Shite in Miniature II

[Mr Laurence]

6 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

I can imagine a 24-scale Trabant would still be quite small, under 6 inches in length?

Yeah thereabouts- the box says it’s 14.9cm. But it’s more detailed kit than any others I’ve got and the box it comes in is enormous; probably about twice the size of all the rest.

[Spottedlaurel]

1 hour ago, Mr Laurence said:

The Trabant, the Ferrari, the Z1, the R5 and the wheels are all still there. I’ve also got the Skyline and the Mustang, but I’m considering keeping those

I'll go for the Renault 5 and wheels if I may. Please send me a PM with your payment details.

[bunglebus]

I sold a couple of spare Matchbox K-53 model T hot rods on eBay a while ago - guy messaged me tonight to show me what he did with them;

 

[bunglebus]

Oh and I popped into Home Sense earlier - seems to be TK Maxx without the clothes (as in they don't sell them, it's not for nudists).

Had a few Majorette and Hot Wheels ID but nothing exciting

 

[AndyW201]

Another arrival. TBH in these uncertain times, I've been trying to curb unnecessary spending (I know, whoever would call diecast unnecessary?), looks like this will be the last for a while after recent announcements!

Anyway, this is yet another one I've been chasing for a while but always missed on, and one for the 'cars I've owned or had experience of' category.

(Probably a lot of readers leaving the thread now.)

er, anyone left? 😆

Finally managed to get hold of the Schuco MK4 Astra. These seem to be getting harder to get hold of, and prices seem to be on the up. They seem to be sought after by the code 3 crowd, for conversion into police cars, which go for big money. Consequently I paid a wee bit more for this than I would normally pay for a 1/43 Vauxhall model, but for once it was on a BIN and when it attracted 7 watchers within an hour of being listed, the bullet was bitten.

I'm glad I did though, it's a nice model. The fact it's a UK RHD Vauxhall badged version is a bonus too. The realistic, slightly dreary metallic green colour and 5 door body appeals to my love of the ordinary...

For a model dating from the late 90s, it's pretty well rendered. Detail went up a bit when Schuco took over Gama, and became the manufacturer of the GM dealer models. 

The front looks particularly good. Nice treatment on the headlights and grille. At first it looked like they had modelled an aftermarket front bumper lip, but it looks like just the standard black rubber splitter painted body colour. The alloys look good. being quite close to early MK4 CDX items.

The interior shows the model's age slightly, but the shape of the dash is there, and is textured, like on the real thing. The steering wheel has a weird, Metro-like rake to it, rather than the standard Vauxhall bolt-upright issue.

I've already got the later Minichamps-issue MK4 coupé, but have been wanting a model of a normal MK4 hatch for a while. Back in the day, our household had two of the blighters...

This beauty was the first, a 1.6 SXi, bought new by the Mrs, back in 2003. I would like to point out,

1) The bodykit and alloys were fitted by the dealer, before she bought it,

2) It was the early 2000s, it was very much 'on point' at the time!

An example of an absolute bona fide shite classic that has many fans on this forum... and an Austin Allegro.

I think the bodykit was by a company called Lester. I've only ever seen it on Astras from our local Evans Halshaw, they did about a dozen SXis with the kit and 17" alloys, for a little less than the rrp of the standard SXi. It was annoying that they didn't fit the matching rear valance, but the rear wing was a genuine GM GSi Turbo item.

Then a long time later, about 2011, I was in need of a car in a hurry, and in desperation, hit Facebook and found a 2003 Astra,  3 miles away for a grand. It turned out to be another 53 plate 1.6 SXi in Ultra blue, just like the one above, but a 5 door with thankfully standard bodywork and alloys. Exactly like this one,

As a stop gap it was fab. I ran it for over a year, only needing drop links and a rear spring for it's MOT. The 1.6 motor was quick, if a little ecotec-tappy and the SXi is a really good steer with its uprated suspension. I'd still rock an Irmscher kitted 3 door SXi now if one came up.

(Had to pair the 5 door up with its posh-frocked sister...)

[Mr Laurence]

32 minutes ago, Spottedlaurel said:

I'll go for the Renault 5 and wheels if I may. Please send me a PM with your payment details.

Thank you! Pm incoming.

 

That’s thinned my collection down a little. I think I’ll leave it at that for now, unless somebody is really desperate for one If the others.

[Lord Sterling]

32 minutes ago, AndyW201 said:

Another arrival...

(Probably a lot of readers leaving the thread now.)

er, anyone left? 😆

Finally managed to get hold of the Schuco MK4 Astra...

(Had to pair the 5 door up with its posh-frocked sister...)

Wooow. I actually have a 1.24 scale Astra 3-door in some mint-green colour. Probably in the loft at my Mums house. When I've got time I'll hopefully dig it out.

