What diecast did you get today?

[Snake45]

6 minutes ago, Gramps46 said:

I think the designers of the JL model must have graduated from the JADA school of design.

JADA school, good one!   I think JADA designs to fit models in their standard box, and it looks like a good rule of thumb for them is, the bigger the real car, the better the chance it'll be closer to actual 1/24 or even 1/25. The smaller the real car, the better the chance it'll be over-scale. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

16 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

I'm finding that this isn't at all uncommon in lower-priced diecasts. "1/24" can be anywhere between 1/21 and 1/27. 

Yeah, and I always seem to arouse the ire of a certain cadre when I complain about that.

They call 'em "toys", and insist I should just lower my expectations.

OK...so why even bother putting the "scale" on the box?

Babies playing with toys don't care about scale. Da da goo goo poo poo.

But "scale" actually MEANS "scale" (I know...what a concept).

If it's not reasonably close, it ain't "scale" anything.

 

[HomerS]

1/18 Ford Thunderbird

When I saw it on an auction site, I was having thoughts of customizing it.  However upon opening the package, it needs to stay as is

 

[slusher]

7 hours ago, HomerS said:

1/18 Ford Thunderbird

When I saw it on an auction site, I was having thoughts of customizing it.  However upon opening the package, it needs to stay as is

 

Great looking Thunderbird!

[Gramps46]

This Franklin Mint 1998 Corvette Indy Pace Car just arrived.  Did not intend on collecting pace cars but the price was right.  I am impressed with it.    

 

[THarrison351]

Picked up a couple last week from Wal-Mart. A new VW Transporter in EMPI Inch Pincher livery from M2 Machines and my first Jada. It's a 2021 Ford Bronco modified by Addictive Desert Designs. It has removable doors and a bazillion lights. It seems oversized to me. Go figure. They had several different styles and colors, but I liked this one the most.

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Just got in a second Danbury '57 Studebaker Golden Hawk...again with minor damage (the other one's perfect) and again, too cheap to pass up.

Unfortunately POORLY packed, with the LH windshield post broken as a result.

Still, not too bad, as I bought this one specifically as a basis for a Packard Hawk conversion.

[Gramps46]

Please keep us up to date on the Packard Hawk conversion.

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, Gramps46 said:

Please keep us up to date on the Packard Hawk conversion.

A little grinder action, a little fiberglass, a little bondo, a little later.

Seriously, I'm really wanting to do a retrofit for the old AMT '53 Stude in 1/25 (for both the Stude and Packard Hawks), thinking I can cut down some diecast parts (and modify others) to make molds for everything.

There's no question t's entirely doable. The only question is whether I'll ever actually get to it.   

[Snake45]

[HomerS]

2 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

A little grinder action, a little fiberglass, a little bondo, a little later.

Seriously, I'm really wanting to do a retrofit for the old AMT '53 Stude in 1/25 (for both the Stude and Packard Hawks), thinking I can cut down some diecast parts (and modify others) to make molds for everything.

There's no question t's entirely doable. The only question is whether I'll ever actually get to it.   

Does this help move it up the list of To Do's?

Plagiarized from the Web but I saw it in person a several years ago at the Packard Museum in Dayton OH.  This is a factory built 1958 Packard Hawk convertible . It was built for Roy Hurley ; the CEO of Curtis-Wright . Saved from being scrapped in 1963, when Studebaker left South Bend , Indiana .

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

11 hours ago, HomerS said:

Does this help move it up the list of To Do's?

Plagiarized from the Web but I saw it in person a several years ago at the Packard Museum in Dayton OH.  This is a factory built 1958 Packard Hawk convertible . It was built for Roy Hurley ; the CEO of Curtis-Wright . Saved from being scrapped in 1963, when Studebaker left South Bend , Indiana .

 Thanks. I've liked that particular car for some time.

Thing about the web though...information isn't always accurate, and it's very often entirely contradictory from site to site.

According to Bring a Trailer in 2017, when the car sold for $102,000 in December of that year, the car was built by Stanley Pridachuk (lead engineer at Stude/Packard in the '50s), following his retirement in 1963, and after an ill-fated attempt to convince his bosses that a convertible Hawk would be a good thing. They turned the idea down.

SOURCE:    https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1958-packard-hawk/

PS: I don't have any idea which version of the story is the correct one.  

[Snake45]

20 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Back in the day, I started a model '53 Stude custom. I grafted some sort of front end on it from another kit--a Camaro, maybe?--and it looked a little like this. Never finished it but I still have all the parts in a box. They're kind of embarrassing or I'd show a pic. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, Snake45 said:

Back in the day, I started a model '53 Stude custom. I grafted some sort of front end on it from another kit--a Camaro, maybe?--and it looked a little like this. Never finished it but I still have all the parts in a box. They're kind of embarrassing or I'd show a pic. 

