Shite in Miniature II

[andy18s]

1 hour ago, Tenmil Socket said:

That is glorious… it would have suited yellow when the road going version was new.

Does anyone know what the rarest Matchbox is of this era in this scale… and Corgi too?

I've seen a few of those kicking about,but never knew they were part of a set..

[sheffcortinacentre]

10 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Do you remember when moving parts used to be included at no extra cost?

I couldn't resist this really tidy Gruesome 

Tractor still has the tracks in place

I'd not seen this early Lesney Coach before

Impala is crying out for a strip and repaint

I often walk past the stalls selling train stuff, but I'm trying to get into the habit of checking them for hidden gems like this Majorette 

Only other Majo was a dog carrying Cherokee 

I picked this up thinking it was a Matchbox Powertrack, hopefully @flat4alfa will recognise it 

This I definitely can't ID but it was only 50p - anyone?

Escort was also in a junk tub so got rescued 

Alongside it was this Ant - a repaint surely?

It seems not

Husky cement mixer was unbroken enough to deserve a new home

I don't leave a good condition Studebaker behind either

I paid quite a lot for this Commer, but it just called out to me. Trans-O-Lite is great

Much more of a bargain was £1 for this overpainted but complete Thames

Same money netted me the unusual copper Caper Cart

There's a regular who has piles of Moving Parts for £2 each, can't argue with that!

Decent effort on engine detail too

This one was from elsewhere and has been very hard to find

You can just about see the flat four

Anniversary and Ultra Hots courtesy of @andrew e

Got this from the 356 seller, another that seems passed us by in the UK

I also picked up one of the A4 size Matchbox catalogues with the last of my shrapnel, as I spent a fair bit on just one other item...

Pantera is a TCR.

[AndyW201]

Had a mooch around the shops at the weekend, Just stayed local though, couldn't be arsed traipsing over to Smyths. Not much doing, really. Tesco had the usual early'25 Matchbox, the remainder seem to be struggling after the Fiestas had gone. Been tempted by the bright green Alfa SUV thing, but couldn't find anything else I fancied to make up the BOGOHP offer. The newish Hot Wheels cases also seem to be struggling now all the decent stuff has been picked over so I think it'll be a while until we see anything fresh in there. Most of the other peg space seems to be taken up by the blasted Mario Kart and Disney Cars stuff. Only HW Premiums were the Terra Trek ones and I was tempted by that Pajero, but I've already got a red mainline version, so I showed restraint. No offers on now either, so I'm glad I got that Supra & 4Runner  Team Transport set when I did.

B&M seem to have abandoned HW mainlines altogether, all that were there were 5 packs from a good 2-3 years ago and a couple of the Dominic Toretto silver series cars. Still got loads of the World Tour premiums in though, I think I'm the only one to have had any of them from there... 

Aldi are still selling mainlines though, and this week, there was a sprinkling of newish stuff that I hadn't seen before,

Thought this was one of the newer MX5s at first, but I grabbed it when I realised it was the Mk1 version. Still a great casting.

Don't think I've ever had a Hot Wheels NSX, but I thought it looks cool in white.

Don't normally go for Art Cars, but I do like the '53 Chevy, mainly for the extra detail under the clear bonnet,

Favourite find of the day was this, 

I do like an R32, and this one's nice and restrained for a F&F themed release. Very sparkly paint finish though,

[RoadworkUK]

15 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Yo @RoadworkUK I'd happily give that 14 a new home (and bonnet). I reckon my wife could knock one up on the 3d printer.

Noted, I'll keep it aside.

[MiniMinorMk3]

16 hours ago, andrew e said:

 

 

Number plates are from a Dinky

[Datsuncog]

On 01/02/2025 at 22:10, Mercedes210man said:

Evening all, 

Have been a lurker on here for about 3 years and decided tonight (after a rum or two) to show my collection of model tat! I've been collecting since I was about 12 so just over 20 years now. 

Have seen some great models on here over the years and thought I'd be able to document any purchases going forward on here. So here's a start.........

Belated welcome along - looks like a cracking and eclectic collection you've assembled, look forward to seeing more of it!

[eddyramrod]

I'm in need of a couple of Corgi parts...

https://www.toyhunteruk.co.uk/product/corgi-chrysler-imperial-convertible-no-246/

I need a left-hand door for the Chrysler Imperial convertible;

https://www.vectis.co.uk/d077-lot-1008425-corgi-toys-509-porsche-911-targa-police-car-export-issue-rijkspolitie-white#gallery-2

...and for the Porsche 911 Targa, I need the engine cover.  Doesn't matter if it's police or not.

Steve Flowers doesn't list either of these items, so I'll have to throw myself on the secondhand market.  I'm perfectly happy to buy one or both cars, however mangled, to get the parts I need, as long as the price is right.

Over to you!

[cms206]

Apologies if this is a pearoast, but just stumbled over this on instagram...

https://mesvoituresdecollection.fr/

Some sort of 1/64ish scale partwork from France.

