Shite in Miniature II

[Split_Pin]

Update on the saga of the missing Corgi Chevrolet Caprice Taxi.

It was sent untracked Royal Mail but there is a tracking number. It says the parcel was received at my local sorting office on Friday past but the address could not be identified and its been returned to sender. So its nowt to do with that postie who rang my doorbell when I was in the shower as he visited on 1st Feb.

The ebay seller tells me:

1) Once the parcel is returned, they will check the address.

2) They know* absolutely* definitely* they didn't make a mistake with the address.

3) They absolutely* definitely* put a sender's address on the parcel

4) They have an almost identical car for sale at the same price (it is a different one as it has the 4 spoke wheels). I've asked how they want to play this as if I bid on that car, I'll have to both pay for it and open a refund case on ebay. No reply.

I don't think they're at it, rather they're just a bit of a plonker. I'm gonna shitcan the idea of ever getting the car and just get a refund.

With all the Land/Range Rover stuff I got today, I decided now was the time to finally get a Britain's Land Rover. I always wanted one as a kid but they were too dear. Ebay prices are silly, even for very tatty ones but I thought this outfit was alright for £19 posted from Vinted:

Only the mirrors are missing. I dont think the 2 originally went together though given the LR has got a sheep on it! Nice though, I'm right pleased, hopeful this one actually arrives. 

I need a 1/32 horse now 😂

[Tenmil Socket]

Wanting to clear some space I said to the Mrs last night, I’m going upstairs to get some cars to sell. She said you’ll just end up putting them back.

I got a big box of carded Hot Wheels, took them all out, looked at each one, decided I wanted to keep them all and put them back 🤦‍♂️

 

[FakeConcern]

11 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Update on the saga of the missing Corgi Chevrolet Caprice Taxi.

It was sent untracked Royal Mail but there is a tracking number. It says the parcel was received at my local sorting office on Friday past but the address could not be identified and its been returned to sender. So its nowt to do with that postie who rang my doorbell when I was in the shower as he visited on 1st Feb.

The ebay seller tells me:

1) Once the parcel is returned, they will check the address.

2) They know* absolutely* definitely* they didn't make a mistake with the address.

3) They absolutely* definitely* put a sender's address on the parcel

4) They have an almost identical car for sale at the same price (it is a different one as it has the 4 spoke wheels). I've asked how they want to play this as if I bid on that car, I'll have to both pay for it and open a refund case on ebay. No reply.

I don't think they're at it, rather they're just a bit of a plonker. I'm gonna shitcan the idea of ever getting the car and just get a refund.

With all the Land/Range Rover stuff I got today, I decided now was the time to finally get a Britain's Land Rover. I always wanted one as a kid but they were too dear. Ebay prices are silly, even for very tatty ones but I thought this outfit was alright for £19 posted from Vinted:

Only the mirrors are missing. I dont think the 2 originally went together though given the LR has got a sheep on it! Nice though, I'm right pleased, hopeful this one actually arrives. 

I need a 1/32 horse now 😂

What a pain about the ebay purchase especially when it was something you were looking forward to.

Love the Britain's Land Rover and horse box, like you, I never had one as a kid because of the price. I remember seeing one in a toy shop window with opening bits and wanting it, but way more than the Corgi's I usually bought.

As regards the horse, next time I see mu SIL I'll see if I can get a couple for you as she has literally hundreds of them and if not I often see them for next to nothing at toy and boot fairs. 

[Split_Pin]

10 minutes ago, FakeConcern said:

What a pain about the ebay purchase especially when it was something you were looking forward to.

Love the Britain's Land Rover and horse box, like you, I never had one as a kid because of the price. I remember seeing one in a toy shop window with opening bits and wanting it, but way more than the Corgi's I usually bought.

As regards the horse, next time I see mu SIL I'll see if I can get a couple for you as she has literally hundreds of them and if not I often see them for next to nothing at toy and boot fairs. 

Cheers Peter! 😀

[Datsuncog]

2 hours ago, Tenmil Socket said:

I got a big box of carded Hot Wheels, took them all out, looked at each one, decided I wanted to keep them all and put them back 🤦‍♂️

Yeah, that's my trick too. Get determined to clear some space, do some sorting, get photos taken, then the thought hits me... yeah, if I get rid of them I'll only regret it and start buying them back in six months time... again.

Very, very annoying.

[Datsuncog]

On 09/02/2026 at 23:29, Split_Pin said:

Update on the saga of the missing Corgi Chevrolet Caprice Taxi.

It was sent untracked Royal Mail but there is a tracking number. It says the parcel was received at my local sorting office on Friday past but the address could not be identified and its been returned to sender. So its nowt to do with that postie who rang my doorbell when I was in the shower as he visited on 1st Feb.

The ebay seller tells me:

1) Once the parcel is returned, they will check the address.

