Updating generic matchbox etc vehicles.

[Enterprisingwestern]

Apologies if this question has been answered, but I couldn't easily find a reference to it.

Those of you who upgrade the above, where do you get your wheels especially, and other bits and bobs such as flush glazing from?

I've got a few Matchbox vehicles, cars, vans and trucks, which I am having a go at, but the main visual issue is the (undersized?) wheels with their crimped axle ends which I would like to improve.

Is there a supplier I'm unaware of?

 

Mike.

[33C]

Google "Steve Flowers" model spares. He has an extensive range of wheels, tyres, glazing and transfers etc ( for a lot of diecast manufacturers ) to restore to as new condition. BTS Mouldings may be worth a look...

[PhilJ W]

At toy fairs you can find model cars from the likes of Cararama for a pound or two. They are quite often 'played with' and a bit battered but a good source of things such as wheels. 

[Les Bird]

I'll second that, Cararama wheels are very useful. Some of them represent modern alloys which may not be suitable but those from the Porsche and VW Beetle are quite generic and useful for a number of older vehicles. As for glazing, for those models which came without glazing, Deluxe Materials Glue-n-Glaze is ideal.

[Sitham Yard]

3 hours ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

Apologies if this question has been answered, but I couldn't easily find a reference to it.

Those of you who upgrade the above, where do you get your wheels especially, and other bits and bobs such as flush glazing from?

I've got a few Matchbox vehicles, cars, vans and trucks, which I am having a go at, but the main visual issue is the (undersized?) wheels with their crimped axle ends which I would like to improve.

Is there a supplier I'm unaware of?

 

Mike.

If you are looking at 1.76 models try either Langley Models or Road Transport Images. You may find something suitable.

Andrew

 

[fodenway]

For curved windscreens, look at sections of the clear blister packs that lots of items come in - tubes of glue blister packed on a card are very useful, their tapering shape often giving just the right profile. Fix them in place with Glue-n-glaze or similar. Clear plastic bottles can also provide useful sections, particularly in larger scales.

[ianLMS]

If you are feeling really brave, for the flat windows, try trimming microscope cover slides using a diamond or carbide scribe and diamond files, attaching them using glue n glaze. Warning!!! A massive amount of patience is required as it is very fiddly and time consuming but results can be worth the effort! Fix from the outside so they are fairly flush.

 

Curved windows though would be a challenge with real glass, if not impossible!!!

 

Attached pic is a bus i built but the model is basically the same as what Corgi and Matchbox would put out in diecast. Micrscope slides were used for the glass.

 

Ian

[PhilJ W]

For really small flat glass windows cover the window aperture with a post-it note (the sticky bit) then rub it with a soft pencil to transfer a replica of the aperture onto the post-it. This makes a template that can be applied to the glazing material to be cut out.

Edited July 5, 2022 by PhilJ W

[PhilJ W]

The Matchbox J2 pickup is close to or actually 1/76 scale. Compared with the Oxford J2 van the front end is identical so it might be possible to use the glazing and windscreen from the Oxford model.

[Fat Controller]

On 29/06/2022 at 23:03, fodenway said:

For curved windscreens, look at sections of the clear blister packs that lots of items come in - tubes of glue blister packed on a card are very useful, their tapering shape often giving just the right profile. Fix them in place with Glue-n-glaze or similar. Clear plastic bottles can also provide useful sections, particularly in larger scales.

The large boxes of Ferrero Rocher are particularly useful...

[w124bob]

One to look out for if you want a small crane is the Iron Fairy crane, here's one from the Keir Hardy EM layouts page. Someone has taken the time to add the cage, mirrors and light guards, plenty of "no box" buys on Ebay for less than a tenner.

 

 

[ianmacc]

On 16/09/2022 at 13:30, w124bob said:

One to look out for if you want a small crane is the Iron Fairy crane, here's one from the Keir Hardy EM layouts page. Someone has taken the time to add the cage, mirrors and light guards, plenty of "no box" buys on Ebay for less than a tenner.

 

 

It’s a good model and I’ve had a few over the years.

 

Now we’re spoiled by the Oxford etc ranges it’s a dying art to source and improve toys and other sources. 

[ianmacc]

This thread I set up ages back may be a worthwhile resurrection - this thread reminded me of it!

 

[Enterprisingwestern]

On 16/09/2022 at 14:30, w124bob said:

One to look out for if you want a small crane is the Iron Fairy crane, here's one from the Keir Hardy EM layouts page. Someone has taken the time to add the cage, mirrors and light guards, plenty of "no box" buys on Ebay for less than a tenner.

 

 

 

After seeing Hywels model, I took dozens of pictures of the one at Butterley, but that was a few computers ago, and they could be anywhere!

 

Mike.

[Fat Controller]

23 minutes ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

After seeing Hywels model, I took dozens of pictures of the one at Butterley, but that was a few computers ago, and they could be anywhere!

 

Mike.

There's a few on here (don't be put off by the title of the site):-

https://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p951889462