Shite in Miniature II

[Tenmil Socket]

35 minutes ago, Noel Tidybeard said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/236016493039?_skw=metro&itmmeta=01JTT9PVR6ND2ENCH3QKTK0HJ4&hash=item36f3ade1ef:g:5NAAAeSw-XVn3ub~&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAAwFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1cndfQc29o7sr5UY3B3Rej23SGklFXUMn68nI0WnZt%2BBlodnQevHlTONB4LxLMCsO3MzPfRDZ%2Bg6oJK3yJTPna9oVlxD7TpqlX25j5hNST44ODmAvc6LhdI5k0S18MVA0i8hpyQ8t783pg299Se8cFlBfw%2BcM2x52UPG3vAW%2FmE2m0ooaXpGiY45q149XU021BOf%2Bh4et9gcMKIXjryi90xSyCjyHOR5xNEeaHqESt4vQ%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR7S828nWZQ

Thanks for that, I’ve just bought it 👍🏻

[Tenmil Socket]

My sisters just messaged me saying she’s picked me these up for £2. 
 

[Noel Tidybeard]

22 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Thanks for that, I’ve just bought it 👍🏻

saved me from doing it

[Split_Pin]

31 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Thanks for that, I’ve just bought it 👍🏻

Brilliant!😄

[MiniMinorMk3]

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

That's very good for £15. I think mine has a red box.

I never understood why only half the decals were applied on Italian toy cars in the early 1980s and you got a sheet with the rest of them underneath. Both my Metro and Golf GTi are still in this state with the stickers underneath, a wonderful and quirky memory 😅

Solidos were like that, just some decals applied at the factory, then the rest on a sheet. Very few ever had the decals applied in the correct positions because people just did not know. It's easy no to find out with a quick search, but in the olden days unless you had a library full of old Motor Sport mag then you were knackered.

 

[bunglebus]

From F/B, a make I've not heard of (Radon/Tantal), amazing detail for 1:43

[Tenmil Socket]

1 minute ago, bunglebus said:

From F/B, a make I've not heard of (Radon/Tantal), amazing detail for 1:43

That’s a cracker, great find!

[danthecapriman]

1 hour ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Thanks for that, I’ve just bought it 👍🏻

🤣 I just clicked that link for a look and saw it was sold.

My first thought was - ok. Which one of those lunatics on the shite in miniature thread has bought it then!?

And there it is😆

[MiniMinorMk3]

16 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

From F/B, a make I've not heard of (Radon/Tantal), amazing detail for 1:43

 

 

The first time I had one of these I was amazed by the coil spring suspension. It's a long time since I've looked into Russian Diecast stuff and I had not heard of the Radon/Tantal name before. I had always known them as Russian diecast as they were made in various state run factories in the USSR. When a model is in it's box you can usually work out which factory produced it. The information about Radon only came to light in 2021, but now everyone thinks that anything Russian was made by them.

AutoVAZ 2101 – More Information | MAR Online

Quote

Soviet and post-Soviet Model Production
Production of 1:43 scale models of cars began in the city of Saratov in 1971 at TANTAL. In 1977, the main production of scale models was transferred to a branch of TANTAL called RADON (located in Marks (also spelt Marx) another city in the Saratov region). The Soviet production at TANTAL in Saratov and at its branch RADON in Marks collapsed with Soviet Union (USSR), which officially ended at 25 of December in 1991. This date can also be considered the last day of the release of Soviet models. Those numbered (with ‘A’ char and two digits number) models had already been discontinued in 1986.

After the beginning of the post-Soviet economic transformation in Russia reorganizations began at TANTAL and this included model production. TANTAL was sold to private investors in 1993 and then reorganized as a joint-stock company (date of state registration-February 26, 1993). During the transformation, the RADON plant was separated from TANTAL and became an independent legal entity, but could not ‘stay afloat’ and in 1996 it went bankrupt. The plant was revived and the company was renamed to AGAT which was one hundred percent owned by the Saratov Ekonombank. AGAT also proved to be unviable and in 2007 it went through another bankruptcy, after which it was bought out by the Moscow based holding company Incotex and reorganized as MOSSAR.

At the same time, similar processes took place in Saratov itself. The remaining model production at TANTAL was allocated to an independent company LITAN. After an equally unsuccessful operation, this enterprise was declared bankrupt and the models once again became part of the TANTAL tool complex.

 

[danthecapriman]

Just got this in the post.

Solid (white!) gold Autoshite!

It’s quite dusty so been sat on someone’s shelf a while by the look of it. Captures the awkward looks of the real ones pretty well I think.

[Split_Pin]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

From F/B, a make I've not heard of (Radon/Tantal), amazing detail for 1:43

I had a green one of those years ago. It was my first Soviet diecast. Fantastic wee thing, even had real working coil springs as Miniminor says.

Mine just said 'нива' (Niva) on the box with some pictures of the real car.

Wish I'd kept it!

[Split_Pin]

21 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Just got this in the post.

Solid (white!) gold Autoshite!

It’s quite dusty so been sat on someone’s shelf a while by the look of it. Captures the awkward looks of the real ones pretty well I think.

