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Bert Finds the Matchbox; A Nostalgia Trip
Topic Started: Oct 22 2015, 10:00 PM (23,068 Views)
guy64
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The 1990s BMW 850i has been issued many ways, from Premier Editions to plain old $1 regulars...

Posted Image

Although this plain old $1 regular isn't exactly what we'd call "plain". Not with that glowing interior. In fact, from the wheels to the... uh, "whimsical" tampoes and color choices, this one has all the earmarks of a Tyco era Matchbox. But...

It still has its opening doors! :bangles: Officer! You can get into the thing! :woot:

"Yeah, well, maybe I just will get in there and check it out. Quickly, tho. No need for the keys, kid. With that interior color I don't think I could stand to be in there for more than a couple minutes."

Officer, I'll set a timer so you don't get a sunburn in there.

"Y'know kid, maybe I won't actually get into it. I'll just stick my head in the window for a second or two..."
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Attachments: 8358MBBMW850i_62c.jpg (33.48 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 04:43 PM.
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guy64
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Another excellent Matchbox model...

Posted Image

... spoiled by excess bigness. :fiddle:

At 1/57, this BMW Z3 is outside our scale window. It was acquired because... because... well, I don't remember why because. Might've been something to do with lack of availability of a Z3 in the 1/64 ballpark at the time. (I do seem to remember finding a smaller HW Z3 shortly after bringing this MB home.) Or, maybe I got it as a wheel donor? Nah, it's too good a model for that. It's just a mystery buried deep in our "collecting" past.

One significant fact--for Mattel, anyway--is no mystery: Had this casting been done in 1/64 scale instead of 1/57, this example would not be the only Matchbox Z3 in our collection. As it is, I've left every other version of it I've encountered warming its peg.

"You don't think they actually care, do you, kid?"

Please, Officer, leave me to my fantasies. :02:

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Attachments: 8360MBBMWZ3_57c.jpg (33.81 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 04:45 PM.
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guy64
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MB does MB really goooooood...

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... really really goooood!

Only thing keeping this Mercedes rendering from being "really really REALLY gooooood" is its scale: 1/65. If it was 1/64? Not sure I could even stop with the "reallys". But 1/65 isn't very far off, and if Matchbox's scale "ambiguities" are taken into account, the difference could well be insignificant. The generic Y-spokes fit right in, and Matchbox chose some realistically cool colors for it too, like this dark burnt red with the light leather interior. Tampo-tech was put to optimum use as well; no cluttered, goofy side splotches, just head/tail lights and a grill. Perfect!

And what a choice of subject! The Benz CLS is such a cool looking car. Aero-tweaked, certainly, yet they still kept it from the "beer can" look of so many aerodynamically optimized cars. On the other hand, it doesn't even suggest the "clown shoe" look of some other front-engine cars.

"I think it's called 'well-balanced', kid. Uh, ya got one in blue?"

Stick around Officer, stick around.
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Attachments: 8511MBMercedesCLS_65c.jpg (35.41 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 06:07 PM.
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guy64
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One from my childhood...

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...although this one isn't the one from my child hood. This one was found at a train meet in this condition, and the irony is I paid 50 cents for it, just like I did for my childhood copy brand new. (I also had to pay 3 cents in sales tax way back then.) In those days I had the impression that all tracked snow vehicles were as big as full-sized trucks, or even tanks. I assumed that the Matchbox Snow Trac was scaled like their other large trucks, which would have made it H0 scale or thereabouts. Imagine my surprise a couple years ago when I found out the Snow trac is about the size of an average car. In fact, I think the MB model scales out at about 1/57. (Hafta check that.) Anyway, the real one isn't the huge lumbering beast that I always thought it was. Looks quite accessible next to Bert.

This one's gonna need some love. I don't think I'll put repro rubber tracks on it, rubber tracks tend to rot within a couple years in SoCal. Probably make my own tracks from styrene or ABS. No, it won't "roll" (the originals didn't roll very easily) but it will look good! Now, if I can just decide what color to paint it...

"Kid, if this thing has damaged my parking lot, you're gonna need a real Snow Trac 'cuz you'll be hiding somewhere north of Fairbanks."
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Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 08:13 PM.
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guy64
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This could have been a really cool model of a really cool concept...

Posted Image

... if it had been done 1/64.

At 1/58, MB's Jeep Hurricane is just ok. The olive drab color makes it a good military load for a military train, which is why we got one (I guess). But as a concept car, it would have been really nice to have it in 1/64 to make comparisons with other 1/64 stuff.

"Kid, if you want to do comparisons just park it in a lot full of those 1/58 VW Bugs your wife has."

Ok Officer, but what do I compare those to?

"Mmm well, compare them to me, and imagine I'm only 5'9" instead of 6'4".

