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Bert Finds the Matchbox; A Nostalgia Trip
Topic Started: Oct 22 2015, 10:00 PM (23,069 Views)
guy64
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Ahem. We were looking at Vipers...

Posted Image

Once again, nicely captured, if too big at 1/59. And once again, non-Viper wheels.

I don't think MB ever did a Viper-style wheel, did they? Not even under Mattel, if I'm not mistaken. Interesting that Mattel made such a wheel for Hot Wheels, and stuck them on countless different non-Mopar vehicles. If these MB Vipers had been done 1/64, I'd probably have harvested some Viper wheels from a couple of HW cars that shouldn't have them and stuck them on these MB Vipers.

But as it is, I won't, because... collectible. :rolleyes:

"That's a shame, kid. Woulda looked so Mopar." B)
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Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 03:39 PM.
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carcollector
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Thank's for your pics and interesting info's! ;)
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guy64
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carcollector
Feb 20 2016, 04:21 PM
Thank's for your pics and interesting info's! ;)
Heh. "Interesting", if not accurate! :D :blush:
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guy64
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Time to get down to business...

Posted Image

Police business.

Also time to explore the other side of the scale error spectrum with this 1/68 scale Ford Explorer.

Aside from the smallness, not too bad; the SUV's shape is captured nicely, and the light bar is a separate piece from the glass. (Which highlights the fact that the glass didn't need any tint.) :duh: The off-road tires make me wonder where Bert will be using this particular unit.

"No need to wonder, kid. You won't see me driving Unit 731."

I thought you liked blue, Officer.

"I do, which is why I don't want to get sick of it lookin' through that windshield all day."
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Attachments: 8190MBFrdExpPol_68c.jpg (33.97 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 03:41 PM.
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guy64
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Not the usual Matchbox vehicle...

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... and not exactly a "Sky Buster" either. But a lot of fun anyway, and with its folding wings it even fits into a Jammer case.

A certain Matchbox database lists the Aero Junior Ultralight as being 1/50 scale. I don't know what that spec is based on. The pilot doesn't look that large to me, nor does the craft. In fact, given that he's wearing a full-face helmet, his head could be the same size as Bert's.

Maybe Bert could ask him to remove his helmet, or at least get him to stand up for us.

"I tried. He just keeps shaking his head and pointing to his ears."

Probably can't hear you, Officer. Got a bull horn?

"Uh, no, actually."

You could write him a note.

"Sorry kid, there's no form for that."
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Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 03:44 PM.
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guy64
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A rather nice rag top of a 'Stang...

Posted Image

This 1995 Mustang Cobra is one of two in our stable. The other one is solid red with no unsightly, clashing tampoes on it. (I'm not really sure why I shot this one instead of the other.) The metallic red on this one is beautiful, but spoiled by the puke-yellow/green-with-orange-accents equine-themed splotch on each side. The tamp reminds me of the 4th Horse of Revelation (6:8). To think that MB used the tampo budget for that instead of doing head/tail lights... well... :duh: :fiddle:

The casting is very nicely rendered, if oversize at 1/61 (making it comparable to MB's 1/61 1969 Camaro). Having the top cover and roll bar as a separate piece from the interior made it possible to mold them in different colors; a feature that stands out when this model is viewed from above.

"I don't get to view these from above, kid."

Yeah, well, that's the price you pay for being 1/64 scale, Officer. Maybe you can compensate by sitting in it for a while. No, I don't have the keys.
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Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 03:46 PM.
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guy64
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A gem, even in basic black...

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This is the same casting as the silver PE seen on the second page of this thread. Even though it's just the $1 version, everything works with it. The generic wheels are realistic enough to complement the model, and MB even waived their "only two sides" tampo rule. There's the "Formula V8" tampo on each side, but they still tamped the Firebird insignia on the nose anyway!

Besides all that, it says "1:64" on the base! AND, that may even be accurate!! :1:

"You're pretty positive with this one, kid. Can't you find something to complain about?"

Mmmm... well... if I had my "druthers", I'd have gone for a black or dark gray interior.

"There. I knew you could do it." :rolleyes:
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Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 03:48 PM.
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guy64
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Some more 8-dot glory...