2) They know* absolutely* definitely* they didn't make a mistake with the address.

3) They absolutely* definitely* put a sender's address on the parcel

4) They have an almost identical car for sale at the same price (it is a different one as it has the 4 spoke wheels). I've asked how they want to play this as if I bid on that car, I'll have to both pay for it and open a refund case on ebay. No reply.

I don't think they're at it, rather they're just a bit of a plonker. I'm gonna shitcan the idea of ever getting the car and just get a refund.

That's super irritating - hopefully some resolution can be reached here. Caprice Taxi is a lovely model well worth having.

I kind of prefer the four-spoke wheels to the discs, but that's just me.

I'm wondering if all the wet weather may have had a hand in the 'unidentified address' issue?

A few weeks ago I had a parcel to send, and after getting it all wrapped and the pre-paid address/ postage label printed off and affixed, I took it up to the Post Office for drop-off.

It was lashing down, and as I hurried into the shop clutching the parcel a big raindrop fell from the canopy over the door and splatted right onto the address label.

The water-based ink from my cheapo Canon printer ran like billy-o, and before I could do anything the address and the QR code were reduced to illegible black blots - though the return address was fine, as it was  protected by the sticky tape around the edge of the label.

Fortunately I was able to get a new label printed out at the counter using the postage receipt email's barcode on my phone, and it arrived at its destination safely - but I can see how this might have gone awry if the rain-splat had occurred when being loaded in and out of a RM van, or even on the delivery round itself.

With any luck this isn't the end of the story for you!

[Tenmil Socket]

1 hour ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Wanting to clear some space I said to the Mrs last night, I’m going upstairs to get some cars to sell. She said you’ll just end up putting them back.

I got a big box of carded Hot Wheels, took them all out, looked at each one, decided I wanted to keep them all and put them back 🤦‍♂️

 

And what has d**khead here just gone and done… bought some more cars off Vinted. 

[Split_Pin]

I just dont think about it when I'm selling stuff, otherwise I'll want to keep it.

One car left me last week and about half an hour later the Polistil Merc 190 dropped!

[Tenmil Socket]

10 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

I just dont think about it when I'm selling stuff, otherwise I'll want to keep it.

One car left me last week and about half an hour later the Polistil Merc 190 dropped!

I simply want to make space so I can buy alternative stuff otherwise it becomes rather overwhelming 😬

[danthecapriman]

10 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

I just dont think about it when I'm selling stuff, otherwise I'll want to keep it.

One car left me last week and about half an hour later the Polistil Merc 190 dropped!

That’s how I do it when selling.

Dont think, just do. And do it quickly too like ripping off a plaster or cutting your leg off or whatever, do it quick so you don’t think about it and can’t go back on it! 
I tend to hoard stuff if not.

[junkyarddog]

Sometimes a tidy up goes swimmingly,sometimes not.

Dinky TR7.

Not a casting I'm particularly enthused about,but they are easy to take apart.

Can't say I'm pleased with this,paint was still soft despite being left to dry for a day.

Marginally better than it was. 

But not much.

[bunglebus]

My eBay/Vinted experience is usually reach a point of annoyance with too much stuff, get ruthless and sell stuff, then a) use the funds to buy more stuff and 2) realise I need something I've sold either for parts or to complete a set. 

I've sold loads the last year but I've bought still more I reckon

[bunglebus]

Talking of which, I spotted a job lot with minimal description, and something interesting within. Wasn't quite sure what it was, maybe a Polistil?

A Mercury. Nice

[eddyramrod]

I got a little parcel from @matt79...

The Range Rover was in response to my recent plea for one, and will in fact support at least two projects.  Mini and Herald are a Brucie Bonus which will stand a little TLC.

And then today, I had half an hour to kill, so I went in one of my local charity shops.  Dangerous...  No, I didn't find any diecasts to buy, but...

I love a wooden garage hand-made by Grandad for his grandson!  Come on, which of us could leave it there?  The parking spaces on the roof give away that it's scaled for 1/64 or even 1/76, which is unfortunate really as I don't work in those scales very much now.  So, who would give me a fiver for it?  It'll live in the boot of the Cresta until you can collect.  I wouldn't like to post it because it's bloody heavy.

[sheffcortinacentre]

Location would help.

[Lord Sterling]

Anyone watch this guy:

https://m.youtube.com/@PaulRestorer

Paul Restorer. Basically a Polish version of @bunglebus who buys up old tatty old cars and restores them to almost perfection. 

Some of the paint is a bit overdone but it gives the cars a new lease of life. He even makes the boxes them! That level of blows my tiny mind as well as the attention to detail on things like mirrors, aerials, tyres (he makes his own) and axles.

Anyway. Apart from that. I will send out a small please. I see it works for EddyRR so I thought I'd give it try.

