Vics Resins

[Southern Fried]

Review?

[Ace-Garageguy]

Yeah...I'm looking for info too before I get spendy.

[Can-Con]

Same here but I suspect they're about the same as the ones some of the larger model sellers like Model King, Hobby Heaven and Model Roundup were selling about 10 to 15 years ago. 

[Tom Geiger]

Vic is Victor Collins of New Jersey.  He’s a decent guy and a friend of Dave Burket aka Model King. Vic sells at local shows, usually set up next to Dave.

He casts budget friendly resin, repops of old rare kits, without chroming the shiny parts nor providing glass. His quality isn’t Modelhaus but  fine for the market he aims for. 

Where it gets screwy.. Vic charges approx $25 for his kits at shows. He had no website or mail order. People have bought his stuff from eBay dealers who were charging in the $50 range.  

[Can-Con]

5 minutes ago, Tom Geiger said:

Vic is Victor Collins of New Jersey.  He’s a decent guy and a friend of Dave Burket aka Model King. Vic sells at local shows, usually set up next to Dave.

He casts budget friendly resin, repops of old rare kits, without chroming the shiny parts nor providing glass. His quality isn’t Modelhaus but  fine for the market he aims for. 

Where it gets screwy.. Vic charges approx $25 for his kits at shows. He had no website or mail order. People have bought his stuff from eBay dealers who were charging in the $50 range.  

Yea, that's the guy I was thinking of. 

I do have a few of his early kits. Those are about average. I'd imagine quality would have improved since then. Nothing really wrong with them, just a bit more cleanup than more expansive resin. 

I'd happily buy more.

I built this from one of his kits.  I had the chrome plated and made the windows from clear sheet stock. Tail light lenses were from Modelhaus. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, Tom Geiger said:

...Vic charges approx $25 for his kits at shows. He had no website or mail order. People have bought his stuff from eBay dealers who were charging in the $50 range.  

Hmmm...I'm looking at one of his on there right now, something I've been after for a long time, and it's about $60. Kinda hate to see an over 100% markup...though I'd gladly pay the guy who MADE the thing that much.

[Ace-Garageguy]

UPDATE & REVIEWS...

I just got in two Vic's kits from an online seller.

The '59 Pontiac wagon I bought to do Mickey Thompson's Challenger tow car is pretty awful. Slush-cast, poorly scribed NON-symmetrical door lines that aren't in the right places anyway, large holes in places, roofline just flat wrong, missing lower rocker panels, etc. etc. If I were grading this mess for a class, I'd give it an F. It's going to take one hell of a lot of work to make a good model from it, and I don't understand how somebody can do trash work like this and think it's decent.

The '56 Lincoln Premier I'd give a D. Again nasty slush-cast, but better than the Pontiac. At least all the edges got cast. The roof-line is also completely wrong, and the top of the roof is wavy and lumpy. It's not symmetrical either, and looks to have been chopped on one side but not the other. Again, it's going to take a helluva lot of work to make a good model...but it's not quite as bad as the Pontiac.

Both models exhibit a grainy surface finish, as though some stupid dark-ages mold-release like talcum powder or poorly-sprayed poly-vinyl-alcohol was used, and will make it all but impossible to get clean details like chrome trim.

For $125, I'm disappointed. Seriously disappointed. But I'll probably keep 'em, as I'm unaware of these subjects being available elsewhere.

[A modeler named mike]

On 9/14/2020 at 5:01 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

UPDATE & REVIEWS...

I just got in two Vic's kits from an online seller.

The '59 Pontiac wagon I bought to do Mickey Thompson's Challenger tow car is pretty awful. Slush-cast, poorly scribed NON-symmetrical door lines that aren't in the right places anyway, large holes in places, roofline just flat wrong, missing lower rocker panels, etc. etc. If I were grading this mess for a class, I'd give it an F. It's going to take one hell of a lot of work to make a good model from it, and I don't understand how somebody can do trash work like this and think it's decent.

The '56 Lincoln Premier I'd give a D. Again nasty slush-cast, but better than the Pontiac. At least all the edges got cast. The roof-line is also completely wrong, and the top of the roof is wavy and lumpy. It's not symmetrical either, and looks to have been chopped on one side but not the other. Again, it's going to take a helluva lot of work to make a good model...but it's not quite as bad as the Pontiac.

Both models exhibit a grainy surface finish, as though some stupid dark-ages mold-release like talcum powder or poorly-sprayed poly-vinyl-alcohol was used, and will make it all but impossible to get clean details like chrome trim.

For $125, I'm disappointed. Seriously disappointed. But I'll probably keep 'em, as I'm unaware of these subjects being available elsewhere.

I am glad I stumbled upon your review Bill. I was looking at one of his Vista Cruisers which is a vehicle I've always admired. You just saved me from a heartache. Thanks, as I appreciate your opinions. 

Mike

[Ace-Garageguy]

3 hours ago, A modeler named mike said:

I am glad I stumbled upon your review Bill. I was looking at one of his Vista Cruisers which is a vehicle I've always admired. You just saved me from a heartache. Thanks, as I appreciate your opinions. 

Mike

Looking at Can-Con's build and review above, I kinda wonder if the two kits I bought from feePay were actually from Vic himself or poorly made ripoff copies.

It would be nice if more people with actual experience with his product would chime in.

I'd hate to see a guy get a bad rap because somebody sold nasty ripoffs, claiming they were his.

It wouldn't be the first time...

[LennyB]

I picked up two of his bodies recently, 40 Ford Fordor and 63 Ford wagon.  They were not as bad as what you described Bill but they were not great. Both struck me as something we would have expected 30 years ago, crude with vague details. The 40 I decided not to use as it was not an accurate example and it didn’t fit the AMT fenders it was meant for.   Could I have used it? Yes, but with a lot of work.   Decided to modify an original Tudor instead.

As for the wagon I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet.  All the side trim is poor and would have to be redone and the body is very thick.  Back in the box for now as there are other options, already purchased, available.  

1 hour ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Looking at Can-Con's build and review above, I kinda wonder if the two kits I bought from feePay were actually from Vic himself or poorly made ripoff copies.

It would be nice if more people with actual experience with his product would chime in.

I'd hate to see a guy get a bad rap because somebody sold nasty ripoffs, claiming they were his.

It wouldn't be the first time...

 

5 hours ago, A modeler named mike said:

I am glad I stumbled upon your review Bill. I was looking at one of his Vista Cruisers which is a vehicle I've always admired. You just saved me from a heartache. Thanks, as I appreciate your opinions. 

Mike