CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection [GO TO PAGE 16 for PICTURES]

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CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:05 pm
Location: Arkansas, USA

CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection [GO TO PAGE 16 for PICTURES]

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Tue Apr 14, 2015 12:57 pm

Not necessarily the most fashionable or dynamic first entry into this collection, but this Model T Ford typifies some of my favorite diecasts that are not in mint condition, high dollar, nor especially popular.

According to the nomenclature on the chassis, this Coca Cola delivery truck is designated as a 1913 Ford Model T. But according to the manufacturer, Motor City Classics, the 1/24 scale diecast model is a 1917 version. Whatever the actual year of the Model T, it's still a mystery to me. What I do know is that the diecast model was found in a home decorations clearance section of Hobby Lobby looking very, very rough indeed. It was missing two spoke wheels, the steering wheel, the entire windshield frame, glass, and lights, a front headlight, and there were some rather large paint chips, suggesting the model had been dropped at least once. There were no other copies of the model in the store with which to compare this model. After contacting the manufacturer MCC, my only alternative from them was to purchase an entirely new model for $25, as parts were not available. So I ended up scratch building a steering wheel from a piece of insulated copper wire, a headlight from various different-diameter plastic pieces, a windshield from clear acetate and wood, and a shift lever. Jada-style wheels were used as I had no spare wooden spoke wheels to match the original two. They all roll. From the plastic model parts bin, four-banger chrome exhaust pipes and plastic rear lenses were added. A headed straight pin serves as the radiator cap. Very much fun in building this heavy-in-weight 'hot rod' that cost me only a $1.

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From Maisto's Premiere Edition line (MA386491), this 1:18 scale 2002 AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK-DTM "Vodafone" GT racing car is quite appealing with its colorful graphics, low stance and interesting engine compartment. The "DTM" stands for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM= German Touring Car Masters) and is a racing car series based in Germany, but also with rounds elsewhere in Europe. DTM cars adhere to a front engine rear-wheel-drive design. The cars are powered by fuel-injected 500 hp V8 engines and rev-limited to 9,000 rpm.

A number of years ago I found the model in a funky discount department store without a display box for a pittance, a fiver. Maisto put some real effort into the model and it shows. Nicely done wheels and tires, closed side windows, and plenty of metal in its construction. An old one and yet, a good one.


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This "1/18" scale Solido model was acquired a few years ago and with a little black trim paint turned into a fairly decent representation of the Volkswagen bus. The model has no engine, front doors don't open, front wheels are poseable but not linked to the steering wheel and the interior only includes the front bench seat.




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This particular Bburago model, the Giugiaro Design Prima, in 1/18 scale has always interested me quite a bit and I must say, looking at it is like viewing a nicely done sculpture. This is the only model ever done by a major automotive designer strictly for a model manufacturer, as I understand it. Plus the actual 1:1 car is only a concept model itself! I didn't realize until doing some searching that the model is also done in 1/43 scale, too. And in the following colors: green, red, silver and yellow. There is a speedster edition, as well, that is topless.

According to the text on the display box of the Prima, it reads:

"This outstanding model car produced by Bburago was crafted in collaboration with the celebrated designer Giugiaro. The car and the model are identical and both measure a full 24 cm. "Prima" is the first in the series and will be followed by others, produced in 1:1 scale by Bburago for a Bburago- Giugiaro Design joint project."

Did Giorgetto Giugiaro design and have Bburago produce any additions to this series?

Do you know of anything that was "in the works" in this series before Bburago folded?



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Extensively lowered and with white-lettered Good Year tires, this 1/25 scale Maisto 2000 Chevrolet SSR concept has now taken on a far more aggressive and dramatic look. The idea to lower it was prompted by a viewing of the 2008 Hot Rod Power Tour SSR rat version vehicles.

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In the early 2000s, this was the very first Highway 61 model I bought and I am still partial to it because it is, after all, a Studebaker, and secondly, it is a quality model of a sharp, custom ride. The diecast is nice and heavy with some interesting features, like the very cool hood and door hinges, carpeting, wired and plumbed engine, and the wonderful flames. Inside, detailed gauges on the dashboard are very well done, but an obvious and glaring omission is an accelerator pedal! And too, in the trunk there's no spare tire; but on the chassis there is a gross protrusion suggesting one. Also, plastic lenses should have been used for the tail lights.

