Shite in Miniature II

[bunglebus]

Some of those Brazilian Kikos are excellent, but lots of money if you find one

[Split_Pin]

Don't forget the new Corgi castings of the late 1980s that all shared the same base and interior, as per my recent investigation*.

This was a surprising find as it was my understanding from something I think @Datsuncog highlighted that existing Corgi Juniors had to be retooled with a metal base for the BP promo to give the cars a higher quality feel. 

[bunglebus]

4 hours ago, morrisoxide said:

I've never noticed the logo in the window before. Why is it backwards?

The one I took apart was correct 

Right down to fish and chips on the seat, and a tiny Hot Wheels on the picnic tray

Yours is a 2017 multipack exclusive, so fairly unusual 

[sierraman]

I think I’m mind to look through my Corgi Junior castings later. 🤣

What better thing to do on a February evening! 

[MiniMinorMk3]

Another local auction house this week has yielded just one lot of tat. I went over yesterday for the viewing as it was a bit difficult to see what was in some of the lots. After having a list of about 15 lots I came home with 10 that I was going to bid on. After a couple of cups of coffee this morning it was time to get online and get bidding. I had to wait about an hour for the first lot to come up. It was a lot of three old Dinkys in boxes, two of them looked like repaints to me, but some bidders thought they were worth bidding double what my limit was. The rest of the lots soon came up and everything was going over my limits, some by one bid, others by more. I thought I was going to end up with nothing until the last lot that I wanted came up. I had set myself a limit of £50 on the lot and was very happy when I got it for the opening bid of £30.

So what did I get for my £39 (inc comm).

An invoice.

A box with approximately 120 bits of tat.

The larger scale items

The small scale items.

A more detailed show and tell when I've done some washing.

[sierraman]

47 minutes ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Another local auction house this week has yielded just one lot of tat. I went over yesterday for the viewing as it was a bit difficult to see what was in some of the lots. After having a list of about 15 lots I came home with 10 that I was going to bid on. After a couple of cups of coffee this morning it was time to get online and get bidding. I had to wait about an hour for the first lot to come up. It was a lot of three old Dinkys in boxes, two of them looked like repaints to me, but some bidders thought they were worth bidding double what my limit was. The rest of the lots soon came up and everything was going over my limits, some by one bid, others by more. I thought I was going to end up with nothing until the last lot that I wanted came up. I had set myself a limit of £50 on the lot and was very happy when I got it for the opening bid of £30.

So what did I get for my £39 (inc comm).

An invoice.

A box with approximately 120 bits of tat.

The larger scale items

The small scale items.

A more detailed show and tell when I've done some washing.

Some good stuff in there, I see a Capri Mk2, I have one the very same arguably the best most well proportioned Capri in 1/64. 

[bunglebus]

2 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

A more detailed show and tell when I've done some washing.

They mostly look in good condition, with some interesting bits including a Cubs for @Datsuncog 😁

If you decide to sell the red Matchbox Seafire speedboat let me know, as I sold mine during a clear out recently and now regret it

[155V6]

Siku Mondeo & Lone Star Flyers Mustang 😎

[sierraman]

A Seafire and a tailgate less Stretcha Fetcha is the standard for a job lot. 🤣

[bunglebus]

I found the last three Matchbox I needed to pair up with their rubber counterparts, while having a sort out

Of course they had to be the correct versions of the Hairy Hustler and Fandango, as the stickers/tampos are recreated on the erasers

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, 155V6 said:

Lone Star Flyers Mustang

SOLD!

[Tenmil Socket]

5 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Another local auction house this week has yielded just one lot of tat. I went over yesterday for the viewing as it was a bit difficult to see what was in some of the lots. After having a list of about 15 lots I came home with 10 that I was going to bid on. After a couple of cups of coffee this morning it was time to get online and get bidding. I had to wait about an hour for the first lot to come up. It was a lot of three old Dinkys in boxes, two of them looked like repaints to me, but some bidders thought they were worth bidding double what my limit was. The rest of the lots soon came up and everything was going over my limits, some by one bid, others by more. I thought I was going to end up with nothing until the last lot that I wanted came up. I had set myself a limit of £50 on the lot and was very happy when I got it for the opening bid of £30.

