New member GTR XU1 questions

[markuspd]

G`day, I am primarily interested in GTR toranas.
I have purchased a Biante 1:48 Glacier white LJ, haven`t got it yet but my questions are, are there any 1:18 LJ models either white or brown apart from the brock racing models?.
I used to own a brown LJ around 20 years ago and haven`t seen many maybe two since, looked like the often seen Monaro brown colour I think they called it Nutmeg, not too sure.
Is there anyone out there that will paint these models in my colour of choice and can you add houndstooth seats to these models?.
I want to replicate the one I had but keep the XU1 extras.
Mine was not an XU1.
I want to put it on my desk and dream for a few years till I can afford the real deal.
I intend getting the real thing someday when I have a spare fifty grand!!.:D

[HDTHSVHRT]

Make that 100 grand! :D You can get a green or yellow 1:18 LJ XU1 or a green or red LC XU1 from Biante but no white or brown yet sorry. A red LJ is on the cards which Im hanging for we're still waiting for it to be released. Have a good time collecting! :cool:

[monarocveightz]

Hi,

Welcome to the forum.

There hasn't been any white or brown LJ Torana's made, there are some members here that modify models so maybe they can help you out.

The only LJ road car models that have been made (from memory) are the March Green and a Mustard yellow one. And currently there is a salamanca Red one in production

http://www.biante.com.au/product_16981.htm

Also this one is pretty close to a road going car too

http://www.biante.com.au/product_16980.htm

Codie

[markuspd]

Thanks for the fast replies!.
I did see the blue one, don`t really like it nor the green, yellow or red!.:(
But if I could get one any one and have it painted would be great, any ideas on who might do that?.
I`m surprised they haven`t made a glacier white 1:18 model, I thought that would be the most popular and also gunmetal grey is ok in my book.
Another question I have is Biante the best quality model available, maybe a silly question on a biante forum but are there any other outstanding brands, maybe even on a par.
I have seen Trax which look cheaper, less real and also minchamps which look good but didn`t see a gtr of thiers.
Also are Biante and Auto Art one and the same, I have seen them both mentioned with some models and other times seems they are regarded as separate companies?, do they both make cars or is one the maker and one the distributor?.
Thanks

[HDTHSVHRT]

So you like a white or brown XU1??? Not my cup of tea.;) My favourite is the Salamanca red or like you said gunmetal grey. You can get Classic Carlectables which are said to be on par or better than Biante but they havent produced any Toranas yet. Biante get Autoart to produce some of their cars, hence the Autoart logo appears on the boxes. :cool:

[monarocveightz]

Here is a link to a thread on this forum about modifying models if you pm Hot351 or any of the others who have posted pics of their modified models they may be able to help you

http://forums.biante.com.au/showthread.php?t=9143

There are two main manufacturers of Australian models in 1:18, Biante is one, and Classic Carlectables is the other

http://www.classiccarlectables.com.au/aboutus.html

Classic carlectables usually have a more detailed model and feel a bit more solid than biante, but they are a bit dearer than Biante.



Biante are the only manufacturer to make the LJ Torana's in 1:18.

Autoart manufacture the models (overseas), whilst Biante get companies such as Autoart, Minichamps and Kyosho to make Australian cars for Biante

***Edit, you beat me to it again HDTHSVHRT

[markuspd]

So you like a white or brown XU1??? Not my cup of tea.;) My favourite is the Salamanca red or like you said gunmetal grey. You can get Classic Carlectables which are said to be on par or better than Biante but they havent produced any Toranas yet. Biante get Autoart to produce some of their cars, hence the Autoart logo appears on the boxes. :cool:
I would settle for a gunmetal grey LJ in 1:18, hopefully they will make one.

[markuspd]

Here is a link to a thread on this forum about modifying models if you pm Hot351 or any of the others who have posted pics of their modified models he may be able to help you

http://forums.biante.com.au/showthread.php?t=9143

There are two main manufacturers of Australian models in 1:18, Biante is one, and Classic Carlectables is the other

http://www.classiccarlectables.com.au/aboutus.html

Classic carlectables usually have a more detailed model and feel a bit more solid than biante, but they are a bit dearer than Biante.



Biante are the only manufacturer to make the LJ Torana's in 1:18.

Autoart manufacture the models (overseas), whilst Biante get companies such as Autoart, Minichamps and Kyosho to make Australian cars for Biante

***Edit, you beat me to it again HDTHSVHRT

Thanks for the link I will contact them about it.

[lionking]

http://forums.biante.com.au/attachment.php?attachm entid=4682&d=1179897391

Hey Markuspd.. Do you like this XU1.. sorry its not brown.. LOL

[markuspd]

To be honest I drool over any LJ GTR, but must admit I go more for stock standard type vehicles.
The LJ GTR I had years ago was not an XU1 did not even have sprintmasters, just standard wheels, it also had houndstooth insert seats, it was a magic car.;)

[HDTHSVHRT]

Yes I agree a stock standard car looks much better than those crap 20 inch wheels some people like to put, not taking anything away from the time and effort put in to do those things, but not for me thanks.

