Shite in Miniature II

[danthecapriman]

18 minutes ago, Remspoor said:

In reality they were as shown on this image. Blue/Yellow. That was an obligatory sign for Spanish vehicles towing a trailer. This included cars too.

Ah, I always wondered what the sign was actually for. Lots of the artics and drawbar trucks in that Spanish collection of models trucks seem to have them fitted but I couldn’t find out why!

[MiniMinorMk3]

On 09/08/2024 at 10:37, bunglebus said:

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!

 

 

On 09/08/2024 at 10:58, danthecapriman said:

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

 

On 09/08/2024 at 11:02, Datsuncog said:

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

 

 

I could see straight away that was a Tomica. They just look more solid and heavier than any other contemporary model.

The polistil looks and feels a lot lighter due to more plastic being used in the construction.

And maybe it was a three way swap and the Tomica box buyer will get a Solido version, and the Solido buyer will get the Polistil?

 

When sold I got £50 for my boxed Tomica, the Polistil made £15, the blue Solido made £20 and the Solido Hi-Fi £10. 

 

I've been to a few auctions were stuff is wrongly boxed. One that comes to mind was an auction with a big collection of Brooklins. I found 10 that were mixed up between different lots and let the auctioneers know of their mistakes. I managed to convince them to swop a couple, but just avoided the lots were the wrong cars were still in the wrong boxes. It always pays to go to the auction and view before bidding, as it happens a lot when a large collection has been in and out of boxes during it's life. I have a couple of large boxes full of models awaiting the arrival of another wrongly boxed model to do a box exchange.

 

 

 

[danthecapriman]

1 hour ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

 

 

 

 

I could see straight away that was a Tomica. They just look more solid and heavier than any other contemporary model.

The polistil looks and feels a lot lighter due to more plastic being used in the construction.

And maybe it was a three way swap and the Tomica box buyer will get a Solido version, and the Solido buyer will get the Polistil?

 

When sold I got £50 for my boxed Tomica, the Polistil made £15, the blue Solido made £20 and the Solido Hi-Fi £10. 

 

I've been to a few auctions were stuff is wrongly boxed. One that comes to mind was an auction with a big collection of Brooklins. I found 10 that were mixed up between different lots and let the auctioneers know of their mistakes. I managed to convince them to swop a couple, but just avoided the lots were the wrong cars were still in the wrong boxes. It always pays to go to the auction and view before bidding, as it happens a lot when a large collection has been in and out of boxes during it's life. I have a couple of large boxes full of models awaiting the arrival of another wrongly boxed model to do a box exchange.

 

 

 

It happens a fair bit with model railway stuff too, especially if it’s something like a mk1 coach that has lots of variations. The label might say one thing but if it’s an estate clearance or something most people won’t know the differences so just shove what looks about right in a box that labelled about right and punt it off to auctions or eBay. You’ve got to be a bit careful sometimes as what it’s listed and labelled as doesn’t match what it exactly is. 
Sometimes though you can keep quiet and get a bargain that way if you have a good look first!

[Remspoor]

2 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

Ah, I always wondered what the sign was actually for. Lots of the artics and drawbar trucks in that Spanish collection of models trucks seem to have them fitted but I couldn’t find out why!

The strange thing is I cannot find any information on them. No name or when the requirement was withdrawn.

[IronStar]

Went to a toy museum yesterday. Thought you lot might like these.

 

[Remspoor]

@danthecapriman buried in this Spanish forum it explains in post 8 https://forocoches.com/foro/showthread.php?t=8331796#post388962895

Quote

El triángulo amarillo dentro del cuadrado azul, indica que lleva remolque.
El cuadrado amarillo, indica que tiene autorización ese vehículo para superar la altura máxima permitida

The yellow triangle inside the blue square indicates that the vehicle is towing a trailer.
The yellow square indicates that the vehicle is authorised to exceed the maximum permitted height.

The image at the start shows a cab with both  signs. That something new to me a yellow square is different to the yellow triangle. I do not know what the permitted height was and I still cannot find what the name of them is. I expect they were withdrawn just after Spain joined the EU.

[danthecapriman]

1 hour ago, Remspoor said:

@danthecapriman buried in this Spanish forum it explains in post 8 https://forocoches.com/foro/showthread.php?t=8331796#post388962895

The yellow triangle inside the blue square indicates that the vehicle is towing a trailer.
The yellow square indicates that the vehicle is authorised to exceed the maximum permitted height.

The image at the start shows a cab with both  signs. That something new to me a yellow square is different to the yellow triangle. I do not know what the permitted height was and I still cannot find what the name of them is. I expect they were withdrawn just after Spain joined the EU.

