Shite in Miniature II

10,686 · October 15, 2020

I just got reminded of Polfi Toys from Greece while I was looking for something else.Worth a look if you like finding knock-offs of other makes of diecast

44,387 · October 15, 2020

Yes the bastardised ~~Matchbox Clipper~~ Pilaz Space Car Super is a joy to behold !

They did manage it a bit better here

Range here: https://toymuseum.gr/polfitoys-1.html

44,387 · October 15, 2020

Majorette 1976 catalogue

44,387 · October 15, 2020

Majorette 1978

68,124 · October 16, 2020

I've been looking for Majorette catalogues to scan. Can't see a lot in those two that I need to track down which is a shame, I really rate their 70s stuff.

Anyone know much about the company?

43,609 · October 16, 2020

15 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

I've been looking for Majorette catalogues to scan. Can't see a lot in those two that I need to track down which is a shame, I really rate their 70s stuff.

Anyone know much about the company?

Still very much on the go but manufactured in Thailand for last 20 years or so. There’s not a wealth of info like there is on the old Lesney factories. Maybe the French aren’t hopeless sentimentalists like us!

7,989 · October 16, 2020

Is it Tat Friday?

68,124 · October 16, 2020

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

Still very much on the go but manufactured in Thailand for last 20 years or so. There’s not a wealth of info like there is on the old Lesney factories. Maybe the French aren’t hopeless sentimentalists like us!

There's actually a pretty decent Wiki write up

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majorette_(toy_manufacturer)

Although there's a note at the top of the page which made me chuckle

This article may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience.

6,983 · October 16, 2020

10 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

We might think of the last Dinky models being the Polistil (Italy) produced Volvo 245 and War Chariot for 1980, but in reality the last two 'Dinky' were these two in 1981. The castings were joint Pilen / Dinky branded models and produced at the same Alicante factory. Their Dinky brand was for distribution solely in France.

That is, until Universal Holdings (Hong Kong) released their own 'Dinky Collection' range for 1986.

That Fiesta looks good!

28,387 · October 16, 2020

As much as I enjoy tat Friday's, I hope Mr Datsuncog stays at home and keeps safe!

44,387 · October 16, 2020

44,387 · October 16, 2020

3 hours ago, sierraman said:

There’s not a wealth of info like there is on the old Lesney factories. Maybe the French aren’t hopeless sentimentalists like us!

http://www.faase.nl/model/majorette/index.htm

https://majorette-cars.fandom.com/wiki/Majorette_Cars_Wiki

https://www.hobbydb.com/marketplaces/hobbydb/subjects/majorette-brand

Worth a wander

28,387 · October 16, 2020

Smoll Eddy has received this in the post today!!

Nice VW eddy,where you get the money to pay for that?

"Found yer debit card M8"

😁

44,419 · October 16, 2020

14 hours ago, Amishtat said:

Is it Tat Friday?

Well, it is and it isn't...

12 hours ago, junkyarddog said:

As much as I enjoy tat Friday's, I hope Mr Datsuncog stays at home and keeps safe!

Hey, thank you for your concern!

I did dither somewhat this morning about what to do; I'd heard through the Instagram grapevine last night that Belfast City Council was moving to close market venues, even open-air ones. So I wasn't even sure St George's would be open today.

But curiosity got the better of me (a heading that could appear on innumerable tombstones, no doubt) so I headed up to Belfast a little later than usual. Right now, South Antrim and Belfast are registering nowhere near the same number of COVID-19 cases as Derry and the north west, so I felt that the risk was no greater than previous weeks.

I could see the usual string of rotten Mercedes Sprinters lining Oxford St, so it seemed the market was indeed ON...

...but, on entering (masked and sanitised, as ever), there was a remarkable lack of punters.

Well, it was certainly looking low-risk, anyway.

Unfortunately, not only had nearly all the customers stayed away - so had Market Blokey.

Today, his customary stall had been taken over as an additional overflow table by the General Tatmonger from the stall behind - that's the fella with the carrier bags of stuff from last week. On enquiring about Millar's whereabouts, I was met with a vague "Erm, he's not here this week, no..." Hmm. Hope all's ok with him.

