new to biante and have girly questions!!

[shesagirl]

As my username suggests I am a girl and therefore will be asking those dumb girly questions you guys love so much :rolleyes: but I will say I'm checking this all out for one computer illiterate husband who has just discovered Biante!!

I've worked out Auto Art and Biante are different manufacturers and some of you feel Biante models are more detailed. My husband just brought a Biante Torana LX SLR 5000 (red) so now the collecting begins......$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Girly questions :p :

1. Is it better to stick to the same manufacturer in a collection?

2. Is one manufacturers prices more than another (we are only looking at Aussie muscle cars)? Bainte dearer than Auto Art for same cars (if they make same cars??)

3. How do I know if a price is fare? For e.g. we are looking at gettting a Biante HK Monaro in ermine white or warwick yellow. So far I have seen them for around the $250-$295 mark on ebay or online stores. But then he wouldn't mind a HT but I've only seen a Maroon one for $395.
3 (a). How do I know if this pricing is correct?
3 (b). Is there a place that sales prices or current prices are recorded?

He also wants a LH Torana L34 option in yellow but the only price I have seen is $345.

4. Where is the best place to buy...checked ebay but as I not sure about fare pricing I'm not sure what to bid? I see there is a online shop called modelcars.com.au. My closest model shop is 4 hours away in Perth...Sandridges...are they any good?

5. Is it true the condition of box it comes in matters as much as the car??? If you answer yes I will think you're weird ;)

6. How do most of you display cars?

That's it... no more girly questions for now...I think that is enough for all you men anyway :D

[Leigh]

Welcome to the forum She's a girl

AutoArt make some cars for Biante, hence some Biante cars are boxed in AutoArt boxes (confused?)...essentially, if it's a model of an Australian car, it will be either a Biante (in Biante or AutoArt boxes) or a Classic Carlectables (a different maker of models)...

Answers to your questions:

1. What ever you want to do...some will say yes, I collect whatever I like;)

2. RRP is generally roughly $150-200 depending on royalty payments, road v race car, Classic Carlectables versus Biante. Second hand prices are whatever people are willing to pay...some models are pushing the $1000 mark on the second hand market:eek:

3. A fellow named Inter on here keeps a fairly good record of sale prices, and posts the average sale price for all Biante models...there are several threads started by him. Search for his name, then click on "Threads started by Inter"...one in particular has "record prices", it is certainly worth keeping in mind the maximum price that people have paid...

4. I'll let the WA's answer who is best in Perth for retail purchases. For old stock/second hand, Model Cars of the World have lots of stock (but are on the dearer side)...Gateway Models (www.gatewaymodels.com.au) also have many old stock models. Ebay can also turn up some bargains...again, cross check with Inter's averages...

5. IMO resale prices are better for models with good boxes, crushed boxes suggest mis-treatment (i.e. dropped) etc that may have damaged the model...Boxes also come in handy when you are moving house;)

6. Mine are in a cupboard in their boxes ATM (just moved house), but some are in display cabinets...search for "display cabinets" on this forum and you'll find many threads where people show their collections on display;)

Cheers
Leigh

[whitlam]

Hi and Welcome to the forums :)

I can answer a few of your questions, firstly Biante commission Autoart to produce some of their models.

1. Different manufacturers have different levels of detail and prices so its really up to personal taste as to which ones you buy

2. Classic Carlectables (http://www.classiccarlectables.com.au/aboutus.htm l) are generally more expensive than biante at $195 RRP

3. Talk to the member inter on these forums as he keeps records of prices and regularly posts average prices of most biante models in this thread...http://forums.biante.com.au/showthread.ph p?t=7710&page=15&highlight=record+keeping

4. You can find some good bargains on eBay but on the other hand there are alot of profiteers too, it really pays to look around and look at what they're going for lately

5. To me, no but I do keep all the boxes and try to keep them in a reasonable condition

6. Click here :) (http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l135/whitlam05/ Model%20Cars/)

[whitlam]

Damn, you beat me to it :D

[Leigh]

I think many members should answer Whitlam, we all give slightly different answers and all are helpful;)

[ferrari fan]

Welcome to the wonderfull world of model cars.
Try to anwser these for you
1. collect what you want, no ggod sticking to one manufacturer if you collect in a certain way, like Classic Aussie muscle.
2. Each brand and even each model demands a certain price.
esp in the second hand market.
3. a+b+C. There is a very helpfull forum member who commits a lot of time publiching average second hand values based on sales happenings called INTER.
Very accurate to get his average value price on a certain model and posted here reguarly.
LH Torri L34; Check Inters topiv "Torana". see above.
4. Stanbridges are excelent and there are a few more like this wonderfull shop.
Perth Hobby, Triking, and the Fremantle model shop in Fremantle.
5. unfortunatly the awnser is YES, and I agree with it being weird.
models are to be displayed out of their wrapping, but it has to do with it being still preceived as being NEW, untouched,played with.
6. Many different ways.
see topics on display.
foot note, yes you have touched on all our particulairities/softpoints, thank you for that.
4 hours from Perth, North? East? South? where?

Hope this helps and this is what the forum was intended for.
Happy collecting
kind Regards Bert

Bleeding blygh me, we are on the ball and I am "Beaten",again!
Excelent effort.

[monarocveightz]

Welcome she's a girl......everyones answered the Questions, so there's no point me repeating it all

I thought i would let you know that Biante made other coloured HT Monaro's....I've got a Monza Blue version

http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i118/monarocveig htz/?action=view&current=MVC-062S.jpg

If you want to know what other models Biante have done, post a message on the forum.

or you could look on the Biante site here

http://www.biante.com.au/faq_9.htm

and for Classic Carlectables here

http://www.classiccarlectables.com.au/118releases. html

Codie

[ferrari fan]

Biante has put out a CD with the complete Collection 1998-2004.second edition. Very helpfull indeed
Hopefully Biante still got stock of this.

