Junkman

Another R16 found its way to me. That makes it three. A broken diecast metal Peugeot was obtained for the princely sum of free of charge. It yielded the hubcap for my otherwise nice plastic one. Since these hubcaps are generic, I now have three more shots. By obtaining yet another knackered Chrysler I finally had everything I needed to make one good one. To be clear here, this plus yet another one I sadly didn't photograph before plastic surgery ensued, was barely enough to make this: It enabled me to assemble yet another pairing sold as a gift set. Then I got this original issue Saviem city bus. Renault 15 with panel gaps of much hilarity. Delightfully wonky Renault 12. Ferrari 375 GTB4. Incomplete Land Rover Depanneuse. They made numerous versions of the Landy, in 88 and 109 flavour. They are so rare, that even broken examples are hard to find. Another 250SE, this time without tow bar trailer hitch. Citroen GS with typical LHM oh dearage (it's a running joke on another forum. I do this with food colouring). Very late issue VW Beetle in toothache green. Peugeot 204 with typical bonnet hood warpage, which is a shame really, since it's remarkably straight otherwise. Merc R107. Rare that, especially in dark blue.

Skipped were #30 Austin Mini Cooper S #31 Alpine A110 1600 Which neatly brings us to #32. Skippage ensued for #34, a Range Rover. Just about when I started to regret this, Whitebox announced to reissue it in their lineup, even with the steering wheel on the correct side and in the colour my real one was. #35 was this Citroen GS. #36 Ford Vedette. #37, a '63 Corvette Stingray, was skipped, so on to #38. I said Panhard 24 CT, Steve! #39, Citroen Mehari. And #40, a Renault 5 Turbo, was duly ignored.

I don't think I'll ever spend that much effort on the model. But it's always nice to know the long list of things wrong with it, thanks.

I have the Parade Green version.

I have the Pharaohs' Mercury alright.

Then there is this Shanghai SH 760.

They are so good, I wouldn't be surprised if AutoArt had a hand in these. I start with a Beijing BJ212. If you can read this, you are either one of six people in the world, or have a better education than me.

At least they gave us models with details, clunky or not.

Still my favourite drag car of all time ever in all of human history.

Of course I unpacked it all and took proper photos of all the parts. Of course I know that you want to see them and that you are an impatient bunch. But I also like teasing people and cliffhangers...

It comes in this pre stained box. The box is a foot square. It comes with very basic instructions. They say they do this deliberately to encourage you to build your own unique hot rod. So what's in the box? Well...

The diecast maybe lucky, its owner not so. However, a friend of mine removed the greenhouse, filed off 3mm at the bottom and put it back on. It really transformed the model. I'll have yet to muster the courage, but it likely will be done one day.

They are really trying to take on Sunstar.

I got it cheap, because somebody carried out a botch repair. I've meanwhile fixed this and shall post photos soonly. The front axle is fully articulated. Pressurised radiator cap.

It really, really does need a going over and a wheel swap, doesn't it?

#21, Citroen 11CV, a real one of which is currently on my shopping list. I then again forfeited #s 22. 23 and 24, a Jaaaag E-Type, Renault R5 Alpine and VW Beetle respectively, because I find it too ugly, have no interest in it whatsoever and have too many already, also respectively. Hence I continue with #25, this Citroen SM. #26, a '64.5 Mustang convertible was again skipped, #27 was this Panhard PL17. #28, a Peugeot 203 Decapotable. #29, a Golf GTI, was again skipped because I couldn't care less, but #30 more than made up for it.

Well, let's continue with #15 then, shall we? Well, I skipped it, because it's only a Porsche 911S. But I got #16. Sadly it has LHD and French plates. I'm a member of a French forum and even there the general consensus was they'd have much preferred it RHD with British plates and a GB sticker on the back. I took some measurements and the model is bang on 1/24 scale, like hitherto every model in the series I have. #17 was this Daphne Dauphine. #18, a Simca 1000 Rally 2. #19 was this Cadillac Jacqueline Peugeot 204. #20 was a Matra Bagheera.

First issue Renault Floride, without interior. The taillights are missing, but to make up for it, the rear screen is cracked. Fiat 600 missing a headlight, which makes it authentically French (other sterotypes available on request). Next up, a Renault 17 TS. It's a very, very late issue. And here we have a real curiosity. It's a Renault 16 fixed to a magnet. Formeta was a German supplier of classroom materials for driving schools. This model was intended to be used on a metal blackboard. I put it on my fridge. And this, my friends, warranted another celebration.

Oh no, not another toy fair haul! Saviem SG 10 in French racer Jimmy Mieusset's team livery. Norev sponsored them in the 70s. Ford Vedette Depannage. The trailer was not part of the package originally, I just got both in the same loot and thought they make a nice pair. Renault 4 van with door frames and one original sticker still intact. Peugeot 404 Break. Berliet TBO skip loader. I wonder whether there ever was a better example of transportation overkill in toy history. Norev used this Berliet's base unit for various applications, sometimes with, other times without the wing fender mounted air cleaner. Interestingly on the ones with the air cleaner the nose is always warped skywards, whereas the ones without are usually perfectly straight. Since I now had Jimmy Mieusset's race car transporter, I needed his race car, a Chevron b23. Those are hard to find in plastic (Norev made a diecast range at the time from the same tools), but I managed. Back in the day, these were sold individually, or in a gift set. Norev made only two American cars in their original plastic lineup. Monsieur Véron's Chrysler which I've shown you previously and this Chevy Corvair. Weirdly they never made the obvious - a Renault Rambler. Also got me a Peugeot 104. It was missing one hubcap. Norev made this wonderful Henon caravan. Obtaining this Mercedes 250SE with tow bar trailer hitch enables me to reenact yet another pair that was sold as a gift set.

Well, I removed the tampos on the doors.

The lower front indicators are indeed present on the model.

With a styling only Citroen could possibly get away with, of course I had to have it.

Next up is this Renault 5. the Americans among you might know it as "Le Car". A friend of mine, who is a graphics artist and photographer went a bit artsy with it. The W196 required something to win a race against, hence I got me this Maserati 200 Si. Also this remarkably straight Porsche 1500 Carrera. Said graphics designer friend made me stickers for my H van. They aren't authentic, they are from something I love to eat when in France. Another toy fair haul. Renault NN1, ca 1925. Renault 10 Major. A pair of Peugeot 504s, one is early, the other late production.