Would you buy a $300 1:18 diecast model?

any contacts?

 

you mean factories those model cars company contracts?

 

retail in melbourne.

 

I have several models in that price bracket, some arent even that good, but thats what you pay for a rare collectable model.

that $400k probably doesnt cover licensing either. I know hotwheels paid mega millions for the rights to Ferrari till around 2010 or 2012

 

i was in melbourne in easter and there was a pretty good car model shop in the south west corner of the city (sorta) square. it was down by flinders street.
the shop was split between 2 shop fronts with a lobby in the middle. had heaps of models in there.

 

Very limited market to sell them in, ( OZ/ NZ only, very little interest O/S.)
On the other hand, since V8 Supercars are only Holden's and Ford's with a bit of paint and stickers they can cover the whole season with only 2 basic models.

For cars with worldwide appeal, say a Ferrari F1 model, the production runs are huge, and the lifespan of the model is many years, so the ROI is much, much better.

M

 

yeah Hobby shop, level 2 on Elizabeth, fair pricing and good family owned business. good variety of stocks.

2nd one is on lonsdale, runs by these dodgy chinaman. lots of stuff, but way over priced imo.

 

i drove an RS3400...i preferred my Dino.

 

dodgy ones ,got a fe stories from years ago very funny ,remind me.

 

no worries

 

nah was on the ground floor of a hotel i think, king street or willam street.

 

I'd much rather one really good handmade than 4 or 5 @ $400.
There was an Italian trained craftsman down in melbourne a few years back. Made a batch of four cars every 18 months or so.
I wanted one of his Ferrari 125 after seeing one a friend of my brother got but he'd run out.
He cast the diff, gearbox engine etc. The carbs and manifold would be a model in its own right. Looked like it'd run if you could fit in it. Brakes, coils, wiring and rad hoses all detailed individually. Each spoke was separately made before assembling the wheels.
Approx 10" long.
Have some pics on a hard drive somewhere. I'll post them if I can find them.

 

hmmmm never heard of the place

 

check out CMC's SLR and Birdcage, its right up there with handcrafted masterpiece at a much lower cost.

few companies out there could do the same, burrago and few other toy makers happily charge customers $50 to $70 each toy, cost $10 to build

 

I think it is Sherrif's Model Cars, comes from up north during the motorshow and GP time, very expensive.

 

Which manufacturer? Have you seen the 1/18 MR Reventon?

 

that's on spencer, they rent the place only during that 2 weeks.

actually i use to know this guy Michael who comes down from Sydney to sell stuff there, i think few stores group share this joint. and i use to get stuff off him extremely cheap, i bought 3 UT road car mclaren for $75 each (one every color), and the leman winner for $85.

dude disappeared now.......

 

you'll find out soon

and yes, i've seen it in person @ the chinaman shop, wouldn't waste my $60 on that pos

 

That dodgy Chinaman accused me of shoplifting once, complete ****wit.

 

found it.... google maps street view to the rescue.
16 spencer street. on google maps it looks as though the shop is empty, but when i was there in easter they had thousands of models.
its at the base of a "explorers hotel"

 

i thought that was the one

 

I new Don 25 years ago made Alfa Romeo guy.

 

they had quite a few rare models in there... i dont really collect models too much so i didnt buy any, but yeah they were pricey

 

Some of their stock isn't in the best condition either.

 

who are they? just one of those semi businesses who operates at car shows, and when the f1 is on....