My personal feelings about Issue #158's contents....

[Dr. Cranky]

The other good thing about say, Danbury Diecasts, is that they give you an idea how much money people are willing to spend on a built model. Which is good for those who want to sell their models. I think the more details (and aftermarket parts you throw in) the more you should charge.

[highway]

The only part I don't care for in MCM is the reviews towards the back of every issue. To me there's valuable space that could be used for something else - like more tips and techniques.

This is one of the features I especially appreciate. I really like to read about what is in a kit before I plunk down $.

Lee, I would guess since this thread is focused mostly on diecasts, I believe Jim is probably talking about the reviews of the diecasts in the back of the magazine. I can't speak for Jim, but I don't think there would be anyone who would like to see the new kit reviews disappear.

[highway]

I wouldn't want to see Wayne Moyer's diecast reviews disappear, either, because he always makes them interesting to read, even if, like me, you're not much into diecasts.

I very much agree with you too Ken, I'm somehow drawn to the diecast reviews like a moth to a flame. I think sometimes it's interesting just to see what is available in diecast that isn't in kit form.

[Harry P.]

Do you guys realize we've gone six pages worth of back and forth on a fairly contentious topic without anyone being a jerk or causing this to be locked?

OMG... can it be? Are we all growing up???!!!

[Dr. Cranky]

It's okay to be all grown up as long as we can still play with our toys!

[Terry Sumner]

As it should be among adults!

[Guest Johnny]

Some would call diecast "toys" as I can remember my earliest car toys being diecast though of poor quality and reference.

I have a couple that were given to me as gifts from kids. But they will remain as is, unchanged by me. I personally do not concider them to be models in the same sense as a plactic model car would be. Yes they are "scale models" but not models even in an unassembled state. Again, just my opinion. Years ago I had unpainted dicast car kits. But never built them as I didn't see them as models.

I compare the "rebuilding" of a diecast as the rebuilding/refurbishing of a 1:1 car.

You have the guy that builds a car from parts ground up into a finished car.

He sells it to some collector who does not like the current look. So he adds different wheels, reworks some flaws he finds and repaints a color he thinks is better.

But I see a in the car being built ground from parts in a totally different light as one that was nice in it's form taken apart and spruced up. Same way with diecast!

I do understand that doing a dicast rebuild brings cars into ones collection that have never been in plastic kit form but they are still a dicast replica or scale model but not a "model car" as most who build plastic would tend to see it.

BTW do not point out that the majority have disagreed with the premise that a dicast is not a model as this is a very small slice of the modeling world. But just in about 20 phome calls to current car model builders I know locally it is 7 to 1 against diecast as models. (this is an unscientific poll and may not reflect the opinons of modelers that build other than cars or those who build diecast only)

Terry! I agree with you on this one!

[ra7c7er]

I know there are a lot of people who cross-hobby... IE collect / modify / rebuild diecasts & do the same w/ plastic kits - but there is also an underlying displeasing feeling- almost a resentment, toward diecasts that emanates from a lot of people.

I think a lot of that resentment stems from people seeing even modified diecast as just removing parts and swapping them around. i.e. - take one pre-assembled and painted engine out of a diecast and drop in a different pre-assembled and painted die cast engine and their you go you modified a diecast. Also a bit of it could be jealousy, think about how many diecast models get talked about here as a "I wish they would make _____ in plastic".

Personally I don't care what you do. Die cast, hot wheels, slot cars, plastics, etc. If you are building it or modifying it great I want to see.

[Harry P.]

I personally do not concider them to be models in the same sense as a plactic model car would be. Yes they are "scale models" but not models even in an unassembled state.

That's some pretty interesting logic!

[Guest Johnny]

That's some pretty interesting logic!

Meant to put "replicas" there Harry! But this is all about differing opinions that have existed as long as there have been models and model builders!

I've seen this really argued out adnauseum with the aircraft and military guys too!

[Greg Myers]

I hate to bring this up (I didn't read all six pages of comments yet, so I may have missed it), but for the past 100 issues, Wayne Moyer has been bringing us our Collector's Corner since day one!

What, wait, 100 issues?

You mean you have done 100 issues already, and there was no big fanfare, no headline splash on the top of the magazine claiming to be number one?

Nope

Nada

Just 100 issues of your favorite model car magazine, by builders, and collectors, of anything automotive, be it cars, bikes, trucks, vans, plastic, metal, resin, even PAPER!!!!

Terry, thanks for your thread on this, and your opinion is appreciated.

MCM is about model cars, and that covers a lot

We did that great feature on the Franklin Mint/Danbury Mint rebuilds just a few issues ago, Jeff Koch has done a few diecast pieces, we have some Hot Wheels pieces coming up, and more diverse subjects, and materials, in the works.

I can't please all the people all the time.

That's a given.

But I do the best I can.

Harry knows and has a great feel for the mag, and I just his judgment on this as well.

I even had slot cars in MCM in the beginning, under Model Car Racing.

So, I guess we can say this is pau, yes?

mahalo nui loa

and watch for more interesting and different model cars coming soon.

Yes, even some more paper ones too!

Aren't we talking about issue #158 ? 100 issues- issue #158 ?

