Shite in Miniature II

[bunglebus]

Talking of slightly obscure Matchbox series, I picked up this Midnight Magic off eBay, which I thought was part of the USA only Roman Numerals set - but the card says no.51, and the base just has the name cast into it - in fact there's nothing obvious to suggest where this was originally sold

[sierraman]

I’d say I’ve got maybe 80% of them but ones like the Porsche I’ve never seen in the flesh. 

[sierraman]

1 minute ago, bunglebus said:

Talking of slightly obscure Matchbox series, I picked up this Midnight Magic off eBay, which I thought was part of the USA only Roman Numerals set - but the card says no.51, and the base just has the name cast into it - in fact there's nothing obvious to suggest where this was originally sold

I have a Midnight Magic, I think some of them were punted on through the U.K. market as a surplus. The earlier Roman numerals like the Hot Smoker etc are very difficult to find in the U.K. 

[Datsuncog]

I'm still unsure what way the wind's blowing for Matchbox.

Tesco are undoubtedly guilty for doing less than nothing with the longrunning UK-exclusivity deal they brokered with Mattel, and possibly at the end of 2022 (when the deal finally ended) there was a flurry to push the brand on other retailers - hence The Entertainer, B&M, Poundland, some Sainsburys etc suddenly stocking them.

But other than The Entertainer - who also made a point of stocking other sub-lines such as Skybusters, Hitch & Haul twinpacks, Moving Parts and Collector Series - most of the others simply don't seem to have managed to shift their Matchbox mainline stock.

Hence B&M having nothing other than the early 2023 mixes, and Poundland and Poundstretcher both discounting what appears to be surplus 2023 stock (and some even older grey-import stuff, in Poundland's case). 

So while Mattel may well have put out a load of puff pieces into trade channels about amazing opportunities to sell Matchbox - no doubt bolstered by the whole '70th Anniversary' hype - I don't know whether this ever really translated into sales.

Most adults still recognise the Matchbox brand, but do kids? As far as I know, Matchbox don't advertise. They don't have linked cartoons, like 'Hot Wheels - Let's Race!' on Netflix (full disclosure - I watched it, and I wasn't all that impressed, but that's something for another ramble). Brands like Lego have managed to successfully appeal to both kids and adults with carefully targeted ranges (and let's not forget they were circling bankruptcy not too many years ago). But what the hell does Matchbox mean anymore?

Traditional retail wisdom is that toys tend to be relatively recession-proof (adults will go without before they deny their kids), especially for cheap pocket-money toys like Matchbox and Hot Wheels mainlines. However, last year saw a big fall in toy sales - down £200m on 2022. Even though they've nearly doubled in price over the past two years in many shops, at around the £2 mark, Mattel's basic diecast vehicles are still a relatively cheap toy.

But I think @sierraman's bang on the money - Mattel don't have it all their own way anymore, and it may come down to price point.

The Zuru Metal Machines range stocked by Tesco (but not, it seems, by The Entertainer) are almost indistinguishable from Hot Wheels at a quick glance - but are much cheaper than Mattel products on the shelf above, at £1.25 for a single car rather than £2.10, or £5 for a 5-pack rather than £10.

Yes, they're all generics - but they have a quality look and feel to them, and no doubt look just as appealing to most kids.

Similarly, even in discounters like Poundland and B&M (where Mattel products are always a lot cheaper than main supermarkets and toy shops) there are even-cheaper alternatives - one Hot Wheels for £1.50, or three Turbo Gears for £2? Or two Nitro Legends for £1?

No, they're not as good as the Mattel products, nowhere near. But does a fractious four-year-old know that? They're not built as quality toys to last a lifetime (as Matchbox are still branded), but if the aim is simply to get wee Jordan to shut up for two minutes, then it's a race to the bottom.

The 'kidult' market apparently now makes up 30% of the UK toy market, which is substantial - and growing, up from 24% in 2022 (I wouldn't be surprised if this thread bears some degree of responsibility). However I'm not sure whether that means that adults are buying more toys, or kids are buying fewer toys - I can't find the raw data that informs this assertion. 