Three other unique and thoughtful details that you seldom see modeled are the tiny air valve stems protruding from the wheels, a minature serial number plate riveted to the engine firewall, and the entire drive shaft actually turns with the moving of the rear wheels!!!

Having 50s Studebaker styling combined with custom hot rod accessories just can't be beat.

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Pics of a 1/18 scale 2001 BMW M3 Coupe by Kyosho that was bought in 2007 from a fellow who was tired of it for some reason(s) or another. He let it go for a mere five bucks! The model is boxed in styrofoam . From my perspective, Kyosho did a great job on this model with its glossy black paint, full window door glass, carpeted interior and trunk, and wired engine. At the time, I wasn't real familiar with Kyosho's models, BMWs or M3s in particular, so there could be a number of different reasons the model "fell short" for the previous owner. But whatever those "issues" might have been, they are of no concern to me as I really like the model overall, and I'm quite happy to have it in my collection. Besides, almost ANY large scale diecast is worth five bucks just for the wheels alone, right?

N.B. On the lower bottom edge of the model in certain pictures it looks as if the paint is blurred or the model was repainted there. This is a distortion caused maybe by the lighting, the camera, or is a reflection. In person, the paint is uniform and consistent over the entire model and looks excellent.



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With black stripes on a vibrant orange gloss paint, this 1/18 scale Yat Ming 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am certainly looks perky enough. Yat Ming did a good job in all areas with this model. I won this defective model on an auction a few years ago for well below ten bucks. However, the used condition I received it in was very, very rough. So much so as to consider maybe just chucking the whole thing into the trash. One side of the engine bay had to be totally rebuilt, as well as some key parts on the front of the chassis. A front wheel had broken free from its mounting stub. One of the front wheel wells needed rebuilding too. Cosmetic-wise, there are a couple of small but noticeable scratches on the paint. Other than these flaws, the model certainly deserved to be rescued from the scrap heap seeing how it now displays and presents itself.




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Another well done 1/18 scale model of a 1998 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer Edition by UT that was bought used for a mere five bucks. The model comes boxed in styrofoam. It features all four doors that open, as well as an opening tail gate and hood. The interior is fairly well detailed and has carpeting. White-lettered tires nicely set off the exterior. When UT went out of business, one could find the Expeditions closeout-priced at various retailers for $15 or so, which was a real bargain considering the quality and build of these models.

UT 22713 ut22713 Ford Expedition , Eddie Bauer metallic blue [2000 release]

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From the line of Welly Premium Collectibles, this tangerine-colored 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS454 Pro Street in 1:18 scale is one of my favorite Wellys. With its huge meats on the back and large hood scoop up front covering two monster carbs, the model captures the tremendous power and spirit of the classic Chevelle.


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Classic Metal Works 1/24 scale 1963 Chevrolet Impala SS 409 is a diecast kit of some sixty parts with the moulds being by Welly. The detail is pretty good considering this is a bargain kit; for example, the rear panel has the round machined designs on it just like the actual 1:1 car. Also, the 409 engine is replicated reasonably well with chromed exhaust manifolds and a chrome air cleaner.

To make the model more visually appealing, thin felt was used on the floor to mimic carpet The door panels' interior trim was highlighted in silver. The seats were painted flat red in contrast to the rest of the interior. The grille was blackwashed and the exhaust pipe tips were silvered. Since the ride height seemed too high, both the car's front and rear were lowered.

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It wasn't until I actually removed the bought-on-line 1:18 scale MotorMax '32 Ford chopped top 5-Window Coupe from its box that my initial impressions were solidified somewhat. Before this, I had only seen the generic picture of it on the internet. And my impressions were not all that favorable. What struck a nerve mostly was the ride height and stance being too high, and secondly, a forward-leaning radiator grille which caused the car to appear contorted. Both of these made the model look sufficiently "off", so much so, that after having the model in my hands and seeing some of the more toy-like and sort of 'cheesy' aspects of it, I was very close to returning it. However, I felt that with some modifications the car could possibly be redeemed.

