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Bert Finds the Matchbox; A Nostalgia Trip
Topic Started: Oct 22 2015, 10:00 PM (23,075 Views)
revwheels
Compact
guy64
Nov 4 2015, 11:17 PM
At 1/61, it's just a leeeeetle too big...

Posted Image

... but this BMW 5 Series sure is pretty, anyway. And since the front doors open Bert could get inside and see if his feet can reach the pedals! Bet they could, even if it is a tad oversize.

Well, Officer?

"You know kid, for some reason, my knees are kinda stiff today."

Perhaps you should manufacture an articulated Bert to do the trick.
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guy64
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No tampo problems here...

Posted Image

... if just a bit oversize (1/61). But the red interior goes well with the white body.

"Kinda cloudy today, kid. Time to put up the top, maybe?"
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Attachments: 5353MB_69_Camaro_61.jpg (63.16 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 8 2017, 10:25 PM.
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Hobie-wan
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SUV
guy64
Nov 12 2015, 10:19 PM
... Crazy Tampo Syndrome. Too bad for this Chevy Tahoe. The very nice dark metallic red paint is mostly covered by an unsightly splash of white, with yellow edges added. Can't imagine what they were thinking.

It was the 90s. :P
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guy64
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A favorite rendering of a favorite car...

Posted Image

A bit big at 1/62, but we still gotta love MB's take on the '71 Camaro Z-28.

I remember the first time I sat in a '70 Camaro. It was at an auto show. The car was yellow, black interior. My legs were stretched out, it seemed like that bucket seat surrounded me. (I was used to bench seats.) It wasn't quite a Corvette, but... MAN!

"Easy, kid, easy..."
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Attachments: 5417MB70Camaro_62jpg.jpg (67.01 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 8 2017, 10:27 PM.
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Stampede
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Team Canada
Thanks for putting this up, guy64 (and Bert), as I've enjoyed every single post and model so far.

Keep them coming-great work. :thumbup:
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carcollector
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Thank's for the show, makes pleasure looking at those pics! :thumbup:
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guy64
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Part of a wave of rampant realism...

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... as a result of the firm application of a policy:

Hot Wheels = Power, Speed

Matchbox = Realism, Play Value

Matchbox demonstrated their half of that policy with this Mercedes-Benz E Class. Very well proportioned (though the scale is small at 1/69). The body color is seen all over the place even today. The over-sized "E CLASS" tampo is a bit much, but can be removed without disturbing the good tampoes. And who needs a grill tampo when you've got a separate grill insert?

"It makes me feel like I could drive it. Almost. If people would trust me with their keys." :fiddle:
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Attachments: 5429MBMercedesEClass_69.jpg (75.93 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 9 2017, 02:16 AM.
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guy64
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The other end of the reality spectrum...

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... tampo-wise, anyway.

This Isuzu Rodeo was acquired as an "every-day" vehicle for a train layout. At 1/62, it's slightly big, but it's an SUV so that's not too noticeable.

What is noticeable are the pink splotches behind each wheel arch. From the pattern, we suspect they were originally designed to depict mud splatter. (Seems reasonable, right?) But in pink--bubble gum pink at that--the car comes out looking like... like...

"Like it drove through a big pile of melted Bazooka Joe's, that's what it looks like."

I suppose, if we tried really hard, we could imagine that's mud, huh?

"Kid, I do not want to be wherever the mud looks like that."
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Attachments: 5430MBIsuzuRodeo_62.jpg (75.18 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 10 2017, 05:03 PM.
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revwheels
Compact
guy64
Nov 17 2015, 09:16 PM
The other end of the reality spectrum...

Posted Image

... tampo-wise, anyway.

This Isuzu Rodeo was acquired as an "every-day" vehicle for a train layout. At 1/62, it's slightly big, but it's an SUV so that's not too noticeable.

