Dinky toy restoration!

I’ve dabbled in Airfix, Tamiya RC cars and Scalextric. So the next logical step would appear to be Dinky toys.

Going to have a go at renovating these two 50 year old wrecks.

They aren’t in bad condition given their age. But each needs a strip and clean, new tracks and glass work, decals and a coat of paint.

Will do one in the original green and the other in the light blue of the TV show livery.

I’ve got one of those, plus the box. Currently in my mum’s loft.

Is it in good condition?

If so see how much they go for!

I’ve seen some of these restorations and improvements of basic cars and such on Instagram, and wonder where do you get the spares from? Can’t be a huge market in new tracks for those things!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/datbltd

I’ve got a couple of boxed matchbox cars , they are really nice tactile things. No idea where they came from, I suspect my parents were planning to give them as gifts and forgot about them.

Are they not worth more in original unrestored condition?

Absolute original minters go for hundreds, but wrecks go for around £30-£45 and restorations £60 and above. Neither of my two are original.

You are right about the tactility. The weight and the temperature.

Oh that’s interesting. The restoration spares are amazing!

Even the little cardboard boxes feel nice, crisp and the colours are intense. The spring wheels always feel good

I’ve got a SHADO UFO Interceptor, when I was a kid I scratched the chrome paint off the front panel to show the orange plastic. The paint was flaking off so I helped it along.

There’s some chrome paint in the garage left over from restoring car light reflectors. Might be a little project when the nights draw in.

Cool.

I was looking at them too, but finding a nice one was a bit expensive.

Shame Dinky painted so many of their Gerry Anderson stuff in strange colours. They had their reasons, but as an adult and a fan of the shows I would like to have seen them in their screen liveries.

I wonder if that site had legs for Thunderbird 2? There must be thousands of them in lofts with broken legs. Why they thought legs with the strength of vermicelli would hold a diecast toy.

Several YouTube channels do stuff like this and reveal where they get spares from. Marty’s Matchbox Makeovers is a good one.

I wonder if that site had legs for Thunderbird 2?

Yep. And now I want one!

Found the diecast modification I quite enjoyed on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAQ5gpNvF-P/?igsh=dGJoZXVjdWprMng=

Britains Deetail for me.

Collect the standing figures and few mounted.

But I have been looking at the vehicles…. Must resist.

PS: Any of you guys got any Deetail in the loft, give me shout:-)

I had loads of the Stargard stuff as a nipper. The price it fetches today. Yikes.

Starguard.

Sticky heads. How is yours holding up ?

The few  I have are in quarantine.

Britains Deetail figures!

In my dad’s loft are a Scots Guards pipe and drum band, Waterloo and numerous Crusaders/Saracens & Cowboys/Indians figures.

Here’s mine, recovered from my mums loft. Plus a cycling related Corgi Citroen DS Tour De France.

What are you using to strip paint these days?

@richmars That Shado in mint! With box is worth an absolute bomb if it is original.

@sam3000 This https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354266790978?var=623654219899

Yes, been looking at prices. I’ve got a few others I think I’ll sell, but keep the Shado (all original, even have the instructions). The Corgi Chipperfield Performing Poodles can go (why did I get this? Must have been a present):

Corgi 511, Chipperfields Poodle truck – Free Price Guide & Review (toymart.com)

but keep the Shado

Don’t blame you! I would too.

One of mine is currently looking a bit sorry for itself.

Hope you update us with progress.

Ooops. Just bought another wreck. This one will definitely be sold on after restoration.

Display 1.

Cowboys

and Indians

For those who really know 🙂

The Holy Grail of Britains Deetail.

Fabulous! I need to get mine from my dad’s loft.

The wife will be delighted!

A little bit of bleed under the masking, but nothing that can’t be tidied up.

@harry_the_spider

Get them out, put them back on parade 🙂

Knights v Turks

And the newer (some) Chinese 00’s. Even these are considered vintage.

I’ll get them when my dad gets back from his latest jaunt. I think he’s in Ibiza this week.

Looking at yours I recognise the mortar team too.

I’ve not seen them in over 40 years. Will be interesting to see what has survived. They could have been chucked out for all I know.

and Indians

Native Americans. *Winky emoji.

They could have been chucked out for all I know.

🙁 . So many parents sent these armies to Valhalla.

Fingers crossed they might only be MIA and will be found 🙂

@tthew

7540 Dismounted Indians, as Britains Deetail described them.

Foreign Legion v Arabs

V

Done!

Top job.

🙂

Found some of my Dinkies.