Like to see it just for ideas.

The real one might have done a little better in the market if the catfish-lips-look hadn't been quite so pronounced.

I know the nose (and probably the hood and deck too) was/were fiberglass to save on tooling, and I kinda think the front bumper just might have been a factory cut-down Stude production piece...again, cheaper to have one metal man modify bumpers to order than to spring for press tools on such a low-production car...

Point being they maybe didn't HAVE to stay with the width of the original bumper. If you're going to have to modify a line piece anyway, it's no big deal to narrow it too.

[BDSchindler]

On 5/24/2019 at 8:55 PM, cobraman said:

Got the Icons Elvis Cobra . Very nice model . 23 bucks with free shipping ! What a bargain ! 

Ray,

You may not be aware of this but this particular "Elvis" Cobra from ICONS Inc. with this box art is pretty rare.  I ran this in a column I wrote and did sell a few for Toy Cars and Models Magazine somewhere around 2008.  I also did some side work for ICONS and they provided me some information on this one.

Icons had the box art printed and did sell a few BEFORE they had the rights to market this as the "Elvis" car from Spinout.  Turns out that Franklin Mint already secured the exclusive rights to do it in 1/24th scale so ICONS had to have the box art reprinted and was not allowed to market this as the Spinout car but they were allowed to sell the cobra with #11 meatball on it.  Those that were shipped to NAPA had to be recalled.

The box art was reprinted with the famous Las Vegas marque on it which alluded to the Elvis Vegas car without saying it was. I can't remember how many were released with the Elvis box art but below are the differences

ICONS targeted the Franklin Mint version touting the fact that they could provide better detail at a $30 price point for their Cobra's over Franklin's version.  George Bojaciuk was the designer for FM and I compared the 2.  There was no way it was better then the FM version but for the money, it was a good buy for collectors, especially if on a budget.

The collector response to the Cobra (combined with the GT-40 they did for Wix Filter's 40th Anniversary) made ICONS' head swell.  They later did a GTO that was in the same price point for NAPA that was targeting the Danbury Mint GTO.  ICONS proudly boasted it was better than Danbury could ever think about doing.  It didn't garner the same response and humbled ICONS.

Edited December 28, 2021 by BDSchindler

[Gramps46]

A big thankyou Brian for the back story on ICONS Cobra.  I always thought it was strange that ICONS did not have the Elvis labeling and just figured it was a license issue.  BTW, I am a big fan of their Anniversary GT40MKII complete with engine which was unique till the Meng kit was released.

[cobraman]

Thanks for the info.

[randyc]

I love those ICONS cars.   I have the gray cobra, the blue cobra.   My wife is a 65 model, birthdate is 4/27.   Initials of maiden and married name are S/C.   So it seemed natural that we have those - she claims them as her cars.   LOL.   Also have the 67 GTO - it was ridiculously cheap, like $15 delivered - missing box and side trim on one side.   And the GT40.   They are very nice models on par with the Mint offerings.  

On WIX, I also have the Challenger set - not sure who made the 1/24, but it is NICE and no vinyl top like the Mint version in B5 blue.   The 1/18 is highway 61 and I've read the 1/24 may be hwy 61 as well.  

[BDSchindler]

7 hours ago, randyc said:

I love those ICONS cars.   I have the gray cobra, the blue cobra.   My wife is a 65 model, birthdate is 4/27.   Initials of maiden and married name are S/C.   So it seemed natural that we have those - she claims them as her cars.   LOL.   Also have the 67 GTO - it was ridiculously cheap, like $15 delivered - missing box and side trim on one side.   And the GT40.   They are very nice models on par with the Mint offerings.  

On WIX, I also have the Challenger set - not sure who made the 1/24, but it is NICE and no vinyl top like the Mint version in B5 blue.   The 1/18 is highway 61 and I've read the 1/24 may be hwy 61 as well.  

Hey Randy, yes...the 1/24th Wix Challenger is Highway 61.  I have it also and it is exceptional as compared to other Wix Releases. 

On the GTO, the best part of that is the actual car it is modeled after.  The folks at ICONS introduced me to Walt Hollifeld who has one of every year and model of GTO including the Judges, ever made. The only exception is the 2004 GTO which is really a rebadged Holden.  Included in this is the FIRST '64 Tempest with the GTO package to come off the line and the last 64 Tempest with the GTO package.