Too much "imagining" going on there, Officer.
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Attachments: 8513MBJpHurricane_58c.jpg (33.67 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 06:11 PM.
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juantoo3
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Always a fun read, keep up the great work!

You too, officer!
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guy64
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Glad all this is being enjoyed! Many thanks for the encouragement juantoo3!

"Kid, get me juantoo3's email addy. I need to warn him about egging you on."

Oh come on, Officer. What else have I got? :toy:
Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 06:12 PM.
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guy64
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An exercise in diecast frustration...

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... for the owner, that is.

This is one of those cars that some of us beg for: a Benz station wagon. Not only a Benz wagon, but in a nice, elegant Benzy color (black) with a nice Benzy interior color (dark gray). Good glass color, too. Tampo budget used to maximum advantage: no wacky stuff, just head/tail lights and whatever else is needed on the ends to make it look real. Sounds like perfection, dunnit?

But then they blew it. Matchbox just blew it to smithereens.

"No need to tell me, kid. I know what it is; the scale."

Nope, 1/62 isn't that bad Officer. (Though 1/64 would have been better.)

"So what's the problem then, kid?"

Officer, if you can't spot it by now, you haven't been paying attention.

"Well wha..? Oh, I get it. Round things."

UGLY round things, Officer. Ugly, hideous, grotesque, disgusting, NEVERSHOULDHAVESEENTHELIGHTOFDAY ROUND THINGS!!!

On a BENZ!

"So why'd ya buy it, kid?"

It's the only example of this casting I've ever come across, Officer. The only one. (Sniff) :fiddle:
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Attachments: 8547MBMercBnzE430_62c.jpg (35 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 06:15 PM.
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Harvestman
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Captain Slow
I could be wrong, but I seem to recall seeing a variation with the vastly superior lace wheels from the same era...
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guy64
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Harvestman
Mar 17 2016, 12:10 AM
I could be wrong, but I seem to recall seeing a variation with the vastly superior lace wheels from the same era...
I've seen that one too, but only in pictures! :fiddle:

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guy64
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Harumph. [staightens chair, sits up, stretches fingers, hunkers down...]

So how about a dirt-colored car...

Posted Image

...?

Ok, not a car, a SUV. And not so much dirt-colored, just kind of dusty, with some desert camo so it's not too boring? 'K, there ya go. :petkitty:

"Well kid, the glass and interior are good colors, the wheels are appropriate, not flower wheels so..."

You're right Officer. Given the previous entry, we should be popping corks over this one, even if it is 1/68.
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Attachments: 8550MBFrdExplorer_68c.jpg (38.07 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 06:18 PM.
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dirt 88
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Compact
guy64
Mar 17 2016, 07:27 PM
Harumph. [staightens chair, sits up, stretches fingers, hunkers down...]

So how about a dirt-colored car...

Posted Image

...?

Ok, not a car, a SUV. And not so much dirt-colored, just kind of dusty, with some desert camo so it's not too boring? 'K, there ya go. :petkitty:

"Well kid, the glass and interior are good colors, the wheels are appropriate, not flower wheels so..."

You're right Officer. Given the previous entry, we should be popping corks over this one, even if it is 1/68.
the camo not to far-fetched where I like but more likely to be hunting camo on the trucks and suvs.
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guy64
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A new wave of realism...

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... working its way up to 1/64 scale.

Not quite there at 1/67, but years ago this Dodge Charger was a sign of things to come. Realistic things. Things at or very close to 1/64. The "Hero City" debacle was behind them, tampo technology was being used to the best effect, and Matchbox had returned to doing models of real vehicles just like they did in 1953! Only bigger!

Hard to believe that was ten years ago. Or more. :blink:

"Kid, yer giving me that 'old' feeling again."

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Attachments: 8551MBCharger_67c.jpg (36.48 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 06:20 PM.
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b2young
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Sad firefighter
dirt 88
Mar 17 2016, 07:40 PM
guy64
Mar 17 2016, 07:27 PM
Harumph. [staightens chair, sits up, stretches fingers, hunkers down...]

So how about a dirt-colored car...

Posted Image

...?

Ok, not a car, a SUV. And not so much dirt-colored, just kind of dusty, with some desert camo so it's not too boring? 'K, there ya go. :petkitty:

"Well kid, the glass and interior are good colors, the wheels are appropriate, not flower wheels so..."

You're right Officer. Given the previous entry, we should be popping corks over this one, even if it is 1/68.
the camo not to far-fetched where I like but more likely to be hunting camo on the trucks and suvs.
I dunno, looks like a cross between a Holstein and Norwegian Red (cow) to me.....
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guy64
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b2young
Mar 18 2016, 06:40 PM
I dunno, looks like a cross between a Holstein and Norwegian Red (cow) to me.....
Hmm. You know, if they'd used white instead of tan for the base color...
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juantoo3
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

guy64
Mar 18 2016, 06:33 PM
A new wave of realism...

Posted Image

... working its way up to 1/64 scale.

