LDO Posted March 7, 2013 Posted March 7, 2013 Back in the '90s, a guy offered some phantom funny car bodies. One was a '90-(then) current Mercedes SL. Really cool stuff. I believe he passed away and his stuff is no longer available. I wish I had bought a few of them.
IMSANUT Posted March 9, 2013 Posted March 9, 2013 And a few from UMi The Lola T260 is currently being reborn by a friend in England, Tony Hill. He is also repoping several Formula Canada kits, Lola T70 MK III coupe, Lola T 600, Shadow DN1 and Lola T333, and a pair of Riley and Scott LMP's. He is also working to get the master for the March GTP better known as the Red Lobster March. That one will require significant corrections....
Casey Posted March 9, 2013 Author Posted March 9, 2013 Back in the '90s, a guy offered some phantom funny car bodies. One was a '90-(then) current Mercedes SL. Really cool stuff. I believe he passed away and his stuff is no longer available. I wish I had bought a few of them. Was it Freeman, perhaps? Any idea where the company was located?
Elliot949 Posted March 9, 2013 Posted March 9, 2013 Lets HOPE that The Modelhaus sticks around for a bunch more years. I know that I have a LOT more of their stuff that I want to get as my budget permits. The rumor is that Don is thinking about a Semi Retirement but his kids are working to take over... That is a rumor I had heard...
Freeman Cars Posted March 10, 2013 Posted March 10, 2013 Was it Freeman, perhaps? Any idea where the company was located? No, I'm still alive at this time. Yes I did a lot of funny car bodies and Mercedes was one of them. I still have most of the masters. I didn't really think anybody was interested any more. I have some new stuff I'm working on that I think is pretty cool. I'm expanding more into replica stock and sports cars but I will still do drag cars. Freeman Cars is still located in Carpinteria California. Email: freemancars@yahoo.com. Sam Freeman
jeffs396 Posted March 10, 2013 Posted March 10, 2013 No, I'm still alive at this time. Now THAT'S funny right there! Welcome Sam!!! Looking forward to seeing what you're working on, please post pics of your goods when ready!
Casey Posted March 10, 2013 Author Posted March 10, 2013 No, I'm still alive at this time. Were your ears ringing? Yes I did a lot of funny car bodies and Mercedes was one of them. I still have most of the masters. I didn't really think anybody was interested any more. I have some new stuff I'm working on that I think is pretty cool. I'm expanding more into replica stock and sports cars but I will still do drag cars. Freeman Cars is still located in Carpinteria California. Email: freemancars@yahoo.com. Sam Freeman I was going on memory, as I think you used to run a 1/3 page vertical ad in SAE? I might be thinking of Mad Dog, though...should I add your company name and e-mail address to the Aftermarket Directory post, too? Good to have you here.
Steve Prideaux Posted March 10, 2013 Posted March 10, 2013 Fremont Racing, did not send any molds or masters or decal art to Reliable Resin, Joe returned many of the masters, to the original makers. He still has some of the old molds that did not wear out. A large amount of the decal art was lost to a computer crash a year or so ago. I talked to him this last week and he said that his Alps printer is no longer working. He did indeed make some great products. Steve Prideaux
Casey Posted March 10, 2013 Author Posted March 10, 2013 Fremont Resin's (who made some great drag racing stuff) more than likely went to Reliable Resin. I have not talked to Joe Curtis (I believe that was Fremont's owner) to confirm this. Fremont Racing, did not send any molds or masters or decal art to Reliable Resin, Joe returned many of the masters, to the original makers. He still has some of the old molds that did not wear out. A large amount of the decal art was lost to a computer crash a year or so ago. I talked to him this last week and he said that his Alps printer is no longer working. He did indeed make some great products. Steve Prideaux Here are some of Fremont Racing Specialties' products, including what looks like a Pierson's Brother's '34 coupe in front, a stock '47 Crosley body at the rear, a chopped Model A body, a Bantam roadster Altered body and nose on the left, a '32 Bantam Sedan "The Animal" dragster body, and a few others: '47 Crosley Altered(?) body close up: '32 Bantam "The Animal":
Edsel-Dan Posted March 10, 2013 Posted March 10, 2013 A friend in the local car club had 2 different Crossley's. I wish I had been able to get one of those Coupe bodies/kits back then
Chuck Most Posted March 10, 2013 Posted March 10, 2013 I thought that R&R ended up with the Ron Cash Molds. He did end up with a few of them. Ray ended up casting a few other's products after the original companies closed up. I know he still casts at least one of the old SJS bodies- the '38 IH COE. Unless that wasn't an SJS originally.