So what did I get for my £39 (inc comm).

An invoice.

A box with approximately 120 bits of tat.

The larger scale items

The small scale items.

A more detailed show and tell when I've done some washing.

Majorette Capri looks nice.

[Remspoor]

18 hours ago, Noel Tidybeard said:

the 2 oxford frenzies turned up today- after seeing pics with the boggly eyed headlights i wasn't expecting to be amazed

but

BUT

they are actually quite nice models especially at a 10er a pop!

 

now fingers crossed they do the maestro in 1:43

At the moment I cannot see any plans to a Maestro.

 

[FakeConcern]

The other day I picked up a couple of slot cars and asked @flat4alfa what are they? I don't think there's been a reply unless I've missed it.

https://autoshite.com/topic/10758-shite-in-miniature-ii/page/1876/

Get an idea of size from the Corgi Metro

If anyone else knows what they are, please tell. Then we won't need flat4alfa any more!

[Datsuncog]

7 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

There were also the promo stuff for the likes of Golden Wonder crisps. The Sierra with GW branding seems to be prolific even now so they must have shifted a serious amount of them.

I think the white Golden Wonder Sierra was issued as part of the BP promotion, weirdly, rather than as a separate giveaway with their crisps.

Although a few of the vehicles included in the promotion came with BP branding (Mk2 Transit wrecker, Vauxhall Nova, Renault R5 Turbonutterbastard) a number of other household brands appeared printed on the toys too. Off the top of my head:

- Homefire (smokeless fuel) - black Sierra and Zakspeed Capri

- Schweppes - blue Pontiac Firebird

- Loctite - yellow Renault Trafic van

- Pointers (wholesale groceries) - red Mk3 Transit

- Polo Mints - green Porsche racer

- Jaguar - dark green Jaguar XJS

I don't know if there was some sore of sublicense thing going on where other brands paid BP to put their logo on the toys being given away as part of their fuel promotion - maybe something to dig into?

Corgi also partnered up with Kelloggs for a Frosties collect-the-tokens promotion (as did Matchbox and Siku at different times), with Weetabix also getting in on the action at different times with a variety of Corgi models, big and small.

I seem to recall Yorkie Easter Eggs and special gift packs at Christmas also coming with a couple of small Corgi cars.

Funnily enough, I found some of the BP promos today - but more on that later...

[sheffcortinacentre]

The lotus esprit slot car is I think tyco or similar I had one among about half doz similar ones.

It was from one of those battery powered sets.

[danthecapriman]

28 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

I think the white Golden Wonder Sierra was issued as part of the BP promotion, weirdly, rather than as a separate giveaway with their crisps.

Although a few of the vehicles included in the promotion came with BP branding (Mk2 Transit wrecker, Vauxhall Nova, Renault R5 Turbonutterbastard) a number of other household brands appeared printed on the toys too. Off the top of my head:

- Homefire (smokeless fuel) - black Sierra and Zakspeed Capri

- Schweppes - blue Pontiac Firebird

- Loctite - yellow Renault Trafic van

- Pointers (wholesale groceries) - red Mk3 Transit

- Polo Mints - green Porsche racer

- Jaguar - dark green Jaguar XJS

I could have sworn it was with tokens from Golden Wonder. Istr you saved up tokens until you got enough to cash them in for the item you wanted. Maybe it was something else though and I’m getting mixed up?

I had the Sierra though at any rate, and all the others from your list except the Pointers Transit van. At the time there was a BP filling station not far from home and my parents would almost always fill up their Datsun Sunny there so that’s how I raked in the tokens! 
Esso did something similar later on where you built up tokens or stamps or something then traded them in for something from a little group of prizes… I got the Esso Scania artic tanker that way! Bigger than Corgi Jr’s though so probably took a good deal more tokens!

The BP that was near home, my parents stopped using in the end because they filled up their Datsun Datsun one day and the carb kept blocking up. After the umpteenth time of stripping it and cleaning everything out it turned out that garage had been selling contaminated dirty petrol and loads of cars in our area had similar problems! 
Wasn’t long after that BP closed it and sold the site (with a big old garage behind) for development. It’s a big retirement apartment site now.

