Shite in Miniature II

[bigstraight6]

Picked up this Norev Saviam bus for a couple of quid from Totnes market yesterday, it’s in lovely condition..

[ambassador84]

9 hours ago, bunglebus said:

More stuff to dream of finding in a UK shop, courtesy of AliExpress 

I've noticed Moving Parts supply seems to have stalled here despite doing really well last year with virtually no missed batches.

I've been told one of the biggest UK Matchbox suppliers are still saturated with 2025 Case B basics so goodness knows whether we will ever see that red Jaguar!

[bunglebus]

Boot sale #1

[bunglebus]

Didn't find much more at the second one, think everyone's doing family stuff today

[AndyW201]

Corgi have been doing a clearance sale. 

This was on there with  55% off the RRP. I had £6 worth of reward points to cash in as well, so ended up getting it for £12 which isnt bad for a brand new Vanguards. Especially as this model is BIG. And heavy.

Strange really, despite the fact that I've been driving commercial vehicles for a living for the last 25 years, I've never really gone for collecting models of vans. I've got a few Vanguards Mk1 Transits but they were just to complete the Boy Racer and Hidden Treasures collections. I suppose I don't really want to head on down another  slippery slope for reasons of space, budget, sanity...

(Saying that, I do keep on rubbing my thighs at those Ixo Transit Mk2, DTV Bedford CF and Freight Rover 400 rally support vans though.)

Bit of a modern compared to the subjects I normally go for, but it fits into the normal, everyday stuff category. There are certainly enough of these things on the road, and surprisingly quite a lot in this lairy coloured, striped-up, bodykitted Sport guise. I deliver to a few one-man tradie types, kitchen fitters, plumbers, etc and quite a few of them have these poshed-up Tranny Customs as dual purpose vehicles, to use for work and as family transport.

Detailing is good, especially the lights and the Ford badges. Loses points on not having a Raptor style FORD grille though...

 

I couldnt resist getting it's circa 1976 counterpart out. Lairy paint and flashy wheels? Been done before m8!

Considering these are both apparently 1/43 scale, it shows how big modern vehicles have become,

[junkyarddog]

The phantom customiser strikes again. 

(I didn't buy it)

[bunglebus]

Heads up, I should be doing a diecast roffle later, been building a box of goodies for a while. I'll take pics shortly and post it in the boot sale bit 

[bunglebus]

Fairly slim pickings today, I think a lot of people were doing mother's day obligation stuff. 

I had to buy several of those annoying plastic bags full of cars to get the goodies too, 55 gasser among them

Majorette 'bird...

...looks ok with the bonnet up, but has some fairly serious panel gap problems 

My First Matchbox FX4 is pretty nice, there was a Peterbilt too but the grille and bumper were broken

Clean Road Blasters Blazer, missing the weaponry of course

Another slightly unusual MB, glow windows 260

Glow test!

RX500 is nice other than additional biro numbers

'vette

This one's a shame, it was clearly very nice before being dumped in a box and stirred vigorously for who knows how long. There were a few others that looked similar too but this was the one I elected to rescue 

Corgi now, tidy mobile shop

Unusual livery Carrera - anyone care to shed light on this?

The Mrs took a shine to Yogi Bear

Made in Singapore, don't think I've seen that before?

Dyane 

Lastly a boxed Hot Wheels squareback van, I wasn't keen on this series when it launched but I've relented and bought this and the MK1 Escort, despite the dodgy paint schemes

[bunglebus]

Roffle is live

 

[FakeConcern]

We forgot the hour changed this morning so got to Brighton Marina market pretty late.

First thing I saw was this bundle which I picked up for you @flat4alfa whether you funkin' want 'em or not!*

Underside of Pontiac as it's the only one to have a chassis

Apparently they are Motorific slot cars

T Bird shell is cracked, but will probably glue together ok

I think I remember @eddyramrod saying he'd never had a Corgi 1/36 Mk2 Transit, he has now for £1

On the way out I got these for £1 each from the first stall where I got the slot cars while Mrs Concern wasn't looking

I have several of both, but you know how it is...