The dregs from last week's carrier bags were, however, carefully* displayed...

...but there wasn't much of any real interest to me there. At least they were keeping the stall warm, so to speak.

Sweeping further down the same aisle, Paddy's Antiques Shitshow was suffering a severe lack of diecast today:

Maybe he reckons they're a busted flush, since for some unfathomable reason no-one wants to pay a fiver for a scratched Superfast with wonky axles. Maybe someone asked about the price on that Corgi Ford Transporter and died laughing, and he was warned off. Either way, there were just some old comics and copies of The War Illustrated on his table this week.

Alan's Emporium was back, however, although not really much of interest today. I've had one or two interesting items off him in the past - if this mostly-plastic Transit camper (branded as Teamz, I think) hadn't been missing its headlights, I might have grabbed it, since it was only 50p... actually, I should have grabbed it, shouldn't I?

Ah well.

So it fell to the Charity Stall to make the trek in from Carrick worthwhile... no pressure.

...and, in fairness, although there wasn't much new, Charity Bloke does win the Tat Prize this week for at least showing up.

Tonka, Buddy L, smattering of Corgi, some ratty Matchbox, those weird Lone Star trucks, scraped MoYs, and yet more filthy and scratched EFE and OOC buses (thought we'd seen the last of them)... but we've been here before.

There were a few new items though... Can you guess what I scuttled off with, from the pics above?

Guess I'm a bit obvious...

But yeah, with the traders around me muttering darkly about the market's future under the current situation, I made a few other non-diecast purchases before emerging back out to golden October sunlight on the Victorian brickwork, and crunchy banks of leaves along East Bridge St.

Believe it or not, there's been a Friday market taking place on this very spot since 1604, so I'd like to think that it'll survive, despite everything... ah now.

Odd times, kids. Odd times.

Better pics of Yet Another Bloody Dinky Transit (YABDT) and Chitty to come...

44,387 · October 16, 2020

Mebetoys catalogue, 1975-6

68,124 · October 16, 2020

@Datsuncog are you considering parting with one of the earlier Transits. I feel I should get one for completeness...

36,917 · October 16, 2020

31 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Mebetoys catalogue, 1975-6

Crikey those 1/25s are a nice bit of kit, right up my street. What's the craic with those then, are some of those Politoys/Polistil castings? The Fiesta looks familiar and I'm sure the Fiat 131 looks like a Bburago. Fairly sure that Mebetoys became Bburago around that time.

36,917 · October 16, 2020

37 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Well, it is and it isn't...

Hey, thank you for your concern!

I did dither somewhat this morning about what to do; I'd heard through the Instagram grapevine last night that Belfast City Council was moving to close market venues, even open-air ones. So I wasn't even sure St George's would be open today.

But curiosity got the better of me (a heading that could appear on innumerable tombstones, no doubt) so I headed up to Belfast a little later than usual. Right now, South Antrim and Belfast are registering nowhere near the same number of COVID-19 cases as the north west, so I felt that the risk was no greater than previous weeks.

I could see the usual string of rotten Mercedes Sprinters lining Oxford St, so it seemed the market was indeed ON...

...but, on entering (masked and sanitised, as ever), there was a remarkable lack of punters.

Well, it was certainly looking low-risk, anyway.

Unfortunately, not only had nearly all the customers stayed away, so had Market Blokey.

Today, his customary stall had been taken over as an additional overflow table by the General Tatmonger from the stall behind, that's the fella with the carrier bags of stuff from last week. On enquiring about Millar's whereabouts, I was met with a vague "Erm, he's not here this week, no..." Hmm. Hope all's ok with him.

The dregs of last week's carrier bags were, however, carefully* displayed...

...but there wasn't much of any real interest to me there. At least they were keeping the stall warm, so to speak.

