randyc

Looking good - keep at it.

nice.

I've built 3 - the first two from AM as kitted - a white one, a blue/white one, and the Delmo Johnson version from the VRM decals. I also have the 1/43 Universal Hobbies Wintersteen roadster, the Testores #4 1/43 (made by Universal Hobbies), several of the Monogram s1/32 slots - including my conversion of a body to the Wintersteen roadster and 2 Carrera 1/24 slot cars. And the book. I am quite fascinated by the GS history. Seems like I saw a detail kit to correct some problems with the kit, as well. Historic Miniatures maybe? Can't remember. And the tires are pretty horribly shaped in the ones I have. But I think there are better ones out there. Keep on it! Beautiful cars when complete. I hate that AM shut down before they released the Roadster. And there is a site out there - https://www.racingicons.com/gs/gs002.htm that covers restoration of one of these. Escellent detail photos.

Those are great kits - I finished the Vette and still have the cobra. One uunfortunate thing about them is they are so light a ceiling fan breeze could probably blow them off their display. Please be careful! LOL Looking great! Wish I knew where mine is.

Yes I'm late to the game, but been buying quite a few diecasts of late. These came in yesterday. Sold under the WIX label. The 1/18 is a hwy 61. The 1/24 is identical to the Danbury/GMP piece. These were substantially cheaper than they sell for under their manufacturer labels. As so many others have said, most of us can't build these for what they are selling for now. I was afraid I made a mistake on these. I bought them without seeing the actual cars. Photos in listing were of the box only. So I was really worried. HOWEVER, when I opened the shipping box, the Wix box appeared to have never been opened. The COA baggie had never been cut to open. Still isn't. THe styro cradles were still taped - looked like factory tape. THe CARS were still coverend in the slick plastic and the little tapes in the door jambs. I was happy to say the least. Can't see anything to do to these to improve them. Except they will be displayed! both have working suspensions, opening hoods, trunks, and doors. Detail photos are of the 1/24. Both have seat belt detail, phtooetch grilles, metal transfer emblems. Yes the hood hinges are a little clunky - no scissor hinges. the seat backs tilt forward on both and the 1/18 has seats that slide back and forth. If you are looking for really nice models, now is the time. Really nice models can be had for reasonable prices. As an example, I slaved to builde an accurate stock 49 Mercury, fixing the trunk lid, detaiing detailing detailing. Frustrated my self several times trying to get it "just so". And I am still proud of it. But for $15 +shipping, I scored a Danbury Mint version with opening doors, hood, trunk. Nice chromed window surrounds, UPHOLSTERED interior, and properly detailed door panels. Yes it's black. Yes I didn't get the pride of building. I have been building for over 30 years straight now - probably 40 years total. There isn't much new that makes me want to build from a kit anymore. I like spending a few hours detailing the diecasts and moving on. For what I'm willing to pay, there is usually something needing repair or cleaning. I have bought some real dirt bags. And turned several for good profit. My wife loves these way more than the plastics because they are heavier and she loves the working details. She handles and "plays" with each one, before deciding where it will be displayed. And I am happy to let her because that keeps us both happy with a houseful of toy cars.

I'm looking at the Motormax 65 Buick Riv- anyone have one? Worth having? Cheap and plentiful. I can do some paint detailing and have a reasonable shelf model, right? Also the 80s Buick Regal T type - debating on a sub $30 version or the GMP. I know the GMP will be nicer. But is the Motormax a reasonable clone? And may as well ask while I'm asking - 72 Pontiac T/A looks like with some paint detailing, would be a good looking car. I don't have extra time to build like I used to and still like to have some models I've never had before. I can find enough time to detail a car. I have enough kits to keep me busy if I want to build.

Just to keep something going on here - some new stuff, here is a Motormax Fresh Cherries Vega I bought. $9 plus shipping. I owned a 73 which is quite a bit different (better?) on the nose and tail than this, but mine was exaclty this color. Interior was green and mine had the rally wheels. But this is only thing close without going to a high dollar promo. And it's already built and painted. I did detail the wheels and a little on the engine. Added some embossing powder carpet. Engine is just like the real one - an unexciting lump. Had a weird tampo on the rear. The 71/72 logo on a red rectangle. A little nail polish remover took care of that. And dangit - I should dust the car before I take photos. Door frames are molded with the body. Best to leave this one displayed with everything closed. Wheels and tires look a bit large in openings. And it looks saggy in the rear, but sits level really. Maybe the openings aren't large enough on the rear?

Someone BUILT this. Be it in Hong Kong or wherever. Ever wonder who actually BUILDS the diecasts? And the process that goes into making such nice replicas for sale. There are some really great modelers in this world and they are working on an assembly line. Building cars with details and finishes that many can only dream of. It would take me MONTHS of evenings and Saturdays to get the level of work that goes into the average diecast "mint" car. With that said, none of the cars shown by this poster are of interest to me as a builder or collector. HOWEVER, they look to be really nice replicas. And no proof that this is an advertisement or anything else. But they are nice replicas. not a lot of builders on here that can approach this level of work that I have seen. There are a few. but most of us wish our cars could be as nice as the diecasts shown.