The first step was to lower the front end as much as possible. Ideally, lowering the entire car would have looked better. Yet the rear end is supported by, surprisingly, actual working springs which, when depressed, lowers it. So I left the rear end as is.

Next, the radiator grille was realigned so that it was roughly parallel with the firewall, eliminating that distorted look. This short sentence of what was done belies the fact that it took many trials and errors to get the final finished result.

The model was completely disassembled so that the exhaust pipe tips could be silvered and the rear differential hub treated likewise. MotorMax should have chromed all these parts for an authentic hot rod touch. Inside, the foot pedals and door handles were silvered and the holes in the steering wheel spokes blackened. Kudos to MotorMax for the gear shift knob in the form of a piston, which looks the part. The chrome rubber gasket on the floorboard was blackened to add realism. The four slots in each chrome wheel were blackened; the radiator grille was blackwashed and the radiator cap silvered. Other engine parts were detailed and colored. Thanks, MotorMax for doing a good job with the chromed firewall, chromed engine parts and the chrome wheels. The chrome metal support rods running from the firewall to the radiator grille is a cool touch, too.

MotorMax could have and should have included big rear slicks and lettered tires on this hot rod. They did make the rear tires bigger than the fronts to their credit. Two other faults are the vent opening on the engine cowling being merely a painted-on silver rectangle and the inexcusable sealing of the trunk lid eliminating the inclusion of a rumble seat or any trunk detail.

In conclusion, I had my doubts about this one, but after doing work on it, I feel much better. It's no GMP by any stretch, no matter how hard you pull. But it does have some redeeming qualities after all the work that was done.



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An older 1:18 scale Maisto Porsche Boxster Concept in natural lighting. The wheels on this model look quite fine, IMHO. The model was found in a thrift shop for a mere three bucks. It was very dusty and missing the passenger-side door mirror.

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Maisto's Assembly Line 1:18 diecast model kit of a 1963 Dodge 330. I am the first to admit that this model on display in its packaging doesn't do very much for me, coming across as quite homely and bland looking. There just is not a lot of sexiness to it. But in the photos, it seems to have more presence and conjures up in my mind massive power, sleeper stealth, and burning rubber! And the general, over-all body lines, unique grille and big engine all combine to make one take notice.

I know that the '64 Dodge Super Stock Ramchargers were awesome on the drag strips and my Highway 61 version is excellent. I love the graphics. So, the Maisto factory stock version adds a good contrast.


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This 1:18 Maisto model of a Mini Cooper is from their Assembly Line diecast model kits. The Mini Cooper kit had a wheel option of either bright chrome or aluminum. Someday I might paint the aluminum ones black to give the model a more aggressive look. I picked this up at a Toys-R-Us years ago when the local store discontinued carrying the bigger models. The box was rough and the store manager wanted to get rid of it. So for two bucks, wouldn't you get it- even if you didn't particularly like Mini Coopers? I happen to like them. And motorcycles, too. The Harley was a piece that was wet, dirty and discarded along a roadway. With some minor detailing, it still looks worn, but improved over its prior condition.


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The original WIP Audi A4 had no windshield, no passenger side door panel, one headlight, no shift lever, no front seat back and no wheels or tires. It cost me a dollar from a discount store. A windshield was formed from clear acetate, interior was made from thin aluminum, a roll bar was made from plastic sprue, a completely different front seat put in, and new wheels added. It was lowered as much as possible. Seat belts were made from ribbon and aluminum pieces and plastic model parts. Headlight cavities were filled with putty and painted.

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Another A4 was bought for a dollar. It had no wheels or tires, no front seat back, and a number of missing smaller parts. The "Speedster" was the source for these parts as it was the worst of the two and served as a donor.

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Came across this Maisto 1/24 scale 1994 Ford Escort RS Cosworth at Walgreens and had to get it because of its uniqueness and that rear wing. It was the only one I've ever seen at any store anywhere.

