Shite in Miniature II

28,851 · October 2, 2020

15 minutes ago, 155V6 said:

Anyone near Midhurst,Spot-On Volvo Amazon with Dinky Bedford for £4.00.

Can't get the link to work though.

Where the F is Midhurst? Can someone snap those up for me please and post them? I'll PP your costs, obviously!

10,324 · October 2, 2020

11 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

Where the F is Midhurst? Can someone snap those up for me please and post them? I'll PP your costs, obviously!

West Sussex

60,651 · October 2, 2020

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

Sorry for quoting my own post, but;

1; I had that Streak Loop set, I remember clamping it to the dining room table

2; I also had the steering wheel carry case, and another that I don't remember seeing a picture of

3; Were Matchbox Lockups made by Kidco? Got this one today that looks like one in the catalogue

4; Anyone got a Hot Rod Racer? I suspect they look better on paper than in the plastic

7,972 · October 2, 2020

Thanks for posting that catalogue , just for a little while I was seven again and everything was ok. Instead I'm forty, everything isn't ok and I'm subjecting Morris to CCR. Hot Rod Racers fascinated me at the time but I've never seen one new or second hand

60,651 · October 2, 2020

This was it

17,576 · October 2, 2020

Broken within 20mins of receiving, gutted.

14,326 · October 2, 2020

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

This was it

I've had one of them since back in the day, still in use to store diecast-related odds and ends.

9,218 · October 2, 2020

That '87 catalogue resonates with me so vividly I feel a bit seasick.

I was six, and still remember the first time I saw the Laser Wheels packaging suspended on the rotary rack in WH Smiths, Clacton-On-Sea. The Laser Wheels were at the top, the regular dark blue / red grid patterned miniatures on the rest of the shelves. At first I eschewed the Lasers because their wheels "didn't look like real wheels", but I'd gradually begin to accumulate them at birthdays etc; and there's no point in having just one or two, is there? Nope, I'm gonna need the lot.

And then you have to have the Laser and regular versions of each, don't you?

And thus, by the time I was eight, the die really was cast.

7,972 · October 2, 2020

I had a similar view of Lasers, but I definitely had the BMW 3-series and I think the Pontiac Fiero too but not sure to my surprise. It's quite a powerful jolt isn't it?

9,218 · October 2, 2020

8 minutes ago, Amishtat said:

I had a similar view of Lasers, but I definitely had the BMW 3-series and I think the Pontiac Fiero too but not sure to my surprise. It's quite a powerful jolt isn't it?

Oddly enough, while reading the post I was watching a BBC4 retrospective of Top of the Pops in 1990. This really isn't doing my middle-age denial any favours at all.

42,685 · October 2, 2020

19 hours ago, MarvinsMom said:

that tangled mess of black thread on the Lea France fire engine is the means by which all 3 of the main ladders can be extended, which out having to use your fingers!

i cannot remember how EXACTLY the model needs to be threaded up, but on the one i had as a kid, turning the winch drum pulled out the second,and then third ladder out.

google will i am sure tell you how it needs to be strung to get it too work.

Cool, thanks for that!

Looked it up in my Great Book Of Corgi where it's described as being operated by "a complex piece of threaded cord assembly" - no doubt somebody's worked it out online!

17 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

SZE Toys, Hong Kong. Rare finds in the UK

The Airport Coach is ex-Majorette casting

Yes, SZE - that's the one. Thought I'd remember the manufacturer without a pic of the base, but I overestimate my feeble brain... not one I've ever heard of before.

I did think it was a Majorette at first - but interestingly, this one was all diecast with a plastic base, while I believe the Majorette originals are plastic on the top half.

Will keep an eye out next week!

17 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

I like this one

The Summer Jag coupe? Sho' thing - will pop that aside for you.

17 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

I still have a few of the cones and signs left over from my childhood one that went years ago.....

So, I'd better say yes. When you're ready, no rush

Ah, excellent... would be nice to reunite all the components. Duly noted!

16 hours ago, bunglebus said:

I've never liked the sliding door version, I find it ugly. I'd like a replacement for the red Fire Service one I remember having as a child which mysteriously vanished

Yeah, I know what you mean... I always wondered why Dinky produced two similar but different LWB Transits, and I think now I know - the lines on the earlier one just don't flow quite as well; all the opening parts create a need for compromise. As I say, I've been looking for one for a while - but now I've found one, I'm maybe not looking to keep it for much longer...

16 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

@Datsuncog @bunglebus excellent,thanks!

No bother, you're welcome! Can't get cheaper than free, hey?

13 hours ago, bunglebus said:

3; Were Matchbox Lockups made by Kidco? Got this one today that looks like one in the catalogue

4; Anyone got a Hot Rod Racer? I suspect they look better on paper than in the plastic

Yup, Lockups were made by Kidco for Matchbox - just one of several manufacturers contracted out in the early days of Universal's ownership to expand and revitalise the range. I don't think Kidco were marketed under their own name in the UK, though I could be wrong?