 

[cms206]

Also new from Welly...

[bunglebus]

22 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

for the Porsche 911 Targa, I need the engine cover

Didn't I send you a complete Targa for spares?

[bunglebus]

9 minutes ago, cms206 said:

Also new from Welly...

I've been watching a few modern Wellys on eBay, not quite cheap enough to hit the button on most of them 

[MiniMinorMk3]

59 minutes ago, cms206 said:

Apologies if this is a pearoast, but just stumbled over this on instagram...

https://mesvoituresdecollection.fr/

Some sort of 1/64ish scale partwork from France.

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

1 hour ago, cms206 said:

Apologies if this is a pearoast, but just stumbled over this on instagram...

https://mesvoituresdecollection.fr/

Some sort of 1/64ish scale partwork from France.

 

Looks like they are Welly 1/64 models

From part work page

From Welly page

Welly Die Casting Factory Limited

[eddyramrod]

2 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Didn't I send you a complete Targa for spares?

You did, and many thanks; I decided it was good enough to restore.  It's now in my outside cupboard waiting for the weather to warm up so I can get some more paint on it.  This is what I need the engine cover for.

[eddyramrod]

Here is a box...

...a (non-)musical box.  Can you guess what is in it today?

It's a load of diecast spares!  Of course, what else would it be?

This lot cost me practically £100, bloody hell.  And they got one wrong.  I specifically asked for a bootlid for a Dinky Triumph 2000; they've sent a bonnet.  I mean... I'll keep the bonnet, because there's every chance I might need it in the future, but I have a Triumph here without a bootlid.  I've let them know.

[danthecapriman]

Not really had time for making any models with other stuff going on. Hopefully soon I can get a bit done though.

Still can’t find the MAN for making a mould of its grill so I’ll have to keep hunting for that. But,

I found these in a box of others.

My Spot-On cars. I’ve got parts to repair the P5 somewhere so that one can be restored. There’s a Commer van around somewhere too.

 
The Corgi Major Ecurie Ecosse transporter turned up in another box that was in the conservatory. Generally pretty good but needs a good wash so I’ll give it one this afternoon.

 
And one I’ve wanted to dig into for a long time now!    
That huge Triang BMC FFK tipper I found in a job lot ages ago. It looks awful, and it’s absolutely filthy from (by the looks of it) many years working and living in someone’s sand pit hauling sand and the inevitable cat turds😆

But, I’m sure it’s all good enough to restore, so I’ll give it a was too then it can go in the garage for strip down. 
Im pretty sure the glazing is actually ok just filthy and dropped down inside the cab.

[Split_Pin]

8 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Not really had time for making any models with other stuff going on. Hopefully soon I can get a bit done though.

Still can’t find the MAN for making a mould of its grill so I’ll have to keep hunting for that. But,

I found these in a box of others.

My Spot-On cars. I’ve got parts to repair the P5 somewhere so that one can be restored. There’s a Commer van around somewhere too.

 
The Corgi Major Ecurie Ecosse transporter turned up in another box that was in the conservatory. Generally pretty good but needs a good wash so I’ll give it one this afternoon.

 
And one I’ve wanted to dig into for a long time now!    
That huge Triang BMC FFK tipper I found in a job lot ages ago. It looks awful, and it’s absolutely filthy from (by the looks of it) many years working and living in someone’s sand pit hauling sand and the inevitable cat turds😆

But, I’m sure it’s all good enough to restore, so I’ll give it a was too then it can go in the garage for strip down. 
Im pretty sure the glazing is actually ok just filthy and dropped down inside the cab.

That FFK looks eminently saveable 👍

[danthecapriman]

7 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

That FFK looks eminently saveable 👍

It’s in the sink soaking for a bit, it’s absolutely full of sand.

it is pretty good other than the paint. So far I’ve only found the hinge on the plastic tipper body broken which someone’s fixed with a blob of no more nails or something. The bed’s been tied down to the chassis with some old wire which I’ll cut off.

[MiniMinorMk3]

Small amount of progress on the TR7

Body and parts after second go in the tin foil, followed by a vigorous brushing with a wire brush.

There's still a few small bits of teh original red, but it's all inside so won't notice once completed.

Had a first attempt at making a screen by taping some stiff clear plastic from a packet of pens to the screen. I then cut round it to get the size required.

Temp clamping to see the fit. I will probably make another as this was made from some plastic that wasn't originally flat so still ha a slight ripple in the centre.

But I now have a template.

Rear window cleaned by using various grades of Micro-mesh cloth.

[danthecapriman]

Well, the glazing has survived!

Very faint crack in the windscreen but it’s hard to see so I’ll call that good to reuse. One screen pillar is kinked so will need straightening. 
Bed hinges are both broken unfortunately and there’s a mechanism of some sort for the tipper missing but I can fix the hinges. 
Paint is all just flaking off, the water had actually turned red! Loads and loads of sand in the bottom of the sink too. 
Definitely savable though.

