62 replies to this topic

[Sudsbouy]

Who puts out the best models of GP cars? I don't mean something at the thousand USD level, but up to say $200 USD.

I've heard of Exoto (www.exoto.com), but they have a very limited selection.

Thank you.

[Nathan]

ooh, ooh yeah good post. Also, does anyone know where I can find Hot Wheels catalog of Ferrari 1:18 scale models? Their website sucks.

[LUCKYSTRIKE]

Your best bet would be MINICHAMPS for current drivers and cars but they do not make certain teams ie: Ferrari is exclusive to Mattel Hot Wheels also Jaguar, Jordan, Mclaren (not exclusive) Minichamps does make a better Die Cast no doubt about that, they have Mclaren, Williams, BAR, Arrows, Benetton, Minardi, Prost, Sauber. a 1/43 scale should cost about $40 canadian and a 1/18 scale will cost about $100 canadian

[Linus27]

I think France make the best models, just look at Laetitia Casta and Brazil also has some nice ones. Oh arse, wrong models.

I like Minichamps, they seem to be very well made, presented and detailed.

For the record, I am after the BRM from 1967.

[mono-posto]

Tameo of Italy ABSOLUTELY makes the best F1 models in existance and with THE largest selection of any other company (over 300 F1 models).

The only catch is you'll have to build them yourself.
Meri kits of Italy makes some VERY nice Ferrari F1 kits but pretty limited selection.

BBR makes very nice hand built models for 150-200 USD but not much selection there either.

In my opinion, Mattel, Minichamps, Burago, Onyx, Brumm etc. are.... well, you get what you pay for. A 15-30 USD model is roughly better than a childs toy.

If you like fine food, fine wine, and fine cars then go with fine models. If your not a builder than buy Tameo kits anyway and pay a pro-builder the 200 USD to build them. There's no substitute.

[Max Torque]

mono-posto, I think you should understand that a die-cast model replica and a modelist kit are two completely different categories.

[HappyDude]

You beat me to it Linus:)

[IAM]

I have just received my first Exoto. The 1979 Ferrari 312T4 Gilles Vil. The detail is amazing and is excellent value for money. I have it right next to me...Wire mesh carb covers, 12 Spark plug wires, oil lines, fire extinguisher in roll bar, radiator cap, electrical boxes with wires, vented disc brakes, gear shift, fabric seat belts, clutch, brake and acellerator pedals. Plus much more detail. Seeing is believing.

Turn it upside down to see the 4 batches of 3 exhaust clusters and the finned oil pan. No photograph can do it justice!

Compare Exoto 1:18 scale car for $150 US to Minichamps 1998 McLaren for $60 US, the Minichamps is a waste of money (I have 4 1:18 Minichamps) then compare them to Hot Wheels 2000 Ferrari season cars and Jordan at the same price. No contest!

1st,1st Tamiya "Big series" 1:12 plastic kits detail and working parts. You have to know what you are doing!

Die casts
1st Exoto's
2nd Minichamps
3rd Hot Wheels
Way down the list Solido from the 60's, Further down the list Dinky and Corgi(I still have some of those)

I am waiting for the Exoto Tyrrell 6 wheeler and 1980 RE-20 Renault to arrive from Toronto Motorsport. They have a sale on right now. Buy one at full price and get 25% of a second.

As for selection, just wait and see. They have 1994 Mansel Williams, the 92 Mansel Ferrari and a few other more recent cars on their list with a lot more due out.

They may not be current models, but for value and detail get Exoto. If you contact Derrick at Toronto say Ian says Hi!;)

I do not work for them. They are just a great company to deal with and have the best prices.

Ian

[MP4/?]

I collect Minichamps and now (sadly) Mattel models. I think that Minichamps has done a great jobe with their models since 1988 and specially after 1993. Their models looks almost equal to the real cars. I know that Exoto is doing a great job with the classics models, but if you want to have a Benetton or a Mac your choise has to be Minichamps. I perfer the 1:18 scale because cars are more realistic and I usually change them into tobacco because as we know there is a law that doesn't allow this.

AT this moment I have 33 1:18 cars. They are great. I looking forward to buy 8 more cars of the 2000 season. I have almost all the Mac (1988-1999 except 1992 and 1996) the Ferraris (1993-1999) Benettons (1994-1997 also 1999) and Williams (1993-1999 except 1995). Also I have Jordans and Prosts.

