Minix (and other) car improvements

[BernardTPM]

It's around 1:130 scale, so could be OK for 1:120 layout if used towards the back.

 

Found the model. It's 81mm long. AEC Reliances at that time were 36 foot long (max.) so that scales out at about 1:135.5

Edited December 24, 2022 by BernardTPM

[PhilJ W]

1 hour ago, ianmacc said:

I’m surprised they didn’t make it in 1/87. I understand the uniformity of scale but they made the Strachan bus to around TT scale so they had form. 

Another anomaly was the EKO Jeep Wagoner station wagon. All EKO models were nominally 1/87 scale but this was 1/76 or very close to it. 

[ianmacc]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

Another anomaly was the EKO Jeep Wagoner station wagon. All EKO models were nominally 1/87 scale but this was 1/76 or very close to it. 

The irony being they offered loads of iconic British cars of the era in 1/86!

[fodenway]

3 hours ago, ianmacc said:

The irony being they offered loads of iconic British cars of the era in 1/86!

The Jeep was indeed 1/76, here is one with a new bumper, wheels, interior and paintjob along with one which was converted to the pickup, and the Series 1 LandRover that received the discarded rear body to make a Tickford Stationwagon.

[fodenway]

More 'unintentional' 1/76 scale vehicles: the plastic 1957 Ford Thunderbird has no identifying marks, but was found at a car boot sale for 20p and subjected to the detailing treatment. The wheels are from an Oxford Diecast E Type, not quite the look I was after, but they will do until I can find or make something better. The silver Triumph sportscar has been marketed by several firms, including Marx and Tootsietoy, and aren't too difficult to find. Measurement confirms the scale at exactly 1/76, and the proportions are very good too. With a little work (and some new wheels!) they can become very attractive little models. These have been made into TR3 (red) and TR3A (yellow) versions.

[fodenway]

Another candidate is the Chevrolet 3100 pickup truck, sold in various colours in gift shops as a pull-back toy, also seen as a keyring.  The first photo shows the original in blue, and after conversion to the upmarket deluxe version - the Cameo Carrier. The second shot shows the Cameo Carrier with a re-wheeled 3100 with a scratchbuilt demount camper shell.

[fodenway]

Another American in 1/76 - The 1956 Ford F100 pickup by 'Boley', marketed as "HO", but actually 1/76. The blue one has had a slight reduction in the length of the bonnet, new wheels (ex-Cararama Chevy)  and an interior. The canvas back comes straight from the Oxford Land Rover. The tanker has the bonnet length untouched, but the wings have been widened and the wheelarches enlarged. Wheels are from RTI, and a heavier bumper has been fitted. The tank body came from a supposedly HO diecast 1941 Chevy truck, but measures up at 7'6" wide in 1/76, so it's perfect for the heavier F500 version depicted here.

[PhilJ W]

8 hours ago, fodenway said:

More 'unintentional' 1/76 scale vehicles: the plastic 1957 Ford Thunderbird has no identifying marks, but was found at a car boot sale for 20p and subjected to the detailing treatment. The wheels are from an Oxford Diecast E Type, not quite the look I was after, but they will do until I can find or make something better. The silver Triumph sportscar has been marketed by several firms, including Marx and Tootsietoy, and aren't too difficult to find. Measurement confirms the scale at exactly 1/76, and the proportions are very good too. With a little work (and some new wheels!) they can become very attractive little models. These have been made into TR3 (red) and TR3A (yellow) versions.

 

 

The Thunderbird is a 'snap together' toy issued c. 1968 offered free with a breakfast cereal. IIRC there were four models in the range, the Thunderbird, Mk.I Escort, Mk.I Capri and a mid engined sports car. All were based on Fords and were to 1/76 scale. 

[fodenway]

25 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

The Thunderbird is a 'snap together' toy issued c. 1968 offered free with a breakfast cereal. IIRC there were four models in the range, the Thunderbird, Mk.I Escort, Mk.I Capri and a mid engined sports car. All were based on Fords and were to 1/76 scale. 

I suspected that it had been a cereal giveaway, but I didn't think it was from the same group as the others you mentioned. This one is moulded in quite hard plastic, in three colours - red body, white base and black wheels. I had the Escort, which was moulded in a single colour polythene-type soft plastic (an orangey-red) with the body in two parts, with the division horizontally along the waist line. The windows were open, and there was an interior - I think the grille and bumpers were separate parts. It had inscriptions on the roof and bonnet relating to rallying (it was the big-arched version). I still have the wheels. If it's the same one, the scale was definitely bigger, possibly around 1/70 from memory. The mid-engined car may have been the Ford GT-40.

[PhilJ W]

48 minutes ago, fodenway said:

I suspected that it had been a cereal giveaway, but I didn't think it was from the same group as the others you mentioned. This one is moulded in quite hard plastic, in three colours - red body, white base and black wheels. I had the Escort, which was moulded in a single colour polythene-type soft plastic (an orangey-red) with the body in two parts, with the division horizontally along the waist line. The windows were open, and there was an interior - I think the grille and bumpers were separate parts. It had inscriptions on the roof and bonnet relating to rallying (it was the big-arched version). I still have the wheels. If it's the same one, the scale was definitely bigger, possibly around 1/70 from memory. The mid-engined car may have been the Ford GT-40.

It wasn't the GT-40. I may have one of the mid engined cars somewhere and the body had smoother edges, it may have been a production version of the GT40. I also had the Escort in dark green but that disappeared many years ago.

[BernardTPM]

12 hours ago, fodenway said:

More 'unintentional' 1/76 scale vehicles: The silver Triumph sportscar has been marketed by several firms, including Marx and Tootsietoy, and aren't too difficult to find. Measurement confirms the scale at exactly 1/76, and the proportions are very good too. With a little work (and some new wheels!) they can become very attractive little models.

