Shite in Miniature II

[bunglebus]

A few bits arrived today too

Polistil captured the shape of the MK1 Escort perfectly*

No complaints about this Matchbox RS2000 though, it's absolutely lovely

Skinny Superfast GT is also in good condition 

This is the left field buy of the week though, and although it looks tantalisingly familiar, I don't actually know exactly what it is, and Google Lens doesn't either! Has the two speed pull-back motor from a Turbo Specials

[Lord Sterling]

On 08/02/2025 at 10:00, Lord Sterling said:

However, next on my list is a Danbury Mint '64 Aston Martin DB5.

Not long after I typed this, an agreement was reached on eBay and I purchased this:

The Danbury Mint 1964 Aston Martin DB5. I've been wanting one of these since I first became aware of it a couple of years ago.

It's a lovely model, highly detailed with a lovely finish. Apart from a small area on the passenger door towards the A-pillar where the paint appears to be a little rough:

The colour is Dubonnet Red with a cream interior. The original James Bond DB5 [BMT 216A] was apparently originally Dubonnet Red and appeared in a very early episode of the 'The Saint' but seemingly appears to have changed colour.

Speaking of colour, these are available in Dubonnet Red, Aegean Blue, Gold-plated and a Silver Birch James Bond model with most of the hidden gadgets such as removable roof, lights with hidden guns etc...

In terms of scale, officially its a 1/24 but likely, realistically we're talking 1/25 maybe 1/26. 

It's got a nice weight to it. Nowhere near the Sterling but certainly one that reflects some quality.

The interior is lovely. The carpet appears to be a layer of thin leatherly-like plastic flocked with a dusting of material to appear carpetey. The seats appear to be the same kind of material but painted shiny to give that "leather" look.

It didn't come with original box or certificate which is probably reflected in the price I got it for.

These typically seen asvertised at anywhere between £60 and £450 for the James Bond or Gold Plated model with all the accessories such as plinth, display box, certificate. 

[junkyarddog]

9 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Dodge Charger is for International Women's Day

Interesting that they chose the Brazilian version for that!

[Split_Pin]

Turbo special looks like a MK1 MR2 but nowt like the actual MB one.

[Split_Pin]

In a smaller scale, Polistil were better sticking to square cars. I had a MK3 Cortina/Taunus and it looked nothing like anything but the Fiat 128 and Renault 6 I bought from bramz are fantastic. I always pick them up for a look!

[bunglebus]

27 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Turbo special looks like a MK1 MR2 but nowt like the actual MB one.

I should have said it's also bigger than a normal Matchbox but smaller than a Special 

[bunglebus]

Here we go, 1988 catalogue - Power Lifters

 

[bunglebus]

And here's the other one in my collection, "Snaker" Camaro

 

[FakeConcern]

AC 3000ME?

Maybe

 

[andy18s]

50 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

I should have said it's also bigger than a normal Matchbox but smaller than a Special 

Looks like a mashup of the Mr2 and the 222D,their group s rally prototype..

[Datsuncog]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

I'm seeing Silvia and RX7 here, anything else?

Little bit of Sapporo around the B-pillar?

 

[Noel Tidybeard]

AVAS

the headlights do not photograph at all well- they are not as bulbous as they look to the naked eye

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

18 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

I don't have a repro Sun Rally Mini, but my original is a later one with the cast wheels with ridges and it has a Morris bonnet badge

 

 

So yours is like the new version.

I have seen the Austin and Morris badges appear on the 1967 Monte 177 originals. They must have had both the original castings modified for the rally cars.

[bunglebus]

Another batch of waifs, strays and weirdos going in my sales thread at 7pm. Everything must go!

[MiniMinorMk3]

16 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

AC 3000ME?

Maybe

 

Top is an AC 3000 ME

Bottom is the AC 3000 ME Mark 2 prototype that was powered by an Alfa V6, hence the Alfa GTV6 wheels.

[andy18s]

https://www.facebook.com/share/19kHQiNqbe/

 

[sierraman]

1 hour ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Top is an AC 3000 ME

Bottom is the AC 3000 ME Mark 2 prototype that was powered by an Alfa V6, hence the Alfa GTV6 wheels.

I don’t think the AC 3000 was all that well regarded from contemporary opinions at the time. If I recall the Alfa engined one was some arse about tit plan to manufacture them in Scotland wasnt it? 

[MiniMinorMk3]

43 minutes ago, sierraman said:

I don’t think the AC 3000 was all that well regarded from contemporary opinions at the time. If I recall the Alfa engined one was some arse about tit plan to manufacture them in Scotland wasnt it? 

If you read the linked article I think the long long period between announcement and actual cars being delivered is what did for the 3000 ME. It was a good car, but the original price when announced in 1974 was supposed to be £3-4,000. Eventually in 1978, when production started it was £11,000. Also the 1970s was not the best time for making new sports cars with all the crap that was going on with strikes and inflation.

AC 3000ME – Cult Classic, Not Best Seller | Car & Classic Magazine

Also they managed to build 30 cars in the Scottish factory before it went bust in 1985.

