What is with the 50s?

[Guest Gramps-xrds]

I still gotta agree with Harry over the pix. I have several resin sites bookmarked and honestly Modelhause is the only one that comes to mind that doesn't have pics. If all these others and some of them are as good as Dons, can take a photo with their busy schedule then he should be able to also. Maybe he doesn't want more customers. I don't know or can't even speculate why. But if I'm gonna shell 60 to 100 bucks I definatly want to see or have it in my hand to look at first. Just call me crazy then.

[Harry P.]

When you're a two-person operation with a ton of orders you're trying to fill on a timely basis so you can maintain the good reputation you've worked years to build and so people won't come on forums like this one and rip you a new one, the answer is yes, it definitely is.

How did this get from me saying it would be nice if the Modelhaus included photos of their model car kits on their website to "Harry's crazy because he's blasting the Modelhaus?"

Can any of you ardent Modelhaus fans show me an example of where I ever cast aspersions on, denigrated, complained about, cast a bad light on, questioned, complained about, or in any other way made any sort of negative comment about the quality of the Modelhaus's products?

Anyone???

[RodBurNeR]

I love the old 50's cars and trucks. From what obviously got mentioned....yes after market resin is the best way to find cars not made in kit form.

The subject on Modelhaus having photos on their site is valid, but I also understand why they don't. It would be much easier to click "buy" when contemplating a purchase towards something "custom", but to photolog every single item is kinda hard and not all together necessary. Like it was pointed out we all know what a '54 Ford looks like.....so no I don't need to see a photo of it. However to the new guys , as pointed out....they are not sure what quality Modelhaus has.....BUT.....they are so good that word of mouth sells plenty of their product.

I know they are already extremely busy and in order to keep their smooth operation going....they want to keep it where it's comfortable to run without panic, without screaming customers etc etc....

Also please keep in mind that there are vendors for Modelhaus that travel the shows. Carle Pasak that hits the midwest shows, has let's say a LOT of "value" inventory wise and for him to constantly have all the products on hand...Modelhaus has to keep him stocked up almost the same as themselves. So consider the inventory offered and double it or triple it in size spread across vendors and then add in the hundreds of orders a month they most likely get by email, postal service etc... I am surprised Don even has time to go to shows like Toledo....but he does and I think it's because he really enjoys seeing people and offering his product first hand.

For those who are unsure of what something looks like...it's just as easy to ask around for photos if anyone has that product. There are also some of us who archive our purchases and make them available online for reference all in the name of promotion and sharing.

Anyone is welcome to visit my fotki, I have photos of my own and photos that people have sent me to add into it. I hope it helps you see the quality.

http://public.fotki.com/drasticplasticsmcc...urce/modelhaus/

To get other hard to find 50's cars, try Steve at Star Models. He offers resin from several different casters. http://www.resinrealm.net/Star/STARModels.html Steve doesn't do the casting...he is a vendor.

Bottom line....it would be nice to see photos on Modelhaus.com ... At least of the custom or phantom stuff. I know the quality will be very nice so I don't need to see a replacement bumper for a vintage kit.

[E St. Kruiser50]

THIS THREAD IS FUNNY

HARRY - I THINK YOU'RE YOUR OWN WORST ENEMY, AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT, AND THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO SEE HOW EXCITED YOU'LL GET.

AT LEAST I HOPE EVERYONES KIDDING HERE.

I MEAN COME ON YOU GUY'S - DEBATING OVER PICS.

YOU GUY'SLL DEBATE ANYTHING WON'T YA ???

Back in the late 50's and early '60's, all the AMT kits came in the same box.

They were labeled on the end, and you opened it up to see what ya got.

Come on you guys find something else to discuss LIKE HEALTH CARE .

YOU GUYS MUST BE BORED .

AND BY THE WAY, THE 50'S WERE GREAT .

[Harry P.]

THIS THREAD IS FUNNY

HARRY - I THINK YOU'RE YOUR OWN WORST ENEMY, AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT, AND THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO SEE HOW EXCITED YOU'LL GET.

AT LEAST I HOPE EVERYONES KIDDING HERE.

I MEAN COME ON YOU GUY'S - DEBATING OVER PICS.

YOU GUY'SLL DEBATE ANYTHING WON'T YA ???

It wasn't a debate until the others made it a debate. I sure didn't intend to start one. Since the question was about the availability of '50s kits, I was just answering the question by saying that Modelhaus has a good selection, but I figured that I ought to point out that while Modelhaus has a wide selection of kits, there are no photos of the kits on their site... but despite that, Modelhaus has a great reputation as an aftermarket resin caster! That's all I said.

But apparently several others here read those words as me saying "Modelhaus sucks because they don't have pictures on their site" and thought it was their duty to point out to me the high quality of the product, what fine people Don and Carol are, and all the many reasons why it's good that there are no pictures for the consumer to see!!!

So who made it a debate?

I'm with you, Dave. Let's talk health care! First of all, this "public option"...

Oops... I forgot. No more of that stuff allowed here. Dang!

[James Flowers]

I think this is all getting out of hand. No different than the post that were shut down for good. No difference .

[RodBurNeR]

My reply was almost directly towards the original post made. I only cupped some of it to calm the others down.

