Shite in Miniature II

[Christine]

Careful in that tunnel now

[Christine]

Fail wrong thread!

[AndyW201]

Had a delivery today. I dont mind admitting I've been more than a little excited over this, even though it's really little more than a toy.

This is the Matchbox car that, circa 1986, I hoped and prayed they'd do. I already loved the Astra GTE and XR3i cabriolet they did at that time, and an XR2 would have gone great with those. Still, better late than never!

Not mad keen on those wheels, but overall, it looks a little belter.

Ah, screw it, I'm going to  have to actually get this one out of the card aren't I?

Quite clever making the lower section in plastic (presumably incorporating the interior unit?), meaning the bumpers and body kit look more realistic than painted bits.

The bumper and front valance are faithful to the real thing. Shame the front spots are missing but I suppose theyd be too fiddly to replicate properly at this scale and price point.

The rear end looks really good, note the obligitory big bore pipe!

Nice attempt at the horseshoe rear spoiler and rear wiper.

Like 1980s Majorettes, there is junk in the trunk, looks like my old Philips Roller from the '80s... 

Naturally, interior detail is a bit rudimentary, but the dash does look Fiesta-ish.

Another good thing is that this is another toy/model (delete as appropriate) of a real car I owned, as Mk2 Fiestas are unbelievably hard to get/expensive in miniature. After having 2 shite cars after I passed my test, I wanted something in actual nice condition, and a bit sporty. Being the early '90s and in the middle of the period of the TWOCing problem in this country, and crazy premiums on hot hatches for young drivers, I couldnt afford to insure an XR2,  (£1200 for a 19 year old back in 1993!) so settled for an immaculate low mileage white 1.4 S, which was the next best thing.

With thanks to AliExpress again, (prices for these on ebay are stratospheric) for taking me back to my teens for a while.

Just need Corgi to pull their finger out and get their Vanguards Mk2, that they've had in the pipeline for ages, out now!

[AndyW201]

This was also in the same 2025 case as the Fiesta, so as I've got equally fuck-all chance of finding one of these in the shops as the Fiesta, I plumped for this to make up the postage,

I was a big fan of the blue 240, it seemed a nice realistic colour that loads of 240s came in, and the same goes for this nice ruby red version. Looks like a slight bronze tint on the glazing on this one, which looks 'period'.

Shame about those wheels (again), surely their hubcap wheels would be more suitable both in style and scale, but its still a nice looking thing. Little details like the moulded in mudflaps please me...

Like on the blue one, I love the grille and headlamp washer detail,

And the rear detail,

[danthecapriman]

Christ, I just had a look on eBay at those Fiesta’s!! Insanity!

Looks a nice little thing though if you can get it at a normal price.

[bunglebus]

32 minutes ago, AndyW201 said:

Like 1980s Majorettes, there is junk in the trunk, looks like my old Philips Roller from the '80s... 

Do we think this will come in with/without versions, like the MK1 Golf, VW T3 etc?

[sierraman]

9 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

Christ, I just had a look on eBay at those Fiesta’s!! Insanity!

Looks a nice little thing though if you can get it at a normal price.

Not a prayer we’ll see those in U.K. I reckon. 

[danthecapriman]

50 minutes ago, sierraman said:

Not a prayer we’ll see those in U.K. I reckon. 

I don’t think we’ll see them make it onto the pegs, no. They’ll all get harvested from the boxes and shoved straight on eBay. 
 

I still haven’t seen the black Lincoln, Jag or any like that on the shelves here.

[Tenmil Socket]

11 hours ago, AndyW201 said:

Had a delivery today. I dont mind admitting I've been more than a little excited over this, even though it's really little more than a toy.

This is the Matchbox car that, circa 1986, I hoped and prayed they'd do. I already loved the Astra GTE and XR3i cabriolet they did at that time, and an XR2 would have gone great with those. Still, better late than never!

Not mad keen on those wheels, but overall, it looks a little belter.

Ah, screw it, I'm going to  have to actually get this one out of the card aren't I?

Quite clever making the lower section in plastic (presumably incorporating the interior unit?), meaning the bumpers and body kit look more realistic than painted bits.

The bumper and front valance are faithful to the real thing. Shame the front spots are missing but I suppose theyd be too fiddly to replicate properly at this scale and price point.

The rear end looks really good, note the obligitory big bore pipe!

Nice attempt at the horseshoe rear spoiler and rear wiper.

