Shite in Miniature II

[Spottedlaurel]

26 minutes ago, bramz7 said:

Even though both that and the Pop Race Evo are a bit better VFM than Hot Wheels, the nostalgia for the younger brands is basically zero so they feel almost sterile? This is probably why HW does so well. 

Interesting point about the other 1/64 brands. I have indulged in one or two of the more detailed ones, but I know what you mean - maybe the fact that they're designed to be collectible from the outset. Subject matter aside no better than Days Gone By etc?!

Scarily, anything from the 1960s/70s being represented as a diecast now is about the same age as what Lledo were churning out back in the 1980s/90s......

[Datsuncog]

Full house for Hot Wheels Pontiacs in the Belfast City Centre branch of The Entertainer this morning:

First time I've clapped eyes on the red '66 GTO - front and rear detailing are really good, and the low stance will please many. 

I was also tempted a bit by the low, low price on the Streets of Japan set, having seen them profiled here a few pages back:

Fourteen quid for six Silverlines isn't bad going. 

The Matchbox display has vanished again from this store; I know I threw a hissy fit when this happened last year,  but then it came back again once the Christmas stock had been moved on. So it'll probably be back; what would be even better is if they stocked it out with Moving Parts and Working Rigs again...

Some new Matchbox Jurassic World themed five (but actually four) packs were available, though:

Putting a cheap plastic dinosaur in the box to replace a vehicle seems a little, well, cheap. 

One vaguely interesting vehicle per pack amidst the various generics means it's probably not for me.

Took a quick look in Poundland and Poundstretcher when I was passing, but nothing new there. 

Still, good to see there's some new stuff arriving!

[bunglebus]

Did you buy the red GTO?

[bunglebus]

A tip off from @155V6 saw me purchasing this carry case

Full of stuff

Light blue tinted glass any good @danthecapriman?

The usual green Buick

But mostly, it was about

Yes Graffic Traffics. Two Transits

Two Modified Racers, which suits me as I didn't know this was part of the range, and now I can restore one

The Transporter Ambulance 

And Challenger, quite a rare one

This isn't a GT but has been given the treatment 

This isn't even a Matchbox 

No idea who made it, looks like it's designed to fit a launcher

So is this Ferrari 

Zylmex Porsche 910 arrived separately 

As did another unusual ERTL, 50 Ford. Is it supposed to be a convertible?

[danthecapriman]

53 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

A top off from @155V6 saw me purchasing this carry case

Full of stuff

Light blue tinted glass any good @danthecapriman?

The usual green Buick

But mostly, it was about

Yes Graffic Traffics. Two Transits

Two Modified Racers, which suits me as I didn't know this was part of the range, and now I can restore one

The Transporter Ambulance 

And Challenger, quite a rare one

This isn't a GT but has been given the treatment 

This isn't even a Matchbox 

No idea who made it, looks like it's designed to fit a launcher

So is this Ferrari 

Zylmex Porsche 910 arrived separately 

As did another unusual ERTL, 50 Ford. Is it supposed to be a convertible?

Never seen a blue tinted window Transit. Apparently if you can find a red tinted window one they’re very rare.

That one looks a bit too nice to split up for restoring mine though. Ideally a broken tow truck version would be the best bet for mine. All I need is good glazing.

[matt79]

2 hours ago, bunglebus said:

A top off from @155V6 saw me purchasing this carry case

Full of stuff

Light blue tinted glass any good @danthecapriman?

The usual green Buick

But mostly, it was about

Yes Graffic Traffics. Two Transits

Two Modified Racers, which suits me as I didn't know this was part of the range, and now I can restore one

The Transporter Ambulance 

And Challenger, quite a rare one

This isn't a GT but has been given the treatment 

This isn't even a Matchbox 

No idea who made it, looks like it's designed to fit a launcher

So is this Ferrari 

Zylmex Porsche 910 arrived separately 

As did another unusual ERTL, 50 Ford. Is it supposed to be a convertible?

Those Graffic Traffics look like they're in good condition (under the transfers and pen)

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, danthecapriman said:

Never seen a blue tinted window Transit. Apparently if you can find a red tinted window one they’re very rare.

That one looks a bit too nice to split up for restoring mine though. Ideally a broken tow truck version would be the best bet for mine. All I need is good glazing.

