Building a parts arsenal

[Slotto]

Got a general question...

Has anyone bought a diecast car just for the parts? I have a Camaro I was tired of looking at and decided to strip it. Lots of goodies in there.

floor mats, steering wheel, dash, seats, rear column, speakers, pedals, wheels, disc brakes, pipes...

 

[blunc]

I would have to say, yes... builders do this.

A GSL best paint winner used many parts from die cast cars to produce a "2-seater" 58 T-Bird.

The choices were well thought out and incorporated in a way that enhanced the build.

There may be some that question usage of "die cast" parts but I consider them a resource as valid as aftermarket dress up parts.

Be careful to check contest rules if you intend to enter a contest with builds using die cast parts, you may be disqualified if you don't repaint "prepainted" parts.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Got a general question...

Has anyone bought a diecast car just for the parts? 

Some time back I bought a Welly 1/26 scale '55 Olds to rework into a 1/25 scale model. The tires were so nice that I bought several more just for them (very cheap at the time). That got me looking at other cheap die-casts as source material and parts, and I've bought several as donors for items not available in styrene or resin.

Never overlook anything.  

NOTE: It's often remarkable that people will list models in the wrong scale. The Welly says right on the box it's 1/26 (and it is). I've also bought several trucks manufactured in 1/28. The odd thing is that all of these are often listed as "1/24". Jada, on the other hand, has a habit of listing some of their models as 1/24 when they are in fact significantly larger. Fractions must be REALLY hard to understand.   

Edited May 6, 2017 by Ace-Garageguy

[Snake45]

Have never bought a diecast just for parts, but have bought many, many kits just for parts. Just this morning I bought (cheap) two Tommy Ivo Showboats, just because they look like "parts mines."

[Mark]

A lot of the parts on the cheaper die-cast cars look heavy-handed, and I haven't seen any damaged/shopworn "mint" quality ones for sale around here, so I haven't bothered with die-casts for the most part.  Some of them have decent looking wheels and tires though.  A few years ago, one company was selling a line of partially-assembled cars with two sets of wheels included.  I've run across people selling "leftover" wheel/tire sets after assembling the cars, and bought them, including two of one particular set.

[mk11]

 It's often remarkable that people will list models in the wrong scale. The Welly says right on the box it's 1/26 (and it is). I've also bought several trucks manufactured in 1/28. Fractions must be REALLY hard to understand.   

...most likely marketing; gets the product lumped in with the majority's favorite scale listings, and, perhaps, to discourage resin copying of parts.

Picked up a fairly decent '55 Ford ragtop cheap at a swap meet yesterday, marked 1/24 but seems more like 1/26-1/28. Haven't done serious measuring yet but hoping the grill's close enough for a rework of the amt '56.

 

mike

Edited May 6, 2017 by mk11

[Ace-Garageguy]

  A few years ago, one company was selling a line of partially-assembled cars with two sets of wheels included.  I've run across people selling "leftover" wheel/tire sets after assembling the cars, and bought them, including two of one particular set.

Come to think of it, Tom Geiger turned me on to the source for a set of ribbed wheel covers he used on one of his models. Turned out it was the optional set from a 1/24 Jada die-cast 1/24 chopped '49 Merc...which I purchased cheap just to get the covers (though the model looks OK on the shelf). I've also bought "take-offs" from die-casts, where the owner has upgraded.

Edited May 7, 2017 by Ace-Garageguy

[Greg Myers]

Bought some just for the body

[FordRodnKustom]

Absolutely. I have several sets of wheels from those above mentioned chopped Mercs and a few others.

[vamach1]

I destroyed an expensive Danbury Mint diecast just for parts so anything is fair game.

[Mike999]

Don't think I would part out an expensive diecast.  But I sometimes find junked ones very cheap at flea markets or yard sales and grab them. I bought a '53 Buick Skylark that was beat up and missing some parts, just for the gorgeous wire wheels and wide whitewall tires. Think I paid $3 for that one, and thought the wheels/tires alone were worth that price. Also harvested the nice blue carpet and some other stuff that should come in handy.

Some of the best parts from the high-end diecasts like Franklin and Danbury, IMO:  individual door/window handles, outside and in the interior.