[E St. Kruiser50]

It wasn't a debate until the others made it a debate. I sure didn't intend to start one. Since the question was about the availability of '50s kits, I was just answering the question by saying that Modelhaus has a good selection, but I figured that I ought to point out that while Modelhaus has a wide selection of kits, there are no photos of the kits on their site... but despite that, Modelhaus has a great reputation as an aftermarket resin caster! That's all I said.

But apparently several others here read those words as me saying "Modelhaus sucks because they don't have pictures on their site" and thought it was their duty to point out to me the high quality of the product, what fine people Don and Carol are, and all the many reasons why it's good that there are no pictures for the consumer to see!!!

So who made it a debate?

I'm with you, Dave. Let's talk health care! First of all, this "public option"...

Oops... I forgot. No more of that stuff allowed here. Dang!

SEIOUSLY ...... TOO MUCH SERIOUSNESS

ABOUT THAT "PUBLIC OPTION.......

[Art Anderson]

What are you guys smoking???!!!

Unwarranted criticism? Huh????

I'd prefer that you not put words into my mouth or "quote" things that I never said. No one "insisted" on anything. All I said is that for the price their kits go for, a photo of the product on the site is not an unreasonable expectation. I'm not slamming Modelhaus... heck, I was the one that pointed out that they have a reputation as one of the best in the business! Apparently some of you suffer from "Selective Reading Syndrome."

I can't believe how many of you are jumping all over me for stating the obvious... a company that sells products online should have photos of the product on the website. Is that some sort of crazy, lunatic-fringe, unreasonable demand???

They're "too busy" to do it? Hire some college kid with a camera and let him do it. "Too busy" to upload the photos? The same college kid (or another one) can do it. They're "afraid" that if there are photos on the website that they'll be overwhelmed with orders??? Well, in my book more business is a good thing, but if they want to keep their business down to what they feel is a comfortable level, fine... they can always respond to any orders that overwhelm them with a simple "Thank you for your interest, but our current production schedule makes it impossible to fulfill new orders at this time." The point isn't that they are so successful that they don't need new customers, the point is customers would like to see what their $60-70-80+ is getting them.

To all of you people who know Don and Carol personally, or who know of the quality of their products because you've seen them in person or bought before, that's great... for you. But for all the people who have never bought a Modelhaus kit, is it really that crazy to think that a photo of each kit along with the written description would be a welcome addition to the site? That idea puts me in "unwarranted criticism" land???

Come on, guys, really.

Harry, nothing at all personally here, you and I have had a couple of very neat conversations in the last year or so, but yes, when third parties come forward, start insisting that a manufacturer do this or that with THEIR time and their money, then that at least borders on unwarranted criticism.

I fully understand the desire of potential customers to see at least pictures of the kits or other products produced by the likes of Modelhaus....however, when their stuff has been featured in "new product" columns in model magazines for now nearly thirty years with pictures, including, I believe, MCM, and certainly on other message boards, most importantly Spotlight Hobbies Message Board (formerly Hobby Heaven), and are also featured in modeler's Fotki and other web based photo sharing websites, AND incredible "word of mouth" testimonials for the last three decades (incidently, with the retirement a few years back of Fred Cady--who himself basically jump-started the current model car aftermarket in 1975--Don Holthaus is the undisputed "Dean" of the model car aftermarket industry), then the old Packard slogan comes to mind "Ask the man who owns one". FWIW, any number of resin casters over the years have used Modelhaus as their "Gold Standard", striving to bring their products up to the high standards that Don and Carol have created, maintained, and continue to improve incrementally. The posts on just about every model car message board on the web are proof positive that what I am saying here is true.

Now, I also understand that some people are like Missourians, they want to be shown. If someone absolutely will not buy a product unless he/she sees a picture of it, that's OK by me, but to somehow denigrate a manufacturer because he or she doesn't have the time to dedicate to creating a website full of pics, that becomes a matter of choice personally, but not a license to carp, complain, or editorialize IMHO.

As a final note here: I wonder how many aftermarket mfrs have come and gone over the years, even after putting out illustrated catalogs or sell sheets, even had splashy websites with pics, color pics? There have been many, for sure, in all the media used in the aftermarket production of kits and parts. If someone doesn't want to believe any number of unsolicited kudo's about someone's product, that again is a matter of personal choice, and to be blunt, it is a take-it-or-leave-it proposition, again IMHO. I also wonder how many resin casters have produced products that didn't live up to the promise shown by photographs of their products in their advertising. Hmmmm?

Art

[Jon Cole]

As model builders, we are often asked to "give back to the hobby" (either literally, or implied) Perhaps someone with the right resourses could ask Carol & Don, (amongst others) if they could volunteer to do some photography and web uploading for them?

Another angle on this idea would be when we attend a show where the vendors are set up, take some pics! I know some of us have done this already. I have taken photos of Modelhaus' tire selection, but the photos look bad. Fortunately, someone else had good quality pics (the item #'s should be visible) When I get my computer back, I can post the pics if anyone is interested.

Of course, this thread is about resin bodies and whole kits. As Bob has stated, these resin casters are just too small time to devote any time & energy to this. I say we modelers can fill the gap here. The problem here (isn't there always?) is finding a way to make these photos available to everyone when they need them.