It's all good, I have a better one

 

5 minutes ago, matt79 said:

Those Graffic Traffics look like they're in good condition (under the transfers and pen)

My pet theory is that once little Johnny has gone at them with the pens and stickers, they look so awful that he never plays with them again. Most I find are in good shape under the terrible artwork 

[Datsuncog]

3 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Did you buy the red GTO?

No... 

😬

There were a fair few on the peg, so I can nab one for you if there's a dearth where you are! 

[AndyW201]

Had this a couple of weeks, finally got the chance to have a proper look over it.

Fitting nicely astride the Vauxhall/'90s hot hatch collections. This is the Truple 9 version of the Mk3 Astra GSi. As with the other Triple 9 releases, it's an Ixo casting (I think they were part of the same manufacturing group), but there have, I think, only been two road car releases (this and the metallic blue Whitebox version), along with a few Ixo-branded rally versions.

I've had the period Gama version of the Mk3 GSi for a while, (I love the Gama, Schuco, Conrad, etc, stuff of that period,) but I've been wanting a more up-to-date Mk3 as well. This and the Whitebox being the only modern ones in 1/43, they're pretty hard to find, and, correspondingly, have matching price tags. (Because rare = ££££ obviously).  But because this one was missing it's cardboard outer box, I got it for it's eBay £11 starting bid, which Inthought was a bit more palatable...

Interestingly, I've seen a few Vauxhall/Opel models on ebay recently, which came without the outer boxes but with a photocopied fact card type thing with it. Obviusly part of an enthusiast's collection at some point.

Being black, it's a bit hard to capture properly, but it's a  nice effort at capturing the Mk3.

Fortunately thebeasily snapped sperate aerial is still present. Only real complaint is that the tyres on this version are a bit overly wide and high profile, almost as if someones lobbed on a set of 225/70s from a Sprinter! The ines on the blue Whitebox version seem to be a bit slimmer. The GSi Turbine alloys are pretty good though.

Front and rear detail is good, including the GSi badging. Needs a bit of black Sharpie on that tailpipe though...

[Zie]

Walking past a charity shop today and this was on top of the games for 50p bin outside. 

Quick check and its all there. 

[Spottedlaurel]

49 minutes ago, Zie said:

Walking past a charity shop today and this was on top of the games for 50p bin outside. 

Jammy! Certainly a good buy for 50p.

[RoadworkUK]

12 hours ago, AndyW201 said:

 

Interestingly, I've seen a few Vauxhall/Opel models on ebay recently, which came without the outer boxes but with a photocopied fact card type thing with it. Obviusly part of an enthusiast's collection at some point.

 

 

That's a scan from the 1992 Observer's Book of Cars. Sadly the final issue ever published.

[matt79]

12 hours ago, Zie said:

Walking past a charity shop today and this was on top of the games for 50p bin outside. 

Quick check and its all there. 

Good score, that 👍

There never seems to be anything diecast or model car related in the charity shops local to me, or on the rare occasions there is it's either comedically priced Days Gone or no-name / off brand Chinese landfill tat 🙄

[MAF260]

It’s been a good week for me, a stark change to recent barren weeks/months.

Today’s purchases:

And this absolute peach:

[sierraman]

Didn’t realise BuM were still doing Matchbox?

[bunglebus]

32 minutes ago, sierraman said:

Didn’t realise BuM were still doing Matchbox?

Yep mine does, although my local is full of those silver trailer things no-one wants. Further afield I've had some good finds in BuM off their clip strips, black MR2 recently for example 

[sierraman]

20 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Yep mine does, although my local is full of those silver trailer things no-one wants. Further afield I've had some good finds in BuM off their clip strips, black MR2 recently for example 

Those airport baggage handler bollocks things? I want to pound every last one of them with a hammer. 

[Datsuncog]

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

Those airport baggage handler bollocks things? I want to pound every last one of them with a hammer. 

Poundstretcher still have loads of Mini Cargo Trucks, too.

In the context of the Action Drivers Airport Set released in 2021 (same year as the first version, in red) , it kinda makes sense and is actually quite a fun accessory for the airside section. It's available with or without cases in the load bed, which is a nice touch. 