[JPMCrew]

If you have some money to spare (?), take a close look at Super Hand Built models (1:20). They are of excellent quality and have some very interesting cars like for example Senna's 1997 Lotus Honda T99 with which he won his first GP of Monaco. They also have is 1985 Lotus Renault T97, his first victory car. The only problem is the price which is ~500 USD.

If you are into real classic race cars, the best choice in my opinion is Revival from Italy. Their 1:20 classic models are something else. I bought an Alfa Romeo P3 SF #22 which was raced by Nuvolari. The model is awesome. Even the threading on the tires is supposed to be authentic. These models will cost ~500 USD built or ~130 USD for the kit. The kit is cheap, but it's probably a major pain to build. If you want to spend some money on one particular model which might be of special interest to you, fork out the money and buy a built model. If you are a builder, go for the kit.

I wonder how much these models would cost in Italy... I always get the impression that people in the US are getting ripped off.

[mono-posto]

Originally posted by Max Torque
mono-posto, I think you should understand that a die-cast model replica and a modelist kit are two completely different categories.

Sorry Max, but I don't beleive Suds specified scale or type.

I prefer to collect 1/43 hand builts and here is why:
1) The detail that can be put into a 1/43 hand built exceeds that of most 1/18 scale 'diecasts', even exoto sometimes. I have handbuilt Tameo and Meri kits with all the features mentioned in the above description of Exoto but a fraction of the size.

2) The selection in 1/43 hand builts is unmatchable. Like I mentioned earlier, Tameo has over 300 Formula 1 models covering all eras. And that dosn't include BBR, Scale Racing Cars, Meri, MG Model Plus, Tenariv, Tron etc.

3) 1/43 takes up little display space. 1/20 or 1/18 or even 1/12 is nice when your collection is 20-30 peices. But when it starts numbering in the hundreds, 1/43 is much more manageable.

I can understand someones desire to only collect 'diecasts'.
They are relatively inexpensive, have a moderate amount of detail/accuracy and provide an instant addition to your collection.

But for me, hand-built models, either my own or someone elses, are the way to go.
For me it is the difference between a machine cut, laser etched, mass produced Katana or a hand forged and folded, hand polished and sharpened blade. Art.

[Louis Mr. F1]

Interesting topic

Mono-posto,

i agree with what you said. A tameo kit is really nice collection. I only have about 3; 90 Tyrrell Alesi low nose version (i bought it for $28cdn this year, built), a 92 Alesi Ferrari, built myself --> rough quality, and 94 Alesi Ferrari. I really admire those who have the skill, patience to build these models. I don't have either. All the other models i have are diecast.
Ah ...... i forgot, i still have about 20 tamiya models built by my brother.
Recently, i've discovered there are some older F1 Tameo models, ie 86 Osella, AGS, 89 Arrows, AGS. i'm interested in the smaller teams as well and it's selling for $28 cdn only. except that i need to either find someone to build it for me or i've to buy all the paint, tools to do the job providing i have the time.
Mono-posto, i understand Tameo produces many versions of Ferrari models during 1 year, do you collect all of them or just 1/year is enough for you? also, i think Tameo even has the 2 seater McLaren that no other manufacturer bothers to make.

MP4/?
i know that Minichamp will produce the 1992 McLaren 1:18th very soon and http://www.tomotorsports.com will have them.


Louis

[Max Torque]

Mono-posto, I guess it is all a matter of what we like and what we need.
I have absolutely no time to spare in hand-building such a delicate and complicate thing as an F1 car. Nor am I willing to find out how good I am in it. I've seen a lot of assembled 1/24 F1 kits and I admit they are mind-blowing. However, they are way too demanding of my time and effort.

Die-casts are, of course, not manufactured in the same way and none can expect to compare them with the hand-made kits. That said, I must ask you all to take a look at the new 1/43 2000 drive editions of the Minichamps F1 cars. Having received Williams, Benetton, Prost and McLaren models so far, I must say that their quality this year is astonishing.

Also I must disagree with you on the matter of the amount of the selection of hand-made kits. Minichamps 1/43s are more than 300!