My copy must have barely made "acceptable" on the quality control list, however, as it suffered from extremely stuck door hinges from an apparent over-zealous riveter. With a liberal application of WD-40 and continually moving them back and forth, both doors finally were freed and opened properly. Other QC issues were untrimmed flashing from the various plastic parts, improperly installed parts and misaligned decals (license plate and dash gauges).

Besides correcting these problems, I added carpeting and other details to the interior, in particular, painting the door panels grey. The engine compartment and related parts were painted also. All doors and windows were trimmed in black, and the plastic rear wing was repainted a more appropriate red color. The front end of the car was lowered too. For a model that looked so very plain in the box, it now has a real sporting personality.


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Last edited by CarcrazyinArkansas on Fri Apr 28, 2023 10:05 am, edited 3 times in total.

CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:05 pm
Location: Arkansas, USA

Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Tue Apr 14, 2015 3:42 pm

Drag racing, being a specialized area of motorsports, and funny cars being a separate class unto itself within drag racing, has its devoted fans. To say that I'm big into both camps would be a misnomer, but I do like the cars because of their power, speed, performance, and colorful graphics. The mechanical aspects of drag racing machinery are complex and detailed. Take a look at that mill, for instance, and the massive slicks. This 1:24 scale Racing Champions Authenics captures all that detail quite well. I found this National Hot Rod Association Fram/Autolite 2006 Dodge Stratus Funny Car driven by Bob Gilbertson about eight years ago on the now defunct gomotorbids.com. site. The model included the logoed cloth car cover and the diecast prop rod to hold up the body when 'servicing' the engine. Both the car body and the chassis are solid diecast, so the model is fairly hefty.

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CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:05 pm
Location: Arkansas, USA

Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Tue Apr 14, 2015 3:45 pm

My Eligor searchs kept coming up showing 1934 Ford tow trucks and others, yet the diecast base on my model is embossed "1932". This Eligor [Hobbycar] (#1087) is a 1:43 scale diecast model of a Ford Motor Company tow truck. It is about 90+% diecast and rather heavy for its size. I bought it discounted from an on-line store a while back. One small part needed to be afixed to the truck body.

This is the only example of an Eligor model in my eclectic diecast collection, and I'm quite pleased with it.

Eligor is one of the few diecast manufacturer to still manufacture its products in France. Eligor's production process can be broken down into 7 stages: http://www.eligor.com/en/company.asp




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CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
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Location: Arkansas, USA

Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Tue Apr 14, 2015 3:47 pm

Shelby Cobra 427 S/C by Shelby Collectibles in 1:18 scale.

"I started out with an idea to build a sports car powered by an American V8 at a time when most European sports cars were being imported with little four cyclinders, 1918 taxi-cab engines. I went to AC Cars, because they had an available chassis, and I went to see Lee Iacocca at Ford for a little money and a couple of engines to help me get started. We never dreamed we'd build a car to win the world championship and evrything else, or become the legend it has. The Cobra has become the most replicated car there has ever been; I think that says it all right there." CARROLL SHELBY

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CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
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Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Tue Apr 14, 2015 3:57 pm

Maisto Custom Shop Editions came out with their 1:24 scale 1929 Ford Model A 5 window coupes a few years ago. There are at least three different paint schemes available in the series: a red and white version, a purple with white scallops version, and this #54 gray primer version. All feature a human skull ornament gear shift knob, dog dish hubcaps, channelled body, chrome exhaust pipes and triple carburetors, and lettered white wall tires. I added just a few details, like silvering the seat belt buckles, the fuel tank cap and hold-down straps.




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CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
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Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Tue Apr 14, 2015 4:01 pm

MotorMax's 1961 Corvette Mako Shark in 1:18 scale is a very good model compared to other higher-priced images. It includes most of the essential details of the real car, although MotorMax missed the mark on the lack-of-red triple horns under the hood and the lack-of-blue shock absorbers. Another misstep was to have the four chassis mounting stubs protrude too far below the chassis. Overall, the model is notable for its special paint job, wire wheels, and authentic badging. It's about as good as or better than the 5 star-rated and beautifully rendered UT (AutoArt) version, and definitely worth way, way, way more than the ten spot I paid because of a damaged display box. Unlike the UT version however, Motormax supplies the clear, removable, convertible bubble top for the car.


