Natal Diecast Model Collectors NEWSLETTER MARCH 2018

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1 Natal Diecast Model Collectors 11 Knoll Road Westville 3629 KwaZulu-Natal South Africa Tel: +27 (0) Website: NEWSLETTER MARCH 2018 Hi Folks, Wishing members and their families a Happy & Blessed Easter - and a safe and trouble-free journey for those who travel both near and afar. We welcome Dusan Milanovic as our newly appointed NDMC Editor. As you can see from the newsletter layout and format, Dusan has made a fresh start - and we hope that members enjoy reading this revised newspaper type format. We wish Dusan every success in his new venture, and may he enjoy many years in this position. Please give him your continued support by submitting articles, and items of interest to him for our newsletter. A few members have not paid their 2018 subs - so this is a reminder that the annual subscriptions for NDMC membership in 2018 are R170-00, and are due now. Richard Hebbron says that this Hobbies Fair date and venue is tentative - 26th May or 2nd June at Hillary School. Richard will give us further details at our meeting, and members can display and / or sell models as well. His contact numbers are at the end of this newsletter, and once arrangements are confirmed and finalised, Richard will try and keep the costs the same as previously - i.e. tables are free if you display, and R for sellers. Sadly, the VCC Interactive Car show at Hillcrest High School on 8th April has been cancelled because of extensive work on the school fields. But the VCC say they plan to continue hosting this show at the same venue next year in There will be several collections for sale by Closed Auction at the NDMC March Meeting: 1) The remainder of the Mercedes Collection models - these are mint boxed 1/43rd scale Mercedes Benz models, and these models are by CLK, Modellauto Collection and Paul s Model Art / Minichamps. 2) Mint boxed 1/43rd scale 2nd generation Dinky, Bang, Best, Shuco, AUTOart, DetailCars, Troféu etc. 3) There may be some Dinky and Matchbox models for sale as well. Some of these are playworn, and I m just waiting for the seller to confirm. Note: Only members whose subs are paid for 2018 can take part in this auction. There will also be Whizzwheels and Corgi models for sale. Our thanks to Theo Alberda for writing a most interesting article about his recent build of a 1/8th scale model of a Jaguar E-Type. This article is included in this newsletter, with photos. Interestingly, CNA have also recently started selling a part build 1/8th scale model of a Jaguar E- Type in black. This model appears very detailed, and the first part - the bonnet - is on sale at R But I believe the next part costs +-R75.00, and the cost escalates - eventually costing +-R for the complete model. See website: = 20&FORM=PRHPHI&refig=71 7a21b898ac44018cd0489d2cb8 2425&httpsmsn=1 There is also a re-print in this newsletter of an article printed in our May 2012 Newsletter: Guide for Buyers and Sellers for Collecting.This is a refresher for our long standing members, and will be new information for our more recent members. See you at the next meeting on Monday 26th March Keep collecting Philip Page 1

2 Constructing a 1/8 scale model of a Jaguar E Type by Theo Alberda - February 2018 M y wife Jill and I, while on a visit to London, in 1979 saw a Monogram plastic model of a Jaguar E Type in a toy shop. The box was far too large for us to fit into our already overloaded suitcases so the purchase sadly, was passed by. Some months later a dear friend was due to visit London and I asked him if he could buy that model on my behalf and bring it back to SA. three small tables in front of the bay window where the light was best. This will take a week I thought. Wrong - it took more than four weeks! The Construction of the Model Twenty years ago, my eye sight was excellent and my hand steady. That is not the case today and, despite new +3 reading glasses In front of the and a 2.5/10x magnifying glass with a built-in light, bay window where the light many problems were experienced aligning was best. parts. What helped, Parts sometimes, was Jill everywhere, shining a very powerful bed, floor, pencil beam from an LED tables and torch. But as everyone window sill. knows women are incapable of shining on one location for more than a few seconds! Frustration boiled over, tempers flared and the partially assembled model He agreed having no idea as to the The model came in yellow came within a whisker of being size of the box. Yes, the box was far bodywork with a black interior. I binned! too big for his suitcase as well but, decided that I wanted to make it in not to be deterred, he purchased the the colour of the E Type I had owned Cementing was made easier using model. To fit the model into his in 1970 i.e. black body with red Revell professional cement. It has suitcase, he discarded the box and upholstery. So, before any assembly a very thin stainless-steel probe of placed the contents amongst his could begin all the yellow parts were about 40mm long making access to clothes in the suitcase. Over the s p r a y years, I was reluctant to start the painted model as I unable to find the time w i t h The engine to make the model in a few sittings T a m i y a details and until recently when I found myself undercoat front with nothing to do this February in and gloss suspension detail is the depths of the 2018 UK miserable b l a c k. evident. winter. T h e interior In the interim 39 years, the model was brush has been stored in various painted cupboards. The fish moths had a with red field day and the plans were all but Humbrol destroyed. But, I managed to enamel. download plans from the internet But that although the quality was poor. So a a l s o few weeks ago, I set myself up with presented major obstacle as all paint those congested and tiny regions had to be removed from bits to be easier. Upon completion there were cemented together. Scraping away several areas of body paintwork that the chrome plating from the were scratched or damaged where chrome parts was also a necessity the glue had lifted the paint. There as the glue will simply not stick was no option but to respray the to any plating. complete car. To achieve this all windows, wheels and chrome work Surprisingly only one small part, were masked using thin paper the RHS rear reflector, was lost attached using a thinly cut section over the years and three parts of scotch tape. broken that I could repair. The flash has made the interior look brighter than it actually is. Page 2