In any case, I believe that each of the two categories has it's followers. People with the skill and the determination to devote time on this should definetly give the kits a try. All the rest though are 'forced' to buy ready-built Minichamps and (unfortunately) HotWheels. And while HotWheels will hopefully exit the market sooner or later, the Minichamps have a tendency of improving greatly every year and offering fine products that make us all die-cast collectors proud. Now, if Exoto could be convinced to start producing modern cars too, we would all be happier!

Make your choice people![p][Edited by Max Torque on 12-02-2000]

[Sudsbouy]

Great responses!

I intentionally didn't specify too much in my original post because I want to get the broadest possible response. I can't pretend to know much about this subject and I wanted to benefit from others' experiences. In addition, my dollars have to go far, so there's little room for experimentation.

Thank you.

[mono-posto]

Wow. I didn't know that Minichamps catalog was that big. Do they have any 50's/60's cars?

In any event, as a collector it is only natural that you'll have to mix many different sources to complete a collection.

For example, I am currently trying to collect a 1/43 example of every major Ferrari F1 model from 1950 to present and get an example of each driver while I'm at it.
I'm trying to build as much of this collection as I can but some of the cars I need simply aren't made as kits.

Brumm has some of the cars I lack, as does the La Storia collection which I believe is distributed by Vitesse.
In any event I will most likely need to buy some of these diecasts in order to accomplish this goal.

To Suds:
If I were you, I would evaluate very specificly what you want to collect. You could be just a Minichamps or Onyx or Brumm collector or have a focus like "McLaren's from 1984 to present" or something. Then choose a scale (1/43, 1/18 etc.). Or just buy whatever strikes your fancy.

I have a friend that is collecting every Le Mans winner. Dosn't matter if he has to build it or if it's a diecast or what scale it is. As long as it won Le Mans. I would suggest finding a focus like that (I've considered collecting all the Monaco winners from 1950 onward), and then just start searching for the models the fit that focus.

Good luck!

[MP4/?]

Monoposto: I really don't know if minichamps have old models in 1:43. I only can say that in my scale (1:18) the oldest model they have is the Tyrrell 003. It's really a great model but it has nothing to do alongside the Exoto one.

I think that the quality of the Minichamps models is very good and as Max says they are improving a lot. The 1999 was very impresive and I'm wating for the 2000 collection that I heard is incredible. I only collect race cars so I don't buy the launch ones.

Louis: Thanks for the link, I have already bought some models form Derrick stock. They have really great services.

Modeling is really a great hobby, as I said before I prefer to buy them assambled and only change the livery to the tobacco one....

[Louis Mr. F1]

guys, if you don't mind, i'd like to expand the topic a bit.

with all your models, how do you display your collections? do you keep it in a box or just display it to collect dust?

all my 1:43rds are stacked up in the original boxes while the 1:18ths and others aren't. so i've to clean them (incl the tires) on a regular basis and it could take me a good whole day.

Also,do you guys take pictures on your models? to share with you, i've been taking pics of my little F1 memorabilia collections periodically since 1990 and it's nice to see the collection grew over the years. unfortunately, i don't have a scanner yet, so i can't show you guys. For those who have, can you show us your collections, how you display them?? I consider it's one of the most beautiful sight for me when i see other people's collections.

happy collecting, enjoy your hobby. Life is a lot more fun/meaningful when you have found what you love!!!

[MP4/?]

Louis: I don't have a camera or a scanner so I can't show you my collection. I have right now the models (all 1/18 as I said before) in their original boxes but I'm planing makeing a site specially for them. I would like to display them without their boxes but where the dust don't touch them, behind a glass. I really love me collection. I want know to but some of the olds Sauber(Mercedes) and the Jordan J196 that is missing in my collection. Also I'm planning to buy some of the classic Exotos.

As you said Louis, I really love this hobbie. Models look great when you display them together.

Why do you have some 1:43 and some 1:18?

[Louis Mr. F1]

MP4/?

i've all sorts of scales, 1:64, 1:43, 1:24, 1:20, 1:18, 1:12
when i was young (well i am still very young, to be honest), i used to collect Japanese F1 models and Tamiya produced both 1:20, and 1:12, i bought most of them. Other Japanese maker produce 1:24. At that time, i didn't realize the market/potential of the 1:43 models. and also at that time i only knew the Onyx brand which didn't make that good quality, so i prefer the Japanese ones. Later when Minichamp came to the market, their quality was much better than Onyx, i started getting into that direction. At the same time, Tamiya has stopped producing F1 models (partly because of Senna's death in 94) i used to buy several 1:43rds each year, and now i try to buy all 1:43rd teams models and for those i like more, i'll buy the 1:18s as well as it's more detail and beautiful. This year, i plan to buy the Orange Arrows, maybe the BAR in 1:18. 1:43rd cheaper so i can afford to buy more, and 1:18, more beautiful, but more expensive --> i'll only buy those i especially like.

other people pls share your story as well.