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Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection

Post by [KRAFTIG] » Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:12 pm

Nice array of piece, some very unique. I do like the Giugiaro Design Prima.

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Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection

Post by StratosWRC » Tue Apr 14, 2015 9:17 pm

Enjoyed reading all the background stories. Highly entertaining

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Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection

Post by i-modelcars.com » Wed Apr 15, 2015 3:07 pm

Strange models )

CarcrazyinArkansas
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Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Thu Apr 16, 2015 11:44 am

Two examples of exactly the same 1:18 scale Yat Ming Ford Model T Bucket. On the display boxes, Yat Ming labels them as 1923 versions, yet molded on the chassis are 1925. Since they are customized hot rods, suppose there are no stock differences between the '23 and the '25 to detect that would matter to the purist.

Both versions are the fixed, top-up model. Since one of my copies was defective, I opted to make it with the option of removing the top. Two screws were removed from the top and the two plastic bars holding the top in place were cut off completely. The removable top can now be put back in place just like the other model with the fixed top, except the top cannot ever be screwed on again.

Yat Ming captured the look of the hot rod T Buckets fairly well with the gold pin stripings, chrome firewalls, header pipes, wired engines, chrome wheels, cool floor shifters, crisp dash instrument gauges, and fat and wide, lettered rear tires. It did miss the mark on the engine blocks, however. I added black paint to the three carburetor openings and carpeted the trunks. Overall, though, the images really appeal to my hot rod fantasies.




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With removable top in place:
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Permanently fixed top:
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On a nice sunny day this old and once-dirty 1:18 Ertl 1970 Plymouth Barracuda appears fairly ready for some action. The model was given to me at a yard sale. It lacks both door mirrors. I added an "after market" exhaust tip of flared aluminum tubing on the passenger side. (Not fond of the orange-tinted windshield, though.)




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About six years ago, while visiting Saint Louis, Missouri, I ran across this 1:24 scale Maisto 1965 Chevrolet El Camino at a Walgreens store. I had never seen the model before in any other store nor have I seen it since, so I was glad to get it. It's not my favorite El Camino model year, but hey, El Caminos of any year are pretty cool in my opinion.

And I wasn't terribly happy at how plain it looked out of the box, so I did a wheel and tire swap, painted the interior rear view mirror (it was clear plastic), silvered the rocker panels and wheel wells, carpeted the interior, and lowered it all around as much as possible. The lowering effect still produced only a rather stock stance, though. To get a pronounced lowering job would require radical surgery on the chassis and body, and those operations are postponed for now.

I prefer this very mild custom model much more, however, over the basic stock Maisto model.




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This 1941 Chevrolet Special Deluxe Convertible by Welly in 1/24 scale came in kit form from Classic Metal Works. I picked it up at Hobby Lobby on closeout because it had a broken windshield. A simple repair job was done as the fracture was between the two panes and hidden by the chrome windshield frame. Welly did a pretty good rendition of the convertible with plenty of chrome parts, a nice dash, and even valve stems on the wheels. On the down side however, there is no opening hood, no steerable front wheels, and just two simple straight metal axle rods for the four wheels.

The car sits quite high, but this was probably the norm in 1941. I had intended to lower it severely and make a custom street rod out of it. The wheel wells would have had to been ground out to the point of obliteration, so it was kept stock. Carpet was added to the floor and the trunk area, detailing was done to the seats and door panels, and a custom brass exhaust extension applied to the mundane black plastic exhaust pipe.