Quote

By the mid-eighties AC Cars wasn’t exactly doing well, financially speaking and after just over 70 cars were produced Derek Hurlock had had enough and sold the rights and tooling for the 3000ME to Scottish entrepreneur David MacDonald in ’84, who set up AC Scotland plc in a bid to continue production of the car. His heart was in the right place but unfortunately this new company had similar cash flow problems and after just a year in business and a further 30 cars built it too closed its doors, thus ending the story of the 3000ME with only 104 cars having been made in total.

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

Here's a couple more old and new comparisons of those Atlas Dinky models.

Original Mail Van

Shiney new Mail Van

Not much to see here.

Only thing that I can spot is the ridge on the wheels is softer on the new and maybe the decal is slightly larger.

Slight difference in tab length on the base plate.

The lower stance on my old one is due to the base being bent.

New base includes the model number.

Not quite a direct comparison, but the casting was the same.

These new Atlas are so close to the originals it makes you think that they made the mould using an original casting.

The Atlas version does not have the model number this time which makes it easier to release more vans in different liveries and not have to make a new base with that models number.

 

One thing that is very different on both the Atlas Dinky and the new Corgi models is the paint. It is far far better than the thin coats the originals had. It looks thicker, deeper and shinier on the new versions, even when compared to a mint in box example of an original. Also the castings have less flaws in them.

[bunglebus]

A tip off by @155V6 lead me to a job lot of frankly knackered Matchbox Land Rovers, of which the Graffic Traffic is the only one I was actually interested in. It has been thoroughly grafficed

That one's off to the stripper tub this afternoon.

Another box contained these unusual Hot Wheels, which are going to need further research as I have no idea about them. Plastic body, metal base with a switch, and odd arms, as if to support a rear spoiler, sprouting out of the boot

Lastly this delightfully shonky plastic VW T1 Kombi, which appears to be from Hungary

[danthecapriman]

Just got my Bluebird from CMAC on eBay.

Not the easiest to get good photos of with it being that white resin stuff, but it’s a lovely little thing. Very nicely detailed and seems very crisp with minimal flash or pips to take off. Most likely will need a light rub down before paint. 
Chassis & interior is pretty good, the chassis will need thinning down slightly as it’s very tight fit into the body. I might see if I can remove the cast wheels and modify it to take some separate wheels/axles though. Maybe.

[bunglebus]

A blob of bubble wrap just got dropped outside the door, containing one of the more unusual SuperKings - the HiLux!

Never seen this colour before

Suspension has some serious squish

 

[eddyramrod]

I don't think I've ever seen that HiLux!  I certainly don't remember it, which may or may not be a consideration.

So, in my latest box from @FakeConcern there was a BattleKings artic low-loader, which I think was probably some sort of tank transporter.

It's actually in really nice condition...

So I've paired the trailer with my restored Ford tractor unit.  The BattleKings unit is going into my Gerry Anderson fleet and may well get some form of modification(s).  It's as nice as the trailer though, so maybe it won't need much.

I was talking to one of the chaps at Andy's Man Club about my restorations and he's asked to see some in the flesh, as it were.  So I picked out these...

All the stages!  From the right: the "before" picture, from the latest delivery; the white one I did years ago when I was still doing them by brush; the blue one is from my fictional North Carolina police fleet, representing the current "aerosol" era.

[bunglebus]

Rummaging in the loft looking for spare cars to go on the sales thread, I found the three different Corgi Marcos Mantis versions. I hasn't appreciated how much it got changed until it was pointed out - even the front post has been moved

Growlers, Whizzwheels, Rockets

[bunglebus]

I also dragged these two Studebaker camera cars out

Different colour rear glass with and without the fluting

Different tailgates

Even the rear bumper was modified 

[sierraman]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

A blob of bubble wrap just got dropped outside the door, containing one of the more unusual SuperKings - the HiLux!

Never seen this colour before

Suspension has some serious squish

 

I have a few of those, not all that common but more common than the RS Cosworth and the Suzuki Santana. 

[andy18s]

39 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

I also dragged these two Studebaker camera cars out

Different colour rear glass with and without the fluting

Different tailgates

Even the rear bumper was modified 

Any Bulgarian stuff going up for sale?

[bunglebus]

I know Mr. Cog has a lovely red version that's somewhat better than mine, but that's about it

 

[bunglebus]

15 minutes ago, andy18s said:

Any Bulgarian stuff going up for sale?

No, I literally have one in my collection!

[Lord Sterling]

2 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

Just got my Bluebird from CMAC on eBay.

Not the easiest to get good photos of with it being that white resin stuff, but it’s a lovely little thing. Very nicely detailed and seems very crisp with minimal flash or pips to take off. Most likely will need a light rub down before paint. 
Chassis & interior is pretty good, the chassis will need thinning down slightly as it’s very tight fit into the body. I might see if I can remove the cast wheels and modify it to take some separate wheels/axles though. Maybe.

Dan, I'm on a model group on Facebook and noticed someone who creates 1/43 scale backgrounds with cars also recently got a CMAC Bluebird. Just wondering if you're one in the same person?