Shite in Miniature II

[flat4alfa]

2 hours ago, RoadworkUK said:

"Find the ultra rare one".

This is Majorette doing Super Treasure Hunts, but in a really cynical and desperate manner, isn't it?

That range of Tune-Ups dates from 2022 so not a new idea. The other set was 2021. No range for 2023 or 24 so the idea appears to have been cancelled. TK Max must have bought a crate of unsold stock

Fair enough stab I say, the marketing worked for Mattel as aisles get ransacked by loons, we chat about them, while men in Connecticut attics get in a right tizz; so can’t blame them really

What is surprising is Majorette (Simba-Dickie group) have fended off a Mattel take-over/take-down for so long

That Bronco does look quite tidy, for £3.25 (£13/4) that is…

[AndyW201]

Would be nice to see any Hot Wheels beyond the 2024 A case round here! One of the B&Ms, a retailer which makes a big song and dance about how big a Hot Wheels retailer they are, has done away with mainlines completely, and the other branch is still stocking the batch with the blue Lambo Miura...

So it's no wonder I end up saying "F***it!" and end up on eBay buying 1/43 instead! Although last week saw one of those special occasions that gives me a free pass to get something 'new'.

This,

Almost all of my 1/43 collection is models of cars I grew up with, '70s & '80s bread and butter stuff. Fords, Vauxhalls, BL, Rootes group and a smattering of European makes. As time has moved on though, cars of the '90s have started to get popular on the old car scene and with model makers, including smol hot hatches, which is an era I have an affinity with. Y'see, <<confession time>> I have a dodgy past. In the '90s I was into the modified car scene, regular subscriber to Max Power, Fast Car and Revs magazines, and all. At the time, I was running new, small hatches and modding them. I started with a couple of mildly modded Metro/R100s, then joined a local modified car club. My choice of car at that time was a bit off the wall though, where the majority of the club members were running 106s, 205s, Saxos and Novas, I was a Micra K11 pervert, 

This will have been the Doncaster Custom & modified show, 1997. The white Micra started as a boggo 1.0 Shape, which was given a genuine Nissan bodykit, 13" alloys and Primera SRi badges by the supplying dealer, It then got dropped 30mm, with 15" TSW Hockenheim alloys.  the interior got a carbon fibre dash kit, and cut down gear lever with a (f'ing cold) ally gearknob.

1998 now, same venue, with a facelift 1.3 Si, the car was almost new at that time. Lowered again, on Team Dynamics BTCC style wheels. This was the time of the Matt Neal Team Dynamics red BTCC Primera, so I was influenced a tiny bit... 

It eventually got lowered a bit more at the back and got de badged, black bonnet grilles, Richard Grant (remember them?) DTM bumper splitters, Ford Galaxy white side repeaters, and (subtle) stainless steel exhaust and induction kit. Oh for the days when I had money to piss away on such frivolity...

There was a third Micra which was also lowered and got the wheels off the red car. It was more lurid than the other two as it was the special edition with the  Chromoflair purple/gold/bronze flip paintwork, but I cant find the photos I have of that... Anyway, a 2002 Corsa C SXi with dealer fitted Irmscher pack ended up being my last new car, and I got back into older stuff from then.

Doesnt seem  that long ago, its scary that cars from the '90s are old enough now to be considered retro. (Wipes away tear)

Anyway, now Ive purged my sins of the past, onto this,

Its a great wee thing. I'd kicked myself for not getting the white or blue versions of the Rallye, which sold out pretty quickly. Solido, Norev and Ixo are really on point at the moment with their modern classic stuff, Ive had my eye on Norev's Saxo VTR for a while but its a bit spendy for me. The 106 Rallye is more where my tastes lie anyway, Ive always been more into the more basic, lower powered versions of sporty cars.

For a model which is on the 'lower' end of the price range (for modern 1/43 anyway), its done very well. The unique Rallye steel wheels and graphics look good,

Nice front and rear detail, including obligatory fart cannon exhaust!

Even has the French certificate of insurance sticker in the screen.

