Shite in Miniature II

[Amishtat]

13 minutes ago, andrew e said:

Top Tat Wednesday pickup  @Amishtat 👍

Very kind of you to say so, but I didn't buy much today. We had some rich pickings back in the summertime though. Incidentally I think you're the only fellow Essex based miniature shiter I haven't met. 

[Amishtat]

And finally (see, I told you I didn't get much) this Dinky Singer Gazelle which fills a gap in my own collection. It's absolutely filthy, even by boot sale standards, and seems to have had a marker pen makeover so I'll be hitting this with some meths later on. 

[Amishtat]

Incidentally, and much to my regret, that's almost certainly the end of Tat Wednesday. I'm leaving the area next week and whilst the steatopygous blonde lady taking the entrance money assured me there'd be a boot sale next week weather permitting, the likelihood of my having time to attend it is small and diminishing further as we go. I would like to thank all who bought small shite off me and gave me an excuse to wander round a field on a Wednesday morning, hopefully it compensated a little for the void left whilst DC couldn't bring us Tat Friday. (Albeit with much shittier photography and levels of presentation..) 

[Split_Pin]

Where are you moving to?

Thanks for your Wednesday tattage!

[andrew e]

Bon Voyage @Amishtat shame we never crossed paths chap 😢

I’m sure we can all  keep a “tat-eye” out if your next destination is tat sparse 👍

[Amishtat]

What I should have been doing today was packing up all my shit in an ordered and methodical manner.. But instead this happened.. Not perfect but it'll do. 

[RoadworkUK]

1 hour ago, Amishtat said:

 I'm leaving the area next week.... 

Not going far, are you?

[Amishtat]

Scotland, so yeah.. 

[Sudsprint]

29 minutes ago, Amishtat said:

What I should have been doing today was packing up all my shit in an ordered and methodical manner.. But instead this happened.. Not perfect but it'll do. 

That's much better, I never was a great fan of dyed Rootes

[Amishtat]

Actually, and if you'll forgive the indulgence, it's been an interesting exercise emptying the Corgi /Dinky cabinet to start packing them. (Also when domestic management gets home from work it looks like I've actually done something..) 

[RoadworkUK]

7 minutes ago, Amishtat said:

Scotland, so yeah.. 

Oh! Well all the very best mate!

[Amishtat]

Thanks very much! Bit pissed I won't get another chance to perv over your lovely Rover but there we go

[Datsuncog]

7 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Check this out!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264914709121

 

That's absolutely fantastic - whoever built that has done a nice job, including filling over the side door and everything.

At a guess, it looks like it's been some sort of home-brew presentation trophy - the pegs on the base suggest a plinth has been involved at some point, and the works number on the wing plus what looks like a real registration (GN was a London series, and the seller is in East London) suggests it's a specific replica of a real bus.

This is the kind of thing my grandfather's engineering works might have knocked up for a driver who was retiring or (in greater jest) someone who wrote off a works minibus... I think it's very much a Code 3, but nicely done .

Since the listing says it's turned up as part of a house clearance, it would seem the exact backstory has been lost forever... but I have to say, I'm tempted by this one...

[DoctorRetro]

Littlun brought this charity shop find with him this week.... 

 

[bunglebus]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

That's absolutely fantastic - whoever built that has done a nice job, including filling over the side door and everything.

At a guess, it looks like it's been some sort of home-brew presentation trophy - the pegs on the base suggest a plinth has been involved at some point, and the works number on the wing plus what looks like a real registration (GN was a London series, and the seller is in East London) suggests it's a specific replica of a real bus.

This is the kind of thing my grandfather's engineering works might have knocked up for a driver who was retiring or (in greater jest) someone who wrote off a works minibus... I think it's very much a Code 3, but nicely done .

Since the listing says it's turned up as part of a house clearance, it would seem the exact backstory has been lost forever... but I have to say, I'm tempted by this one...

It looks too good for a home made effort to me - filling the side door and cutting the windows are within the realms of possibility, but that rear door says to me prototype as it's the later style body, and as we've seen the twin rear doors do not fit in that aperture.  I suppose you could cut a slot and add the centre pillar at a push. The base also has some anomalies, plinth mounting aside, none of the bases on any style transits have those four holes at the corners, and I can't see why you'd add them. There's also the "1671F" marking on the wing. Maybe a reference to a real fleet number, maybe not.

I could be completely wrong and it's a well done code 3 but bidding is pretty healthy already, I suspect this is the work of someone at Dinky

[bunglebus]

Anyway, missing out on the Cambuster and Bazooka earlier put me in a bad mood, but postie man cheered me up with a bulk delivery.

First up, gorgeous Siku Ferrari with anti-theft steering wheel

Blackwall 34 Packard

Fire chief Mercury

Talking of fire, Fire Ball Corgi van

And Golden Eagle

Didn't know there was a base change on these

Superman van had definitely not seen any sandpit or paddling pool action going by that card interior

One I'm not quite sure why I bought, other than it was cheap and complete, no-name Bora

Got a couple of really nice Hot Wheels/Mebetoys, the wheels come off these really easily with rough play

Superkings A series truck with marble loading ramp

I've got loads of versions of the Hot Wheels baja bug but not this one until now

Finally, a Matchbox I'm not familiar with - what's the mechanism on this one for?

[Sudsprint]

3 hours ago, Amishtat said:

Actually, and if you'll forgive the indulgence, it's been an interesting exercise emptying the Corgi /Dinky cabinet to start packing them. (Also when domestic management gets home from work it looks like I've actually done something..) 

Mouthwatering collection there.

