KINDER EASTER EGGS-IBIT

 It's nearly Easter, so I'm rolling out my favourite Kinder Surprise Egg toys. These little miniatures are big business, especially in Germany and Europe, where they are actively collected. Due to restrictions on the inclusion of small parts, they haven't really reached the US, but are available in the UK.

 Probably the biggest market is on Ebay though, which is where I buy my pieces. The chocolate eggs retail for just over a pound and have a plastic capsule inside with a small toy, randomly inserted. If I buy off the shelf, I usualy end up with some rubbish cartoon character, so I tend to buy from a german dealer who provides the full set of models for a set price.

 As a result, I have been able to gather many of my favourite sets quite easily, although older models are more expensive, when available. These two ranges come from 1998 and 96 respectively and are mini concept cars.

 The only problem with photographing such small vehicles, each is about an inch long and are assembled by the buyer, that I should have checked that they were all properly snapped together first!

 One or two of them have popped apart slightly, leaving gaps between the body and windshield etc.

 But failings aside, they are neat little models, extremely well moulded and designed and are all prepainted. Most models have at least one colour variation too, making it even more taxing as a casual collector, to get them all!

 Ferrero have a long history of making toys in the eggs and each year a catalogue is produced by dedicated collectors, called the O-Ei-A and although printed in German, is an indispensable bible for collectors, giving year of release, variations and rarity guide.

 Over the next day or two, I will post a few more Eggs-ibits of my favourite Kinder models, so watch this space..