What would you like to see? Brass edition

[Richard Bartrop]

Yes, I know, this old topic, but with a little different spin.

ICM has been doing some interesting kits from the dawn of the motor age, a genre that's been almost completely ignored up to now, and it's got me thinking about what other subjects from this era would be worth a new kit?

Here's a few I'd like to see in 1/24 or 1/25:

A Mercer Raceabout would make a nice companion piece to MPC's Stutz Bearcat kit

This 1902 Olds was one of the first cars to produced in any kind of quantity.

Ford's 999 racor  is pretty significant.

Though this 1905 Premier racer is pretty wild.  Yes, that is the whole car.

And since we're talking autmotive pioneers, how about some really early iron, like this 1770 Cugnot?

 

What auto pioneer would you like to see immortalized in plastic?

 

Obviously, this subject isn't to everyone's taste, and I respect that, and I'm sure you can find a topic on this forum that is more to your liking.

 

 

Edited January 7, 2020 by Richard Bartrop

[Rob Hall]

The 1911 Fiat 'Beast of Turin' 28.4 liter race car would be interesting..

[DukeE]

Agree on 999.Fiat pretty awesome. '14 Peugeot L45 GP. twin cam 4v. 1911 Marmon Wasp.

[89AKurt]

I haven't looked, but don't recall the 1879 Benz as a kit.  This is in a collection in town, a replica:

[Rob Hall]

3 minutes ago, 89AKurt said:

I haven't looked, but don't recall the 1879 Benz as a kit.  This is in a collection in town, a replica:
 

Well, the 1886 Benz Patentwagen is coming soon as a new 1/24th kit from ICM..

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10667427

 

[DukeE]

http://cars-mercedes.com/mercedes-benz-f-class/mercedes-fcell-roadster-trainees-build-a-car-of.html

[89AKurt]

6 hours ago, Rob Hall said:

Well, the 1886 Benz Patentwagen is coming soon as a new 1/24th kit from ICM..

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10667427

 

I'll be....?

[Bugatti Fan]

Richard, the Cugnot Steam Tractor has been released as a plastic kit way back in the 60's. I think it was in 1/32 scale by a French company  (I think)). Now a very rare kit. As you said, some of the veteran cars would make great subjects, but with their limited  appeal, I cannot see manufacturers investing large amounts on development and tooling for life that would probably make a loss for them. I too would like to see some veteran and vintage subjects but have to be realistic in my expectations. Like you I would like to see a Mercer Raceabout on 1/24 scale. Certainly a lovely subject. My own desires would be a Bugatti  Brescia, or a Type 59 in 1/24 scale, not to mention some of the inter war Alfas, Auto Union and  Mercedes racers in 1/24 scale.ICM have taken a brave step with the veteran Benz, having done variations of the Ford T.

Edited January 7, 2020 by Bugatti Fan

[Bugatti Fan]

Forgot to mention seeing the Curved Dash Oldsmobile, this was kitted in 1/16 scale by either Aurora or Lindberg way back when as part of a series of old timers that included a Stutz Bearcat, and a Mercer Raceabout. There were some others in this series that I cannot remember.

In 1/32 scale some of the original Airfix car kits were of veteran vintage subjects. Revell made a few as did Gowland and Aurora back in the old days.

[stitchdup]

I'd like to see a ww1 era rolls royce, but as one of the truck/tank conversions used in the desert. I'd also like to see an early farm tractor like an allis chalmers or something similar with the spoked wheels and  knobbly metal rims. I just like the way they look so mmechanical compared to even the 30s tractors

[Richard Bartrop]

9 hours ago, Bugatti Fan said:

Richard, the Cugnot Steam Tractor has been released as a plastic kit way back in the 60's. I think it was in 1/32 scale by a French company  (I think)). Now a very rare kit. As you said, some of the veteran cars would make great subjects, but with their limited  appeal, I cannot see manufacturers investing large amounts on development and tooling for life that would probably make a loss for them. I too would like to see some veteran and vintage subjects but have to be realistic in my expectations. Like you I would like to see a Mercer Raceabout on 1/24 scale. Certainly a lovely subject. My own desires would be a Bugatti  Brescia, or a Type 59 in 1/24 scale, not to mention some of the inter war Alfas, Auto Union and  Mercedes racers in 1/24 scale.ICM have taken a brave step with the veteran Benz, having done variations of the Ford T.

Oh, most of them have been kitted before in different scales, most back when the plastic kit industry was still trying to figure things out, which is why I made the qualifier of new kits.   Are the odds of any of them happening low?  Until recently, I would have said that the odds of any new brass era kits was effectively zero.   If anyone on this forum had said "You know, we really need a decent 1/24 of an 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen", they would have been shouted down for uttering such foolishness.  But ICM has released more 1/24 kits of veteran era cars in the last 5 years than we had seen in the previous 50, so clearly they think there is a market out there.  What was previously unthinkable, is maybe not quite so unthinkable, so it seemed a fun, and possibly useful exercise to see what people would want. from that era.  Maybe some common subject would come up, and maybe some people would find out that they aren't the only one who wants some crazy subject.  Worst case scenario, we shoot the breeze about old cars.

[Mike999]

6 hours ago, stitchdup said:

I'd like to see a ww1 era rolls royce, but as one of the truck/tank conversions used in the desert. 

It's been raining Rolls armored cars the past few years, but all in 1/35 scale.  Starting in 2009, Roden released a 1920 Pattern (steel disk wheels), WWII desert version with balloon tires and Boys anti-tank gun, and a 1914 Pattern with photo-etched wire wheels. Just last year MENG did one with optional parts for all 3 of those versions in the box.  It also has photo-etched wire wheels.