I remember Hot Rod Racers on the shelves in Woolworths in the late 80's - they were impressive, in terms of scale, butI don't think I ever yearned after them the way I did with the Superkings range. They just didn't seem very Matchbox-like, somehow!

12 hours ago, sdkrc said:

Broken within 20mins of receiving, gutted.

Daaah... That's annoying. Is it plastic or metal?

I can recall buying a 1/43 Lada Samara once and absent-mindedly putting it my pocket... That was a mistake. The roof folded up like tinfoil...

28,851 · October 2, 2020

On 9/29/2020 at 1:36 PM, bunglebus said:

Pop to your local supermarket/toy shop and buy the current one, it's the same casting

I have the "Christine" one, boxed, but I made this

From this

Only downside is coloured windows, next release is blue with yellow glass.

Last one released with clear windows was this

Today I gave in and bought the white "57" version. When I was in B&M a few days ago I noticed they had one only, so I carefully put it at the back of the rack before I walked out. I wasn't going to wait in a hellishly long queue for that one item. Well today I took MrsR in there and we did a trolleyload of shopping, so I grabbed the Plymouth, which was exactly where I left it. I haven't even opened the pack yet but I will be painting this as mentioned.

60,651 · October 2, 2020

1 hour ago, RoadworkUK said:

And thus, by the time I was eight, the die really was cast.

And an excellent pun too

28,851 · October 2, 2020

Oh and by the way... I have the yellow mixer lorry!

I would say it's supposed to be the Albion version; there's a curved badge cast in above the lower grille that corresponds to an Albion badge. I don't know what I'm going to do with it. It's not like I'm a big fan of mixers, but anyway it's lost its drum, although the remaining metalwork is in good condition. I suppose I could make a box body from scrap plastic. Being a LHD version of a particularly British truck amuses me.

18,091 · October 2, 2020

52 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Cool, thanks for that!

Looked it up in my Great Book Of Corgi where it's described as being operated by "a complex piece of threaded cord assembly" - no doubt somebody's worked it out online!

Yes, SZE - that's the one. Thought I'd remember the manufacturer without a pic of the base, but I overestimate my feeble brain... not one I've ever heard of before.

I did think it was a Majorette at first - but interestingly, this one was all diecast with a plastic base, while I believe the Majorette originals are plastic on the top half.

Will keep an eye out next week!

The Summer Jag coupe? Sho' thing - will pop that aside for you.

Ah, excellent... would be nice to reunite all the components. Duly noted!

Yeah, I know what you mean... I always wondered why Dinky produced two similar but different LWB Transits, and I think now I know - the lines on the earlier one just don't flow quite as well; all the opening parts create a need for compromise. As I say, I've been looking for one for a while - but now I've found one, I'm maybe not looking to keep it for much longer...

No bother, you're welcome! Can't get cheaper than free, hey?

Yup, Lockups were made by Kidco for Matchbox - just one of several manufacturers contracted out in the early days of Universal's ownership to expand and revitalise the range. I don't think Kidco were marketed in the UK, though I could be wrong?

Daaah... That's annoying. Is it plastic or metal?

I can recall buying a 1/43 Lada Samara once and absent-mindedly putting it my pocket... That was a mistake. The roof folded up like tinfoil...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282167511952?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338364430&customid=282167511952_220&toolid=11000

some enterprising soul has photocopied the leaflet which accompanied the model when new, showing how the thread is run up the ladder.

the image will i hope make more sense when viewed with the model in front of you!

40,663 · October 3, 2020

I can’t remember were the laser wheels more expensive?

34,027 · October 3, 2020

Dinky produced 2 transits because the sliding door one is based in the phase 1 Transit MK1 which ran from 1965 to about 1971. The non sliding door version is based on the phase 2 MK1. Check the front grilles to see. The latter also morphed into the MK2 front Transit in 1978.

I had 2 of the Phase 2 MK1 Transits and while they were nice, I sold them in and kept my sliding door Phase 1. I felt that the later model lacked character and I love any light van with a sliding door!

60,651 · October 3, 2020

16 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

Oh no what has he done to the DOGGIE ! It was there the other day, see look:

It looks like the doggie took the A-post with it too

He needs to be more careful.

Just sayin'

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124356717535

14,326 · October 3, 2020

Who knew that a connection with Joanna "Up The Gurkhas" Lumley would add so much to the value of a rather basic kit? £199.99 plus postage......

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Very-Rare-Revell-1-25-The-New-Avengers-Purdeys-Triumph-TR7-Plastic-Model-Kit/133535733661

Save £25 and get Gambit's Jag instead:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Very-Rare-Revell-1-25-The-New-Avengers-Gambits-Jaguar-XJS-Plastic-Model-Kit/154115316561

Relating back to recent discussions, wonder if they did a version of Steed's XJ?

I'd have swapped Steed's and Gambit's Jaguars around.

Looks like Purdey may also have driven an MGB.

28,851 · October 3, 2020

She did, yes, in early episodes. Also a Toyota Corolla Liftback in some Canadian episodes, in which Steed had a yellow XJS and Gambit a Toyota Land Cruiser and a red TR7. In France they had a gold SD1 and whatever else they could get, as Canada.