I had one of those, sadly lost in my 2013 move. Yes, the wheels were rubbish!

[BernardTPM]

2 hours ago, fodenway said:

The mid-engined car may have been the Ford GT-40.

 

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

It wasn't the GT-40. I may have one of the mid engined cars somewhere and the body had smoother edges, it may have been a production version of the GT40.

I'm pretty sure it was the GT70.

[PhilJ W]

The Japanese company Tomica has some pretty good models in their range. For larger American cars they used a scale of 1/77 such as this. 

 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165841838962

Also in the range was a Lincoln Continental, Cadillac including an ambulance version. There is also a Chevrolet van and a Rolls Royce Phantom V in 1/78 scale. The Rolls Royce was officially imported into the UK at one time. All the models date from the late 70's.

 

 

 

Edited December 26, 2022 by PhilJ W

[fodenway]

The Tomicas are quite hard to find, especially at a reasonable price. Has anyone who has any checked the dimensions to see whether they  actually are the scale they're said to be?

[PhilJ W]

I have several Tomica's obtained on a trip to the USA in 1979 including the Chevy pick-up and van and the Lincoln and Cadillac. Tomica always puts the scale on the box and if it says 1/77 then thats the scale it is.

[ianmacc]

On 26/12/2022 at 00:08, BernardTPM said:

 

I'm pretty sure it was the GT70.

You’re probably right Bernard as I Googled this set of cars and found an archive eBay listing for the full set (sadly no pictures) and that says GT70. 
 

it only sold for 9.50 or so too grrr 😊

[ianmacc]

21 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

I have several Tomica's obtained on a trip to the USA in 1979 including the Chevy pick-up and van and the Lincoln and Cadillac. Tomica always puts the scale on the box and if it says 1/77 then thats the scale it is.

One of my regular eBay searches is 1/75 scale 1/77 scale etc as it turns up interesting oddball sources of 00 scale-compatible stuff and these Tomica offerings turn up from time to time 

 

Edit. Wow! They are all seriously expensive!! 

Edited December 27, 2022 by ianmacc
Searched and found prices

[Pylon King]

On 12/12/2022 at 18:48, ianmacc said:

Fifty or sixty years ago we had a lot more scenic accessory availability than is really realised. It looks like a Triang Hornby catalogue of the time! 
 

I also liked the Lego 1/86 accessory range too which was a similarly comprehensive system. 
 

I think you just wanted somewhere to show your Crestas! 
 

It was possible to recreate proper paving as I think the super quick range was out then too! 

Not too sure on paving choices available back then ,  Triang/Hornby catalogues at the time used their own range of scatter materials which were a little basic but certainly added a unique character/charm to those scenes . The ballast grey they used was an unusual colour , appeared to resembled crushed biscuits . I managed to take a few more ‘Triang Town’ photos over the Christmas period .

 

 

 

 

Edited October 25, 2023 by Pylon King

[Pylon King]

A few more from  .

 

 

 

Edited October 25, 2023 by Pylon King
Photo update

[fodenway]

On 24/12/2022 at 13:48, Invicta said:

 

Indeed - I can remember a near-neighbour having a 60's Rambler estate when I was a kid in the early 70's - they were in the market garden/garden centre business, so the amount of boot space in a big US estate car probably outweighed the fuel mileage etc.

 

On 24/12/2022 at 13:48, Invicta said:

 

Indeed - I can remember a near-neighbour having a 60's Rambler estate when I was a kid in the early 70's - they were in the market garden/garden centre business, so the amount of boot space in a big US estate car probably outweighed the fuel mileage etc.

Although they were larger than the average British car of the period, they were classed as "compact" in America, around two feet shorter than a full-size Impala or Galaxie. My Rambler Classic sedan had the 3.2 litre six-cylinder engine and 3-speed auto, and could easily return around 27-28mpg overall when driven 'sensibly', matching or bettering contemporary Cresta or Zephyr figures.

Edited January 7, 2023 by fodenway

[Pylon King]

On 12/12/2022 at 13:18, fodenway said:

Some rarities there - the Cresta estate (I have two in white), the ladder trailer and the Thames van in yellow, neither of which I can recall seeing before. Congratulations !

The ladder trailer only made a very brief appearance in the 1972 Triang Hornby catalogue, blink and you’d miss it . As far as I’m aware the white base trailers (caravan, ladder and boat ) were exported to the US .

 

Edited January 7, 2023 by Pylon King

[BernardTPM]

The ladder trailer was featured in one of the Playpacks sets. These included Model Land figures and a few other items, like the tent. I did have some of these packs bought from Woolworths back in the day.

The trailers (car ramp, ladders and boat) used the caravan chassis.

 

The yellow petrol pumps in front of the Airfix garage came from one of the packs. I had others but can't find them in pictures.

[PhilJ W]

I have a set of petrol pumps similar to the Matchbox accessory pack. It has Shell globes and is made of plastic and roughly 00 scale. At first I thought it was a cheap Hong Kong knock off of the Matchbox model but I have been told that its either a Minix model or Minic Motorways. At some time someone has (rather badly) painted it.

[BernardTPM]

The Minic Motorways Shell garage had a set of pumps with oil cabinet and shade. The Shell garage was based on what they were putting up in the early 1960s.

Edited January 7, 2023 by BernardTPM

[PhilJ W]

1 minute ago, BernardTPM said:

The Minic Motorways Shell garage had a set of pumps with oil cabinet and shade.

Thanks but that is not the one, mine has no oil cabinet and a moulded in attendant, just like the Matchbox model.