Pretty sure @eddyramrod now has the Loctite glue Trafic. And someone here had the Polo Porsche out of one of my sales.   
I think the green Jaguar XJS and Schweppes Pontiac are here still. Capri and Sierra’s are gone, somewhere. BP Transit tow truck might have sold on here too.

[bunglebus]

Bachelor's Peas Transit in matching box

BP R5

Nova 

Schweppes Firebird 

A big stack of promotionals I got off @andrew e a while back

Not all of them had sponsorship on, but the Polo Porsche did

Weetabix promo

The Golden Wonder crisps one

Weetabix Leyland 

And a Pepsi

Plus Coke

Maybe that's straying from the path, as lorries, fuel tankers etc would always bear some sort of company logo

Alitalia Capri

Shell Sierra - there are of course loads of motorsport type liveries

Like so

Homefire Sierra

Elf R5

British Airways TR7

Frosties Ferrari 

Bachelors Porsche

Frosties Porsche 

Duckhams Landie

Somewhat knackered BP Wrecker

Alternative colours

Shell version 

Pointers Transit 

Lots of Chevrolet vans with sponsorship 

Fuji Hot Rod van - part of a set?

Pretty sure this was too

Loctite Renault 

And a Dyno-Rod

Or just the company name

I left out the usual AA, RAC, British Gas, Telecom etc too

[flat4alfa]

Bought this Hot Wheels Fish'd & Chip'd first release all those years ago when it was first available (2003).   Thought it looked smart in the metallic duo-colour scheme and the open driver's (RHD) window a good touch.  Packaging long gone, thankfully it's still in great condition and not CHIPed

Never knew about the fish & chips dinner on the passenger seat until recently - and from this very thread too.  Anyway, I have now FISHed out any other release examples back here to have a look at the rear window situation.   

This blue with flames tampo is from 2011 and has no window logo on its very deep amber colour

 

This 'Art Cars' series example is from 2020.  Very dark windows, no window logo.  The only one here with a metal base.

This Paul McCartney livery does have the logo.  His fish dinner is there and getting cold.  This is part of a 2015 'The Beatles' series of contrived ideas

This even more contrived one is part of the 2016 Star Wars series.  It has the logo and the only one here made in Thailand not Malaysia

So...  from the limited few here, there doesn't seem to be a consistency.  Assessment failed.

[flat4alfa]

42 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

 

Fuji Hot Rod van - part of a set?

Pretty sure this was too

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

Assessment failed.

I've got a few, but I'm not rummaging around in the loft to find them so old pics will have to do.

I know Wiki can quite easily be wrong but it does mention an oddity, in that the very first edition doesn't have a rear window logo if it's fitted with the lace wheels, but does if fitted with the multi spoke type shown above. However it also says that "fished" is hot rod slang for a roof chop, and "chip" is the same for lowering, which no-one seems to know anything about, I've certainly only read that on Wikipedia about this car.

Looking through my pics, I can just about make out the logo on this version which features newsprint on the tampo, as a nod to the fish and chips theme

Art Cars version features a Union flag among the graphics 

I see your Beatles and Star Wars, and raise you Despicable Me 

Not the greatest image, but I can just about see that etched logo here

Waddya know, I have that same first edition, would have been better if it was the version with the lace wheels but never mind

Plastic bodied Color Shifter appears devoid of logo

And a custom because why not?

 

[flat4alfa]

2 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

The other day I picked up a couple of slot cars and asked @flat4alfa what are they? I don't think there's been a reply unless I've missed it.

https://autoshite.com/topic/10758-shite-in-miniature-ii/page/1876/

Get an idea of size from the Corgi Metro

If anyone else knows what they are, please tell. Then we won't need flat4alfa any more!

The Lotus Esprit was produced generically in Hong Kong and sold under Speedtrax, Toltoys and other brands depending on market.  The sets were 6v and battery-powered.  Speedtrax became Artin.  Pretty sure I have a later red one here, will have a look...   might make a good 1:43 track sister.

