Let me introduce myself!

oldcodger · Let me introduce myself!

Hi folks. It would appear that it is a requirement, as a newbie, that I introduce myself here, so here goes.

My name is Harry and I live in the North West of England. I am retired and have not long taken possession of my bus pass. I have been searching for a decent die-cast forum for a long time so I don’t know how I have missed this one. I hope it will be useful as most forums are. I have a passing interest in all types of ground transport both model and real.

I suppose I have been collecting die-cast models since the age of about 3 or 4 years old but we called them toys at that time. I am really surprised that many of my Dinky and Corgi toys have still survived to this day considering the bashing I used to give them in my early years.

I have been a collector of 00 gauge trains since my early 20s and have a reasonable collection of Hornby steam locos and diesels and a couple of Wrenn. The problem with this hobby is that you need quite a bit of space for layouts, something I’ve never been able to achieve.

I started getting properly interested in die-cast in the early 90s when I worked in Manchester city centre and popped into Beatties one lunch time and saw an array of EFE busses in the cabinets. Until that time I never knew “out of the box” models were available. (My previous experience was 2 Ambrico (?) white metals kits of a Leyland TD1 and PD2. I am not sure where they are anymore as all my efforts, with different adhesives, to put them together failed as they soon fell apart). Anyway I purchased, I think, a Crosville Bristol FLF and from then on I was bitten.

My collection consists of the following:-

EFE 00 Busses. I have tended to collect those in the livery of Crosville and Ribble fleets mainly because of their association with my childhood. Crosville to North Wales for my holidays and Ribble for days out to the Lancashire coast. I also have a smattering of London Busses, some St Helens Transport, 3 Liverpool Corporation and 1 Wallasey Atlantean. Most of them are originals but there are some that I repainted to cover models that I could not get hold of on their release, or to change to an alternative livery of the company. For example, I have 3 repainted Leyland Atlanteans of the Ribble fleet, (1) as the normal stage carrying in the standard cherry colour, (2) as the Gay Hostess long distance coach and (3) as the White Lady. Ironically, these came available latter as out of the box models, but I think my efforts were worth while. Not brilliant but OK.

Old Dinky and Corgi. (1:43?) As I said before I am surprised that I still have these. However, as none of them are in reasonable condition paint wise, I am going through them, as time allows, and doing a repaint job to give them some pride back. I must say that looking at these models from the 50s and 60s the mouldings design are pretty good. Considering that they were “Toys” some of the details put in by the designers are amazing. I have also picked up quite a few of these old models at toy fairs in a rough condition so I can renovate them. My painting is not brilliant, so the less detail the better.

Corgi and Solido Cars. (1:43) I subscribed to the publication “A Century of Cars” a few years back and obtained nearly all of the series.

Corgi and Lledo. (1:43) These are mostly commercial vehicles. I have a string of Royal Mail vehicles and half a dozen Telecom (PO) ones. I was quite pleased when Corgi released the Morris J2 Post Office Telephones van as this was one of the first vans I drove when I became an Engineer. It was probably the last J2 green liveried van in the Liverpool Telephone Area as the yellow Commer 15 cwts were becoming the main stay engineering van. The J2 was a :censored: to drive. It was a diesel and the steering was as heavy as a tank. I am waiting patiently to see if anybody will do a model of the Commer; I would love one of those.

New Ray. (1:43) A few years ago, after looking at the Dinky versions of the American cars I had, I tried to increase my collection of American cars of the 50s and 60s. So on my annual holiday to Florida I sought out the model stores around Orlando, (very few exist!). However, I did find a number of cars made by a company called New Ray. I found most of them in a toy shop and some in the usual Florida souvenir shops. I even found a pack of three in a presentation box in the General Motors shop after being on the Test Track attraction at Disneyworld’s Epcot Centre. They are made to a reasonable standard but are all convertibles.

Well there we are. I’ve gone on a bit but hopefully my communication has been of interest to you. It should be interesting discussing matters with people of a like minded interest.

Finally, I would like to ask what the “AIM Address” is in the profile section. As this is a yellowed section I have a feeling that I am required to put something in the box. What, I don’t know.