Like 1980s Majorettes, there is junk in the trunk, looks like my old Philips Roller from the '80s... 

Naturally, interior detail is a bit rudimentary, but the dash does look Fiesta-ish.

Another good thing is that this is another toy/model (delete as appropriate) of a real car I owned, as Mk2 Fiestas are unbelievably hard to get/expensive in miniature. After having 2 shite cars after I passed my test, I wanted something in actual nice condition, and a bit sporty. Being the early '90s and in the middle of the period of the TWOCing problem in this country, and crazy premiums on hot hatches for young drivers, I couldnt afford to insure an XR2,  (£1200 for a 19 year old back in 1993!) so settled for an immaculate low mileage white 1.4 S, which was the next best thing.

With thanks to AliExpress again, (prices for these on ebay are stratospheric) for taking me back to my teens for a while.

Just need Corgi to pull their finger out and get their Vanguards Mk2, that they've had in the pipeline for ages, out now!

That needs pepperpots!

I was searching Ali Express for some and came across this which I had to share...

[sierraman]

1 hour ago, danthecapriman said:

I don’t think we’ll see them make it onto the pegs, no. They’ll all get harvested from the boxes and shoved straight on eBay. 
 

I still haven’t seen the black Lincoln, Jag or any like that on the shelves here.

100%. The dreadful supply system in the U.K. will also see to that as well. I suspect as well Mattel knowing the huge appetite for them will limit supply further fuelling this. 

[AndyW201]

11 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Do we think this will come in with/without versions, like the MK1 Golf, VW T3 etc?

Aye, when I first saw pics of it, I thought it odd that it didnt have a parcel shelf. So like you say, I wonder if there'll be with shelf/ no shelf versions. I wonder too if there's a little CVH or even Zetec hidden under that bonnet waiting for it to be opened up...

Judging by the Matchbox habit over here of giving us one case then missing one out, its possible we'll get the metallic green version over here, but as we all know, will they ever get on the pegs?

[andy18s]

17 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Called into a Tesco today and found a new batch of Hot Wheels 

Treasure hunt 

Yay, Goldbug

Yay,another Subaru I'll never find over here. I got lucky finding the black Audi quattro and the safari 911 here last month.

[sierraman]

39 minutes ago, AndyW201 said:

Aye, when I first saw pics of it, I thought it odd that it didnt have a parcel shelf. So like you say, I wonder if there'll be with shelf/ no shelf versions. I wonder too if there's a little CVH or even Zetec hidden under that bonnet waiting for it to be opened up...

Judging by the Matchbox habit over here of giving us one case then missing one out, its possible we'll get the metallic green version over here, but as we all know, will they ever get on the pegs?

I think more likely it’ll get one or two versions as above then go as a collectors series, they’d be daft not to do that as people will pay it.

I can see the rationale around where if you found some you’d buy the lot and let someone pay you £25 a piece for them however but I suspect the shops are playing a part in that. Root 3 of them out and sell on eBay and it’s likely equivalent to a days wage if you are working in the Entertainer. Fairly sure though if their employers cottoned on to this they’d probably be rewarded with the sack though! 😂

[bunglebus]

54 minutes ago, andy18s said:

Yay,another Subaru I'll never find over here. I got lucky finding the black Audi quattro and the safari 911 here last month.

Entertainer delivery day today so if there are any requests let me know and I'll keep an eye out, no problem 

[MiniMinorMk3]

16 hours ago, sheffcortinacentre said:

I've always been disappointed with my purple velvet MK3 cortina 2000E I've always considered it bloated ,I presume others do to by lack of sales not helped by price too.

That Cortina is one of 600. It is typical of a hand made white metal model from the 1990s. Most were created by men in sheds carving a brass master that was then used to create the moulds. They are worth about £200-£300 on the second hand market.

[andy18s]

If there's the new Subaru I'd be grateful if you could grab 1 or 2..Thanks

[MiniMinorMk3]

16 hours ago, Remspoor said:

That is because it is on false plates.

It is from the Purple Capri.

Plates changed every year

[MiniMinorMk3]

On 05/11/2024 at 10:50, sierraman said:

Where do people find these job lots? On eBay they seem to go for insane money on stuff that I’d have consigned to the recycling bin, or massive job lots going for daft money but when you look they’re all the really undesirable items like the MB Personnel Carrier. 

Try auction houses for job lots, especially local auctions were a box of toys has been found that the grand kids would have played with.

