Shite in Miniature II

[bunglebus]

8 hours ago, MAF260 said:

I had the SLC and Caper Cart as a kid and loved both. I'm currently on the lookout for good examples of both to go with my nostalgia collection of toy cars from my childhood.

I'm sure I've got other examples of these so I'll keep you in mind

[bunglebus]

Popped into Smyths this afternoon and found a new set of Pop Culture premiums. Most were of no interest to me, but the 911 is nice

My Corgi Model Club Citroen DS, sorry ID has been here for a few days, but I've been having a bit of an argument with them for the last week or 10 days, as despite me asking to skip the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang release back in April, they decided to tag it on to this month's order and ignore my emails until after payment had gone and the delivery dispatched. After a phone call they agreed to take it back at no cost, ideally by refusing the delivery. Of course Amazon chucked it on the mat and ran away, so no chance of that - so more emails back and forth as they wanted me to pay to post it back, no chance! I've still got to pay for postage and apparently they'll take the cost off my subscription, we'll see. Reading their reviews, a lot of people are unhappy with them lately, possibly since they were taken under Hornby's wing. The CCBB has had some scathing reviews due to cost cutting, plastic base instead of metal for example. Hopefully it's just a blip, as this one is definitely up to their usual standards 

Folding seat folds

Free catalogue 

[morrisoxide]

Got the Jeep, Chevy, Sierra & Saab from a stall at Race the Waves £1 each. The two wind ups where from a Antique shop £1 each, the Austin looking one is very cheap and tacky but has a nice look.

That Chevelle is brilliant.

Edit. I also got a MB Morgan 3 Wheeler

[sierraman]

Quite a difficult one to find the Sierra. Was part of a set with a Pitts Special and an Airport Coach. 

[Datsuncog]

On 17/06/2025 at 17:54, bunglebus said:

I've been having a bit of an argument with them for the last week or 10 days, as despite me asking to skip the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang release back in April, they decided to tag it on to this month's order and ignore my emails until after payment had gone and the delivery dispatched.

I've generally found the Corgi Model Club staff to be quite helpful whenever I've rung them to skip a model release, but maybe they're less good at checking their emails...

Annoying, given the extra price bump for Chitty, and while I did get that one - and I do like it, for some reason - I was a bit surprised when I discovered the plastic base, after all their trumpeting about how this was as uncompromising a replica as possible of the 1968 original. Just seems weird.

While I think it could be good in one way to have CMC and Corgi together under one roof, I'm a bit concerned that the loss-making Hornby Hobbies might be leaning on CMC to cut corners and then using any profits generated from Model Club members to prop up the less profitable parts of the business. While independent, CMC knew that they'd stand or fall based on their offerings, so they had to continue developing appealing models to retain their members. Now... maybe that's shifted. Maybe bosses feel they only need a solid enough range to draw new people in, and there's not the same need to keep those they already have.

I'm becoming a bit fed up with future releases largely consisting of castings we've seen before reissued with different paint. Three different variants of the Oldsmobile Super 88 and four versions of the Chevrolet Impala (once the beige/tan colourway version drops later this year) just seems unnecessary. I think it's going to kill collectors' enthusiasm for the range, which has included some absolute stunners (especially the Golden Jacks items last year). But what now?

It kinda feels like we're dropping into a holding pattern of colour reissues mixed in with slightly upgraded versions of models that have been available from Corgi for years, like the Yellow Submarine and CCBB - with maybe one hyped 'hook' premium model a year, like the Batmobile last year and the forthcoming Écurie Ecosse Commer race transporter, to encourage club members to keep on persevering with the collection.

Time will tell...

[sierraman]

I just think it’s going to become one of those pyramid schemes in the end, like those Time Warner CD compilations from the 90’s. It was a novelty at the beginning, an opportunity to have the model as new you could display but at a price you could afford but you can see they’re looking to keep people hanging in the long run and I suspect folks will get fed up with another recolour of a Chevy Impala as you say. Bringing back some of the 70’s models would be good but when you look at the Mercedes 350SL and the Citroen SM they did they must have cost a bomb to make and they’re not going to be viable in this day and age to make for less than £30-40. Which you can buy a good original for. 
 

