Shite in Miniature II

[flat4alfa]

26 minutes ago, andrew e said:

  

Nice set !

Actually recently it’s more been @bunglebus collecting sets to sort into photoshoots.  It’s just that I whinge about my efforts   😁

[barrett]

Possibly a good lot for somebody in Southampton or thereabouts. 'about 50' cars for £50, Varying conditions but most look pretty decent

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/401941384313241/

[flat4alfa]

The Lincoln and the Triumph are worth a fiver each. The rest are worthless unless someone is really wanting one that will do even if play-worn - for a pound or so

[Datsuncog]

Another arrival for the Corgi cabinet...

Courtesy of an eBay '20% off' offer that helpfully* came through late on a Friday evening after a few drinks... sneaky.

It's the first version of the Lotus Elite from 1975, in plain red.

Well, red apart from the slightly odd yellow and blue side stripes, that is.

The casting is pretty crisp, with paper decals representing lights and, unusually for this era of Corgi,  also a number plate.

Apparently the plate was a reference to the model's RRP of 95p.

The towbar came in handy whenever the JPS Gift Set was launched a few months later, featuring a black Elite with gold decals to match the JPS Lotus F1 car it was pulling on a trailer.

Interior is fairly detailed, though seats don't have any tipping mechanism. Never worry, Corgi would rectify that later by putting tipping front seats on damn near everything, such as the 5 dr Sierra and Volvo 760.

Early versions of the Elite came with these deep dished rims; later ones seem to have appeared with the generic disc type, as well as the slightly Ford-like cross-hatch alloys.

I'm not aware of any others that wore these, though. They look a bit overly wide, so maybe that's why.

Base is plastic, and quite well detailed. 

Now, this was advertised as 'excellent', and while it is pretty clean, there's a weird amount of what looks like plasticine stuck in the wheel treads and in some of the shut lines, which will need careful removal.

There's also what looks like a couple of chips that have been touched up. Whether this has been done by a previous owner, or was part of the Corgi factory's quality control rectification programme, I'm not quite sure. But although the wheels have lost some of their silver finish, it's still pretty shiny overall.

The back of the box depicts a gold version, and there seems to be a few of those in circulation - at a premium. As well as the long running JPS version, I've also seen metallic green and metallic blue road versions up for auction, some with a matt black roof, plus quite a nice navy one with silver striping and graphics - and the ubiquitous yellow racing version. There's probably other colours and finishes too - after all, this casting appeared in the 1/36 lineup for nearly ten years.

I have to say, I always had a bit of antipathy to this model as it seemed to be a regular at jumble sales and charity shops - usually the yellow racing version, filthy and badly scratched with the stickers peeling off. I also thought it looked all wrong, proportionally. But since I wasn't then aware that the Elite was a bit of a funny looking thing (especially compared to the sleek Esprit), it turns out the model's actually pretty good.

I especially wanted the red version as it's the same as one that was parked up near to where I used to live back in the early 2000s - I never saw it move and it's now long gone, but this is a nice tribute to it.

There's a few other Corgi products of a similar vintage still cranking their way through the postal system... slippery slope, indeed.

[Datsuncog]

2 hours ago, barrett said:

Possibly a good lot for somebody in Southampton or thereabouts. 'about 50' cars for £50, Varying conditions but most look pretty decent

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/401941384313241/

 

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

The Lincoln and the Triumph are worth a fiver each. The rest are worthless unless someone is really wanting one that will do even if play-worn - for a pound or so

While there's a fair amount of playworn Lesney in there that's certainly no better than 50p Box grade, I think you'd see a fair chunk of your £50 back on that 'Wall of Death' Rockets Capri alone... and the Corgi Bedford TK fire appliance looks complete, and might be worth a tenner of anyone's money too.

But then again, I've overpaid handsomely for stuff manys a time, so maybe it's best not to listen to me...

[sierraman]

I started searching for job lots on Gumtree of whatever but ended up finding that people want a kings ransom for a box full of broken stuff. Same at the Car Boot, anything older than about 20 was a priceless collectors item. I’ve actually found lately eBay is a more reliable barometer. 

[155V6]

5 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

 

While there's a fair amount of playworn Lesney in there that's certainly no better than 50p Box grade, I think you'd see a fair chunk of your £50 back on that 'Wall of Death' Rockets Capri alone... and the Corgi Bedford TK fire appliance looks complete, and might be worth a tenner of anyone's money too.

But then again, I've overpaid handsomely for stuff manys a time, so maybe it's best not to listen to me...

