W is for Wroxham Miniature Worlds

This was going to be part of a twin posting/comparison with the 'museum' at Mountfitchet, but things took a darker turn at that establishment, and for now I'll stuff it inconveniently under the carpet, and instead you can enjoy this as a stand-alone!

 

The shots Chris Smith took on a visit to the Wroxham Miniature Worlds attraction up in Norfolk, just NE of Norwich . . . 

----------------------------------------------

 

"From the outside the building looks like an industrial unit with entrance via a propped open fire door escape, I knew entry price was £13.95, did think about not going in... But took the plunge.

Very well laid out displays, some massive model railway scenic setups. Not my thing but couldn't help but be impressed by the standard of work involved in creating them, 100's of plastic buildings and 1000's of small figures included. All the trains controlled by a central PC program.

A number of working flight and driving simulator PC games from the 80/90's set up to try. I was useless at these back then so passed on trying."

"Good Scalextric track and display. Pelham Puppets, another massive collection on display. Huge vintage Star Wars action figure collection, figures, vehicles and boxes"

 

"Only other plastic figures I spotted were four Britains RNLI boats and crew in with some other, larger model ships."

"The Lesney/Matchbox bus was amazing, the sheer amount of vehicles was staggering. They do need to improve the lighting in this and the head height is an issue if you're over 5' 9" having to stoop on both levels."

 

 

 

"A small display of more general toys of interest were Magic Roundabout Figures, Sooty & Friends cereal premiums and a strange space bike with no rider, approx 1/32 scale that I'm sure would know the maker." [MPC Fireball XL5]

 

"Massive Lego display, from vintage Lego city to more recent lines of  Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter etc."

 

"Knitting! Not my thing, but impressed with the level of detail and work involved."

 

[Excellent use of a mirror-back display cabinet, to visually double the size of the diorama]

 

"Airfix models, poor display, obviously not loved. Poor quality build and a bit battered now. Were a few Airfix painted 1/32 figures and 1/72, but at ground level and hard to see.

 

One of my favourites was a collection of penny arcade machines all in working order, old pennies available via a change machine a £1 for ten, which I enjoyed spending. 

 

Overall, I'd recommend it to anyone if you're in the area on holiday or in Norfolk visiting/working. Personably disappointed by the lack of plastic figures."

----------------------------------------------

 

To which I'll add my tuppenny's worth, firstly thanks to Chris for sending all this to the Blog, and secondly, it appears to be a much better curated and displayed than others I have seen, the Airfix 54mm case, not withstanding!

C is for Coronations . . . Don'cha Just Lov'em!

We're about to have another one you know! Hopefully the last, and yes, I know I did a couple of Royalist posts ten or twelve years ago, but I know now, what I didn't know then, or didn't fully understand!

Found in the garage yesterday and taken straight to storage, but I fired off a quick shot. Somehow I doubt there will be the same plethora of die-casts issued this time, and most of the issuers (some of whom reused tools from previous coronations - we had four or five (going on the stamp-faces) in less than fifty years!) have long gone, along with their tool-banks.

I think there are elements of Hill, Benbros, Britains and Lesney here? I'm tagging them all anyway! It's a whole box of metal, from the small-scale only collector-days!

News, Views Etc . . . Vectis Over the Next Fortnight

Another newsletter from Vectis brings a reprise of the other-day's announcement and further details on three more auctions next week (this coming week) and two the week after, as I seem to have saved dosh during lockdown, as have others I know, might be that you too are ready for a splurge?

Lot 5

TV & Film-related Sale

Tuesday 23rd June 2020, Starts - 10:00hrs

" The TV and Film related sale to be held on the 23rd of June features 64 lots of The Key Issue Comic Book Collection, over 1500 issues of Silver, Bronze and Modern Age Marvel, DC and other comics, including large groups and Single issues, with some hard and soft back books. Further items in the sale include Star Wars helmet collection groups, model kits, accessories, plus carded and loose figures, including graded. There is a large collection of Batman figures and vehicles, Thunderbirds collectables, Camberwick Green figures, plus Transformers, He-Man, Dr Who, and many more. The sale will also include a large selection of Prototype, One-off and Pre-Production sample items, from Disney characters, Star Wars, Tonka and Sindy plus Mr Turnip BBC TV original Whirligig scripts, artwork and ephemera. Further items include Hero Quest and other fantasy board games and sets, Modern Action Man, Subbuteo, Lego, and Caterbench product. "