Nearly two thirds of toys sold fall into the sub-£10 bracket, so in theory Mattel's mainlines and even premium individual models should be in that sweet spot. Certainly, when I'm doing a bit of peg-hunting it's hardly ever kids looking alongside me - just other adults (generally falling into the podgy and greying category, like me).

What's selling to both kids and adults seems to be Squishimals, Funko Pops, Lego, Marvel/ DC Comics figures, Pokémon, Disney characters, Ty Beanie Babies (again) and board games. Video gaming is a big thing too, but I'm not sure whether consoles/ physical games are counted as toys or tech these days - with many games marketed at 18+ gamers and downloading taking the place of physical media sales from toy shops, it may be harder to quantify (though stores like Smyths still have a big gaming section).

Playmobil seem to have seen a rise in sales (their retro TV tie-in vehicles like Knight Rider and The A Team seem to have been a hit), but their prices have also fallen - I can remember them being really pricey toys in the 1980s, but seem quite reasonable these days (like, small sets cost about £20 in 1989, yet they're the same sticker price now).

Trade groups like the British Toy and Hobby Association don't even mention diecast vehicles in their yearly roundup, which makes me think we're part of a fairly niche market...

Squishmallows success fails to cushion impact of £200m drop in UK toy sales | Retail industry | The Guardian

I don't think we've seen the last of Matchbox - even if major retailers like Tesco and others have decided to let them drop, there will still be collector demand. Grey imports from independent sellers will probably continue (Toytown seems to stock plenty of 2024 items, while the model shop in Smithfield gets in Moving Parts and Collectors Series from somewhere), while the high prices online for certain models will continue to drive sales.

It seems a crying shame that Mattel just don't seem to be arsed with marketing Matchbox successfully in the UK, especially as they're employing some amazing designers bringing out iconic British models like the Sierra Cosworth and upcoming Mk2 Fiesta XR2.

I guess it'll keep AliExpress busy, anyway...

[MiniMinorMk3]

14 hours ago, bunglebus said:

It looks like it to me, as far as I know none of them wear scaled up Redline wheels

 

Three were Red Lines.

There were also a few non-custom cars that were modelled as RedLines and Fire Breathers.

The GranToros web site is not secure so I will not put a direct link up. But if you do go to it you will easily loose a few hours of your life wandering around. 

[bunglebus]

59 minutes ago, sierraman said:

I’d say I’ve got maybe 80% of them but ones like the Porsche I’ve never seen in the flesh. 

These are the ones I've found, the Flareside is my favourite I think

[Datsuncog]

But that wasn't all from yesterday...

I called into Poundland too, just in case the Longwood branch had anything special in Matchbox terms.

Well, they didn't.

Though, naturally, there were now all the Hot Wheels longroofs my twisted black heart could desire:

I knew they'd become common eventually; it just feels like forever since I watched various YouTubers unboxing these.

Decent enough value at £1.50.

Then I shuffled past Smyth's, just in case they had any of the Team Transports reduced:

Well, they did - but only the '61 Chevy Impala with the red Chevrolet C10 ramp truck, which I bought late last year.

I kinda prefer the blue C10 with the '66 Chevelle on the back, but reckon they're maybe a bit too samey to spend this much on.

They did have the Dan Gurney AAC Cuda, and the Porsche Carrera too, but since the Belfast branch of The Entertainer has them reduced, I'd sooner give them my custom instead.

But stay! What's this?

Freshly stocked-out Car Culture premiums?

Ooh mama.

The Alfa is just gorgeous - I mean, I liked the mainline racing versions in red and in white with the new-style wheels, but this is something else.

The Supra also benefits from the higher level of detail possible at this price point, and looks a lot neater as a result.

They're not cheap, as had been bemoaned already, but... hnnng.

Other Premiums have been reduced a fair bit - although the Porsche set isn't quite my bag, these seem not bad value at £15.

They also had the new zamac pickups premium set that @bunglebus profiled the other week, featuring the hard-to-find Mini pickup, though there was no price visible on those.