3 The yellow bodywork was sprayed with undercoat and black top coat on the dining room table. A mask had to be worn as the ventilation was far from adequate. Much of the room and furniture was covered in paint dust at the end of the exercise. Jilly, the cleaning lady, was not impressed! Opening doors and bonnet. Finley my grandson was told he could look but not touch! During the assembly some paintwork was damaged and the car had to resprayed. For this exercise all the glass and tyres had to be masked. Stage 1 of the build was the engine. One of the 80mmRichard diameterhebbron rubber Good yearfor tyres in the 1st prize hisisclassic back ground. All markings such as manufacturer Farm featuring tractors are and and size arescene clearly evident.various The headlights farm implements, on a vast South African General Electric brand. These tyres and headlights are a landscape requirement for the American market. For the UK, and most other markets, the cars were fitted with Dunlop RS5 tyres and Lucas P series headlights. The models chrome wire wheels were very accurate even down to the 72 spokes. Page 3

4 And the actual car ND on which the model is based? The car was imported into Johannesburg South Africa by Jaguar agents Clarke motors in We purchased the car in It required quite some mechanical work at the outset, following which Jill and I went on holiday in it to the then Rhodesia. I traded it in on a 1967 Jaguar MK2, 3.8 Litre in A big mistake! Thereafter it disappeared and then reappeared many years later in Hillcrest. It had been completely restored in red with beige upholstery. Last year it was sold on to an enthusiast in the UK Photo taken in Jill s parents garden Rhodesian trip. Near Kariba dam. And the proud owner! Note the side burns and, that HAIR! Rhodesia trip. Crossing the Tropic of Capricorn. Page 4

5 Guide for Buyers and Sellers for Collecting The late Geoff Sear copied this guide from an earlier MAP newsletter, and it was reprinted in the October / December 1986 NDC Newsletter. Geoff made these comments just prior to the 6th National Swop meet - held in the then Transvaal on 11th October 1986: We have a few newcomers amongst us, and I think the following guide is well-worth renewing. Some of us older collectors I think could also do with a refresher course. This article was also re-printed in the May 2012 NDMC newsletter. 1) If you have agreed to part with a model under certain conditions, or supply a model at a fixed price, stick to it. It s very easy to gain a bad reputation if you do not keep your word. 2) If you do not succeed in obtaining a certain model this time, leave it, as it may well turn up next time, in better condition and at a better price. 3) Do not substitute the model that you have agreed to swop or sell for an inferior one. 4) If someone else is negotiating for a certain model - even if it takes time - respect him and do not steal the model from him. 5) If you ve given someone an option, ask him whether he is still interested in it - before selling or swopping with someone else. 6) Always bear in mind that collecting model cars should be a hobby. Leave the business side to the professionals. 7) You owe it to your own good name to pay a reasonable price for every model bought - especially when buying from a non-collector who wants to see their models go to a good home. 8) Avoid all sharks and antique dealers who may try to sell you models at grossly inflated prices. 9) When confronted with a collection belonging to a noncollector and not wanting to purchase it for yourself, or being unable to purchase the lot, try by any means to help other collectors and save the collection. We may be able to help the owner by selling it at a closed or open auction.* 10) Avoid mentioning what you think a model is worth or what your collection is worth in terms of cash when talking to a non-collector, as this again will inflate the price of models - especially if they have a few models stashed away in the garage. Geoff continued: True words, I do not think there is a single collector amongst us who has not at one time or another been involved with one of these Ten Commandments. It boils down to the fact that it is not worth risking a friendship - or your name as a collector - in order to obtain a model or cash. 11) * For Closed Auctions a) the models to be sold are offered to all members, and we try to share these models as fairly as possible amongst members who are interested and submit a reasonable bid. b) any offers to buy entire or part collections will only be considered after these models have been offered for sale to all members at least twice - and there are still models unsold. 12) * Remember that a seller can choose how or when to sell their models / collection. While NDMC members selling to NDMC members is preferred - no one can dictate how or when this is done - and there may be instances where collections must be sold ASAP for various reasons - including where a seller has financial or other constraints. *Note: These 2 paragraphs were added by Philip Ellis Page 5

6 Lost In Translation! Jodee Berry, a Hooters waitress in Panama City FL, who thought that she had won a Toyota in a beer sales contest, not a toy Yoda. She ended up suing Hooters, who settled by giving her an actual Toyota. According to the manager of the Hooters, the contest was an April Fool s Day joke. Theme for the 26th March NDMC Meeting - Italian Cars & Sports Cars Members are welcome to suggest themes for future meetings The Henry Lang Collection Goes Under The Hammer The collection is listed on Bid or Buy by the new owner of the collection Chris De Wit under Rail2Road Hobbies and can be viewed online with the full range of photos and description for members convenience. Upcoming Events Date Event/Function Venue Comments 26th March NDMC Meeting VCC Kloof Time: 17:00 for 17:30 till we end. Subs due: R / year. R90.00 Country members R40 for non members 26th May or 2nd June 2018 Hobbies Fair Note: These dates and venue are tentative to be confirmed by Richard Hebbron Committee 2018 Portfolio Chairman Editor Secretary Treasurer Exhibition Co-ordinator Incumbent Philip Ellis Dusan Milanovic Colleen Ellis Colleen Ellis Richard Hebbron Tel Home Cell ellispc@telkomsa.net matchboxdinky@mweb.co.za secretary@ndmc.co.za ellispc@telkomsa.net hebbron@telkomsa.net Page 6

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