[LUCKYSTRIKE]

I bought a display case from ANDY i'm surprised we havn't heard from him yet he usually gets involved in die cast discussions HEY ANDY where are you ;)

[mono-posto]

Since I try to stick with 1/43, I have wall hanging display cases with glass fronts and glass shelves that are only about 5 inches wide. These are fairly good at keeping the dust out but some maintaince is still required.

The acrylic cases, with wood base and clear cover that completely covers the model, is the best way to keep out dust. Then it's just the outside of the cover that gets dusty and that's easy enough to clean.

I'm sure Andy has more info on those.
You just can't display a Large collection all together in one case with those, which is why I prefer the glass enclosed shelves.

I have always planned on photographing my collection and publishing it on the web. I just need to find someone who can photograph much better then myself. It is not a strong point.

I don't have much other F1 memerobilia, except that I am also a book worm. What type of Memerobilia do others collect? Programs? Posters? Autographs?

[Max Torque]

mono-posto:
Minichamps I think goes back up to the 70's but they are quicly expanding and producing models from many eras and teams. I expect that they would cover all eras in some years.

MP4:
I don't buy launch cars either. They are the stupidest merchendising trick in the die-cast collecting field.

Louis:
I have everything in it's package.
With the 1/43s that's not a problem as the package is a display case also. I like how you can build a wall of Minichamps 1/43s by putting one over the other and so on. HotWheels again ruin this by having different cases that not only are of different dimensions but also cannot be stacked one on top of the other. .
Also, if they happen to have a special wrapper around them, I just take it off and store it somewhere else.
The 1/18s I have in their package as well, because when I had them in the open like you, they would collect dust and need great time to clean up every week or so, so I put them back in their boxes.

Louis 2:
I want to buy a digital camera to photo my collection to post it on a site, but sadly all my money goes to new models that come out constantly! If I take some money to buy a camera, it means at least 3 1/43s less, so I postpone it for the moment.
I am considerably new in the collecting bussiness (only 2 years I'm afraid) and so there are tons of models out there still un-bought!

Anyway, I just bought a helmet the other day for the first time. A Michael Schumacher 1/8 helmet from 1998. Does anyone know what the material it is made of is? It seems like porcelain or something.

[Louis Mr. F1]

Mono-posto,

i've just dug up 2 old Tameo models that are un-built yet, the 89 Tyrrell, and the 95 Williams (which originally i had planned to do a J.Villenueve diorama, to celebrate his entry into F1, remember the 2nd time he tested for Williams in Monza, he was sitting beside the car for a photo session?) I've checked the raceland.de site, they still have a large number of Tameo old models and lots of driver, mechanic fugurines. All these prompted me the desire to re-start my hobby of actually building a model, eventually dioramas. I'm 27, is it too late to start harnessing my skill as a model builder? I wonder, usually how long does it take you to finish one model? 3 days? (that's from my experience of the Tamiya models) also, i always wonder how can you make the finished models shine? like a car on display? any suggestion? With x'mas holidays coming up (i'll have 7 days off, wowwww!!!) and i've got permission from my girlfriend to do my own thing, i hope i can at least build one Tameo model, but i also have to buy all the paints, tools again as the old ones are all dried up, and the brush are probably not useable anymore.

Since i'm interested in the smaller, extincted teams, ie AGS, Coloni, Eurobrun,...., maybe Tameo is really the way to go. But i rarely have the time to do them. that's life!

Anyone here interested in dioramas?



I've seen those built cost about $600 cdn. Now with all different kinds of fugurines, you can create lots of different scenes. ie. Schumacher punching the air after he won the WC, or Alesi sitting on the barrier with frustration. That's one area i want to explore in the future.

Max,
i agreed with you, the Mattel boxes suck, they can't even stack up together properly and their design is stupid. However, i don't like to put the 1:18th models in the box. I prefer to have them display in open, that's a more beautiful sight to me, but then the drawback is i've to clean them regularly.



