Shite in Miniature II

[flat4alfa]

17 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

At the opposite end of the premium car spectrum would be the Mercedes 240D.  Judging by many others I have seen, the Corgi 1/36 scale casting is uncharacteristically fragile. As alluded to above, the A pillars appear to be made of chocolate.

remember the muddy rally version

Yikes, I'd better take a look and check

 

[155V6]

11 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Good call - that FAB1 on the right is a smaller scale version to the one that has just joined 'the party' too ?

It's approx 1:38 scale, or wants to be 

Pressing on the roof makes some wings pop out. 

Pressing on the boot lid (trunk?) activates a sound chip - which is silent right now so can't describe that!  Will replace the couple of cells later and remind myself.

All plastic, the brand is 'VTG Ltd' along with '©ITV Studios'.   What does your one have stamped underneath?

[flat4alfa]

4 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

I have several variations of the smaller MB Rolls

As well as the Silver Spoon

A Spoon???

Didn't you also do a line up a while back including the Hot Wheels / Playart / Yatmings etc?  I looked but could not find.

[flat4alfa]

6 minutes ago, 155V6 said:

Die cast body shell !  Well I never.  Must resist, must resist....

[bunglebus]

I don't really "do" Mercs, but the odd one catches my eye. MB Speed Kings 350 SLC

 

20190923_100447 by RS, on Flickr

 

I've got some 1:64 ones I was going to do a comparison with at some point

[bunglebus]

7 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Didn't you also do a line up a while back including the Hot Wheels / Playart / Yatmings etc?  I looked but could not find.

I thought so but can't find the pics

[Datsuncog]

Well, we all know that things have been a bit... different of late.

I genuinely used to find myelf waking up much earlier on a Friday, all a-flutter with anticipation - and this persisted for quite a few weeks after everything went to pot.

But for the last few months, it's just been more of the same. Drag meself up; pull curtains; feed cats; sit like a bad-hair-day zombie watching the laptop boot up, while the kettle boils. Just another day.

MrsDC's been having a much tougher time of it than me lately, due to fuckbag employer issues.

With that in mind, I thought I'd try to make her smile after a challenging week and surprise her with her favourite magazine (not stocked anywhere locally) plus a bun from a fantastic bakery on the Castlereagh Rd in Belfast (a mere stone's throw from the site of the old Spot-On factory, tat fans), which has just reopened this week.

So this morning I trundled up to town, in the rain.

Only to find that the big newsagent in Donegall Place - the only shop that reliably stock(ed) said magazine, in the beforetimes - was still very much closed.

Well, bollocks.

But, while splashing back to the car, I could see in the distance that there seemed to be a fair few vans and some hi-viz up ahead... near St George's Market.

Surely not...

 

CRIKEY MOSES, THE MARKET'S OPEN AGAIN!!!

Smaller, yes... quite a bit more spaced-out than the crowded warrens of yesteryear, and rather emptier. But very much there.

Serious sign is serious.

But could it be...?

I mean, is it possible that he might..?

 

I nervously followed the yellow arrows past the veg stalls, the batteries 'n' hoover bags stall, the mobile phone case stall, the white sports socks stall... with that feeling of nervous anticipation rising.

Down towards the far side, there was the unmistakable sight of some tat. I hurried past military memorabilia, Royal Albert tea services, stamps, coins... but no Nostalgic Collectables, AKA Tat Central.

But round a corner, suddenly there it was... in the distance, flanked with giffers the way the Sistine Chapel is flanked by angelic hoardes...

IT'S BALLY WELL BACK, CHAPS.

Market Blokey afforded me a brief nod of recognition. Since I was wearing my face covering, he probably couldn't see my tongue hanging out at the sight of all this beaten-down diecast. He may have been able to perceive the tears of joy and gratitude welling from behind my misted-up glasses, however.

Ah, tat. How I've missed you.

I was appraised that everything up top was a fiver a throw...

Truck on the left was some sort of odd German MoY-type diecast; maker's name partially obscured by blobby paint but it was something like Shutter. Not white metal or hand-painted, so a mass-market diecast, but equally not really my area of interest.

Rally car was a BMW E30; one from the Atlas touring cars range, mebbe?

Matchbox Dinky commercials not bad for the money - I already have the Radio Times Ford van, but not yet the Dinky Austin...

Quite a few tractors and other plant machinery; Corgi Datsun Z was a smidge pricey, I thought - managed to pick up a much better one off him for £3 back in March.

Corgi Jag XJ gave me a moment of wantage - the 1/36 Classics do have a certain appeal to me.

Big Dinky Mammoth Major tractor unit not bad; if the trailer had been present, it might have tempted me too.

And moving down to the floor (since there's only one stall for each business now - normally he has at least two, sometimes three stallfronts):

Tenner each on the boxed Corgi Classics trucks.

I remember lusting after an Ergomatic back in the day, when Corgi stopped focusing on '40s and '50s stuff and started to explore the '60s, and was overjoyed when I received a Stobart box truck and trailer version c.1994... followed by angst and despair when I realised that 'twas naught but lies and deceit, since Stobart never even ran any of those back in the day.