I'm looking for the following;

1. Corgi Triumph Herald

2. Dinky 164 Ford Zodiac 

3. Polistil Fiat Ritmo 1/24 (I know this one is like hen's teeth, better to buy from Italy which I might do when I go back to Brussels to see my Dad)

4. Minichamps/Paul's Model Art 1/24 BMW E39 5er and E36 3er.

Ta!

[eddyramrod]

5 hours ago, sheffcortinacentre said:

Location would help.

Barrow-in-Furness; bottom-left corner of the Lake District.  Can meet at Lakeland Motor Museum if I have enough notice.

[Split_Pin]

16 minutes ago, Lord Sterling said:

Anyone watch this guy:

https://m.youtube.com/@PaulRestorer

Paul Restorer. Basically a Polish version of @bunglebus who buys up old tatty old cars and restores them to almost perfection. 

Some of the paint is a bit overdone but it gives the cars a new lease of life. He even makes the boxes them! That level of blows my tiny mind as well as the attention to detail on things like mirrors, aerials, tyres (he makes his own) and axles.

Anyway. Apart from that. I will send out a small please. I see it works for EddyRR so I thought I'd give it try.

I'm looking for the following;

1. Corgi Triumph Herald

2. Dinky 164 Ford Zodiac 

3. Polistil Fiat Ritmo 1/24 (I know this one is like hen's teeth, better to buy from Italy which I might do when I go back to Brussels to see my Dad)

4. Minichamps/Paul's Model Art 1/24 BMW E39 5er and E36 3er.

Ta!

Y0, I have a Minichamps E36 Coupe. It's in decent enough condition but has some Saab wheels with ridiculously over-profiled tyres. I nicked the BMW ones for my red 93 project for said reason. Yours for £postage.

[Lord Sterling]

1 minute ago, Split_Pin said:

Y0, I have a Minichamps E36 Coupe. It's in decent enough condition but has some Saab wheels with ridiculously over-profiled tyres. I nicked the BMW ones for my red 93 project for said reason. Yours for £postage.

Done! I'm sure I can find some wheels.

[Split_Pin]

3 minutes ago, Lord Sterling said:

Done! I'm sure I can find some wheels.

I'll dig it out and find a box.

[bunglebus]

Popped into Basildump earlier, found the remnants of a new Hot Wheels case in Asbo. If you know a little bit of Hot Wheels history, you'll understand why they've made the first version of the new VW Buzz Bomb in pink

Also this slightly odd custom Prius - there's another version with a roof box as shown on the card art

I also grabbed a spare red Cortina, as I have a plan. Here it is out of the pack

Deliveries include this utterly shocking attempt to protect a boxed Superkings

Fortunately it doesn't seem to have got significantly worse on its journey

I think I could tell a Chinese Matchbox blindfold now, they just feel slightly too light and flimsy

These two were thanks to a heads-up on the mini tat thread by @matt79

This is another Chinese made one, again it's just slightly sub-par in terms of feel and how the flip front fits. Unusual version all the same

Another oddity is this Norev Ligier LS2

Also in the mix was this Zylmex Trans-Am

[barrett]

On 10/02/2026 at 15:39, bunglebus said:

Talking of which, I spotted a job lot with minimal description, and something interesting within. Wasn't quite sure what it was, maybe a Polistil?

That's lovely, well up my strasse. Well found

[sheffcortinacentre]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

Popped into Basildump earlier, found the remnants of a new Hot Wheels case in Asbo. If you know a little bit of Hot Wheels history, you'll understand why they've made the first version of the new VW Buzz Bomb in pink

Also this slightly odd custom Prius - there's another version with a roof box as shown on the card art

I also grabbed a spare red Cortina, as I have a plan. Here it is out of the pack

Deliveries include this utterly shocking attempt to protect a boxed Superkings

Fortunately it doesn't seem to have got significantly worse on its journey

I think I could tell a Chinese Matchbox blindfold now, they just feel slightly too light and flimsy

These too were thanks to a heads-up on the mini tat thread by @matt79

This is another Chinese made one, again it's just slightly sub-par in terms of feel and how the flip front fits. Unusual version all the same

Another oddity is this Norev Ligier LS2

Also in the mix was this Zylmex Z-28

81 turbo trans am

[bunglebus]

3 minutes ago, sheffcortinacentre said:

81 turbo trans am

Typing faster than thinking as usual 

[danthecapriman]

Few more bits I’m working on. 
Done a load more to some ongoing projects and my little diorama display shelf. 
Managed to get some painting done too.

Fine Fare Leyland Lynx has had more lowering to reduce the gap between types and wheel arch. Chassis & wheels now painted too. Cab interior has been painted today and drying now. I had to make a new front axle as the original was too narrow so used a length of brass tube with some plastic tube spacers for the wheels.

