Shite in Miniature II

[big_al_granvia]

20 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Been messing with numberplates on a 1/18 BMW and 1/24 Schabak Audi. Laminated them with sellotape. 

my only concern with sellotape is that it can yellow with age. i would use clear plastic film, not clingfilm but clear thin plastic, 

[Datsuncog]

Friday Tat incoming in a little while, good peoples...

Spoiler alert: it's a good 'un.

The 50p Tat Boxes are back with a vengeance.

Only a flying visit to the market this morning - and I'm currently loading up 25 square metres of flooring in a warehouse outside Belfast - but pics will follow on - probably early afternoon...

Stay tooned.

[sierraman]

https://matchbox.fandom.com/wiki/Category:2020_New_Models

Some exciting stuff there. Just a bloody shame we’ll never see them here!

[egg]

@Datsuncog - any cheap regular wheels, I'm in! Cheers.

[Split_Pin]

2 hours ago, sierraman said:

https://matchbox.fandom.com/wiki/Category:2020_New_Models

Some exciting stuff there. Just a bloody shame we’ll never see them here!

The Civic, MGB and the Golf look great. There are pics of a Volvo 850 floating around Instagram at the moment, it looks excellent.

[sierraman]

My youngest started school the other day, went in to settle her in and see what the schools like. I don’t think they had changed the learning materials since my wife went there 25 odd years ago because there was a Zee Toys Mk1 Transit and a Corgi Juniors Mercedes 190E in what I’d assume was the ‘rainy dinnertime’ box. I remember being at school and they had those one dimensional buildings you used to get with 80’s Lesney Track. 

[Split_Pin]

13 minutes ago, sierraman said:

My youngest started school the other day, went in to settle her in and see what the schools like. I don’t think they had changed the learning materials since my wife went there 25 odd years ago because there was a Zee Toys Mk1 Transit and a Corgi Juniors Mercedes 190E in what I’d assume was the ‘rainy dinnertime’ box. I remember being at school and they had those one dimensional buildings you used to get with 80’s Lesney Track. 

I had those buildings and track, think my folks accidentally threw it out as I couldn't find it when I looked a few months ago .

[Datsuncog]

Well, working on the principle of better late than never...

It's Friday's Tat in the early hours of Saturday morning.

As mentioned, quite rich pickings to be had today, and I'm only sorry I didn't get a chance to pop these up sooner.

Mostly Corgi over at the far end, then - that yellow thing with the cable coming out of it is a Corgitronics compressor, which originally would have been paired with a SIII Land Rover 109. Still had the pneumatic drill at the end of the lead, but the stickers were torn and it felt a bit too worn to justify a fiver.

More Corgi and some Matchbox lurking in the background; Chrysler Imperial was a bit sad-looking but probably not beyond repair.

I grabbed one of the 1/76 Mk1 Zodiacs by Classix, as requested by someone here - Sierraman?

More joyous tat. Blue Toronado somewhat fooked. Gold rally-striped Mk1 Polo missing an axle. And, just lurking out of sight behind the repro Dinky Bedford CA...

...was this. Yup, a late Dinky Princess in VGC, but which someone has apparently attempted to convert to quad headlight spec using a drill of some description.

Oh right.

And just zooming in a bit more to the background...

We have more Corgi loveliness. The phantom headlight snatcher has plainly been at work here, too. Volvo P1800S had been roughly repainted; hadn't realised this casting had survived into the Whizzwheels era.

And then two of those Chevrolet Astro concepts, as mentioned just the other day.

Leaning further across...

Goodness me. A lot of F1 cars, some by Corgi, some not. I intially thought they were all Corgi, but now I don't think so. Not really my bag, but an impressive grid all the same.

Some other Lesney, Bburago and even Siku oddments made up the rest of the stall.

I was in such a flap I didn't even notice the long-lost tat boxes at first...

Very familiar, this one - some of the same stuff that's been on offer since back in January. It's been well picked-over, it's fair to say.

New stuff in here, though...

Oh, and here. Mucho Matchbox. Let's dive in, hey?

A veritable infestation of AMX Javelins to be had...

In fact, lots of duplicates everywhere.

Loads of Matchbox Super GTs, too.

Cosmobiles in a variety of flavours. Pale green versions of it and the Planet Scout are indeed Adventure 2000; blue one might be one from the later Adventure 2000 range? Red one is a mainline.

It's fair to state that I could have blown a week's wages here, and emerged with a bulging bin-bag full of scratched diecast... but I tried to restrain myself.

I really did.

[TBC!!!]

[Datsuncog]

Here's what I managed to grab/fight other collectors off to secure:

Datsun 126X concept, in tampo-print 'Streakers' decoration.

I'll absolutely have to pair this with my cream Corgi Juniors Volvo 240 estate, in order to finally recreate a particularly vivid dream I still recall from 1984.