I was a weird kid. But I still do find the whole Stobart thing strange, especially the faux-vintage stuff. Booooo.

So the eight-wheeler Ergomatic dray wagon appealed to me - only, upon opening it, there was an older Atkinson in there instead. Double booooo.

There was no correct box for the wrong truck anywhere on the stall, so I can only assume some other punter's in for a surprise when they get home with their supposed Atkinson.

But, the question hovering on everyone's lips....

...was there a tat box?

Well, yes... after a fashion.

Not a lot in there, granted, but he told me that he'll be bringing more along next week.

There'll be a next week!!

Well, there wasn't anything there that I had a massive horn for... but I felt it'd be rude not to buy something. Keeping the wheels of the economy greased, and all that. Dammit, it's my patriotic duty to waste money on tat right now, isn't it?

There was a sign on the stall asking if customers could provide the correct change only.

All I had on me was a twenty pound note (from Amishtat, as it happens), since I haven't used cash for months.

So that turned out handy.

I sprinted back out into the rain with my bag of rubbish, giddy as a schoolgirl (or giddy as a fat middle-aged man with a bagful of diecast rubbish; same difference).

Then, mindful of what I'd actually gone out for, I did the decent thing and found a copy of MrsDC's mag (in Marks & Spencer, of all places), and procured some fancy baked goods.

More to follow, kids!!

(It's been a while since I've been in a position to type that)

[bunglebus]

Woohoo, tat Friday is back!

While we're waiting, it turns out I did not do a WDIB Rolls Royce edition - so here it is.

All MB other than the Zylmex, the blue version of which sent me down a long and twisting road of finding obscure oriental tat.

There's quite a lot of difference between the standard wheels Rolls and the late gold one, base, opening features, interior and the grille becomes plastic. Really it's a different casting, and so is the cabrio.

I haven't got the skinny wheel Superfast MB but I think it's the earlier casting

[bunglebus]

As Mercs were mentioned too, I might as well put this lot up. For the most part I'm not a big fan, but some of the 60s models are quite handsome

MB 450 SEL, Summer, Corgi 240 D, MB W123 wagon, MB 300 SE, and my custom MB 220 SE.

 

I rather like the 300 SE, special mention to the W123 wagon for having amazing detail in 1:64 scale

[junkyarddog]

2 hours ago, bunglebus said:

On my want list! 

I do quite like it,it's quite an odd looking thing.Actually quite well made,metal base too,and the glazing is in decent condition,permanent marker aside.

I may be open to a trade if you want?

[bunglebus]

Cool, I've got a few in a box that are surplus - I'll take some pics later

[Datsuncog]

So, what did I waste my pocket money on?

Well, this Leyland Octopus, for starters.

Maybe a bit earlier than the stuff I really dig, but it's a nice-looking big thing all the same.

Could do with a bit of a clean, since these all appear to have been out on display and have got quite dusty - hence the erroneous re-boxing mentioned earlier.

OMG LIMITED EDITION ££££

Investment piece, innit?

 

Then there's this...

Yup, Morris' celebrated wooden crate, with fairly decent fake timber texture.

The front end's not terrific on these Corgi Minors - the chrome trim above the grille looks so clunky I kinda wish they hadn't bothered - but the overall shape is pretty good.

For some reason, the inner arches are vast, taking up almost the entire rear load area.

The mirrors are still in situ on their sprue, taped to the underside of the box - along with something I've never seen before; a pair of stick-on overriders.

That's exactly the kind of thing I would have tried my best to stick neatly in place, but instead blobbed Bostik all over my new model, made it worse by trying to clean it off, and utterly ruined my weekend over the head of it.

I won't be attempting to apply them; I learned my lesson long ago (the hard way).

For £5, I thought this was a decent buy. Exactly the same as one my dad had in the mid-70s; it grew mushrooms from the woodwork, I'm told. Eco-friendly, hey?

 

And into the tat box now...

It's a slightly shabby Matchbox Superkings K-2 Dart tipper.

It's missing a pair of tyres and the vertical exhaust stack, but is otherwise intact and functional.

If only I'd had this a few weeks ago, I could've got that garden sorted a damn sight quicker...

I also didn't realise that there was a much nicer, complete one of these on the main stall until I was sorting these pics. Ah well.

 

Next up... more 1960s charm, with another Corgi horsebox.

This is great; there's some issues but overall it should display well.

One of the tailboard lugs has broken, but it still hangs ok in the upright position. I love the carpeting; the front ramp has the same.

There's been a bit of squashage to the main casting, and the divider is missing from the inside, but I think I'd like to find a Land Rover to tow this...

 

And lastly, this:

Yup, a Britains Land Rover Disco, in approximately 1/34 scale (at a guess).

Just like the real-life counterparts, this one's largely held together with sticky tape and hope.

Seems there's an issue with the door hinge.

It's a clunky old thing, but the side profile's really quite good...

Even if the front looks a bit like a Cortina estate on steroids...

If anyone fancies the Disco, hit me up!

