What a cool model!

Saint Marty. Well done. So, you have to remember. 1955. This was still post-war Europe. These little toys in this size were actually pretty miraculous at this size and the detail they had. Most cast toys were much larger before Matchbox, and more expensive. Thank you for righting this for Mr. Shepherd, and for the child in us all. Kyle

Absolutely brilliant, I could watch Marty’s work all day.

How satisfying it must be for you to take the old, worn-out, and decrepit and make it new again. Nicely done!

I think it turned out great and you had your work cut out for you. I think its amazing to see this car from years ago and how far we come in technology and what not. You took time out for someone else and this shows your love for people and what you do. Very nice Marty and thank you!

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

You flatter me but thanks Jeff!

Those early castings were very rough and light on detail. Seeing the evolution of them through to the mid to late 60s is very interesting......great sympathetic restoration Marty....I'm sure old mate in Canada will think it's great.

Great to see such care and attention to detail on such an old Matchbox model. As always, equal parts of information and amusement.

Coming back and watching these older restorations are fun! The simpler models are interesting and can be a surprise if you haven’t ever seen one before. The white vinegar can dissolve die cast metal, so it could ruin a casting if left in for long periods of time. I use it to etch small rust holes into high detail castings and it can work very quick

You can only do the best with what you've got.Still very presentable.Hope Steve made it worth your while as it was a return to sender.

The subtle humour makes me laugh every time! Nice job.

@chrismayer3919

5 жыл бұрын

Are you kidding? He the funniest guy in all Australia!

Spider! It's fun to see how simple the early MBs were, with no base. Very good work!

Your videos are addicting, Thank you. Also, love the subtle humor.

Great work Marty. I'm sure Steve will appreciate receiving his spider back looking better than new!

A great restoration of a basic model - nice attention to detail, too. I'm also pleased that other restoration/customizers are mentioning you on their channels.

I like the roughness and imperfections of the original casting. It reminds me of the type of toys we had as kids. Some times they were so rough , even when new, we pretended they’d been in an accident. But, gee , they cost a whole dime, wouldn’t you expect perfection? Oh nostalgia.

Thanks for showing it, My grandpa found me this matchbox as a kid to match his 55 MGTD...fun to see it again.

Excellent job. Very rough casting but you expertly managed to restore it authentically. The owner should be thrilled by this make over. Crackin job Marty!

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

I hope so jdebultra! Thanks for watching.

@jdebultra

5 жыл бұрын

@@MartysMatchboxMakeovers no worries Marty, it was an excellent restoration. Don't think it could get any better

Great video Marty. Always love the style of those MG Midget cars.

Marty's subtle sense of humor is awesome...it gets better with each new episode....love the outback backdrops....

Great work! It's interesting to see the difference in casting quality between this early car and later models.

Your videos are really top notch. Production values, thoroughness in depicting the processes you use, and humorous content (spider, amputations, impalings, newspapers). The results of the restorations are also high quality and very respectful to the original look and feel of the cars.

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Stephen I really appreciate your honest feedback.

Marty you totally have me hooked on your channel! Your restorations are top notch and totally entertaining. Keep them coming!

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Great to hear that you are a fan David. I most certainly will keep them coming.

I love watching for the little Easter eggs in the videos and the fake newspapers. A nice way to make people smile

That was very generous of you to do this for a fellow countryman!

Now THAT is a Triple M classic!! Music, Easter egg, out takes at the end. GREAT STUFF!!!!

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Hope you liked it!

@gatorgrowl7325

5 жыл бұрын

@@MartysMatchboxMakeovers I didn't like it..... I LOVED it!! I hope as you improve your techniques that you still keep the simple, straightforward quality of your videos.

Nice work Marty! This is one of my favourite moko matchbox

Been watching quite a few of your restoration and really enjoy them. I also really like the humour with the news headlines or spider. Keep up the great work.

On behalf of all Canadians, thank you for making our country better with your workmanship. I am quite sure you have made one particular Ontarian a very happy camper.

@steveshepherd8921

5 жыл бұрын

He certainly has, will be anxiously checking my mailbox, top man Marty ☺

@patrickbourke6634

5 жыл бұрын

Have just acquired two of these MG TCs for restoration. Thanks heaps for the tips Marty. These 56ers are as old as me and will give great delight to some young students who appreciate historical matchbox models,

There's always so many lethal hazards in these restorations.

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah I know , I could of died there!!

@dennisp.2147

5 жыл бұрын

Like stealing your wife's makeup pads.

