Shite in Miniature II

[IronStar]

Today’s pickups

[bunglebus]

Safe to say, I have some Dragon Wheels 

I even have the Retro re-release from a few years ago 

But what I didn't have was the Mattel premium version - until now

Unlike some premiums lately, this thing's even better than expected, previous owner had only taken it out of the outer box to photograph it I think - but I've seen the rubber band things damage paint over time, and I wanted a proper look inside and underneath. Love it.

[Datsuncog]

5 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Some cool stuff to look out for on Aliexpress

 

Very excited for the Mk2 Fiesta, though I suspect it'll be this case's Jaguar XJ6C in terms of peg invisibility... grrr. 

We'll see, I guess.

Took a bit of a turn round the shops yesterday and today, kinda half-looking for one of these:

It's the Hot Wheels 'Kowloon'd Hypervan' - a fantasy casting, true, and not normally the sort of thing I'd gravitate towards, but I saw one opened on a YouTube channel I sometimes frequent and the fella was so enthusiastic in pointing out all the little Easter-egg details hidden all round it, that in best social media fashion I found myself being influenced...

I've noticed a fair few of them on the pegs locally over the past couple of weeks, and was hopeful to grab one in either Poundland (while their £1 Perks Card offer's still on) or in Home Bargains - but to my surprise, this week I couldn't find any.

Tell a lie, I saw one in the big Entertainer store in Castle Court, but I went there first (to keep tabs on the status of their Matchbox stand - horribly depleted, as it happens) and left it behind, as I rather impetuously presumed I could easily find another for less cash.

Well, apparently not.

I was also surprised to see any number of presumably desirable Hot Wheels castings such as the VW T2 flatbed, BMW E30 Touring, Hirohata Mercury and Jaguar Mk1 left twiddling their metaphorical thumbs on the pegs across multiple stores - but zero Kowloon'd Hypervans.

Meh.

I know I'll find one before long, that's not the issue - I think I was just a bit confused about where they'd all disappeared to over the weekend.

That being the case, I bopped over to the model shop in Smithfield, just in case they had anything to interest me.

Mattel corner in there looks like this:

Quite a lot of recent-ish stuff from Matchbox and Hot Wheels mainlines; some imported specials (like the 70th Anniversary cars, or US specific modern Superfast range), a handful of Premiums and some old stuff too.

I used to never buy mainlines from here because they were always priced at £2, back when Hot Wheels were 99p and Matchbox maybe £1.10 in Tesco. But now they're £2.40 each in Tesco's toy aisle, and this guy's still knocking them out for £2 - so did wholesale prices really rise, or are retailers just getting a bit too greedy?

I also had a good hoke through the remaindered magazine partwork dump bins in case I could turn up a Yugo Florida for @IronStar, but sadly I couldn't find any Eastern European models in there now - just a load of military tanks, 1950s fire engines and some 1960s Americana like Mustangs and Corvette Stingrays.

Double meh.

It's always worth a titter at the proprietor's sealed bags of secondhand diecast:

I mean, there's a couple of good Matchbox and Corgi items in there, but there's also modern Hot Wheels fantasy stuff, rubbish no-name pound shop toys, Britains farm stuff and the inevitable Days Gone and Models of Yesteryear - good luck finding a collector who wants to take all that on, AND is going to walk into your shop willing to pass over a crisp £50 note for the privilege.

Just open them out and sell these items separately for a couple of quid or whatever - but no, apparently that's not an option.

Which is why these damn bags just sit there, unsold, year after year.

Funny way to run a business, but hey.

There were also a load of 1970s track pieces available - definitely Matchbox on the long carded pieces, though the other bits looked more like Corgi Rockets pieces, to my eye.

Either way, £50 to you, squire.

I made some small purchases and left, before the world's least enthusiastic shop assistant could go full Politics Section about the recent disturbances in Belfast, goaded on by a Facebook Live stream she was watching at top volume.

I may leave it a while before returning.

So... What moved me to do a purchase?

These, surprisingly.

It's funny how trailers always seem to be the least desirable releases of the Matchbox range, with unwanted examples of the Motorcycle Trailer cluttering up the pegs and dump bins last year and the year before, and the Speed Trapper trailer seeming to take the honours for a couple of years before that.

But they do add quite a lot of play value to a collection, and I've noticed that many of my recent Matchbox come with a towbar, soooo... I buckled and bought this Trawler Trailer.

In fact, having seen it and ignored it many times before, for some reason I specifically came back for it.