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MB rendered the 1987 Oldsmobile Aerotech in 1/66, so I assume it's a bit small. With a car like this, it's hard to tell. It's not like you'd see this parked at Wally's in the space next to your Focus.

The opening rear de... er, um... half of the body is a nice feature of this Matchbox model. The 8-dot wheels are ok, but if MB was to reissue the casting, it would be better served with full-disc wheels.

Well, we think so anyway.

"Kid, for once 'we' agree."
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Attachments: 8196MBOldsAeroT_66c.jpg (32.1 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 03:50 PM.
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guy64
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These colors are good, but without painting or tamping the windshield frame...

Posted Image

... the un-darkened windshield kind of disappears.

And even in a darker color we can tell MB's 1/61 rendering of the '69 Camaro is a bit bigger than 1/64. Still, we applaud MB's resistance to the temptation to slather the sides with ugly tampoes. The hood and deck tampoes are very realistic; just what the real car was often seen with.

"There's a lesson in that, son: If you want to avoid some toy company plotching an ugly tampo on the side of your toy car, don't name it after an animal."

Seemed to work with this one, Officer.

"Absolutely. Now, park it next to that red Mustang over there. The one with the horsey tampoes on it, yeah."
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Attachments: 8197MB69CamaroConv_61c.jpg (31.82 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 03:53 PM.
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guy64
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Yet another version of a favorite...

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Wasn't this the "Solid Gold" series or some such? Anyway, it's a nice, sparkly, yellow shade of gold, not some dull, dishwater gold. I like this gold.
These wheels are a smaller version of the generic 5-spoke seen on Camaros, Mustangs, Benzs, BMWs and others from this era. These are small enough to have stood in for the horrible flower wheels used on a few of the castings we've seen so far. If only. :fiddle:

Even though it's marked as 1/69, I'm going to miss this casting.

"The bed's open. Should we seen if it will carry a squashed-up Lincoln?"

Don't have a squashed-up Lincoln handy, Officer, but I do know a real '70-'72 Elky would carry 1250 lbs. of bricks. Did that with my '71 once.

"What? These things are rated at 800 lbs. max! How'd you do that without breaking something?"

Two words, Officer: Air Shocks.
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Attachments: 8199MBElCam_69c.jpg (35.54 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 03:56 PM.
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Mark F.
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I have one with different wheels:

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guy64
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That's why I like this casting so much. It looks great, even with the older wheels! ;)
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guy64
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One of MB's most popular castings...

Posted Image

... in its initial MB colors.

Usually, we have a hard time finding the 1st edition of popular castings. (Scalpers abound in SoCal.) But for some reason, the VW Concept 1 wasn't such a case for us. We have at least three of these orange Bauhausian wonders, even though the casting is 1/61 (per the base). I don't remember why we got so many--usually one of a given version is enough for us--but I know the wife-unit wanted two so we could do this...

Posted Image

"Maybe the third one is a back-up, kid".

I s'pose back-ups do come in handy, Officer.

"Heh, tell me about it, kid. I'm a cop!"
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Attachments: 8202MBVWConc1_58c.jpg (32.78 KB)
Attachments: 2575OrgC1Flat1.jpg (105.96 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 04:36 PM.
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guy64
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Don't quote me, but...

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... I'm pretty sure this one is from the Tyco era.

It isn't just the chrome finish, the purple hood tampo, or the... um, "amber"-colored glass. It's the combination of all these distinctive elements in one... distinctive edition that make this '95 Camaro so... distinctive. And so Tyco.

If it were any other car but a Camaro (or a Bug) I would have left it on the peg. But... Camaro! :wub:

"Kid, it's cars like this that remind me why I wear sunglasses for this gig."
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Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 04:01 PM.
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guy64
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Another train meet bargain...

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The base is badly toned, but the body paint and overall condition are excellent. The low price probably had something to do with the windshield being installed very crookedly. It couldn't be snapped into place without breaking something. (Apparently, the assembly was a little rushed.)

This time the "collectible" factor was outweighed by my obsession with having things straight, so I disassembled the piece and installed everything properly.

Not sure of the scale. It's bigger than 1/64 I'm sure, maybe even too big, but for $0.50 I figured it was worth it.

"OCD kicked in, dinnit, kid?"

(Sigh.) Yeah, probly. :rolleyes:
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Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 04:03 PM.
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guy64
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A "sort of early" purchase...