Interesting. I wonder why they bothered!? We didn’t really do anything like that here. I suppose the EU didn’t see it as a worthwhile thing either!

[bunglebus]

3 hours ago, IronStar said:

That's really cool, I have a feeling the top flips over so it can be a saloon or cabrio. Could be wrong though

Edit: yes

Cheap:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185904730890?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=7DzcfR6oStW&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=X5RtjeAxSP-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[IronStar]

1 hour ago, danthecapriman said:

Interesting. I wonder why they bothered!? We didn’t really do anything like that here. I suppose the EU didn’t see it as a worthwhile thing either!

It strikes me like something very akin to Angles Mortes stickers for vehicles entering France.

17 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

That's really cool, I have a feeling the top flips over so it can be a saloon or cabrio. Could be wrong though

Edit: yes

Cheap:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185904730890?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=7DzcfR6oStW&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=X5RtjeAxSP-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

That’s so cool, but how much?! 😳

[Spottedlaurel]

On 10/08/2024 at 18:35, bunglebus said:

Those Buttons ones are usually in nice condition as they were kept in the packaging, all the others suffer from chips really badly...........

The Majorette looks a little 'off' to me, is it the roof being too flat?

[bunglebus]

3 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

The Majorette looks a little 'off' to me, is it the roof being too flat?

It's a 1302 which was never the best proportioned Beetle to start with (bulbous front wings and bonnet covering McPherson front suspension instead of torsion bars)

I think the curve of the bonnet is wrong, like it's got a kink in it. Beetles are very hard to recreate correctly, all the usual suspects are out of whack a bit I reckon

Corgi windscreen pillars are too square and bonnet too wide

Matchbox isn't bad although the front bumper is awful, and I can't work out if it's a '67 with the wrong bumpers or a '68 with the wrong rear lights and decklid

The Husky's not a bad effort other than the slightly too square door windows

I reckon the bigger Corgi 1200 is the best of the bunch, but then it's probably slightly easier going upscale a bit

Majorette still didn't get it right with their new oval window casting - rear edge of the bonnet should be almost against the bottom of the windscreen, not a foot in front of it

 

[Tenmil Socket]

Does anyone have a Hot Wheels ‘Cheetah’?

[sierraman]

24 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Does anyone have a Hot Wheels ‘Cheetah’?

What’s it look like? 

[Tenmil Socket]

Was originally called ‘Cheetah’ but later changed to ‘Python’.

 

[bunglebus]

2 hours ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Does anyone have a Hot Wheels ‘Cheetah’?

As above, yes but no - finding one still with Cheetah on the base would probably allow you to retire*

Had a very sweaty walk into town today while my MoT was being done, found actual cars in Oxfam - one of the few charity shops here that has them, and despite just having one of the dreaded "boutique" revamps, there were still baskets of cars for 49p

Another Crack-Ups Bumper Thumper to be customised 

One of the micro Hot Wheels that are quite hard to find

In the post we have a Welly Lupo, kinda special as it's a pull-back one

And she doesn't have many

From Ana's Facebook page we have a Matchbox Nissan Junior

And this Team Transport which as far as I know never made it to these shores

[Tenmil Socket]

Anyone any idea what the circled car is? They're being sold locally for £1.10 each.

 

Or all of them for £30.

[bramz7]

Another (far too big) Norev delivery, average price of these including shipping was £10 each, which isn't bad given how rare some of them are. 

The Golf and Boxter are very well done. 

There is a notable drop off in perceived quality with plastic base plates over the 'metal' ones. 

My two personal favourites from this delivery. The V6 Clio is very hard to find in any guise, same goes for the stock 350Z. Both well worth the asking price. 

This shows how the scale has reduced in times recent. The Clio is probably nearer 1/55 whereas the 5 is 1/64. 

[bunglebus]

33 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Anyone any idea what the circled car is? They're being sold locally for £1.10 each.

Loop Coupe from a Monster Trucks glow in the dark set

The Jaded is better anyway

[Remspoor]

19 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

I wonder why they bothered!

Spain is diffent?

Fascist (controlling) regime?

Spain will soon be making the V16 light, for roadside  emergencies, compulsory. Thus doing away with warning triangles.  No other country will use them. Two warning triangles in Spain two were needed.  I therefore conclude that Spain is certainly different.🙂

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Question - how do you all store loose diecast? For years, most of my loose models have been wrapped in kitchen roll/loo roll and stuffed into shoe boxes and then placed into under-bed lidded plastic storage boxes. 

