Food for thought, Are models intentionally made with...

[gatorincebu]

 

    Greetings Everyone,

                                 I was just reading a really interesting thread on a Italeri  Mack Superliner build.  The question of the accuracy of the kit from Italeri. The builder of this model

 is doing a great job of correcting the flaws in the cab and other areas .

     Now if we stop and think for a minute. Why is the cab so inaccurate? IS Italeri just lazy ,trying to foist another poorly done model on us? Possibly./ I think not. Yes the economics of new accurate toolings comes into play here. As well as that great big ugly bugaboo known as licensing.

   We all know the stories about companies like Cat and Mack going after people and aftermarket parts and kit makers, for copyright infringement.

   Now Italeri came out with the Superliner without the proper agreement. Result we have a truck model other wise not available. However said model is not by any means 100% correct to be a Mack.

 Well gee whiz, You can't have your cake and eat it as well ! If Italeri made a really accurate model of the Superliner, with out the license. Then they would still be guilty of copyright infringement.

But with the wrong frame and a cab that is inaccurate as well. They have succeded in  trying to please us. The model builders. And also to beat the big Corporations at their own game.

   Because as I understand it ( any lawyers out there please correct me if I am wrong ). The copywrite thing is also about the appearance of a product. So I am thinking if they make a subject that is not 100% accurate.Then they can use that subject , image , verse, whatever.

   And of course there is always the $ bottom line for businesses. They do not like red ink, and won't stay in operation long if there is too much of that.

 

   Your thoughts and comments are welcome!

 

     Be Well

      Gator

[Bennyg]

It unfortunate that the italeri superliner is so inaccurate. The aftermarket , especially Auslowe, has made parts available to make the truck more accurate with options such as Mack air cleaners, crossmembers, suspension, engine and gear box options. Us Australians are lucky we have aircleaners on our superliners as it covers up the inaccuracy of the italeri kit pretty well.  

Hopefully italeri will do an accurate new American truck soon. At least the aftermarket caters pretty well though.

 

Ben

[gatorincebu]

     Benny,

              That is my point. yes the kit s are inaccurate, but we do have the kits to build.As opposed to having none. And we do have a thriving aftermarket industry that is supplying the needed parts .

  My builds go more along the lines of "if it looks right etc....." Because  the few people who will see my models in person most likely do not know anything about trucks.

And I applaud those who seek to and do build accurate correct models. I build for fun and relaxation and my own pleasure. And getting into too much detail doesn't do it for me.

   Hopefully Italeri and Revell will come out with some accurate American trucks. But until they do I will be ok with the models I have. And continue to support the aftermarket people.

 

   Be Well

    Gator

[Pete J.]

I suppose copyright and trademark infringements could be behind the design deficiencies.  That would make sense.  Here is another possibility.  S.Tamiya in his book flat out states that sometimes the models are not done to scale to make them "look" right.  When we look at a model we have an entirely different view that we do when we look at the real thing.  Walking up to the real thing, our perspective is ground level.  When we look at a model it is as if we were flying high and above the object and that is s distorted view.  Tamiya corrects for that making the models slightly narrower.  For the accuracy buff(I was going to say nut case, but that would offend too many.)  who pulls out the calipers, this artistic license will be apparent. To the rest of the world it will "look right".  I am not suggesting this is the case for the truck you mention as I am not really familiar with trucks.  I only offer it as a documented possibility.

[Aaronw]

Probably not, the moment they call it a Superliner they have a licensing issue. Making it 100% accurate to the real thing but calling it a Super Bulldog would be more likely to thwart licensing issues. Mack's lawyers probably google bulldog on a regular basis, but would they actually recognize a Mack truck if it bit them?  

I think the answer to the inaccuracy issues are most likely cost and effort based.

[AzTom]

Marc, You could be correct.  

Marx toys made vehicles for 40 plus years that were close to the real cars, trucks and tractors but far enough off to avoid licensing.   The Ertl Co. did not renew the Mack license in the late 90's and just change the grill bars and took the name off to keep making the 1/64 diecast truck. 

I think I have seen Superliner used in other trades, I'm thinking it was a pickup bed liner for awhile.

 

[gatorincebu]

 

      Thanks to all of you for your input here.

 

 

      Be Well

        Gator

[truckabilly]

I have to agree with Aaron here. Intentional implementation of inaccuracies would probbaly be of no help with licensing issues. Shape is not the problem. The name is. If Lego comes out with Mack Superliner kit, it will not be a 100% accurate replica by any means. Just because of their brick shape. But they would face the same problem if they called it Mack Superliner. Make a kit as accurate as you possibly can, just don´t use the brand name. Erase the word Mack from the art box and decal sheet and parts if it is embedded there and you should be license clean. That is a common practise these days with 1/35 models. The contemporary models of military trucks cannot be more accurate. No need for aftermarket parts, no need for your super detail skills. There is only a generic name on the box art. The 1-25 and 1-24 scale truck models represent very small market segment. There is almost no competition in there and that is why you have inaccurate kits. Why should any kit producer bother? God bless those who do.

 

 

[detailstymied]

after reading the Revell '29 Ford & Del Rio station wagon threads, i think it's merely done to encourage certain builders to have head explosions.

 

after all, model companies have a sense of humor, too, you know.

[gatorincebu]

after reading the Revell '29 Ford & Del Rio station wagon threads, i think it's merely done to encourage certain builders to have head explosions.

 

after all, model companies have a sense of humor, too, you know.

             roflmao!!! you may be at least partially right about that. or it could be to bring out all of the folks who are into absolute accuracy?????

 

 

       Be Well

        Gator

 

 

 

[Force]

Italeri has been known to take shortcuts when they do their kits and many of their kits are not accurate replicas of what they are supposed to be, I would think the reason is that they don't want to spend the money to do it right so therefore they take shorcuts here and there to make it cheaper.
I'm sure they have all the requried licenses for the makes they do kits of, otherwise they couldn't stay in business for long.
I personally think it's a shame that they doesn't bother to do it right when they do new kits or revised older kits, they are more fun to build if they are accurate replicas of what they are supposed to be and have all the right components.

[AzTom]

I have to agree with Aaron here. Intentional implementation of inaccuracies would probbaly be of no help with licensing issues. Shape is not the problem. The name is. If Lego comes out with Mack Superliner kit, it will not be a 100% accurate replica by any means. Just because of their brick shape. But they would face the same problem if they called it Mack Superliner. Make a kit as accurate as you possibly can, just don´t use the brand name. Erase the word Mack from the art box and decal sheet and parts if it is embedded there and you should be license clean. That is a common practise these days with 1/35 models. The contemporary models of military trucks cannot be more accurate. No need for aftermarket parts, no need for your super detail skills. There is only a generic name on the box art. The 1-25 and 1-24 scale truck models represent very small market segment. There is almost no competition in there and that is why you have inaccurate kits. Why should any kit producer bother? God bless those who do.

 

Was this kit ever sold as a Mack Superliner?  i have only seen it as Superliner. 

[Superpeterbilt]

Was this kit ever sold as a Mack Superliner?  i have only seen it as Superliner. 

No it was never issued as "Mack". It was however issued as Black Thunder-Aussie Road Train, American Oil, U.S. Power Truck, and American Superliner .