Casey Posted March 10, 2013 Author Posted March 10, 2013 What happened to Clint Freeman Components!? No idea, but here's a fotki album showing what was once offered: http://public.fotki.com/modeltrucks25thscale/resin_roundup/clint_freeman_compo/
Madd Trucker Posted March 10, 2013 Posted March 10, 2013 Anouther resin caster long goe is R&C Trucking they made some nice parts for big rigs Ihahve 3 of thier engines and air dryer
Yahshu Posted March 11, 2013 Posted March 11, 2013 Here's what I know....... Ron Cash passed away several years ago. His wife sold his remaining inventory on _bay a couple of years ago. He was from the Cleveland area. Maybe someone in that area has the masters. By this time any molds would have aged to the point of being useless. Ron's wife was still selling off Ron's products up until late last year, I managed to get one of Ron's 41 Willy's panel vans, very nice casting.
Greg Myers Posted March 11, 2013 Posted March 11, 2013 Here's a few Mini Exotics Where did these molds end up? I thought these were a going concern. Guess I should of bought em when I saw em. I missed their Ferrari Breadvan, Cobra Super Coupe and a few others. Neat stuff.
Casey Posted March 11, 2013 Author Posted March 11, 2013 Accu-Pro's Dodge extended cab pickup and shortbox bed conversion, with the dually bed option parts shown packaged separately:
Drago Posted March 11, 2013 Posted March 11, 2013 Took me almost 2 years (or even more) to convince R & R to caste it again. I got one copy for me at that time.... Sniper: *edit by Casey* - related topic here: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=60113&hl=sniper
Von Don Koolkat Posted March 12, 2013 Posted March 12, 2013 If not enough people buy the kits and parts, they quit business. I think the Modelhaus is the only one that can make a living at it. Snooze ya lose.
Crazy Ed Posted March 12, 2013 Posted March 12, 2013 Where did these molds end up? I thought these were a going concern. Guess I should of bought em when I saw em. I missed their Ferrari Breadvan, Cobra Super Coupe and a few others. Neat stuff. From what I recall 'bout R&D Unique (the guy that did the Blue Boxed Mini Exotics and last runs of Curbside Dioramics <sp?> along with one or two other lines) is he had some problems and planned on returning to production once things were cleared up. Well it's been a few years now.
Ben Posted March 12, 2013 Posted March 12, 2013 I have this Dodge extended cab. I remember when it was available, people were avoiding it because the roof is not correct. It slopes down at the rear whereas the real truck has a roof that levels out, flat.
Tom Geiger Posted March 12, 2013 Posted March 12, 2013 (edited) If not enough people buy the kits and parts, they quit business. I think the Modelhaus is the only one that can make a living at it. Snooze ya lose. The usual cycle of a resin company... someone learns to cast to do a project. Friends ask for copies. They tell their friends. Next thing you know you are a manufacturer. Many people place large orders. Caster under estimates how much time and money the products really cost him, so he makes little money. Orders pile up and caster gets over whelmed, takes a lot of grief from waiting public and goes out of business. The big quandary of the resin casting business is that there is much more demand than time to make the product. They go out of business because they can't keep up with the orders. Most guys try to do this after their full time job and it just gets out of hand quickly. The few people who are good business folks have made a long term success of the business. Part of this is having a real place to do the work. I can think of a few casters that have suffered health problems because of the chemicals. I know of a few that got shut down by local officials for the chemicals in a residence. There are strict health codes regarding the handling, storage and breathing of resins. Even the scrap product needs to be disposed of as hazardous material. In short, to do this correctly and in quantity, you will have a factory with employees, rent, utilities, insurance... the full enchilada! Edited March 12, 2013 by Tom Geiger
Greg Myers Posted March 12, 2013 Posted March 12, 2013 The really sad part is everyone suffers. I know an individual in this neck of the woods that's been in and out of business several times through the last decade. Looking at the many other aspects Tom mentions above everyone suffers.
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