The gen-4 Camaro is much later (obviously!) and was in a set with a Corvette ZR-1.  Produced by Kwong Wah Toys, Hong Kong and sold under their brands such as Super Speed.  They go right back into the 1970s with battery-powered 6v sets, but this particular 1990s set was powered by a mains AC transformer

You should be able to see if they run by putting a 9v PP3 battery across the terminals.  Don't hold it there for long though as the LED will likely blow.  Yes, both of them have light!

[Datsuncog]

15 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

I could have sworn it was with tokens from Golden Wonder. Istr you saved up tokens until you got enough to cash them in for the item you wanted. Maybe it was something else though and I’m getting mixed up?

Could well have been - it's hard to track down information on all the promotions, so I'm largely going by what I can remember myself! 

That Golden Wonder Sierra does seem to crop up in many job lots of the BP Corgis, but it could well have been offered out by Golden Wonder as a promotion.

I think the first promo Corgi made for Weetabix was the Leyland Terrier box van, in 1976:

I didn't have one of these, though I did have this cut-out Dodge Commando:

For reasons I'll never understand, this was kept as a Christmas decoration for many years. I used to carefully place it into the tree, balanced on a branch - and I think it was a tragic casualty when the tree fell over one year.

Seems an articulated Dodge was available too:

A racing car was also offered later the same year:

A later mid-80s promotion featured these five Juniors to collect, which were standard releases rather than specific promotional versions:

(EDIT: actually from 1989)

Also available were an exclusively branded RM and a Volvo articulated truck for lots of tokens, or an Aston DB6 for fewer tokens:

I'm pretty sure a large-scale Ford Cargo was offered out too at one stage - a few of those have cropped up at the market in Weetabix-branded boxes.

(EDIT: yup, in 1998)

They did a similar tie-in with Matchbox in 1991:

The Frosties Corgis were specially decorated:

I had the XJS from this collection - I only had the patience to save up six tokens, whereas if I'd saved up eight I could have had the Porsche and the magazine plus stickers... ah well.

Then again, Tony the Tiger comes across as a bit of a prick in this comic, so maybe it was for the best...

[Datsuncog]

So I had a bit of a tat safari earlier.

I've got fed up with the same-old 2024 Hot Wheels in the Carrick branches of Tesco, Poundland, Poundstretcher and Home Bargains, so thought I'd cast my net further afield.

Heaven helps those who help themselves, no?

I'm specifically looking out for the gold Camaro and the black R32 Skyline which have already featured on these fair pages lately, and thought my chances might be higher before the weekend.

I had buoyant hopes that Smyths over at Abbeycentre might be a decent hunting ground - but although they've tidied up their shelves quite a bit, there wasn't an awful lot to tempt me in the Silverlines:

Premiums are a bit up and down in price - anything from £5.99 to £8.99, depending on how long they've been warming the pegs.

But not very much there that I couldn't live without.

As expected, the previously seen Mini and Nissan twin-packs had been cleared from the pegs; and for Team Transports the pale green Toyota 4Runner pulling the Supra was also all gone:

Surprised to see two full pegs of the Land Rover towing the Jaguar Mk1 racer - I'd really thought that would be a popular set. Looks like it might be joining the discounted Porsche 906 Carrera and Mercedes 300SL sets that just won't shift...

Mainlines here still seem to be stuck in the summer 2024 mixes, with the pink-window Track Dwagon, blue SII Land Rover and red Fox body Mustang to the fore. Ah well.

Reduced Premium sets were also to be found - lots of them, but they just don't seem to be shifting either. Better value than the Team Transports at the same price, but still...

Maybe there's just not the market in this neck of the woods?

While in the general area, I took a swift pass through Tesco, B&M, Home Bargains and two branches of Poundland, but emerged empty-handed. Some 2025 Hot Wheels cases were evidenced in Home Bargains and B&M, but they'd been picked over already.

Ah well. Onwards, then...

[Datsuncog]

I took a ramble through the toy aisle in TK Maxx, as they've sometimes unexpectedly thrown a Matchbox Action Drivers set or two my way - but not this time.

Quite a few Majorette sets to be found, though:

And also some premium singles:

And Monster Beetles!

