Shite in Miniature II

[RoadworkUK]

2 hours ago, AndyW201 said:

Astonishingly, I think its meant to be a Merc 300SL gullwing!

Is the white one behind a Fox body Mustang?

Crikey, I think you're right. Yeah, I think the white one is having a go at Foxery; the c-pillar vents are the clue. The others are presumably Lancia Stratos and Lotus Esprit (or possibly Maserati Boomerang, but who knows?).

[danthecapriman]

Just for @bunglebus Cortina’s now have gingercators!

It’s that Tamiya orange tint paint. Works really well actually over clear plastic or silver base paint.

 

Quick & easy job on this Bond Mercedes 200D. 
Lovely paint colour as it comes so I won’t be painting this one, but the snow chains on the back wheels need deleting.

   
A few minutes of gently scratching away at the rubber with a fingernail and the printing they used for them just scrapes off.

 

Much better!

[sierraman]

‘It’s only the original paint once’

’Its almost 60 years old’

Etc etc…

Should I restore this old beast? I was thinking of restoring it as a Spanish Calor Gas type delivery wagon or one of those trucks they deliver pop in. 

[MiniMinorMk3]

16 minutes ago, sierraman said:

‘It’s only the original paint once’

’Its almost 60 years old’

Etc etc…

Should I restore this old beast? I was thinking of restoring it as a Spanish Calor Gas type delivery wagon or one of those trucks they deliver pop in. 

 

I would say that's ripe for restoration/modification. It's already missing original parts and it's not like it's a very rare model.

[danthecapriman]

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

‘It’s only the original paint once’

’Its almost 60 years old’

Etc etc…

Should I restore this old beast? I was thinking of restoring it as a Spanish Calor Gas type delivery wagon or one of those trucks they deliver pop in. 

Haha, I remember that one! That ally home made body is an odd thing. Looks like they put a bit of effort into it with the little clips to go into the original bed.

I say restore it/customise it! They’re a really nice casting of the TK cab.

[Split_Pin]

Unless it's rare and nicely patinated then I'd always say restore it. 

The only exception is if the play wear has sentimental value. A few of my late dad's Dinkys and are rough/repainted although nonetheless intact and as it was him who created that I'll leave them alone.

[sheffcortinacentre]

10 hours ago, sierraman said:

I’ve got a garden roller. And some Days Gone…

Do iiiiiiiit

[sierraman]

53 minutes ago, sheffcortinacentre said:

Do iiiiiiiit

I’ll film it for your pleasure. 

[Jon]

I'm going to put my neck out and say that I'm not keen on the destruction of die casts - that's just my general discomfort with destroying stuff in general, even if it's broken. Yes, I'm fully aware that chucking stuff in landfill is tantamount to that, but I'm not taking a lump hammer to stuff that goes in the wheelie bin. 

The Lledo displeasure on here is also becoming a bit of an echo chamber. Whilst true that their target market ensured that there's a high proportion of survivors 40 years on, they were once cherished and no-one can deny that they were well made and helped maintain UK die cast manufacturing until 1999. 

I had several bought for me in the 1990's and even had a little wooden display shelf, so the 'chosen' ones could sit and collect dust. The first I ever got was the Dennis bus, bought circa 1991 from Blackpool:

I absolutely loved the curve of the lower body work and the dished twin wheels. As a 10 year old, this felt like a grown up acquisition, and certainly held up to being played with (like trying but not succeeding to remove the plastic roof).

Their ease of buying and promotional advertising of special editions in the likes of What's on TV meant that relatives would buy them for me, so in a way they formed the path of normalising die cast collecting into adulthood, which we see and celebrate today - and were definitely the origins of my habit. I reckon if I smashed one up, I'd just think how upset my grandparents would be at the gesture. Admittedly though, I'd have made an excellent Catholic, at least in the shame and guilt departments.

That's not to say I've looked to replace any of the ones I bulk sold in 2010 (at 50p each, boxed) when emigrating, as their subject matter and ubiquity are the main deterrents. The latter point is the reason that most new Hotwheels do nothing for me, but I enjoy seeing the enthusiasm of others who collect them.

Anyway, continue to do as you please with your Lledos. I'd love to see some re-imagined from the excellent modellers on here though, to redress the balance.

[Split_Pin]

I think it's the cynicism of them which annoys people. Plus the irony of the intention that they were meant to be 'nostalgic' when in fact it's the toys we actually played with which invoke that subconscious calling of the past that the Lledos were trying to ignite.

For example, for me, it's Bburagos and Polistil 1/24/5 scales:

✅️ In the main, out of reach of a young boy whose mum said they were too dear

✅️ Any I did get were cherished but instantly fell apart 

✅️ Models of relatable cars you saw every day

✅️ Fun to play with

I only have 1 Bburago and 1 Polistil from  my childhood but I got those after my hard playing days were over. So over the last 10 years I have collected them avidly. Probably a bit sad but I love them!

