Shite in Miniature II

[flat4alfa]

14 hours ago, bunglebus said:

the Regal (not Century)

Yes they couldn't make their minds up

I remember reading somewhere that Regal was no more than an interior upgrade of the Century, hence brochures naming it Century Regal

[flat4alfa]

On 11/4/2020 at 7:30 AM, Split_Pin said:

The Corgi model is actually named incorrectly. The cars are all Buick Centurys with Regal being a trim level such as was common in the 1970s with US cars

Ah yes discussed on here too

[flat4alfa]

Went looking for modify ideas and found this code-3 hover car.

Mad.

[bunglebus]

Noticed yet another Regal base change while in the loft. 4 rivet, 3 rivet, 3 rivet with slots

 

[Split_Pin]

I'll need to check which one mine is! 

[Datsuncog]

2 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Noticed yet another Regal base change while in the loft. 4 rivet, 3 rivet, 3 rivet with slots

 

Oh, that's interesting - I see that the four-rivet base has had the Corgi name erased. I wonder if that was cast from the machinery returned from Kiko of Brazil - possibly modified overseas to be more sturdy?

[flat4alfa]

On 6/11/2020 at 1:35 AM, flat4alfa said:

It stood out, tucked in the corner of a photo, forlorn.  From the poor photos I could see it was near 1/28 scale and had heat damage.  Except I couldn't figure out what/how it melted on opposing corners....

 

It was only moulded like that !!!   Well I never.

And the base is stamped Buddy-L for good measure.  Bonus!  

The comedy proportions are forgiven and I have plans for this one

Remember this Buddy-L thing?

Bit parky out today, so stayed indoors and dug it out, along with knock-off dremmel, hobby knife and files.  And glue.

Gave it a scrub and touched-in with the chrome pen.  As usual, clumsy oaf smudged it on a tyre.

Took it to bits and removed the near-borked friction mechanism.  Didn't waste it all as the gearing went into spares tin. 

Why you ask?  To make room to cut it about and mount a motor in there.  Spent way too long cutting and filing, getting the pickup blade and wiring right. 

So now, it can do this:

Needs some proper tyres, not going to worry about getting anything special and see what turns up in time.  It's fun enough drifting it about as it is.  Might pull the front axle off, pull it forward and widen the track; when a rod can be found the right gauge and length.  It's only a bit of fun and just done for the hell of it, yet it kept me off the streets and away from fixing the kitchen.

Not found anything online about this Buddy-L toy yet.  But Jack's Auto Wreckers Cadillac lives on. 

[flat4alfa]

Good moaning.

Wanted one of these for a while.  Was in a top-up lot to spread the postage cost.  Maisto Bugatti EB110

It's probably the colour that does it

I remember being transfixed by the real car all those years ago: 60-valve, quad-turbocharged V12 pushing through AWD.  In 1991.

Doors are ill-fitting, unless in upward position

But it was very cheap.  Unlike a real one!

1/38

[flat4alfa]

Why is it some cars are memorised as a certain colour?  As if etched into the mind having a signature colour?  Or is that just me...

The Bugatti EB110 (above) is one.  If I kept one in real life or model form, it would have to be in that blue that was the initial press / show car. 

Coming down to earth somewhat, the original Smart car is another -  for me has to be that yellow with the black accent.

In the same 'job lot box' as the Bugatti, came this Maisto Smart City-Coupé (it says), in 1/33

Ok, its not exciting, but it is shite enough now?

  There have been one or two smoked around the forum over the years.

The model is smart enough (pun intended).  What does smart though is the thin rear track, due to the mounting of a generic pull-back motor mechanism.  Oh well never mind, was much cheaper than a pint of euro-fizz in the pub from the off-licence.

[bunglebus]

Here's something a little bit different, 1968-69 RiCo catalogue. I know some of you will enjoy this one.

Fairly large format so one page per scan

 

 

I wonder who won the Honda?

[flat4alfa]

It is Richard Kohnstamm we have to thank for buying Beatties and expanding the number of shops across the country through the seventies and eighties

Many an hour spent in Beatties!   That's where I first saw the Tamiya R/C cars such as Sand Scorcher and Vanessa's Lunch Box, that I've yearned for since childhood, but never did own!  I still can see the shelves even now.  The box artwork used to amaze as much as the models.

It's also Kohnstamm that was the UK importer for Tamiya

[bunglebus]

I knew you'd like the catalogue!

Only Beatties I remember was in Romford and I only went once - Arnold's in Brentwood used to have a huge shelf full of RC stuff, Vanessa's Lunchbox, Monster Beetle and Gravedigger stick in my mind, as well as a hankering for a submarine to try out on the Shenfield Common pond. Never happened

[bunglebus]

I've been after one of these for a while, it has extreme patina but probably won't get restored. Just the panel van to find now

[andrew e]

That RI-KO catalogue is great @bunglebus 👍

Looking through my local Essex toyshops only Roomes in Upminster still survives I think (well it was there half ago 😁 ) any others survive across the country shitters?