[AndyW201]

20 minutes ago, Lord Sterling said:

Wooow. I actually have a 1.24 scale Astra 3-door in some mint-green colour. Probably in the loft at my Mums house. When I've got time I'll hopefully dig it out.

I wouldn't mind a 1/24 scale version other than not really having the room to display it! I think it's by Welly? Looks a cracking model, there was a job lot of 3 on eBay recently and they went for a fair bit IIRC.

[flat4alfa]

Saw this photo

Made me smile

[Spottedlaurel]

Another day, another completed kit:

With the original version that it's replacing:

 

 

 

Snap-fix assembly with basic detail, but still spent some time and effort on detailing it and getting the paintwork done to the best of my ability.

The other four replacement kits in this series are still moving along nicely, should get another one or two done this month.

[bunglebus]

19 minutes ago, Spottedlaurel said:

 

Deliberate damage or left on a radiator? 

[Spottedlaurel]

7 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Deliberate damage or left on a radiator? 

Took them to a car show and left them on my dashboard on a sunny day

[Tenmil Socket]

I spent a bit of time on the Golf at the weekend. Check out the advances in technology, old at the top and new at the bottom.

After an hour or so with the Dremel* I managed to get the chassis to roughly fit the body.

The new wheelbase was slightly too long and the front wheels fouled the arch so I needed a plan B.

I decided that I needed to cut the steering unit from the newer chassis and try and fit it to the old chassis.

With a bit more trimming and tidying I temporarily stuck it to the old chassis with double sided tape. I need to figure out the best position considering the steering components but I think I've got it about right. 

I intend to stick the steering bar from the new chassis on top of the old one.

I picked up this picture hanging kit from the town centre yesterday with the idea of it perhaps coming in useful for this project. 

So this just needs a hole drilling in it and a bit of shortening and then I'm not far off having actual steering movement. I've realised that by using this new set-up I wont be able to use the original upper locators for the wheel hubs. I'll have to come up with an idea for upper wishbones or something.

 

[DoctorRetro]

Almost correctly coloured rear door now. 

[Tenmil Socket]

2 minutes ago, TheDoctor said:

Almost correctly coloured rear door now. 

That looks great. Where did you get the paint from? I want something similar for the Golf.

[DoctorRetro]

12 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

That looks great. Where did you get the paint from? I want something similar for the Golf.

It's just Humbrol number 48

[Datsuncog]

For any out there feeling the Dub Luv... Home Bargains has the Dickie Toys VW Microbus back on the shelves again.

They're plastic, but pretty big and nicely detailed. Must be around 1/18 scale - they look to be over a foot long.

And they come with stickers, so you can customise it.

Lovely.

[flat4alfa]

Toymaster also stock the Dickie range

No Toymaster or Home Bargains for miles around here though

[155V6]

A couple more Tk Maxx finds today

[bunglebus]

I do like a proper 911

 

[155V6]

On 10/30/2020 at 7:31 AM, 155V6 said:

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

Looks like someone wanted the Capri

[bunglebus]

Yeah prices have really started to climb on eBay, I'm trying to regulate my spending on die cast tat anyway, but almost everything I've bid on has gone for way more than I'd be willing to pay,

[sierraman]

Next thing people will be paying ££££ for a 1970’s Matchbox dragged out of a hedge. 

[DoctorRetro]

Made a little handle for the Land Rover door, otherwise it swings open. It'll do for now. 

 

[Sudsprint]

15 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

For any out there feeling the Dub Luv... Home Bargains has the Dickie Toys VW Microbus back on the shelves again.

They're plastic, but pretty big and nicely detailed. Must be around 1/18 scale - they look to be over a foot long.

And they come with stickers, so you can customise it.

Lovely.

TBH I was just relieved to see a VW Camper in a box branded Dickie Toys

[Split_Pin]

1 hour ago, TheDoctor said:

Made a little handle for the Land Rover door, otherwise it swings open. It'll do for now. 

 

I didn't realise you'd hinged it, good work.

[Datsuncog]

Crikey, looks like that (presumed) Code 3 Dinky Transit Minibus was certainly in demand...

I'd half-thought about increasing my bid, but I'm glad I didn't now!

[andrew e]

Nearly £50 on the the Dinky Transit minibus - anyone here with itchy budding fingers?

[andrew e]

Damm you flakey WiFi! What @Datsuncog said 🤐 😄

[DoctorRetro]

Today's eBay delivery was a welcome one. I put a best offer on this and got a counter offer, that was still less than the opening bid. No scene tax on this Ford! Mind you, it is only a 1100L

I'm thinking beige with some sort of hub cap. Need some of those things that push onto the ends of rods - what are they called?