Catalogue (on-line and download) here

Lot 1025

Specialist Die-Cast Sale

Wednesday 24th June 2020, Starts -10:00hrs

" The Specialist Sale to be held on the 24th of June, features seven private owner collections. The French Collection features 41 lots from Victory Models, Shackleton, and boxed and unboxed cars, trucks, and buses from Dinky. The Yorkshire Collection includes 29 lots of boxed and unboxed Dinky models whilst The Hampshire Collection features Tinplate and Plastic models from Mettoy, Wells Brimtoy, Victory Models, and Triang Minic; plus Corgi and Dinky figure sets and vehicles. The Graham Tucker Collection comprises a number of different toys and books, plus Pelham Puppets, Triang Minic ships, and Corgi Gift Sets; Dinky, Budgie and Matchbox. 1/50th scale cranes, Excavators and construction machinery feature in The Humberside Construction Collection whilst Private Owner Collection #1 includes Lansdowne Models, SMTS models, Spark, IXO, Minichamps, EFE, plus Aircraft and Corgi Aviation Archive. There are further items from Other Vendors including TV and Film related diecast, French Dinky, Marklin and Dinky Aircraft. "

Catalogue (on-line and download) here

Lot 2037

General Toy Sale

Thursday 25th June 2020, Starts - 10:00hrs

" The General Toy Sale to be held on the 25th of June, features The World's largest collection of Law Enforcement Insignia and Police Memorabilia. The haul of over 10,000 pieces forms part of an emergency services collection, amassed by a private collector over several decades. Further items in the sale include boxed groups from Lledo, EFE, Bburago, Solido, Matchbox Models of Yesteryear plus many others. There is a large selection of magazine Issues from Hachette, Altire and similar; Britains boxed sets, Disney "Cars?, Dinky, Danbury Mint, Triang, and white metal and resin lots from Provence, Record, John Day, Starter and others.  Further items include books, video games and consoles, board games, magazines, robots and space toys, Subbuteo, Lego and much more. "

Catalogue (on-line and download) here

Lot 3097

Model Train & Railway Sale

Friday 26th June 2020, Starts - 10:00hrs

" The Model Train sale to be held on the 26th June features The St Martins Bay Collection; OO Gauge British Outline from Hornby, Bachmann, TMC Models and other Manufacturers & Accessories. HO Gauge Continental & American Outline, N Gauge and OO & O Gauge Golden Age Models. Further items in the sale include OO Gauge British Outline from Other Vendors, a Wrenn Single Owner Collection, Part 3 of The Chris Freeman Meccano & Vintage Toy Collection, plus further Meccano & Other Constructional Toys, Live Steam, Hornby, Modern and further O Gauge plus Books, Magazines & Catalogues, Railway Photographs, Pictures & Prints and our usual good selection of General Trains. "

Catalogue (on-line and download) here

Lot 4351

Specialist Matchbox Toy Sale

Monday 29th June 2020, Starts - 10:00hrs

" The Matchbox sale to be held on the 29th of June includes two private owner collections. The Belgium Collection and the Bruges Collections, both feature Matchbox Regular Wheels, boxed and unboxed, single models and groups, including cars, commercials, buses, tractors and emergency vehicles plus others. The collections also include Gift Sets, Major Packs, King Size and Super King. Further items in the sale include sales and service stations, Accessory and Major Packs, Super Kings, Speed Kings, King Size and Superfast. The sale will also include unlisted variations, factory errors and unfinished models, plus, counter displays, books, catalogues, artwork, games and sets. "

Catalogue (on-line and download) here

Lot 5606

The Joe & Urs Ayres Matchbox Toy Collection Sale

Tuesday 30th June 2020, Starts - 10:00am

" The Joe and Urs Ayres Collection to be held on the 30th of June is a private owner collection of over 600 Lots of Matchbox Regular Wheel models. The collection includes road and racing cars, trucks and haulage, tractors, motorcycles, removals vans, constructions vehicles, buses and coaches, caravans', boats, military and many more. They include many rare and hard to find issues with different colour and wheel variations. "

Catalogue (on-line and download) here

Vectis also explained the system as it stands and going forward in the immediate future;

" We are now back and working to almost full capacity. We have a one or two Specialists still shielding and we have safe distance measures set out within the warehouse, but the Auctions are continuing and the prices being achieved are very strong.

We are still operating closed Auctions, with no viewing or room attendance. Bids can be made prior to, or on the day of the sale, please see our website for more details.

Because of the measures in place, and the time-off we have had, we are still slightly behind with packing, so please bear with us when waiting for deliveries, rest assured we are working as quickly and safely as possible whilst ensuring our usual high standard of packing.

If you would like to collect your lots please contact us prior to collection and once paid we can arrange a mutually agreed time with you.

We have some fantastic collections coming up this month, a World Record Collection, Original BBC props, Key Issue comic books, and a plethora of private owner collections with many rare and sought after Lots. Please take a look at our online catalogues and remember, if you would like any further information or photographs we will be happy to provide extra condition reports on any Lots. "