new member - 80's scale 1/43 collector

[David3500]

Very nice.
As Jeff said, sadly you won't find any Maestros and Montegos as the model makers don't think there is any market for them.
The only models available are 1/92 unpainted pewter casts of a Maestro Turbo on a base. These are produced by Autosculpt:

Autosculpt did also produce a version of the Maestro MG Turbo in 1:43 scale limited to just 504 examples for the MG Car Club's FWD register, although I suspect they made more than this because I have often seen examples of it on Autosculpt's trade stand at big events such as Beaulieu Autojumble.

This is a great collection of British cars you have here. I, too, got caught by the Vanguards bug a number of years ago. Initially I decided to concentrate on collecting models of the Rover P5 and then the SD1 when it was launched. However, the interest in all things wearing a Viking longship badge soon extended to the P4, P6 and 75, to the point where I have now collected 54 out of the 68 examples produced across the five ranges.

I am missing some of the earlier versions of the P4 and P6 made in Enfield, as well as the more recent and very rare Chrome versions, because they are proving to be rather expensive these days!

[G51 NAV]

Autosculpt did also produce a version of the Maestro MG Turbo in 1:43 scale limited to just 504 examples for the MG Car Club's FWD register

They did indeed: I bought one personally and a few years later when I was on the Committee I remember we sold a few. By that time it was my job to print off the authentication cards they came with.

[Guest]

Brought the new gold-coloured S-reg Ford Granada today, looks really cool.

Really want the red Ford Escort from minichamps… utterly stunning looking model. I like it because it’s so basic; no sunroof, spoiler, alloys, colour-coded bumper or foglights. Classic British roadcar from yesteryear.

As I don’t collect left hand drives what I’ll do is dismantle the motor by unscrewing it then stick a RHD dashboard from a Vauxhall Cavalier I had. I kept it for spare parts even though I didn’t particularly like that model. I’ll also take the windscreen wipers off the Cavalier and stick it on the Escort again so it looks like a RHD. Number plates can easily be stuck on.

I’ll have the pictures of the Red Escort/ Granada up by the weekend hopefully.


On a sad note the black escort is now in automobile heaven. Little niece was playing with it and accidently broke the inside, with a dent on the front aswell after it fell out of her hand and smashed onto the kitchen flooring-tile. Never mind eh.

[Piggy Bank]

Although not 1:43, I do like them; Maestro Van from Roxley models 1:48 kit or build. The white one LHD (my conversion) the BT one RHD (build Roxley). They do more colours and versions.

[Simon]

Theres some excellent model opportunities to be had on the Chinese die-cast scene. I've wasted too much time looking already! There's 1/43 scale MG3 (Basically a Streetwise), a 1/18 Roewe 750 like we've already seen (Rover 75 as such) and the new MG6 in a curious size of 1/16 scale. Some of these look so detailed that if you were small enough, you could get in and drive them away...

[Simon]

All my models have British number plates

You can download the numberplate font and make your own up, if your printer has a good enough resolution.

[Guest]

Simon, producing number plates is really easy, can be made on word document. From memory think I've done it font size 6.5 or 7, letters in arial bold. Obviously you need strong think cardboard paper to print out, stick some see-through tape over it, cut it out and glue it on.

The mistake I made though was I should have taken off the old number plates first. For example I changed the plates on the cosworth, nova and two cavaliers as I want my collection to pre-date 1986, so I don't go past B reg. I just stuck the new plates on top of the old ones whereas in hindsight I should have taken the old plates off where possible. It would have looked better. I can still do that, maybe I will when I print off new plates.

Currently I'm in the process of painting different versions of the red sierra to add to my collection and I'll also replace the black escort I lost with the red one from minichamps as mentioned. That'll take some doing as I've got to convert it from a left hand drive to a right hand drive.

These motors will need new number plates.

[G51 NAV]

This is the closest I ever got to a detailed model Maestro: I hand-painted one of the 1/43 pewter models which the FWD Register used to sell to make a 'mini me' of G51 NAV, including replicating its plates (I photographed the real plates and shrank them)

I have it on a shelf here in my computer room.

[Guest]

Updated with new red ford escort B-reg and bronze ford granada S-reg. Converting the escort into a right hand drive took some doing but I'm pleased with the end result.

[MG Nut]

They look so cool

[Guest]

Sorry, I was tidying up on photobucket and deleted some of the pictures after the changes ie replacing the escort and buying the Granada. Seems like some of the images have been removed accidently by myslelf!

Anyway I’ve posted straight links to all 17 cars I’ve got from 1975-1985:

http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j339/orky3/1.jpg
http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j339/orky3/2.jpg
http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j339/orky3/3.jpg
http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j339/orky3/4.jpg
http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j339/orky3/5.jpg
http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j339/orky3/6.jpg
http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j339/orky3/7.jpg
http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j339/orky3/8.jpg
http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j339/orky3/9.jpg

The next model I'll buy will be a blue fiesta mk1 when it comes out. As mentioned I'm painting two new ford sierras, one in navy blue colour and the other in silver. Hopefully I can put the pictures up either by next weekend or the week after.

[G51 NAV]

You've got a damn fine collection there.
What do you use for a set to make them all look lined up in a car park?

[Guest]

Thanks.

I just use a black sheet of A4 paper and draw the bays and with regards to the background wall it's another sheet of A4 3D brick wall-effect 1/43 scale size.

Not sure where you're located but I brought it from a shop called 4D models in East London... think it only cost £2, can't remember.

I'd love to put a picture up of all the models in one take but that's impossible.

As my list is ever growing I'll just continue with the new addition added next to the last car on my latest picture... ie the gold coloured cavalier and so on for continuity.

I've seen the next batch of models due out by vanguards and included are silver and black versions of the mk2 ford granada, red version of the mk5 ford cortina and black version of the mk1 ford sierra.

Nice but still no meastro or montego!!!!!

(original post updated with direct pictures of all 17 motors)

[David3500]

Thanks.

I just use a black sheet of A4 paper and draw the bays and with regards to the background wall it's another sheet of A4 3D brick wall-effect 1/43 scale size.

Not sure where you're located but I brought it from a shop called 4D models in East London... think it only cost £2, can't remember.

I'd love to put a picture up of all the models in one take but that's impossible.

As my list is ever growing I'll just continue with the new addition added next to the last car on my latest picture... ie the gold coloured cavalier and so on for continuity.

I've seen the next batch of models due out by vanguards and included are silver and black versions of the mk2 ford granada, red version of the mk5 ford cortina and black version of the mk1 ford sierra.

Nice but still no meastro or montego!!!!!

(original post updated with direct pictures of all 17 motors)

Why not email Corgi via their website about your ideas for new models such as the Maestro and Montego? After all if the 'unloved' Allegro and Marina can sell so well in model form and they are prepared to make a model of a Peugeot 309 and Mark 1 Ford Fiesta, then there's no reason for not doing a Maestro or Montego.

While they are at it, a Rover 800 Fastback first generation would be nice too, as they have stopped doing models of other Rovers using their current tooling, not to mention of the MG ZT, Triumph saloons...

[Guest]

LOVING THE COLLECTION MATE!!! The Sierras and Cavaliers definitely bring back the childhood memories.
I've just so happened to send an e mail pretty much begging them to make models of the Montego and Maestro. Whether they'll reply back then who knows. However,if enough of us send similar e mails to Corgi asking for Maestro and Montegos to be produced,then surely they'll start to take notice.
Fingers cross