I also hadn't twigged that the mid-2024 case mix featured two similar, but completely different Mustang castings.

I think I prefer the '92 version, as it has the headlights detailed - the '84 SVO looks kinda blank, as the bonnet has been tampo-printed at the expense of the front panel.

Phew!

[Datsuncog]

Yes, I buckled.

Several times over, actually.

I also nabbed another one of these at half-price, since I had a voucher needing used.

The Alfa is great, I had the packaging opened before I even had my coat off.

Just magnificent.

I'm normally not a huge fan of Italian sportscars, but there's just something about this one...

Two thumbs up here!

[sierraman]

Next time I’m in loft I’ll look for my MFM, I’d go up now but it’s like the Death Valley up there in this weather. 

[Tenmil Socket]

15 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Yes, I buckled.

Several times over, actually.

I also nabbed another one of these at half-price, since I had a voucher needing used.

The Alfa is great, I had the packaging opened before I even had my coat off.

Just magnificent.

I'm normally not a huge fan of Italian sportscars, but there's just something about this one...

Two thumbs up here!

Are those cases currently half price?

[Datsuncog]

22 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Are those cases currently half price?

No, but if you sign up to their app, they send you a £5 voucher on your registered* birthday - it's only valid for a few weeks, so I needed to get it spent!

*birthday registered with app may not match actual birthday

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

The Audis have a casting difference - with and with without fuel door. You have both there.

I didn't think we'd see that premium set, hence buying the Brasilia online

[AndyW201]

3 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Talking of slightly obscure Matchbox series, I picked up this Midnight Magic off eBay, which I thought was part of the USA only Roman Numerals set - but the card says no.51, and the base just has the name cast into it - in fact there's nothing obvious to suggest where this was originally sold

 

 

 

Looks a lot like the Target supermarkets exclusives packaging from a few years ago,

[MAF260]

I came across these two 80s hot hatches when moving house, forgot I had them.

also recently found this in Aldi of all places

[bunglebus]

16 minutes ago, MAF260 said:

I came across these two 80s hot hatches when moving house, forgot I had them.

Is that an MC Toys/Maisto Golf? Mine has the Matchbox lookalike wheels

 

[AndyW201]

Well, it looks like @Datsuncog has stolen a bit of a march on me, as I had to nip into our local Tesco earlier and their toy department has also had the Entertainer makeover.

To be honest, it's  the most full our local Tesco's toy department has been, but true to form, just as our local Entertainer has to be one of the worst in the country for diecast, the selection here is seemingly nothing like as good as in other areas.

Typically, after wanting one of those orange Volvos when they were reduced, I finally find them in stock somewhere, and theyre back up to £9. Couldnt even be arsed  picking one up.

Was pleased to see the Honda Accord Team Transport in stock though, at a reduced price, I may go back for one of those as I am quite partial to '90s era Touring Cars. Especially after seeing a smeak peak at the upcoming TT Nissan Primera set.

So, after rifling through the mainlines, which was, to be fair, a mix we havent seen round here yet, these were the only two worth digging out from the fantasy shite that was left in.

Used to be quite exciting to find the '80s/'90s and Then & Now editions as it used to be quite easy to make the sets and pairings up. Those days are gone now, sadly...

Yeah, that was it! Still no Beemer Touring, Jag or Audi S2. TBH after having to get something down from the loft recently, seeing all the boxes up there, and just sheer pissed-off ness at wasted journey after wasted journey, I'm still thinking of having a clearance, as I don't think Im feeling the Mattel stuff like I used to

As said a few posts earlier, the Entertainer takeover at Tesco means no more Matchbox from them now. A shame as the very few MB purchases I've made locally have been from there, and Toytown. Strangely, our local Morrisons have started stocking mainlines and 5- packs,, but currently, its the mix with the Autozam and green Audi TT. (Still better than both the B&Ms have to offer though).They had the pack with the blue Minor in at £6.25, but didnt want to even spend that, as its only the one car I want out of that.

So, grim locally, sadly.

