Shite in Miniature II

53,284 · 2025-02-09T21:30:11Z

That Majo Beetle needs acquiring if you see it again please!

53,284 · 2025-02-09T21:31:46Z

3 hours ago, AndyW201 said:

Diecast guy no.2

Anyone else wishing they could have looked through this guy's stuff? The 60s Corgis sound an absolute bargain!

42,280 · 2025-02-09T23:44:02Z

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42,280 · 2025-02-10T00:14:46Z

Doh. Forgot I had this.

Lotus Esprit Turbo, from the James Bond 007 Collection

1:43

Nice colour

Today I Learned:

Quote

Lotus supplied a pair of Esprit Turbos to star in For Your Eyes Only. The first, chassis 10858, was the company’s original prototype. The second, chassis 10930, was an early production car. Chassis 10930 was originally painted white with red graphics and a tobacco interior. Chassis 10858 (originally the Essex Motorsport colours of Monaco blue with chrome and red graphics and a scarlet interior) was refinished to match. [https://supercarnostalgia.com/]

Quote

When filming moved to the Italian ski resort of Cortina, the producers thought a darker shade of bodywork would show up better against the snowy backdrop. Both cars were sent back to Hethel and repainted Copper Fire Metallic with gold stripes and decals.

Which perhaps begs the question how much film hit the cutting room floor, as when on screen it is mostly in poor lighting!

30,933 · 2025-02-10T07:09:53Z

I repatriated my old Super GT Saab Sonnet from my mum's house yesterday. I found it in a box with a few other cars which will get the same treatment in due course. I gave her a few cars for my son to use on a play track there about ten years ago. Times that are now just dust in the wind and it makes me feel quite wistful. My son is nearly 12 now, my dad who played with him and the track passed away last year and the setup has long been given away to a charity shop.

A small memento of my yesterdays:

Anyway, back to now, and I think the 307 resto is complete.

Wheels are from an AMT Camaro failed project, they were on another model before this for for about 20 years as well!

New headlamp lenses using Glue N Glaze, a bloody good clean and it's ready to display. I used the same fixative for the wheels so they can be removed again in the future if another Peugeot set crop up. I've kept the original 3.

Pleased with this one, everyday cars in a larger scale are my thing!

10,795 · 2025-02-10T08:44:58Z

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

I repatriated my old Super GT Saab Sonnet from my mum's house yesterday. I found it in a box with a few other cars which will get the same treatment in due course. I gave her a few cars for my son to use on a play track there about ten years ago. Times that are now just dust in the wind and it makes me feel quite wistful. My son is nearly 12 now, my dad who played with him and the track passed away last year and the setup has long been given away to a charity shop.

A small memento of my yesterdays:

Anyway, back to now, and I think the 307 resto is complete.

Wheels are from an AMT Camaro failed project, they were on another model before this for for about 20 years as well!

New headlamp lenses using Glue N Glaze, a bloody good clean and it's ready to display. I used the same fixative for the wheels so they can be removed again in the future if another Peugeot set crop up. I've kept the original 3.

Pleased with this one, everyday cars in a larger scale are my thing!

Sad, but kind of fulfilling tale of your old toys, lovely way to remember your dad and son together.

The 307 looks great on those wheels and the lights have come out really well now the Glue/Glaze is dry and what a fast turnaround too!

53,284 · 2025-02-10T09:33:54Z

Roof and glazing liberated from the donor Revin' Rebel Challenger

Fairly discoloured from UV, but a bit of time in a bath of hydrogen peroxide and a blast from a nail drying lamp has improved things

I'm a rough as a badger's arse this week so I'm not really up to doing stuff on toy cars, I thought I was better yesterday and went out, hasn't done me any good at all.

Might fire up the scanner indoors in the warm instead

25,156 · 2025-02-10T09:47:42Z

8 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Roof and glazing liberated from the donor Revin' Rebel Challenger

Fairly discoloured from UV, but a bit of time in a bath of hydrogen peroxide and a blast from a nail drying lamp has improved things

I'm a rough as a badger's arse this week so I'm not really up to doing stuff on toy cars, I thought I was better yesterday and went out, hasn't done me any good at all.