@micuentaparaforosycosas3484

5 жыл бұрын

You keep laughing ladd, one of this days your wife's gonna kick your butt once she realizes you take her stuff 😅😆😂😁

@ZiddersRooFurry

5 жыл бұрын

Black widows aren't really that lethal. www.livescience.com/51014-black-widow-spiders-misconceptions.html "Black widows eat insects, as well as other arachnids, that they catch in their webs. The spiders' venomous bites can kill a mosquito, fly, caterpillar or even a grasshopper. However, their venom isn't meant to kill you. While these spiders' bites can cause fatalities in humans, they rarely do, according to the National Institutes of Health, which states that fatalities from black widow bites typically occur among young children, the elderly and those who are extremely ill. "Yes, black widows are venomous, but they pose very little danger to humans," Scott said. "The majority of bites that do occur are not serious. People either recover with no intervention at all, or they go to the hospital and are treated and then are fine." In 2013, there were 1,866 black widow bites reported to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, but as Scott pointed out, only 14 of these envenomations resulted in severe symptoms. None resulted in death."

@dntlss

5 жыл бұрын

Learn something new every day,i figured you had seconds to live if you got bit by one of these,lol,thanks for the info. @@ZiddersRooFurry

Marty another wonderful makeover. I didn't know Matchbox went that far back, 50s. Love the spider and man cooks eggs on his bald head lol

@DiecastMadness

5 жыл бұрын

1953

@kjamison5951

5 жыл бұрын

Johnny Stephens Following the end of World War Two, Leslie Smith and Rodney Smith (school pals who had served in the RAF) started an industrial die cast factory. As rationing was eased and more metal became available, they began to make toys. In 1948, they experimented and made a die cast road roller. They continued to make toys occasionally. However, in 1953, following the coronation of Elizabeth II, they decided to make a miniature replica of the State Coach (they also made a larger scale model). This is what really launched them into mainstream die cast models and they sold over a million units. Lesney is a portmanteau of LESlie and rodNEY although they were not blood relatives. As the popularity of die cast toys took off, another employee suggested making smaller models as his daughter’s school only allowed toys that could fit in a matchbox. Hence the brand was born. Leslie and Rodney also worked with Moses Kohnstam who helped distribute their toys. His name appeared alongside the Lesney name as MOKO from the initial two letters of his first name and surname. They were eventually bought out by the bigger companies and their unique style was lost as cheaper materials and production operations took over. I restore models only from the 50’s and 60’s, all pre-Superfast. There is something very tangible holding the individual parts after painting and then reassembling them. Knowing that was the first time they have been apart since they were first made and having them look as close to original before paint was applied or decals/tampos were damaged and chipped.

Beautiful job on an iconic car. You sir have a lot of patience and skill. I had Matchbox cars as a kid and love seeing them, I still have a few of the old mad in England one's, I'm going to dig them out and take a look. The MG looks really good.

Watching this one again and my takeaway is that this little car is a Gem!

Another good video,despite being 53 years old and owning several antique MG s of similar models inmy lifetime I never actually knew Match box had this model its kind of surprising to me because I’ve been to many British car meets in the United States where many items are on display and for sale

@sirmugman

5 жыл бұрын

might of been a limted run, or was only sold in the uk, matchbox/lesney were base in the uk it might of been shipped out to other country's but they were all made in the uk hence the stamp on the base that says "made in UK" sadly by the earily 80's they were shippnig them off to other country's and that's why bases might have differant country's or a slight burr on the base were the uk made in was re-moved and the country were they made put in, i think matchbox did one of these but in larger yester year models,

Your best vid yet Marty, thank you so much for posting.

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for saying Matt!

Wow. My late father drove one of these cars. Beautiful. While detail was missing, it was what it was. Your Canadian friend is a very fortunate person for owning such a lovingly and sensitively restored model. The sad fact is however that casting quality improved and now has gone backwards. The. Sixties certainly seem to have been they heyday of matchbox cars. I started collecting in the early seventies, and mine never had the detail of the earlier models. Although they did have the super fast wheels.

I absolutely love watching your videos! Thank you so much for sharing the love of your hobby and your sense of humor with us.

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

No probs Brad hopefully there will be plenty more to come.

WE ALL LOVE MARTY...

@valborchardt3596

5 жыл бұрын

Oh yes, likewise

@MrLTD1100

5 жыл бұрын

Yeahhhhhh.....Marty rocks.... ! ! ! !

@BadChizzle

5 жыл бұрын

Indeed we do.

@robertobassetto885

5 жыл бұрын

Absolutely.