TL:DR I just don’t think it’s got legs. It’s run its course. 

[MiniMinorMk3]

I'm amazed they are still selling at £30 seeing as how they can be purchased at auctions for about £10-£15. The amount that are springing up on the secondary market makes me think they are dumping the earlier issues out the back door.

In about 5 years time they will be worth about £5 each, just like the Atlas Dinky models are now.

[sierraman]

1 hour ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

I'm amazed they are still selling at £30 seeing as how they can be purchased at auctions for about £10-£15. The amount that are springing up on the secondary market makes me think they are dumping the earlier issues out the back door.

In about 5 years time they will be worth about £5 each, just like the Atlas Dinky models are now.

In my nearly 39 years every time I’ve seen something touted from the get go as being collectible, it’s turned out they’ve been worth square root of fuck all eventually especially when they’ve ended up with a surplus that gets flooded into the market. Perhaps that’s not the point, it gives someone a bit of pleasure for realistically not a lot of money in this day and age. On the other hand £30 would get a careworn copy of most items that isn’t going to really go down in value and it’s got that bit of patina that you can never reproduce. 

[Split_Pin]

All this talk about the CMC is rather saddening. 

On a different note, have any of us ever been to central Paris? I'm going on holiday there at the end of July and I want to try and find somewhere that sells 1/18s, Norevs, Solidos and the like.

[MiniMinorMk3]

24 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

All this talk about the CMC is rather saddening. 

On a different note, have any of us ever been to central Paris? I'm going on holiday there at the end of July and I want to try and find somewhere that sells 1/18s, Norevs, Solidos and the like.

A quick internet "Paris Car Model Shop" turned up these two

Puss in Boots - Miniature Collectible Cars - Cars

Solido 1:18 Model Shop

[bunglebus]

I couldn't find a lot when I was there last at Place De La Concord, but I had success with  Joueclub, big toy stores the equivalent of Smyths on my journey home

 

[bunglebus]

I happened to be working literally next door to my local Entertainer today, so it would have been rude not to have a quick nose.

Picked up this Art Cars Superbird

Plus this, a generic casting but quite an interesting one with hints of various other cars about it

They also had two new 5 packs I wasn't aware of, a set of tooned cars...

Plus this Retro Racers set with two of my favourites within

[bunglebus]

Waiting for me at home were various boxed cars as a job lot, but I only really wanted one.

It's not this Solido Renault 4CV

Or this Motoring Minors Memory

Or the Skybuster

Not even the Jubilee bus

It's the Midnight Rover that uses a definitely legit Dinky casting. All these had a serious layer of disgusting giffer grime on them

In another box was a Majorette T2 ambulance 

One reclining in rear

Lastly, hot on the heals of the weekend's Gulper with Mill interior, is a Mill with a Gulper interior

[Split_Pin]

Thanks both for the pointers on Paris. I did do a Google search but I could not find any solid results. There were car dealerships and fashion boutiques mixed into the results.

[SunnySouth]

Have we had these yet??

Can somebody please buy them before I do; thanks 👀

The Frontera is a bit iffy but the pair of Vectras are luverlee….

https://ebay.us/m/SUHmuh

https://ebay.us/m/Iiemng

https://ebay.us/m/lk79hf
 

 

[cms206]

Charity shop finds for today... two big assorted tubs of bric-a-brac landed this lot.

[andrew e]

16 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Thanks both for the pointers on Paris. I did do a Google search but I could not find any solid results. There were car dealerships and fashion boutiques mixed into the results.

If the Renault boutiques ever re-opens on the Champ de Elyse, that will likely have a good range of diecasts.

[andrew e]

That’s a very good basket of goodies there! 

[danthecapriman]

While I’m sat on my useless arse I’ll show you lot what I’ve been up to over the last few days. 
No progress on the Escort van yet. That’s in the ignore pile for now after almost slicing my finger off on it! I’ll get to it later though.