They were also rocking a whole load of Hot Wheels 5-packs, apparently from 2022 but quite good value at only £6.99.

Since it was right next door, I took a quick squizz into Matalan as they sometimes have a load of Hot Wheels mainlines up beside the till, and sometimes have quite good ones too because no-one seems to know that they're a Mattel stockist (albeit only when they feel like it).

But they had no mainlines today.

As well as more monster trucks, they did have some elderly 5-packs available, at the frankly daft price of £11.50...

Plus this highly optimistically priced Team Transport with the Porsche 906 Carrera, yours for £6 more than Smyths up the road are looking.

Still, interesting to see that a fashion and homewares place like Matalan are stocking Hot Wheels Premiums at all - with B&M also pushing the latest Japan Historics Premium line alongside their usual Silverlines and mainlines, is Mattel trying to push these top-end models more widely to stockists? And will they succeed, given that they're really quite expensive for what they are?

I departed Abbeycentre bowed, but not broken (and with a small purchase made on behalf of a fellow-shiter) - so it was gonna have to be a run into the Big Smoke if I was to emerge with anything...

[Datsuncog]

Yup, no more messin'. Time to hit up Smithfield and Castle Court.

Now, I knew the model shop in Smithfield had a Hot Wheels 2025 A-case. I knew this because I'd seen the teal Audi Quattro hanging on the pegs in there a couple of weeks back. The reason I didn't buy it was because blokey who runs the place had taken himself off for a nice long lunch, leaving the shop locked and an 'open again at 2pm' sign on the door. At 1pm. All I could do was stare forlornly through the glass, knowing I couldn't wait around...

But today, the shop was open - staffed by the world's most martyred and resentful shop assistant, currently nursing yet another bad cold. Sniff. Snifff. Sniiiiiiifff.

The teal Quattro, and pretty much anything else of interest from the A-case, were all long gone. I flicked through the rack anyway, but there wasn't very much there to catch my eye.

Alongside, there were quite a number of boxed Matchbox that looked to be fresh in - chiefly dating from the late 90s and early 2000s, and ranging wildly in price from between £4 and £10:

(The white Mk3 Escort cabrio in the blue box was £10).

This store sometimes surprises me with a good range of Matchbox Moving Parts, Collectors Series, Working Rigs or other oddities like the Japanese power grab boxes - not so many of those to interest me today, though.

They did have a bunch of 2023 Hitch & Hauls though, including the National Parks Jeep and trailer set with the bear, wolf and hiker figures - but with no price on them, and I know from bitter experience that if it's not priced, then the world's most martyred and resentful shop assistant won't sell it.

Still, at least she wasn't listening to repetitive Facebook livestreams by antivaxxer types at earsplitting volume today. Small mercies.

Other Hot Wheels. old and new, lurked in the window - their prices concealed, but probably batshit crazy.

The trays of loose diecast are usually worth a look, though - if only for the LOLZ.

There really is no rhyme or reason here at all, with some very clean older stuff being priced at £1, while heavily playworn modern Hot Wheels might be out for £4.

Yup, I've seen scratched and bent-axled Mattel diecast dumped in here for three or four quid, while a mint boxed example of exactly the same model is hanging on a peg on the other side of the shop for £2.

This place melts my brain.

I made a few happy little discoveries though, and handed over a couple of pound coins, before scuttling off out because time was ticking on...

[Datsuncog]

I tore through the Castle Court branch of Poundland like my arse was on fire, but although they still had much of the Matchbox 2025 A-case on their pegs (less the Fiesta, BMW M3 Touring and Merc Shooting Brake, of course), their Hot Wheels were much further behind the times.

Which really only left The Entertainer - and although I was pleased to see they'd dropped their prices a little on Mattel stuff, I also couldn't see anything new on their pegs.

Most of the Moving Parts I'd seen last week had gone, and while there were loads of Working Rigs, it was mostly just the road grader and the crop sprayer.

Ah well.

They did however have an Italian Roads 5-pack, reduced to £8.20, which I didn't think was tooooo bad...

I really only want this set for the Lamborghini Miura and the Alfa Giulietta - the other three moderns I already have in several colours, but I guess I could sort of justify it...

