CUSTOM TRUCKS – 1:24 SCALE WONDER WOMAN CHEVY AND 1:1 TESLA

THIS HANDSOMELY PACKAGED 1:24 scale cab-over engine (COE) Chevrolet pickup truck from the 1950s adds a gleaming retro flavour to a neatly sculpted Wonder Woman figure.

MAKING MATCHBOX TOYS HALF A CENTURY AGO

COURTESY PATHE FILMS here’s a look at the early years of this famous brand.

SCALE MODELS: ARE YOU A BUILDER OR A COLLECTOR? OR IS THERE A THIRD WAY?

 

THE SCALE MODEL PASSION divides pretty neatly into two worlds - the craft-driven hobby of scale modelling, and the collector-driven desire for a ready-built collection. 

GORGEOUS VINTAGE DIECAST RACING CARS BOOK - YOUR FREE TASTER

Here's a beautifully produced book by German photographer and model fan Michael Spengler. Racing Cars is a must-look for anyone who likes diecast racing cars.

INCOMING - CORGI 'FLIGHT' AIRCRAFT RANGE

SMN report:

Here’s a new set of familiar faces from Corgi, in the form of the new-tool Flight range. The first wave consists of seven aircraft, five from World War II, plus a pair of modern jets.

HOBBY MASTER COLLECTORS HAVE THEIR OWN PROFILE PAGES

Hobby Master of Hong Kong makes a wide and expanding range of diecast models, of both aviation and military armour subjects. The aircraft in particular hit a sweet spot, with sizes that range in scale from 1:200 airliners to 1:32 combat types.

INCOMING - SHORT STIRLING BOMBER TO 1:72 SCALE FROM CORGI

SMN report:

The team at Corgi has worked really hard with this new diecast 1:72 scale model of the Short Stirling World War II British heavy bomber. In fact, one of the UK’s two leading hardcopy diecast mags gives it a top-score 10/10 rating.

BMW ART CARS - JEFF KOONS SUPER-STRIPES CREATION AVAILABLE IN 1:18 SCALE

SMN report:

Here’s something with a wow-factor to add to that lineup of 1:18 scale diecast cars. It’s the latest in a long line of BMW ‘Art Cars’ - art in motion, with designs and paint applied by a host of top-name artists over the years.

NEW BUS FOR LONDON - CORGI ANNOUNCES RELEASE DATE FOR DIECAST ‘BORIS BUS’

SMN update:

Corgi has announced a target release date of March 2012 for the 1:76 scale New Bus for London (NB4L) now under development, and currently running on a similar schedule to the real thing. The Corgi diecast model will scale out to 146 mm (5.75 in) long and be marketed under the successful London Original Omnibus Company (OOC) name. As planned, the first OOC New Bus will wear the livery, destination, and numbers of the first route that the new bus will serve. Corgi planners are expecting to see details of this route very soon.

CAN THE AVERAGE KIT CONSTRUCTOR COMPETE WITH A READY-BUILT MODEL?

SMN report:

It’s a hard question to answer, bearing in mind that the model-maker ‘craft’ market is different from the ready-built ‘collector’ market, and that our idea of a well-made kit varies. But there are crossover points between the two, and it’s exemplified by the latest Corgi World War I biplane, a 1000-off Limited Edition 1:48 scale model of the Sopwith Camel flown by Captain CM McEwen in Italy, January 1919.

NEW BUS FOR LONDON - CORGI TO PRODUCE DOUBLE-DECKER ‘BORIS BUS’

SMN report:

The familiar double-deck London bus is returning to the streets very soon - as planned there’ll be some of them running on the streets in time for the 2012 London Olympics. Sponsored by London Mayor Boris Johnson, the New Bus for London (NB4L) is a designer treat to look at, with swooping glass exposing staircases at front and rear, plus easy access for entry and exit. In our view, easy-access alone makes it a worthwhile project - it’s no fun queuing in the rain while you wait to climb aboard one of the present designs.

