Shite in Miniature II

[Datsuncog]

On 5/1/2020 at 7:03 PM, MarvinsMom said:

the corgi chevy bel air is a new one on me too, 

i was spending my paper round money on corgi classics/matchbox dinkies as quickly as i could earn it, back in the early 1990's and i don't ever recall seeing a Corgi Bel Air in the shops.

if i had seen one, i'd have bought it!

the Matchbox Dinky one i do remember, cos i've got one upstairs in the cardboard box of boxed toy cars "reserve collection"

Heh, I had a red MB Dinky one too, but sold it on a few years back... I think I can feel another eBay purchase coming on, so I can stage another 'who did it better?'

Just like you, I kept a keen eye on new Corgi releases - I keenly studied the little fold-out mini-catalogues that were included in the Classics box, and I deffo would have been stoked to see a Bel Air in the range. Still, good to have the thrill of finding a whole new model to lust after!

I kinda wish I'd joined the Corgi Collector's Club, in retrospect - don't know why I didn't.

Think I might have to stage an attic expedition too, and see what I have in my Corgi Classics box - from memory, there should be:

- Ford Zephyr Mk2, dark blue (bought on holiday in York in 1989)

- Ford Cortina Mk1, blue-grey (bought on holiday in Ireland in 1990)

- Bedford CA van, blue and white United Dairies (dunno where it came from)

- Jaguar Mk2, metallic blue (bought with Christmas money, 1991)

- Saab 96, maroon (also bought in December 1991)

- Morris Minor van, blue-grey (gift from a friend, 1992)

- Ford Popular, sage green (might have been a birthday present, c.1993)

- Morris Minor, black (dunno where it came from)

- Morris Minor pick-up, yellow and black Wimpey (bought from McCulloughs Model Shop c.1994)

- Mini Van, blue and white, Police (also from McCulloughs, maybe 1995).

I also had a plain white Police Mk1 Cortina, plus the Roger Clarke rally version; also a Police Mk2 Jaguar, which I seem to remember buying purely because it had yellow number plates on the back - for some reason, that seemed incredibly exciting to my 15-yr old self. But I sold on pretty much all my rally and police vehicles a while back, opting to focus on the civilian versions... wonder what else is lurking up there?

[Amishtat]

I've got a few of those from around that time, my first was a black Mk. 2 Jaguar, followed by the police version and a two tone blue Zodiac. Offhand I don't know where they are but they're not far away and have survived still in their boxes for the last 32 years. I remember my Dad buying me some of the Matchbox Dinkys when they were released (1990 or so?), will have to have a rummage to see how they've held up over the years. 

[flat4alfa]

On 12/5/2019 at 11:33 AM, Datsuncog said:

I could never quite decide if I liked or loathed the stylised little plastic Princesses in primary colours loaded onto the Transporter either, and now one of mine seems to have gone walkies - but in retrospect it was an innovative model in the 1-75 range, and I'm not aware of any other manufacturers trying to model a car transporter complete with shrunken-down load.

Remember this discussion?

[flat4alfa]

On 12/5/2019 at 3:42 PM, Datsuncog said:

[Tomica]

The 'load cars' are much more like the Matchbox version in terms of simplicity, though apparently this model came a year after the Matchbox version?

..................

apparently in the early 1980s a Hungarian toy outfit called Schenk made rough copies of the Matchbox models, and then sold them under the Playmobil name stolen from its rightful German owner, Brandstatter - their copyright-baiting antics protected from behind the Iron Curtain.

Also - can you see that someone's taken it upon themselves to apply Citroen badges to the bonnets of the load cars?

 

And this?

[flat4alfa]

Well @Datsuncog@egg@Tenmil Socket check out this

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/toys-models/die-casts/tomica-tomy/listing/2610767456

Same little Tomica Mitsubishi Colts(?) on the back

[bramz7]

I saw this shop scene in Turin last November and for a split second was utterly elated to have finally found a shop selling diecasts! Look at all those delights.

 

It was actually a display for a driving school. SIGH. 

[flat4alfa]

?

Screen surround and back door say Renault 4.  But that bonnet and grille line doesn't

[bramz7]

I'm sure that's a Polistil R4?

[RayMK]

6 minutes ago, bramz7 said:

I'm sure that's a Polistil R4?

Although I could not find one in the same colour, I came to the same conclusion.  The Polistil R4 shares most of the proportions of the one in the photo but not so many with a real R4 ?. The dinky R4 is another poor representation in that scale (1/43 approx).

[flat4alfa]

Thanks

Was intrigued

Found a photo to confirm

[MarvinsMom]

these seem to be the total number of Corgi Classics what i own, 

it seems i have many more Matchbox Dinkys, i guess i was seduced by the Dinky name, plus there was a funny little shop directly opposite the gates to the Sixth Form i went too.

"Derek's Home & In car Entertainment" selling i think Car Stereos along with Dinky Cars.

For Corgi's i had to go into town to Stokelds Toy Shop. and the staff, mostly middle aged women, didn't like spotty kids digging through their entire stock of toy cars, in the hope of finding that elusive "one" which would make my mid-teenage life complete.