* @flat4alfa you don't have to have them if you don't want!

 

Edit; Corgi Lambo and King Size AMC available and Transit if Eddy doesn't want it.

[eddyramrod]

Eddy does, please and thank you!

I never had that model when it was current, but probably two years ago I found the milk float variant on ebay, with the windscreen smashed.  Then I discovered the window unit isn't available on the repro market.  Oh great.  I have a cab I've stripped and painted, along with a chassis and milk float body that may or may not be re-used eventually.

So that wrecker is gorgeous, thank you sir!

[Snake Charmer]

7 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

So that wrecker is gorgeous, thank you sir!

Does look good in that used state.

[155V6]

45 minutes ago, FakeConcern said:

We forgot the hour changed this morning so got to Brighton Marina market pretty late.

First thing I saw was this bundle which I picked up for you @flat4alfa whether you funkin' want 'em or not!*

Underside of Pontiac as it's the only one to have a chassis

Apparently they are Motorific slot cars

T Bird shell is cracked, but will probably glue together ok

I think I remember @eddyramrod saying he'd never had a Corgi 1/36 Mk2 Transit, he has now for £1

On the way out I got these for £1 each from the first stall where I got the slot cars while Mrs Concern wasn't looking

I have several of both, but you know how it is...

* @flat4alfa you don't have to have them if you don't want!

 

Edit; Corgi Lambo and King Size AMC available and Transit if Eddy doesn't want it.

I'll take the Miura if it's still available please

[FakeConcern]

29 minutes ago, 155V6 said:

I'll take the Miura if it's still available please

No one else has claimed it so I'll put it with the StreetKa, Let me know if you want them posted straight away or leave it and see if any more you want turn up.

[Lord Sterling]

Right, today was the first day here in Brussels I actually got to do anything on my own. I popped out and decided to go for a drive. First place will be in another non-vehicle thread later on.

Of course, one of the first places I was due to visit was Pêle-Mêle, I had a couple of different places to go beforehand.

Anyway, there sadly isn't much in stock and even less that interests me. I can get stuff if anyone is interested but I am on a STRICT budget (this actually means that I have little money to cover bills coming out tomorrow so a few things will bounce, I get paid weekly so not a biggie. There was a 1/18 M3 that I wanted to buy at 35€ but even though I have the money now, I can't justify it. Besides, there's probably one in Carrefour or something. Car dumped in square and here we are:

Some 1/18s:

1/36 007 thing is a little out of my budget 🤣 they can keep it.

I actually have one of these Rolls Royce's mounted on some tray or other that's at my mum's house.

[ambassador84]

MSZ 1:64 three car sets now appearing at Poundstretcher and half the price of what B&M Bargains sell them for. Under £1 for a licensed diecast car with full interior and working suspension makes them quite a bargain.

[barrett]

@Lord Sterling that Pilen Bagheera is a steal for €8!

[Lord Sterling]

47 minutes ago, barrett said:

@Lord Sterling that Pilen Bagheera is a steal for €8!

If you want me to pick it up for you, let me know. Depending on how my bills go and what I'm left with, I might pick up that 1/18 blue M3.

[andrew e]

On 27/03/2025 at 10:38, Split_Pin said:

I have just bought..... a Tamiya Monster Beetle. I have wanted one for a while but couldn't do anything until I got a new job.

Can't wait till it comes!

If you want any bad advice I do have a Tamiya problem so ask away! If you want to run it get a spare shell from JKRC or a lexan Kamtec one. Don’t forget bearings!

[bunglebus]

Just back from Basildon, not much to report but Monday's never a good day for new stock.

Did find this rather excellent error car with both a wonky tampo and broken base

Entertainer had the new Peanuts set. I jumped the gun and bought the Beetle online but I picked up the Fiat 500 and CRX

Waiting for me at home was a job lot of VWs, a Husky...

...Siku...