14,326 · October 3, 2020

I was just a bit too young to watch it, my only knowledge of the programme came from seeing the cars in the Dinky catalogue.

43,606 · October 3, 2020

2 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Just sayin'

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124356717535

I might just be watching the DS Dandy.

43,606 · October 3, 2020

13 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

I don't think Kidco were marketed under their own name in the UK, though I could be wrong?

They were, but we never noticed because the range titles were pushed as the branding. Example here: Bumper Blasters were a sub-range of Tough Wheels. And all for 39 pence.

10,166 · October 3, 2020

On 8/18/2020 at 11:27 AM, Jon said:

Hey @antony denman, that's a very nostalgic arrangement of Micro Machines you've got there, which just makes me more eager to get back to the UK one day and rifle through the ones I've got there - I must have over 100, when I look at how many I remember having!

Note that the red Testarossa and the white De Tomaso Pantera are FAKE Micro Machines, which were common to have swilling about the place, as they were obviously much cheaper than the genuine articles and from memory, you got more vehicles per box, too. I'm not dismissing them by the way, as in many instances, I preferred them. I had a Chevy van and a Chevy Blazer which were copies and remembering that with tow bars deleted and spoked, dished wheels, I actually preferred them...

And @sheffcortinacentre - congratulations on a photo montage! I understand you'd had issues uploading images to this forum in the past, so glad to see you've overcome that. I'll also award bonus points for the home built road way.

Anyway, further details of my time travelling trip. Last time, after laundering my smalls (though everything is small at 1/42, of course), I noticed that I'd parked next to something rather interesting:

Yes, a Buick Riviera! One of many cars on my ever-changing/expanding wish list is one of these, so what better way to snag one than in a fictitional 1970's environment, when they were both still numerous(ish) and affordable?

Had a quick sniff about during the customary pez shot, though it was rather hampered by a bonnet that didn't want to stay fully open. I'm pleased to report that all 8 mock cylinders are present and correct and that it's performance along the wet 'n dry is commensurate with its capacity.

By this time, I was yearning for some good ol' hearty USofA vegan scran and this place I drew up to sufficed. Seitan fried 'chicken' - YUM! So progressive.

Would be rude not to visit this place and buy all the 240Z dustbin lids they had. As you can see, I'm a very polite person, so I obliged.

Then as usual, I found a place for the night to bed down and watch some all color T. In previous places, I'd watched M*A*S*H in black and white, so it was great to see it in all in its beigeness. Not much happened in it though, so I turned over and watched CHIPS instead but that wasn't much better.

Sorry to waffle on so much.

Hi everyone, it's me again! Long time no hear on these pages, as I'm currently very busy with work and will be for the foreseeable. But that's not to say I haven't had time to indulge in a couple of activities; namely buying more needless miniature tat and fictionally travelling back in time on holiday. Above is a reminder of my road trip weapon of choice.

So, an update:

Breakfast saw me snaffling into a nice big plate of tofegg on rye, with bottomless coffee and oat milk - when in Rome and all that.

I call this scene 'Fuel Crisis'.

That's better! Though it is sad to see fizzy beverages being served in such small quantities; my twenty-first century self had been accustomed to Big Gulps. Alas, accommodating cup holders weren't a thing back then, so it's a moot point, although it made me question which came first? The absurdly sized drink, or the requisite cup holder?

Then since I was driving a Riviera, I thought it fitting to drive it to the closest comparable place in the US. In the end, I spent much of the time driving around, looking for somewhere to park. So a lot like the Riviera, really. Nice work!

Got to the motel I'd written to, to arrange a booking and thought that although its outside décor aligned with the condition of the Buick, I thought its high model status demanded something a little more chic.

So off I went to Grossinger's!

However, the parking attendant wasn't able to see the classy elegance and prestige beyond the knackered paint job, so parked me round the back, with the worker's bus.

Then I buckled and ate a rabbit for tea.

Turns out the place isn't doing so well these days...

3,048 · October 3, 2020

1 hour ago, Spottedlaurel said:

I was just a bit too young to watch it, my only knowledge of the programme came from seeing the cars in the Dinky catalogue.

Same here, I saw it when it was repeated in the 1990s.

The production company had a few issues with the BL reliability issues, and this also effected the first series of The Professionals, which shared facilities, including the same pool of cars. A few cars were used in both, especially Cowley's SD1 which had the number plate changed from MOC...P to MOO...R.

7,972 · October 3, 2020

1 hour ago, Richard_FM said:

Same here, I saw it when it was repeated in the 1990s.

The production company had a few issues with the BL reliability issues, and this also effected the first series of The Professionals, which shared facilities, including the same pool of cars. A few cars were used in both, especially Cowley's SD1 which had the number plate changed from MOC...P to MOO...R.

I'm sure I remember reading somewhere that Joanna Lumley had no end of trouble finding reverse on the TR7. Many attempts later it was found to have a Princess gearknob on it with reverse the other end of the box