How much detail do we want?

[biante1762]

I have just checked out the Trax R/T Chargers in superscale (1:24). At $195, they are not cheap, however they do have a few details that is interesting. They say (I have not seen these models in the flesh, so to speak) that they have windows that you can wind down and you are able to open the glove box!
Have a look for yourselves at http://www.topgear.com.au/.
Can Biante manufacture this sort of detail? If so, how would this affect the price of the model? Would anybody else want this sort of detail? Depending on price, I'm keen.

[Highlander]

I have those Chargers ,Window Winders and Glove Box are gimmicks, they are so fragile, its a pity they didnt put there efforts in to the Headlights,front end blinkers and grille.

I would rather it accurate,than gimmicky.

[thekid_600]

i personally dont really care about opening glove boxes and windows. it's not like i'm gong to sit there and open and close the glove box for hours..... and you cant see it in a cabinet.
my guess is that it will affect the price, and i just dont think the extra dollars is worth it.

[perry]

We want detail, not gimmicks. Fact is Trax doesnt have detail.
They can include all sorts of "features" as they like, but its the features like the mis-aligned stripes, incorrect body shapes, and overall lack of "wow factor" that help me make the decision to buy a model.
Someone please email me if/when trax ever achieve biante quality, then i'll be prepared to take another look.

[thekid_600]

lol perry....... my impression of trax is no more than that of CCs to be honest..... yet they cost so much......

[perry]

And you know what?? The more they cost, the better they "must" be to the uninformed punter.

[ET351]

Yes, Kid and Perry, I agree.

My first diecasts were Trax 'Superscales' (XY GT Tru Blu, two tone green FJ and Silver Mink Monaro). I bought them 'cause they were 1:24, same as my plastic kits, so fitted in the collection. But I was disappointed at detail (?) for the price.

Now I'm hesitant to buy anything BUT Biante/AutoArt, since I discovered what 'detail' means!

Cheers, ET

[SmartyMarty]

Would be nice if Biante could one day reach the precision of Exoto(without raising the price ;-)...I think they are a bit more detailled than Biante /AutoArt
especially the engines...the problem with Exoto is that the seem to have a problem in glueing Spoilers and other stuff straight on their models...i have the Renault F1 and the Ferrari 312 with absolutely crooked spoilers...and i ve seen a couple of other Exoto models with the same faux-pas...a bit embarassing for them...well...and one thing im desperately waiting for is SUSPENSION!!!Hellooo..can you hear me Biante? SUSPENSION!!!!
Only Maisto managed it so far..and Exoto but its more a fake cos it doesn t work..
I think the finish of the Biante cars is already pretty perfect...

[perry]

Ahh, suspesions, yes please.

Doesnt one of the newer fords have a tailshaft that spins when you turn the rear wheels??

[berkut76]

Here in the US, the Charger was warmly received, and I know for a fact that for some reason quite a few people bought this model. Quality-wise, most of the collectors who bought the Charger think that the model is on par with Franklin Mint or Danbury Mint models from the mid-1990s. I personally didn't even consider this model because at this high price point, the "dog legs" for opening doors could not be overlooked.
As for the Exoto, right now it's under heavy fire from the collectors because of megalomaniac attitudes of the company owner, a downright awful model of Porsche 959 (released under Motorbox label) which couldn't even stack up against recent Maistos, and massive clearance sales of the discontinued models. Here in the US, every weekend, Exoto runs some sort of promotion when quite a healthy selection of models is available for $100US a piece.

Regards,
Sergey

[SmartyMarty]

berkut

Ooooh...Exoto should start advertising in germany for that price...
The models are so damn expensive over here...i remember some years ago the price for the 6-wheeler Tyrrell and most of the others was about 125 DM...about 60 US $ ,at that time i couldn t understand how someone pays that much money for just a model car...:rolleyes: Now the price is between 130-160 Euro !!!
I never saw a motorbox model....they offer 2 or 3 models in germany....but uninteresting for me( no racecars).
I havent seen a lot of GMP models ...they dont seem to be very popular in germany which i really cant understand...i ve only seen 2 Lola T70... a coupe and a spyder and i think they are wonderful...but the price over here is also pretty high.On their homepage the prices are only 89US$ which is a great price for that quality...wish i could get them here for that money...

[thekid_600]

Suspension would be good. But that's almost definitely gonna raise the price. as far as i know form experiences with R/C car racing, those springs dont come cheaply.......

exoto and biante are both good. what they need to do is the improve the detail of AUTOARTS! they weigh so much less than the biantes, which tells a story. the interior wires are paints on, as opposed to real tangible stuff in say the GEM. also the bottom of the VTs look like plastic kit cars....... but everything else it excellent.