Something not paid much attention to on models is the floor inside so its lovely to see on this that Solido have replicated the blue carpet fitted to the ph2 Rallye, 

Along with the blue clocks and small Rallye logo on the glovebox, props to Solido for making an effort.

IMO it goes well with its Vanguards bigger brother,

[Split_Pin]

Crikey that's a peach! Solido have really upped their quality since the late 1990s/early 2000s. 

I quite fancy one of those. You and your excellent close ups of the detail are to blame, as always 😂

[sierraman]

Somewhere in an old Top Gear magazine I have there’s an article on Nissans tuning scheme for the Micra, you could get all this kit including stage whatever engine conversions etc but for the full shebang it was something laughable like the equivalent price of a 200SX. 

[Datsuncog]

Been a moderately quiet old week in Tatland, for the most part.

Called into Tesco earlier in the week, to see they've discounted all their Mattel stuff:

£1.58 for Matchbox and Hot Wheels single mainlines; £7.50 for 5-packs.

There's just not that many I don't already have in one form or another, though.

I did finally buckle and came away with a discounted Matchbox Polaris RZR, though.

Generally these aren't much more than peg-warmers, the ones no-one wants at the bottom of the tubs, but having seen dozens of these little buggers being rescued from the Utah desert on the Matt's Off-Road Recovery YouTube channel, I've kind of developed a soft spot for them (though maybe not as soft as their hub mounts seem to be, hence the endless recoveries).

It's quite a detailed little thing, though a much larger scale than most of their models - it kinda towers over the Ford Bronco, which is fitted with the same wheels.

A trip to The Entertainer netted a leftfield choice from the 2024 Matchbox Moving Parts range:

A Citroen eC4X - dunno if these are sold Stateside, and to be fair I'm not sure I've even seen one on the roads round here.

It's actually quite nicely rendered.

The bonnet only just opens, though - the gubbins within look quite detailed,  but they're hard to see.

Not cheap-cheap at £4.20 - and labelled as 'Matchbox Import' on the display - but it's good to see some of these trickling through onto UK High Streets.

Some determined riffling through Poundland's not-very-bargainous grey import long cards netted me a newstyle Defender in blue, seemingly from a 2022 mix that I don't recall seeing locally:

The packaging was pretty mashed, annoyingly, but at least it meant I had no qualms about popping it open.

It seems I just can't stay away from 4x4 type stuff...

A quick squizz at Cash Converters' window on Wednesday lunchtime didn't give much to write home about; a few Vanguards, some film-related Corgi stuff, but all up around the £30-40 mark each.

They can keep 'em.

They still have the Vitesse Laguna I estate in the massive box, but don't seem interested in any offers below the £25 sticker price.

They did have this, though: 

I vaguely remember the Barcode Battler being A Thing quite briefly in the mid-90s, but quite how it all worked escapes me. The box, and the TV ads featuring a similar kinda robot thing bursting out from a bar code, stirred a few dim memories, though.

But for £30, they can jolly well keep it, too.

And today brought the Tree of Tat...

...and a low-key trip past St George's, but I think it's fair to say no one's missing out on much.

Diecast availability just seems to have fallen away, and all that's left is stupid-expensive.

There was a small box under the stall, but...

Uninspiring Bburago 1/24, some Corgi racers, and those execrable Reader's Digest vintage car packs...

Vitesse Trabants and a Hongwell P38 Range Rover were the height of the excitement - and I already have the Trabi in blue.

Other than that, just same old...

...and you know you're starting to lose perspective when £2 MoYs start to look appealing.

Coffee time.

And smol Volvo time.

Yes, I also took advantage of The Entertainer knocking down their Car Culture premiums to £7.20.

I regretted not getting one of these when they were current last year, but for some reason they had a whole peg of them this week.

So I indulged myself... and it really is very nice. Bit low for my tastes, maybe, but still - who else is gonna model a (relatively) affordable 142 in this scale?

Ah well. Happy Friday, kids.

[Tenmil Socket]

10 hours ago, AndyW201 said:

Would be nice to see any Hot Wheels beyond the 2024 A case round here! One of the B&Ms, a retailer which makes a big song and dance about how big a Hot Wheels retailer they are, has done away with mainlines completely, and the other branch is still stocking the batch with the blue Lambo Miura...