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Not real early (our slot car days), but early enough to find this one on the pegs. No scale on the base, and it may have a bit of the MB stretch to its width. It's most likely bigger than 1/64.

Oh, and it is blue. Did you notice? And a particular shade of blue. Every once in a while, Matchbox marches out this color. It's a shade of blue that elicits a certain nostalgic reaction in me. It puts me in a "toy mood", as if I'm watching an old Gumby cartoon with that blue tractor in the story.

The tractor was this shade of blue.

"Yeah, well, I'm into blue too, y'know."

Officer, I never would have guessed... :rolleyes:
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Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 04:06 PM.
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juantoo3
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

:thumbup:

FWIW, I like the late 90s Muscle Car renditions from early in the Mattel era. The El Camino and 69 Camaro typify that, although I do recall a Mustang Boss and a GTO Judge that made the rounds as well. These models are generally panned by collectors, and I don't understand why...they certainly stand next to anything put out by Hot Wheels at the time.

Gotta add, I like that blue Landy...first I've seen in that paint.
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microbuss
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if you look at the VW logos on that old New Beetle
the logos are upside down! :lol:
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guy64
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Juantoo3... I may be wrong, but I think that was the earliest edition of that Land Rover casting.

Microbuss... Now I'm gonna hafta dig out one of those orange Concepts and see. How am I supposed to sleep until I do?
Edited by guy64, Mar 5 2016, 12:39 AM.
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guy64
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Piston poppin' we go...

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This one was found brand new in a mom-and-pop hobby store in the late'90s. Bought it together with a Site Dumper. This "Piston Popper" Rolamatic was a wife-unit buy. Not sure why she liked it; it's not red, it's not a Bug and it's not that "cute". But she wanted it so...

The BAMCA Matchbox database lists this one at 1/65 scale, which seems plausible for everything but the engine.

"Well, at least it's blue."

It is that, Officer.
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Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 04:08 PM.
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Hobie-wan
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Even though it's ridiculous when you think about the engine bits too much, this was always one of my favorite MB as a kid. I have torn down my childhood one for an eventual repaint and fix up.
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guy64
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Hobie-wan
Mar 5 2016, 03:13 PM
I have torn down my childhood one for an eventual repaint and fix up.
And we're all expecting to see that resto when it's finished! ;)

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guy64
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This different look for MB's BMW 323i...

Posted Image

... only makes me wish even more that they'd done it 1/64 instead of 1/58. :(

We have only a few MB models with these wheels (star wheels?), which remind me of the wheels on a relative's '89 535i. As mentioned before, sort of a faux wire wheel look, or an attempt at it. I sometimes get a hankering to put newer MB Y-Spokes on this one, but... COLLECTIBLE!

"Nice to see you keeping your priorities straight, kid."

Was that sarcasm, Officer?

"You'll have to wonder."
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Attachments: 8340MBBMWCabrio_58c.jpg (34.6 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 04:11 PM.
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guy64
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This was another one Matchbox had to do...

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Who knew Porsche would ever get into the SUV game?

At 1/66, MB did pretty well with it, too. No nonsense here; realistic (if boring) colors inside and out, untinted glass, and they even issued a "beefier" variation with larger tires...

Posted Image

"Ok kid, so... which one is the racing version?"

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Attachments: 8462MBPorscheCayenne_66c.jpg (34.66 KB)
Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 04:14 PM.
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guy64
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Woo-HOO! :bangles: Another version of my favorite Matchbox BMW casting...

Posted Image

... still 1/62 scale, still with ultra-cool deluxe wheels and tires, opening doors, and... and...

"And thoroughly dangerous glass."

... and thoroughly dangerous glass! Wait, what? :blink:

Yes, for some reason, MB chromed the windows on this car, even though it still has opening doors which allow us to verify the presence of a full interior! Very strange, and quite unlike the chrome glass version of the Mercedes AMG, which is a sealed-door version of another casting normally issued with opening doors. What was going on here?

"Don't ask me to explain it, kid. And don't expect me to let anybody drive it outta here, either. This one's going home on a tilt-bed."

Oh well, at least it won't get dirty that way.
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Edited by guy64, Jul 12 2017, 04:17 PM.
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