All disappeared?

Dave Ward

Still Trying New Things
SMF Supporter
Joined
Apr 27, 2018
Messages
8,558
Points
113
Location
South Gloucestershire
First Name
David
In the process of building the Italeri 1/24 Bugatti Royale Coupe Napoleon - I wondered how many of the other cars in the Italeri range were available. As well as the Bugatti, there was a Cadillac Town Car, Cadillac Fleetwood, Chrysler Imperial, Mercedes Benz 540K & a Rolls-Royce Phantom.
A trawl through the retail shops provided a blank - several listed them, but 'out of stock' or special order - not really surprising as they are out of production - even on the Italeri website. So the normal progression of pre-owned retailers - again a blank - then to ebay - there are models on there, invariably at collectors' prices from the US.
I began to wonder if there had been a sort of boom of sales in the models of 30's large luxury cars - especially 1/24 - I looked for Monogram and AMT models - it seemed to be so! Models of the classic American cars, like Duesenberg & Cord seemed to have dropped out of the market - collectors cornering the market? makers exhausting dwindling stocks?, or a badly selling genre of models just fading away?
The only 1/24 range of older cars I can find, which seems to be in production is Heller ( I made their Delage a short time ago ), and those are pretty old moulds.
You've got to think manufactures are missing out on what looks like a niche in the market!
Dave
 
  • Like
Reactions: JR

PaulTRose

Dazed and confused
SMF Supporter
Joined
Jun 13, 2013
Messages
5,741
Points
113
Location
limbo
First Name
Paul
ive got the Merc 540k to do sometime but i agree with what you say about missing an oppertunity
 

Gern

'Stashitis' victim
SMF Supporter
Joined
May 17, 2009
Messages
9,622
Points
113
Location
Stourbridge
First Name
Dave
It would be nice to see a range of 'ordinary' cars in 1/35 - even if most of them get built, or even designed, as wartime casualties. I suppose it's the usual excuse that the manufacturers use - "We don't think there's a market for them."
 
Joined
Mar 1, 2018
Messages
314
Points
43
First Name
Noel
Dave, my liking is for the older classics, and agree that many have been dropped by their respective manufacturers.
You have already listed the Italeri models, who's Royale was in two versions. Monogram had some nice ones released back to the sixties, Bugatti 35B, Duesenberg SJ Phaeton and Town Car. Rolls Royce Henley, Cord and a Packard that I can remember. Lindberg made a Bugatti Royale (the Weinberger Car) and I believe the moulds went to Revell. MPC made their Lincoln and Chrysler kits, and Pyro brought out an Auburn Speedster. There was a kit of far eastern origin of the Blower Bentley, a different kit to the Heller (that Revell re boxed) version.
Cannot think of any others in 1/24th scale unless you go down the white metal route with the classics made by South Eastern (ex Wills) Finecast under their own name (finely detailed), and under the Auto Kits label that are mainly kerb side models. They are still available on mail order and their website is well worth a look at. They also make a nice range of traction engine and steam lorry kits in 1/32 scale too. There was another company named Auto replicas based in Bournemouth, Dorset who made 1/24th scale kits of a replica Frazer Nash, Bugatti type 43 and a Bugatti Brescia in white metal also.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JR
Joined
Mar 1, 2018
Messages
314
Points
43
First Name
Noel
Dave, I forgot about Jo Han who had a few classics in their range. I can remember building their classic Mercedes back in the 70's.
 

Dave Ward

Still Trying New Things
SMF Supporter
Joined
Apr 27, 2018
Messages
8,558
Points
113
Location
South Gloucestershire
First Name
David
Dave, I forgot about Jo Han who had a few classics in their range. I can remember building their classic Mercedes back in the 70's.
Noel,
yes, they keep on popping up on ebay, but at collectors prices! I lurk, hoping to get a car with either a damaged box, or no box at all. I'm wary of already started models, the last two I bought weren't goers - can't really complain, as they were listed as 'not sure all parts there', same as 'spares or repair'..................
Dave
 
Joined
Mar 1, 2018
Messages
314
Points
43
First Name
Noel
Dave, I agree about silly prices being asked for on Ebay. They are only plastic kits after all.
I am on the lookout for the ultimate partly made disaster, a Pocher Bugatti T50 to strip back and re build.
Unbuilt kits go for really stupid prices on Ebay, but you never know........One Day!
 