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There is something about the 30s Ford Model "A"s that I find quite alluring. Maybe it has to do with just plain and basic nostalgia. Whatever it is, I just could not resist getting this Motor City Classics 1:18 weathered 1931 Ford Model A Tow Truck for a very reasonable price. This provides another great companion piece to the other Model "A"s in my collection:

Highway 61 1929 Ford Roadster (Blue)

Motor City Classics 1931 Ford Model A Deluxe Roadster (Brewster Green &
Black)

Signature 1931 Model A Pickup Truck (White)

Even though the tow truck is an earlier release (2002), it still packs in the charm with its cool features of:
"an operable towing rig,
rear fender-mounted vice,
hand tools strewn across the REAL wood rear bed,
faded paint,
mismatched panels,
rusted bumper,
busted headlight (complete with dangling filament),
filthy windshield,
and bent hood ornament."

(photos from diecast.org)

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For the very small price paid ($4) and the striking good looks of this vintage workhorse, anyone would be pleased as punch to have this truck in their collection. I bought a couple of these at Tuesday Morning a few years ago, and I'm sure glad I did. The tailgate is operable but the rest of the panels are sealed. However, check out these details: all metal and separate chassis, separate exhaust system, tools and toolbox in the bed, cherry top emergency light, real rubber tires, factory blackwashed grille, sharp chrome accents like the side mirrors, door handles and gas filler cap, and a two color paint job with cool Texaco and U.S. Olympic Team graphics. Finely done!

It's a 1/43 scale Matchbox Collectibles (1998) Model of Yesteryear
1955 Chevrolet 3100 Wrecker.



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For a long, long time I tolerated the looks of this old Maisto 1/24 scale 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396. Got this in 2001, if I recall correctly, for about four bucks at Walgreens. The model, originally, was just too blue and plain-jane. So today it underwent the following changes.

A few items on the tray engine were silvered.
The interior got a new gear shift lever with a ball handle.
Dash had a few items silvered.
The clear rear view mirror was made black and silver.
The door handles inside were silvered.
Side vent windows were silvered.
Two lines between the taillights silvered.
Exhaust tips silvered.
Wheel well openings and rocker panels silvered.
Sides of front grille blackwashed.
Turn signal lenses made amber.
Cowl vents blackened.
Windshield and rear window trim silvered.
Side window trim silvered.
Windshield wiper blades made black.
The tires were white-lettered.
And the front end of the model was lowered as much as possible.

The hardest and most time-consuming operation was removing the windshield and the back windows without cracking or scratching them. Maisto workers used a huge amount of adhesive and flaired the metal stubs these two pieces of window glass were attached to.

Doing this sure changed my perspective on this Maisto model for the better. I like it now.





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Budget models are badgered around quite a bit sometimes, and that is unfortunate, because we seem to lose our general perspective about models and model makers in general when doing so. Models are made commercially to be sold for a profit, so the target markets can be rather varied, from small tottlers all the way to serious collectors. The budget brand manufacturers concentrate on producing models that cost less to build than their more upscale contemporaries. Keeping the costs lower means eliminating or not even having certain features, and lessening the amount of materials and labor in the product so that the product can be sold at a profit-producing price. So on the budget brand end of the diecast spectrum, we cannot ever really expect to receive a vastly feature-laden, cost-intensive product at a budget price. However, some few budget models do somehow slip through the proverbial cracks and are exceptional for what they bring to the table; that is, they seem to be and possibly are worth much more than what we pay for them. Maybe it is a case of the budget brands "giving back" to their customers. Maybe it is a loss leader. Maybe it is just a way for the budget brands to say to themselves (to make themselves feel good about what they do) that they are capable of producing higher quality if they would choose to, but basically don't, for practical business reasons. Maybe it is an external form of positive affirmation and recognition about their true identity of who they are diecast-wise. It would be like Yat Ming making a trully great model and saying to itself, "We are no Exoto, but we could be, if we chose to be."

