Where to start... A well known problem is the ride height. Especially at the front the car sits too high on its wheels. But the whole front clip is too high as well. The plane between the fenders should be lower. The tires are too high and at the back too narrow. The extra driving lights in the nose are too wide and the headlight buckets have a thick, red frame that's not there on the real car. The door hinges are too long whereas there are no hinges for the rear at all. The overall shape is too stubby and the rear overhang is too short. It seems that HW coudln't make up its mind on this model. Are they still making toys, or do they want to be a serious scale model maker? There are many very nice touches as well, but these are let down by other details where HW cut corners. For example, the air intake on the engine has some very fine mesh on it, rivaling the quality of CMC, Exoto et al. But the air trumpets below this intake are visible, yet they ar not hollow! Anyway, I'm going to correct the most obvious errors (will post the results here) and it wll do as long as there's no GMP version in the near future.
I came across these pictures on the internet of the GMP pre-production version. I didn't know it was this advanced in the production process! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I still think, that this prototype was manufactured with rapid prototyping methods. I think, that there are no steel injection moulds at all. If I would be wrong, I think, no potential manufacturer could resist purchasing them out of the insolvency assets. This whole GMP story is weird and honestly I do not believe the 'bank story version '. Best Regards Martin
The preproduction model is mostly hand built by the factory master model makers. No or little rapid prototype stuff involved. The industry doesn't use much of that stuff. The initial CAD work cost is too high. Still cheaper and easier to have some Chinese artists do it by hand. And the GMP "bank story" is 100% correct.
o.k.; but this seems to confirm, that there never were any injection moulds ? I think, I don't have to tell you, but maybe for the others: From the handmade master model until industrial tooling plus setting up the production process there's a LOOONG way. Best Regards Martin ( injection moulding machine designer )
I just found this and was wondering if anyone finaly knows what happened with this prototype? It makes no sense to me that after all the hard work was done, no one would pick it up and build it...surely the moste expensive part of the processe was already done ans as CMC keep showing, there is still a market for high end diecast, i think nobody doubts this car would be a hit......
The tools still exist but the issue now is finding the funding, getting license, and a factory that is willing to make it. There just aren't many factories willing to take on a project like this one.
So the tool is still with you? That's great because i'm sure if anyone will make it happen it will be the "original ones". On the license issue, it seems that these days nobody else cares about it, as long as it's an "old car", if CMC, Exoto, CMF, Tecnomodel, can build Ferraris without one, that shouldn't be a problem for you guys. I can assume from you words that there is still hope to see the model, even after all theses years? Ps: thank for the reply Mark, i trully wish you can succeed,i have both the p3/4 and the 312pb and i love them....i still hope for that 312pb coda lunga
I just read that acme now has all the tooling and molds from GMP and that it has reached an agreement with former GMP menbers to produce those cars! Can you coment on that Mark?
What really makes me wonder, is, that they are - in post #30 - talking about a handmade prototype and later about any existing moulds. Furthermore they claim the cost of CAD work. Please.. how do you make injection moulds without CAD work? Since I know a bit about the costs of injection moulds, I doubt, that there are any moulds existing at all. With today's wages in the Emerging Markets this limited run, overprized BS business scheme is a thing of the past. Increase the production numbers. Cut some detail and it may work. Mattell did figure out. First of all a company has to earn money and pay their employees and not satisfying any fastidious collectors. Best Regards from Germany Martin
I read about it in diecastinternational and here https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nnBS57R6crU Damn only no i noticed this is old news, from 2014...but still there is hope...
Pedro, that "joker" Joe Kelly can not be taken seriously. Many things he reported on or made claims to have never come to be, and often his ill fated 'Car Room' magazine that he edited & published was full of mistakes and misinformation thanks only to him. If he is reporting on anything - you have to take it with a grain of salt unless there is something physically to see.
LOLO, i had noticed a long time ago that serious colectors or people in the "buisness" strongly dislike Joe Kelly....i'm pretty sure there must be a reason...just like Tony k...
Yes Pedro, there are numerous very good reasons. I used to work with him - I helped him immensely and I got screwed big time. He and Tony K. must be long lost brothers!
Since you both mention Tony K., it just comes to my mind, that the stories about his company often give me a very good laugh. But not because of the spectacular poor service and the business conduct, but because of the fact, that they are still in business because there seems to be enough stupid folks who justify their silly prizes and accept their behaviour. How stupid has someone to be, still paying huge $$$ in advance with the outlook told in many stories on the interweb? I went so far, that I sold all my models from this company, because I don't want to have anything in my house, what represents such business. I don't even mention the brand name any more. Best Regards Martin
I don't have anything from him either, he hasn't got anything i wan't, and i also cannot believe that thera are still people naive enough to give him money for models that will never se the light of day!!! I'm sorry you got screwd Marshall, unfortunatly in this world, seems like good and honest people don't have much chance to succeed, you have to lie, cheat and deceive to make money...i'm really sorry that most marques do not have someone as knowledgeable and passionate about the models they build as you....we would all get much better models for sure.
Martin, I completely agree with you about the stupidity of some people who are aware of the problems with Tony K.(Exoto), but still buy from them regardless of the stupid prices, and terrible behavior. It just amazes me that there are so many willing to put up with all their B.S. I did dump most of my "Tony K." models, but still kept a few since they represent cars I really like, and there are not any other or better replacements..... yet. The ones I kept are also very old pieces, so I bought them from a model dealer friend, long before their stupid rip-off pricing practices began.
Pedro, see my reply to Martin; yes it is amazing at how stupid and naive some people can be with regard to Tony K. & co. Thanks for your sentiments and kind words, I appreciate it. My research and consultation services have been offered to CMC, Spark, BoS, and a few other companies, unfortunately they all have big egos, are foolish enough to think that they can do it when their models produced have proved they can't, and they only want the help if it is for free!!! So it is not just some collectors buying from some companies that are stupid.......... With that said, I have at times been hired/contracted by some of the major automobile collectors and restorers to assist with research, and to consult on body shapes and various details of certain cars undergoing major restorations. So the car guys get it, but the model car companies do not.