Sweeping further down the same aisle, Paddy's Antiques Shitshow was suffering a severe lack of diecast today:

Maybe he reckons they're a busted flush, since for some unfathomable reason no-one wants to pay a fiver for a scratched Superfast with wonky axles. Maybe someone asked about the price on that Corgi Ford Transporter and died laughing, and he was warned off. Either way, there were just some old comics and copies of The War Illustrated on his table this week.

Alan's Emporium was back, however, although not really much of interest today. If this mostly-plastic Transit camper (by Teamz, I think) hadn't been missing its headlights, I might have grabbed it, since it was only 50p... actually, I should have grabbed it, shouldn't I?

So it fell to the Charity Stall to make the trek worthwhile...

...and, in fairness, although there wasn't much new, Charity Bloke does win the Tat Prize this week for at least showing up.

Tonka, Buddy L, smattering of Corgi, some ratty Matchbox, those weird Lone Star trucks, scraped MoYs, and yet more filthy and scratched EFE and OOC buses (thought we'd seen the last of them)... but we've been here before.

There were a few new items though... Can you guess what I scuttled off with, from the pics above?

Guess I'm a bit obvious...

But yeah, with the traders around me muttering darkly about the market's future under the current situation, I made a few other non-diecast purchases before emerging back out to golden October sunlight on the Victorian brickwork, and crunchy banks of leaves along East Bridge St.

Believe it or not, there's been a Friday market on this spot since 1604, so I'd like to think that it'll survive, despite everything... ah now.

Odd times, kids. Odd times.

Better pics of Yet Another Bloody Dinky Transit (YABDT) and Chitty to come...

Tat Fridays are now the only reason I log on here, nice to see the market went ahead despite the tightened restrictions.

Good find on the Dinky Transit, speak of the Devil!

44,419 · October 16, 2020

So then, three weeks - and three police Transits, all from the Charity Stall.

Crikey.

I'd swear he's making them.

So, this week's find is another late-example of the first casting:

It's had a bit of bad luck, with a cracked screen, broken back door and wonky radar gun, but seems mostly complete and salvageable.

Police driver has stumped off to pastures new, mind.

For some reason, it also has one tiny tyre on the front nearside. Most peculiar. Note also that this one has cast, detailed wheels like the later versions, rather than the spun aluminium hubs that the other Mk1 has. But on the narrower axles, to fit the narrow base.

I'll assume that Dinky were playing a similar game here as with their Mk1 Escorts, by putting the latest-suffix number plates on these Transits so their young customers could brag about having the new N-reg model. It's handy though, as this probably dates the one on the left to 1971-72, and today's find as 1974-75, and therefore the final year this casting appeared in the lineup.

There's a few other differences, too:

The earlier version has a mounting point for a whip aerial behind the police sign; that seems to have been deleted on the later version (possibly to save a penny or two). Plus there seems to be YET ANOTHER casting variation of that blasted side door - this one has a tab high up on the inside, but it doesn't look the same as the axe storage tab shown on the fire tender version, as shown upthread by @antony denmandenman

(Interesting glitch there - can't delete it either, will try to fix it after... EDIT: nope)

Different coloured radar gun, and sign holder in the back, plus the interior is a darker grey than the earlier one. Also, this new arrival has a black painted base, rather than the unpainted type on the other one.

This one will require a bit of TLC, I reckon, in terms of needing some spares - plus the driver's door doesn't glide all that smoothly either, so some fettling will be needed.

Still, I imagine someone will be interested at £4?

And moving over to Corgi, then...

Yup, it's the Most Fantasmagorical Car In The History Of Everything...

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Ian Fleming's other well known creation, beyond Jimmy Bond.

Overall, this one doesn't look too bad - some damage to plastic parts, and missing quite a few of the accessories, but I reckon it's displayable as-is, if you're not too fussy.

Obviously, Steve Flowers and the like can probably supply replacement Dick van Dykes etc.

Wee bit of a kink to the rear wing seems the extent of any casting damage.

Windscreen surround has a break in it, but may glue ok.

Pop-out wings still functional, mind. Took me ages to work out how they operated.