This is the diecast/resin part of the forum. There are a few of us here who build plastic and work on diecasts. Or just buy diecasts. If you are a builder, but want, say a '55 Olds, where can you get that in plastic? Oh wait, you can't. So you buy a diecast car. Same with a Tucker. Or a Hirohata Merc (body available in resin though, if you want to put all that together). Or a 41 Chevy. Or, or, or. It's a model. And at this point, you can buy all of those except the Hirohata for LESS than the price of a currently available kit and paints. I have the all of the listed cars. - have about $10 - 30 invested in each of them except the hirohata merc, which was more expensive. I can spend time building something I do have and still get to enjoy a model of the diecasts. Who cares what it's made of if you are the owner and it makes you happy. no one said this section had to be kits. Many diecasts are NOT kits. And many new resins are builtups.

Nice cars!

Thanks for the older links. Always good to find history on these subjects. I am terribly late to the diecast party on these and the "mint" cars. The good of that is the prices are very reasonable.

Has anyone seen this one? C'mon, some of you have to have it. I bought one on the recommendation of a new diecast geek friend. Well worth it and they aren't real expensive on ebay. Well, ok they CAN be, but if you look and be patient, you can probably get for around same price as a plastic kit and paints. This was done for Wix, but unlike so many of the promotional diecasts, the only Wix markings are on the bottom. No tampos to remove on the bodywork. I didn't take pics of mine, but found this on the net. https://picclick.com/Authentic-Wix-Car-1965-Shelby-Cobra-427-S-c-271373661755.html I haven't put it beside my plastic builtups, but it sure looks nice. My wife was born on 4/27/65, so a 65 cobra 427 seemed appropriate. She loved it. She likes the diecasts because she can play with teh features, whereas she is terrified of touching a plastic builtup because they are so fragile. From racing !cons - they have some really nice stuff. And it is comparable to Franklin/Danbury mint - could be same tooling? Looks good displayed with a Danbury Mint 58 Testarossa too.

Keep the paint scheme as long as possible. Take lots of photos and have it repainted the same again when bodywork is complete. I'd love to see THAT at a cruise in - running as shown or "restored" to that point in it's life. Plenty of complete restos running around - give us day 3 or 4 cars! Sweet find.

Where to begin...? I have a couple hundred in display cases. Right now they are at the storage space. At my ex house, I had them on shelves in my "race track room" where the slot layout was. New wife, new house. Had to put in storage for a while. BUT.... we have shelves around top of living room, so there are a LOT of cars displayed up there in their display boxes (diecasts) and display cases (plastics). I have 40 or so 1/64s in a wall shelf my coworker gave me. Around 9 in the glass cabinet part of entertainment center. A few on the end tables. Total in Living room is always around 200 cars on display. In the family room, we have 14 on the coffee table - diecast 1/24s - Franklin and Danbury Mint. Another wall case for 1/64s. 6? on the little table that holds the Xbox console. And here's the weird one. We have a microwave on the cabinet in the family room (used to be a second kitchen. My wife loves Paris. So on the wall beside this area is a Paris Grand Prix print. On the Microwave is a small 3 bottle wine rack and an Eiffel tower statue (model?). Well, my wife took three of the fancy Franklin Mint cars - 1903? Rolls, 1910 Cadillac, and 1936 Mercedes, and arranged them with the wine rack and Eiffel tower on top of the microwave. She's a good un. She has many models she has claimed as "hers". She really gets into it sometimes. I am trying to sell off the 1/18 in boxes because they take up quite a bit of space and the detailing is so so at best on what I have. I am selling NASCAR built ups. - There's a guy in TN that buys them to put on hardbody slot car chassis. So I am working toward being able to display my builtups and such more predominantly in the LIving room. Oh I have several on my dresser in my room as well. I have them in 2 of th bathrooms - the hall bath is the "flame room" - yeah make the joke - two flamed 1/18 on top of a wall cabinet and 7 or 8 1/64s on the little shelf under it. IN the family room bath, a little shelf that holds "British" cars - 1/64 English cars Minis mostly and a 1/43 new Mini - only British by heritage - but it works with the theme. So we display cars in most every room of the house. Wife has her things displayed as well. The coffee (car?) table has her stuff in the middle and cars are parked all the way around. We have coasters on end tables for drinks, so coffee table is a display for trinketry. I have cars in my office as well.

I saw that last week as well. Some nice pieces in there. But heck, we haven't seen the Fairlane wagons here yet. Took forever to find a 59 Brookwood wagon here. I'll be getting some of these if they show up. I think the scalpers get in there first and get the best things. Leave the peg warmers for the rest of us. Just like everywhere. Thanks for sharing.