I bought a black one of those way back in 2008 after I discovered this forum. I specifically wanted it because it was badged as a lowly 2.2 GLS, rather than the posh 2.6V6 SX. Great model.

[danthecapriman]

11 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

I had a green one of those years ago. It was my first Soviet diecast. Fantastic wee thing, even had real working coil springs as Miniminor says.

Mine just said 'нива' (Niva) on the box with some pictures of the real car.

Wish I'd kept it!

Somewhere I’ve got a Soviet made GAZ Chaika. Considering what everyone says about anything from that time and part of the world, it’s a really nice little thing. Heavy too for what it is.

[Split_Pin]

40 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Somewhere I’ve got a Soviet made GAZ Chaika. Considering what everyone says about anything from that time and part of the world, it’s a really nice little thing. Heavy too for what it is.

I had that one for a while too, they're really detailed. 

Some Soviet models can unfortunately suffer with zinc pest and it's very random which models succumb. I had a ZIL which I sold on for spares and I still have a nice Lada Riva. It's fucked with it though and I'm running an experiment to see how long it can survive on a shelf in my loft before it collapses or falls apart! 

[flat4alfa]

Me neither so went looking as well

Quote

Agat (Radon, Tantal, USSR/Russia) started producing scale 1:43 metal toy cars in 1968. In the early 1990s Radon manufactured 29% of the USSR scale models.Company has been struggling financially. There have been rumors of company closing, but to this day it's still in business and pumping models. With the financial struggles, some of the workers, mostly women, would go without receiving paychecks for weeks if not months at a time...

Quality of models has been drastically on the decline. Gray paint has been substituted for old parts. Old molds have been used since the 70s which show a lot of wear. Some of the parts have been completely removed in order to cut costs.

Prior to the 1991, models were serialized with a unique number given to each model type. Serialized models demand a premium today since they are usually of higher quality and since the supply of them is shrinking. 

Includes models which you can build yourself.

[https://uk.fabtintoys.com/agat/]

Agat factory in Marx, Russia

Their GAZ 13 Chaika looks pretty good

[Split_Pin]

5 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Me neither so went looking as well

Agat factory in Marx, Russia

Their GAZ Chaika looks pretty good

I have a facelifted Volga taxi model which is clearly based on the original (which my pal Euan had in the 1980s) . The above explains why it has some parts missing even though I bought it new in 2007. 

Interesting to see that most of the old Soviet models I have or had came frkm this factory!

Welly Autotime makes Soviet cars but the ones I have are in a slightly larger scale and just aren't the same.

[MiniMinorMk3]

The only Russian diecasts I have had recently is this remake of a Polytoys 506 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale.

According to this  non-secure site       http://mpdiecast.net/models/soviet.html       it was made by the Leningrad experimental factory of metal haberdashery and souvenirs, St. Petersburg

And this Innocenti IM3, which is a remake of another Polytoys model. As credited to the Leningrad factory.

 

 

[Datsuncog]

39 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Their GAZ 13 Chaika looks pretty good

I've most of one of those:

Rearward bit of trim along one side seems to have gone missing, but it buffed up pretty well.

I'm not sure why I sold nearly all my Soviet models three years back but still kept this one.

Currently in the 'go' basket, for whenever I get round to taking pics and posting them up here.

It is nice, though.

[flat4alfa]

I wanted one of those ZIL and settled for the Universal Hobbies one for a couple of quid

It is modelled on the 1971-85 ZIL-117 seen in Casino Royale (2008)

https://clip.cafe/casino-royale-2006/hows-our-girl-s1/

[flat4alfa]

What I want now is a GAZ-14 Chaika

For that Soviet diorama on the patio

IXO did one that might do

[Split_Pin]

I had that one and it disintegrated . I replaced it with the later model which looks like a US Presidential car!

[flat4alfa]

News just in

[flat4alfa]

"Farmer Tom's Zil"

"Oh is that right?  Oh dear, please could I wish him my best wishes for his recovery"

"No no, Farmer Tom's Zil"

"Eh?  Ok... well I hope he gets well soon"

"No no, Farmer Tom's Zil"

"Stop messing me about you daft ha'porth"

"Farmer Tom's Zil"

"FFS"

[155V6]

On 06/05/2025 at 14:36, Zie said:

A job I've not been looking forward to is sorting my neglected cabinets out. I do hate dusting. Unsurprisingly I found more cars I had stashed. 😆

I see you have an IKEA cabinet with extra shelves.Any issues with the brackets to hold them?,I've got extra shelves for mine & I'm not sure which type of brackets to buy.   Thanks

[Tenmil Socket]

Here’s my £2 charity shop find by my sister.

Anyone want to guess which manufacturer is on the base of this?

[155V6]

3 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Here’s my £2 charity shop find by my sister.

Anyone want to guess which manufacturer is on the base of this?

Realtoy?

[Tenmil Socket]

7 minutes ago, 155V6 said:

Realtoy?

No

[bunglebus]

Corgi, but I cheated. I still say it's a Realtoy, just with Corgi's name on it

[bunglebus]

I keep clinking on this one on eBay thinking it's something interesting 

https://ebay.us/m/NJeW51

[Tenmil Socket]

More pics