Mercury Police Car, in one of the final outings for this venerable casting as a Laser Superfast from the late 1980s.

I've already got one of these, but I really love this Dodge Challenger casting. Few paint chip but otherwise very clean.

Isuzu Amigo, better know here as the Vauxhall Frontera. I picked this one up intending to compare-and-contrast it with a pirate no-name Chinese casting of the same vehicle, but an old dear barged in and plucked it, no doubt for the grandkids.

Or maybe she just collects pirated Matchbox castings, I dunno.

Another one for 'every day's a school day':

I did not know the Vantastic came in both big-engine and smooth bonnet versions.

In fact, I don't think I ever saw any version of this Mustang that didn't have something protruding from the bonnet.

I nabbed the pair to examine at my leisure, and also in the faint hope that the one without the big-block was some sort of extremely rare prototype, but apparently not.

Also this:

I hadn't twigged that the long-running Ford pickup had been modified into the 4x4 ski truck in the early 80s. Huh.

The penny finally dropped today.

This was an interesting toy with plenty of moving parts; in a way I'm surprised the Mercedes van casting wasn't repurposed into something else - but it seems not.

Lastly...

I always thought the Matchbox Mk2 Golf was poorly proportioned, and seeing one close up hasn't changed my opinion. Still interesting, though. Very detailed engine bay, mind.

[Spottedlaurel]

My MIB Vantastic has no engine, just a sticker. The book I have claims there are 11 variants in total, the first five with a protruding engine and the remainder without.

I distinctly recall being bought the Rolamatics Ford truck when I was young, then visiting some neighbours on the way home and driving it around the road-like pattern on their 1960s/70s carpet. When we moved to the house we're at now I found a later raised one in the gravel on the drive, I think Master SL has it in his toybox somewhere.

It's a shame Matchbox never offered the 126X in a more realistic colour scheme:

Same comment applies to the 270X which I glimpsed in the tat box:

[Split_Pin]

Some very topical stuff in the tat boxes this week! Really nice range of 70s and 80s Matchbox there and they mostly look in great solid condition. 

BTW I have a very shonky knock off Datsun 126 casting which is part of a boxed 5-piece 'Golden Wheel' set that my granny bought me in about 1990. Will get a picture shortly.

[Datsuncog]

Cheers folks! Deffo enough in them thar boxes to keep me busy for future weeks - and if there's anything special that appeals to you, give me a yell and I'll do my best...

But that wasn't quite all.

Oh no.

There was also this.

Oh yes. Oh very yes.

A crude but nonetheless utterly charming large-scale plastic Fiat 127, with friction drive motor.

This was in real timewarp condition. And the boot opens and everything.

Base gives no name, but I think these were Polish-made in the 1980s. 1/20 scale looks about right

I had a couple in the range - all secondhand from jumble sales - including a Jaguar XJS and an Audi 100 Avant, all long gone now. My brother had a smaller-scale Barkas dropside pick-up, and I think I may have had a Barkas minibus - which from memory came from a market stall.

Either way, all of these plastic models came with the same grey wheels, which is what attracted me to this one.

I dunno what I'm gonna do with it, but even at a tenner, I had to have it.

So this is the haul in full:

Not too bad.

[Split_Pin]

8 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Cheers folks! Deffo enough in them thar boxes to keep me busy for future weeks - and if there's anything special that appeals to you, give me a yell and I'll do my best...

But that wasn't quite all.

Oh no.

There was also this.

Oh yes. Oh very yes.

A crude but nonetheless utterly charming large-scale plastic Fiat 127, with friction drive motor.

This was in real timewarp condition. And the boot opens and everything.

Base gives no name, but I think these were Polish-made in the 1980s. 1/20 scale looks about right

I had a couple in the range - all secondhand from jumble sales - including a Jaguar XJS and an Audi 100 Avant, all long gone now. My brother had a smaller-scale Barkas dropside pick-up, and I think I may have had a Barkas minibus - which from memory came from a market stall.

Either way, all of these plastic models came with the same grey wheels, which is what attracted me to this one.

I dunno what I'm gonna do with it, but even at a tenner, I had to have it.

So this is the haul in full:

Not too bad.

Wow that 127! I remember being in a Newsagents in about 1984 and the chap had a range of these high up behind the counter, all in card boxes with illustrations of the car on them.

I remember I chose between the 127 and an Alfa Romeo 1300 Junior Zagato. The Fiat was red or orange and the Alfa was the same blue as yours, I chose the latter and still have it. A very unusual piece, the like of which you simply do not see any more.

Despite being made of brittle plastic, it survived in relatively good condition. I'll get a picture.

I've seen the 127 crop up a few times at swapmeets but they are never intact and I have always resisted therefore. 

Great find!