An Atlas/Vanguard’s Austin Princess. The usual full strip & repaint. 
It’s done to look a bit like the one used in The Full Monty, as Lomper’s car. Still a bit left to finish and I need to do something with the wheels as they’re not right for the TV car, though I’m not sure I’ll find anything suitable for those.

The Chevy C30 ramp truck I started months back. Nearly done, just needs a few bits to finish. 
I might try to find a 1:43 Ford Model A or something to convert into a hot rod to sit on the back!

 
Also built a garbage truck!

As usual with my trucks, it’s a mishmash of all sorts of things cobbled together. 
Cab is an Altaya Ford C series (formerly a tractor unit), Chassis is from a Panhard (I think!), Garbage body started as an Altaya French origin bin truck but the back has been heavily modified with plastic card to look more American. 
This is it before painting!

 
And now,

Loads of extra bits & bobs added, cab interior repainted etc etc. I’ve got some transfers for a few bits yet to add to it and the exhaust needs refitting too. I’ll eventually give the back end a bit of weathering and make some rubbish/guns/severed arm etc to put in the back!

Started another truck today too. 
This one’s quite good as you can see how to graft a non original cab onto another chassis.

The chassis is an Altaya Willeme chassis, which is an old ugly French truck! New cab is an IXO Dodge LCF which only comes as a tractor unit so I’m going to rebuild it as a big tipper. 
Basically it’s just a case of offering things up to see how well it might fit. Using a conventional style donor chassis to go under a conventional cab and the same with cab overs is generally easier. 
Then just slice bits away until it fits.

 

Long way to go yet, but you get the idea!😄

[Split_Pin]

Nice! I love that style of ol' Dodge. It's like 'let's stick a 1 ton pick up truck cab onto a full size truck'.

[danthecapriman]

21 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Nice! I love that style of ol' Dodge. It's like 'let's stick a 1 ton pick up truck cab onto a full size truck'.

They are really cool trucks. For engine access the entire side opens up hinged from the front.

This is the sort of tipper I’m aiming for-ish.

 

[bunglebus]

Working on the wrong side of London this week, popped into Tescotainer and found a solitary buggy from the new Boulevard set

(Crap apartment lighting pics)

Finished work and found a big Tesco with mezzanine, big Entertainer section. They had the cardboard "reduced" Hot Wheels display - upon which was a single green buggy...

[Tenmil Socket]

3 hours ago, cms206 said:

Charity shop finds for today... two big assorted tubs of bric-a-brac landed this lot.

Is this available?

 

[155V6]

I found this Corgi trailer at the car boot yesterday,thought it was okay for £1Not sure if the hook is original,looks like it might be Matchbox?

I had a look in my Corgi box & found a Bedford tractor unit from a car transporter,just need to find a suitable load for it now

[cms206]

4 hours ago, cms206 said:

Charity shop finds for today... two big assorted tubs of bric-a-brac landed this lot.

Lets get a better look... 

 

Corgi first...

Matchbox...

Assorted others including no name Polistil? clones of the R5, Fiat Panda and Fiat Ritmo...

And the big stuff - Corgi Studebaker is all there.

Matchbox Scammell is missing two tyres but hooks are present.

Always loved these Bburago Vitaras.

Not a bad haul!

[sheffcortinacentre]

1 hour ago, 155V6 said:

I found this Corgi trailer at the car boot yesterday,thought it was okay for £1Not sure if the hook is original,looks like it might be Matchbox?

I had a look in my Corgi box & found a Bedford tractor unit from a car transporter,just need to find a suitable load for it now

Hook is from corgi MK3 transit speclift.

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, cms206 said:

Matchbox...

What the flip is that?

And yes some Polistil/Kees copies in that mix. Great haul

[cms206]

25 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

What the flip is that?

 

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, cms206 said:

Assorted others

 

[cms206]

1 minute ago, bunglebus said:

 

The caravan is mint but I don't recall seeing the BMW in the tubs 😔