Friday was wasting money on toys day, cos i got the money for the paper round on Thursdays....

so, what we got? a 2 tone mark 2 Zodiac, Saab 96, MG A, Healey 3000, Mini Van, Beetle Porsche 356A , Peking Rally Minor and one of the most poorly proportioned Mini Coopers ever made. Its way, way too long in the nose and the daft sump guard is over sized, which is odd considering just how bob-on the dimensions are for the mini van.

that is one that Matchbox Dinky did a whole lot better!

 

 

 

[Spottedlaurel]

Made good progress today on several projects:

Pretty much everything has been fitted to the base, and the body parts with topcoat have had clearcoat and are now drying out in the paint oven (i.e. airing cupboard).

Most of the remaining components are ready to fit, so I had time to get on with some other stuff:

Something else non-Japanese! This BMW isn't much more than a reshell of a kit I did to a pretty decent standard some 25 years ago. However it had lost a component or two along the way, the paintwork wasn't great and I had most of a spare kit so I thought it would make for a quick, easy way of getting another box off the shelf. Will make for a good companion to the Audi (and a Renault 5 Turbo I did a little while back).

Back on more familiar ground, I'm also doing these two but they're a step or two behind the Audi and BMW:

I completed this Celsior before I started using clear red and orange paint for lights and bare metal foil for brightwork, and the black paint was never anywhere near as good as it should have been,  yet the interior, engine and underside were OK so it made an obvious candidate to reshell when I got another kit off eBay.

Similar comments apply on this GT-R, I probably built it at about the same time as the Celsior. The satin black paint was an easy of getting it finished at the time. The new shell got some gunmetal paint today, should suit it well and I'm just debating what wheels to go for. I have quite a few accessory sets and alternatives I could take from other kits.

[sierraman]

I remember getting bought a Corgi Classics Ford Zephyr, still got it but it’s a really nice hefty model. 

[eddyramrod]

Even I have a Corgi Classics Zephyr!  A red one, donated by my late friend Dave and therefore never to leave me.  Since then I've acquired a couple of the police models (Vanguards/Atlas casting: NL, NZ and Lancashire) and an RAF staff car, also by Vanguards, but they're all the same model really.

[bunglebus]

9 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Made good progress today on several projects:

That Aldi and the 635 look really good. I glued a few kits together when I was a teenager, I love the detail but they always end up with bits missing and broken in my clumsy hands

[Spottedlaurel]

49 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

That Aldi and the 635 look really good. I glued a few kits together when I was a teenager, I love the detail but they always end up with bits missing and broken in my clumsy hands

Cheers! You say that, but look at what you with those small diecasts.....

I'm struggling with the 1:43 Princess kit I still have to finish.

The Audi's windscreen wiper has snapped, but that's no problem. Of more seriousness I did lose one of the indicators for a while, the ones which are unique to the rally car bumper I was planning to use. They were always loose from the sprue, one must have fallen out of the bag at some point. Had a few minutes of thinking I'd have to re-use the road car's bumper whilst I looked for a bit of clear plastic about the size of a grain of rice, then luckily I found it in the bottom of the toolbox next to my board.

Just had a peek at it, the clearcoat has gone on really nicely, shouldn't take too much polishing. Would be nice to finish that one over the forthcoming Bank Holiday weekend.

[Skizzer]

On 4/12/2020 at 6:39 PM, Mr Lobster said:

Oh, hello. Bank Holiday Barnfind...

I don’t think I properly appreciated this the other day. It’s absolutely stunning!

More pics/info/stuff like this please.

[155V6]

A small box arrived this morning from someone who makes banger racing models

Siku Sierra

 

Matchbox Mondeos

& a no-name copy of the MC Toy Granada

[Split_Pin]

Postie brought this today.

A while ago I received an email about a Dinky R6 I had been looking at and that the seller was offering a discount. It would mean I'd get it for £9 so I quickly ordered it. A while later I received and email from the seller saying that this was an error and it was either going to cost the full price of £13 or so, I can't remember or I could have a refund. I chose the latter and the transaction was cancelled and I received my money.

eBay then contacted me apologising for the cancellation of the transaction and gave me £5 off any purchase. So in the end I bought another identical R6 from a different seller for £8 posted!

I have wanted this ever since seeing one in my 'Toy Cars' book that I got for Christmas 1990.

 

[sierraman]

Split Pin I think we’ve led parallel lives, I got the ‘Toy Cars’ book when I’d be a similar age, still have it in the loft somewhere, it’s full of French/Spanish Dinkys and towards the end it has then new Schucco and Gama German Tat? 

Those Atlas copies are superb value, I was stuck for something to get the old man but I’d seen they do a great Berliet Dray truck complete with the Kegs on the back. 

[Split_Pin]

39 minutes ago, sierraman said:

Split Pin I think we’ve led parallel lives, I got the ‘Toy Cars’ book when I’d be a similar age, still have it in the loft somewhere, it’s full of French/Spanish Dinkys and towards the end it has then new Schucco and Gama German Tat? 