[p][Edited by Louis Mr. F1 on 12-04-2000]

[Andy]

Originaly posted by LUCKYSTRIKE
I bought a display case from ANDY i'm surprised we havn't heard from him yet he usually gets involved in die cast discussions HEY ANDY where are you?;)

O.K., you asked for it! Although I don't like blatantly promoting my company for free on Atlas F1, I think, within this thread, is O.K.

My company, JETPLAST Custom Displays, was started because both my business partner and I are avid die cast collectors and couldn't find any decent display cases on the market for our collections. To make a long story short... We made some for our own collections, then showed them around and very quickly was born our company! Our products are available directly from us or from many scale model stores.

We have acrylic display cases from the basic...


To the unique...


To the practical...


To the extravegant...

Yes those are 1:18th scale models! This unit is 6ft tall!

I figure what good is a collection if you can't show it off?! You can see all of our displays for Collectibles here

Hope this has been of some help for those of you trying to figure out how to display your models!;)[p][Edited by Andy on 12-04-2000]

[JPMCrew]

I have a couple of questions for people who prefer Tameo:
Where can I get a Tameo catalog? Also, where can I find a list of reputable builders? I've seen a couple of kits and they look very raw... I can't even imagine how difficult it must be to even apply the paint properly. At least with Revival classic models the kits come pre-painted.

[Louis Mr. F1]

JPMCrew, you can check what Tameo kits are available on the web, http://www.raceland.de has a good listing of Tameo 1:43rd kits and then there is http://www.minigrid.com in Toronto, Unionville. It may give you some ideas of what are available.

[p][Edited by Louis Mr. F1 on 12-05-2000]

[MP4/?]

I think the best is to display them without boxes and over a wood base and use a glass for protect them of the dust.

Talking about classic cars I really looking forward for Minichamps producting 1/18 Ferraris, Williams and Mac from the mid's '80. If you have seen the first Benetton-BMW (1986) I'm sure that every body likes it. 1/18 is a perfect scale to see a car, when you see it you feel all it's weight.

Minichamps and Exoto are clearly the best die-cast manufacturers of 1/18. When you see a lot of this models displayed together and you have seen races for many years your skin crips.

[cjpani]

Great subject!!!!
I am an avid die-cast collector, but I only collect Porsches, because I consider that attempting to collect "everything" would result in a frustrating mission.

I currently have over 70 Porsches, all scales, all marques (exoto, brumm, minichamps, auto art, Paul´s model art, and a couple of cheap bburagos ) and I have racing cars as well as street cars, old and new. Other models in my bookshelf include a 1:20 plastic model of the Renault RE 20, driven by Rene Arnoux, and the Mansell champion Williams Renault.

I display the smaller models in their respective plastic case, and the bigger ones lie unprotected in my bookshelf. I will try to take some pics and display them in this great BB.

Best regards,
cjpani

[Piquet_1]

I've collected model cars since I was a kid. I built nearly every 1/20 Tamiya starting in 78 and only recently gave that up when they stopped producing new ones every year. Got serious with 1/43 when I saw the Onyx cars from 89. Since then, I started collecting every Onyx from 89 through 91, then picked up Minichamps from 93 on. I've got at least one chassis from every team through 1999; a few years I got both the drivers from the top five teams, and I also enjoy the older cars Vitesse is releasing. I also have some 1/18ths, (Schumacher's F310, Hill's J198, Papis' MCI Reynard-Toyota autographed and the Exoto Renault RE20. The post above describing the Exotos is accurate; they're just about perfect and the detail is fascinating). Unlike some, I don't find the Hotwheels too offensive and found some details which I believe to be superior to that of Minichamps. Each brand is improving every single year.

In all, I have about 150 1/43s I keep them in shelved wood cabinet with glass sliding doors, which works reasonably well to keep the dust off - they've aged very well. Some collectors like to never touch the cars, but I prefer to remove them from their cases and let people (with a watchful eye) handle them if they wish. When you have dozens out on display, they look very impressive and nearly everyone who sees them must take time out and ask questions about them.

They don't have the appearance of the kits, but I can get two Minichamps for the price of one kit and don't have to spend the time building it. Also, I was only fair at building the Tamiya kits, so how good will I be with pieces half as large? The pressure not to screw them up would be too great. The detail is alway improving and the diecasts still capture most of the nuances from each car, so much that certain chassis which are outwardly look very similar, such as the McLaren MP4/13 and MP4/14, look completely different when you view the models, to the extent that my girlfriend even finds them fascinating. I recommend collecting them.