Might fire up the scanner indoors in the warm instead

That roof and glazing came up well!
It’s amazing how much they actually discolour but you don’t notice, until you see a bit that’s been under something away from the UV and dirt.

The car your repairing looks a really nice one though.

2 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

I repatriated my old Super GT Saab Sonnet from my mum's house yesterday. I found it in a box with a few other cars which will get the same treatment in due course. I gave her a few cars for my son to use on a play track there about ten years ago. Times that are now just dust in the wind and it makes me feel quite wistful. My son is nearly 12 now, my dad who played with him and the track passed away last year and the setup has long been given away to a charity shop.

A small memento of my yesterdays:

Anyway, back to now, and I think the 307 resto is complete.

Wheels are from an AMT Camaro failed project, they were on another model before this for for about 20 years as well!

New headlamp lenses using Glue N Glaze, a bloody good clean and it's ready to display. I used the same fixative for the wheels so they can be removed again in the future if another Peugeot set crop up. I've kept the original 3.

Pleased with this one, everyday cars in a larger scale are my thing!

Lovely job on that👍

Wheels look spot on considering what car they came with.

39,291 · 2025-02-10T11:16:01Z

16 hours ago, AndyW201 said:

For the first time in years, there was actually a toy fair in Middlesbrough, at the Town Hall, so I had a run down.

Hopefully yesterday's fair will have been enough of a success that we'll see a few more fairs happen locally.

Were was this one and do you know who organised it?

Also, did you know the people that organise the Gateshead fair started doing fairs in Rainton last year. I've not been yet.

Rainton – Northern Toy Fair

And there's the fair at Bowburn, next one is on the 23rd of Feb.

Bowburn Toy Fair on The UK Model Shop Directory

39,291 · 2025-02-10T12:44:07Z

Here's the Matchbox Regular Wheels from last weeks auction lot. Just a bunch of commercials.

First is No. 26 ERF Mixer. This joined the range in 1956.

Has lasted well considering it is nearly 70 years old. Another 30 and it will be a proper antique.

It has the number cast into the recess adjacent to the fuel tank.

Next is the Bedford tipper, No. 40. The joined the Matchbox range in 1957.

Again in good condition for something so old.

Number cast into the underside of roof

Next is the Dunlop Van No. 25. Looking at the size you would have thought this was introduced a bit later than the previous two, but no, it joined the range also in 1956.

Shame the decals are so bad and the axles are rusty.

This was one of the first to have a separate base casting.

A trio of well used Leylands.

Two site hut trucks and one pipe truck.

Foden mixer with working mixer.

Dodge Stake Truck that's lost the stakes from the sides.

25,156 · 2025-02-10T12:46:53Z

Experiment’s today, possibly of interest to @bunglebus

I was looking for something else and happened to find that, and the IXO MAN truck I needed to steal the grill off to make a mould from.

Stripped it down, carefully, to liberate the grill.
It’s got quite intricate little details and the badges so I opted to get the silicone putty to make the mould from. You can get a much harder material that’s like a block of blue plastic which you immerse in hot water to make it soft, then press around whatever your copying and let it cool & harden. But I’m not sure how well that would cope with fine detail like the grill.

The silicone putty comes in two parts which you simply pull a lump out equal sizes of each then knead and mix between your fingers until it’s a consistent even colour throughout with no ‘marbling’ of each colour.
Once it’s mixed you get a few minutes of working time with it so you really need everything to hand ready to go.
I’ve smeared my blob onto flat surface just to keep the back of the mould against something I can push against to get the details well into the silicone. Obviously you just need to not press it in so hard it goes right through… yes, I did the first attempt! It’s extremely soft stuff.

Then you need to let it set for 10 minutes without disturbing it.
Which is the point I’m at now, so after lunch I’ll see how it’s worked…

39,291 · 2025-02-10T12:55:02Z

Next up are the Superfast cars.

First is a cleanish wide wheel Europa.

Looks like it has been down the road on its roof as it is scratched quite badly.

Porsche 910 has experimental 4-wheel steering system.

Very nice SM

Tampo prints are good.