@andypreston1524

5 жыл бұрын

Top bloke !!

...... The original driver is striving to get ahead in life !

Another awesome restoration, Marty! I love your funny additions like the spider appearance! ; P

Another great video.. Besides learning how to restore matchbox cars, I now have confidence that I may use my head for egg preparation.. Thanks again Marty

Couldn't be more chuffed with this Marty, have shared to some top metal detecting sites and it's sure to get many views, as for pitted body well mine would not look so hot after being buried for 50 years either 😃

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Steve! I think when you see it in your hand you will love it. The problem with cameras these days is they are too damn good! Any minor blemish to a depth of a couple of microns is visible. When seen with the naked eye it looks very clean! - I will be posting back in the next couple of days. Marty.

@wintersbattleofbands1144

5 жыл бұрын

Mr. Shepherd, could you fill us in on it's history? Was it yours as a kid, or did you find it?

@steveshepherd2712

5 жыл бұрын

@@wintersbattleofbands1144 I had dug this car while metal detecting a Toronto area park this summer ( 6 -8 inches deep) , not unusual to find them and often leave them on bench for kids to find if still servicable. This one I kept as its' older with the thought of fixing it up myself but after watching Martys vids decided he would do a far better job than me, and he did ! 😉

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Put new wheels on today , will post tomorrow! - Happy Christmas!

It's Australia. I just figured the spider was a pet.

As always a great restoration. I love your videos. Thanks for share

Anyone else say MORE MORE at the end. Another great video.

The old ones bring back childhood memories. The original matchbox were only 10 in number if memory serves, this would be 1953 or 4 my mother bought them for me and on reflection they were the dogs b***** but in reality they were terribly made. But that's how it was in the early years of developing toys, just look at them now, I rebuild corgi buses etc there is no comparison. But bringing back yesteryear as you do Marty it's brilliant to watch you return something better than when it was new great work

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Keith a great post.

@donbrynelsen2157

5 жыл бұрын

My Aunt had one of the first Matchbox cars produced, a model of Queen Elizabeth's II Coronation Coach on display in her kitchen.

@wintersbattleofbands1144

5 жыл бұрын

That was the first, @@donbrynelsen2157 . It's worth a small fortune now.

@keithfoster6000

5 жыл бұрын

Not got bugger

Hi Marty ,other fantastic job, I See the wife's toothbrush is still in use loved the fake spider,it got me atù first too.,really enjoy your video

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it, more to come.

Too much take-away!!! I'm still giggling like a school boy. You never cease to amaze and entertain! Thank you.

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Ha ha George, no one else has mentioned that!

watching this made me realize i have a mg midget somewhere in my closet from when i was a child. i got it as a gift from a lady getting rid of her sons old hotwheel and matchbox collection. i got mainly new hot wheels, but i remember this one standing out the most, mainly because of its size. i remember there being no paint, except for a little bit of yellow/tan in the creases. this video makes me want to search for it, and put it in a nice spot on the shelf

@Derek-dl7do

5 жыл бұрын

unfortunately, i cannot find it, but i found a few newer cars to start practicing on

That spider is known as a glue-spider it steals small tubes of polystyrene cement and makes a nest from small stolen parts of Airfix models that the modeller thinks he has dropped. Their nests look like 1970s spacecraft.

@kenhorne5650

5 жыл бұрын

The daddy long legs eats my bristles on the brushes.

@AyebeeMk2

5 жыл бұрын

I am glad you know of this sort of spider. I lost a human head from a box of perry miniatures, I saw where it landed, when i returned to the place; it was gone! Somewhere in my appartment there are a group of spiders worshipng a french grenadiers head,( scary)

@yereverluvinuncleber

5 жыл бұрын

Well, just be happy it has been put to good use. Better that than the carpet bugs that fashion weapons from lost kit parts.

@Theover4000

5 жыл бұрын

This post chain is just beautiful

@dainsmart6237

5 жыл бұрын

Bloody el that spider gave me a heart attack lol he is that big if ya kill it, it would be classified as murder lol

Hahaha! This was great stuff! Loved the very ending as a nice touch of humor. Glad to have read the owner was quite pleased with the results. :-)

Excellent video as always Marty. Love the out-takes at the end

Another awesome makeover, thanks Marty, as always from South Africa 🇿🇦

Another fantastic restoration Marty. I had this car in the '50's when i used to buy one every week with my one shilling and six pence pocket money (7.5 pence) I really wanted to buy Airfix kits but they cost two shillings or ten pence, out of my price range :(

Who see spider at 15:49

@BadChizzle

5 жыл бұрын

Lolbity Love fox990 It kept showing up. In Australia, they have some crazy deadly spiders 🕷 so I think maybe MMM was playing that up for fun. It worked very well. Ha ha

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

I hope you both enjoyed the vid.

