TomR88

Since I haven't done an update I a while to prove car is still around. We have been umming and arring about changing the car for a while but we have both come to the realisation that we actually really like this car. Yes it may get cramped now we have a 10 week old as well but I got given a set of roof bars and a thule roof rack FOC and we decided to keep it for at least another year. Its a great car and certainly puts a smile on my face. Since the last update, I haven't had chance to do a great deal to it with the arrival of my daughter but I have managed to sort a few little things. I changed the badges as old ones were going white due to age. I decided to go for the older style rather than the new style as price was a bit cheaper. Also I have had the wheels refurbished again in silver. It was a hard decision between the black and silver or gun metal. For me, black looked to monte carlo ish and grey didn't look OEM so silver they stayed. The suspension has really settled nicely and I think it is a perfect stance. I am torn whether to get spacers or not. Thoughts? Anyway some pictures.

Latest Pics of the 106 rallye. Once again it is of a very high standard and the finish is fabulous. The main mod of this is to lower it, new exhaust and fit a roll cage which I am going to attempt to make from scratch. Pics.

I know mine isn't an estate, but I lowered mine on standard shocks and it seems just fine. I even asked at MOT time if it was ok and they said up to 40mm you can get away with it, any lower new shocks are required. I can understand why lowering springs would make the car higher at the rear. Have you took anything out of the rear to make it lighter?

Slight update. I have decided because the RS is such a good model to buy another and modify thatone keeping one as original looking. I have also ordered a nice 106 rallye in blue to go with the collection. More updates to follow

I work for an agricultural dealer selling replacement parts for John Deere and jcb amongst all other manufacturers of agri equipment based just outside Kettering.

Here are the latest pics of the model I received today. It is made by Otto models, the same manufacturer of the M5. Once again it is a resin model so doesn't have any opening doors, boot etc but the detail is still to a great high standard. Soon I will start with the modding of the model. Going to have a look at stripping it down tomorrow. Got some new wheels but unsure whether to fit them and paint black or keep the OEM look and paint them black. Let me know what you think. Here are some pics

Vangaurd made a 1/43 scale but looks like they were a rather rare model. There are a couple available but at quite a price. http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=VA09205&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=vanguard+rover+75&_sacat=0 I am afraid in the 1/18 scale, abrex only made the twindoor but in 1/43 made a combi.

If its a agri model, items like tool boxes, chains, beacons etc. I like to weather machines to look like they have done a hard days work. The trucks have extra decals, extra spot lights, susi hoses etc to make them more realistic. Again I may weather them to give them the working appearance. On the larger cars, I like to keep them as clean looking as I like a clean car. On the above models, items like carpets, making the leather seats look more real, adding luggage in the boot. The focus rs model will be more exterior mods like splitters, adding smoked headlights, larger exhaust, paint wheels and brakes, lower

It's not to expensive, just takes some patience and a keen eye for detail. That's the model which should be landing Monday

A couple of pics I took tonight to show the details a bit more

This is the inspiration for my next model so keep eyes peeled.

yh the deatail on it is great, Has fabric seat belts, fabric carpets and head lining, folding rear seats to name but a few. With a few little tweeks I will make it that little bit better.

Here is the latest addition to the collection. This one is a keeper as the detail is unreal. The car is a BMW 550i touring made by norev. Actual carpet on the floors and roof lining, opening fuel cap, and split rear tailgate. Please excuse the poor pictures, will update with better soon. Keep Eyes peeled for 1/18 mk1 focus RS

We have made a decision and we both agree the Audi is too small for the size of car. We are going to look for a 520d touring but going to hold out and make sure we find the right one for us. We have made a list of must haves and preferred colour etc. Thanks for all the in put and opinions on the cars.

is it sad that i miss Jamie Theakstons voice!! I totally agree it didnt seem as exciting to watch.

We have had the arrival. Laura is not keen on the Octavia for some reason but I think until we try them for ourselves we won't know.

thanks for all the comments. I used to have a 13 plate passat which was nice to drive and i know the superb is based on that. The only thing i hated about the passat was the driving position. but everything else was top notch. We are going to arrange test drives of these cars over the next few weeks. As you can see we are looking at big estates as I am not a huge fan of the 3 series or a4 but i have to say the hyundai looks really striking. Again another possibilty. As for the mondeo, i owned an 08 plate titanium x a few years ago and was one of the shortest ownerships (4 weeks) of a car as was riddled with electrical faults and poor dealer help.

I think this a very ambitious and successful marketing stunt and i am afraid it will only make tesco stronger

We are looking at selling both of our cars we have now and reducing to 1 car. Currently we have a '61' mk2 fabia in red with 33k but new engine fitted 4k ago and a ''59' plate peugeot 107. The main reasons for changing are i can walk to work, wanting a bigger car due to a new arrival and also my family living all over the country from me in Northampton. (norfolk, plymouth and Nottingham). We have narrows the choice down to 3 cars we like and could do with peoples opinions and reviews. Also if there are any others which you think would be suitable. We have about 15k to spend. Car number 1 is our firm favourite but worried about service costs etc but i have heard they are very reliable. car 1 BMW 520D SE touring http://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/5-Series/2.0TD-520d-SE-184BHP-Touring/Wakefield/3611726-605044954-3497097.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_ Car 2 Audi A6 avant Sline http://www.audi.co.uk/used-cars/used-car-locator/a6/2.0-tdi-170-ps-s-line-special-edition-avant/coventry/605138298-26085.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_ Car 3 Skoda Superb estate http://www.skoda.net.r66.co.uk/carview.aspx?id=605103788 Thoughts?

Here are few more pictures of previous models i have made. The JCB and low loader was made for the owner of a local construction company to replicate his fastrac and low loader. These are some 1/50 scale corgi models i have recently acquired. The idea is to weather them to the grimy look of some trucks.

If it is the 1:43 model it is more fiddly but the 1/18 i could customise to make it look like someones elegance

Here are some other models i have modified SKODA FABIA S2000 1:32 TRACTORs

Only mk1 I can find https://www.flickr.com/photos/konceptsketcher/2935265296/in/pool-skoda/

The only mk1 fabia shape made was the mk1 wrc car. Believe it was solido. Used to have a model but quality was so so. Chinese company make a normal mk2 elegance but no vrs but a smaller 1.43 scale of the mk2 vrs is around

I generally keep an eye out on eBay and European die cast model websites. In Europe there are so many manufacturers and it's just pot luck finding right car, right colour. I don't mind paying over the odds for a rare car like this if it is highly detailed, mint condition and perfectly boxed Out of interest what models would you be looking to find.