What is noticeable are the pink splotches behind each wheel arch. From the pattern, we suspect they were originally designed to depict mud splatter. (Seems reasonable, right?) But in pink--bubble gum pink at that--the car comes out looking like... like...

"Like it drove through a big pile of melted Bazooka Joe's, that's what it looks like."

I suppose, if we tried really hard, we could imagine that's mud, huh?

"Kid, I do not want to be wherever the mud looks like that."
A Sharpie or Magic Marker and a steady hand could easily change those pinks to brown.
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guy64
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revwheels
Nov 18 2015, 03:29 PM
A Sharpie or Magic Marker and a steady hand could easily change those pinks to brown.
An interesting suggestion, revwheels, thanks.

But, given the pattern of those splotches, making them brown might make the car look like it was covered with something other than mud.

Something much worse than bubblegum. :blush:

No, if I go to the trouble of doing anything with those tampoes, it will be to remove them.
Edited by guy64, Nov 18 2015, 08:50 PM.
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guy64
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Not my favorite wheel style...

Posted Image

They just barely fit under the wheel arches! But, at 1/62 this Firebird stays with us.
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Attachments: 5432MBPontiacFirebird_62.jpg (65.18 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 10 2017, 05:04 PM.
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Hobie-wan
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SUV
guy64
Nov 17 2015, 09:16 PM
What is noticeable are the pink splotches behind each wheel arch.
Did Bert sleep through 90s pastel geometric splash and zigzag factory graphics on cars? If anything that fails for not being teal under the pink accents. :P
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guy64
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They may be a generic wheel design...

Posted Image

... but 8-dot wheels look almost like they were made for this SAAB 9000.

A great model of a car that wasn't seen all that much on the left coast.

"It was easy to miss them amongst all the Soobie-roos."

If only it was 1/64 instead of 1/60...

"Yeah, well, you know how I feel about that, kid."
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Attachments: 5433MBSaab9000_60.jpg (69.73 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 10 2017, 05:07 PM.
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guy64
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A favorite vehicle of mine...

Posted Image

... as Fords go. ;)

What can we say? Ford just got it right with the '56 F-100. Simple, even elegant lines (for a truck anyway).

At 1/65, MB did okay with it. (The 1st Hot Wheels rendering isn't nearly as good.) There are "issues", though. The edge of the grill opening is "sharper" than it should be, especially at the top. The opening itself seems slightly over-sized, and not quite the right shape. The bulge of the hood isn't blended into the rest of the hood very smoothly. The wheel arches have been enlarged, too, probably to clear MB's generic wheels. (Didn't MB make smaller versions of this wheel?)

Nevertheless, we have quite a few different versions of this truck, as Bert well knows. MB didn't tease us by holding back production with this casting. I've never had trouble finding the versions I wanted. Sadly, the later ones betray the deteriorating condition of the tooling. It would be great if MB tooled up a more accurate 1/64 scale rendering of this classic pick-up.

"Yeah. And be sure to leave the bed open again, MB."

Thank you, Officer.

"Hey! That's important, kid! You can't get a squashed-up Lincoln into a covered bed."
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Attachments: 5434MB56FordPU_65.jpg (68.73 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 10 2017, 05:10 PM.
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revwheels
Compact
guy64
Nov 20 2015, 09:06 PM
A favorite vehicle of mine...

Posted Image

... as Fords go. ;)

What can we say? Ford just got it right with the '56 F-100. Simple, even elegant lines (for a truck anyway).

At 1/65, MB did okay with it. (The 1st Hot Wheels rendering isn't nearly as good.) There are "issues", though. The edge of the grill opening is "sharper" than it should be, especially at the top. The opening itself seems slightly over-sized, and not quite the right shape. The bulge of the hood isn't blended into the rest of the hood very smoothly. The wheel arches have been enlarged, too, probably to clear MB's generic wheels. (Didn't MB make smaller versions of this wheel?)