Those Atlas copies are superb value, I was stuck for something to get the old man but I’d seen they do a great Berliet Dray truck complete with the Kegs on the back. 

That's the one. My interest waned after the Spanish Dinkys and then it redeems itself with some 1/24 cars right at the end!

[sierraman]

Yeah thinking on there were some early Bburago and Polistil on the last pages. 

[AndyW201]

That R6 is a little sweetie!

Sadly nanoshite has had to take a back seat at the moment due to teh_furlough pay, but a piece of diecast dropped through the door today.

And when I say a piece... Been waiting for this for a few weeks, but it'll help me do a long-overdue repair on one of the big buggers gathering dust in the loft.

And after a couple of weeks of solid graft redecorating, the big clean up has started and so I started dusting the contents of the cabinet. After a couple of drinkies, I decided to have a bit of a piss about...

Had this one a long while, but one of my faves, both as a miniature and a real life car. It's the Nordic blue version of the SRi 130, which was never available as a single release but as part of a 3-car Vauxhall Centenary set with a Brabham Viva and a PA Cresta. I was lucky enough to bag it loose for a few quid some years ago.

Lots of nice detail as usual, liking the special SRi 130 decals, a fair attempt at the alloys as well, but Corgi did a better job of them later with the Astra GTE.

But tonight, it was decided it needed a little bit of the ride height gone, so it became the  latest victim of Andy's drop shop...

Doing it like it's 1995 all over again!

[bunglebus]

7 hours ago, 155V6 said:

Siku Sierra

Awesome. Not even found a Matchbox one yet

[bunglebus]

Got a few odds and sods on the mat today. Listing for this was a bit vague, it's a pull-back 1:36 Renault 5 Turbo. Missing a couple of tyres so custom/wheel swap I reckon

 

20200504_182455 by RS, on Flickr

 

Mentioned this a few pages back, probably where the endless Chinese Chevy/Bedford vans with portholes were cribbed from. What the story with these Hong Kong Dinky models? I'm looking at you, @Datsuncog

 

20200504_182536 by RS, on Flickr

20200504_182544 by RS, on Flickr

20200504_182552 by RS, on Flickr

20200504_182600 by RS, on Flickr

 

Super GT Capri - seller had a different one too but I got sniped

 

20200504_182621 by RS, on Flickr

 

This one arrived too late for the Porsche WDIB? Welly Porsche 938 928

 

20200504_182835 by RS, on Flickr

 

Something a bit different, Majorette transporter. Seller had the "Sea Explorer" version as well. Got outbid - now it's been relisted. Oh well, makes a good recovery vehicle for unreliable 70s Yanks

 

20200504_182904 by RS, on Flickr

20200504_183014 by RS, on Flickr

[Zie]

55 minutes ago, AndyW201 said:

That R6 is a little sweetie!

Sadly nanoshite has had to take a back seat at the moment due to teh_furlough pay, but a piece of diecast dropped through the door today.

And when I say a piece... Been waiting for this for a few weeks, but it'll help me do a long-overdue repair on one of the big buggers gathering dust in the loft.

And after a couple of weeks of solid graft redecorating, the big clean up has started and so I started dusting the contents of the cabinet. After a couple of drinkies, I decided to have a bit of a piss about...

Had this one a long while, but one of my faves, both as a miniature and a real life car. It's the Nordic blue version of the SRi 130, which was never available as a single release but as part of a 3-car Vauxhall Centenary set with a Brabham Viva and a PA Cresta. I was lucky enough to bag it loose for a few quid some years ago.

Lots of nice detail as usual, liking the special SRi 130 decals, a fair attempt at the alloys as well, but Corgi did a better job of them later with the Astra GTE.

But tonight, it was decided it needed a little bit of the ride height gone, so it became the  latest victim of Andy's drop shop...

Doing it like it's 1995 all over again!

Not a bonnet for a Sunstar mk2 Escort is it? 

Had a few of the Ghia Ones with fragile bonnets. 

[AndyW201]

8 minutes ago, Zie said:

Not a bonnet for a Sunstar mk2 Escort is it? 

Had a few of the Ghia Ones with fragile bonnets. 

Correct! This is also for a Ghia, the original split in two...

[Zie]

You did well to find a good One. ?

[flat4alfa]

On 5/1/2020 at 12:20 PM, barrett said:

How easy would it be to smooth out those casting lines for the stripe?

Armed with the (counterfeit) Dremel, I gave it a go...

am thinking to stay with the blue for both; it's a Tamiya colour I have an old can of and don't want to go out colour searching right now.  Shame about the dirt in the air it attracted when drying...   will have to cut back and redo a coat each if enough paint left

I ordered some decal paper for the Inkjet printer. Arrived already!  Installed an old copy of Adobe Illustrator (never touched before) so will see how that goes.  Steve Flowers Pops does do a Starsky stripe, so might opt out and just buy one in.  For the NASCAR idea I don't know where to start - might just make it a colour scheme homage with token period decals rather than an accurate* model.

[flat4alfa]

In other news, more of the April lockdown haul also included these joblotters

At last a Majorette Crazy Car.  And a Corgi Aston DBS.