@jdebultra

5 жыл бұрын

It had 3 appearances, first one pretty early. He always has some cool effects.

@lolbitglovefox9904

5 жыл бұрын

Marty's Matchbox Makeovers i enjoyed this video

@farnabyurquhart6970

5 жыл бұрын

😞 now I’m gonna be on edge for the next 15 minutes and 49 seconds

I live in Canada and I just saw this car in the metal at my towns historical society. You did a fine job!

Could watch these for days! His voice is soothing and his work is precise and enjoyable to watch.

"Marty Marty , Have you seen my makeup wipes ? " Phahaha Gold 🤣🤣

@alext9067

5 жыл бұрын

And my toothbrush?

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Ssssshhh! ;)

@urgumskurgum7570

5 жыл бұрын

@@MartysMatchboxMakeovers 😖🤣🤣🤣🤣🤫

@AndrewMurphy8383

5 жыл бұрын

@@MartysMatchboxMakeovers btw wd 40 is not patrent lubication it was made by the us navy it stands for water displacement 40

@anthonymcdonnell6615

5 жыл бұрын

@@MartysMatchboxMakeovers could say a rabbit run off with them

Hey folks, the MB cars from the 50s WERE smaller and far less detailed as well as cheaper. I had several from that era. It's when the 60s come around that you see far higher quality (and price) and MB's "Golden Age" begins. Nice job Marty!!!!

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Great post Russell, thanks, Marty.

Hello from the United States. Great restoration. I love that it’s a right-hand drive. Keep them coming

1956 I got one of these for Christmas. A "shirt tail" relative who lived in England sent the car. I loved the car because it had a DRIVER. I still miss it. This video is great - now, every time I think of my MG, I'll watch your video. Thank you so much for sharing...

Sweet Job. Owner is very lucky

:) Great restoration and Go Canada!

You encouraged me to take a break from redline restorations ,and start restoring some Lesney's. (Plus its winter here in Maryland USA and my wife forbid me to airbrush urethane spectraflame paint in the basement because the fumes got upstairs..oops) so tamiya acrylics(no fumes), and matchbox restos til spring. Thanks for the drill press tip. I replicated it in my basement .keep up the excellent work .I enjoy you videos.

Another great restoration , your videos are much appreciated , thanks.

I thought it was a special car the instant I saw it. Too bad you have to send it back. Great job, Marty!

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

I shall be sorry to see it go tomorrow morning :(

Another great video! Your work is absolutely at the level that people can trust you to properly restore their precious rare examples.

You've earned yourself a loyal fan. When I watch your videos, I feel like I'm taking a journey with you though a story of adventure.

Spider descending behind the vice scared the shit out of me! 😂

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Ha Ha!

...crud in cockpit from driver eating too much take-away... or... simply from seeing the size of that blasted spider...

@tiquitita2001

5 жыл бұрын

LOL

I like this model. (I don't have it) nice.

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

I like it too because of it's simplicity it exudes age.

Marty and the restoration and insect workshop Australia. Love the little touches of visual humour Marty well done mate. Thanks for posting.

Reading the newspaper in Australia seem to be more fun than where I live.

I found this car while metal detecting in a neighbor's yard, except the one I found was in much rougher shape than this.

You made me spill my coffee on my shirt with that headless driver spider attack! Dammit, quit being funny!

Thanks Marty,that was great MG TD. I have a friend whose been rebuilding an actual MG TF for the past thirty years plus. I haven't seen him for a while so maybe he's sold it. Thanks once again Marty. I look forward to your videos.

That's one of the best vintage Matchboxes I've ever seen.

I said it before and I'll say it again your good 😎

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Oh thank you so much Kristian for your vote of support.

Always inspiring ... How long it takes to edit such a video? And thank you for sharing your work with everybody.

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

The voice over takes me at least 2 hours to do. The editing of two and a half hours of footage into a twenty minute video (which is normal) takes at least another hour. This one was different to all the others as I experimented with filming footage and then reversing it ( Spider attack). With sound effects, music and adjustment of sound levels, removing hiss and pops for example, all up it takes me half a day usually!

@jamesmilos9909

5 жыл бұрын

A lot of work! Very much appreciated and enjoyed!