The three up front came to a fiver, so I'd do the Disco for £1.50 if anyone takes a shine to it for kiddy/resto/slotification purposes...

So while others may well be heading out tonight to get themselves royally blitzed (there were already queues forming outside pubs by lunchtime, I noticed) I think I'll kick back at home tonight with a can of something interesting and admire my tat in miniature... probably the most cockle-warming thing to have happened since March.

Til next week!

[flat4alfa]

Crikey that's not a very clever Discovery effort is it...  Britains tend(ed) to be 1/32 and tidy - but that's more of a Cortina clouted by a Ssanyyong...   I very nearly bid on one a long while back, as they are a bit of a rarity and sell well.  Any idea who really did the modelling and casting?

The boxes stated 1:32

[edit]

Made in England!   

I smell a rat - that base looks suspiciously similar to Gozan (Spain) or Mebetoys (Italy) production

[Amishtat]

Welcome back Tat Friday! 

[junkyarddog]

Found this today 

Got the Camaro and Unimog too,sadly the bronco and land rover weren't there. 

[bunglebus]

The only one Smyths didn't have yesterday!

[155V6]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

Woohoo, tat Friday is back!

While we're waiting, it turns out I did not do a WDIB Rolls Royce edition - so here it is.

All MB other than the Zylmex, the blue version of which sent me down a long and twisting road of finding obscure oriental tat.

There's quite a lot of difference between the standard wheels Rolls and the late gold one, base, opening features, interior and the grille becomes plastic. Really it's a different casting, and so is the cabrio.

I haven't got the skinny wheel Superfast MB but I think it's the earlier casting

There's also a Playart version,very similar to the Zylmex.

[sierraman]

Friday Tat market has resumed my faith that Coronavirus is on its way out. 

[flat4alfa]

It's not, it's subsiding for now.  Wife works in NHS management; they are planning for its expected return with a vengence, come autumn

[Tenmil Socket]

2 hours ago, bunglebus said:

As Mercs were mentioned too, I might as well put this lot up. For the most part I'm not a big fan, but some of the 60s models are quite handsome

MB 450 SEL, Summer, Corgi 240 D, MB W123 wagon, MB 300 SE, and my custom MB 220 SE.

 

I rather like the 300 SE, special mention to the W123 wagon for having amazing detail in 1:64 scale

Agreed on the detail on newer models. Older models though will forever hold their charm.

[flat4alfa]

36 minutes ago, 155V6 said:

There's also a Playart version,very similar to the Zylmex.

Talking of Playart, anyone have their bigger scale Camargue?

[flat4alfa]

2 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Yup, a Britains Land Rover Disco

I might have it after all...

In the meantime, I've dug out a similar size competitor, for a who-scaled-it-worse competition.

So what are the length and breadth (not including the spare wheel) of this mighty Blighty Britains effort?  I can then fire-up the spreadsheet and sleep soundly.

[flat4alfa]

Speedy Power 1/32 Land Rover Discovery from 1997.   'Made in China' it proudly states

The front shows it was modelled on the 1994 facelift Discovery 1, whereas the Britains looks to be of the pre-facelift original

Comedy wheels aside, it seems a reasonable effort for the very few Pounds asked for it

It works out to be at an average of 1:31 scale after all

It even has a stab at the undercrackers

[andy18s]

Liking that! 

[Split_Pin]

Yassss! Tat Friday is back!!!11!1!1!

[DoctorRetro]

Littlun turned up this weekend with some interesting tat... 

Wigwam-van.. 

 

Mig Rig

 

Gasser 

 

Peugeot 107

And we assembled the absolutely terrible kit we got from @Burnside?

You have no idea how hard it was. Nothing lined up, several parts were broken, the wheels don't turn properly and the interior is out of line. But it was funny! 

[bunglebus]

3 hours ago, 155V6 said:

There's also a Playart version,very similar to the Zylmex.

And Mebetoys

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133447337449

[Datsuncog]

4 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

I might have it after all...

So what are the length and breadth (not including the spare wheel) of this mighty Blighty Britains effort?  I can then fire-up the spreadsheet and sleep soundly.

I thought it might appeal!

I don't have a caliper gauge handy, but a cursory going-over with a tape measure indicates a length of 136mm from bumper to bumper, and a breadth of roughly 54mm (the side steps make the base a fair bit wider than the actual body).

It's not even screwed or riveted together - it seems to just push together, with a wedge cast into the rear of the body which secures through the base.

That Speedy Power job looks pretty good - they even managed to make a decent fist of the Marina door handles, which Britains singularly fails to manage...

Will pop it to one side for you!

[sierraman]

The Britains Land Rovers were always so high quality then they turned this out...

[Datsuncog]

I was quite surprised to see that it was indeed a gen-yew-wine Britains toy - at first glance, I thought it was some cheapie far-Eastern no-name job, as it's so poorly done and cheaply made. I remember the Britains stuff I had as being really, really heavy and well-made.

We used to do a fair bit of Britains in the model shop where I worked - can't remember if the Discovery was on the shelves at the same time, but I did hanker after a Defender. Maybe it's just as well I never spunked my wages on one of those either...