...and the main attraction, a trio of Play Arts

[cms206]

Got a little excited in Morrisons for a refresh on Matchbox singles, but sadly not; 8 packs for £9.33 with the more card isn't too shabby. Was tempted for the red 240 but...

[bunglebus]

Beige stage one

[andy18s]

A few for the Rover fans.

[Lord Sterling]

7 minutes ago, andy18s said:

A few for the Rover fans.

Finally! Finally!

Well, I say that, I'm hoping they'll be doing a saloon version too. I'm certainly going to be buying a couple of those, possibly all 3 so I can have all the colours.

[RoadworkUK]

1 hour ago, andy18s said:

A few for the Rover fans.

Ooof!

Although... judging by the pics on the Cult Models website, I don't think the shape is quite right. 

Perhaps it's in that uncanny valley where it's almost right..  but the fact that it seems slightly off would niggle me no end. It somehow looks too upright and slabby. 

I'll probably still buy one, though... Because of course I will. I doubt there'll ever be a better one.

[sheffcortinacentre]

Someone selling 1/18 Mk5 cortinas by them on eBay £200+ with LHD wipers minor grump but at that price I want perfection.

[sierraman]

A mate of mine his dad had an 827 Vitesse same as offered there, superb vehicle, sounded unbelievable with a decent exhaust on it. Rotted before your very eyes mind but…

[Datsuncog]

Had a bit of a swing past the shops the other day - still not very much to report in terms of new Mattel stock.

Home Bargains has finally landed some Hot Wheels A-cases across a few branches; that's great and all, but a little late for my liking.

Plenty of turquoise Quattros and black Skyline R32s to be had now, anyway.

One branch had a B-case featuring that brown and cream Fish'd & Chip'd Treasure Hunt (Jaguar MkX custom), but I already found that one late last year in Smyths.

Poundland seem to be very slowly easing themselves into 2025 as well:

Plenty of Matchbox Mix B now available - I could have had three green Fiesta Mk2s!

The big Entertainer store in Belfast seems to be running out all its Matchbox, with nothing new since January and ever-shrinking peg space. Some Hot Wheels D-case releases were to be found (the yellow Chevette and pink-and-white Brazilian Charger), but I've yet to see anything from the C-case selection, which is annoying as I'd quite like to find that gold Camaro RS and green Mercedes 500E.

Tescotainer substores are still hawking the same early 2025 case mixes for both Hot Wheels and Matchbox, interspersed with much older 2023 stuff - the increasingly tatty packaging of the items in the dump bins indicate much rummaging, but precious little buying.

Asda and B&M not really managing much either - some A and B cases, but nothing else.

Interesting to learn upthread that the UK distributors for Matchbox have ended up with a glut of the Mix B cases - I imagine that'll put paid to seeing anything else for quite some time. Guess Mattel offered them a nice unit discount for taking a larger than usual consignment; good news for them, but bad news for collectors who won't see any newer mixes until their warehouse is cleared.

But! It's not all about the latest Mattel releases (or lack thereof).

Cash Converters had a load of c.2000s Skybusters in.

Not exactly cheap though, at £19 for a four-pack in a hilariously wide variety of scales.

Or £10 for individually carded examples.

Mmm... no. Considering that a lot of these castings are still available new, for less.

Other delights included this little lot:

£15 for a Corgi Classics Jaguar MK2 seems steep - true, the model's probably nearly 40 years old, but these still crop up at the market for £5.

£12 for a modern Bbbbburago 1/43 seems nuts though - they're £2.99 in B&M right now.

Vanguards Healey was unpriced.

HFM!?

Yeah, Autoart don't make cheap models, but this green Esprit can be found online for less than half that.

BARGAINS

'King Of Road'. Heh.

This has been sat here for years now with no takers.

[sierraman]

I don’t know who actually buys the Skybusters, they’re quite dear for what they are. 

[MiniMinorMk3]

Those Cash Convertor prices are just daft. I wonder what they actually pay for them as you can buy Corgi Classic for an average of £3 at auction and AutoArts can be had for around the £12 mark when buying in multiple lots. I used to get £20 to £25 for them on Ebay.