Shite in Miniature II

[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

 

[Tenmil Socket]

Comedy

 

[155V6]

A couple of weeks back I posted a picture of the 1/18 Ford Consul Coupe I'd bought

I finally got round to unboxing it

It's very nice,the only issue was that one of the spotlight lenses was missing,this shows it after I removed the other one as well

Using this picture of my real Granada from around 35 years ago,I had a look on eBay to see what I could find

There were people selling 1/18 spotlights for the rally Escorts etc,but these are around £10 a pair & I only really needed the covers.Another search found these plastic discs from China at just over £3 posted for 10 so I ordered those

When they arrived,they were ideal so I stuck them on

Then I had a look & found some old transfers from around 40 years ago,which amazingly I was able to apply without them falling apart 😀

Really happy with how that turned out.The model is diecast,not resin like a lot of1/18 seem to be now,everything opens

Engine is a 2.3 V6

Interior is black so quite dingy,but nicely done

Consul GT badging

My favourite (& most expensive) buy for some time 

 

[Tenmil Socket]

3 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

More pics

 

I’m not interested in any of these so if anything’s of interest I’m happy to swap otherwise they’ll go towards a job lot roffle.

[flat4alfa]

11 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

I’m not interested in any of these so if anything’s of interest I’m happy to swap otherwise they’ll go towards a job lot roffle.

I like that Viper that's ON FIRE !

[danthecapriman]

1 hour ago, 155V6 said:

A couple of weeks back I posted a picture of the 1/18 Ford Consul Coupe I'd bought

I finally got round to unboxing it

It's very nice,the only issue was that one of the spotlight lenses was missing,this shows it after I removed the other one as well

Using this picture of my real Granada from around 35 years ago,I had a look on eBay to see what I could find

There were people selling 1/18 spotlights for the rally Escorts etc,but these are around £10 a pair & I only really needed the covers.Another search found these plastic discs from China at just over £3 posted for 10 so I ordered those

When they arrived,they were ideal so I stuck them on

Then I had a look & found some old transfers from around 40 years ago,which amazingly I was able to apply without them falling apart 😀

Really happy with how that turned out.The model is diecast,not resin like a lot of1/18 seem to be now,everything opens

Engine is a 2.3 V6

Interior is black so quite dingy,but nicely done

Consul GT badging

My favourite (& most expensive) buy for some time 

 

That Consul coooop is fantastic! Nice job on the spotlights too👍

[Zie]

4 hours ago, 155V6 said:

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

I put them in years ago and had zero issues. 

Can't remember what size but it's this style clamp

[Tenmil Socket]

15 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

I like that Viper that's ON FIRE !

I’ll put it to one side for you.

[MiniMinorMk3]

Lets see what was in Lot 380 from Thursday.

First a couple of Corgis with the original Dinky ESSO pump set. The pumps were re-issued by Atlas a few years ago.

Consul Classic has a bit of play wear but is in fair to middling condition.

This must have been one of the first to feature an opening bonnet.

Zephyr estate appear to be in a similar condition.

On closer inspection it has had some retouching to the light blue. It also has a pair of accessory number plates.

Also included are the street signs. There not Dinky...

but Gilco.