[hobby]

Biante has put out a CD with the complete Collection 1998-2004.second edition. Very helpfull indeed
Hopefully Biante still got stock of this.

This CD is a great place to start may be available at some local model shops.
another place to look for out of run models is in your trading papers here in W.A we have a weekly paper called the Quokka quite a few models in that ,occassionly a real bargain.

in other states i believe there is the trading post.
another area is the buy sell and swap areas on both model car maker forums

collect which ever model gives the gotta have feeling or i remember that , wish i could have the real thing.

anyway welcome to a great forum

there a many who can and do help on many subjects

[VXfan]

Welcome shesagirl,best advice I can give u is to try very hard to stick to a theme(s) otherwise the number of models u buy can so easily balloon!!
I started out collecting various different themes e.g. Bathurst winners,F1 Winners,ATCC winners,sportscars etc... but now have it down to basically 4 themes when it used to be about 8.
Cheers,
Tony.

[CowboyMatt]

Welcome to the forum.

Here's my two cents worth:

1. Depends on what you want to collect. Are you a fan of certain cars / drivers? It also depends on what you think in terms of the quality between the different manufacturers.

2. I'd agree with Leigh on that one. For 1:18 it's around $150 - $200 for a new model.

3. As above for new models. For second hand the only thing you can do is research. E-bay is a guide, but as Leigh mentioned Inter (one of our forum members) provides a great service for us (see the Record Keeping thread) and there are also a couple of other threads that you may find useful (Good buy on E-Bay / Extreme E-Bay).

4. Not sure for Perth but with the wonderful world-wide web it's worth checking out a few other shops. Again, if you do your research you'll get a feel for what is a good price. Don't fall into the trap of buying a model because of your retailer's price - if you think it's overpriced it probably is!!

5. You want the package to look pristine when you get it - gives you comfort it arrived safely. Don't really need it after that (although I've kept all mine) unless you are going to move later. There's no better way to transport them than in their original packaging.

6. Many ways you can display. Essential you have a dust-proof cabinet and keep them away from direct sunlight. I have a preference for mirror glass on the back for the extra effect but everyone has their own personal taste.

Hope it helps - by the way, they're not 'girly' questions. Anyone starting this great hobby would want to know these things.

A final word - be warned - it can be very addictive!!!

[inter]

As my username suggests I am a girl and therefore will be asking those dumb girly questions you guys love so much :rolleyes: but I will say I'm checking this all out for one computer illiterate husband who has just discovered Biante!!

I've worked out Auto Art and Biante are different manufacturers and some of you feel Biante models are more detailed. My husband just brought a Biante Torana LX SLR 5000 (red) so now the collecting begins......$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Girly questions :p :

1. Is it better to stick to the same manufacturer in a collection?

2. Is one manufacturers prices more than another (we are only looking at Aussie muscle cars)? Bainte dearer than Auto Art for same cars (if they make same cars??)

3. How do I know if a price is fare? For e.g. we are looking at gettting a Biante HK Monaro in ermine white or warwick yellow. So far I have seen them for around the $250-$295 mark on ebay or online stores. But then he wouldn't mind a HT but I've only seen a Maroon one for $395.
3 (a). How do I know if this pricing is correct?
3 (b). Is there a place that sales prices or current prices are recorded?

He also wants a LH Torana L34 option in yellow but the only price I have seen is $345.

4. Where is the best place to buy...checked ebay but as I not sure about fare pricing I'm not sure what to bid? I see there is a online shop called modelcars.com.au. My closest model shop is 4 hours away in Perth...Sandridges...are they any good?

5. Is it true the condition of box it comes in matters as much as the car??? If you answer yes I will think you're weird ;)

6. How do most of you display cars?

That's it... no more girly questions for now...I think that is enough for all you men anyway :D



Welcome to the forum

if you are looking at the Biante HK Monaro in ermine white or warwick yellow the the prices you should be looking at are;

ermine white under $150 bargain
between $150 and $170 good price
between $170 to $190 a little high
above $190 wait
Having said that this model is going up quite rapidly Current average last 20 sales is $145


Warwick yellow
as above just add $20 to the value
cheers

[shesagirl]

I must say you are a very helpful bunch..thanks so much !!!

I don't think we will be buying the HK for $295!!

Thanks guys I'll post again when I need more help.

[ferrari fan]

Well a 1979 Peter Jansson/ Larry perkins Torana might be considered,
is a Torana and it is Yellow AAAAAAAAnnnd it came second behind PBrock in 1979 and is still about issue price.

[bostonwayne]

Also the 1979 Torana is one of the best looking cars done so far

[texan]

Shesagirl, I would add one more bit of advice to what everyone has said, concerning what to pay, & that is to check the prices of any model you're interested in on Ebay by selecting completed listings. This gives you what buyers actually pay as opposed to what sellers hope to (& quite often don't) get. By using this combined with Inter's excellent information you'll get a pretty clear picture of what the market is currently doing.

[sleepy]

Hi Shesagirl what i would do for future releases is watch the biante website for upcoming models by using the find a model thingy, then when you see something coming up place it on your watchlist, then buy it off the website upon release....Some models do sell out fast so sometimes you have to be at the ready.....this way you will only pay retail and pick up a few bonus points.....

[Patterson]

Hi Shesagirl,

There are plenty of other Model Shops in Perth other than Stanbridges.

There are at least 3 good ones in the city, plus heaps of Games World stores around the place that usually have a good collection and will take orders.

You can also order new models directly from the website, but be warned, if it is a very popular model in low numbers you may struggle to get your hands on it and may be better putting in an order with a model shop.