CORGI HOLMES WRECKER FULL RESTORATION.

THIS WEEK I HAVE A GO AT RESTORING A CORGI MAJOR TOYS "HOLMES WRECKER" RECOVERY VEHICLE WITH FORD TILT CAB. No. 1142
SIT BACK, RELAX AND ENJOY THE VIDEO, SEE HOW I GOT ON WITH THIS ONE!
THANKS FOR WATCHING AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT.
SEE YOU ALL AGAIN THIS TIME NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER NEW VIDEO!

[@alantraish3368]

In awe of this restoration. Tribute to you and the designers at Corgi Toys for all tiny parts that go to make what once was just a kids toy. Those production line ladies must have had a system to put all the parts together for the thousands the were produced. This is why these toys are so precious. Thank you and definitely more please👍

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you Alan, I think it would drive me scatty having to put these models together all day long, don’t know how those ladies did it! One thing I noticed immediately with this model was how heavy it was, a really nice quality toy, I would have loved one as a kid!😊👍

[@EngineerLewis]

I had a Holmes Wrecker as a kid and absolutely loved playing with it. All the details impressed me and my time with these toys were happy days in the 1960s. Thanks for the reminder Nick and excellent restoration work!

[@martindumas4572]

What a beautiful restoration. I enjoyed every minute of this video. It isn't easy to restore these old Corgi wreckers because they have so many parts. So I say, well done! What a great job you did!👍

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you Martin, glad you enjoyed it👍😊

[@michaeljacobson9726]

Another remarkable restoration.

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you Michael.😊👍

[@paultrigger8492]

Wow crikey nick that was some resto a lot involved in the dismantling and rebuilding, a brilliant resto done 👏

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you Paul😊👍

[@DiecastPowderCoating]

That was a stunning restoration Nick. Very fiddly with all those parts. Very well done. Take care, Jeff

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you Jeff, there were a few times that it tried my patience and I spent some time on the floor looking for parts I had dropped! 🤦🏻‍♂️😂😂

[@DiecastPowderCoating]

Hi Nick I know the feeling, sometimes you just feel like giving up with a model and your was more complicated than what I do. Dropping things on the floor is another one of may favourites, I was woking on one yesterday and something fell on the floor, but I didn't know what it was, it turned out to be a tyre. Keep up the good work. Take care, Jeff

[@ConstantinoR-ss9bn]

Nick you did a nice resto on this thames wrecker lots of bits and bobs but in the end a shinny new casting job well done

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you, I appreciate your kind words😊👍

[@bobsworkshop5181]

So many parts. I've always wanted one of these but they are so expensive now. It's beautiful.

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Yes it’s hard to find one cheap enough, I was ages looking on eBay for one cheap enough, eventually this one came up😊👍

[@glynstimpson]

Hello Nick. Great restoration as always.another one for me to keep away from . enjoyed watching hope. you and your family are keeping well Glyn

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you Glyn, all fine here still thanks, hope you and yours are fine too😊👍

[@johnscholefield2023]

Excellent job Nick

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you John!😊👍

[@rumblekatrestorations]

I Nick, what a nice restoration. Like the end shots stay safe Geoff

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you😊👍

[@frasermartin6728]

Staggering number of components for a toy! The planning and engineering behind these models is amazing.

[@PHIL_PD]

the complexity of these toys is astonishing!

[@TheRobertSterling]

Hi Nick. Beautifully done 🙌. Makes you wonder what the line workers thought when they set up for the first run of that truck..wow. Sure was a lot of parts. Great outdoors shots, still enjoying those. Another one saved. See you next week Cheers

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you Robert, I wonder if the line workers ever dropped any parts on the floor lol, when I undid that bit with the winding mechanism and all the bits fell out, I thought ah no, here we go🤦🏻‍♂️ but it worked out ok in the end. Take care and see you next week😊👍

[@frasermartin6728]

Abso-bloody-lutely heroic restoration, Nick!

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you!😊👍

[@martindaredare]

Nicely done nick,on a very complex restoration. Excellent looks brilliant 👌👍👍

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you Martin, took a few photos to help me remember where stuff went!🤔🤦🏻‍♂️😁👍

[@MatchboxResurrection]

Perfect repair with the lighter... That was a whole lotta parts. Awesome job Nick. Love every single bit mate.