[Louis Mr. F1]

quote by Piquet1:
In all, I have about 150 1/43s I keep them in shelved wood cabinet with glass sliding doors, which works reasonably well to keep the dust off - they've aged very well. Some collectors like to never touch the cars, but I prefer to remove them from their cases and let people (with a watchful eye) handle them if they wish. When you have dozens out on display, they look very impressive and nearly everyone who sees them must take time out and ask questions about them.
-----------------------------------
who wouldn't be impressed by such a collection. Wow, that must be a very pretty sight. I wonder when will you have a public open house day, so we can view your "treasure" in person.


cjpani,
did you get the Porsche F1 cars, ie McLaren mid 80's and Footwork 91?

[Frans MSH]

HAHAHAHA 2 hp!!

hahahaha

[Max Torque]

Piquet_1,

-You are right that in some aspects the HotWheels are pretty good. For example, their front wings are better than the Minichamps, since they have two seperate wing plates instead of a unified one. Also, some HW helmets like the one on the '99 Frentzen Jordan 1/18 look absolutely fantastic.
The problem with these guys is not that they don't have the ability to make god models. As a matter of fact, as they are the biggest corporation to enter the market, I believe that their potential is limitless. The problem with them is that they don't know exactly who they are marketing these products to and that since they are so big a company it's difficult to be flexible in changing and improving the models in the last minute as an ever-changing F1 chassis is. Also, some totally stupid policies are apparent with Mattel that a small company like Paul's Model Art doesn't bother with. One such is the policy of not including alcohol sponsors on their cars, something that is really unreasonable.

-I also remove them from their cases sometimes and examine them closely. That's the best part of my collecting. However, I cannot trust anyone who isn't a collector hiself to touch them as I have very bad experience on that... I have lost a Dodge Viper driver's seat like that. (Thank god it wasn't any F1 model or there would be actual casualties!)

-Funny you should mention the small differences in cars like the MP4/13 and the MP4/14. I've got both 1/18 Hakkinens in the full West livery of the "Team edition" and I have to say that apart from the slight chassis changes that did actually exist, some other differences (such as the slightly different rims or the bit bigger West logos on the sides) are just matters of an improved model. In my opinion, if both models were made at the exact same time, the differences would be quite smaller.

Or am I just a geek who spends way too much time with his models?

[Andy]

Originally posted by Frans MSH


HAHAHAHA 2 hp!!

hahahaha

I was waiting for Frans to catch that one!!

[mono-posto]

One last note about handbuilding:

The Chinese have a term 'qongfu' (pronounced kung fu), which means energy/time. And basically applies to any art that takes an extraordinary amount of energy, time and perservernce to learn and master. (Such as the famous martial art that is known by this term).

But this could also apply to music, painting, swordsmithing and yes even model building.

Below are a couple examples of 'gongfu' in model building.
(And no these aren't mine ;))...
These are in scale 1/43





Nice, huh?

Any way, I must say that in regards to Minichamps and Hotwheels, the Hotwheels are too 'toy' like.
I agree with Max that Mattell is not sure who they are marketing to, kids or collectors!

I have a vested interest in kits, as I deal in them.
Do a search on eBay for Tameo or Provence Moulage and you will get a further idea of what is available, very partially!

Happy collecting!

[Sudsbouy]

Wow, those examples contain amazing detail for a 1/43 scale model.

Thank you.

[Louis Mr. F1]

hi all,

well, after my X'mas holidays, i finally managed to finish my 95 Williams Tameo kit and i'm now half done with my 89 Tyrrell Tameo kit. Well it's not the best quality but it was OK. And i must say, i enjoyed the building process very much. Although there were moments of frustration/uncertainties, but when you could sense that it's getting closer and closer to finish the kit, you just don't want to stop. i spent a no sleeper last Thursday to finish the Williams kit and then went to work @ 6:30am!!!

sometimes, i lacked the patience to do detailed painting and the glue could get messy but i think i'll improve as i practice more. i just discovered that there are the 85 Alfa Romeo F1 and 88 Minardi Tameo kits available, these two are my next target.