In so far as the Red 67 GTO goes, yes...in Walt's collection the red 67 only has 12 miles on it...not 120, not 1,200 or 12,000...only 12 miles!  All of the GTO's are kept in what used to be a show horse barn on his property that was redone specifically for the GTO's.  He also had another barn with some 200+ cars ranging from Model T's to Yenko Stingers, Cobra's, Mustangs, all of the 60's era Hardtime drag raing firebirds and many, many more!  To keep everything running and driving, walt has a full time mechanic on duty that at the time I was there, was restoring a car once owned by Elvis Presley.

On the GT-40, according to ICONS, after my article came out featuring that particular diecast, the demand became so high that ICONS went back and had another 25,000 tooled up which also sold out.  I was nicely done but way too much chrome was used for my taste.  At the time though, it was the only 1/24th scale DIECAST GT-40 done and was high on collectors want list to have in that scale.  Other diecast companies saw it as too much money to invest in a 1 model (or so it was thought) Release.  ICONS worked directly with Lee Holman, son of John Holman from Holman/Moody in getting the GT-40 done.

Edited December 28, 2021 by BDSchindler

[THarrison351]

Hmm, lucky me. I have the first issue box,

[randyc]

On 12/28/2021 at 4:54 PM, BDSchindler said:

Hey Randy, yes...the 1/24th Wix Challenger is Highway 61.  I have it also and it is exceptional as compared to other Wix Releases. 

On the GTO, the best part of that is the actual car it is modeled after.  The folks at ICONS introduced me to Walt Hollifeld who has one of every year and model of GTO including the Judges, ever made. The only exception is the 2004 GTO which is really a rebadged Holden.  Included in this is the FIRST '64 Tempest with the GTO package to come off the line and the last 64 Tempest with the GTO package.

In so far as the Red 67 GTO goes, yes...in Walt's collection the red 67 only has 12 miles on it...not 120, not 1,200 or 12,000...only 12 miles!  All of the GTO's are kept in what used to be a show horse barn on his property that was redone specifically for the GTO's.  He also had another barn with some 200+ cars ranging from Model T's to Yenko Stingers, Cobra's, Mustangs, all of the 60's era Hardtime drag raing firebirds and many, many more!  To keep everything running and driving, walt has a full time mechanic on duty that at the time I was there, was restoring a car once owned by Elvis Presley.

On the GT-40, according to ICONS, after my article came out featuring that particular diecast, the demand became so high that ICONS went back and had another 25,000 tooled up which also sold out.  I was nicely done but way too much chrome was used for my taste.  At the time though, it was the only 1/24th scale DIECAST GT-40 done and was high on collectors want list to have in that scale.  Other diecast companies saw it as too much money to invest in a 1 model (or so it was thought) Release.  ICONS worked directly with Lee Holman, son of John Holman from Holman/Moody in getting the GT-40 done.

Great information ,  Thanks

[caapa]

BRM P 167 Chevy ALCAN 1972

BRM built the P154 Chevy to contest  the 1970 Can-Am races designed by Tony Southgate. The engine was built in-house at BRM and seemed competitive; Chevy ZL1 aluminium blocked 7.4 litre V8 developing circa 650 BHP. The car had little testing  and was under-developed, evil handling car. The modified version got a large wing and widening the tracks for the 19ˇ” wheels. But 17”  wheels were only available. They arrived some success in the Interserie with the car renamed P 167. The „Alcan Team BRM” ran the car as a works entry in the 1972 Interserie.

The model built by Polistil  scale 1:55 with the name P 154. But the wing was an  early type of the P 167. I made the Alcan livery and changed the wing to a type used by Alcan team.

[Gramps46]

Very interesting and thanks for the information.  I am not familiar with the 1/55 scale from Polistil so thanks for posting the photos.

[Ace-Garageguy]

A few days back I got one of these jewels, a 1/24 Leo model, as a much appreciated gift.

Back in the dim recesses of time I worked for an Alfa wizard, and this beautiful little car takes my mind back to a much better era.

Thanks.

 

Edited December 31, 2021 by Ace-Garageguy
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

[Snake45]

Didn't get this today, bought it at the local toy show a few months ago. Put it in the garage and promptly forgot all about it until I went looking for something else yesterday. 

Ertl 1/25 '69 Boss 302. "Calypso Coral" (might be a little light) on Cragar SS wheels and slicks. Not a GREAT model, but no worse than the original Revell '69 Mach I or not much, and looks like it should respond to some basic--and maybe advanced--Snake-Fu.  I guess we'll see, because I just shoved it to the front of the To-Do list.