Latest news
Last news of the year 23/12/2024
...more
The Ford C100, the Cull, and Last Post before Xmas 23/11/2024
...more
It is that time of year again... 19/11/2024
...more
The Three New Edwardians are now out! 17/10/2024
...more
Three more Edwardians on the way 03/10/2024
...more
At last our 1/24 MG Sebring is finished and more! 26/09/2024
...more
News
News Categories
Recent News
Recent News
News by Month
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- May 2012
- February 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- November 1999
I have finished the 1965 Bizzarini
26-06-15
This week I have finished the 1965 Bizzarini and I must admit I like it very much. We will have it in the mould in the next few days and in production soon after. It is surprising how many modifications had to be made to make this car from the 64 car.
One the car culling side the MGK3s are to be discontinued as, like a couple of models, the decals are running out. There are a few still in stock and only about six extra decal sheets to be put with kits.
It is good to get a bit of feedback of how we are doing and the direction we are going and maybe I need to think on what direction I should follow. Should my models be more scale or modified slot cars made for racing. At the moment I have been hoping to give a good compromise between the two, they are slot cars after all. First when I make a new prototype from scratch (not one of the modified plastic kits) I try to make a reasonably accurate representation of that car and fairly close to scale (while still being track appropriate). If we take the Chaparral 2D, Bizzarrini, Allard, Ferrari 801 and Maserati 250F, which are the newest of my scratch built models, I hope you would agree they are reasonably accurate representations of the real thing. As I hope is the case with all my prototypes. But here is where things can change, I do take some of my existing models and modify them. Usually in this case there is still a choice between the original model and a modified model. Take the Maserati 300S for instance, this model has been in production for quite a while now. Sales had all but died off so we needed to resurrect it in some way. So we modified it, lightening the body and lowering it slightly, we also saved some wait by giving it a vac formed interior which is faster and cheaper to produce. Also more of the detail was moulded onto the body (the difference in the number of parts for some of the older cars and the newer ones is astonishing). So now we have an updated Maserati 300S that goes much better on the track and in my view looks just as good. The only draw back really is a slightly less detailed interior/ driver. Some of the 300S also have engine detail and a detachable bonnet which looked superb, cant say it sold any better though. It was also bloody hard work to produce.
A couple of my models I have modified a lot more, but again after sales have slumped, but the original unmodified model has been kept in the range. Models such as the MGC, Anglia and McLaren M1A have been cut, widened and lowered so not only have we got the normal models but we have the modified ones as well. This is generally the case but sometimes, if the moulds for the original have died, we will let it rest then come back to it later to see if we can make any improvements with what we have learned in the meantime. If the decals/ moulds are running out, most of the times the cars will have been out for some time in any case.
This brings me on to my modified plastic models. Usually I have taken say a Revell body shell, there is not a lot of point in me keeping it as it is (that product has already been done). So I feel free to change it considerably to make my own product. This usually means cutting it in half and wacking a big lump in the middle and if I can lowering it. Take for example the McLaren M6A, if you want a more scalish model then you can buy the original. If you want a good slot car that also looks brill, buy my one so there is still the choice.
As far as interiors are concerned I tend to use vac forming now as opposed to resin moulded ones, there are various reasons for this. First, to make a pretty resin one takes time, some can take two days or more of full work, that is a lot. Then add the research to figure out what the interior looks like in the first place (lots of pics of the outside of a car, usually considerably less of the inside). On a sa