I know. Weird, huh?

Maybe I'm still kicking myself for passing up the Hitch & Haul Jeep and Trailer set early last year in The Entertainer (containing the same trailer, with the colours inverted) - I thought H&H were going to become a core line, but nope; we got one box worth, then no more.

More pics of this one out of the packaging at a later date!

This particular iteration of the Ford Police Interceptor was a new one on me - I'm familiar enough with the casting, but it's not a model I'd think of buying since the lack of detail makes it a bit unappealing, IMHO:

Just pretty bland.

But stay! This gunmetal grey release from 2021, apparently uniquely, has detailed front and rear tampos applied (at the expense of the usual emergency services tampos on the side), which rather lift the look of it.

Detailed headlights and a Ford badge on the front...

...and lights, trim and badging on the rear.

Much better!

Just goes to show how nice the castings are on this era of Matchbox, even if it's not always visible at first glance.

Hopefully more pics to come of this one too.

I briefly picked through the small selection of loose toys kept beside the till, and came away with this MB32 Nissan Prairie:

I had one of these new as a kid, which was all-over silver with huge NISSAN lettering on the lower half, which always looked kinda out of place. I sold it on, a while ago.

This two-tone blue over silver example is apparently the first release of the casting, and - other than a few paint chips - looks not too bad.

I do love those 8-dot wheels.

Ok value for £1, I thought.

And also this:

It's the MB42 Mercedes Container Truck.

I picked up a so-so example of this one a few months back at the market, as the container was perfect even though the truck was a bit bashed. 

Here, the container wasn't great but the truck looked perfect.

Cogs started to turn in my mind.

But I hadn't realised they're different!

A black base paired with a NYK stickered container is PERIOD INCORRECT, and will no doubt get me defenestrated at the next meeting of the Matchbox Pedants' Guild.

Oh well. It was also only £1.

I also noticed that there is a paint chip on the back corner of the cab on the newly acquired version, and I'm trying very very hard not to think about whether I did that by slinging it casually into my pocket at the counter, in my efforts to avoid being party to a racism.

I also had overlooked the UK number plate on the back of this casting - HKP729R.

Fictional, of course (though KP was a Maidstone registration series) - but a nice touch all the same.

So, not much to get very excited about - but ain't that just the way it goes, sometimes?

[bunglebus]

I got one of those containers in the job lot of various bits the other day, I can sling it in the Cogbox if you want it

[sierraman]

Have the Entertainer got any fresh stock in yet? 

[Split_Pin]

I've had one of those Merc Trucks since I was really small, with a 'Matchbox' container, but I've never noticed the reg plate. That's strange as I love all the Superfast reg plates and on some SuperKings too. I've checked though and they're all ficticious.

[IronStar]

Thanks for looking for Florida for me @Datsuncog, much appreciated even if you didn’t find it!

[Split_Pin]

3 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

I've had one of those Merc Trucks since I was really small, with a 'Matchbox' container, but I've never noticed the reg plate. That's strange as I love all the Superfast reg plates and on some SuperKings too. I've checked though and they're all ficticious.

Edit, no they're not!

RSH16S, on the Bedford TM Horsebox, belongs to a yellow Renault. It's a Scottish Borders mark too.

KCF 17W, on the Volvo F10 Flatbed, is on a Honda CZ motorbike.

KCF188W, on the Rover SD1, belonged to a beige 1.6 Ford, probably a Cortina

[flat4alfa]

LS 50-B  (1973)  ARTICULATED TRUCK



GTD 237M on the trailer

Arrrrrgghhhh!!!

[sheffcortinacentre]

3 hours ago, sierraman said:

Have the Entertainer got any fresh stock in yet? 

Tesco in wicker had to full hot wheels tub &  an overflowing matchbox one!!!!! This evening.

[Datsuncog]

13 hours ago, sierraman said:

Have the Entertainer got any fresh stock in yet? 

Not much in the Belfast store, anyway - their Hot Wheels are mostly that recent-ish mix containing the BMW E30 Touring and Jaguar Mk1; but most other retailers like Poundland and Home Bargains are stocking the same models, but for less.

Entertainer's Matchbox mainlines are now just down to the dregs of the case from the very start of the year, the one with the metallic green '66 Dodge Charger and pale blue Subaru Forester - but mostly it's just the Fire Dasher fire engines and eStar electric delivery vans left, plus some of the unflushable Push 'N' Pullers from 2023.