The Matchbox Transporter looks alright too.If you're after a Wall of Death Capri,this lot has one with no mention of it in the title

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254760222754

[bunglebus]

7 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

There's a few other Corgi products of a similar vintage still cranking their way through the postal system... slippery slope, indeed.

Yeah me too...

 

I only have this version of the Lotus I think

 

 

[eddyramrod]

Is it Tat Friday today?

[flat4alfa]

Will admit I didn’t spot the Wall of Death Capri 

 

 

 

[Tenmil Socket]

Remember the Corgi RC Golf I bought...

After careful examination of the internals (wiggling a few wires etc.), I was unable to get it working properly. It is 40 years old after all. So not wanting to give up and be it a waste of money I'm determined to do something with it.

Hence... (all the gear, no idea).

I then found a job lot of RC cars locally for not very much.

Mrs Socket swiped the Bugatti for her Nephew (it was no use to me anyway). After a test drive of each vehicle (drifting in the kitchen) I deemed the green one to be the most suitable donor. 

I'm not sure whether to try and Barry it with the wheels?

So the intention is to try and transplant the Lamborghini engine* into a MK1 Golf. 

 

[bunglebus]

Yes to the motor, no to the wheels - do you know what's actually wrong with the Golf?

[Spottedlaurel]

13 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Remember the Corgi RC Golf I bought...

Good luck! Sounds like an amusing project.

I really ought to see if this works, have never tried it out:

Also we seem to have ended up with some '80s RC buggy which belonged to Mrs SL's sister. It's very toy-like, has probably suffered with batteries being left in it.

9 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Another arrival for the Corgi cabinet...

I've had the red one since I was young, never seen it with the stripes though - I'm sure mine never had them. The Ferrari Daytona also used those wheels, as I believe did the front end of the some of the F1 racers (can't easily get to my cabinet to dig one out).

[Tenmil Socket]

3 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Yes to the motor, no to the wheels - do you know what's actually wrong with the Golf?

I couldn't get the motor for the steering working and with the lack of information available I gave up. It's all pretty antiquated to be fair. I suppose I could try and look up/study electronics on the net and just put an alternative steering set-up in there? 

[Tenmil Socket]

4 minutes ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Good luck! Sounds like an amusing project.

I really ought to see if this works, have never tried it out:

Also we seem to have ended up with some '80s RC buggy which belonged to Mrs SL's sister. It's very toy-like, has probably suffered with batteries being left in it.

I've had the red one since I was young, never seen it with the stripes though - I'm sure mine never had them. The Ferrari Daytona also used those wheels, as I believe did the front end of the some of the F1 racers (can't easily get to my cabinet to dig one out).

Yeah batteries can do some right damage when left in things!

[Datsuncog]

Well, Friday it is... and, what with the clock change and all, a bit less forbiddingly bleak outside.

After a brief tussle with the bloody parking app, which every so often likes to pretend it's never met me before, I was into the market at the stroke of 8...

It was quiet, with even more empty stalls from last week.

But Market Blokey was back!

And so was my frigging Nemesis #1!

I swear he sneaks in through the stallholders' entrance or something to get there ahead of me. It's a cut-throat game; though hopefully not literally.

I waited impatiently for him to bugger away off, because I wasn't here for the dolls...

I wasn't here for the Elvis biographies...

I wasn't here for the James Last 8-Tracks...

And I definitely wasn't here for the heartwarming collectable plates of cutesy kiddiwinks...

I was here for one thing only, and that was tat.

Wait, is that it?

Some boxless Shell Collection Maistos and a Days Gone van? Surely I haven't schlepped in for just this...

But lo, my Nemesis didst move aside, and t'was like the parting of clouds...

Well, sorta.

But there was some nice 1/36 Corgi action to be had, even if most of them were modernish film and TV items.

I could see he still had some more stuff to unpack though, so I wandered off to see if Charity Blokey had been whittling any more Dinky Transits in his spare time.

Sadly not.

Those big Buddy Ls are still there, surprisingly.

Also there was the 'Qualcast by Corgi' Turbine Truck (a cheaper sub-line that never really went anywhere), the Superkings fantasy transporter, and a somewhat beat-up Dinky Jeep that's looking more appealing by the week, despite its wonky axles.

I'd been reading through my big Corgi book during the week, and I hadn't realised that the Berliet truck came fitted with a stereotypical French beret-wearing driver behind the wheel. How about that?

Ultimately I didn't buy anything from Charity Blokey this week - though I applaud his reliability.