 
Ex Bond partwork Renault Fuego now in silver.  
This will become a replica of the one I used to walk past every day on my way to/from school. It wasn’t all that old at the time but over the years you could see it gradually deteriorating! 

 
Atlas/Vanguards Cortina mk3 now in Modena Green as per @quicksilver one in 1:76.  
And the other, is a Dodge Coronet which comes from the Taxis of the world partwork as a Beirut taxi of all things! A PM discussion between @eddyramrod and @FakeConcern sparked that one. Decided I’d hunt down my one and do something with it so it’s now wearing a lovely period metallic copper/bronze (Ford Aztec Bronze but don’t tell the Mopar guys!😆)

[bunglebus]

I worked out what was wrong with the red Hot Wheels Cortina:

It's the matt finish (and the yellow windows). And so:

Of course I couldn't resist a set of One64 wheels (no hubcaps this time) and a tickle with some paint here and there

[bunglebus]

This is why I never use Fraggle tape, I think the delivery people make a game of trying to destroy stuff. Thankfully the contents were well packed and unharmed

This one came from @Datsuncog, the Bugcation is entirely stupid but I like it

Onto other packages, time to party on with a carded Corgi Pacer

Have you ever seen a Matchbox box like this?

More boxed goodness in the form of a Draguar - not quite mint due to a weird defect by the engine

This is not the same car (different colour interior, orange is less common). Very good glass though, still want to customise one but that glazing is almost always defective 

Another Datsuncog find

These were in that battered box, and thankfully have all made it unscathed

Superfast Diplomat seems to be tougher to locate than the regular wheels one

Ice Cream Canteen...

And the bloke isn't an amputee/headless/AWOL

Morris Minor is another uncommon one, and a casting I'd like to customise or restore

This poo brown example looks just the job

OK folks it gets a bit weird from here on, don't say I didn't warn you! Sticking with Morris Minors, and sent in a cardboard envelope of all things, is this plastic clockwork effort

No key, but operating it like a pull-back got it working, and revealed a little surprise - the steering turns left and right as it goes along. What a charming little thing, wish I knew who made it

Weird enough for you? How about a Tootsietoys Kubelwagen?

Comes with the choice of either a matching colour trailer with mismatched wheels...

Or a matching wheels Howitzer in a different colour 

This tinplate tank - absolutely no idea

That little flap folds down for...reasons

We're not out of the woods yet. Plastic ERTL Celica Supra 

Has a friction motor, pushing it along opens the bonnet, spins the fan and rocks the engine. Awesome 

Easing back into normality with a tiny LJN Stunt Rider

A tinier Hot Wheels 

And a not tiny at all Bburago 959

[Datsuncog]

42 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Have you ever seen a Matchbox box like this?

I have, but only the once!

Seems to have been the US packaging for 1982 only - the big Charlie Mack bible categorizes it as 'Miniatures Box Type L'. 

[sutty2006]

I also found two red cortina’s in an Aldi I was in. and a yellow Landy. 
 

gave them both to my lad and kept a Tina for myself 

 

[Tenmil Socket]

12 hours ago, bunglebus said:

This is why I never use Fraggle tape, I think the delivery people make a game of trying to destroy stuff. Thankfully the contents were well packed and unharmed

This one came from @Datsuncog, the Bugcation is entirely stupid but I like it

Onto other packages, time to party on with a carded Corgi Pacer

Have you ever seen a Matchbox box like this?

More boxed goodness in the form of a Draguar - not quite mint due to a weird defect by the engine

This is not the same car (different colour interior, orange is less common). Very good glass though, still want to customise one but that glazing is almost always defective 

Another Datsuncog find

These were in that battered box, and thankfully have all made it unscathed

Superfast Diplomat seems to be tougher to locate than the regular wheels one

Ice Cream Canteen...

And the bloke isn't an amputee/headless/AWOL

Morris Minor is another uncommon one, and a casting I'd like to customise or restore

This poo brown example looks just the job

OK folks it gets a bit weird from here on, don't say I didn't warn you! Sticking with Morris Minors, and sent in a cardboard envelope of all things, is this plastic clockwork effort

No key, but operating it like a pull-back got it working, and revealed a little surprise - the steering turns left and right as it goes along. What a charming little thing, wish I knew who made it

Weird enough for you? How about a Tootsietoys Kubelwagen?

Comes with the choice of either a matching colour trailer with mismatched wheels...

Or a matching wheels Howitzer in a different colour 

This tinplate tank - absolutely no idea

That little flap folds down for...reasons

We're not out of the woods yet. Plastic ERTL Celica Supra 

Has a friction motor, pushing it along opens the bonnet, spins the fan and rocks the engine. Awesome 

Easing back into normality with a tiny LJN Stunt Rider

A tinier Hot Wheels 

And a not tiny at all Bburago 959

That Celica is great!