The latest entry, released just recently, is a 1920 Pattern from a company named Warslugs (no, I'm not making that up).  Pic below.  It has complete interior detail. 

I built a Roden Pattern 1920 Rolls, as used in the Irish Civil War.  It has a basic interior, but very complete engine and chassis detail. In places the parts were kind of "thick" and needed careful prep. Especially the multi-piece turret...which has a raised coaming under the hatch that shouldn't be there.  Of course, I only discovered that after I finished the kit.

A neat conversion for a 1914 Pattern would be the "roadster" Rolls armored car seen in photos with T.E. Lawrence.  The turret and the armored decking under it were removed, making it look sort of like a prehistoric hot rod.

 

 

Edited January 7, 2020 by Mike999
omit

[bbowser]

There are so many!  How about a Stanley Steamer?

Or a Packard...

Maybe an early Caddy?

Pierce Arrow?

Any of these and many more!  It was an exciting era in automobile design and technology.

[stavanzer]

1. 1912 Mercer Raceabout

2. 1912 Simplex Touring. (Matchbox made a diecast of this)

3. Pre 1914 Pierce Arrow. Anybody style

4. 1916 Reeves Octo-Auto (Never gonna happen, but......)

[peteski]

2 hours ago, alexis said:

1. 1912 Mercer Raceabout

Bandai (and then some Chinese company) made a 1:16 model. Very nice (I think Harry P. built one).

 

[peteski]

On 1/6/2020 at 6:42 PM, Rob Hall said:

The 1911 Fiat 'Beast of Turin' 28.4 liter race car would be interesting..

Is it me, or does that thing look pregnant?  Still, cool and unique vehicle.

[stitchdup]

10 hours ago, Mike999 said:

It's been raining Rolls armored cars the past few years, but all in 1/35 scale.  Starting in 2009, Roden released a 1920 Pattern (steel disk wheels), WWII desert version with balloon tires and Boys anti-tank gun, and a 1914 Pattern with photo-etched wire wheels. Just last year MENG did one with optional parts for all 3 of those versions in the box.  It also has photo-etched wire wheels.

The latest entry, released just recently, is a 1920 Pattern from a company named Warslugs (no, I'm not making that up).  Pic below.  It has complete interior detail. 

I built a Roden Pattern 1920 Rolls, as used in the Irish Civil War.  It has a basic interior, but very complete engine and chassis detail. In places the parts were kind of "thick" and needed careful prep. Especially the multi-piece turret...which has a raised coaming under the hatch that shouldn't be there.  Of course, I only discovered that after I finished the kit.

A neat conversion for a 1914 Pattern would be the "roadster" Rolls armored car seen in photos with T.E. Lawrence.  The turret and the armored decking under it were removed, making it look sort of like a prehistoric hot rod.

 

 

Very nice work, Thats exactly what i meant too, I should have specified 1/24 though. The reason I want one is my great grandfather was on one during ww1 .

[Atmobil]

I do have a Stanley Steamer kit, I think it is a 1912 maybe in 1:32 from Life Like Hobby Kits I think. It is a kit from the 60s but I like it and think it would be cool to see a 1:24 modern tooling with lots of details.

[peteski]

5 minutes ago, Atmobil said:

I do have a Stanley Steamer kit, I think it is a 1912 maybe in 1:32 from Life Like Hobby Kits I think. It is a kit from the 60s but I like it and think it would be cool to see a 1:24 modern tooling with lots of details.

Yes, I have that kit too. I believe that it was originally produced by Pyro.

[Atmobil]

1 minute ago, peteski said:

Yes, I have that kit too. I believe that it was originally produced by Pyro.

Yes, thats the one. 1911, my memory only missed by one year. 

A 1:24 (or 1:25) fully detailed steam engine could be a cool thing to put in to another model aswell.

[Mike999]

5 hours ago, stitchdup said:

Very nice work, Thats exactly what i meant too, I should have specified 1/24 though. The reason I want one is my great grandfather was on one during ww1 .

Just to clarify, the Rolls in the pic is not my work.  It's the new Warslugs kit. I'll try to get ambitious and take some pix of my Roden build, for the "All The Rest" group. 

If anyone gives us a 1/24 Rolls armored car, it will probably be ICM. They've done Model T's, the Mercedes G4, Opels and some other cars in both 1/35 and 1/24. If they did the Rolls armored car, maybe they could also give us a stock pre-war 1/24 Silver Ghost. Yes, I'm dreaming...

[chepp]

1914 Metz -- the car driven to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back. Read about it and see more pix at https://www.nps.gov/articles/metzcar.htm .

[DukeE]

I would think race cars from this era would be best sellers. Old guys like touring cars, but few younger than 50 have even seen one. Race cars especially from that era are pretty cool looking.

999, which few car guys even remember, is huge in Ford history, started their racing legacy. Mercer, King Alphonso Hisso and Stutz were roadable race cars, like T35 Bug. Race versions of those would sell. Early Indy cars would sell, just because history, and they looked fast. Marmon, Peugeot, Duesies, others pretty awesome. People outside the nutball fringe can relate. Reasonably simple to tool. 

[Mike999]

5 minutes ago, DukeE said:

Race cars especially from that era are pretty cool looking.

Agree!  The photo below was taken at the Santa Monica road race, circa 1912.  That dirt road is Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles.  Lindberg gave us early Mercedes and Stutz racers, but in 1/16 scale and they're pretty simplified/clunky kits.  

[Richard Bartrop]

A Silver Ghost kit would be pretty nice, either in a civilian or military version.