Paddy's Antiques Shitshow had all the diecast back, though.

As far as I can make out, he hasn't shifted a single damn thing - though plenty are now broken/ damaged through being shovelled in and out of boxes, like this plastic Rovex stab at something a bit like a Land Rover:

Yeah, that roof wasn't broken the other week.

Side profile's not bad...

But what's going on with that grille and lights?

Weird.

I still wanted to get a price off him for the big Corgi Ford Transporter, but he was waxing long and loud to another punter about something else; "they go for big money on eBay, those do, y'know".

Yup, but you're not eBay, dude. You're relying on a handful of Belfast-based customers trickling past your disorganised, unpriced stall on a Friday morning, not a perma-connected global marketplace serving up targeted listings.

After hanging about for bit, waiting in vain for him to give over, I headed back over to Market Blokey... only to stop dead as I clocked what was behind his stall, and had so fascinated Nemesis #1...

A whole rake of bloody Spot Ons. Well, no wonder he wouldn't shift.

Morris 1100 missing a headlight, and with a peculiar homebrew grille plus glazing cracks. Hmm. Morris Oxford Bullnose also lacking its prime feature.

Renault Floride and Alpine both looked like interrupted restos, with fresh paint but no glazing. The Spridget looked like it was next in line for some TLC, while the Big Healey was merely playworn. But, be still my beating heart...

HNNNNG VOLVO AMAZON.

Unmolested, for the most part too. I enquired about pricing. £20 each.

I glared bitterly at Nemesis #1's Spot On haul - a pristine blue Austin A60 Farina with roof rack and skis everything; a repainted Anglia 105E; and a chipped but complete red E-Type (couldn't tell if it was also Spot On or a Dinky one; he was busy tipping them into a bag), plus a Dinky FX3 Taxi and a modern 1/43 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith.

Meh. I found myself coveting the Farina, big time. If he got that for £20, he did well.

Edit: this was the one, bottom right:

However, there were also a few more bits and pieces laid out on the stall by now...

Well, that's more like it.

Corgi Prelude was in pretty good nick, with only a few small chips. If I hadn't already bought a cream and green version back in August, I would have had this. Bond Z3 quite similar to the one CogSr used to own, but I already got him a 1/43 model of that.

Reissue of The Saint's XJS, plus a slightly chipped Aston from The Living Daylights - unfortunately a rather turgid model round the lower quarters, with the mock-skis and stuff.

Bullitt Mustang fastback was nice though; really nice. Reissue DB5 also not bad, though I had one of those before. Mini Traveller out front is, predictably, an Atlas reissue job.

Bond's other Lotus Esprit, with lightly bent skis, plus what looked like a 60s Monte Carlo Mini (but using the later 1970s casting, so it's kinda wrong).

A submersible Esprit was also there (reissue, not original), plus some Tonka stuff and what looked like the underframe of a Corgi funny car, but I couldn't work out what. Mini Pickup is by Hongwell, and filthy.

As another Corgi oddity, here's another from their short-lived Explorers range:

The Scanotron features a cab that pivots forward and back, and has a magnifying lens fitted behind the rotating scanner. Well, okay.

I had another poke round the back of the stall, in case there was anything else I'd missed (like a brimming Tat Box), but this was all he had left over.

So, I did make a purchase or two, much as it pained my cheap arse...

...and, during my last turn round the aisles, I happened to spot this unexpected basket of delights over at Alan's Emporium:

Despite looking unpromising, there were hidden depths, it transpired...

So! I've now scalded myself with a coffee, and frozen myself tapping this out by the Riverside (my goodness, it's cold this morning) - and will be heading back over shortly to grab some fruit and that.

But yeah, I can't wait til I get home - these are what persuaded me to crack open my wallet.

The Mustang's a keeper, I think, and I even found the Steve McQueen figure rolling round at the bottom of one of the boxes.

The Volvo Amazon - I'm not sure. It's one I craved for long enough from my little library book about Spot On, but I'm not sure I want to go down the collector route on these.

I might keep it for a while and see how I feel about it, but if anyone wants to dibs it for £20, I'll let you know when I'm bored of it...

Will be heading home in half an hour, so if there's anything else you've clocked that you fancy, let me know toute suite!

[sierraman]

Do they still have the tat box?

[bunglebus]

The chassis is the lower half of the Custom Car Glo Worm Capri

Which I've just realised has two different types of decals. Here we go again...

 

[Datsuncog]

18 minutes ago, sierraman said:

Do they still have the tat box?