[berkut76]

The quality of GMP models have been steadily improving, but it got a long way to go. The early Buicks and Novas only had opening hoods. I didn't like Lolas up close as well. Although, Mustangs (especially the ones in police liveries), IMSA Camaros and Mustangs, and, of course, Judges are well made and look great up close and personal. As for the release prices in the US, Minichamps of North America holds them artificially high: $100 for 1/18 scale race car or $80US for a street models. Most of the diehard Minichamps collectors resort to importing Minichamos models IN BULK from overseas.

Regards,
Sergey

[admin]

Originally posted by SmartyMarty
Would be nice if Biante could one day reach the precision of Exoto(without raising the price ;-)...I think they are a bit more detailled than Biante /AutoArt
especially the engines...the problem with Exoto is that the seem to have a problem in glueing Spoilers and other stuff straight on their models...i have the Renault F1 and the Ferrari 312 with absolutely crooked spoilers...and i ve seen a couple of other Exoto models with the same faux-pas...a bit embarassing for them...well...and one thing im desperately waiting for is SUSPENSION!!!Hellooo..can you hear me Biante? SUSPENSION!!!!
Only Maisto managed it so far..and Exoto but its more a fake cos it doesn t work..
I think the finish of the Biante cars is already pretty perfect...

Smart Marty...perhaps you should take the models out of the box.
The GMS AU Bathurst 2001 car HAD suspension, as did the DJR XD and the current crop of AU, VR, VS, next XE and all AV models (oops...not supposed to mention that yet)

AND we also have had suspension in all the 1:43rds since the first XY in 2000. I must admit though that the AU race cars did not have it as we were under pressure to get them out.

[Xcesiv308]

AV models ....Admin,, more info or is this just a tease..:D

[v8coupe]

could that AV be the 1/12

[ET351]

OK, Here's my theory....

My tip is the 1/12 will be the Craig Lowndes AV Falcon, known as the 'Commodore Crucher'!!!:D

(Oh well, as a Ford fa, I have to dream)

Cheers, ET

[ET351]

oops, that should be 'Commodore CruSher', and I'm a Ford FAN...

D#@n keyboard!!!

[SmartyMarty]

:eek: OOOPS..sorry admin..all my Biante models (except 3 which dont have suspension) are in australia...so i cant put them out of the boxes...:(
My girlfriend buys them for me and it would be too expensive to send them all over here so i have to wait till im there again...
well good thing when they have suspension...then i d say the Biante models are perfect :-)

[ZORAK]

Hey Marty I can relate to that one! I buy heaps of stuff in Aus and it gets stockpiled there until I can find some space in a container. Then I get a heap of stuff at one time. At the end of the month I will get a shipment that has about 15 Biante models, old posters, brochures, flyers, t-shirts, magazines, books etc that I have purchased over the last 3 or 4 months. It is like Christmas 3 or 4 times a year!

[SmartyMarty]

Sounds good Zorak...where you from? Germany??? ;-)

[ZORAK]

I am from Aus.... I am in the USA at the moment.

[drof]

ET351, it has already been said in a previous thread that the 1/12 scale car will be a road going car so that rules out your theory. My theory is it will be the all new and over a 27 odd year wait for the new AV GTHO Phase 4 (or could that be 5, as the Phase 4 never officially existed). Ford Australia's Geoff Polites has already hinted that the GTHO is coming back and all I can say is
as a die hard Ford Fan is, look out Holden, you are going to get your Butts kicked now as you did when the XY GTHO was released. I can just see the 320Kw quad cam all alloy Mustang GTHO motor sitting under the bonnet and the Tickford tuned HO suspension. As for the Ford line up for 2003 V8 Supercars will be the Prodrive owned 00 Motorsport team of Craig Lowndes and Russell Ingall.

anyone elses thoughts??

Dave from Kiwiland!!

[WESTY]

Has it allready been confirmed that
Ingall will be leaving Perkins racing
or are we just jumping to conclusions ???

:D

[thekid_600]

NO it has not been confirmed ingall will be leaving perkins engineering. but it's one of those "definitely will happen" sort of thing. if a very good contract from perkins comes up, then he'll stay. if not, then ingall may emulate lowndes in 2000/2001.

[ET351]

Oh yeah, drof, I forgot about that....

Oh well, how's this for a theory:

The new GTHO (I like your logic), but in a COUPE!!!

(There was a story in a mag about a company in Nth NSW that makes them on spec.. perhaps Mr Polites can hire these guys?)

Cheers (and more Fords :D ), ET

[v8coupe]

If ford brought out a coupe, the people who had there AU modified into a coupe might not be happy.

drof,
HSV might have to drop in the 6.2 litre, be great if ford brings out a new GTHO. Australia needs more factory muscle cars.
Pitty the don't have the style of the old cars, but still would be excellent to have the new monaro / gts.
If ford brought out the coupe, then the could race them in V8 Supercars? Be awesome.