Ah.

Bugger.

That's a lot of paint flaws on the Alfa's door. Three visible marks (don't look as bad in the pic, weirdly).

No, I know it'd just bug the life out of me. I put it back, along with the Hot Wheels Team Transport 4Runner and Supra, reduced down to £15 - because something like this going slightly awry reduces me to Pingu-like levels of emotional maturity.

I mean, it's not like I actually need any of this stuff...

So I charged back to the car and scooted off home, ultimately bagging these:

(Ok, cheating a bit but the Oxfords order arrived while I was out, so I'm including it in the haul).

Majorettes Monster Beetle in gold was scooped for @bunglebus; the white Hot Wheels Impreza was found lurking towards the back of the Smithfield model shop pegs and I snaffled that for myself, as I don't have one.

The Husky Aston DB6 in a sort of metallic purpley-lavender shade and the (mint) Corgi Juniors Mercedes Mobile Shop were nabbed for a pound each from the lucky dip trays, as they seemed too good to leave behind at the price. More pics of them to follow.

The Nissan Pathfinder was hiding at the bottom of an otherwise uninspiring sleeve of Power Grabs up on the counter of the model shop - this was included in one of those 2024 mixes that just never seemed to appear anywhere, so I was very pleased to find one at last without having to resort to online scalpers.

So - not great, but not bad either. Could have been better, could have been worse. Just middling, I guess.

Ain't that just the way of it, sometimes?

[ETCHY]

3 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

I tore through the Castle Court branch of Poundland like my arse was on fire, but although they still had much of the Matchbox 2025 A-case on their pegs (less the Fiesta, BMW M3 Touring and Merc Shooting Brake, of course), their Hot Wheels were much further behind the times.

Which really only left The Entertainer - and although I was pleased to see they'd dropped their prices a little on Mattel stuff, I also couldn't see anything new on their pegs.

Most of the Moving Parts I'd seen last week had gone, and while there were loads of Working Rigs, it was mostly just the road grader and the crop sprayer.

Ah well.

They did however have an Italian Roads 5-pack, reduced to £8.20, which I didn't think was tooooo bad...

I really only want this set for the Lamborghini Miura and the Alfa Giulietta - the other three moderns I already have in several colours, but I guess I could sort of justify it...

Ah.

Bugger.

That's a lot of paint flaws on the Alfa's door. Three visible marks (don't look as bad in the pic, weirdly).

No, I know it'd just bug the life out of me. I put it back, along with the Hot Wheels Team Transport 4Runner and Supra, reduced down to £15 - because something like this going slightly awry reduces me to Pingu-like levels of emotional maturity.

I mean, it's not like I actually need any of this stuff...

So I charged back to the car and scooted off home, ultimately bagging these:

(Ok, cheating a bit but the Oxfords order arrived while I was out, so I'm including it in the haul).

Majorettes Monster Beetle in gold was scooped for @bunglebus; the white Hart t Wheels Impreza was found lurking towards the back of the Smithfield model shop pegs and I snaffled that for myself, as I don't have one.

The Husky Aston DB6 in a sort of metallic purpley-lavender shade and the (mint) Corgi Juniors Mercedes Mobile Shop were nabbed for a pound each from the lucky dip trays, as they seemed too good to leave behind at the price. More pics of them to follow.

The Nissan Pathfinder was hiding at the bottom of an otherwise uninspiring sleeve of Power Grabs up on the counter of the model shop - this was included in one of those 2024 mixes that just never seemed to appear anywhere, so I was very pleased to find one at last without having to resort to online scalpers.

So - not great, but not bad either. Could have been better, could have been worse. Just middling, I guess.

Ain't that just the way of it, sometimes?

I've got a bad cold & feel shit & life ain't mega at moment. However that line " Pingu-like levels of emotional maturity" has really made me laugh, thanks for that 😄

[bunglebus]

8 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Bottom centre (Porsche 914), if you happen to find the Honda Civic in that series, it's the only one that's eluded me so far

[bunglebus]

5 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

boxed Matchbox

Is that a black Tyrone Malone? Nice...