Shite in Miniature II

[matt79]

Thanks, that explains it. Sure the set looks nice, I just couldn't see the reason for the hype about it (not being a Ferrari or Hotwheels collector as such)

[danthecapriman]

11 minutes ago, matt79 said:

Thanks, that explains it. Sure the set looks nice, I just couldn't see the reason for the hype about it (not being a Ferrari or Hotwheels collector as such)

I was thinking the same to be honest. 
It’s nice enough set and all, but they just seem to be very hyped up. The F40 was the same. Nice enough, but I’m not sure I can see why it’s so highly regarded.

Although I’m not a Ferrari guy!

[sierraman]

Matchbox used to do some excellent Ferrari models, shame they are so restrictive about who makes them.

[matt79]

40 minutes ago, sierraman said:

Matchbox used to do some excellent Ferrari models, shame they are so restrictive about who makes them.

I've still got my childhood Matchbox Testarossa and F40 (in fact I've still got most of my childhood models, currently squirrelled away in case they become a valuable trading currency in the coming apocalypse) 

[junkyarddog]

All the Ford Team Transport sets are gone from my local Smyths. 

Not too bothered as I've already got the Capri casting,and the Truck is generic anyway.

Loads of the Ferrari sets there though,which is a better set as the Truck is a licenced Fiat casting.

Found this while browsing elsewhere!

 

[danthecapriman]

45 minutes ago, junkyarddog said:

All the Ford Team Transport sets are gone from my local Smyths. 

Not too bothered as I've already got the Capri casting,and the Truck is generic anyway.

Loads of the Ferrari sets there though,which is a better set as the Truck is a licenced Fiat casting.

 

That’s one of the other things about those sets, the trucks are usually generic. Why!?!

The truck is 50% of the set FFS. Why go to the effort of making such nice castings of the car(s) but then go all ‘fuck it, that’ll do’ on the truck. Why not do the job properly and give us some real trucks to go with the real cars.

[sierraman]

2 hours ago, matt79 said:

I've still got my childhood Matchbox Testarossa and F40 (in fact I've still got most of my childhood models, currently squirrelled away in case they become a valuable trading currency in the coming apocalypse) 

For about a fortnight in 1991 my favourite car was a Porsche 959 off the back of buying the matchbox one in the Post Office

[bunglebus]

Cheers AliExpress, they'll all be completely f*cked then

[danthecapriman]

Stripped the paint and cut the cab front off the fire truck today ready to start building the International bus.

I can’t quite offer them up properly as the tang on the bus body won’t slot under the new International front end! I’ll have to cut it down a touch. 
Can’t see any potential issues though. The International front end will need filing and sanding smooth on the cut face and possibly some plastic or filler to make up the gap where the windscreen was on the fire truck but that’s no bother.

The aim:

Does anyone know of an International Loadstar truck in 1:43? Or thereabouts?

[bunglebus]

Onto nicer arrivals, I've been hunting for a good condition green Volvo estate for absolutely ages, ever since I customised my original one, thinking a replacement shouldn't be hard to find!

Another one where the true colour is nothing like what the camera captures

It's more like this, maybe slightly darker

Nextly, the later version of the Dinky Deluxe Volkswagen 

Some might remember I restored one of these, so now we can see if I did a good job

Still haven't found a replacement rear 'plate. Here's the earlier one as it was nearby

Also arriving today was this boxed K-50 Street Rod

[ambassador84]

Just on my way back from Spain via France which has given me the opportunity in a bit of cheeky diecast hunting in and around Lyon. Some disappointing retailers such as E.leclerc and Carrefour and others more bountiful such as JoueClub and Smyths Toys. 

[bunglebus]

You make my hauls look sensible. Saw these today for a bargain* £2 each in Poundland 

[bunglebus]

Oh and this arrived! Need to find my original for comparison 

[ambassador84]

30 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

You make my hauls look sensible. Saw these today for a bargain* £2 each in Poundland 

Oooh I like! Exact same range in Spanish Pepco but they were half the price!

[sierraman]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

Oh and this arrived! Need to find my original for comparison 

What fascinates me most about the Tanzanara is that it’s actually a British Leyland concept car.

[morrisoxide]

Charity shop finds.