[Greg Myers]

Terry, I wholehearted respect your opinions, this is sort of apples and oranges, but I'm going to throw some peaches into the mix! It was mentioned by Jeff earlier about the older unpainted diecast kits, one of which I had in my younger days, an Ertl early 80s Ford Bronco that received many 10 year old playtime miles! I don't play with them anymore (much ), but I do still enjoy a diecast kit every now and then, as I showed earlier in the thread with the diecast Impala police car, but here are where the peaches come in, and also why I highlighted the portion of your post, highlighted in blue, Harry quoted in his response I quoted above. These are just a couple of my "rainy day" diecast kits I quickly pulled of the shelf, and in the apples and oranges, these "peaches" are clearly not prebuilt diecasts.

Testors/Italeri Corvette ZR-1

Testors BMW X5

These are a couple I have already built, both were Testors Lincoln Mint diecast kits.

69 GTO Judge

69 Charger

I do agree most with prebuilt diecast are probably collectors and not builders, but then again there are probably more like me who are both. I have a quite extensive diecast collection as well as my collection of all media of kits, while most of my diecast will never be disassembled and rebuilt, such as my Dale Earnhardt diecasts like this one.

I guess I just see it this way, saying diecasts are not models would be just like saying model railroaders are not modelers, which is far from the truth. I also dabble in railroading too, and much of my rolling stock are kits like this!

I find these very therapeutic when I get in a rut and need to build something. They aren't really hard to build and whether you chose to detail them or not they come out rather nice. Oh yes I think they ARE model cars.(except that last one)

Edited May 19, 2011 by Greg Myers

[Dr. Cranky]

Greg, I agree, sometimes a simple, quick build works to get the creative juices flowing . . .

[Jordan White]

Do you guys realize we've gone six pages worth of back and forth on a fairly contentious topic without anyone being a jerk or causing this to be locked?

OMG... can it be? Are we all growing up???!!! :lol:

*Knocks over Harry's building blocks*

[Guest Johnny]

Greg, I agree, sometimes a simple, quick build works to get the creative juices flowing . . .

It is almost time for a video isn't it??? You must have one for an occasion such as this one!

[diymirage]

*Knocks over Harry's building blocks*

you dont want to know what Harry is spelling with those locks right now

[Danno]

Do you guys realize we've gone six pages worth of back and forth on a fairly contentious topic without anyone being a jerk or causing this to be locked?

OMG... can it be? Are we all growing up???!!! :lol:

No. Our senses have been dulled.

[Danno]

you dont want to know what Harry is spelling with those locks right now

"Locks?" Was that Freudian?

[highway]

I find these very therapeutic when I get in a rut and need to build something. They aren't really hard to build and whether you chose to detail them or not they come out rather nice. Oh yes I think they ARE model cars.(except that last one)

I agree 100% Greg, that's why I concider the diecast kits a "rainy day" build, no matter what the weather is! I find them as a nice change to the normal build that I've got tons of scratchbuilding or modifications to or I just want to sharpen up my detail painting skills.

I do have to challenge your last comment though, it is a model car, a model RAIL CAR!!

[Dr. Cranky]

EYEGORE has a prediction to make about this thread, it's going to make it to 12 pages!

[Harry P.]

EYEGORE has a prediction to make about this thread, it's going to make it to 12 pages!

Are you telling us that EYEGORE can talk???!!!

[Dr. Cranky]

Well, I hear his voice in my head, Harry, if that's what you mean! He barks and I translate!

[Harry P.]

Well, I hear his voice in my head, Harry, if that's what you mean! He barks and I translate!

Yeah, I'll bet you hear a lot of voices in your head...

[Agent G]

Neener neener neener your car is a wiener, 'cause it's metal!!

Sorry, just had to get that out of my system.

I'm really enjoying this and pardon me for being late to the show. I have no real opinion on MCM's content either way. To me (a quite dedicated armor guy BTW) I just want to see a well built piece and a good article on how it was done. Seems the tractor fit that bill quite well. I'm never too old to learn sumptin'new.

Terry I laughed my butt off regarding the comment on car laptops. I snuck a peek in one of NHP's new Dodges the other day and thought I was on the bridge of the Enterprise with Capt Kirk.

I'd be afraid to even start the car anymore!

But.........I could go back on the street tomorrow.

G

[Terry Sumner]

Neener neener neener your car is a wiener, 'cause it's metal!!

Sorry, just had to get that out of my system.

I'm really enjoying this and pardon me for being late to the show. I have no real opinion on MCM's content either way. To me (a quite dedicated armor guy BTW) I just want to see a well built piece and a good article on how it was done. Seems the tractor fit that bill quite well. I'm never too old to learn sumptin'new.

Terry I laughed my butt off regarding the comment on car laptops. I snuck a peek in one of NHP's new Dodges the other day and thought I was on the bridge of the Enterprise with Capt Kirk.

I'd be afraid to even start the car anymore!

But.........I could go back on the street tomorrow.

G

Ain't it the truth! My son is a Ct. Trooper (he has my old Trooper badge!...very proud of him) and I sat in his cruiser the other day. I felt like I was at the controls of a 747! In Ct. we don't have cages for prisoners...we put 'em right in the front seat. But with all the electronics...man that prisoner is pretty squished in there! In '74 all I had was a little bitty radio head mounted on the floor! Didn't even have an electronic siren...had one of those manual units like on old fire trucks! The horn button activated the siren motor and started it winding up when you held the horn button down. When it got up to max noise you'd let go of the horn button so the siren would wind down. There was a switch under the dash that toggled the horn button between the regular horn and the siren. So you got to imagine how it was in a pursuit...one hand on the wheel steering and operating the siren, the other hand with the microphone in it...driving at whatever speed trying to keep it all together! Add to that the 73 Plymouth Furies had lousy brakes and it was a helluva adventure to be in a chase back then!