Shite in Miniature II

45,157 · February 10

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

45,157 · February 10

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.

28,525 · February 10

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…

45,157 · February 10

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

45,157 · February 10

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.

28,525 · February 10

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.

11,595 · February 10

@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.

41,585 · February 10

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.

28,525 · February 10

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…😄

28,525 · February 10

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!

64,017 · February 10

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

35,279 · February 10

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!

28,525 · February 10

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.

5,826 · February 10

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.

28,525 · February 10

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😆

64,017 · February 10

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

64,017 · February 10

Nursery stuff - I'll put this up as links as times have changed there are pics of kids in the bath etc

https://flic.kr/p/2qL2kq1

https://flic.kr/p/2qL1nEr

https://flic.kr/p/2qL2ke4

https://flic.kr/p/2qKZbZy

https://flic.kr/p/2qL1o4Z

https://flic.kr/p/2qL1nUa

https://flic.kr/p/2qL1nT8

https://flic.kr/p/2qKUB9B

https://flic.kr/p/2qKUB4b

And the rest

28,525 · February 10

37 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

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

I had the CC-18 garage carry case! I’d totally forgotten about it until you posted that. Long gone now. I remember those parking spaces and the buttons behind the buildings used to tilt the floor up and roll the car out.

44,190 · February 10

WHO DID IT WORSE?

The BMW TURBO [E25]

Left: Lintoy. Middle: Majorette. Right: Dinky/Kidco

The real thing

THE RESULTS

Majorette is very lardy. Lintoy wins on accuracy.

6,399 · February 10

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

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

I like K-98

44,190 · February 10

3 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Oh hello. What happened there then... A K-9 Fire Tender, with the 'mag' wheels and ..... is that Tipp-Ex that drew the white striping?!

Quote

Colour change on the K-21 Ford Transcontinental fixed chassis truck, with trailer, I think was released but not nearly as common as the previous scheme

Quote

Did anyone get this K-44 Bridge Transporter set? I bet it wasn't cheap as it's quite extensive. That was the sole outing for an articulated fifth-wheel coupling use of that cab casting? ....and as a Berliet GR, not the Ford that made use of the cab. Only found this out recently.

This is the Berliet cab variation on the cab. Grille and bumper are plastic

Grille has V8 and TURBO badges in same placing as this BOOBY BROCHURE shot

Ford effort has cast grille and bumper, not plastic. Fixed long chassis. Same plastic roof piece with HORNS

Engine casting same as the Ford, as is main cab hinged casting

With the twin-axle shorter chassis clearly marked Berliet. Also dated 1980 ....the same year Renault R rebranding of the Berliets were launched after the take-over

So we could* possibly* have seen a Matchbox SuperKings Ford Transcontinental Car Transporter to rival the Corgi Ford Transcontinental Transporter. Not sure why they did not. WHICH MEANS with some grille swappage and a grinding-off of the word Berliet you could have one...

Or call the whole thing off and enjoy the Corgi effort even more instead

44,190 · February 10

2 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Those pages take me back!

Built a good few of those aircraft and hung them from bedroom ceiling, in dog-fight poses. Perhaps because I was creative but awkward child.

Also had plenty of those soldier figures too, painting them individually! Yes I was creative but awkward child....

44,190 · February 10

Found out some Ferrari liveries

44,190 · February 10

PAGE 1885 !

I owned this Wolseley 18/85 around 15 years back

Told myself I would get another Landcrab one day but no, not happened. Collected* toy cars instead

This is now.

64,017 · February 10

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

Found out some Ferrari liveries

The transporter is Matchbox and the vans Corgi.

Apparently the K101 and the silver tanker above it were never released, tanker became white instead

44,190 · February 11

On 09/02/2025 at 12:01, flat4alfa said:

Yes gen-4 Dodge Monaco 2-Door Hardtop. The stacked headlights and rear upright lamps could also represent the Plymouth Fury but the more prominent grille cross-hatching and centre separation points towards the Dodge

One of the Kidco Burnin’ Key range. Need to find the matching key…

Kidco also did a die-cast version with opening doors, as part of their Lock-Ups series, which didn’t need to fly off into the skirting board. They just let you lock the wheels so it wouldn’t move.

Will take a look I think there is a Fire Chief one back here

Yay. Found that Kidco Lockup 1978 Dodge Monaco Fire Chief !

Its friends the Matchbox 1965 Ford Galaxie and Yatming 1971 Ford LTD Wagon popped over for a meet

It has a complete set of tyres, and it was all going so well ...until it just had to show off its OPENING THINGS

The event soon folded and they went home

9,918 · February 11

On 07/02/2025 at 14:40, andy18s said:

I've got the same Bachelor Transit somewhere,along with a Ford Iveco truck in the same livery.

I'll have to dig them out for some pics.

Here we go,I actually remembered to have my phone with me for once ..

9,451 · February 11

15 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

I had the CC-18 garage carry case! I’d totally forgotten about it until you posted that. Long gone now. I remember those parking spaces and the buttons behind the buildings used to tilt the floor up and roll the car out.

I still have it, somewhere. Naturally missing every single component that wasn't part of the basic moulding – the approach ramps, the fuel pump, the flags etc etc. I remember thinking the Motel element looked slightly seedy.

28,525 · February 11

17 minutes ago, RoadworkUK said:

I still have it, somewhere. Naturally missing every single component that wasn't part of the basic moulding – the approach ramps, the fuel pump, the flags etc etc. I remember thinking the Motel element looked slightly seedy.

I remember the ramps and a few of the flags floating around in a big box I had full of my toy cars, but I think the rest of the set had gone by that point for some reason. Maybe it got broken somehow.
I always fancied that big truck stop set but never got one. Probably quite expensive at the time.

Theres a good one of those motel sets with a load of cars on eBay at the moment for £50!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/365215947827