Brian Austin

While I don't think it's unique, a snow-covered diecast model is unusual. Kinda looks like blobs of paint though... https://livecarmodel.com/products/1-43-ist-ixo-warszawa-203-kombi-snow-covered-diecast-car-model.html#gallery-4

I recently came across a reference to an Erik El Erikson who founded this company in 1949. I can find no info regarding any models they may have made. From the linked article: "Under his direction, Detroit Plastic Products Corporation pioneered the conversion to plastics of components such as pillar garnish moldings and heater and air conditioning louvers. His company also was important as a custom injection molder of toys and housewares and as a blow molder of bottles for consumer packaging applications. ...Detroit Plastic Products also specialized in molding scale-model cars and model kits. After selling Detroit Plastic Products in 1977, Erikson worked to upgrade the molding technology for other automotive molders. Shortly before his death in 1993, he was developing a new process known as gas-assist injection molding, popular today." Would any of you happen to have info? https://plasticshof.org/members/erile-erickson/

Tires sticking out a couple of inches from plain wheelwells looks pretty stupid as well. ? I've seen 4x4 pickups with these and wonder how they get away without fender flares. (I thought there were laws governing this.) Face it, trends come and go. Oldtimers grumbled about tailfins and chrome in decades past.

I don't think we're exactly the intended market for these collectibles. ? Those close up pictures are fascinating. I had a hunch there might be compromises, but those attachment points are unfortunate. For fun here are some more pictures of each model along with an illustration that inspired it. Text is in French. http://www.aquitaine33.com/atlas/index.htm A description of the production process: https://www-aquitaine33-com.translate.goog/atlas/edition12.htm?_x_tr_sch=http&_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp In short, the 1:43 range was mastered in 1:14 scale to be reduced 30%.

There have been a few series of diecast cars in 1:43 and 1:24 based on vehicles seen in the Tintin books. American and European subjects. Note that these models are 3D interpretations of the book illustrations, and as such some models might look fairly realistic, while others are quite cartoonish and generic looking. I don't have any myself, so I can't comment on scaling accuracy. It should also be noted these aren't particularly cheap. Some of these may also be out of production, I don't know. The series has been running for years, it seems. Posed figures are included, and some of the vehicles are dramatically (and rather dynamically) posed. The beat-up 2CV is a hoot! In this linked discussion, scroll down to the replies from 2021, then keep going for the rest of the thread. Pictures of much of the range are posted https://www.hobbytalk.com/threads/en-voiture-tintin-model-car-collection.213899/ More info and pictures: https://www.tintin.com/en/news/5440/the-tintin-car-collection-continues-its-journey I think my faves might be the '39 Lincoln Zephyr, '50s Buick and '47 Studebaker...

As well as this fascinating thread was revived, I'll comment that there was a time when the old Classic luxury cars were out of fashion and considered white elephants. They could be found in used car lots. Further info regarding the Duesenberg can be found in this discussion: https://forums.aaca.org/topic/292449-is-howard-hughes-duesenberg-still-alive-and-well/ That model build is well done.

Barbie and G.I. Joe are nominally 1:6 scale. ?

Iacocca's minivans were shrunken down van of the era, complete with sliding side doors, so there is indeed logic to the claim. Oddly enough, I don't recall VW buses being considered minivans back then. Automobile woodie wagons don't count as SUV's. They're just station wagons. Pickup trucks are not SUV's. They're just trucks. There were indeed coachbuilt wagons on truck chassis offered in the '40s and '50s, and those could be had with four wheel drive. Would these be considered SUV's? I wonder what the intended market was for these. I doubt many were driven by suburban moms. ? http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/h/hercules_campbell/hercules_campbell.htm Speaking of terminology, remember the term that used to be popular in the '50s and '60s, the Caryall?

Isn't that pretty much true with any software, unless it happens to be open-source? Also I'm trying to compare the OP complaints with cars from, say, the '50s when cars were traded in after 2 or 3 years and almost rusted on the dealer lot. Somehow people manage to keep cars from that era on the roads today. ? I don't think collectors back then would have expected those cars to have been candidates for future restoration. As far as our daily drivers go, once we trade them in, they're not our problem any more. ?

I was hoping not to need specialist equipment.

Is there a trick to removing the rear wheels from the axle?

The problem with mentioning to people that you collect cameras is that people will dump old obsolete cameras and darkroom gear on you. ? Here's a small part of my own collection, as seen in 1991. Most of came from my grandparents. Over the years I got into 4x5 and 5x7 view cameras, and even stereo 3D photography.

I majored in photography at Massachusetts College of Art. I used to shoot black and white film on vacations. I have a collection of antique cameras, many of which I could not get film for. I still have all my darkroom stuff that I haven't touched since the early 2000's. I haven't used my 35mm camera since 2008 or so. These shots of a neighbor's garage are from 1993.

IMHO, for the past several years GM/Chevy trucks haven't been particularly attractive. The '99 and earlier Silverados were fine. ?

SUV's will be next. ?

I was disappointed his Supermodels TV series apparently disappeared from the Motor Trend channel. I missed one episode and hoped they'd repeat the four episodes.

Is there any logic to the seemingly random number for the editions of the 1:64 diecast sets? 5820 seems to be rather peculiar number. Relating to the issue regarding the '55 Chevy pickup side window issue, ERTL also had a 1:25 diecast, as a bank, that had the same issue. So that problem got around.

Not one of his model videos, but I thought this one was interesting:

The custom headlights were a unique touch. I don't think I've seen oval headlights like them. (They are not like the old Cibie ones).

I was struck by how many miles he has put on his Mercury. Would you drive that little thing regularly with SUVs and trucks on the highway? ?

Detroit Zoo trains (built by Chrysler in the early '50s, powered by a standard 6cyl gasoline engine with hydraulic drive): https://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A256869

Detroit Public Library Collection (trucks) https://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/search/catch_all_fields_mt%3A(truck) OR catch_all_fields_et%3A(truck) Detroit Public Library Collection (buses) https://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/search/catch_all_fields_mt%3A(bus) OR catch_all_fields_et%3A(bus) Example: Futurliner with locomotive display https://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A196061 Example: Unusual Yellow Coach truck with early-style container trailer https://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A256620

Le Mans-style racing in miniature... https://www.lemansclassic.com/language/en/little-big-mans-2/ Special Interest Autos ran an article on the '39 Chevy, and yes, it's 7/10 scale. https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2013/02/03/sia-flashback-ernie-adamss-dwarf-1939-chevrolet 5/8 and 60%-reduction sized cars will also pop up in a web search for half-scale cars.