Longbridge Jr has persuaded me to explore the boxes this morning and I've noticed that several models have some spidering under the paint. 

Our Cornish climate is pretty damp at the best of times. Our house isn't particularly damp though. 

Any suggestions? Obviously it's too late for those models to be mint again, which is really frustrating. I guess plastic or bubble wrap would be better/retain less moisture? I wonder whether it's worth sourcing some moisture absorption packs or something? 

Any suggestions welcomed. 

Edit:

On reflection, I reckon plastic wouldn't be much cop for long-term storage either as it doesn't allow air flow. 

Load of silica gel packs? 

Edit again:

Even my previously mint condition early 80s Ertl General Lee has a tiny bit of spidering on the bonnet now. FFS.

I definitely need to address this ASAP. 

 

[bunglebus]

20 hours ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Anyone any idea what the circled car is? They're being sold locally for £1.10 each.

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

23 hours ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Was originally called ‘Cheetah’ but later changed to ‘Python’.

 

 

21 hours ago, bunglebus said:

As above, yes but no - finding one still with Cheetah on the base would probably allow you to retire*

 

 

 

Story of the Cheetah here, and the other 9 most collectable Hot Wheels.

10 Most Expensive Hot Wheels – Autowise

 

And here's the car that caused the name change

Bill Thomas Cheetah - Wikipedia

[flat4alfa]

On 12/08/2024 at 11:05, Tenmil Socket said:

Does anyone have a Hot Wheels ‘Cheetah’?

No chance. Just 6 were made and are worth $10k (loose!) to US collectors

It would be easier to find a Python on Cheetah card, but that would still break the bank 

There is a reasonable Python here

The reason for the change was Mattel hadn’t checked that the name was trademarked to this Corvette-engined race car series, tuned up to 520 HP yet retaining its front drum brakes. Yes you read that right

[flat4alfa]

You could, however, have a Hot Wheels based on the Bill Thomas Cheetah.   It not quite a direct model, but the intention was definitely there as the initial release for 1998 was done in Cheetah Race Car #4 livery

As this casting was part of the 2004 'Final Run' series, it can't be re-released as the tooling was destroyed.  

So there is always the chance a new release could be on the cards - if the Thomas estate allows it (Bill Thomas died in 2009).  I'd like one in that Alan Green deep yellow colour please, Cheetah chassis #3

There was a Cheetah slot car back here at one time, made by Strombecker (Canada) when they had links to Polistil.  I got it running very well - and then promptly sold it for too little.  Can't find a photo right now ,so have a catalogue entry

[bunglebus]

Looks like mine

 

[flat4alfa]

For the first time in a long while (I think only the second this year...) I wandered about a car boot sale on Sunday.  I went out to Halfords to get an inner tube, and just sort of accidentally walked into one nearby.

The Beetle is a Husky but it doesn't have the manufacturers logo on the base, for some reason.  The Renault 20 is a Solido Norev, never seen one before.  Finally got hold of a blue Matchbox Mercedes 220.  Didn't really need any of the others.

I shouldn't be allowed out on my own

 

[sierraman]

1 hour ago, Dick Longbridge said:

Question - how do you all store loose diecast? For years, most of my loose models have been wrapped in kitchen roll/loo roll and stuffed into shoe boxes and then placed into under-bed lidded plastic storage boxes. 

Longbridge Jr has persuaded me to explore the boxes this morning and I've noticed that several models have some spidering under the paint. 

Our Cornish climate is pretty damp at the best of times. Our house isn't particularly damp though. 

Any suggestions? Obviously it's too late for those models to be mint again, which is really frustrating. I guess plastic or bubble wrap would be better/retain less moisture? I wonder whether it's worth sourcing some moisture absorption packs or something? 

Any suggestions welcomed. 

Edit:

On reflection, I reckon plastic wouldn't be much cop for long-term storage either as it doesn't allow air flow. 

Load of silica gel packs? 

Edit again:

Even my previously mint condition early 80s Ertl General Lee has a tiny bit of spidering on the bonnet now. FFS.

I definitely need to address this ASAP. 

 

I keep mine in plastic/cardboard boxes, they seem ok but then it’s pretty dry in my loft. 

[Tenmil Socket]

Check out this Fiesta!

 

[bunglebus]

I have a Cat-A-Pult too

 

[bunglebus]

20 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

The Beetle is a Husky but it doesn't have the manufacturers logo on the base, for some reason.  

That'll be a very early Corgi Juniors then - the Husky logo was removed and a Corgi sticker used instead. Very nice find.

I have a blank base XJ6