[RoadworkUK]

3 hours ago, Jon said:

I'm going to put my neck out and say that I'm not keen on the destruction of die casts....

I must say that, on the whole, I vehemently agree. Those atrocities that Bunglebus dispatched above, though,  are fair game IMO. They should never have been allowed to be made. Actually, the only thing better than destroying them would be to round them all up and deliver them directly to whoever owns the business that manufactures them, and perhaps to insert each "car" into that person.

3 hours ago, Jon said:

The Lledo displeasure on here is also becoming a bit of an echo chamber.

I agree here, too, really. I'd never dream of seeking any of them out, but I have become a bit of a sanctuary for homeless examples that have come to me from elsewhere in the family. My late grandmother-in-law couldn't resist sending off for promotional examples, which were then displayed lovingly in her bungalow. I know it's a sentimental thing, but I've always had this strange condition where I recognise when an item has been loved, and I somehow feel that love should be continued. 

That's actually one of my more defining (and more concerning) character traits, and I do have a slight hoarding tendency because of it – if only a pretty tightly defined one. I'm far from alone with it, too, in that I find it very hard to part with anything that I remember having really loved. It's as if those items have become my friends. And a few of these items actually are Lledo. I have a few that were bought for me by a very kindly neighbour when I was seven or eight years old, and I remember them seeming terribly special and grown-up compared with the Matchbox etc that I was surrounded by. 

On the other hand, the sheer ubiquity of the things ensures that I view examples from outside my own weird little sphere of existence, with contempt. And it's that ubiquity – and the laughable beliefs as to their value that some folk hold – that drive the vitriol against them. I'm going to continue doing my best to ignore most Lledo and Days Gone, but I don't approve of their eradication from existence.

[MiniMinorMk3]

Before anyone takes a hammer to their Lledos you should take a look at it first. Everything has a value be it £1 or £100, and Lledos are the same. So before your inner six year old gets their way, just make sure they are not chucking good money in the bin.

 Lledo DG01 to DG05 – Lledo Models (lledoshuffle.co.uk)

PS The best price I achieved for a Lledo on Ebay was £35

[sierraman]

I think it’s all lighthearted horseplay with the wanton destruction of Lledo Days Gone. I see what you are saying I suppose the flip side of it is they obviously gave people a lot of happiness looking at the Model T Ford advertising Shredded Wheat on the mantle piece, maybe their time will come and we’ll all be laughing on the other side of our heads when someone buys them all up for a pittance and discovers in Japan there’s some huge market for them where they’ll pay thousands for them. The old giffer buying them with his miners pension will have had the last laugh! 

[sierraman]

3 minutes ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Before anyone takes a hammer to their Lledos you should take a look at it first. Everything has a value be it £1 or £100, and Lledos are the same. So before your inner six year old gets their way, just make sure they are not chucking good money in the bin.

 Lledo DG01 to DG05 – Lledo Models (lledoshuffle.co.uk)

PS The best price I achieved for a Lledo on Ebay was £35

Lledo Shuffle… see what they did there. Maybe Boz Scaggs invested the money from the records in to Days Gone? 

[lesapandre]

Out here in France for a bit. Found this thread fascinating not one I usually follow (it's rained here continually for a week so I'm passing the time indoors). 🌧️🌧️🌧️

Any particularly interesting, valuable or rare foreign model vehicles I should look out for - always seems loads and loads on sale at the typical 'jour de fete' you get on in the villages of a weekend (when the rain stops).🌥️

If anyone is particularly after something rare happy to have a look for you too.👍

[bunglebus]

Home Bargains have series 2 of Tune-ups for £1.99.  Picked up the Audi R8 and Toyota GT86 if anyone wants them

Toyota

Audi

 

 

[bunglebus]

46 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

Out here in France for a bit. Found this thread fascinating not one I usually follow (it's rained here continually for a week so I'm passing the time indoors). 🌧️🌧️🌧️

Any particularly interesting, valuable or rare foreign model vehicles I should look out for - always seems loads and loads on sale at the typical 'jour de fete' you get on in the villages of a weekend (when the rain stops).🌥️

If anyone is particularly after something rare happy to have a look for you too.👍

Blimey that's a question. Anything we didn't get here! Post some pics up of any finds, we'll soon let you know if there are desirable ones 

[eddyramrod]

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

I think it’s all lighthearted horseplay with the wanton destruction of Lledo Days Gone. 

I can't agree.  One thing I have managed to learn from the long trail of bitter experience I call my life is that one man's "Lighthearted horseplay" is the next man's "Mindless vandalism."  The second man is nearly always correct in his analysis, and the first man, if unchecked, will simply carry on doing what he's doing, because he won't see anything wrong in it.  And in that, he is absolutely wrong.