Speaking of Tamiya I may have dragged a purchase  from the early 90’s out the loft.  Bought off a skint (fellow) apprentice and ragged to buggery, it’s a body less Mud Blaster (nee’ Blackfoot/Monster Beetle) it should have a Subaru Brat perched on top!

 Apart from the locktite I held it together with 30 years ago melting the chassis plastic, then the speed controller burning out, it was in good shape. Due to reissues every spare part is available.  Its now awaiting the Lexan/polycarbonate paint for new its Monster Beeetle shell that I always coveted. You spray these bodies from the inside out, and try not to bugger the masking up! Luckily the gearbox was in far better shape than I expected:

Of course I definitely didn’t squander any recent eBay winnings on a new radio and this 😉

https://www.timetunnelmodels.com/live/catalog/tamiya-58631-subaru-impreza-monte-carlo-1999-without-custom-deal-bundle-p-59181.html

Though this is winking at me now and I’ve spent the PayPal balance 😂

https://www.timetunnelmodels.com/live/catalog/order-tamiya-58691-ford-escort-cosworth-street-without-custom-deal-bundle-approx-april-2021-p-68168.htmlZ

[Tenmil Socket]

On 1/31/2021 at 12:23 AM, bunglebus said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Matchbox-Porsche-928-Sentron-9-Radio-Control-Vintage-Car/233871088335?hash=item3673cd9acf:g:hrkAAOSwKtFf90EQ

I’ve just bought this, cheers! Check out his other items. 

[flat4alfa]

[flat4alfa]

[flat4alfa]

[bunglebus]

Looking Forward to seeing a renovated Monster Beetle and a Matchbox Sentron 9! 

[bunglebus]

Think there are at least two real Sand Scorchers, this one built in the UK

 

[flat4alfa]

Anyone up for discussing Heller and their CLICLAC range?

[flat4alfa]

No?  Oh well tough.

Check this out.

Too much absinthe?

Probablement !

Ça a dû être une bonne fête

Bonsoir

 

[flat4alfa]

[Post Resurrection Warning]

Have two more, also in 1/32.  These were converted into slot cars prior to my ownership.

The ƎƆИA⅃UᗺMA has a roof bulb wired in, and a driver.

The AFRICA SAFARI one has two motors, driving independent axles.  Giving it independent* 4WD, to scrub the tyres nicely.

[flat4alfa]

Another CLICLAC joins the party. 

The Renault must have been scaled to fit the packaging, as this nearer 1/28

Five points to whoever can recognise the number plate

Another slot conversion I picked up yonks ago.  It has lost its spotlights from bumper and roof, which were never were going to last long without being glued.  Even Pierre can't hold the steering wheel any more as that came adrift too.  Well, it is a model of a Renault, so quite accurate. 

Heller pushed the boat out on these, releasing and re-releasing in various guises.  If anyone has the Goofy one, you can keep it!

There was a point to all this, but I can't remember what it was

[Amishtat]

Is that a Scalextric number plate? 

[bunglebus]

[sierraman]

I remember the Beatties in Sheffield, many a Matchbox purchased there!

[Spottedlaurel]

4 hours ago, andrew e said:

That RI-KO catalogue is great @bunglebus 👍

Looking through my local Essex toyshops only Roomes in Upminster still survives I think (well it was there half ago 😁 ) any others survive across the country shitters?

Ditto, really interesting to see that. I was unaware of any Beatties connection, but the RiKo name was familiar to me from 1980s Tamiya kits.

Of those listed in Norfolk/Suffolk, the only ones that leap out at as still being there are Langley's in Norwich and Hannant's in Lowestoft (more of a wholesaler/online seller than a shop nowadays, although Joe Public can turn up and root around their warehouse and buy stuff, as I've done on several occasions).

A few of my kits and Scalextric 300 set came from Everbody's Hobbies in Ipswich.

None of it's very cheap, but this seller has some nice stuff:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIUMPH-TR8-RALLY-1-25-Scale-Plastic-Kit-by-REVELL-1980-UNMADE-H-6211/265035106460

The ever-popular TR8 T-Top rally car, £125 to you sir/madam.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DINKY-WAY-Vintage-Road-Play-Set-NEVER-USED-ORIGINAL-VERY-RARE-from-1978/265029040889

I certainly didn't pay £170 for either of mine, but then they didn't come with four Dinky cars.

[Amishtat]

There was a Beatties in Colchester too, I spent a fair bit of time gazing at the Tamiya r/c displays and videos but never had one

[Datsuncog]

EIGHT HUNDRED PAGES of tiny tat.

That is all.