They did have a new supply of Moving Parts in last month, but only two of each model - and they were all gone within a fortnight.

Plenty of those very orange premium 70th Anniversary models left over, but dear enough at £7 and not all that appealing.

I'd say the situation could quickly change in the next few weeks though - toy shops seem to be discounting their summer stuff like paddling pools and badminton sets, presumably to get some space for the inevitable Christmas stock, so I'd imagine September will bring a load of new stuff.

Here's hoping, anyway!

 

10 hours ago, sheffcortinacentre said:

Tesco in wicker had to full hot wheels tub &  an overflowing matchbox one!!!!! This evening.

Loads in the Carrick Tesco Extra too, though sadly they all seem to be an old case from last year!

Someone must have found them on a shelf somewhere.

Still, I guess a chance to pick up any items missed out on previously - and with any luck, once some new cases come through there should still be somewhere locally to pick up mainlines.

[Spottedlaurel]

Might have found an excuse to revisit King Jouet today, so if there any requests for Majorettes please let me know ASAP. Reputedly there is a Mk2 Escort in the range, but I haven't yet seen any.....

[flat4alfa]

I don’t think it has been released yet?  This was the pre-prod at Nuremberg Fair in February

It’s in the catalogue, but not seen a photo of it in any release packaging 

[bunglebus]

CMC delivery!

Back of the box somewhat ruined with modern info and barcode

Skippy doesn't seem to mind though

Golden Jacks present and correct 

Plus destructions and stickers which will never be applied

Luckily, I have a very nice original thanks to the bargain job lot from a few months ago

Different font on the base for some reason 

[bunglebus]

Not the only boxed blue car to arrive today though - but this one has an unexpected twist

Box a bit tired, car looks spotless - there was only one pic of the car, still in the box, in the listing

Hang on, it's not a Polistil at all!

Well that's odd. Probably a better find than a Polistil but I'm slightly confused now!

 

[Datsuncog]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

I'm slightly confused now!

Nice Jag!!

I'm going to guess it's perhaps been an estate disposal, where someone else has been given the thankless task of putting all of dear departed Great Uncle Jimbob's little toy cars back in the boxes he carefully stored in the attic. Probably the same as all those pre-opened Matchbox and Majorette available at the market early last year, where the boxes and models didn't quite match up...

Someone, somewhere will be opening a dispute with eBay when their boxed 'Tomica Dandy XJ6' turns out to be a Polistil on arrival...

[danthecapriman]

Aren’t those Tomica’s worth a good bit of coin!? You might be quids in!😄

[Datsuncog]

I'd say the Tomica is a lot more desirable than the Polistil, yeah.

[Urko]

I remember getting one of those Corgi Hunters for birthday/Christmas as a kid - I spent ages religiously applying the transfers to the exact right places in accordance with the diagram.  IIRC the wheels could be interchanged with the similarly equipped Rover P6.

[junkyarddog]

Also means somebody somewhere has probably got a Tomica box with a Polistil Jaguar in it.😁

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

A man named Rich from Essex will be elated when his boxed 'Tomica Dandy XJ6' turns out to be that Polistil

EFA

[Datsuncog]

So despite dire warnings of OMG RIOTS in Belfast, reports of city centre shops keeping their shutters down, and instructions for staff to work from home today, I laughed in the face of danger and went into the market anyway.

Mainly because I was out of coffee.

You'll no doubt be relieved/ disappointed to learn that, once again, there wasn't a lot to get excited about.

The main Tat Stall had some older stuff, but some of it was pretty far gone and all of it was £5.

Interesting to see that Atlas Dinky repros are now turning up playworn, with broken windscreens and no tyres (the blue Thunderbird in the foreground).

Les Schtroumpfs were still knocking about in their Bburagos; unusual, yes, but not my thing.

The Eligors and similar that we saw a fortnight ago were also still around, for £5:

Meanwhile, the usual Days Gone had been bumped this week to make room for EFE buses and trucks on the little folding table off to the side:

A French tourist was very excited about these, and kept asking me, "These are two Euro, right? Only two Euro?"

Bless.

Meanwhile, Alan's 50p Tray of Legend wasn't quite hitting the spot:

Not much new, and it's mostly rubbishy stuff or terminally broken items. Though that yellow Edocar lorry was still there, I now realise.

Over at one of the other antique stalls, it seems that Secretary of State Hilary Benn's derisive laughter at their pricing policies during his visit the other week has prompted a 2-for-£5 rethink:

But still - nah, nothing doing.