Not this week, it seems - from what I can gather, he seems to have umpteen boxes of diecast, and he then pulls out a couple at random to bring in each week. Maybe next time!

It's kinda annoying - there's no point asking him about a specific model, as he doesn't seem to keep track of them. There's stuff he's assured me he's sold, only for it to reappear six months later (this is where my reference pics come in handy).

Bizarre.

[Datsuncog]

8 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

The chassis is the lower half of the Custom Car Glow Worm Capri

Which I've just realised has two different types of decals. Here we go again...

 

I thought it might have been the Gloworm's innards - but then thought the driver must be a giant!

Looks like someone's already nabbed it while I was chronicling this morning's fun.

[barrett]

8 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

 

While there's a fair amount of playworn Lesney in there that's certainly no better than 50p Box grade, I think you'd see a fair chunk of your £50 back on that 'Wall of Death' Rockets Capri alone... and the Corgi Bedford TK fire appliance looks complete, and might be worth a tenner of anyone's money too.

But then again, I've overpaid handsomely for stuff manys a time, so maybe it's best not to listen to me...

I had no idea that was a thing, or was worth money. I wish I was a bit closer now!

[sierraman]

Roll on the Datsuncog diecast sale later then!

[Datsuncog]

On 10/30/2020 at 11:30 AM, sierraman said:

Roll on the Datsuncog diecast sale later then!

Funny you should mention that... Let's get started (though best to be aware it may be a bit stop-start, getting all these up - as I've a feeling MrsDC wants to get some stuff done today and won't be best pleased if I'm just tippy-tapping away at my phone every time she looks up).

First up : today's Tat Box haul, courtesy of Alan's Emporium. All available, at 33p each.

And looking more organized...

Matchbox IMSA Mustang, and Glo-Racers 'Dark Rider', aka Porsche 928 [**PORSCHE CLAIMED!!**]

Super GTs - the old MB68 Porsche 910 and MB3 Monteverdi Hai. Both are the earlier Made In England versions, not Far Eastern.

(**Monteverdi taken!!**)

Super GT version of the MB14 Iso Grifo, augmented by Sharpie (**TAKEN!!**), and Realtoy Subaru Impreza (**ALSO TAKEN!!**)

No name Mercedes van masquerading as a 'Mobile Commancentre', whatever that is (**SOLD!!**), and a matching Chevrolet Caprice - both of which are wearing Royal Canadian Mounted Police insignia, for some reason.

Plastic no-name Ford Focus 3-dr that probably came with a Tesco Transporter, and a Hot Wheels bosuku manga insane cruiser thingummy.

(**Cheapo Ford and bosuku mayhem car both taken!!**)

Corgi Whizzwheels Volvo 245DL and de-Starskyfied Ford Torino.

(**Torino now taken!!**)

More to follow, from the Tat Archive!

[Datsuncog]

Board the First:

50s/60s/70s Lesney stuff, all at 50p.

No.5 London Bus (repaint, but original release) and No.40 Bedford Tipper, missing something fundamental...

No.63 Foamite Crash Tender, and No.54 Cadillac S&S Ambulance

(**Caddy Bloodbox taken!!**)

No.3 Mercedes Benz 'Binz' Ambulance, and No.29 Fire Pumper Truck 'Denver F.D.'

No.35 Merryweather Fire Engine, No.41 Ford GT (with one weirdly shrunken wheel hub), and No.56 Pininfarina BMC 1800.

(**BMC SOLD!!**)

No.52 Dodge Charger III, and No.69 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Coupe with bootlid glued shut (but with complete bumper/lights/grille - nudge nudge)

No.45 Ford Group Six - in pale green, and in mid green.

No.60 Lotus Super Seven, and No.1 Dodge Challenger with slighty warped roof.

(**CHALLENGER TAKEN!!**)

Another No.1 Dodge Challenger, a No.22 Freeman Inter-City Commuter, and a Rolamatics No.69 Turbo Fury

(**Challenger #2 and Freeman Commuter taken!!**)

Remember - three for a quid on all the small stuff!!

More Matchbox tat coming up (once I've hung the washing out).

Edited November 1, 2020 by Datsuncog

[Datsuncog]

Board the Second: 1970s & 80s Matchbox.

Again, 50p each or three for a pound here too.

No.31 Volks-Dragons - there's a complete one between these two! You can have both of these for 50p. [**BOTH SOLD!!!**]

}

No. 65 Airport Coach, and No.71 Dodge Cattle Truck [**Cattle Truck sold!!**]

No.36 Formula 5000 racer, missing its paper decals but otherwise very fresh looking; and a Rolamatics No.20 Range Rover Police Patrol, in later 1980s trim.

