2010 Queanbeyan Swap meet - Diecast Haul

Unlike last years Queanbeyan Swapmeet, this years had much better weather with no rain! There were many vendors selling diecast, not just in the dedicated diecast hall, but also scattered among the individual sites, with people just selling off parts and general car related (mostly) stuff. A full report on my two days at the swapmeet can be found on my other blog 'On Four Wheels'.

I came very close to buying this, but I have other 3 inch service stations that just sit in their boxes, and no room to display, so i left it behind for someone else to take home I did circle back several times while I ummed and aahed about it though. I think it was Australian made, from the late 60's.

I've never seen this many Micro models in one place before. When I arrived serious negotiations were under way over the tanker in the front. It ended up going home with a gentleman. I own one Micro, and thought about buying a few more but none fitted my collecting themes.

Here is my haul! Issues 1-100 of Restored Car magazine, in excellent condition, for an embarrassingly small amount. A few novelty number plates, a tyre ash tray, a 1982 Bathurst Book, a Sidchrome adjustable spanner - and 14 diecast cars.

 

Matchbox 'Midnight Magic' in black and silver - the only diecast I picked up from the dedicated diecast vendors hall. It cost 2 bucks. A bargain I thought, although it needs a cleanup. Three Australian themed matchbox cars, a Falcon, a Commodore and an FJ. I already had the FJ and Falcon, but not boxed. 5 bucks each.

Three Fun Ho diecast. new Zealand made toys roughly Lesney sized. A Ford truck, a Bedford and an articulated lorry. All very rough, but complete. My first Fun Ho and as anything that you have more than three of is a collection...

These two Ford GT's are kids toys. Made by Kinsmart. I picked them up and thought that apart from the odd 1:36 scale, not bad for 5 bucks each. The Anglia behind it was from the same vendor, and is also a kids toy, also in 1:36, by Saico.

A golden Trax FJ Holden in 1:43 - I have no idea what its worth, but I paid about what it cost new. The two Matchbox Kingsize were IIRC ten bucks each. In excellent condition. The K-7 Racing Transporter has no racing car, but is complete apart from that, clean glass and stickers. I love the K-7, and have a small fleet of them.

Overall I had a great day looking for Ford and Leyland parts, old motoring books and magazines, and of course tiny cars. When I was laying out my treasures to photograph I realised I only bought one car from the vendors in the dedicated diecast building. Why? Several reasons- firstly, I already had a lot of the cars that they had on sale that fitted my collecting themes, secondly, many of the vendors have unrealistic pricing on their wares. Especially on items where the box is atrociously worn, and has obviously been packed and unpacked from show to show. If I am paying a premium I want it mint and pristine. One person had a recent range of 1:32 Australian cars on sale at 60 dollars each - you can still buy them at Toys'R'Us for 15 dollars less!  Then again, some vendors had quite reasonable prices and some would haggle. It never hurts to make a lower offer than the stated price - and I always do.

There were a few exceptions to this diatribe, and I must single out Trevor from Trax. Trax have always had a stall at this swapmeet, and they do sell their cars at their retail price, with a big array of show specials priced at 30 dollars. Sadly I already had everything on the table that fitted my collecting themes so I didn't spend a cent with Trax - but I had a great chat and found out a few things coming up from Trax.

• The Legends series has a second item in the planning stage featuring Mick Doohan and his World Championship bike. Licensing with Honda is under way. This would be the first motorcycle model from Top Gear. 
• A Trax 1:43 HQ Statesman is coming out at the end of the year. 
• No more 1:24 cars are likely, only recolours and different liveries of existing cars.
• No recolour of the 1:43 Leyland P76 is on the horizon (as far as Trevor knows anyway). 

Trax had a Legends 1:43 Brabham car on the table, so I picked it up and inspected it closely. It doesn't fit any of my collecting themes, so I haven't bought one, but I was very impressed with the first resin from Top Gear. Crisp lines, excellent detail for the scale, good paint, it was a really nice little model.

I had a great two days at the Swapmeet and recommend it to every car and diecast enthusiast. I spent some money, found some treasures and looked at great cars - all in beautiful Canberra weather.

Related posts:
2010 Queanbeyan Swap Meet/All Ford Day Part 1 of 6

 

Trax Collectors Club Member FJ Panelvans

The gnomes at Trax have been busy stuffing envelopes with small garishly painted FJ Panel Vans this month, and sending them to Trax Club Members. This year is the tenth year that Trax sent Club Members an FJ in the annual renewal pack (along with the ten dollar voucher and a copy of 'Keeping Trax') this years version is much more appealing than some they have produced!

The photo below (kindly provided by David Johnson) shows all ten of the club member FJ Panelvans, with the 2010 version on the upper shelf to the right of the Trax Club foundation member badge (issued in 2008). 

David has a very nice collection, which at current estimates is worth between 100 dollars and 250 dollars (excluding his badge). These 1/55 scale models often appear on Ebay, and sell for between 10 and 25 dollars. Although FJ Panelvans dont really fit my collection, I hang on to them for ridiculously sentimental reasons. 

Trax 8003N - FJ Panel Van 'Nasco'

Trax first models were FJ Holdens, and it was what bought them to prominence. This model, the FJ Panel van, was produced in several variations. One of the rarest and most sought after models being the 'Stanbridge Hobbies' liveried FJ Panel Van. Like any car, certain colours can make them look better than they really are. The dark blue of this 'Nasco' Van is a case in point. It transforms the FJ van into a very attractive car. 

Produced in 1994, this model was one of the nicer versions of the FJ Holden by Trax. Trax started to head down the disastrous Matchbox Yesteryear Van overproduction route, with several weird liveries of this van, until a strange decision in the late 90's not to produce the FJ's in 1:43 any more. Apart from the later FJ Station Wagon, a completely new casting, Trax have stuck to this. 

GMH sold cars, and NASCO was their spare parts and accessories company. NASCO brand geegaws are still prized by restorers. This Trax model represents a 1954 FJ Holden panel Van, as used by Holden dealers to ferry their spare parts around. 

The model is a nice representation of the 1:1 car, although like many early Trax it has too small wheels and tyres. This is particularly evident in the photo above in the rear wheel arches. The paint is very good, and the decals and tampo printing have held up well. 

Underbody detail is limited, like all Trax of the era. The packaging is the old retail packaging from the time before Trax went to a solely online/mailorder sales model. The packaging was not really designed to be kept, and was also a universal type with just a sticker on the end flap indicating the model type and number to the buyer. 

It is a nice model, and deserves a place in the collection of any Australian diecast enthusiast. Sadly, its pedestrian styling and livery detract from the nice colour. To the rating: 

Trax 8003N FJ Holden panel Van 'NASCO'

Quality  7

Design    7

Colours   7

X-factor  6

Rating: 27/40