Tow hook present and correct.

Poor Cougar Villager has surface corrosion on grille

and no rear door.

Red Golf is clean.

Missing the surf boards

The painted base is good.

A pair of Mk IV Cortinas that have had a hard life on the Mini-Cab circuit.

The lime green one has a slight squished roof.

Gold shell is OK.

Amazingly both still have their tow hooks.

Finally we have a late issue Jag XK120.

Missing grille and broken screen

39,291 · 2025-02-10T13:13:47Z

Who did it best, Matchbox or Majorette?

From above Matchbox has the better bonnet, better windscreen shape and better rear hatch.

From the front again Matchbox takes it as the Majorette roof looks to low and the spoiler looks like a snow plough blade has been stuck on. Both have stupidly wide wheels though.

From the rear the Majorette is better because of the light casting and the bumper casting being full width, however Majorette did not glaze the hatch.

From the side the Majorette has a better straighter front wing line, but that heavy body trim line below the door handles is very clunky.

The curved front wing line on teh Matchbox make the front profile a bit pinched. The Majorette has separate head lamps lenses and it would look a lot better without the GTi style spoiler.

The Majorette rear window is a better shape as it has rounded corners.

Matchbox forgot the door handles, the car just has the finger recesses.

Door handles on the Majorette.

Overall I think the Majorette has it, it's just let down by the front spoiler and having no glass in the rear window.

25,156 · 2025-02-10T13:43:55Z

46 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Experiment’s today, possibly of interest to @bunglebus

I was looking for something else and happened to find that, and the IXO MAN truck I needed to steal the grill off to make a mould from.

Stripped it down, carefully, to liberate the grill.
It’s got quite intricate little details and the badges so I opted to get the silicone putty to make the mould from. You can get a much harder material that’s like a block of blue plastic which you immerse in hot water to make it soft, then press around whatever your copying and let it cool & harden. But I’m not sure how well that would cope with fine detail like the grill.

The silicone putty comes in two parts which you simply pull a lump out equal sizes of each then need and mix between your fingers until it’s a consistent even colour throughout with no ‘marbling’ of each colour.
Once it’s mixed you get a few minutes of working time with it so you really need everything to hand ready to go.
I’ve smeared my blob onto flat surface just to keep the back of the mould against something I can push against to get the details well into the silicone. Obviously you just need to not press it in so hard it goes right through… yes, I did the first attempt! It’s extremely soft stuff.

Then you need to let it set for 10 minutes without disturbing it.
Which is the point I’m at now, so after lunch I’ll see how it’s worked…

Well it’s set.
Feels a bit like normal silicone really… funnily enough! Soft/squashy but not wet.

And this is exactly why I chose to use the silicone putty! Look at that detail!!
I think there’s a couple of faint air bubble imprints but they only show up close so I think one the casting gets cleaned up and painted you won’t see them. Something to be aware of though.

And this is what I’ll try making the casting out of.
Seemingly you just mix with water and pour it in. I’ve never used this either so all this is a learning experience for me.
I do know you can also use filler like car body resin type fillers, special model products like Milliput or Tamiya model paste etc etc to make your casting from but they can be a bit brittle. I did wonder about using chemical metal epoxy - the runny two part stuff not the clay like stuff. Maybe I’ll try that later?
The mould certainly seems good though and I’m sure you can reuse it indefinitely as the silicone is flexible enough to just pop out the casting once it’s dry.

In theory you could make multiple moulds from a bigger lump of the silicone if you have multiple items to cast from but I’ve only got one of these grills.

10,557 · 2025-02-10T14:06:37Z

@Split_Pin was it you who wanted a Rover 75? Now available in 1/43 from CMAC on ebay. He also had the estate but it's currently out of stock, and various other Rovers.

38,344 · 2025-02-10T14:15:18Z

Those MB Golf’s seem to waddle side to side like a duck. I think there’s a guy on eBay that remakes the surfboards. Though I’m pretty sure you could make some like @danthecapriman has done above.

25,156 · 2025-02-10T14:18:20Z

Sorry about the multiple posts, I’m just posting up as I’m going during the curing time.