Here's a lot coming up at Vectis soon with a low estimate of £40-£50

Dinky, Husky, Corgi, Matchbox, Britains and similar, a large quantity of unboxed comprising of Mi

 

If you want your email inbox bombarded with auctions then register with the Saleroom (or one of the other auction platforms) where you can select what you get notifications for.

[MiniMinorMk3]

20 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

They are the worst, yes! Days Gone and the Yesteryears stuff seem to be absolutely everywhere. It’s unusual to get a job lot that doesn’t have at least one or two in there, or those awful Corgi vintage things they did that are just the cheapest nastiest looking things ever. 
They just end up back on eBay! Take whatever you can get from them!

 

21 hours ago, sierraman said:

I had that a while ago - a box full of old diecast cars. Turned out it was a pile of old Dayz Gone By, had to break it to them it probably* wasn’t worth the square root of shit. 

Here's a diverse lot with some old Yesteryears in.

A small group of die-cast collectable vehicles including ; Corgi 259, 'Le Dandy' Coupe, Tr

[MiniMinorMk3]

After posting the pics of my Mk1 Cortina I noticed the headlamps where a bit mucky...

so I've had another go with the Painta Clean.

[MiniMinorMk3]

Mk2 Cortina Clean.

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Being a screw base car I dismantled to Cortina before cleaning.

Oddly both the interior and the windows has Taunus cast into them. 

The Mk2 has the same spot light set from the Mk1.

Base and tyres are in great condition.

Also the light blue piece is still by the off side front wheel to aid opening the bonnet.

On opening the bonnet we have a big mistake. The car is supposed to be a Lotus, but the engine casting looks like a pre-crossflow to me.

The box still has all it's end flap and a price sticker for 11/6 (57 1/2P)

Some non-flash pictures

By the way, this is another fictitious car. The No.7 entry in the 1968 Monte Carlo rally was the Mini Cooper of Timo Makinen and Paul Easter.

[sierraman]

31 minutes ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Try auction houses for job lots, especially local auctions were a box of toys has been found that the grand kids would have played with.

Here's a lot coming up at Vectis soon with a low estimate of £40-£50

Dinky, Husky, Corgi, Matchbox, Britains and similar, a large quantity of unboxed comprising of Mi

 

If you want your email inbox bombarded with auctions then register with the Saleroom (or one of the other auction platforms) where you can select what you get notifications for.

Pretty good value at £50 but it’s quickly nearer a ton out the door to your house. I’ll check the local ones good shout! 

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, andy18s said:

If there's the new Subaru I'd be grateful if you could grab 1 or 2..Thanks

Alakazam

[danthecapriman]

I made the decision to not bother with small scale vehicles anymore, and to actually sell off the majority of the ones I had but, I’m a massive fan of the Jeep Wagoneer/Gladiator/Cherokee, particularly the original front end types so I just had to have this for my collection of them!

@bunglebus posted a pic of one a while back which put me on to them! Spotted one this morning so naturally bagged it!

Im glad I did too, it’s such a lovely looking little thing. The box got torn open (life’s too short!) and to see it and hold it, it’s got a very similar look and feel to it as the old smaller Lesney vehicles had, from around the same era as the red Gladiator pickup they did. Quite small and delicate looking but nicely detailed at the same time. 
The only criticism really is that big bastard rivet post visible through the tailgate window! I wish they’d rethink doing this on cars like this as it does take away from the look a bit, or at least paint the thing a less obvious colour!

Definitely one to pick up if you see one.

[andy18s]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

Alakazam

Excellent,thanks.

What are the odds of finding another to keep it company in the package....?

[Christine]

BB i went back and got the 49p beetle,it belonged to Thomas ...  there were  3 others in the 49p box  , so i got those too .. shout if you want them ! )

[bunglebus]

33 minutes ago, andy18s said:

Excellent,thanks.

What are the odds of finding another to keep it company in the package....?

I'll keep an eye out, always looking around on my travels. There was only one in here

[bunglebus]

26 minutes ago, Christine said:

BB i went back and got the 49p beetle,it belonged to Thomas ...  there were  3 others in the 49p box  , so i got those too .. shout if you want them ! )

Sure, why not! I don't actually recognise it

[bunglebus]

Tekno Tekno Tekno Tekno!

Somewhat broken T1 fire truck arrived today, about the best example I'm likely to be able to afford. They did some lovely castings but they go for eye watering prices these days

Here's how it should look

[sierraman]

Before and After…