Nevertheless, we have quite a few different versions of this truck, as Bert well knows. MB didn't tease us by holding back production with this casting. I've never had trouble finding the versions I wanted. Sadly, the later ones betray the deteriorating condition of the tooling. It would be great if MB tooled up a more accurate 1/64 scale rendering of this classic pick-up.

"Yeah. And be sure to leave the bed open again, MB."

Thank you, Officer.

"Hey, that's important! You can't get a squashed-up Lincoln into a covered bed."


Wrong truck. I believe that the crunched-up Lincoln was dumped into the bed of a red -- er, BLUE Ford Ranchero.

One of many vehicles in Goldfinger's fleet.
Edited by revwheels, Nov 20 2015, 09:44 PM.
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guy64
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revwheels
Nov 20 2015, 09:33 PM
Wrong truck. I believe that the crunched-up Lincoln was dumped into the bed of a red -- er, BLUE Ford Ranchero.

One of many vehicles in Goldfinger's fleet.
Yes, and it was a Ford Falcon Ranchero, at that!

I was making an extremely veiled reference to a series of posts in a Johnny Lightning thread from another--now defunct--site, which Bert and I were involved with years ago. The subjects were James Bond, JL's rendering of the 1964 Ranchero, and whether a 1964 Ranchero could actually carry a whole Lincoln limousine, squashed up or not. Bert was skeptical.

Just sorta wondering if anyone here remembers that. "Beating the bushes" so to speak.

Bert is also skeptical about a 1/2-ton F-100 doing any better with the same squashed-up Lincoln. I think he was being facetious. (He does that once in a while.)



Edited by guy64, Jul 10 2017, 05:12 PM.
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guy64
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Maybe I can get Bert to get serious with this...

Posted Image

... a '95 Camaro; 1/63 and all decked out for "police business". B)

"You know, son, I could conduct quite a high-speed chase in that... IF IT WASN'T FULL OF COOL BLUE GATORADE!!!"

Um, you know, that blue glass has me puzzled too. The light bar is a separate piece, so it wasn't like MB had to do that. :huh:
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Attachments: 5438MB95CamaroPoliceUnit_63.jpg (66.82 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 10 2017, 05:14 PM.
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Douglas
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SUV
guy64
Nov 21 2015, 04:50 PM
Maybe I can get Bert to get serious with this...

Posted Image

... a '95 Camaro; 1/63 and all decked out for "police business". B)

"You know, son, I could conduct quite a high-speed chase in that... IF IT WASN'T FULL OF COOL BLUE GATORADE!!!"

Um, you know, that blue glass has me puzzled too. The light bar is a separate piece, so it wasn't like MB had to do that. :huh:
For some reason I've never been against blue windows if they are not too dark, but Bert could look at the bright side, they might have easily done blue lights and red windows, even I wouldn't like that very much.

sorry Bert, I guess I should consider it might be hard to identify the details involved in your job if you're looking through any kind of color tinted windows all the time, not to mention traffic lights can get confusing. :D
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guy64
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Bert misses the 8-Dot era...

Posted Image

Probably because there were so many castings with opening doors, like this 1/61 300-E. Much easier to enter a vehicle in those days.

"It does beat trying to climb in through the windows NASCAR style."
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Attachments: 5440MB80sMercedes300E_61.jpg (67.09 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 10 2017, 05:16 PM.
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revwheels
Compact
guy64
Nov 21 2015, 02:51 AM
revwheels
Nov 20 2015, 09:33 PM
Wrong truck. I believe that the crunched-up Lincoln was dumped into the bed of a red -- er, BLUE Ford Ranchero.

One of many vehicles in Goldfinger's fleet.
Yes, and it was a Ford Falcon Ranchero, at that!

I was making an extremely veiled reference to a series of posts in a Johnny Lightning thread from another--now defunct--site, which Bert and I were involved with years ago. The subjects were JL's rendering of the 1964 Ranchero, James Bond, and whether a 1964 Ranchero could actually carry a whole Lincoln limousine, squashed up or not. Bert was skeptical.