@cbarber

5 жыл бұрын

@@MartysMatchboxMakeovers I would like you to say how many hours involved in the restouration? (especially that one you did for me on the tank kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZH92mddmfNasgbw.html

Keep up the great work! I love the outtakes at the end of the videos too! Haha!

Here's to another great makeover. Your vids really are great fun to watch, thanks.

Real MG TD's often had the grill in the same colour as the seats. So in this case red. Don't know if matchbox copied that tough. Anyway real nice job on this!

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Alex.

"I'm going to use a rattle can" against the background of a newspaper headline of 'Rattled'. Nice and subtle Marty. A great result considering the extremely poor quality of the original casting.

This might be my favorite restoration of yours so far.

Major project . Good job! 😊

Are you 100% certain the wheels had any paint on them to begin with?

@thomasewing2656

3 жыл бұрын

Not from the factory, but afterwards.

at 5:57 does anyone see the spider under the work station looking at us

@AlexBabcock-hw9iz

5 жыл бұрын

Think he makes a total of 4 appearances. 5:54 drops down by the vice. 15:00 he's on the news paper up by the word News. 15:47 he comes in as Marty paints the grill. 18:00 of course as he bites the head off the driver and our hero Marty sprays him.

Oh, the Sacrifices Mrs. Marty makes for your hobby :)

This is a really old Lesney model that I have never seen before. It is impressive to see your careful renovation craftsmanship and attention to little details. Great work as always!

I hope during filming, not a single spider has not suffered?)) С любовью из России)

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Nah! - He was just playing dead.

@Donleecartoons

5 жыл бұрын

Suffered? Looks as though the spider thoroughly enjoyed it!

Be careful with the early castings Marty, as they suffer quite badly with metal fatigue and could crumble away if treated too harshly (you can see evidence of metal fatigue -pitting- on this casting) The pre-war and just post war castings especially, were made from inferior materials and that's why the detail in the casting is poor. I've seen badly fatigued models that have been coated in epoxy resin in an attempt to hold the casting together, but in my opinion nothing really works. regards Chris

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Good post Kris, good to know.

@andrewhaines8603

5 жыл бұрын

There is a guy in America I think. He built his own regalvanising kit for just such issues. I'm sorry I can't remember his name, but do a bit of research and you may find him!

Another great vid. Awesome job for someone halfway around the world. Two thumbs up!!!!

Great videos Marty! Learning tons watching them (while laughing).

I have a technical question. I see that all the die cast car restorers use a coat of primer before repainting, but the cars originally had no primer. Is the primer truly necessary? I'm sure it helps the paint adhere better, but the loss of detail is a hefty price to pay. If the model is not going to be played with and carelessly tossed into a pile of other toy cars, would the loss of adherence be a problem? Thanks in advance to anyone who answers this.

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Good question Stephen, and after this one I might try some without and see if there is a difference. Anyone else got an idea?

@allanadam4553

5 жыл бұрын

Could the early cars have used a lead based paint? Could test for it? Also would not need a primer. Lead was still present in some paints into the early 70’s

@thomasewing2656

5 жыл бұрын

Less paint is better, yet Marty's Matchbox Makeovers does such a nice job, let's see what Marty comes up with.

@kenhorne5650

5 жыл бұрын

They ever use lead paint?

@kjamison5951

5 жыл бұрын

allan adam Lesney Matchbox did not use lead based paints on their models. I did see a video (BareMetalHW?) where the paint was tested on a Matchbox model and the result was negative.

Not one of your best Marty, but that's entirely down to the poor quality and lack of fine detail of the model, not your expertise....

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you, I did struggle a bit to make it presentable at high magnification. Truly, in the real world, it looks quite good when viewed with the mark 1 eyeball.

@ProfessorYana

5 жыл бұрын

@@MartysMatchboxMakeovers For some things, you just can't beat the good old Mark I.

A Brilliant makeover. Marty you are a star *****

Really nice work Marty!

As ever a great presentation, the subject too was a gem.

Hahaha! Was that spider real? How funny, I bet his wife thought of that. Im suppose to be going to work in 5min- but I'm watching this instead and loving it!! This is great! Ive been so low, blinking at the everyday grind, and holiday stress, I'd almost forgot why and what makes me happy. Thanks! I really needed this.

Wow thanks for the info on Matchbox cars. Very informative. Thanks.

Nice restoration for such a tiny subject ......Keep these wonderful video's coming.

@MartysMatchboxMakeovers

5 жыл бұрын

I will and hopefully get better with each one.