I did get some coffee, though. ☺️

[bunglebus]

2 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

Aren’t those Tomica’s worth a good bit of coin!? You might be quids in!😄

D'ya think?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155583587101?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=sARwjbfvR3-&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=X5RtjeAxSP-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[flat4alfa]

[flat4alfa]

This just arrived in my mailbox:

BATMOBILE PRE-ORDER 267 - Batmobile with Batman and Robin - Gloss Black Edition £39.99 (Shipping October 2024)

Which means ~3 months earlier than the subscriber (matt black) edition in January, which is stated as £30.

I expected it to be more than 40 quid?  What with the licencing etc

According to ToyMart, the originals box mint values are

Oh dear.  What to do?  I know! Ignore it.

[Datsuncog]

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

Uncanny likeness, that...

[AndyW201]

At long flipping last, an outlet near me has finally got some desirable and recent Hot Wheels in. More reasons to shop at Morrisons indeed...

This Audi was weirdly the only long card in a sea of short cards. I quite like the baby-poo  colour, reminds me very much of my Allegro's Antique gold hue.

I keep on saying that I'm going to cut down on Hot Wheels buying, especially on castings that I've already got quite a few of. I'm not doing very well on that score, especially with beauties like this Carrera casting. Gorgeous in red!

The stars of this haul for me though are the Jag and the Beemer,

Need a lie down now...

[Datsuncog]

Fear not, I didn't come away totally bereft of diecast this morning...

I cracked upon seeing that Eligor Peugeot 404 Break taxicab back on the stall.

I used to have a black police version but sold it on, to my current annoyance.

I'm a bit of a sucker for the opening tailgate, even if it is a little on le shonk.

Paintwork is a smidge, erm, approximate - but hey, it's of its time.

It did come with a double-sided fold-out catalogue/ poster inside the box, which to be fair is nearly worth the asking price in its own right.

Also, Market Blokey kinda looked like he could use a sale - the market was pretty dead today, no doubt spurred on by a mix of peak holiday times and the apparent threat of imminent ultraviolence.

I'd been talking to Colin on the Irish Tat stall a few weeks back, and he'd asked me whether it was worth him getting any of the Matchbox Moving Parts range in, since he'd been offered some by his distributor. I answered enthusiastically in the affirmative, and he said it'd probably be a couple of weeks before they arrived. But - surprise - they showed up early, and he sold nearly all of them last week, including several of the lovely dark green VW Type 3 Fastbacks.

Meh.

He says he'll try to get another lot in, as they've sold surprisingly fast.

As it was, he still had a couple of Broncos left from the 2024 release box, plus some other older releases - so I took a Bronco, and a Ford Crown Victoria taxicab.

Conveniently, I'd been half-thinking of buying both of these from the Smithfield model shop, but Colin had them out for slightly less - and better yet, no monies changed hands as I'd brought with me a couple of surplus Matchbox and Hot Wheels - more of those green RS2000s that he says sell well for him, plus a couple of Golf GTis, Volvo 240s and Morris Minors that may have come from the reduced £1.49 stock in Poundstretcher.

Hey, everyone's a winner here.

I'm not mad into US pickups, but this '78 Bronco is pretty nice, and looks very sharp.

The body is metal but the rear canopy is plastic - and y'know, it actually looks all the better for it.

Some speckling through the printed white decal, though - but overall, not bad.

Engine looks good, and the bonnet swings open very nicely. As with the AMC Javelin, a bit of extra detail to the front end would have been even better.

Underneath is basic enough, but it's a lovely little model with a nice weighty feel to the hand. A good choice.

The Crown Vic is a slightly older release, with some detailed side printing.

It captures the real car's lines not too badly, given the parameters involved...

...of trying to pull off the rather complex move of providing opening rear doors. The B-post is kinda clunky, but marks for trying, nonetheless.

Yup, they open. Hop on in.

The doors are made of oversprayed plastic and aren't too difficult to open and close with a fingernail - but some compromises have had to occur with the interior to obtain this level of functionality.

Mounting posts are visible on the base, but overall this is quite a well rendered little toy.

However it's not the first Crown Vic cab in the Matchbox lineup...

There's actually a surprising amount of commonality with the earlier mainline - I think the Moving Parts version may well have drawn on the same initial tooling designs before being modified.

Nice. Close to getting my own little fleet going now.

Happy Friday, kids.

[flat4alfa]

[Datsuncog]

Y'know, after ten years I didn't think I was in the market for a new avatar - but that's awesome!