When kits were well under $10 each, I would go at least once a month and spend $100. So that is around 10 kits and supplies. Near that same period, I would stop EVERY Friday on the way home at a hobby shop and get a kit or two. And yes I built a lot too. Not huge by some standards, but I have well over 200 kits built in cases and a huge box of carefully wrapped builtups. Been selling NASCAR builtups lately. For cheap. Just to get rid of. I figure 10 - 15 bucks a pop is that much i didn't have and won't get with them sitting in boxes. One guy is buying about every one I post to use the bodies on slot cars. LOL. I keep the cases and put my "uncased" stuff in them. And the new Mint cars. I buy a crappy looking car, repair it, clean it, polish it, case it, and eBay it. Keep it in a case to keep it clean while it waits for a new home. And now I'm buying Danbury and Franklin Mint cars. They can be had for well less than a new plastic kit. And I can't build one that well for that price. I bought 3 yesterday before I got out of bed. LOL Ebay. I haven't bought a kit in a while. 76 stock Torino and the Cadillac low rider. I still have enough kits to keep me busy for a while.

Agreed - very nice.

I've lost my 55 Olds! Can't remember where I stashed it. LOL. But that will be interesting as well to compare. It's hard to NOT think they didn't clone it, even if they dropped it a scale or two. Yesterday, I received a Crown Premiums 57 Chevy convertible - the Enterprise Rent A Car set.. So the wife & I pored over them spotting the differences. Looks like a new tool - neither FM nor DM. But way nicer than the FM I have. And a 57 Chevy an still be a little exciting even though most of us have seen and done them to death. Has plug wires, battery cables, working sun visors, working radio antenna, working suspension. opening doors and steering of course. Driveshaft turns with rear wheels. Removeable spare with jack plate molded to it. Jack in the trunk. Seatbacks tilt forward. Nice. And a different color than the DM and FM cars. And it was cheap enough.

Thanks. I think the wheel/tire combination was especially well done from the factory and helps to really "sell" the rest of it. And yes, that foil makes a pretty big difference. It works for me and buy in was cheap enough. Like most of the things I buy now, needed a good cleaning and buffing out some paint issues. But the diecast paint is pretty tough. I think one of my next things is to compare a Welly 55 Olds to a danbury mint 55 olds. The Welly isn't bad, but the Danbury Mint is over the top. I got lucky and the price difference was only like $6. Less than $10 anyway. can't remember. I've bought a bunch of diecasts in the last month and still have more on the way.

I love the old 50s Kustoms. Hirohata has to be at the top of the list. Like it or not, it is the icon of the age really. But go over to the appropriate areas of this very board and see what folks are doing to their models. We all have our likes and dislikes. I'll most likely never own a 49 - 51 Mercury in any form other than small scale. But doesn't mean I don't love em just the same. I know the workmanship was sometimes questionable. And the practicality was often thrown out the window when it was chopped. And let's not even get into Big Daddy's stuff. That was just Krazy. And it was for self promotion to sell T shirts. I personalloy don't care for stuff in Hot Rod magazine too much lately. But I can appreciate the work and thought that goes into it. Carry on folks.

Here's one I bought recently. 50 chevy by motormax. Kept looking at it and comparing to the Mint diecast. I think it is cloned from the Mint model. A LOT of similarities and a LOT of simplifications. But I liked the bones enough to give it a try, knowing it would require some detailing to get it as good as possible. And basically, all I have done is foiled the trim. I did disassemble and paint the steering wheel and add chrome silver paint the trim on the dash. One interesting thing they did is that the hood ornament in 2 dimensional now, instead of the 3 dimensional with wings sticking out to the sides. BUT they put the second wing on there as a wingtip sticking up behind the first one. Kinda like you're looking at it at an angle. The wheels and tires are excellent and the color is very 50s. Take a look at before and afters. They seem to be slightly out of order, but hopefully you'll get the idea.

Thanks. I was pleased with the outcome. Definitely can't do that for the price of plastics anymore. Turning to diecasts where I just have to detail it out.

I know this is old, but I've started buying 'mint" models and I have an old AMT of this one in my stash unbuilt. Reallly liking the Mint things, but thinking I may BUILD my plastic kits of this one. Has anyone tried mixing the two? To get the correct AMT body with the details from the mint model? Just occurred to me that the AMT is 1/25 and DM is 1/24 - so that's probably a no go. There is a DM on ebay missing some trim, but the sloping body line is kinda offputting. And it's cheap. Which somethimes means more to me than whether I really want it or not. I really like the 58 and want to have a really nice one when complete. Wish I had the entire GM line in 1/24. Some of those were so far over the top... Oh well, guess I'll wait and build my plastic.

Here's one I got thrown in with a Franklin Mint ebay purchase. $5. This took a couple hours and I am pleased witih it. Still sits too low and have some bad camber issues that I'm not going to fix. But much better. And only took a couple hours from start to finish.

Sweet! I'm getting ready to post what I did to a $5 Maisto I just got. But this is really cool.