The BMW and bus thing work quite well after servicing them with a drop of oil.

I couldn't resist the tiny pit spanner and the monopoly car. 

[bunglebus]

Late arrival discovered by the bins just now 

Having checked it's a 1:42 Gama Mini with Exxon's name stamped into the base instead, what an oddball. Love it.

 

[bunglebus]

I think I'm done messing with this Impala lowrider now

It's tested my patience but it's put a grin on my face now, the paint is a purple/gold flip found in Poundland of all places, with white (bonnet) pink (roof) and purple (boot) pearl over the top, all masked in separate stages. The colour is absolutely mad and changes depending on where you are compared to the car and light source. Interior is now a Mexican blanket and I gave the driver a makeover to look a little more chicano

[morrisoxide]

That Impala looks ace, well done!

[bunglebus]

Found the original Tanzara

I think these must use the original moulds, although I suspect the base is shiny plastic. Nice bit of extra detail added, but not enough to detract from the original design

[sierraman]

17 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Found the original Tanzara

I think these must use the original moulds, although I suspect the base is shiny plastic. Nice bit of extra detail added, but not enough to detract from the original design

I’d doubt the old moulds exist now to be honest. A lot will have been rationalised when they went bust in 82, they were planning on using the Lamborghini Miura as a Super GT but the mould was knackered, so much so when it went to Bulgaria it did a few rounds then crapped out. 

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

I’d doubt the old moulds exist now to be honest. A lot will have been rationalised when they went bust in 82, they were planning on using the Lamborghini Miura as a Super GT but the mould was knackered, so much so when it went to Bulgaria it did a few rounds then crapped out. 

I would have though the same, it just seems very accurate a copy right down to the wiper blades in the window unit etc. This one was copyrighted 1997 and made in China, I've never taken any of these out of the packaging for a really close look, but they appear to be just like the originals just with extra decals and detailing

 

[sierraman]

12 hours ago, morrisoxide said:

Charity shop finds.

The BMW and bus thing work quite well after servicing them with a drop of oil.

I couldn't resist the tiny pit spanner and the monopoly car. 

That spanner, I have one of those I could be totally wrong but I think it went with a Matchbox release from the early 90’s that had a sort of key that once you would it back it set off. I’ve still got mine somewhere in the loft. 

 

[Spottedlaurel]

Following my visit to Jadlam last month and a more recent eBay purchase I thought I'd have a look at some 'premium' non-HW/Matchbox 1/64-ish stuff:

CW from top left: Kaido House/Mini GT 1971 Datsun Bluebird 510, Pop Race Nissan Stagea with R34 front end, Mini GT Veilside Skyline R32, Tomica Premium Toyota Celsior*, Majorette Honda NSX-R, Pop Race Skyline C210*, Aoshima Nissan Laurel. *Celsior and older Skyline were older purchases, dug out for comparison.

Differing levels of base detail, and even at this premium level some are plastic. Most screwed-on, to enable wheel swaps?

Possibly not apparent here, but this selection all have clear red tail lights.

Some have opening features, including the bonnet on the Stagea and 510, front doors on the Celsior and boot on the Skyline C210.

As to be expected from the most expensive of them the 510 is particularly nicely done. Note the multi-piece/colour interior, separate bumpers and super-deep wheels and rubber tyres.

These two sit well together. Nicer wheels on the Skyline, but they could perhaps be swapped onto the Laurel? Separate door mirrors on the Skyline - I know this because I nearly lost one!

Like the Nissan Figaro I already have, I think these Aoshima dicasts come as a 'blind box' i.e. you're not sure what you'll get. This is the full range.

Packaging (excluding the Majorette case, which has to be partly destroyed to open it up). The Kaido House box is particularly nice quality. All have various means of keeping the model protected or in place inside.

Prices? They start at not much more than HW Premium, so £9 or so for the Majorette range (quite limited at present?), Tomica not officially imported here but most seem to be £10-20, and Jadlam have the Mini GT starting at £13-14, Kaido House typically £22-24 and Pop Race mostly £16-20.

The Majorette NSX-R feels like a bit of an outsider, but it acquits itself well with rubber tyres on wheels which are much better than they do on their mainlines. Aoshima and Tomica feel like 'mainlines with a bit extra' (with the latter notable for being the only one to have working suspension). The Pop Race and Mini GT offerings feel like they're another level up, with the Kaido House topping them all with its weighty feel, quality and level of detail.