Regards

Harry

Nile · Newbie

Harry, welcome to the forum from the U.S. It certainly sounds like you are well into the diecasts and have been bitten by the bug. It is contagious. Toys that were once "just toys" are now so very collectible and yes it is amazing how much detail that the older toys had. The new models that come out lately that are designed for the collector have that same detail oriented look. The "toys" of today sadly don't have that look. I am impressed with your overall wide collecting. Anyway, have a great time here. There are some very knowledgeable people on here.

Andrew

Harry - welcome aboard. I rode a Ribble bus to go to school first in Coniston and then later in Ulverston - they were very much part of my growing up and when I started work and moved to Chester the Crossville bus took over.

However my die-cast focus is on old Corgis from the 50's and 60's. Like you I'm amazed at the engineering and fabulous modelling that went into these 'toys'. I still have my toybox and am spending time photographing all the cars in it and adding them to my website - address in the sig below - and if you think you abused your cars, take a look at mine. Smashed to bits and painted all sorts of colours!

Welcome to this group, you'll find it useful, supportive, helpful and occasionally mildly teasing and gently abusive. But it's all in the best possible taste.

Duncan

Great to have you with us Harry - sounds like you'll fit right in. Thanks for the intro - helps to know a bit about who we all are.

No idea what the 'aim' address is though...

keesie25

Very nice intro Harry, welcome to this forum. If UK-members cannot help you with the 'aim' question, how would I? You might even be the first one who notices....
O, one other thing, bear in mind this forum is very serious, so no time for jokes.

Gaz

Harry, welcome to "our" forum. Thankyou for your fantastic introduction.

I'm the owner and admin for this forum, not that anyone takes any notice mind.....

but I thought I mention it anyway. You certainly seem to have a varied collection of some great deicast vehicles which will interest most of our members on here.

Were a friendly bunch that likes a bit of a laugh and leg pulling from time to time, so just like Andrew has said, it's all done in fun.

I hope you enjoy a long stay with us and look forward to exchanging posts.

Gaz

Oop's, forgot to mention, watch out for Keesie

keesie25

Yeah yeah Gaz, and beware the moon, and stick to the roads, stay off the moors, and the best of luck to you lads.

MISTER C

Hello and

Harry,I see you are a man of few words

hope you enjoy your stay,if you like a laugh you should be OK.........

scotty

hope you enjoy your stay with us

ALI-G

in it

kitkatman

Hello Harry and

to the Number 1 diecast site. Looking forward to seeing some pictures of your resto's.

Ken R

Harry, hope you enjoy the best forum around, should be able to talk about all your collection to various members on here !

keesie25

Come on Harry, don't be shy now. By the way, do you know the Hendersons?

Dave Parker

to the forum. The AIM address is AOL Instant Messenger. Its AOL's version of MSN messenger and ICQ.

By the way there's nothing wrong with Keesie. Except he bites if you get too close.

keesie25

Nothing wrong? Nothing wrong? I collect models you know....

ncc1701d

Harry, nice to see another Manc come aboard.

Spenny

HARRY,nice to have you with us on an epic journey of diecast discovery, you may feel the need to restore you old toys/models at some point and we may be able to assist in some way

KEESIE,s cool really, it,s MR C you have to watch out for, sweet chap though

keesie25

SWEET-chap indeed, this Mister C!

oldcodger

keesie25

That's good Harry, you took the right key, door unlocked, come in!

Mark G

Harry, Look forward to hearing more from you!!

livefastdiecast · welcome

to the forum Harry, your introduction was very interesting and complete, it took a couple of days to read and translate it

Jonny467

Hello, I am Jon, im from the USA, and have heard really good thing from this site, i like collecting a little bit of everything, i really do looking foward to spending time on this great forum

Gaz

Hi Jon, thanks for that, but can you start a new post with your introduction, so everyone can see it.

Guzzi Gadgy

Harry a warm

from Geordieland a man of few words like my self. Why use one word when three will do.

And a warm

to Jon from this side of the pond

Ian

Mark G

Let me introduce myself!

Newbie

welcome