[Split_Pin]

50 minutes ago, MAF260 said:

I came across these two 80s hot hatches when moving house, forgot I had them.

also recently found this in Aldi of all places

Thought you might like to see this one I built:

I try and either buy or make an exact model of every car I own!

 

[Datsuncog]

And we're not stopping there, kids...

Today caused me to have reason to be in Belfast for the first time in a while... so St George's beckoned.

But fear not; you weren't missing out on very much.

What look to be some unboxed Brumm/ Bang/ Best/ Franklin Mint/ New Ray models (I didn't look very hard) with a scruffy 1/36 Corgi Bentley, could be yours for £5 a throw.

Yeah, nah.

There were some older items too, squirrelled away towards the back of the stall:

Nothing super-interesting.

The Scalextric Capri and Escort were far from pristine, but not bad - however, they seemed to have attracted a certain price premium, as when I arrived some other guy was having a bit of a haggle over them. An offer of £55 was declined by Market Blokey.

These Bburago 1/24 Smurf vehicles were a new one on me - seems to be a luridly coloured Lamborghini LM200 and a Jeep, with those l'il blue Belgian weirdos at the helm, and helpfully multilingual decals.

Solido and Eligor (reissued Norev) models were pretty good for a fiver, mind:

I was tempted by these, especially the Renault Dauphine, Pug 404 Break and the Citroen SM - but I had all of these before, and sold 'em on.

Hnnng. Triumph TR4 was also quite appealing.

And there was a Tat Box!

Though it's not 50p no more.

😞

[Tenmil Socket]

36 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

And we're not stopping there, kids...

Today caused me to have reason to be in Belfast for the first time in a while... so St George's beckoned.

But fear not; you weren't missing out on very much.

What look to be some unboxed Brumm/ Bang/ Best/ Franklin Mint/ New Ray models (I didn't look very hard) with a scruffy 1/36 Corgi Bentley, could be yours for £5 a throw.

Yeah, nah.

There were some older items too, squirrelled away towards the back of the stall:

Nothing super-interesting.

The Scalextric Capri and Escort were far from pristine, but not bad - however, they seemed to have attracted a certain price premium, as when I arrived some other guy was having a bit of a haggle over them. An offer of £55 was declined by Market Blokey.

These Bburago 1/24 Smurf vehicles were a new one on me - seems to be a luridly coloured Lamborghini LM200 and a Jeep, with those l'il blue Belgian weirdos at the helm, and helpfully multilingual decals.

Solido and Eligor (reissued Norev) models were pretty good for a fiver, mind:

I was tempted by these, especially the Renault Dauphine, Pug 404 Break and the Citroen SM - but I had all of these before, and sold 'em on.

Hnnng. Triumph TR4 was also quite appealing.

And there was a Tat Box!

Though it's not 50p no more.

😞

Cost of living innit

 

[Tenmil Socket]

2 hours ago, MAF260 said:

I came across these two 80s hot hatches when moving house, forgot I had them.

also recently found this in Aldi of all places

Look like TSW Venom’s on that Golf

[bunglebus]

I decided I wasn't going to miss out on a bit of retail therapy, so popped into Basildump for the afternoon. Asda had a whole bunch of new premiums

And a Majorette I don't think I've seen

Entertainer were also quite well stocked but not with anything I wanted

Poundland again had lots of MB and HW, but no new releases 

Same story in One Beyond 

In the end, I just bought myself the Fiat

Waiting for me on my return was a box containing two Superkings. The 944 has a bit of playwear but is at least complete, which seems to be quite unusual 

This one's more interesting though, XJ220 was one of a very few new cars that I really loved as an impressionable teenager when it appeared back in the early 90s. It should really be in silver or dark blue to be perfect, however this is definitely one of the lesser spotted efforts from Matchbox at the time so I'm not complaining.

Guy also had the Rolls Royce Silver Spirit which I was going to bid on until I saw the broken rear light - went for £8.50 in the end anyway!

[bunglebus]

Oh and I obtained yet another Trekker for the Mrs

[Datsuncog]

There were a few other things of general interest on some of my usual market haunts:

Colin's been taking a punt on some of the Hot Wheels Premium twin-packs.