No.54 NASA Tracking Vehicle (decommissioned), No.48 Red Rider (slightly bent header stacks), and No.42 '57 Thunderbird.

(**ALL THREE TAKEN!!**)

No.62 Super Boss racing Kenworth; No.38 Ford Model A Van (Kelloggs promo).

MB44 Citroen 15CV with 'patina'; MB58 Mercedes Benz 300E which has been oddly dechromed.

(**BOTH TAKEN!!**)

More Super GTs - BR11/12 Saab Sonnet III (Made in England), BR9/10 Lotus Europa (Made in China) [**BOTH TAKEN!!**]

Yet another Super GT, this time BR33/34 formerly known as the Hi-Tailer (Made in China); MB4 Pontiac Fiero; Laser Superfast Nissan 300ZX Turbo with serious axle wonk.

(**Fiero and 300ZX taken!!**)

Last of the Matchbox coming up next!

[Datsuncog]

Board the Third:

More modern Matchbox, plus Hot Wheels (and a random Tomica and Siku). 50p for one, three for £1.00.

MB889 Food Truck, Fun Fun Sushi (plastic body, metal base); MB24 Chevy Transport Bus, Prisoner Transport (Matchbox Motor City's clearly hit the skids since I was a kid, hey?)

(**FOOD TRUCK SOLD!!**)

MB50 Ford Explorer, 'Sheriff Evidence Technician', and MB755 Pierco Dash Fire Engine

MB31 Beetle 4x4 with opening frunk and MB723 Beetle 4x4 - interestingly, these share the same base but completely different bodies.

(**Both Beetles taken!!**)

What looks to be a plastic Burger King police vehicle toy made by Matchbox; No.67 Tomica Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Police Car; Siku No.1029 Mercedes Benz C220 Politzei

(**ALL TAKEN!!**)

Hot Wheels '71 Dodge Demon; and '74 Dodge Charger

(**BOTH TAKEN!!**)

Hot Wheels '70 Chevrolet Chevelle SS; Matchbox '71 Chevrolet Camaro Z-28

(**BOTH TAKEN!!**)

Hot Wheels At-A-Tude (Studebaker Golden Hawk) and Metrorail (Nash Metropolitan)

(**AT-A-TUDE TAKEN!!**)

Hot Wheels Tow Jam six-wheel wrecker; TV series Batmobile; Ford Fusion 'GPD Police'.

Still more to come (if you can believe it)!

[Jon]

Corgi 15, Lesney 16 and Siku 9, please!

Blue Torino, Red Dodge and Merceredes Polizei.

[Datsuncog]

Board the Fourth:

Majorette and some of the random no-name shite here: also at 50p/ 3forraquid.

Majorette No.246 Range Rover Fire Tender (with typical R-R suspension woes going on); Majorette No.207 Fire Pump

Majorette Honda CB750 Police Motorbike; No.228 Saviem Crane (missing jib) [**HONDA TAKEN!!**]

I'd do these for 10p each, as they need a bit of love.

Majorette Motor series Renault Alpine A310 (motor present, but not working); Majorette No.243 Ford Transit Tug with mud-spatter effect.

Majorette No.241-245 (that's what it says) Ford Cargo Skip Truck; Majorette No.294A Volvo XC90

(**VOLVO TAKEN!!**)

No-name Hong Kong Bedford S-Type box truck, all-plastic; No-name No.W16 Trans Am Pull Back, also from Hong Kong and with Kelloggs branding plus Pop from the Rice Krispies box on the bonnet - so some sort of cereal promotion, I'd guess?

[**BEDFORD CLAIMED!!**]

Mystery of this one's identity finally solved - so it's another 'Gun of a Car' series Renault 17; and a 'Magnum PI' branded Ferrari 308GTB key car. No keys, sorry!

(**PLASTIC RENNER TAKEN!!**)

No-name Chevrolet Caprice police car, clearly based on the Majorette version; No-name (but good!) Porsche 911 Turbo

No-name Mitsubishi (possibly) tanker, and no-name Toyota airport step transporter minus steps - both of which are possibly pirated Tomica castings?

Yet more to follow!

[Amishtat]

Can I dibs the Amazon if nobody else has please? 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

18 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Lesney stuff first: all at 50p.

Or three for a quid!!

More Matchbox coming (once I've hung the washing out).

Number 17 please