And I don't accept the banger boys' argument that their decimation of a marque makes the survivors worth more.  It might, but all it really means is that the ordinary bloke can't afford one any longer.  Whatever it is.  Ford Granada or Lledo Ford Model A.  The principles apply.

Yes, you can call me Grumpy Old Man.  I'll wear that with pride.  I've earned it.

[andrew e]

I’m in the “it’s yours do what you like with it” camp.

Its what I did in period with them - cherish - play - scuff - batter - scrap - wash my dads van and get treated to a new one!

Then repeat!

[bunglebus]

Matchbox 70th anniversary Moving Parts box just landed at Entertainer. I find the colour scheme a bit odd on these but treated myself to a 911

[lesapandre]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

Blimey that's a question. Anything we didn't get here! Post some pics up of any finds, we'll soon let you know if there are desirable ones 

There would be 100's but I'll post anything I think looks good.👍

[bunglebus]

Hopefully lots of early Majorettes, still smarting that I missed the end of an eBay auction for the VW panel van with swage line, they altered the casting early on and deleted it so tampos sat flush on the sides

[bunglebus]

Charidy shop

[MiniMinorMk3]

2 hours ago, lesapandre said:

Out here in France for a bit. Found this thread fascinating not one I usually follow (it's rained here continually for a week so I'm passing the time indoors). 🌧️🌧️🌧️

Any particularly interesting, valuable or rare foreign model vehicles I should look out for - always seems loads and loads on sale at the typical 'jour de fete' you get on in the villages of a weekend (when the rain stops).🌥️

If anyone is particularly after something rare happy to have a look for you too.👍

The early stuff is best, and boxed is better.

Early Solido models came in red or yellow boxes

Old Norev models, usually plastic bodied, came in clear squashy plastic boxes with a card base insert. These are usually yellowed with UV now and can split very easily.

Majorettes first came in hard perspex boxes and then bubble packs. Some of the bubble pack cars can be very sort after, especially if they have not been out of the bubbles.

Finally there are French Dinky Toys. Dinkys were made in France pretty much over the same period as British ones, but the production was mainly French and European subjects, many which were never made in the UK.

 

A word of caution though, both early Solido and French Dinky Toys have been reproduced in the last 20 years or so, so what may appear to be a rare boxed model, will probably turn out to be a later repro version.

[sierraman]

Marinating in some paint stripper! 

[bunglebus]

Here's that anniversary 911

 

[sierraman]

Just checked those out. £7 is a touch salty to say it’s been out a number of years in other colours. But I’m a tightwad anyway! 🤣

[danthecapriman]

Chevy K30 roll bed is more or less painted and reassembled. Still a few bits to do, and the rear deck is still freshly painted so needs to dry properly before I do anything else to it.

Originally I did the cab in all red, which did look fine, but the bottom sections of the doors are actually separate plastic parts and the paint dried almost pink on them for some reason despite being primed with the metal cab. 
It looked odd so I decided to re-do the bottom of the cab and sleeper in the white to help hide the difference. It’s possible more coats of red would have covered better and not gone pink.

Loaded up!

The wheels need pushing back fully onto their axles yet, I loosened them/removed them during painting. 
Need to make a fuel filler neck and a few other bits, then the rear deck needs the winch adding. I’ll probably make some basic mud flaps/wheel guards for the back wheels too.

Speaking of winches…

This is what I’ll modify and paint to use. Any guesses as to what it is/was and which model it originally came from? Let’s see how good you are!!

 

[matt79]

46 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Chevy K30 roll bed is more or less painted and reassembled. Still a few bits to do, and the rear deck is still freshly painted so needs to dry properly before I do anything else to it.

Originally I did the cab in all red, which did look fine, but the bottom sections of the doors are actually separate plastic parts and the paint dried almost pink on them for some reason despite being primed with the metal cab. 
It looked odd so I decided to re-do the bottom of the cab and sleeper in the white to help hide the difference. It’s possible more coats of red would have covered better and not gone pink.

Loaded up!

The wheels need pushing back fully onto their axles yet, I loosened them/removed them during painting. 
Need to make a fuel filler neck and a few other bits, then the rear deck needs the winch adding. I’ll probably make some basic mud flaps/wheel guards for the back wheels too.

Speaking of winches…

This is what I’ll modify and paint to use. Any guesses as to what it is/was and which model it originally came from? Let’s see how good you are!!

 

Hose reel from the dinky Merryweather fire engine

[quicksilver]

2 minutes ago, matt79 said:

Hose reel from the dinky Merryweather fire engine

I agree, if only because we know Dan has most of said fire engine left over from a previous project.