Nice, but not really my bag.

Retro-packaged Matchbox, on the other hand, were very much my bag.

He also said he'd been offered some of the Matchbox Moving Parts range - the older sort, in the plastic blister boxes from 2023 and earlier. I advised that I could be interested.

Because I was in a little later, Alan had been given ample opportunity to set out his wares:

Ehhh... well okay, some oddities present:

Datsun 240Z was a no-name, but possibly Zee or one of those manufacturers?

This said Edocar on the metal base - I was aware of late '80s MC Toys/ Maisto being sold in Europe with Edocar branding, but this looked kinda older. Dunno what lorry it's meant to be, though, or what it might have carried as a load.

Superfast Monteverdi Hai is in need of some TLC.

To put it mildly.

Ah, Alan. Never change.

The Charity Stall had a slightly chipped and scribbled-on My First Matchbox police Astra, plus a heavily overpainted Chevrolet Corvette T-top and a scruffy Corgi Juniors Jeep with no windshield, but before I could line 'em up for a pic, a woman who seemed to be somewhat odd started rummaging through everything while talking loudly to herself, so I just left her to it.

Trad coffee and tray bake were procured, with an unexpected side portion of God Squad literature.

Then I had to scuttle off for a meeting about AI tech, which wasn't nearly as exciting as I'd thought.

[bunglebus]

5 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Colin's been taking a punt on some of the Hot Wheels Premium twin-packs.

That's pretty good for £20

Datsun looks suspiciously like a late Zylmex D75 to me

The little Edocar lorry cab is a nice little thing

[flat4alfa]

8 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

I like the authentic* splodge of body filler below the rear window

[RoadworkUK]

Hey @Datsuncog, if you happen to be back in that Smyths, could you snaffle me one of those silver Car Culture Audi S4s, please? Fiver is way less than eBay scalpers want, and I don't actually have a scale representation of anything close to my own A4. Don't be making a special trip, though; I've enough on my conscience.

[Datsuncog]

1 hour ago, RoadworkUK said:

Hey @Datsuncog, if you happen to be back in that Smyths, could you snaffle me one of those silver Car Culture Audi S4s, please? Fiver is way less than eBay scalpers want, and I don't actually have a scale representation of anything close to my own A4. Don't be making a special trip, though; I've enough on my conscience.

Ah, now sadly I think all the new ones were priced at £8.99, including the A4 - the staff were still putting these out on the pegs when I called in, and if you zoom in on the Audi peg, the £5 label says 'Fast & Furious Land Rover Defender 110'... so I think they just hadn't got round to swapping over the price tags yet.

(I've been caught out at Smyths before with apparently bargainous Premiums!!)

Sorry to disappoint, although still happy to pick you one up if you're ok with the higher price plus postage etc - still less than scalpers, mebbe?

EDIT - just realised the Alfa's peg says Toyota Land Cruiser and the VW Brasilia's says McLaren F1, so who knows - I was charged £8.99 for the Alfa, though!

[bunglebus]

Quite like the Supra. And the Golf. Actually...

[Datsuncog]

Well now... that branch of Smyths isn't too far away, and I'd hope the pegs haven't yet been stripped bare by the scalpers just yet... If you're keen on the Golf and Supra, just tip me the nod and I'll do my best next time I'm passing!

[Datsuncog]

But! We're still not done with today's DC diecast odyssey, no siree...

After a somewhat confusing meeting, where it emerged that the supposedly 'cutting-edge AI tech' we were expecting was actually a clunky chatbot script reading FAQ prompts off a Word document, what better way to reground in the physical realm than with a big ol' chunk of metal with wheels?

I hadn't checked out the model shop in Smithfield for a while now, so I skipped over.

Ah. Locked and bolted. I wasn't really in a position to hang about for an hour, sadly...

Even though there were boxed examples of My First Matchbox in the window.

And this Volvo's been winking at me for years (though its reliable presence makes me suspect its obscured price tag is not overly bargainous).

But - not today.

The case of assorted rammel would remain undisturbed.

And the books...

...well, God loves a tryer, eh?