer indulgence one being this, the other being the model railway sets they did around 1991/92

[sierraman]

2 hours ago, Jon said:

I've been thinking of @Datsuncog's dilemma re: Matchbox Airport enjoyment at age 40+, and wonder if it's a context of the age ratio of consumer/product? Would it be more acceptable to enjoy a set from our own childhood, or perhaps even earlier, so it's seen as a collectible?

On this point, I took a look at the Mattel range of play sets and noticed a distinct difference between some form of realism (Matchbox) and pure shite whimsy (Hotwheels), such as a fire station with integrated loop the loop.

That said Hotwheels do have this on offer:

Which handily stows into a very adult looking briefcase, for the man about town.

 

The colours may be garish, but thankfully 1979 era Hotwheels has that issue sorted:

I've many a memory playing with this Caramac effort (which was my brother's - I had the much less interesting construction site version), which probably answers why I like the aesthetic and colour tones of this time. And look how pared back the layout is! Excellent space for single-digit-aged me to stuff with cars - again, a similar theme played for real on my driveway...

I still have mine, my mum got it from a jumble sale, I used to keep a blue Corgi Metro in the top garage - Larry’s Towing 🤣

[bunglebus]

5 hours ago, Hertz said:

Had this set as a kid and remember my Dad standing on the Dodge van when he came into my bedroom. I was gutted as loved this set. He tried to buy anther one but couldn't find it. Roll on 41 years and I found one on Ebay Dad! Fits nicely with the other larger scale Porsches in the collection.

 

 

 

I bought that set off a guy I worked with, along with a load of others in various scales, all in lovely condition. Sadly all lost when I split with my wife 

[RoadworkUK]

It seems to be a tradition now that my wife and I celebrate our anniversary in Glastonbury, and that's just what we did last weekend. This time, I was determined to visit an establishment that I spotted last year. Current Google Streetview image depict it in its slightly unpromising former state...

Nevertheless. Inside, part of it looks like this:

Basically, Mecca.

Its name is Jadlam, and it's an all-under-one-roof wonderland for anybody who's into Airfix/Tamiya-etc. scale modelling, die-cast of any flavour, Hornby, Scalextric, Radio Control, you name it. Absolutely astonishing place.

Having kind of gone off the boil with Hot Wheels,  I didn't even look at the Jadlam assortment, but I did spend quite a while in front of the Mini GT display:

Much, much amazingness.

So, did I buy?

Well, yes. But I was quite restrained. Remarkably so, in fact. I had actually browsed their website the night before, and I had a particular goal for visiting the shop. Alas, it was out of stock.

Happily, one of the staff suggested that I might as well order via the website, because they (pretty astonishingly, these days) offer free postage. So I left the store empty-handed, but full-hearted, and four days later, this arrived:

My phone camera is disappointingly crap these days, but at least that graininess makes the pics look like screen-grabs from an old VHS cassette. But anyway. 1:64 scale A-Team (of course) GMC Vandura by Greenlight, weathered edition, and I think absolutely lovely.

Yes, the bull-bar is on the wonk; I haven't yet decided on whether to attempt to fix that or leave it looking as if it's just been driven at speed through a suspiciously flimsy outbuilding in true gung-ho "can't go to the toilet until the commercial break" mid-'80s saturday ITV action fashion.

It's excellent, anyway. Really weighty and substantial feeling. It was a tenner. That's a lot for a 1:64, but Hot Wheels Premiums are heading in that direction, and I find them a bit tiring. Every casting that turns up representing the kind of subject matter that interests generally has daft out-of-proportion wheels. The TurboVecs here look brilliant.

I also ordered something else. A bit bigger, and something of a bargain by today's standards, I think. It was a pre-order, though, so it won't be arriving until mid-July. 

Jadlam. https://www.jadlamracingmodels.com/. They're good.