Bburago's 1/43 Ford Mustang GT

Methinks that Mattel should really take a leaf out the Bburago book of diecast.

This is a fairly simple casting that could be easily re-created as a Superking model - I mean, HW has hundreds of variations within the normal model line.

What a lovely little model. There is a great bit of detail at the front and back and the wheels complement the casting very well.

I have to say, I am getting more and more impressed with this range especially at this price point, and this mini collection is growing from strength to strength.

Bloody well done!

New 1-75 found in CH - from 1998-odd!!

I am in no way a collector of 3 or 5 packs from the 1-75 range. In fact, I avoid like the plague.

However on a very random trip to Manor this arvo, I had my usual dismal look at the 1-75 on the pegs (same models have been there for the last 7 months), i noticed this old school 3 pack. I think it had been found in a stock cupboard for years, as there was a thin layer of dust still sitting within the windows of the boxes.

As I only know the actual 1-75 range, I am not really sure how old this 3 pack is, but I think it dates from the late 1990s.

It is a real find when shops stock such old items. I do remember years ago on a school trip to Wales, I saw a shop which had a whole 1-75 display from the 70s....complete with cars. I only have the picture in my head, but it is nice to see and own old finds like this today.

Vanguards VA09611 Range Rover Met Police Special Escort

The Range Rover (L322) is a product of what I class as the Vanguards range darkest days. Gone were the lovely original boxes and in came the Perspex display box, the Corgi re-brand of “Drive Time” and sub divisions.

Many feel that Corgi lost the plot with the Drive Time branding, disregarding the heritage of Lledo that the Vanguards were born from and an attempt to rub shoulders with the likes of Minihchamps and AutoArt. In football terms it is like QPR thinking that they could take on the so-called Big Four and claim that Champions League spot.

Prices did tend to get a little expensive as well. Although there some good castings during this time, you would be buggered if you were paying £20-odd for a 1/43 that normally went for around £12-16. Yes, that £4 does make a difference over time.

I already have VA09602 Range Rover in Giverny Green within the garage and as regular readers of this blog know I do like a bargain.

And one did come up in the form of VA09611 Range Rover Met Police Special Escort. I have to say that I being originally from Sauf of the river in London, the Met Police does hold a bit of a pull on the heart strings – the Mickey Mouse P6 V8 3500 in dark blue is an iconic police car as are the early SD1’s and Triumph 2000’s.

I do like the black front over-riders that have been added to the model which gives it a real sense of presence. Likewise the detailing is of good standard, with those RR alloys well re-created and the blacked out rear windows show a sign of force and mystery – are there some from CO19 in the back?

There are some niggling grips which do compromise the model somewhat. The decaling on the front left wing has not been tampo-ed on properly meaning that there is some overhang and the left front tyre rubs on it. Secondly – and what pisses me off the most – is the complete lack of detail within the interior. I mean FFS, how difficult would it have been to add a little colour? Some 1-75 have more detail that what is on show here! Really poor.

I am glad that I got this one on a sale – there is no way on earth I would play full whack on this model with what I consider to be quite noticeable flaws. It will not make into the garage, BUT is now parked on the desk at worked as from afar it does display well. I did state that this was from the Vanguards dark era…….

Opel Collection - quick update

It has been a while since I have blogged about the Opel Collection that I have been collecting here in CH.

I am not really interested in the models from 1900 to 1959 - no real appeal. But over the last 3 months the following models have been added to the garage:

* 1972 OPEL COMMODORE B GS/E
* 1997 OPEL CALIBRA V6
* 1966 - 1970 OPEL KADETT B RALLY COUPE
* 1993 OPEL CORSA B SWING OPEN
* 1992 OPEL VECTRA 'A' GLS

The collection website has not been updated with the next wave of models, but in about 4 weeks time, I will be very pleased to see a Opel Monza GS/E be part of this collection.

I have photographed all of these, I just have been very slack in blogging about them - so apologies.