[toad]

Nutmeg was a kind of blend between purple, maroon and brown. I have seen a real XU1 in this colour and I thought it looked really good. It didn't look cacky brown like some of the 70's cars.

[markuspd]

Maybe it wasn`t Nutmeg, can anyone tell me the name for that Monaro brown that was popular?.
That was the colour of my GTR, it was a deep brown with no hint of purple or any other colour.
The more I think about it the more I want not an XU1 but a standard 72 or 73 LJ GTR with the plain wheels like the one I had.
A genuine raw beast of a car!.:D

[markuspd]

Got my Biante Glacier White 1:43 XU1 today, and to be honest was a little disappointed with it.
I think I definately need a 1:18 model.
Are the 1:18 models by Biante more detailed than the 1:43?.
I took the car out of the box and was surprised that while it looked ok side on, from the front it looked too thin, and long, the proportion didn`t look right!.
Maybe I am being to picky but these 1:43 models seem like matchbox cars to me and I decided straight away it`s 1:18 size only from now on.
I`d like to hear other collectors views regarding the different proportion of the different sizes.
I am guessing the detail is better with the 1:18 but hoping too the proportion is better because this model I have just doesn`t look the right shape.:rolleyes:
Thanks

[XU-123]

I have a 1:1 xu-1 and I thought the 1/43 was a pretty good shape. You can't compare the 1/43 with a 1/18 for detail. The 1/18s are so much better again.
mine here http://community.webshots.com/user/goxu1

[toad]

XU-123,
I just had a look at your album. There are some brilliant 1:1 XU1's in your pics. Which XU1 club are you a member of?

[Graeme]

markuspd,


If you're talking 1972 LJ Torana or HQ Holden, then I think your choice is one of two colours :

Cinnamon Brown (solid)

Nutmeg (metallic)

[XU-123]

I'm in the NSW GTR & XU-1 club...
Do you have a 1:1 ?


XU-123,
I just had a look at your album. There are some brilliant 1:1 XU1's in your pics. Which XU1 club are you a member of?

[markuspd]

markuspd,


If you're talking 1972 LJ Torana or HQ Holden, then I think your choice is one of two colours :

Cinnamon Brown (solid)

Nutmeg (metallic)

Thanks, it wasn`t metallic, so I guess it was Cinnamon Brown.
Give me somewhere to start searching anyhow.

Thanks!.

[markuspd]

I did some checking around and I`m 99% sure the colour was Royal Umber.
It is a paint colour only used in 1972 from what I can find out, which is the year of my GTR so it`s gotta be right, it`s a very similar depth of colour to gunmetal grey but of course brown.
I bought a 1:18 Dick Johnson model on ebay last night, now I just need to find someone to paint it!.
Anyone have any standard GTR wheels in 1:18 size for sale?.
Also I will need one or two GTR badges in 1:18 for the back of the model etc since I am downgrading it from an XU1 to a standard GTR.
Thanks for the help

[markuspd]

I have a 1:1 xu-1 and I thought the 1/43 was a pretty good shape. You can't compare the 1/43 with a 1/18 for detail. The 1/18s are so much better again.
mine here http://community.webshots.com/user/goxu1

Thanks for the info, some great XU1`s on your website.
I agree the 1:43 is pretty good, just not perfect, looks a little to squareish and like I said thinner.

[toad]

I'm in the NSW GTR & XU-1 club...
Do you have a 1:1 ?

Yes, in Orchid and also a fake in lone O'ranger

[bsbrians]

here is a couple of pics of a white 1:18 xu1 i`ve just finished,pretty standard just lowered with a half cage and chrome airdam oh and a 327.hope the pics work!

[HDTHSVHRT]

You must have sprintmasters with an XU1 or else it doesnt look complete to me, cant wait for the red one to be released.

[HDTHSVHRT]

Yes, in Orchid and also a fake in lone O'ranger

DO both have sprintmasters?

[toad]

DO both have sprintmasters?

The Orchid one did have, now its got 13x7 Hotwires
The Orange one has 15 x 7 minilites

[markuspd]

You must have sprintmasters with an XU1 or else it doesnt look complete to me, cant wait for the red one to be released.
I thought the same but my GTR looked better without them.
The brown colour and the no frills look really made the car look great.
In fact I am going to take off the spoilers and XU1 stickers and make my 1:18 exactly as mine was back then.
I watched an old video yesterday with the car on it, it was definately either nutmeg or Royal Umber which is rare but looks unbeleivable on these cars, I don`t know why it was so rare.