Model makers quality ratings.

[lexoto]

How would you rate these model makers in terms of quality order.
I haven't seen any carousel 1,cmc models close up to compare quality.
Exoto
Gmp
Carousel 1
Cmc
Others.......

[berkut76]

It could vary greatly from model to model even from a different lines of single manufacturer. It's all arbitrary, but here are mine:

1) CMC

2) EXOTO

3) GMP

4) Lane Exact Detail

5) Classic Carlectables

6) Carousel 1

7) ERTL Authentics

8) AutoArt Millennium Edition

9) Precision Miniatures

10) Minichamps

11) Kyosho

12) Highway 61

13) All other lines of AutoArt

Regards,

Sergey

[lexoto]

Carousel 1 not up to exoto quality,very interesting.

What do you think about the bbr models.

[brchi17]

interesting to note there's no Biante in your lists :D LOL !!!

[Nick Short]

Unfortunately I don't have much experience of the real top end, apart from Exoto (and now the AutoArt Mazda!), but it's a hard one because sometimes Minichamps models are better than AutoArt, and other times they are worse. And Kyosho can be pretty awful (I'm thinking about my Lancia 037s and Integrale) so I'd have them lower on the list!

[Leigh]

So how do you guys rank accuracy in your quality rating?

Or, as with many, does quality just relate to detail?

[berkut76]

So how do you guys rank accuracy in your quality rating?
Or, as with many, does quality just relate to detail?

This is all very subjective. It's much easier to build a quality model in lower price range due to "lack" of individual parts. It also partially depends on what one collects. I collect racing vehicles of pretty much every kind with exception of NASCAR and IRL models. Carousel 1 (ok, I love Indy cars), Minichamps, AutoArt, Biante (although, not in the last couple of years), and Classic Carlectables dominate my collection.

The list will be different to a street car collector with AutoArt ranking much higher.

Regards,

Sergey

[Tumbo]

Its hard to compare 1/18 with 1/43; while the detail in 1/18 is better; often the moulding can be scaled better by the 1/43 companies.

End of the day the best thing is that the market now has a lot more competition thanks to Exoto and AA; I still remember buying my first AA the 99 Burns Monte; now 5 years old but easily one of my favourites in the collection- it just looked right

[Leigh]

My question was in relation to a few companies who have heaps of detail, and many more parts than others, but the accuracy leaves a lot to be desired. i.e. misplaced/missing/extra decals, parts that never existed on the real thing, or worst of all, bits that did exist but hardly resemble the originals...

[Tumbo]

While Exoto are clearly one of the top manufacturers on your point Leigh; I just found out- through others- of the inaccuracies in their Mansell car from 92; namely an incorrect rear wing mirror. Personally I would rather pay extra money to have a car 100% accurate and can just forgive minor inconsistancies; but in this case is there any excuse??

[1370]

interesting to note there's no Biante in your lists :D LOL !!!

Perhaps between Minichamps and Kyosho for the Biante Premium branded 1:18s?

[biante11500]

i would pretty much agree with your assesment berkut. i would put cmc in the number 1 slot as far as detail & accuracy.
#2 exoto-exoto has had some hit & miss problems with past models.
#3 gmp
#4-5 tie classic carlectables and lane exact detail. the best molds lane have made to date are there cutlass & firebird line. the 1970 chevelles body line accuracy is off specially around the back of the roof & trunk area is obvious. the 67-68 shelby mustangs wheel arches and stance are off also. the camaro & 65-66 mustangs molds are dated much like biantes xy falcons and much over rated.
#6 precision miniatures-drag series these are awesome if you like nastalgic drag racing.
#7 highway 61
#8 ertl authentics
#9 & #10 autoart millenium & minichamps
#11 biante premium
#12 precision miniatures standard
#13 kyosho
#14 standard autoart & biante
from here on down its low budget range
ertl
yatming/road champs
welly
carroll shelby collectibles
sunstar
signiture
mattel/hotwheels
there are many more but you get the idea.

[bev]

Interesting thread. These models all come out of the same 3-4 factories!!

[Chev_350]

Interesting thread. These models all come out of the same 3-4 factories!!

lol :)

[ratbag-racing]

They might only come from 3 or 4 factories but each company has the models built to their level of detail.Hence the huge difference from top of the range to the bottom.

[berkut76]

They might only come from 3 or 4 factories but each company has the models built to their level of detail.Hence the huge difference from top of the range to the bottom.

Yep, just look at the ELITE series Ferraris vs. the regular releases! They all came from the same factory. The devil is in the details. Another good comparison is Kyosho-made BMWs and Mercedes models. Mercedes wanted to build the models at lower price point than BMW, and the results were predictable. Funny thing, the retail price was pretty much equal.

Actually, my hat goes off to BMW management which definitely recognizes the importance of having its models made in variety of scales and at different price points.

Regards,

Sergey

[Nick Short]

Exoto are built in the United Arab Emirates - does this mean some of the other manufacturers have followed suit, moving from China?

AutoArt's a funny one - its top end stuff is great and even the bulk of its motorsport and prestige cars are excellent, but when I look at my local model shop, with its shelves filled with Beetles and Skylines and the like, they really aren't that great. Good paint but less sharp detail.