So it's no wonder I end up saying "F***it!" and end up on eBay buying 1/43 instead! Although last week saw one of those special occasions that gives me a free pass to get something 'new'.

This,

Almost all of my 1/43 collection is models of cars I grew up with, '70s & '80s bread and butter stuff. Fords, Vauxhalls, BL, Rootes group and a smattering of European makes. As time has moved on though, cars of the '90s have started to get popular on the old car scene and with model makers, including smol hot hatches, which is an era I have an affinity with. Y'see, <<confession time>> I have a dodgy past. In the '90s I was into the modified car scene, regular subscriber to Max Power, Fast Car and Revs magazines, and all. At the time, I was running new, small hatches and modding them. I started with a couple of mildly modded Metro/R100s, then joined a local modified car club. My choice of car at that time was a bit off the wall though, where the majority of the club members were running 106s, 205s, Saxos and Novas, I was a Micra K11 pervert, 

This will have been the Doncaster Custom & modified show, 1997. The white Micra started as a boggo 1.0 Shape, which was given a genuine Nissan bodykit by the supplying dealer, It then got dropped 30mm, with 15" TSW Hockenheim alloys.  the interior got a carbon fibre dash kit, and cut down gear lever with a (f'ing cold) ally gearknob.

1998 now, same venue, facelift 1.3 Si, the car was almost new at that time. Lowered again, on Team Dynamics BTCC style wheels. This was the time of the Matt Neal Team Dynamics red BTCC Primera, so I was influenced a tiny bit... 

It eventually got lowered a bit more and got de badged, black bonnet grilles, Richard Grant (remember them?) DTM bumper splitters, Ford Galaxy white side repeaters, and (subtle) stainless steel exhaust and induction kit. Oh for the days when I had money to piss away on such frivolity...

There was a third Micra which was more lurid than these two as it was the special edition with the  Chromoflair purple/gold/bronze flip paintwork, but I cant find the photos I have of that... Anyway, a Corsa C with dealer fitted  Irmscher styling pack ended up being my last new car, and I got back into older stuff from then.

Doesnt seem  that long ago, its scary that cars from the '90s are old enough now to be considered retro. (Wipes away tear)

Anyway, now Ive purged my sins of the past, onto this,

Its a great wee thing. I'd kicked myself for not getting the white and blue versions of the Rallye, which sold out pretty quickly. Solido, Norev and Ixo are really on point at the moment with their modern classic stuff, Ive had my eye on Norev's Saxo VTR for a while but its a bit spendy for me. The 106 Rallye is more where my tastes lie anyway, Ive always been more into the more basic, lower powered versions of sporty cars.

For a model which is on the 'lower' end of the price range (for modern 1/43 anyway), its done very well. The unique Rallye steel wheels and graphics look good,

Nice front and rear detail, including obligatory fart cannon exhaust!

Even has the French certificate of insurance sticker in the screen.

Something not paid much attention to on models is the floor inside so its lovely to see on this that Solido have replicated the blue carpet fitted to the ph2 Rallye, 

Along with the blue clocks and small Rallye logo on the glovebox, props to Solido for making an effort.

IMO it goes well with its Vanguards bigger brother,

That’s tremendous!

[sierraman]

He’s got the stock equivalent of the Albert Memorial there, MoY, Days Gone By, Bburago 1/24 F1 cars. They’ll be taking root under the boxes! 😂

[flat4alfa]

So, the perception of MoY is so bad now they are bundled alongside DG 

Yet as castings and presentation they are world apart.  But in another world.

[flat4alfa]

It’s a shame St George’s has dried up to what it is now.  Saying that, that place did ruin my marriage for a while 😙

Still, was pleased to spot this

[danthecapriman]

4 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

The perception of MoY is so bad now they are bundled alongside DG

Yet as castings and presentation they are world apart.  But in another world.

Some of those MoY aren’t bad at all. They are far better than DG junk. It’s just the subject matter that kills them I think! It’s mostly stuff that people just can’t associate with anymore, which is probably why most of it was the preserve of grandparents or great grandparents! How many people now would know what a Duesenburg is!? 
That being said, as a petrol head I do have a few in my own collection😄 just select ones that I like.

Those Readers Digest ‘vintage cars’ sets must surely be the absolute pits though!? They truly are absolute garbage! 
They’re the kind of thing your grandparents would bag for you because they know you like cars. They seem to pop up everywhere too so they must have churned out loads of them.

[flat4alfa]

Yes there are a good handful here, alongside Corgi Classics and Solido Age d’Or

Some of them kept because of the real world subject I would paw-over if seen in the flesh: Bugatti Royale, Cadillac V16, Voisin Carene, Auburn Speedster, etc; but yet something in my subconscious spurns them.  Perhaps the blame ought to lie with Jack Odell (RIP) for pushing the commercials specifically for the branding variation marketing (proved by Days Gone range!) so heavily and the casting repetitiveness that entailed,  spoiling any later appreciation of MoY?  Perhaps if they were better appreciated and therefore more valuable, the problem wouldn’t exist.  Catch-22.

So in honour, here is MoY Y-22 Ford Model A Delivery, pre-production looking a little cleaner without tampos or stickers

Which begs the question as to why the smaller Matchbox 1-75 Model A Van is better appreciated and customised into rods etc

[Vantman]

NOW SORTED---Thanks for the replys--NOW SORTED!      Where can i get a tyre for this apprentice built model please?

 

[flat4alfa]

Anyone seen the Matchbox1977 Jaguar XJ6C ? It’s supposed to be in the 2024 mix 3 case, along with ‘64 Lincoln Continental black and Morris Minor green

Been the shelves in Australia for many months now so it not just a US thing

 

[Split_Pin]

I got around 10-12 Solido Age d'or models in my free Century of Cars haul a year ago and I quickly grew to appreciate them. Whilst I can't relate to them, the Bugatti Royale, Deusenberg and Citroen 15cv are splendid, if not up to today's standards. They have a lot of fun detail on them and about 50% have opening features. 

I also have a sole MoY, a Silver Ghost and it's a weighty piece, again with nice detail.

DG are austere and soulless in comparison, often without glazing or interiors. The liveries are purely promotional too and often dont reflect real life.

As DTCM says, I was given a couple of those Reader's Digest vintage car sets as a kid 'because Iain likes cars'. Thanks but they are truly awful things.

[sierraman]

2 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

So, the perception of MoY is so bad now they are bundled alongside DG 

Yet as castings and presentation they are world apart.  But in another world.

Na I was probably being harsh there, I like the seventies ones in the really inappropriate colours. The later ones are typical 80’s pastiche - at home on top of a cabinet with a Lladro figure on a doily. 

[sierraman]

20 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

I got around 10-12 Solido Age d'or models in my free Century of Cars haul a year ago and I quickly grew to appreciate them. Whilst I can't relate to them, the Bugatti Royale, Deusenberg and Citroen 15cv are splendid, if not up to today's standards. They have a lot of fun detail on them and about 50% have opening features. 

I also have a sole MoY, a Silver Ghost and it's a weighty piece, again with nice detail.

DG are austere and soulless in comparison, often without glazing or interiors. The liveries are purely promotional too and often dont reflect real life.

As DTCM says, I was given a couple of those Reader's Digest vintage car sets as a kid 'because Iain likes cars'. Thanks but they are truly awful things.

Yeah the naff advertising as well… 🤣 A Model A Ford advertising some shit double glazing firm in Milton Keynes 😂

[sierraman]

49 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

 

Anyone seen the Matchbox1977 Jaguar XJ6C ? It’s supposed to be in the 2024 mix 3 case, along with ‘64 Lincoln Continental black and Morris Minor green

Been the shelves in Australia for many months now so it not just a US thing

I did and a purchase was made in believe it or not Tenerife South Airport of all places. 