Lee Drennen

Box Stock Builder with a Twist/ Rabble Member
SMF Supporter
Joined
Apr 29, 2018
Messages
5,577
Points
113
Location
Wortham Mo
First Name
Lee
Dave. I collect the old 1/32 classics like Pyro Palmer Life Like and there hard to find these days on eBay if you find one there pricey
 
  • Like
Reactions: JR

rtfoe

SMF Supporter
Joined
Apr 29, 2018
Messages
7,465
Points
113
Location
Malaysia
First Name
Richard
Talking about ordinary cars used by the military in 1/35 scale there are some by MiniArt. I just purchased a German Staff Car Type 170V Cabriolet B.

Cheers,
Richard
 

Tim Marlow

Little blokes aficionado
SMF Supporter
Joined
Apr 27, 2018
Messages
16,545
Points
113
Location
Somerset
First Name
Tim
I built that a few years ago Richard. The detail is good, but I found the kit plastic a bit brittle.
 

Dave Ward

Still Trying New Things
SMF Supporter
Joined
Apr 27, 2018
Messages
8,558
Points
113
Location
South Gloucestershire
First Name
David
I've made a few of the ICM 1/35 staff cars - they're all nicely detailed, but over engineered! Also the Zvezda Gaz M-1. I have a few in the stash, as well, including the Packard Twelve.
I keep on the lookout on ebay - patience & regular visits! - a 30's Cord or a Cadillac would be nice, but not at the ruinous prices on offer. The Pocher kits were expensive when new, and I can't imagine them depreciating.............
Dave
 
Joined
Mar 1, 2018
Messages
314
Points
43
First Name
Noel
Dave of Stourbridge. Unfortunately it is a fact of life that manufacturers will not invest huge sums of money on designing and tooling up subjects they consider will not sell well. I would love to see more kits of 'ordinary' cars, but who would bother to be enthusiastic about a lot of an Austin Allegro for example. Airfix brought out a number of kits of mundane cars that have never seen the light of day again since their first release. Some of the ones considered more interesting have been re popped from time to time. Apart from Airfix back in the day, I cannot think of anyone else who kitted everyday cars apart from Heller's one stab at 1/43rd scale and the old Revell Cadets series from back in the Sixties. Both long gone!
 
Joined
Mar 1, 2018
Messages
314
Points
43
First Name
Noel
Dave of Stourbridge. Unfortunately it is a fact of life that manufacturers will not invest huge sums of money on designing and tooling up subjects they consider will not sell well. I would love to see more kits of 'ordinary' cars, but who would bother to be enthusiastic about a lot of an Austin Allegro for example. Airfix brought out a number of kits of mundane cars that have never seen the light of day again since their first release. Some of the ones considered more interesting have been re popped from time to time. Apart from Airfix back in the day, I cannot think of anyone else who kitted everyday cars apart from Heller's one stab at 1/43rd scale and the old Revell Cadets series from back in the Sixties. Both long gone!
lot of an Allegro should read kit of
 

Tim Marlow

Little blokes aficionado
SMF Supporter
Joined
Apr 27, 2018
Messages
16,545
Points
113
Location
Somerset
First Name
Tim
You’re dead right Noel. I wonder how many Austin Maxi or Bond Bug kits they sold!
 

Dave Ward

Still Trying New Things
SMF Supporter
Joined
Apr 27, 2018
Messages
8,558
Points
113
Location
South Gloucestershire
First Name
David
At the moment there are a couple of Bond Bugs on ebay @ £150+ and a Austin Maxi for £300!! You'd have to be a very serious ( and wealthy ) collector to pay that!
Dave
 

Tim Marlow

Little blokes aficionado
SMF Supporter
Joined
Apr 27, 2018
Messages
16,545
Points
113
Location
Somerset
First Name
Tim
Wouldn’t you just Dave! You could probably get a real Austin Maxi for that, and still be paying too much!
 
Top