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you Juan, thought I’d better warm it up a bit just in case, I didn’t want to snap it. I took a lot of photos to make sure I got everything back in the right place lol.😊👍

[@paulh1679]

Great job, i have one of these to restore so your vid is very useful. looks like i'm in for a challenging restoration lol

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you Paul, I’m pleased if my video helps you with your restoration, good luck with your model when you do it and thanks for the sub😊👍

[@cassax67]

When I saw the length of this edition I decided on a pot of tea rather than a mug... by the time you were reassembling the crane I was on the edge of my seat cracking open the valium... Excellent outcome as always Nick. Where angels fear to tread... better than any action film!

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Lol, thank you, pleased you enjoyed it😊👍

[@briansdiecastthailandstoth6747]

Nice build Nick looks great Brian Thailand

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you Brian😊👍

[@tonyhawkridge9201]

Hi Nick, very informative to watch, l have done one of those Fords but mine was just the tractor unit without the wrecking gear. You certainly got the cab apart a lot easier than I did, but I see now where I went wrong thank you, a great job Nick and very enjoyable to watch. Regards Tony Hawkridge.

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you Tony, yes I did one of the tractor units a while back before I was doing the videos and I didn’t know you had to pull the badge out to undo it, I ended up bending the back of the cab and having to straighten it again, this time I was better prepared 😊👍 All the best, Nick.

[@b.2221]

Gosh Sir that is a beautiful restoration. The amazing amount of detail that they went into was bloody incredible and just made me more immersed in the toy I was playing with at the time LOL 😂. Your outside shots are for me your forte , and are outstanding Sir 👍 Tam.

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you kind friend, I very much appreciate your very nice comments😊👍

[@ralphcooling7583]

Hi Nick it was good to see you did this video as i have one of these tracks to do... when Bob did this one he did not take all the winding mechanism apart he just painted it by hand. Unlike you so ive downloaded your video go to my phone so when I get to that part I can look at it lol. Ralph

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Hi Ralph, I had to dismantle the winding mechanism to replace the crane jib, after half the bits fell out and I found out how they all went I took some photo’s on my phone so it was easier to put back together afterwards. Good luck doing your model, hope my video helps😊👍

[@ralphcooling7583]

@@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739 it sure did Nick thank you very much👍👍

[@mickkeen1294]

Really good resto Nick! I've not fully appreciated this model, but its superb especially when you had finished with it👍so complex but in the hands of the expert yeezy yeezy! Cheers Nick keep up the good work!

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you Mick, wouldn’t say expert lol, had to edit out all the swear words🤦🏻‍♂️😂😂 Thankyou for your nice comments they are much appreciated !👍😊

[@MrJuuddss]

Congratulations Nick you made this feared model look so easy, I must admit I winced when I got the notification and thought what the hell is he doing to himself lol but mate honestly you have took that fear away from getting one of these after watching someone else do one they put me off doing this one but now I feel confident enough to go buy one and have a go. Great repairs and patience throughout bud, well done I really enjoyed this one.👍👍👍👍👍

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you George, it did try my patience from time to time but wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, certainly well worth a go, I have already done one of the tractor units like this so I knew what to expect with the cab part which helped a lot! Take care, all the best, Nick.

[@robsretroengineering588]

They were damn good toys were Corgis as your film shows, the work that went into that Holmes wrecker body, to refer to them as toys (which they were) is an insult by todays standards. I remember getting the Ford car transporter for Christmas in 1968, it was a brilliant toy, every kid in the street played with it until my kid brother gave it away! Still never forgiven him. I never had the wrecker but in recent years I have bought them all, old played second hand things. The renovation day for them may come now I have watched you do it. In the Corgi Book, "The Great Big Book of Corgi", by the chief designer there, Marcel R. Van Cleemput, there is a picture of a prototype Holmes Wrecker body on the Corgi Mack truck. It never went into production but as I keep buying old Macks, Fords & Berliets at Toy Fairs, I have enough to attempt one. Anyway, well done. Again you have done the 'model' justice. They cannot be easy as there are so many small parts.

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you Robert, I had never seen this one or the car transporter until I started restoring models, don’t know if they were ever sold in Jersey or if whenever I was taken into a toy shop I never noticed, but I was really into toy lorries and cars as a kid so I doubt I would have missed seeing them! Doing this hobby is a bit like living a second childhood, getting all the models I would have loved back then, the difference now being to just stand back and admire them not play with them😊😉👍

[@peterhoughton1589]

Another fantastic video of a superb restoration, you made it look so easy, but I'm sure it wasn't with all those parts to reassemble. Are you planning on restoring anymore farm models? Being a farmer myself I enjoy the farm toys. I bet you have a great collection of farm models with being involved in farming, is there any chance you might show some of your collection on a future video? Really looking forward to your next video, take care, and best wishes. Peter Houghton.