Corgi New Bus for London

Now Corgi is getting into the act by planning a 1:76 scale diecast model of the NB4L, for release later this year, under the Original Omnibus Company (OOC) brand name. The pioneering NB4L design draws inspiration from the original Routemaster's instantly recognisable red paint, as well as the traditional hop on, hop off open rear platform, both of which will be reproduced in Corgi's new model, which will measure 146 mm (5.75 in) long. 

2012 LONDON OLYMPICS TAXI TIE-IN FROM CORGI

SMN report

Here’s one for the keen London Olympics 2012  collectibles lover, a 40-strong range of London taxis, each one decorated with graphics representing a different sport. The taxis are small, about 1:64 scale, and are very basic in appearance and detail - you get wheels, windows, a simple interior, but that’s about it apart from painted lights, grille, and an attractive mini-box. 

Olympics 2012

The appeal is in the Olympic connection, which is fair enough, but it does rather raise the question:  why is it that ‘popular attraction’ collectible models are, almost without exception, produced down to a price, rather than being a life-affirming ‘best they can be’? Pocket money purchases and casual buying are probably the answers to the question, but how nice it would be if a few more items of tourist tat were tourist treasures instead.

PARTWORK UPDATE - BATMAN, GREEN LANTERN, OTHER TASTY STUFF

SMN report

Here’s an update on the continuing Batman Automobilia series, now into its fifth 1:43 scale vehicle, the Gangbusters-style retromobile from the 1940s, and a very neat model it is too. All the Batmobiles are presented in the same stackable clear plastic oval boxes, which make them look very presentable indeed, though as this writer is in pre-housemove clearance mode, storage issues put any thoughts of a collection into cold storage! The accompanying magazines are pretty good too - the picture above, from the launch issue, shows the attention to detail that has gone into this production.

The Eaglemoss website reveals details of Batmobiles four and five.

Predictably enough, the first three Batmobiles were the hot items, but for a keen Bat-fan, this is the opportunity for something like completeness in one aspect of your Batman collection.

NEW SCANIA 1:50 SCALE TRUCKFEST HAULER FROM CORGI

David Jefferis goes up close

Here is a smart new addition to Corgi’s ever-growing Truckfest range. The 'big cat' graphics decorating the sides of the 1:50 scale Scania tractor unit are extremely well done, and represent the markings of Wayne Catt Transport, a ten-year old UK-based haulage company.

UNBOXING THE NEW SUPER-VALUE ‘BATMAN AUTOMOBILIA’ PARTWORK

SMN report

We’re using ‘unboxing’ in its widest sense here, as most of this new product is actually flat printed paper. Still, who’s quibbling - what we have is the first in ‘the definitive collection of Batman vehicles’, and this starter for what could be a l-o-o-n-g partwork series makes a terrific package, and as is usually the case with partworks, it’s offered as a knockdown price to lure you in as a faithful subscriber.

TEKNO MODEL TRUCKS OPEN DAY IN THE NETHERLANDS ON MAY 22

Here’s an interesting freebie for model truck fans who can make a trip to the Netherlands next week. It’s the fifth Tekno Event, to be held at the Dutch diecast manufacturer’s HQ in De Lier, on Saturday, May 22.

Tekno Truck Museum
On the day, can have a chat to Tekno officials, browse through the wide-ranging Tekno Museum and best of all, get a closeup eyeball at the 100 or so full-size trucks that will be parked up for inspection. Most of these trucks on display will have been featured by Tekno as available models or ones slated for production.


Limited Edition Tekno Truck
There will also be demos showing how Tekno’s models are planned and made, plus a fascinating video showing the production process in action. A Limited-Edition Event Special 1:50 scale Scania R620 truck will be available to purchase at 100 Euro ($125 USD) and these trucks will be available on the day only. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

 The Event is open from 10.00-17.00 and parking is free. There’s lots more information at Tekno here.

The pictures show, top to bottom:
1  The Limited Edition truck for sale on the day.
2  Neat Volvo 1:50 scale tractor.
3  Tekno also supplies many of its trucks in kit form, with a mix of metal and plastic components.
4  Excellent detail and subtle weathering on one of the latest trucks.
5  Retro-era trucks like this Scania are also made by Tekno.

WHO SHOULD COME FIRST - USERS OR COLLECTORS?