I hope to have some time over Chrimbo to really get up to date on writing about these models.

Hot Wheels 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport

2011 Premiere

The first time I saw this car was on in the film Gran Torino, and then in Fast and Furious 4. Previously, the only other Gran Torino that I knew of was teh one from Starsky and Hutch.

I like to ensure that I get to know some of the US cars from the 1960s and 1970s just as I do about the European, Japanese and Australian models of the same era. It is a shame that there seem to be a lot of collectors (esp. on the MCCH) who seem to think the world revolves around the US&A and that is all that matters.....(off the soap box).

I am sure I have this one in green, BUT I do think that this is a good casting and captures the essence of the model.

£415k for an E-type replica?

I know that things are expensive here in CH - but those mental Swiss have backed this car based on the E-Type - and it is made in Coventry.

Is it really worth £415k??? I am sure that I would be happy with a DBS, M5 and still have change for the odd Abarth 500.....

From today's Metro >>

Review: Vanguards releases from June to Dec 2012

Well, I have to say that yet again, Corgi have produced mixed bag for the rest fo the releases for the Vanguards range for the rest of the year. I won’t go through all of them that have been released, but the main ones that I believe are significant.

I think that the main ones that stand out are the two Vauxhalls – the MkII Astra and the MkIII Cavalier. These are both castings I will look to get, but I am disappointed that Corgi have chosen not to re-produce the MkI Cavalier –which I think is a far more worthy inclusion into the range.

The same could be said about why Corgi have still not re-produced the Chevette. As much as I don’t really mind the Astra MkII, I really do think that the Chevette would be a massive seller – and the tooling could be adapted for the 4-door and van versions as well. Let us not forget the rally and police versions. A missed opportunity here I think.

The Audi Quattro is getting a good outing, and now trending as with most of the non-UK built cars, the release is being made in RHD and LHD. I still have not seen the original blue casting, but I am interested in the wheels depicted on the model to see how accurate they are. I still am on the lookout for a MkI Quattro from 1981 in LHD – I know Minichamps do one, but this is premo money we are talking about.



I also think that the MGB collection will appeal to the MG enthusiast or possible scalper/delaer, but I would only want the latter MGB. However, if the price dropped from £38.99 to something more in the £20 range within the sales, I would snap it up, but this set is not an essential purchase for me.

 

The Ford Cortina Mk3 1.6 GXL in Flame Red appears to please the collector with the revised wheels added to the model. The original Cortina’s in MkIII guise were flawed due to this. From the picture, we can see that the pre-pro is giving it a good stab – I await the final product.

I do like the 2.3L Granada – good to see the base version, so this will be an addition for sure. The same applies to the RS Mexico in Escort MkII guise – this looks – from the pre-pro – looks a far better version than the standard base version, where the wheels were nothing but shocking.


Yet again, Corgi have gone for the unlicensed casting in terms of another model from the Sweeney – this time it is related to Sweeney 2. PNIO546R is the 2.0 S MkIV Cortina that is used as a getaway car and quite superbly ploughs through a shop window to get away from the Rozzers.
The video below shows how the car was used, and there is additional footage of a MkI Consul getting toasted.Depending in the wheels that this one is re-created in, I think that this one may well make it into the Garage.    







The 2x 205’s that will be released are in famous colours – the GTi in Peugoet’s famous Miami Blue and the dark green of the Roland Garros edition. I don’t think that I will get either of these, but I can imagine how these will appeal as they were quite a regular site on British roads in the 1990s.Overall, this is an average batch release by Corgi/ Hornby.

There is nothing outstanding about the releases at all – some fair variations on the base casting that has been initially released.

I am gutted that the Vauxhalls are still a little too modern and that the 70s still hold many a car that should – and must – be recreated. Think Victor, Viceroy, Firenza, Cavalier, Chevette, Viva MkII.....and then we have the Opel contingent as well – but the Opel Sammlung collection over here in CH serves me well