Shite in Miniature II

[LightBulbFun]

yeah just looks like your regular lens end E10 MES base torch bulb  

for those wondering 0.3A will be its current draw so its power is 0.75W (volts times by amps = wattage  and 2.5V is its voltage so 2.5*0.3=0.75 )

so if you want a brighter or dimmer bulb you could try find one with a higher or lower current rating

(obviously higher power will drain the batteries faster etc)

 

[AndyW201]

Was my birthday last week, so a few parcels have come through the door. First off,

Another Vanguards I've wanted for years ticked off the list. The MK1 Capri casting by Corgi has had a good slagging by the 'enthusiasts', and it is a bit odd from some angles, but I think this version works because of the 'add ons'.

So, it's one of the GT XLR 'Specials' from 1972. You couldn't accuse Ford of not knowing it's target market, so this edition got vibrant Vista Orange paint, RoStyle wheels, black vinyl roof, rear screen Louvre and rear spoiler. Inside you got cloth trim and push-button radio.

Yep, it's all about the louvre on this one for me! All the features on this one are well done. 

At least the narrowness of the headlights (a common complaint on the Corgi Capri) don't show as badly with the single headlight version with the front spotlights. Corgi have also attempted on this one to make their RoStyle wheels look like the single slot versions fitted to the Special.

Nice rear view, showing the spoiler and 'that' louvre. 

I was pleased to get this one second hand as it was a fair bit cheaper than the sellers are asking for new ones. The fragile cardboard outer box is a bit worn, but the acrylic case and model itself are like brand new.

Next, a treat for the many* Vauxhall/Opel fans out there...

Oh-oh...

Another one from the guy on eBay selling genuine dealer models at silly cheap prices. I just have to put up with them being LHD and Opel badged. He had sold out of the facelift Vectra OPC (VXR to us), but last week he came up with a few more and I got an email offering one for £8.99 posted. 

Ah, go on then...

These Vectras are made by Schuco, and despite the popularity* of the subject matter, they are a lovely little model. I do like the facelift front end. Great headlight and grille detail.

Side on, they have captured the shape well. The paint could be better along the sides, but I'm not complaining at that price. The paint actually has coloured flecks in which can just about be seen in the pics. Nice wheels with good brake detailing underneath. The calipers are blue, just like on the real thing,

Great rear end detail. The lights, rear wiper and screen heater are bob on and look at those tailpipes! The badges are properly cast, not tampo printed.

Even the underside looks good with the engine/box and exhaust seperate. Nice to see stuff like the front suspension arms and rear subframe done sperately as well.

Shame there are no open windows on this one, the interior detail is fab. The correct silver detailing is there on the steering wheel and around the MFD/nav unit, buttons on the wheel, etc,

The proper VXR Darth Vader seats look great, and it's the first time I've seen seat belt buckles front and rear on a 1/43 scale interior. I think despite my natural ham-fistedness, I'm going to have to have this one apart to have a good look at the interior.

This morning, the third box arrived...

[AndyW201]

Onto delivery number 3 then. The eBay seller mentioned above had just got in another batch of another GM dealer model he had sold out of.

And I got discount offered on that!

Bit different this one though. As can be seen by the box, it's a bit more 'vintage'

Vintage 1993 anyway...

Another I've been wanting for a while. I've only ever had one other Gama model and that was years ago, the launch of the MK3 Cavalier to be precise. (Apart from the Schuco Calibra I have which is a sharpened up version of the Gama one). Being a bit of a Corsa perv, I always wanted the GSi model, but prices can be a bit silly, most of the ones on eBay having £30 and above price tags, albeit they tend to be the RHD Vauxhall dealer versions which I would have preferred. But for £8.99 (again posted), I'll live with this version!

For a model that's over 25 years old, it has a lot of '90s charm. They captured the shape well, along with the GSi body kit and wheels, though the wheels sort of show the models age. The ride height is a bit 'hit with da stick' but not exactly out of place considering what usually happened with the real thing! (I'd have probably ended up slamming it anyway...) The opening doors and hatch give it a bit of a toy like feel, though the doors fit pretty well (the hatch less so.). The lights are, at least seperate glazed units, including the front foglights.

Again, it shows its age a bit by having the door trim detail cast into the door itself and painted body colour, though it isn't so much a problem with the dark grey/black paint of this version. It is very obvious on the red and white ones. Interior detail isn't bad for the early 90s, the shape of the dash is accurate, along with the heater controls etc. The seats are a bit 'blocky' though!



For its age though, it still looks good, it's nicely made and should still display well alongside the other more recently made GM/Vauxhall masterpieces* in the collection.

[Datsuncog]

Bad news, kids...

Looks like as well as smiting half the planet and causing immeasurable misery across nations, Covid-19 has now compounded its fuckery by deep-sixing Tat Friday for the foreseeable.