Too late to be included with the above photos I remembered I have a Toyota RAV4 Mk2 by High Speed. Don't know much about them, looks a little large for 1/64 but nicely detailed. A quick search suggests they're cheaper, with a more Euro-centric range which would probably explain why I don't know much about them.

With a load of HW and Matchbox needing to be put away I'm starting to think I should slow down on them and put my pocket money into a more selected range of these alternative offerings.

Edit: Not sure why my photos end up this size when I'm saving them at 1200p wide. New software, haven't got used to it yet......

 

 

 

 

[Spottedlaurel]

A quick look at all the Tomica Premiums I have, so far?......

Toyotas Soarer, Celsior and 2000GT plus Nissan Skyline C110. All have working suspension and bespoke wheels (handed and fitted the right way round on the Celsior).

All have opening doors, and only the 2000GT has tampo rear lights with the rest being clear red inserts (plus a bit of tampo on the Skyline).

All have plastic bases. Scale varies slightly, presumably due to having to work with a standard Matchbox-type box.

The Soarer was still in its cellophane wrapper, so I opened it up to see what an as-new example looks like. Plastic bag wrapped inside the box, plus a leaflet.

[Tenmil Socket]

10 hours ago, bunglebus said:

I would have though the same, it just seems very accurate a copy right down to the wiper blades in the window unit etc. This one was copyrighted 1997 and made in China, I've never taken any of these out of the packaging for a really close look, but they appear to be just like the originals just with extra decals and detailing

 

They do look remarkably similar, I’m struggling to find any subtle differences. 

[Tenmil Socket]

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

That spanner, I have one of those I could be totally wrong but I think it went with a Matchbox release from the early 90’s that had a sort of key that once you would it back it set off. I’ve still got mine somewhere in the loft. 

 

I had a mini adjustable wrench as a keyring. Years ago I was going through security at Manchester Airport and I was pulled to one side and the manager was called over to see if I could board with it, honestly!

[bunglebus]

2 hours ago, Tenmil Socket said:

I had a mini adjustable wrench as a keyring. Years ago I was going through security at Manchester Airport and I was pulled to one side and the manager was called over to see if I could board with it, honestly!

I had a set of Allen keys taken off me at Stansted in case I tried to dismantle the plane, honestly! I needed them for a job I was going to in Germany, most annoying 

[sierraman]

18 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

I had a set of Allen keys taken off me at Stansted in case I tried to dismantle the plane, honestly! I needed them for a job I was going to in Germany, most annoying 

You must be a fast worker if you can dismantle an Airbus A300 with a couple of Allen keys on a trunk flight to Berlin. 

[danthecapriman]

Got the International bus sorted today. 
A bit of cleaning up was needed with the files, and some metal removing from the tab the original front end was attached to. This is one of those projects that ‘just works’ and seems to almost fall together. Everything just fits really nicely and lines up perfectly. 
I’ve roughed up the contact points and mixed up some 2 part JB Weld adhesive and got the two bits sat on the chassis setting. 
The chassis only needed a trim off the front edge and the front corners of the inner wheel arches cutting off to fit under the International’s front end. It’s much more rounded in shape compared to the GMC which is why the alterations were needed.

 
As I said before, there is a gap around the scuttle panel area caused by the original models fire truck body being there. Nothing you can do about it though as the metal just isn’t there on the fire truck, so once the glue is cured I’ll fill in the missing area and sand it smooth to match the surrounding shape of the International bodywork.

 
So while the bus dry’s I dug out a square body Chevy pickup to test the fit/size between the cab and ex bus GMC front cowl.

Definitely do-able! The width is very close so I should be able to build a Chevy C60 or Kodiak medium duty truck with the two. It’ll need a bigger chassis and wheels, and an infill panel made up for below the cab step. 
Not one I’ll be starting just yet but good to know it’ll work!

I’ve also stripped down a Bond partwork Dodge Ram pickup ready to build the buses running mate, a US Airforce pickup. Not a huge amount to do with that other than paint, but the side trims on the model will need sanding away as government vehicles tended to be the cheapest low spec ones possible.