[andrew e]

On 19/01/2025 at 18:54, andrew e said:

Quick one - why did this Metro go for so much? Is it unusual?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/387814806110

Remember this unusual Metro? I finally got round to having a rifle through my collection….. and ta-da! I was sure I had one!

Next one to watch out for is the motorshow launch Metro in gold 😳 looks nice actually, maybe a good choice for a repaint @MiniMinorMk3 ?

https://www.pressreader.com/uk/diecast-collector/20210401/281556588618549?srsltid=AfmBOop0wDY4dMp4lyvPXOZZKFqnVBEzSGSE_nNNJLI2PZWiQrtHkAFY

[danthecapriman]

2 hours ago, andrew e said:

Remember this unusual Metro? I finally got round to having a rifle through my collection….. and ta-da! I was sure I had one!

Next one to watch out for is the motorshow launch Metro in gold 😳 looks nice actually, maybe a good choice for a repaint @MiniMinorMk3 ?

https://www.pressreader.com/uk/diecast-collector/20210401/281556588618549?srsltid=AfmBOop0wDY4dMp4lyvPXOZZKFqnVBEzSGSE_nNNJLI2PZWiQrtHkAFY

I have never seen either of those colours for the Metro. Only ever the red or blue common ones or occasionally the purple one. I do like the gold one!

[bunglebus]

I dug out a stalled project this afternoon and made a little bit of progress on it. This Corgi Escort has fought me all the way, it's already been in primer once then I had to strip it back to bare metal and re-do the filler for reasons I've blanked from my memory to protect my sanity.

It didn't have any glass in it so the plan is a grass track racer type affair with some mesh protecting the driver. Also means it doesn't have to be perfect! Good job really, as my skills with plasticard are a long way behind @danthecapriman, and sticking four oblong bits of styrene together was a fairly frustrating task. It does actually fit quite neatly inside the body, and I even made some little tabs so it locks into the base without sliding about.

The seat and especially the steering wheel aren't perfect to scale, but that mad deep dish 'wheel just had be be included! I'll paint it black with silver spokes at some point. Rollcage is a repurposed paper clip. May or may not use the exhaust 

You can't see from these pics but I've also re-shaped the frankly terrible wheel arches, and moved the axles to make them somewhat more central - they're way too far back as stock

 

[danthecapriman]

That Escort is cool @bunglebus ! Interior looks perfect for it. I love the seat too!

What did you do with the arches? Open them out a bit I guess? They’re one of the things that let the Corgi original down a bit imho.

[andrew e]

Also today I finally emptied out and rejuggled my tat cupboards that live in the garage. Still quite a bit to go, but a few tasters for the moment. Half I’ve had for years, half from the last few years.

Now I cant stand the Transits, (I’m neither here nor there for the Escort vans because I'm sure thats a black hole to start collecting them), but I do like the Mercedes casting, probably because my old man had one as a work van for years. Theres a black BF Goodrich one somewhere too. The Ford Cargo’s I do love, even the bumper has the Mercedes truck headlights erroneously cast in it!

Next up is my early Corgi split into cast wheels and whizzwheels - I love them all, even though I need a proper sort out of where they are all hiding 😎 

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, danthecapriman said:

That Escort is cool @bunglebus ! Interior looks perfect for it. I love the seat too!

What did you do with the arches? Open them out a bit I guess? They’re one of the things that let the Corgi original down a bit imho.

Yeah a bit of Dremel action, and the same very carefully with a cutting disc to change where the axles locate into the base

They'll need gluing in so will be further forward than shown here

[danthecapriman]

9 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Yeah a bit of Dremel action, and the same very carefully with a cutting disc to change where the axles locate into the base

They'll need gluing in so will be further forward than shown here

That is a huge improvement over Corgi’s way of doing it. It’s far more attractive a casting with the arches done like yours.

The way it comes it actually looks like the rear wheels have those little half cover wheel spats over them! I wonder why they had the axles sitting in such a strange place too? 

[bunglebus]

1 minute ago, danthecapriman said:

 I wonder why they had the axles sitting in such a strange place

I think it's from its conversion from Rockets to Whizzwheels, they cocked it up. If anything they're too far forwards on the Rockets version 

 

[danthecapriman]

Yesterday’s candidates for a good scrub have dried now.

Ecurie Ecosse came up well. 
Glazing on this is very near pristine. Just a bit of paint wear, but nothing that lets it down enough to warrant a restoration imho. I might put a couple of new tyres on the front as the old ones look like a blow out waiting to happen!

 
Triang FFK is… well, a bit more patinated! 
Still a great candidate for a resto, and it needs it. Now the wet has dried on the glazing you can see it is actually a bit more worn than I thought and the crack has shown up more now unfortunately.

No idea about what scale it is, but here’s a comparison with the Corgi. It’s a big old thing!

[Split_Pin]

That definitely has all the qualities of a restoration project I.e it's complete, straight and the glazing is reasonable.