?

Now it's personal.

Two tat boxes were however posted this morning to shiters (@Tenmil Socketand @flat4alfa) with another due to go tomorrow for @junkyarddog, so there's some diecast solace on its way...

Will have to have a bit of a think about what to do at the end of the week... Tat Friday retrospective? Very Mini Market in the shed? Open to suggestions...

[eddyramrod]

Tat Friday Roadshow?  A quick trip over here on the Seacat and a little drive up to Barrow to sample the lovely Andy's stall?

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

Mini Market in the shed? 

Please wear your Peaky Blinder cap again

It worked last time ☺️

[flat4alfa]

In fact I did think about this earlier

I really need to focus on one scale / set of projects

So might have to don my 'Blinder and fire up my very own online market stall of Tat

[flat4alfa]

MONDAY MATCHBOX ISO GRIFO MUSEUM ARTEFACT ASSESSMENT

Things that stand out on the Superfast example (in the lighter blue):

- heavier body join flashing along flanks

- longer wheelbase / misalignment with rear wheel arch radius

- widened rear indicators / or is it stop light

- widened front badge 

- prouder wing indicators

- now I have told you these I can stop twitching

[flat4alfa]

TUESDAY TAT DISECTION SECTION

Lucky Toys Ford F-series Flareside

(Apologies for missing hood and rear deck decoration)

 

And almost fitted with something daft in order to overcome the missing hood worry

 

Purchased for slot car motorising

[bunglebus]

I've still got a few catalogues to scan, and no more work after today so I can get them done.

Also planning on going through my collection as it's all got to be moved to my girlfriend's loft before the end of May, might do some more "who did it best " comparisons.

After I've done the remaining jobs on my Passat and taken my daughter home from uni I'll be twiddling my thumbs due to lack of work, so I can crack on with some customs and restos. 

eBay seems to be alive and well so they will still be stuff to perve over in this thread

[sierraman]

Some of yesterdays purchases 

[Datsuncog]

Will see how things progress!

Tragically, my Peaky Blinders cap went AWOL on the train back in January, and I managed to lose its replacement after only a week (in Lidl) - haven't been able to find any more for sale, so I'm currently capless.

Further tat parcels dropped off today, so hopefully more diecast joy may be had towards the end of the week.

Maybe I'll soon have the time to dig out some of my collection from the attic and see what's what?

[eddyramrod]

I've already resumed work on some of my repaint projects...  I'm even about to get on with sorting out my shed door.  ALL my support groups have gone down for the forseeable, so it's that or internet, or afternoon telly.

[junkyarddog]

A recent acquisition is this Matchbox Ford Galaxie.

A little bit of TLC later and we have a decommissioned car ready for the road.

Very quiet around here today Smoll Eddy?

"Sod off, I'm self isolating M8"

[bunglebus]

Great job - parts donor or home made windows? 

[junkyarddog]

5 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Great job - parts donor or home made windows? 

Home made windscreen, out of the packaging on some wiper blades,the rest of the glazing is the original. 

 

[flat4alfa]

What was your trick to straighten the windscreen pillar?

Heat?  And if so what and how thanks

[junkyarddog]

Yes,Heat,I use a hot air gun.

And thick gloves!!

[sierraman]

I’ve sat a project in some paint stripper for a day and a half now and it’s stripped about 25% of the paint off when I looked this morning. Is there anything I’m doing wrong there? 

[junkyarddog]

Maybe not,some paint is an absolute bugger to shift!

[Amishtat]

Another arrival from Ramrod Autos! A1 cellar but you all knew that anyway.. Cheers Eddy! 

[junkyarddog]

Those are hard to find!

[Amishtat]

I didn't know of them until someone here (possibly you) posted one up around Christmas time, Eddy said he had two and you can imagine the rest of the story. This is due for decommissioning too. 

[flat4alfa]

8 minutes ago, Amishtat said:

This is due for recommissioning too. 

EFA ?

[eddyramrod]

14 minutes ago, Amishtat said:

This is due for decommissioning too. 

Supernatural clone?

[junkyarddog]

Yes,I picked one up at a market stall a while back.

Looking forward to seeing this one restored. 

+1 on Eddy being a top seller.

Although he did lumber me with Smoll Eddy, but I'll forgive him that.

"You wot M8?"

[Amishtat]

23 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

Supernatural clone?

(Goes off to Google wtf that is..)  No, I could see this in a pale metallic blue civvy paint job 

[Amishtat]

Although now I've looked, black certainly suits the shape 

[sierraman]

Checked on my project and the paint had bubbled up. I’m just an impatient bastard. 

[sierraman]

Ex Datsuncog MB54 Camper restored. Looks good I reckon! Wanted to do one in the original colour restored to as it would have been.