The model world seems to be made primarily of two types of people - users and collectors. For users, a kit or a diecast is there to be assembled or displayed, rather than laid down for possible future gain. There’s also the true expert, for whom three of each item is required - “one to build, one for parts, one to lay down” is the aim - though having the space for it is another question altogether!

The world of Limited Editions is aimed at the collector market, pure and simple. It’s doubtful whether a plastic kit that’s labelled this way ever gets built at all, although the Airfix Sea Vixen may be an exception. We’ll find out later this year for sure, as the first ones at least will be sold as a Limited Edition.

But for many of us, the real deal is buying a kit for the pleasure of craftsmanship, or a diecast to display because you happen to like it for some reason. And here’s an example of a cheap truck - a 1:50 scale Volvo A25C from Cararama - that’s most certainly a ‘user’ item, yet is not a lot worse in terms of casting and finish than a similar piece costing ten times as much, but made for the Limited Edition market.

This Volvo comes with articulation on six wheels, cab detail, light fittings, number plate, metal-foil mirrors, and fully rotating tractor and load halves - oh, and the load bed lifts nicely on a pair of pistons. So it works well as a detailed model, yet is priced as a toy - SMN could get one locally for less than £10.00 GBP ($16.00 USD). This is fantastic news for toy-bashers and diorama lovers - you could buy several of these, rip them apart or simply weather them, with zero misgivings for the effect on any future value. And in different sizes, the same calculations are perfect for rail fans, as the popular 1:87 and 1:76 scale layouts need to be populated with their share of vehicles, and the cheaper the better, particularly if they still look good despite the no-pain price.

You can see a selection of Cararama vehicles here.

Cararama’s website, Hong Kong-based Hongwell Toys, is here but be warned - it’s a slow loader.

ONLINE AUCTIONS MAKE IT EASY TO BUY AND SELL COLLECTIBLE MODELS

For model collectors, the internet has proved a treasure trove of opportunity. While it’s still a huge pleasure to haunt swapmeets, collector fairs and so on, online auctions offer an extra dimension of mouthwatering collectibles.

Here we feature just two samples from current auctions provided by The Saleroom, which sends a click-thru pot-pourri of sales via email regularly.

The Bing live-steam locomotive is in big Gauge 1 (about 1:32) scale, and is a true antique, dating from somewhere between 1906-1912. It’s hardly cheap, at a guide price of £8-10,000 GBP ($13-16,400 USD), but as the old saying goes, “They’re not making them like that any more”. So it just has to be a top-class investment, as well as a thing of beauty and hugely desirable. On top of all that, it’s still in working order!

Incidentally, the German Bing company was mega when this locomotive was made - in 1905 Bing had the biggest toy factory in the world.

The Corgi Chipperfield Circus diecast collection is easier on the pocket, with a guide price of £400-600 GBP ($655-983 USD) and is also highly desirable, especially as the showcase is included.

You can visit The Saleroom here. Once registered, you can receive heads-up emails on a host of auctions around the world.

MAT’S US DIARY: AL’S HOBBY SHOP

At one time Chicago apparently boasted no less than 18 hobby stores, the greatest number for any city in the US. Today the number has dwindled to maybe five, but one of these is Al’s Hobby Shop which is nearby in downtown Elmhurst, just round the corner from the railroad track that runs straight though the town, and which seems to stop traffic every five minutes!

Al’s was started in 1947, which makes it a run of 62 years so far, not bad for any shop, let alone a hobby shop. There really was an ‘Al’, though he unfortunately died a few years ago, but family members still run the business. Al’s caters for all types of modellers - kits, diecasts, radio-control, boats, planes and cars. Given that the US was built on the railroad, (and one still runs through the town), there is a separate shop next door, just for railroad modelling supplies.

But trends come and go. For many years the static model kit division was just inside the door, and it was radio-control in a side area. Now this is reversed, as the current main interest is radio-control, with a wide range of electric and fuel-powered machines available. However, next year maybe trends will have moved on again...

The pictures show (top) one of Al’s store windows. Inside Al’s (middle), Jeff Clark restocks some kit shelves, and yes, the railroad runs just round the corner from Al’s. You can visit Al's online here.

Mat Irvine