 

[flat4alfa]

6 hours ago, Amishtat said:

so I'll be hitting this with some meths later on. 

Crikey!  Packed up the Scotch already have you?!

[Amishtat]

I don't know what you mean.. 

[Amishtat]

In any case I didn't have any meths so tried some turpentine on it instead, that worked well on de-Humbroling a Corgi Corniche from Tat Friday about a year ago. It didn't really work on the Gazelle though so I had to get creative with whatever was lying around. In  this case, 0000 grade steel wool followed by some ancient Autosol. 

[flat4alfa]

31 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Anyway, missing out on the Cambuster and Bazooka earlier put me in a bad mood

Oh.  Sorry about that.  Am off work, sitting in a damp camper van on the south coast. Then wham! Tat Wednesday was remembered, so took a look as outside the heavens stayed open here

[Datsuncog]

 

7 hours ago, Amishtat said:

Incidentally, and much to my regret, that's almost certainly the end of Tat Wednesday. I'm leaving the area next week and whilst the steatopygous blonde lady taking the entrance money assured me there'd be a boot sale next week weather permitting, the likelihood of my having time to attend it is small and diminishing further as we go. I would like to thank all who bought small shite off me and gave me an excuse to wander round a field on a Wednesday morning, hopefully it compensated a little for the void left whilst DC couldn't bring us Tat Friday. (Albeit with much shittier photography and levels of presentation..) 

Best of luck with the imminent move! Hopefully Scotland will also furnish you with some diecast delights - once you've unpacked and bought yourself the compulsory Volvo...

Will also have to get you squared up for those Land Rovers and the Porsche from the Wednesday Tat events, but I'm sure you've enough on your plate right now!

[flat4alfa]

2 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Finally, a Matchbox I'm not familiar with - what's the mechanism on this one for?

I looked at the two rivets and the cog and thought straight away it was holding a motor in.  Then the centre catches look as if the body is clipped-home.  But you’ve already discovered that no less...

Inside should be a bay for an AAA cell to run the motor?

Then it must be one of these: SpeedRiders

Looking at that track layout, it looks to be a motorised version of a One Man & His Dog pen.  Brill.

Despite your Corvette one stamped 1985, it was first shown in the 1987 Catalogue, and only the International release at that

[Amishtat]

Just now, Datsuncog said:

 

Best of luck with the imminent move! Hopefully Scotland will also furnish you with some diecast delights - once you've unpacked and bought yourself the compulsory Volvo...

Will also have to get you squared up for those Land Rovers and the Porsche from the Wednesday Tat events, but I'm sure you've enough on your plate right now!

Thank you, although I already have three Volvos.. I haven't forgotten your items but haven't had time to get round to packing them up. My apologies for not being in touch about them but they're all safe and sound here for the next few days. 

[Datsuncog]

2 hours ago, bunglebus said:

It looks too good for a home made effort to me - filling the side door and cutting the windows are within the realms of possibility, but that rear door says to me prototype as it's the later style body, and as we've seen the twin rear doors do not fit in that aperture.  I suppose you could cut a slot and add the centre pillar at a push. The base also has some anomalies, plinth mounting aside, none of the bases on any style transits have those four holes at the corners, and I can't see why you'd add them. There's also the "1671F" marking on the wing. Maybe a reference to a real fleet number, maybe not.

I could be completely wrong and it's a well done code 3 but bidding is pretty healthy already, I suspect this is the work of someone at Dinky

Looking at it closely, I think the rear door treatment has been done by adding a fillet piece into the glazing aperture of the standard top-opening hatch on that second style of Transit casting, then routing a vertical line up the centre... it looks like a modification to me, rather than a new casting.

I also reckon the side door has been sealed using lead loading, then smoothed flat again before painting. I agree that it's a professional job, but having seen the spun aluminium and cast brass stuff that my grandfather used to make on the works machinery, I'd wager it's a one-off by an engineer rather than a Dinky prototype (though I'm equally stumped about those holes in the base).

There's kinda only one way to find out, but it seems that someone else REALLY wants it, and I'm running outta brave pills...

[Amishtat]

On the subject of Volvos, this briefly reappeared before meeting some bubble wrap. 

[quicksilver]

3 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

That's absolutely fantastic - whoever built that has done a nice job, including filling over the side door and everything.

At a guess, it looks like it's been some sort of home-brew presentation trophy - the pegs on the base suggest a plinth has been involved at some point, and the works number on the wing plus what looks like a real registration (GN was a London series, and the seller is in East London) suggests it's a specific replica of a real bus.

This is the kind of thing my grandfather's engineering works might have knocked up for a driver who was retiring or (in greater jest) someone who wrote off a works minibus... I think it's very much a Code 3, but nicely done .

Since the listing says it's turned up as part of a house clearance, it would seem the exact backstory has been lost forever... but I have to say, I'm tempted by this one...

It is indeed a replica of a real bus, London Transport's service vehicle 1671F (EGN 746J). That was based at Acton Works so it looks like the model was probably created by the engineers there - it's certainly very professionally done and the craftsmen at Acton could strip and rebuild a bus from the ground up so they'd definitely have the skills to make something like that. An interesting piece and I bet it has a fascinating story.

[Amishtat]

And still more comes out of the woodwork.. 

[Tenmil Socket]

Picked up these at the weekend. Finally found a Volvo! The GMC truck is nice. Pitty the Audi front axle is bent. 

 

[Split_Pin]

20 minutes ago, Amishtat said:

And still more comes out of the woodwork.. 

Micro Machines, proper early ones too, look to be later 1980s.