Diecasts vs. plastic; similar but different; my take

[W Humble]

I joined IPMS a few years back, and finally (Covid curse) got to attend our 'local' chaptrer, DragonLady (Yuba City CA) show; I fudged and took a 1/18 diecast '59 Caddie that I'd re-done twenty years ago in the Larry Watson scalloped style for the 1/16 scale category, and possibly be default (not many entries) they sportingly gave me a second place!  Despite being pot-metal, the judges weren't persnickity about the 'plastic model' aspect, which was encouraging. 

For several reasons, I at age 76, find the big die-cast stuff attractive:  1.) it's durable, if a bit hard to modify, vs. styrene.  Aging hands appreciate this, along with 2.) it's available in larger scale -- also a help!  3.) Though pricey, a number of interesting offerings are out there, some either unavailable in plastic (at anything like an affordable cost for a retired guy, modeling since 1953, on fixed income -- teacher's retirement, and not fixed very high!

I put an Elvis figure (cardstock) in gold lame (accent mark over the 'me') with it, which is fun.  A Road Signature '58 Eldorado ragtop is in progress with 'Stray Cats' logos, all in Ditzler Hot Rod subdued black, with red/white interior, a Gretch electric guitar in the back seat, ala Brian Setzer. Lately, I bought the green Maisto 1/18 '53 Studebaker Starliner, and I'm revamping it with a more attractive red (ivory roof) paint, and after building the V-8 as a more realistic engine, adding a scratch-built McCulloch blower.  This 'model' has a seriously inaccurate roof line at the drip-rail, but at least that part is plastic, and amenable to modification without resort to solder!  I have a ICVOSHO (?) 1/18 that I've repainted to represent my 1/1 '71 car, but this model has autographs from Pete Brock and John Morton; the dominant Z-racers from the 'seventies; I'm going to add my own, too!*  At the IPMS show, I bought an incomplete Burrago "280Z" (wasn't; a 240, which is better!) with aero doo-dads "by Tom Daniel" which to salvage I converted into a drag car: injected big-block 'Nissan V-8', huge slicks, NOS, full cage, and the decals from the Revell Brock/Morton race #46 Z (though I reversed them for #64) and it seems a success.  It had a minimally-representative engine compartment, nothing salvageable, the 'toy' aspect I find in many die-casts.

Now: I have an original issue Hubley Duesenberg SJ Towncar which I will probably never build, but might part with IF I knew it's value; box opened but seems perfect and complete.    

Most of my 'stash' is fronm 1959-65, and still plastic; I'm trying to restore/complete most while I still can.  I will try to put some photos of my die-casts on the MC site, as soon as I master that part of electronic communications!  Wick

*PS/ I wrote HOW TO RESTORE YOUR DATSUN Z-CAR, CA Bill's Automotive Handbooks, 1991 -- a revised edition coming out in 2022, we hope!

[Ace-Garageguy]

I like diecasts primarily for the source material that's not and probably never will be available in 1/24-1/25 styrene.

Though I have a few pristine "display" die-cast vehicles I'm particularly fond of for one reason or another, the majority I've bought over the years have been el-cheapos or damaged, all slated to get hacked and modded into something I find more interesting.

[Snake45]

12 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

I like diecasts primarily for the source material that's not and probably never will be available in 1/24-1/25 styrene.

Same here. Also, a few that are available in styrene, but I don't want bad enough to put the effort into building a raw kit of it. 

I've found diecasts to be an interesting branch of the hobby in their own right. I have over 100 now, most I've paid $10-$15 for. 

[W Humble]

The Burrago Z I did was missing parts, all the more reason to modify; the ten-bucks price still in the box!  I hesitate to mod the Tamiya big-scale ZG, as my kids gave it to me over 30 years ago for Xmas.  But, the ZG... exotic, but not much relation to our US reality.  I made a tube frame for another 1/25 creation (2X Cad -16's for Bonneville, c. 1940!) and brazing wasn't the way to go; solder next time!  Well, every material has it's issues.  When I learn my TIG welder, now...!  Wick

[W Humble]

Boy, Ace and Snake; I gotta' get a life!  So: I'm building a version of the White 3000 tilt-cab truck that was a family heirloom (step-dad bought new in '52, kept fairly nice, but too big for us to hang onto, boo-hoo!) as a ramp-rod on a Ford C-series frame and flatbed.  It was a resin copy of the die-cast seen in S___ A____ mag some years back (highly modified with sleeper and Diesel power -- wow!)  I'm sure.  I'm making a sleeper also, as ours had that feature, tho White Spitfire gas six powered (slow on long grades, boy!) but it's slow going, esp adapting the tilt feature, and doing the interior!  Resin is okay, but...  I have to learn it, tho.  I guess a lot of bright guys have made resin molds from die casts?  I'll try to add photos when I learn how... still trying to get typing down pat!  Wick in N CA

[Geno]

I love working on and/or modifying both, especially el cheapos. If I ruin it I'm not out a whole lot but I have modified various FM & DM models to my liking when need be.?

[1959scudetto]

20 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

I like diecasts primarily for the source material that's not and probably never will be available in 1/24-1/25 styrene....

... or at least only for outrageous prices - resin kits that are way beyond my wallet... Therefore I have collected more than 260 die-casts within the last 15 years  -  many of them will be modified or turned into race or rally cars. Certainly most of them will never be available as plastic kits : Among those there are almost 80 Alfa Romeos:

Edited January 31, 2022 by 1959scudetto