But that's kinda limited interest, and the two mainline recolours for subsequent release years seemed unnecessary. 

It's perhaps telling that at this year's Matchbox Gathering Of Friends Dinner - an annual trade/collectors' event in Albuquerque sponsored by Mattel which usually features a specially commissioned model presented to attendees - a couple of commemorative Mini Cargo Trucks were mocked up as a 'spoof model', and shown before the proper dinner models were given out (this year, the Land Rover Defender 130). 

I think that 'joke' indicates the general collector's view of them... 

[bunglebus]

Happened upon a delivery at Tesco as I was getting dinner stuff. 6 B cases on the trolley, two were to remain unrummaged as they're destined for the shop (so I'll intercept them there hopefully).

I pulled the treasure hunt viper and what would be the Super if you were lucky enough to find it

This old chestnut is back too

In the post came this unusual colour Mister Two, why didn't we get gold? RHD, lights up version 

[bunglebus]

One delivery today, another unusual colour Matchbox. A shame, as it looks as good in white as it did in black 

[AndyW201]

Still no sign of a HW Primera so I've gone down a notch in the '90s Nissan range.

I'm quite keen on this fairly new Sentra casting. Up until now, it's only been available as a Premium in various collectors sets. Now it's a single Silver Series release, it's a bit more affordable.

I know its a slightly newer generation, but I like this model because it  reminds me of the old B12 Sunny, which my dad had one of back in the late '80s. A B12 hatch was also the car I learned to drive and passed my test in.

As is the case with most Hot Wheels, it's lowered and body kitted, but at least its been kept free of gaudy graphics, save for the black bonnet, so it's relatively subtle. Tiny wheels though.

[bunglebus]

The ever excellent C1 Models sent me a set of their new Lotus steels, which have separate hub caps for added eye strain! They look great, I prefer hub cap on but they're correctly detailed whichever way you want to use them. 

Well worth checking out their range, they do loads of OEM stuff as well as aftermarket. Not seen a set of my 90s favourite Azev As yet though...

[danthecapriman]

3 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

The ever excellent C1 Models sent me a set of their new Lotus steels, which have separate hub caps for added eye strain! They look great, I prefer hub cap on but they're correctly detailed whichever way you want to use them. 

Well worth checking out their range, they do loads of OEM stuff as well as aftermarket. Need seen a set of my 90s favourite Azev As yet though...

I’ve never heard of C1 models. Do they do 1:43?

Cortina looks great with those wheels btw.

[bunglebus]

18 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

I’ve never heard of C1 models. Do they do 1:43?

Not the easiest website to navigate unfortunately 

https://www.c1-models.com

Says 1:24 on his Facebook but he seems receptive to doing new things, certainly does lots of 1:64 parts

https://www.facebook.com/share/1LrbYLSUZC/

 

[bunglebus]

Join me as I delve into the depths of my loft, on a mission to find stuff to sell but getting hopelessly sidetracked finding weird variations.

With and without decal to the roof section. It's not a sticker so hasn't been peeled off

Different wheels on the Audi, aren't those the ones off the Jaguar?

Different text colours and fonts on the Matra

[FakeConcern]

You may remember I bought a couple of display cases last week for £2 each, here's one that we've renovated

I need to put it on the wall now!

 

[bunglebus]

I mean...why?

[Datsuncog]

Happened upon a better class of Sainsbury's today, with some goodies like the Majorette Premiums on the shelves...

These were very nice, I have to say. Really lovely detailing, and a balance and scale accuracy that I wouldn't normally associate with Majorette. 

The Camaro and the 911 were particularly appealing, though I couldn't quite summon the necessary desire to make them mine. 

Also, more dinosaur antics courtesy of Matchbox, but at a lower price than The Entertainer. 

Hot Wheels A Case was also in evidence, though my nearest Sainsbury's doesn't even stock Hot Wheels mainlines anymore. 

How the other half live in leafy North Down, hey? 

[bunglebus]

There's a second wave of those Majorette Collection cars out, seem them online - and yet weeks later they're not on Majorette's website

[danthecapriman]

The road gangs were out this morning with a couple of their surfacing trucks😁

Im just making the pavements now. Once they’re glued down I can do the road markings and touch in the white cut edges of the curbs etc.