BTW, has anyone got a bargin from http://www.tomotorsports.com last week from their boxing week sale?

[mono-posto]

Originally posted by Louis Mr. F1
but i think i'll improve as i practice more

Exactly, Louis. Everyone does.
I am really glad that you enjoyed the building process.
I find it quite frustrating at times, yet relaxing. I hear it is kind of like the game of Golf. All your energy and frustrations are so focused, to the exclusion of everything else. It provides an outlet and in the end does alot to help you relax from everyday stress.

I am currently working on a Ferrari 126C2 by Meri Kits (German GP 1982), the F399 from Monaco (Tameo) and a 312 P Spyder from the Nurburgring 1000km of 1969 (Provence Moulage). The Nostalgia folks could attest to my naggings for reference photos and book recommendations!

In the meantime, here is something to strive towards. This 1/43 Tyrell (from a Tameo kit) was featured in the recent issue of 'Four Small Wheels'. A true masterpeice...

[Bibendum]

I've been looking into collecting models and this topic has been a great help. Thanks everyone!

[andy_bee]

a couple of little tips.

Check out the McLaren web site http://www.mclaren.com, you can get West branded Minichamp cars. The actual page is
http://www.mclaren.c.../ac0736_39.html

Also, I was looking fo a case for my models I found this in an IKEA store (in UK),called a Berty
added some lights in the top and two years later, still no dust inside. Not a very good image, but it has a hinged front glass door and then I think 8 or9 adjustable glass shelves. The side and back is in white melinine(spl). In the UK it is £79 which is pretty damm good when you consider how many cars you can fit in it.

[magic]

quote iam;
'..the 92 Mansel Ferrari..'

sold.

[Louis Mr. F1]

da da da!!!
my Tyrrell 89 kit is finished. It was quite a simple kit (unlike the current ones) and it only took me about 2 days to get it done. This time, i paid more attention to a good paint work, and the suspension. Also, this one doesn't have the barge board, no seatbelts, so it's easier. It looks pretty good to me. Next time, i will try to use the clear paint to make it shiney. Yes, i've reached my target of finishing the 2 kits that i bought a long time ago.

Mono-posto,
you kept posting these great kit pictures, are you trying to discourage me??
i think one of my problems is i tried to finish the kit as soon as possible in sacrifice of detailed finish (ie. don't like to wait for the paint dry). Maybe i should set a limit of only 4/5 hours a day, so i won't lose my patience or get tired.
ok, i'll order the 88 Minardi and 85 Alfa Romeo soon!! i can't wait for my next kit! any tips?

Louis

[mono-posto]

Louis,

Here are some painting tips.
If you don't have an airbrush, get one. A single action Paasche brush costs about US$20-25 and I have a pro-modeler friend who acheives perfect glassy finishes with just such a brush. (My brush was $100 and I still don't get as good of a finish as him! So don't let price fool you.)

Second, use real automotive paints. I buy the DupliColor paints in a spray can, then spray them into the airbrush jar. You may need to thin them out a bit before spraying (about the consitency of milk, but practice). If you want to get fancy, get your paints custom mixed. (That is how my friend gets such good finishes for one!) This is pricey and you'll have enough of that color to last forever, that is why I don't do it!

Also make sure that parts are well cleaned before painting and always start with a coat of primer. (preferably white and again automotive).

Then you can start adding color coats. About 3 light coats. I let each coat sit 24 hrs and then lightly sand inbetween coats. Work in as dust free of an enviroment as possible and cover the model while it's drying.

Finally, I'll add a clear gloss coat (dry thouroughly!), decals and then 1-2 more gloss coats.

Seams like alot but most of it is drying time! Between this time, work on the detail parts (suspension etc, which I just prime and paint one coat with normal hobby paints) or on a different model.

Alternating back and forth, you could have 2-4 different models going, all in different stages. Working like this, you should finish a model in 1 to 1.5 weeks average. With a new model getting the final touches every 3-4 days. (It's also a good way to go broke buying kits!)

Couple of tips specific to f1, build yourself some kind of jig out of wood or block brass to helpbuild the rear wings.
And use square blocks on either side of the car as the wheels dry in place. This helps keep everything square (but don't forget the tow-in on the modern cars!).

Anyway, I hope you have fun building and adding to your collection where others might leave out.