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Hi Peter and thank you😊👍 yes, I hope to do some more farm models very soon, I have some waiting in the wings! I have a fair few dinky and corgi tractors that I have mostly bought on eBay over the last 7 or 8 years, but my biggest collection is of Britain’s tractors and lorries that I have bought when I was a kid with birthday and Christmas money, and on and off up to the present day. Some are in storage in a garage I rent so I want to try and bring them back home and make a video of what I have,I don’t remember exactly what I have got to be honest, it’s been a few years since I went through them🤦🏻‍♂️😀 Take care, all the best, Nick.

[@peterhoughton1589]

@@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739 I have quite a lot of Britains farm tractors too. I have several Massey Ferguson 135 tractors (some need restoring) as well as other Massey models, and quite a few Ford tractors. The Britains 135 tractors are getting very expensive nowadays.

[@BobWilliscorgi]

That was a washer Nick to protect the plastic bumper when riveting back on😉👍 Meant to also say mate, use silicone sealer to stick your screens back in it doesn’t cloud them, great job though mate 👍

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you Bob, yes I don’t know why I glued the screen, I have my silicone sealer there I suppose I couldn’t be arsed to bend down and find it under the bench lol !

[@2ndchancediecastrestorations]

Brilliant ...you have the patience of a saint ...we have one of these...but missing front bumper ..has a broken boom and missing both hooks ... Where did you source your bits? Thank you in advance .. stay safe... Wife and yourself ..

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you😊👍 All the parts I got for this model were bought on eBay, I did buy a doner model which had other parts missing for the crane jib on one side, I am going to use the remains of that one for another code 3 sometime in the future, that was from eBay too. These days I tend to go straight to “model supplies” website to get my parts as it works out a lot cheaper than eBay. Take care, all the best, Nick.

[@walterroszko6841]

I used this joke on Bob W's channel, so I have to use it here. Is it a Holmes Wrecker or a Home Wrecker of a project? I'm so funny sometimes I could fall over! I've got a Corgi car transporter with the same cab, so the horn fix helps me, I was hoping you had to fix the mirrors as both of mine are missing. Because of COVID19 I started watching watch repair channels, and jeez that back mechanism reminds me a watch works. Note to self, never buy a Holmes Wrecker to fix! Great result!

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Hi Walter and thank you, good joke and not so far off the mark either😉😂 I did see some repro mirrors on eBay the other day, they had black or silver! Could luck with your car transporter!

[@andrewfield272]

You definitely had your work cut out with this one Nick. Nice job you did too.

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Thank you Andrew, yes it did try to fight back a couple of times lol!

[@ianb6415]

Hi Nick "WOW" this seemed a complex one but you made it look easy. Great detail with the gold effect and nice wheels too. Love the outside shots, has one of the mechanics got a bottle of beer? Best wishes from Ian & family.

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Hi Ian and thank you, it did get a bit tricky at times lol but we got there in the end, you got a point about that mechanic, there’s me thinking it was one of those metal oil cans in the shape of a bottle in his hand, it might be a bottle of beer, the boys may have been out on the lash and got called out😂😂😂🤣 All the best to you and your family, take care, Nick.

[@seansimmonds9078]

Hay hi mate it’s sean here New Zealand how do you make these toys shiny after you get them out of the Solution

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Hi Sean, Once the parts are out the caustic soda, I rinse them in fresh warm water and leave them dry over night on some kitchen roll, I then wire brush them sometimes by hand and sometimes using the dremel with the three different wire brush attachments, sometimes I may also use a bit of wire wool to get a better finish on some bits and that’s about it, just wipe over with methylated spirits and then the parts are ready to paint. Hope this helps, all the best, Nick.

[@ricktucker5130]

Nick I know this is an older video but I have not seen any new ones are you doing good I pray everything is ok waiting for new videos

[@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739]

Hi Rick and thankyou for your concern, everything is fine here, I’ve just been really busy at work, been doing a lot of overtime because of the weather, doing a few nights as well plus the day shifts so not had much time, I am currently doing some restorations which will be videos, hopefully by next weekend I may have one ready plus I will do a quick purchases video if I can. I apologize for keeping everyone waiting for the next video but I promise they are coming👍😊 Take care, best wishes, Nick🐸🐸

[@ricktucker5130]

@@crapaudnicksdiecastrenovat1739 good glad to hear that Be safe