Which brings me to the much maligned budget brand Motormax. They receive a lot of criticism for many of their 1/18 scale offerings. But we have to remember that they are a budget brand whose target market probably isn't serious collectors, per se. As a consequence, not many serious collectors actually have large numbers of their models. Yet Motormax has made some very good models, be they few in numbers. One of their very best is the Lamborghini Diablo GT. Another is the Mercedes-Benz SL500 shown below.
Why is the Mercedes-Benz SL500 a really good 1/18 scale budget model? Look at some of its features:

Wheels with exposed air valve stems
M-B decal logo in center of each wheel
Moving brake rotors
Non-turning gold painted brake calipers
Functioning suspension
Chrome, hollowed-out exhaust tips
Crisp headlight and tail light lenses
Cut-out grille
Properly placed M-B decals
Separately molded windshield wipers
Modern, non-dogleg, hinges
Separately molded seat belts
Realistic-looking seats, dash and interior
Nicely-done interior door panels
Authentic-looking license plates
Decent paint job
Substantial weight and heft

But the real star of the show is a fully functioning retractable hardtop! This is one feature found in very few models and usually in far more expensive ones.
For this feature alone the model is worth having. Plus it can be had at a budget price along with all the other goodies.



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Except for the Ford Explorer Sport Trac, which is a 1/25 scale Maisto, all the other trucks are 1/24 scale MotorMax, although the Chevrolet 1500 SS454 pickup could be a Welly as it was in a you-build-it kit. I added the flames to the hood and the dual exhaust extensions.

The 1941 Plymouth, the 1937 Ford and the 1955 Chevrolet pickups all have a unique character about them, and for budget models, look the part quite well.


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Contrast and comparison of two 1/24 scale 1961 Chevy Impalas with big block 409 engines.

The black model is from Classic Metal Works.

The lowrider is a Loc Riderz from Malibu International.

It is interesting to see the differences in the front grilles. Notice the rubber bullets on the front bumper of the lowrider. The rears of both have some differences as well.

The black Chevy has a labeled spare tire in the trunk versus the hydraulic equipment in the lowrider's.

There are differences, too, in the styling lines of both cars. Overall length and width look to be about right.

Lowrider has an adjustable suspension, so it can either sit real high or ride fairly low.

Both cars have their own faithful followers....



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*Blown big block

*Heavy-duty roll cage

*Monsterous slicks

*Wheelie bars

PRO-STREET = a coveted incarnation of a quintessential Corvette


{{{ 100% Hot Wheels 1/18 scale Pro Street 1966 Corvette }}}


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StratosWRC
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Posts: 7393
Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2013 4:56 pm
Location: Canada

Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection

Post by StratosWRC » Thu Apr 16, 2015 9:52 pm

I have a suggestion. Make a separate post for each model, so that you don't get too many of them on one page. Otherwise you end up with a couple of hundred pics a page.

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StratosWRC
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Posts: 7393
Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2013 4:56 pm
Location: Canada

Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection

Post by StratosWRC » Fri Apr 17, 2015 7:53 am

Okay finally got the time to read through your latest entries. I love the attention you give to each model, and the changes you made to the El Camino really gave it a new and improved look. And that Hot Wheels Corvette looks awesome

ManRT
Posts: 119
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 6:10 am

Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection

Post by ManRT » Fri Apr 17, 2015 8:04 am

Great intros for every model, I'm not patient enough to do the same with my collection x-)

CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:05 pm
Location: Arkansas, USA

Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Fri Apr 17, 2015 10:30 am

Granted that this 1935 Ford pickup truck made a collectors' list of "worst model you ever bought", that it is a really old model, that it was made in France, and that it has some cheesy parts, like the door panels, control pedals, and exhaust pipe, this out-of-scale 1/18 diecast Solido model cleaned up pretty well for the low reputation it has.

With some rather simple detailing jobs done, carpeting installed and an upholstered bench seat added, the model has now gained some favor. It has moved up in the rankings. When I tire of these new improvements, it might be made into a street machine - custom paint, lowered, blown mill and a cool set of comtemporary wheels.





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CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:05 pm
Location: Arkansas, USA

Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Fri Apr 17, 2015 10:34 am

This is my very first Minichamps model-a 1/24 scale 1970 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet. Everything that I have ever read about Minichamps always seemed to include the word "quality". And that is certainly true with this model. The paint is rich, smooth and devoid of orange peel. Interior and exterior parts are modeled accurately and detailed authentically. The model is done up very well, indeed. Yet, typically these different traits come with a premium price. Due to one minor defect which occurred in transit to the vendor, no doubt, I was able to get this model for a little song, so to speak.




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