[jediholden]

I picked up Lowndes 888 yesterday and noticed the front spoiler (is that the right terminoligy)? is scratched. the yellow paint sticks out like dog's b*&#$ under the black paint on top. I checked with my neighbour who has the same car and his is scratched too. A minor glib but still it is noticable up close. Thats my only gripe on model quality making becasue i think classic do a good job.

if anyone else has this car, doyou think it is heavier than other cc's or am i imgagining it?

[lexoto]

Nice images ratbag-racing............

[berkut76]

Exoto are built in the United Arab Emirates - does this mean some of the other manufacturers have followed suit, moving from China?

So far ONLY Jaguar XJR9, which is at the low end in terms of detail for EXOTO models is produced at Dubai factory. It's also one of the most gremlin filled models currently on the market stressing the fact that the imported labor in that region can't match educated Chinese worker of the current generation.

I don't know if any other manufacturer moved their production to China, but I see plenty of clothing on store shelves here in the States that is made in one of the Persian Guld states.

Regards,

Sergey

[luckystudebaker]

I picked up Lowndes 888 yesterday and noticed the front spoiler (is that the right terminoligy)? is scratched. the yellow paint sticks out like dog's b*&#$ under the black paint on top. I checked with my neighbour who has the same car and his is scratched too. A minor glib but still it is noticable up close. Thats my only gripe on model quality making becasue i think classic do a good job.

if anyone else has this car, doyou think it is heavier than other cc's or am i imgagining it?

I had no problems with my Lowndes 888. I checked the front spoiler after reading this and is ok. Classic Carlectables models are heavy, and the 888 does appear to be a little heavier that the other V8's.

[jediholden]

I had no problems with my Lowndes 888. I checked the front spoiler after reading this and is ok. Classic Carlectables models are heavy, and the 888 does appear to be a little heavier that the other V8's.

i found out the reason why mine was scratched. when the models are completed it appears they are packed straight away and some issues probably dont have enough time to dry. my dealer pointed it out to me where the paint was visible on the plastic casing it sits in. so i just used a permanent marker and very very carefully touched up the scratched area and now you cant even notice it.

why do you think cc's make their models so heavy as opposed to biante's who's are noticably lighter???

[bev]

Exoto are built in the United Arab Emirates - does this mean some of the other manufacturers have followed suit, moving from China?

AutoArt's a funny one - its top end stuff is great and even the bulk of its motorsport and prestige cars are excellent, but when I look at my local model shop, with its shelves filled with Beetles and Skylines and the like, they really aren't that great. Good paint but less sharp detail.

I think you will find their office is in UAE but the models are still built at one of the factories we use in CHINA.

[luckystudebaker]

While I would love to comment on this (the best quality of models), I won't, but I will say that I sell more fords than holdens. (The old falcons etc that is). The price usually determines the quality and the old saying of "what you pay for is what you get" can still apply to model cars. I beleive that the Biante models are the most collectible of all other brands in Australia, and usually always hold there value or go up, and most sell out in shops very quickly.

[ferrari fan]

Well the XA-XB-XC Coupe cars are one of the best looking machines produced here in Good old Australia, together with the Valliant Chargers.
Together with the brute power/noise factor of the XW/Y GT's ,there is no choice.
The new commodes and flagons with the plastic everything including cupholders, ( We realy needed these for slightly different reasons in the drive inns in the olden days) just are not that enigmatic.

[Nick Short]

A couple of manufacturers that you might not have heard of, but would come near the top in terms of quality - Startline, www.startlinescalemodels.co.uk and Amalgam, www.AmalgamCollection.com

If you're into the Aston DBR9, Ferraris, F1 cars, or the old Mercedes Silver Arrows, and you've got a couple of bucks to spare, you will like Amalgam, and if you like classic Porsches, Ferraris, Jaguars, Bugattis etc, then Startline are for you. Each wheel of their Ferrari 250GTO has 140 separate parts, and the model is 34 inches long, costing about as much as I paid for my Magna.

A bloke local to me when I lived in the UK is John Shilton, who makes awesome sports racers and classic F1 cars at www.johnshintonmodels.co.uk and I suspect he, with the 2 above, are almost as good as it gets in the model world!

[Nick Short]

I hadn't realised until I looked at the website that Amalgam also do replica F1 steering wheels and engines, if anyone's into that sort of thing. I suppose Icon are trying to move into that hand-built, large model thing, which already exists outside Australia.

[Footy]

Do CCs and Biante use the same factory?

[singer]

[quote=ferrari fan;145937]Well the XA-XB-XC Coupe cars are one of the best looking machines produced here in Good old Australia, together with the Valliant Chargers.
Together with the brute power/noise factor of the XW/Y GT's ,there is no choice.

Bert,

Don't forget the 68-75 Monaro's:cool: All of the big 3 had a slice of the Muscle Car market:D. Until Evan Green screwed it for all Petrol Heads with his Scare piece in that Rag:mad:. Which forced the Aust Govt to threaten all Manufacturers with the withdrawal of Fleet Business, unless they cut there Muscle Car programs:mad: