Shite in Miniature II

[MrBig]

Sadly don't have the boxes. If the replacement arrives I was going to put them up about £50 each but I've only got ebay sold prices to go on really.

[Spottedlaurel]

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

The metallic are nice but those seem to be the later models. I might yet go to The Range and see if they've got a yellow of some sort on their clearance shelf!

Pre-facelift model here in a rather nice coppery shade. I also have a late '76 brochure that shows it in a slightly darker, almost bronze colour (but as dark as Roman Bronze).

[flat4alfa]

On 11/05/2025 at 12:24, bunglebus said:

Boot sale buys

Crikey I spot Powertrack TR7, Escort and Fiat Abarth 131

[Split_Pin]

3 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Pre-facelift model here in a rather nice coppery shade. I also have a late '76 brochure that shows it in a slightly darker, almost bronze colour (but as dark as Roman Bronze).

The wheels even look like Bburago ones!

[flat4alfa]

8 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Or do I paint it a suitably 70s colour?

What say the collective?

Perhaps it ought to represent the nickname they were given in France, that ruined sales

A nice yellow or green, to match the ill-conceived “pear” advertising campaign of 1977. The PR firm tried to emphasize the car’s unusual rounded shape, which they alleged made it more comfortable, passenger-centric and roomy. The obvious issue was that une poire (“a pear”) is a common slang term that can best be translated as “chump.”

[flat4alfa]

21 hours ago, Noel Tidybeard said:

i do believe the polo with sticker grille is not cost cutting as it was released 1st like that then gaining a cast face after

i wonder if there was a notion to do an aldi 50 version like polistil did with the 1/25 model

Yes I was going to say the same

Audi 50 was released 1974.  The VW Polo released 1975

[flat4alfa]

On 11/05/2025 at 11:55, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Stavros is shooting the gun.

Also it looks like Stavros might have leant on the right side of the roof on the Kojak car.

Definitely Bobby Crocker as he had the receding hairline

But it's quite* conceivable that Stavros did after all cause that roof damage as he was the heavier fella!

From Left to Right:

Georgios 'George' Demosthenes Savalas as Det. Stavros
Aristotelis 'Telly' Savalas as Lt. Theo Kojak
Dan Frazer as Capt. Frank McNeil
Kevin Dobson as Sergeant Robert 'Bobby' Crocker

Telly and George were brothers, the credits had him down as George 'Demosthenes' apparently to avoid confusion.

No I don't know why I'm interested either

 

I had the Kojak Buick 1/36 as a child.  The Kojak figure turned up again in recent years, but car itself long gone even though it was looked after

I can remember well how the model stood out as a toy because of the low centre of gravity, it could be almost thrown across the playground tarmac and it would slide and slide - yet stay on its wheels.  School friend had the Metropolis one and that was its fate.  I can still see it now, after being 'new' that morning.  Smashed in roof and battered to bits by the afternoon; but still rollin'

So after what feels like a (Buick) Century, the set as I remember them had been obtained a while back

Then came the the big one and little one

I've since decided to get hold of the nicest City of Metropolis version I can find to keep the Juniors Metropolis happy, then get rid of the others

No, I don't want a green roof beacon one, no

No I don't want a Fire Chief one, oh no

Anyway.  The copper metallic colour is of the 1975 face and arse lift Buick Century Regal seen in season 4 of the series

[flat4alfa]

On 11/05/2025 at 11:28, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Finally we have this super piece of Italian toy making

The interior is clean.

The only real faults are the missing spot lamp on the roof and the missing piece of front bumper.

I might be able to help with the bumper

Also looking at the dash cut-outs this one is the same - I presumed that something 'did a Polistil' and fell off the dash never to be seen again

The ex- @danthecapriman Land Rover has the missing spotlight, I wonder if that can be traced...

Quote

 

[flat4alfa]

8 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Page 1961 means it must be E-Type time

The first time I got hold of a white one and found it gold underneath I thought I'd hit the ££££ win and could retire early

Then I found out all of the (originally) white ones here had gold underside after all !

Failed at life again.

[flat4alfa]

I bought a DARDA MOTOR Audi Quattro for 50p

I was chuffed and thought the wheel would be an easy fix

Until I found out the motor was borked too.

[flat4alfa]

I  bought a DARDA MOTOR Pontiac 'Kitt' Firebird for 50p.

I was proud initially

 But that was borked too

[flat4alfa]

I once bought a Porsche at a car show.

But it was a DARDA MOTOR one, for a pound

This one actually worked!

The Carlos Fandango wheel set might look daft on these but the sprung motor inside this one was very strong and it needed the extra traction to get off the line.

In fact, despite a rubber insert in the rear wheels, it span them, lunged forward at great lick, flew off the desk and clouted the wall. The wife was elated.

[Split_Pin]

8 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

Perhaps it ought to represent the nickname they were given in France, that ruined sales

A nice yellow or green, to match the ill-conceived “pear” advertising campaign of 1977. The PR firm tried to emphasize the car’s unusual rounded shape, which they alleged made it more comfortable, passenger-centric and roomy. The obvious issue was that une poire (“a pear”) is a common slang term that can best be translated as “chump.”

It rotted like one too.

[bunglebus]

8 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

Crikey I spot Powertrack TR7, Escort and Fiat Abarth 131

 

On 11/05/2025 at 16:00, bunglebus said:

I thought @flat4alfa might be able to make use of some Matchbox Powertrack bits

 

[andy18s]

If you like this sort of thing.. 😆 

https://www.pendleslotracing.co.uk/scalextric-the-professionals-capri-twin-pack.html

 

[Tenmil Socket]

5 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

I once bought a Porsche at a car show.

But it was a DARDA MOTOR one, for a pound

This one actually worked!

The Carlos Fandango wheel set might look daft on these but the sprung motor inside this one was very strong and it needed the extra traction to get off the line.

In fact, despite a rubber insert in the rear wheels, it span them, lunged forward at great lick, flew off the desk and clouted the wall. The wife was elated.

Porsche please 😁

[flat4alfa]

On 11/05/2025 at 16:00, bunglebus said:

I thought @flat4alfa might be able to make use of some Matchbox Powertrack bits

Thanks that’s ideal as I have some doubles therefore spare motor base bases ready to fit the bare bodyshells 

The Powertracks and LaneChangers are looking forward having them join the next meet event !

Never had Escort or TR7 (but to be fair I haven’t been actively chasing)

Fiat Abarth 131 a good save despite the hacked arches, never mind it means a second colour obtained

[flat4alfa]

On 14/11/2021 at 20:04, junkyarddog said:

Matchbox Saab 900 turbo slot car.

Hello do you still have the SAAB ?

[junkyarddog]

1 minute ago, flat4alfa said:

Hello do you still have the SAAB ?

Yes,but I'm toying with the idea of building a track.

So will hold onto it for the moment.

[danthecapriman]

8 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

I might be able to help with the bumper

Also looking at the dash cut-outs this one is the same - I presumed that something 'did a Polistil' and fell off the dash never to be seen again

The ex- @danthecapriman Land Rover has the missing spotlight, I wonder if that can be traced...

 

I’d completely forgotten about that one I had. Who had it in the end? 
I was pretty disappointed with it when I found it, as it was such a nice model and not in bad condition either then you see that missing door!

[Tenmil Socket]

59 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Thanks that’s ideal as I have some doubles therefore spare motor base bases ready to fit the bare bodyshells 

The Powertracks and LaneChangers are looking forward having them join the next meet event !

 

Never had Escort or TR7 (but to be fair I haven’t been actively chasing)

Fiat Abarth 131 a good save despite the hacked arches never mind it means a second colour obtained

@comfortablynumb did you get chance to set up the Power Track set I sent you?

[MiniMinorMk3]

From Lot 379 some of the small stuff.

First the non-Corgi Juniors.

First a Zymlex VW

Looks like it was pale green metallic before it got used and abused.

Continuing the VW theme next we have a Majorette 1302.

Not in bad shape.

Finally in the non-Corgi section we have a Majorette Simca 1100 Ti, the supposed first ever Hot Hatch.

There's a bit of play wear and the rear hatch will not open. I expect forcing it will just result in a broken off hatch, so it is staying shut.

 

 

[bunglebus]

13 minutes ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

First a Zymlex VW

Looks like it was pale green metallic before it got used and abused.

I think they're generally all silver, red, or yellow for the later release. Now I look though, it has got a slight green tinge to it

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

One the Corgi Junior front we have a couple from the Wild West series, a Stage Coach and a Locomotive. One of the horses has bolted from the Stagecoach.

Next are a couple of tractors, a Volvo in red and a Zetor in orange

Next is Old MacDonalds Truck. 

The sticker is missing from the side of the stake bed.

I now have yet another Guy tanker.

Willys Jeep still has driver and screen.

Next three would not look out of place in a Gerry Anderson TV show. I don't remember seeing any of these when I was growing up, but then looking at the wheels they were probably released when I'd moved on to building Monogram/AMT/Revell Hot Rod kits and gave all my diecasts to my little brother.

First is the Wigwam-Van Camper. 

Next we have a good example of a Grand Prix Racer

Last we have a Healer Wheeler. I guess Corgi were taking the piss out of the Matchbox Stretcher Fetcher with the name.

Here's a group of red emergency vehicles.

Tidy Capri Fire Chief

Ranger Rover Crash Tender.

And to pick up all the wreckage two Land Rover Wrecker Truck

Both only have the sticker on the left side.

Last we have a Series 2 E-Type 2+2.

Oddly the engine only looks like a 4-cylinder, but Corgi have kind of got the detail right because the cam covers on the Jag engine only had two rows of four nuts holding them on.

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

5 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

I think they're generally all silver, red, or yellow for the later release. Now I look though, it has got a slight green tinge to it

  

 

At first I thought it was silver, but mine is definitely very pale green.

This is mine under natural light.

[bunglebus]

You got a nice chromed insert on the Growlers version

 

[eddyramrod]

Further to my tutorial from the other day... this morning I've been doing some more work so I made sure I took some photos.  Let's start with "Before," showing the whole batch ready to be drilled apart.

Here's inside the Anglia, showing the way the window units are often riveted to the body...

And here's the Thunderbird from below, showing the rivet heads you need to attack to get these things apart...

Note this model is held together by three rivets; some have as few as one, or as many as six.  And while we're with the Thunderbird, remember I mentioned that it comes apart to make two-toning easier?

Yep, there it is, apart.  Like the blue one you've seen, this is going to be two-toned.

 

[sierraman]

That base with the date on is interesting, is that a date someone’s put on when they’ve bought it and traded it on? 

[Tenmil Socket]

7 minutes ago, sierraman said:

That base with the date on is interesting, is that a date someone’s put on when they’ve bought it and traded it on? 

A couple of months after I was born.

[eddyramrod]

8 minutes ago, sierraman said:

That base with the date on is interesting, is that a date someone’s put on when they’ve bought it and traded it on? 

That's certainly the inference I took from it.  I won't be stripping and painting the base, so those markings will remain.  But the body is going to look a whole lot better!