[eddyramrod]

Nice haul, DC!  I'm almost glad I didn't see these yesterday or I would have been forced to enquire about the Vauxhall PA, the Austin K8 van and the Standard Atlas.  I suspect I can't afford them so it doesn't really matter.

Never mind, my stall will be open at the car show tomorrow...

[sierraman]

How much is stuff in the tat boxes? 

[bramz7]

Recent incomings. I really must stop bidding on stuff on eBay but there we go. 

[Noel Tidybeard]

oof they green & yeller traktor look noice

[Split_Pin]

Here is the Alfa Zagato. It's very grubby from years of storage but it's actually very solid, with just a small repair to one pillar and a piece missing from the bumper.

I remember the friction motor used to whine loudly in reverse, just like a real car.

[Datsuncog]

2 hours ago, sierraman said:

How much is stuff in the tat boxes? 

Still 50p each!

Really, I could have half-cleared the boxes myself, but I doubt MrsDC would have been all that impressed if I'd come home with no flooring and 200 battered Lesneys... I grabbed a mere ten, snapped some pics, then fled... and spent much of last night berating myself for not picking up many more...

Next week, though?

[Datsuncog]

1 hour ago, bramz7 said:

Recent incomings. I really must stop bidding on stuff on eBay but there we go.

Cor, those are awesome! That R17 is the absolute nuts... well purchased!

If you're interested in any more of those 90s Fiats, the Extortionate Model Shop near me had a few different versions of the Marea and Brava at the not-too-extortionate price of £3 - saloon, Weekend, etc...

 

[egg]

Overpaid somewhat for this one, suspension collapsed. But the L plate is a nice touch! Compared to my other Norev 2CV 'luxe' - notice the grille and bonnet variation.

 

 

[Split_Pin]

Ok so if the Alfa doesn't whet your whistle, here is that knock-off Datsun I have:

There are also another 2 fantasy cars, can anyone tell if these are copies of Matchbox?

 

[egg]

Ah, I have two of them I'm trying to sell on eBay...

Same manufacturer?

 

[sierraman]

The blue one is a Rolamatics Fandango. 

[sierraman]

Going to venture to the ‘big’ Tesco later in search of some Matchbox. Am I right I’m saying they stock them now? 

[Split_Pin]

Yes but last time I checked there was only dross left. Catch them when they have just opened a box and you're in!

[sierraman]

Fingers crossed. I’ll report back later. 

[egg]

I didn't know until the other day that Lesney had a factory in Rochford, near Southend-on-Sea. They took on the factory from Ekco.

http://www.rochforddistricthistory.org.uk/page/page.aspx?id=258

http://www.rochforddistricthistory.org.uk/page/page.aspx?id=303

Looks like it operated from the late 60's until they went bust.

Some nice comments at the bottom of the links above:

Quote

I have fond memories of the Lesney factory. I worked there as as a young teenager around about 1980.  I started in the moulding shop packing the plastic mouldings as they came out of the machines.  As a beginner I struggled to keep up with one machine while most of the women easily managed 2!  I eventually moved into the foundry keeping the women supplied with new castings for them to sort and pack.  My boss used to take me down to the pub in Rochford at dinner time, which was great as I couldn't be late back lol.  Happy days!

 

[sierraman]

Rochford stayed open until they were taken over by Tyco, mainly making Superkings, Super GTs etc. If you look there’s loads of post ‘82 Matchbox that still say Made in England on the base. 

[Datsuncog]

7 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

Nice haul, DC!  I'm almost glad I didn't see these yesterday or I would have been forced to enquire about the Vauxhall PA, the Austin K8 van and the Standard Atlas.  I suspect I can't afford them so it doesn't really matter.

Never mind, my stall will be open at the car show tomorrow...

Aye, it sounds like my problem, somewhat... way too great an appetite for diecast than my pockets can manage!

Think there was £10 on the Cresta (pricey enough, with no outer box) and a fiver each for the Austin tow truck and the Standard camper...

Best of luck for tomorrow's sale!

4 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Here is the Alfa Zagato. It's very grubby from years of storage but it's actually very solid, with just a small repair to one pillar and a piece missing from the bumper.

I remember the friction motor used to whine loudly in reverse, just like a real car.

That's a stunner! Fantastic... you know I'm going to have to start looking for more info on these now.

2 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Ok so if the Alfa doesn't whet your whistle, here is that knock-off Datsun I have:

That's exactly the kind of thing I'd blow my holiday money on, in some beachfront tat shop in Cromer or Poole, then have no money left to buy a proper Matchbox car in a toy shop...

Ah, memories...

2 hours ago, sierraman said:

Going to venture to the ‘big’ Tesco later in search of some Matchbox. Am I right I’m saying they stock them now? 

I had a look in a Tesco Extra yesterday, but only a few emergency services type vehicles remained. Still, nice to see Matchbox packaging back again anyway. May angels of tiny shite sing you on your noble mission.