Resin is mixed 3 parts resin - 1 part water.
It’s very thin stuff once mixed but that makes it perfect for pouring and also ideal to flow into fine detail. Tub says it’s dry in 30 minutes, fully hardened after 24 hrs so it’s just a waiting game now.

After it’s fully hardened I’ll need to thin the casting with some sand paper as the original part is quite thin and has a very slight curve, but it says it’s fully sandable on the tub.

The resin powder actually looks like something else, but I can’t quite put my finger on what. Flour? No, not flour…😄

25,156 · 2025-02-10T14:20:29Z

5 minutes ago, sierraman said:

Those MB Golf’s seem to waddle side to side like a duck. I think there’s a guy on eBay that remakes the surfboards. Though I’m pretty sure you could make some like @danthecapriman has done above.

I think you could definitely make stuff like that with this kit. Ditto things like grills and bumpers that break or fall off. Possibly even wheels?
You can use this or the hard blue stuff to make two part moulds too but I haven’t tried yet.

Edit: even lights should be doable if you could find clear resin. Maybe even glazing but that might be a bit ambitious!

53,284 · 2025-02-10T14:40:03Z

23 minutes ago, sierraman said:

Those MB Golf’s seem to waddle side to side like a duck

The axles are crimped onto the base in the middle, various others are like it, RS2000 for example. The sprung steel...spring method was much better like on the Porsche 928

30,933 · 2025-02-10T15:17:12Z

1 hour ago, quicksilver said:

@Split_Pin was it you who wanted a Rover 75? Now available in 1/43 from CMAC on ebay. He also had the estate but it's currently out of stock, and various other Rovers.

Thank you!

25,156 · 2025-02-10T16:02:13Z

Great success!

Resin has cured enough to be popped out of the mould.

It still needs to cure fully for 24 hours yet before working it with sandpaper etc but it’s pretty strong already. It will definitely need some sanding to shape to get rid of the excess around the edge and thinning down but for a first try it’s pretty good!

Here’s a cruel closeup.

Theres a tiny bit of the lettering on ‘diesel’ that’s missing and a few marks, presumably from air bubbles getting trapped, but I’m pretty sure that could be reduced by thinning the resin a bit more and pouring it in slower, maybe giving the mould a bit of a gentle shake to free the bubbles as I do it.
But, I’d quite happily use that grill!

And the good thing is, the mould is in pristine condition ready to be used over and over.
I might have another go with it using thinner resin and maybe some different material too just to see how it works more than anything.
Im impressed with it though.

4,887 · 2025-02-10T16:26:15Z

5 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Were was this one and do you know who organised it?

Also, did you know the people that organise the Gateshead fair started doing fairs in Rainton last year. I've not been yet.

Rainton – Northern Toy Fair

And there's the fair at Bowburn, next one is on the 23rd of Feb.

Bowburn Toy Fair on The UK Model Shop Directory

It was at Middlesbrough Town Hall, it was organised by Zuckuss, who are apparently a toy trader, dealing in Star Wars figures and the like.

Funnily enough, the diecast bloke I bought the stuff from mentioned the Bowburn and Rainton fairs, apparently he's had stalls at both of those, as well as at Gateshead. They're not too far away really so I might give them a go sometime.

25,156 · 2025-02-10T17:00:02Z

2 hours ago, quicksilver said:

@Split_Pin was it you who wanted a Rover 75? Now available in 1/43 from CMAC on ebay. He also had the estate but it's currently out of stock, and various other Rovers.

Thanks for that👍

Im now expecting a Nissan Bluebird in 1:43😆

53,284 · 2025-02-10T17:24:27Z

I picked up this A4 size Matchbox catalogue at the last toy fair. It's taken most of the day to scan, crop and upload the thing, so here it is!

That's about the end of the really interesting stuff (for me anyway). I've got that lorry carry case ^ up in the loft, bought it to replace my childhood one. Good to see my Convoy Truck Stop featured too, along with various cars I remember fondly. Not seen the K101 Porsche with blue sides before, and I'm still hunting the gold that definitely exists, just seems to be vary rare

I'll post the rest in moment