Years ago, I can remember being asked by a family friend to keep an eye out for a Corgi Chitty at the model fairs and swapmeets I was attending at that time, as he'd lost his childhood version and missed it... It didn't have to be mint, I was told. And how pleased I was to rock up with an example rather less good than this, missing its windscreen and wings.

"Oh, that's, um, great... how much do I owe you?"

"Twenty pounds!"

I can still remember how he went slightly pop-eyed upon hearing that, and the sickly grin as he handed me the note.

Yet I'm sure that was about the going rate for a ropey one of these in 1996 - my teenage self sure spent enough hours poring over Model Collector's annual price guides to know the guideline prices inside out. Thinking back, though, £20 doesn't represent great value for a below-average example of a widely-sold toy (Corgi made around a million of them between 1968 and 1972, so they're not actively rare, though are certainly sought-after) ...

I'll not tell him I only paid £4 for this one.

Also available at that price.

So! A somewhat truncated market report today, I'm afraid - and sadly no promises can be made about next week. Lap of the gods, kids! But be assured that if it's safe and possible, I'll do my best.

Til next time (whenever that may be)!

44,419 · October 16, 2020

56 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

@Datsuncog are you considering parting with one of the earlier Transits. I feel I should get one for completeness...

I am indeed... Can do you today's one for £4, though see the latest post for its assorted defects!

68,124 · October 16, 2020

3 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

I am indeed... Can do you today's one for £4, though see the latest post for its assorted defects!

Yeah why not, sure a door will appear, and they go nose-out in the display cabinet anyway. I do love seeing variations and trying to fathom why they were made.

I can also now admit to owning this

43,609 · October 16, 2020

I’d love a Dinky Transit but I’m looking for one that’s a nail as I’m painting it. I’d feel guilty painting a decent one.

68,124 · October 16, 2020

59 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Crikey those 1/25s are a nice bit of kit, right up my street. What's the craic with those then, are some of those Politoys/Polistil castings? The Fiesta looks familiar and I'm sure the Fiat 131 looks like a Bburago. Fairly sure that Mebetoys became Bburago around that time.

Mebetoys made lovely stuff, and were bought by Mattel as seen in that catalogue, so there are some extremely desirable Hot Wheels Mebetoys cars out there if you can find/afford them

I am fortunate enough to own a few, including this rather awesome Lotus, bought a few years ago thanks to it being listed as just a Hot Wheels

68,124 · October 16, 2020

Other Mebetoys that have found their way to me include

68,124 · October 16, 2020

Returning to the present, new 5-pack spotted

44,387 · October 16, 2020

Tomica english-language pamphlet / catalogue, late-1980s

Quote

Precise and stout die-cast miniature car world from Tomy for exciting and wonderful enjoyment

October 16, 2020

Interesting to see that 1956 Dinky France catalogue, I've got one of those Talbot Lagos in a job lot of Dinky toys on US ebay at the moment, mine is marked 23K on the bottom rather than the 23H shown in the scan so presumably a British one. Ebay lot has no bids and ends tomorrow so demand for this stuff seems low over here. Shipping costs are tortuous.

36,917 · October 16, 2020

58 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Other Mebetoys that have found their way to me include

I have had the BMW since I was about 4, the early 1980s items were truly awful, well below the pecking order even from Bburago. The wheels barely rolled and fell off after about 50 meters of spirited play. Glad I have still have it now though.

I also have the Matra Murena simply because of the subject matter.

I have an earlier Volvo 343 which is branded Hotwheels and came in a Hotwheels box. It must have been issued right on the changeover in name because it is a fair bit better quality, although still very crude.

I used to have a silver Autobianchi A110 from around the same time, again not great.

Solido's basic quasi-Dinky range from that time weren't much better either.

I'd give any of the 1/25 stuff a home though.

68,124 · October 16, 2020

Got (almost) the final piece in the Sandcat puzzle, red and green with the black top and interior. Normally a light grey. Even the impossible to replace 3 is on the bonnet

Only other version that exists is an orange base/red top version attached to an ashtray, and they seem to be pretty rare

43,609 · October 16, 2020

Has anyone a copy of early 80’s burago catalogue to upload?

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