Not quite there at 1/67, but years ago this Dodge Charger was a sign of things to come. Realistic things. Things at or very close to 1/64. The "Hero City" debacle was behind them, tampo technology was being used to the best effect, and Matchbox had returned to doing models of real vehicles just like they did in 1953! Only bigger!

Hard to believe that was ten years ago. Or more. :blink:

"Kid, yer giving me that 'old' feeling again."

Now see...that is one that would properly deserve Law Enforcement colors and add-ons. Just make sure it has a Hemi...
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guy64
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One of Matchbox's more useful generics...

Posted Image

At least I think the Tractor Plow is generic. Isn't it? Yeah, it is. As such, it's tough to resolve the scale issue. Judging by the cab, I suppose a 1/64 person could get into it, but it would be tight.

This is the 2006 FE. I like the shade of yellow MB used on it, but I do wish I'd waited to find the one with yellow tamped wheels. It's "purty-er"! Plastic is used extensively, but not unprototypically. The fenders and some body parts would probably be plastic on a real one. The base is metal, as is the blade which is one piece with it.

The name "Tractor Plow" is sort of interesting. If I were to guess the name of the thing, I'd have said "snow plow". It has "Ice Plow" tamped over the door, but I suppose it could plow anything "plowable"; dirt, junk, garbage, refuse, cow manure, horse dung...

"Ok, that's far enough kid. I don't like where you're takin' this."

Well Officer, there was a 2008 "farm" version of this casting. What do you suppose it was used for?

"Kid, I'm a city boy. I don't even wanna think about what those farm boys scoop up with it."

No worries, Officer. We just use it for clearing snow from the roads up at Tinplate Corners.
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Edited by guy64, Jan 27 2018, 07:16 PM.
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b2young
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Sad firefighter
guy64
Mar 18 2016, 09:20 PM
b2young
Mar 18 2016, 06:40 PM
I dunno, looks like a cross between a Holstein and Norwegian Red (cow) to me.....
Hmm. You know, if they'd used white instead of tan for the base color...
I didn't even notice there was tan in between the brown and black......guess the white of the roof overpowered my old eyes. Or else this new monitor I just had to buy today because this morning my old one gave up the ghost, is just so much better....
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guy64
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One of the few MBs we have with full disc wheels...

Posted Image

To us it didn't seem as though this style of wheel was available for very long. I always thought their simple form was intended to be a nostalgic throwback to the disc wheels that came along shortly before the first Superfast era, which were seen on the #8 Mustang 0f 1966, the #14 Iso Grifo of 1968 and the #24 Silver Shadow of 1967.

Or not. Whatever the intention, we didn't see them for very long. Their elegant simplicity has been missed.

"Yeah. Some people always gotta make things complicated."
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Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 06:25 PM.
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guy64
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We were very glad to find this at a local train meet...

Posted Image

It wasn't at all likely that such a thing would be found, given that we found it some 20+ years after it was made.

And the paint is still good! :woot: The kid who once owned it must have played with it like I used to play with my Matchbox cars: Veeeerrrrryy carefully! :toy:

The Dodge Caravan is just the sort of vehicle you need on a train layout; something that's seen every day and is likely to be carrying a few people who may just happen to be going to or from a train station. And the opening door (on the right side) makes it even more posable with people and baggage and stuff.

"Well kid, since it's 1/60 scale, you'll have to 'pose' it in the foreground."

Yes, I would have preferred it to be 1/64 scale, Officer. But you know how it is. :rolleyes:
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Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 06:27 PM.
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microbuss
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man I want one of them Caravans!
Also need a copy of Bert too hehe
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guy64
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A long way from Toody and Muldoon's Plymouth Savoy...

Posted Image

... but this Dodge Magnum Car 54 is still a Mopar.

"But... but... the Savoy had fins. Where are the fins?"

Gone with the early '60s, Officer. They gave you a ram's head on each front door to compensate.

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Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 06:29 PM.
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guy64
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Some better wheels on the Jeep Liberty this time out...

Posted Image

A smidge big at 1/62, but this casting has grown on me. The olive green paint gives this edition a quasi-military look, and the tinted glass and black interior are just right. Dunno what the signage on the door is supposed to be; probably someone else here knows what it means.

Then there's the mud, which covers the wheels completely but somehow avoided the tires altogether. How'd the driver do that? (The guy with the tan/camo Explorer did the same thing.)

"I don't care, kid. I just wanna know why this thing wasn't hosed down before showing up here."

Sorry, Officer. The driver didn't check his email, apparently.
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Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 06:31 PM.
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Hobie-wan
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Looks like it might be the top of a totem pole to me.
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guy64
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Hobie-wan
Mar 25 2016, 11:30 AM
Looks like it might be the top of a totem pole to me.
Sounds good, Hobie. Let's go with "totem pole top".

If anybody asks.
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