[Datsuncog]

3 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

 

Anyone seen the Matchbox1977 Jaguar XJ6C ? It’s supposed to be in the 2024 mix 3 case, along with ‘64 Lincoln Continental black and Morris Minor green

Been the shelves in Australia for many months now so it not just a US thing

I've not seen the XJ6C yet, despite some quite active searching.

I'm also still trying to find the Chevrolet C10 pickup too.

I did crack, and bought myself a black Lincoln Continental off the interwebs. It was only £2.50, so not really a massive scalper markup over Poundland, Tesco or Entertainer prices.

It is lovely, to be fair.

Wouldn't object to a green Minor, but I've a silver hardtop and a floppytop version already so I'm not feeling massive FOMO.

[Datsuncog]

2 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

Still, was pleased to spot this

I cropped the trainer out initially, but thought that someone here might appreciate it...

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, Vantman said:

Where can i get a tyre for this apprentice built model please?

That looks suspiciously like a promotional item, I have a couple of ashtrays with similar tyres on them. Unless they were intended for a wheelbarrow, cement mixer etc maybe?

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

 

Anyone seen the Matchbox1977 Jaguar XJ6C ? It’s supposed to be in the 2024 mix 3 case, along with ‘64 Lincoln Continental black and Morris Minor green

Been the shelves in Australia for many months now so it not just a US thing

No, or the green Minor - just one solitary Continental so far too 

[bunglebus]

@Vantman

On 14/08/2022 at 15:14, bunglebus said:

Today I bought a tyre

A promotional item I expect, somewhere or other I have a similar one that surrounds a glass ashtray that belonged to my granddad 

 

On 15/08/2022 at 07:56, bunglebus said:

Nope I'll just put it with the Goodyear one I already have

 

[danthecapriman]

This is one of my favourite Yesteryears I think.

Morris Cowley. 
I couldn’t tell you why I like it though! I just do.

[bunglebus]

No visit to Newcastle is complete without a visit to the world's most miserable toy shop

I did consider a mint in box Corgi Volvo 760 for £2.99, but the proprietor standing over my shoulder and snorting phlegm up his nose every 30 seconds put me off 

[sierraman]

31 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

This is one of my favourite Yesteryears I think.

Morris Cowley. 
I couldn’t tell you why I like it though! I just do.

I’ve said this before but I’ve a real horn for the giftware clobber. It’s shamelessly tacky but it’s just so ‘of the time’. I’ve got a Rolls Royce ashtray I keep my spare change in when I go to bed. I’m off now to browse eBay for something really dreadful like a Mod Rod cigar box is something like that exists for my desk. 

[Jon]

I know there's one or two Mk3 Escort collectors on here, so saw this and thought of you:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/4753588055

The seller seems to think it's one of only 100 made. Could be - I've not seen one before.

Bids start at a mildly hefty $15 (£7.50-ish), or a buy now of $25, should you want to stave off the serious local enthusiasts, looking to complete their miniature collections of cars not sold in New Zealand.

Happy to bid on behalf of any prospective buyers, but post to my gaff would be on top (and as always, a bit of a wait to recieve).

 

[Split_Pin]

I saw a 1/36 version of that, MIB for something like £15 at a Swapmeet last year. Interesting livery.

[Vantman]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

That looks suspiciously like a promotional item, I have a couple of ashtrays with similar tyres on them. Unless they were intended for a wheelbarrow, cement mixer etc maybe?

Yes,a promotional model built as an exhibit by Stanhay apprentices for the Kent County Show in 1949/1950--

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

I’ve said this before but I’ve a real horn for the giftware clobber. It’s shamelessly tacky but it’s just so ‘of the time’. I’ve got a Rolls Royce ashtray I keep my spare change in when I go to bed. I’m off now to browse eBay for something really dreadful like a Mod Rod cigar box is something like that exists for my desk. 

Best ones are the Sand Cat ashtray and Street Rod calender. I've got three of the ashtrays...

 

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, Vantman said:

Yes,a promotional model built as an exhibit by Stanhay apprentices for the Kent County Show in 1949/1950--

I was meaning the tyre was a promo, don't think the one I have is the same size unfortunately or you'd be welcome to it - I just liked it to go with the ashtray, which was my grandfather's