[bigblue]

Excellent topic, I just started building some Tamiya 1:20 kits after years of not building anything. I am certainly no expert but it's fun, relatively cheap entertainment and they look pretty good too. Built the Tyrell six wheeler, Ferrari 312T3 and now working on the Mac/Honda MP4/4. I also have the Brabham BT50 waiting for those cold Vermont january nights. The 1:43 scale models mono has shown look incredible, that is some real skill. Andy, I may be contacting you for some display cases. Mine aren't perfect but the building is very enjoyable. I like the comparison to "qongfu". I look forward to seeing pictures of your collections. Are the 1:43 Tameo models you are talking about plastic or metal?

[Louis Mr. F1]

Bigblue,
they are white metal kits, sure they look very nice!!!

Mono-Posto,

thanks for the tips, it seems there are really alot for me to learn. I still have some questions here.
-Do you apply primer to the suspension parts before painting?
-How do you deal with the glue, **i found it very easy to cause finger prints or glue marks on ie. suspension arms, rear wings** how can you avoid that?
-I am using the normal Tamiya (since i had them available from my Tamiya model days), that's not as good as automotive paints? for a airbrush, which one do you recommend? right now, i am limited to kits which doesn't require mixing of paints.
-and i use the Tamiya masking tapes when i spray different colours on the chassis, but still it seems the line is not perfectly straight, how can i improve on that?

-you know if there's any kit manufacturer ever make the Renault RE30 84 car, and the 85 Benetton with all the different national flags on it?
-how many Tameo F1 kits have you made in total?
-should i buy the John Simmons' World of 1:43rd book?
Many questions, thanks in advance!!

i found the following Tameo kit pictures, they are lovely built.



[p][Edited by Louis Mr. F1 on 01-05-2001]

[Louis Mr. F1]

another one.



but i'm not sure if these are Tameo models or not.

[mono-posto]

Louis,

I'm a bit busy right now, but I will get back here soon and answear all your questions. In the mean time check out the Formula 1 Modeling website at http://www.f1m.com This is a new site and I'm not sure all the content is there yet, so you can also visit the old site at http://www.f1m.com/f1m

There is a web forum there to post questions but the best resource is the email group. There is info at the bottom of the page.

There is also a good collection of links to shops and other sites plus alot of refrence photos.

To those that were discussing Exoto earlier, I just picked up my first Exoto, a Tyrell 003. I must agree that it has great detail and is one of the best diecast's I have seen, but $130?

[Louis Mr. F1]

i've bought quite a few diecasts and kits in the last few months.

ie 92 Senna-McLaren 1:18, 2000 Arrows 1:18, all others teams in 1:43rd

and then, i've recently finished building (Tameo 1:43rd) a 1990 Ligier in blue and am currently building a 1988 Camel Lotus. I still have several kits waiting ie. 85 Alfa Romeo (Benetton colour) 86 McLaren in Yellow Marlboro livery, (remember the Rosberg car in Portugal?), 88 Zakspeend and 85 Williams. I think it'll take me quite a while before i can finish them all.

but then i keep on buying new kits that i think i'll never finish them all.
i've already pre-ordered the 85 Toleman with all the national flags livery in 1:43rd. this is a very beautiful car to me.

i love F1 models/kits!!!!!

[Punisher6]

Originally posted by Punisher6
I have bought a few cars off of this guy:

www.roadandtracksport.homestead.com

He specializes in conversions, turning cars into their proper livery, Marlboro, Rothmans, etc....

The 94 Senna Williams is actually one of my cars that he converted for me, he is a great guy, very honorable and fair. I have gotten three cars all together from him, the 90 Senna McLaren is mine as well.

His name is Sandro, drop him a line if intersted, tell him Joe Saxon sent ya!

[ozoner]

I collect Hotwheels cars - mainly the 1/64 but others as well. They compare pretty poorly detail-wise compared to the more expensive models, but I managed to pick myself up a cache of the '99 jordan and stewart cars which are incredibly hard to get hold of apparently. They're supposed to run on hotwheels kiddie car track. (which I have to stop myself from buying every time I'm at toys r us).

I think the thought of getting something hard to find is what hooked me! sad really - considering I cant really afford to collect stuff. (mail me if anyone's interested btw...)

-Scott

[Louis Mr. F1]

my next kit would be the 1985 Alfa Romeo




and here's the 84 car


beautiful uh?
anyone what exact colour is that yellow Mclaren?