Just sorta wondering if anyone here remembers that. "Beating the bushes" so to speak.

Bert is also skeptical about a 1/2-ton F-100 doing any better with the same squashed-up Lincoln. I think he was being facetious. (He does that once in a while.)



Bert is also skeptical about a 1/2-ton F-100 doing any better with the same squashed-up Lincoln. I think he was being facetious. (He does that once in a while.)

It's called "movie magic", my friend.
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cody6268
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Minivan
The Rodeo is a casting I don't know why I've not gotten yet. It's an awesome casting. The police department here actually used them or Troopers for police use. They've been replaced by Explorers in '05.

I found a Matchbox BMW with those wheels and opening doors, found at a flea market. I thought it was a SAAB when I saw it in the bin, and grabbed it last minute (in fact, I was paying at the time!). The SAAB and Mercedes look great. I think the 8-dot wheels fit both trucks and cars excellently.


Ford and Camaro both look great! I wonder why Matchbox didn't bring back the Camaro as a CHP car in Supreme Heroes?
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guy64
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Station Wagon
The casting is realistic enough, but...

Posted Image

... the interior of this Ford Probe is almost luminescent. The side tampo is kinda over-the-top as well. :blink:

Given the scale at 1/59, this is one of those MB cars that I wonder about. Wonder why I bought it, that is.

"Musta been on sale."
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Attachments: 5447MBFordProbe_59.jpg (63.25 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 10 2017, 05:19 PM.
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guy64
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I know exactly why I bought this car...

Posted Image

This particular MB rendering of the BMW 323i was acquired early in our diecast collecting life. At the time, we were interested in buying "props' for a slot car race layout. The scale of 1/58 didn't matter too much since the slot cars weren't necessarily that close to 1/64. What stood out to me was the interior; much more detailed than Hot Wheels. The "folded" top--a piece separate from the rest of the interior--is a nice touch, as is the realistic "leather" color of the seats.

But what really got my attention was the raised side windows. The top is down, but the windows are up! That's not how it's done usually. When I was a kid, if I saw people driving their convertibles windows up/top down, I always thought, "That looks goofy."

My opinion changed once I actually rode in a convertible with the top down. Gets pretty breezy! Sometimes you may want the sun without quite so much wind, and that--I discovered--is why people sometimes roll up the windows with the top down.

"Probably why the sun roof was invented."

Could be, Officer. And the T-top.
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Attachments: 5458MBBMW323i_58.jpg (64.82 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 10 2017, 05:24 PM.
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guy64
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My first completed custom...

Posted Image

... a mere repaint. But it was nice to have the opportunity to smooth out the rough spots in the body casting. Also covered the red glass with a "heavy tint", and used up some leftover military spec paint.

The original wheels remain. I don't like them at all. MB has come up with several great 4x4 wheel designs since this custom was done, and I'd like to upgrade the wheels. But there's that epoxied crimp post, and what if I wrecked the finish trying to disassemble the truck again?

"Maybe you should just leave well enough alone, kid."

I know, I know. But I hate those wheels!
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Attachments: 5460MBFordPickUp_64jpg.jpg (64.85 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 10 2017, 05:27 PM.
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guy64
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Now these wheels are just fine...

Posted Image

...and at 1/64, so is the scale! :bangles: :)

The Jaguar XJ 220 was covered by several mainstream diecast companies of the $1 "3 inch" persuasion. We've seen the HW rendering, and I think Maisto did their own as well. (Didn't they? I think it was Maisto.)

Anyway, we like the MB version best.

"They got the right color on it, that's for sure."

Yes, we know you're partial to blue, Officer.
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Attachments: 5488MBJaguarXJ220_64.jpg (61.96 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 10 2017, 05:30 PM.
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