The following are e-mail responses to 'Tales of Toy Cars'. Your letters are welcome and may be submitted via e-mail |
Kaiser Henry J and Hot Wheels 2002 FE Jaded |
Nash Metropolitan and Hot Wheels 2000 FE Metrorail |
'49 Ford Coupe and Hot Wheels 2002 Launcher Shoe Box |
Morris Traveller and Hot Wheels 2002 Repaint MG Rover |
I just read a past issue of TofTC titled "Hot Wheels at the Strip 50's Style" and thought how nice these cars would look stock, so I did the reverse and made a custom into a standard car. I hope you enjoy them. What do you think?
As a big fan of TofTC I'd be honoured if you use the images in a future
issue. Maybe I might be able to think of a couple of others I could do.
Maybe some of you guys might have some ideas, but make it easy I'am only
a new kid on the block.
Doug, it's really hard to give a time frame on making these models as
I find I do a little and then come back. But in saying that I would say
in total about 8 hours. Some models like Henry J (Jaded) that need alot
of work would be longer. The Jaded was a big job, but look at the photo
you would not think so. The flaired rear fenders had to be cut off and made
flush fitting to the bodywork like the real car, but it gives you satisfaction
when you have finished and if I can give a little to you guys it makes my
day. Besides I didn't have a Kaiser in my collection and now I have, it
looks good next to my Studebakers and Nash models. Kind Regards, "
Chris Saunders, Brisbane, Australia
Editor's Reply: You have amazing talent! Thanks for letting me share
your images in TofTC? I am very serious in saying that a cottege industry,
creating stock models out of customs, could be financially viable. I wish
I had just a little of your talent!
I think that is not only great buy a replica of a car that we already drive or have into the garage, lets face that many of us wait to see the reproduction of the automobile we dream to drive some day. When we see the reproduction in small scale of some new stunning car or celebrated classic, we think that finally found the perfect "vehicle" to enhance our personal aspirations. But some times result in disillusion, when Hot Wheels, Matchbox or other factory reproduce some cars with some modification, customization or Hot Rodding, that is not always good for the image of some designs.
On the other hand, you must agree that Hot Wheels make good points in the "Concept Car" and "Super Cars" fields, where few brands take the line. After all, many Concept Cars, shows decisive industrial trends. At least two of the cars for this year from "2003 Firts Editions" comes with nice image, I'm talking about the replica of the Ferrari Enzo called by Mattel as the Enzo Ferrari, and the replica of the 7.9 liter jewelry car Bugatti EB 16/4 Veyron called by Mattel simply as the Bugatti Veyron.
I understand, that Hot Wheels trend to cultivate the image of the "American Dream Car", with replicas of designs from Chevrolet, Ford or Chrysler and the reproductions from some European car brands like Ferrari, Lotus, Volkswagen and Porsche, but I think that Mattel could increase the number of other European and Japanese brands like Marcos, SAAB, TVR and Mazda. Just imagine how cool a Marcos Mantis with 5 spoke Hot Wheels could look.
So here I decide to include in this message to "Tales of Toy Cars" some suggestions to the die cast car manufacturers, and share personal dreams, with renderings made by me. In this opportunity I show two of the cars that I really like to drive some day:
The first one is the Morgan Aero 8, the car from the British Car manufacturer, that show us how a conservative design could evolve with alluring style. Is true that the head lights generate discussions, but the shape and performance that this car offers in real life, deserves to be emulated in a 1/64 replica. AUTOart, HotWheels, Matchbox and even TOMICA, could make real good points with a reproduction of this British aluminized sport.
The second, is a sport racer, from the DTM (Deutschland Touringwagen
Masters), the racing series in Germany that takes my breath out be cause
the meaning image that those spoilers and rear wing do for the Mercedes
Benz C class. The Mercedes Benz CLK DTM of 2002 in 1/64 scale could make
a hit in the collectors community. AUTOart, SIKU, and even Hot Wheels must
take the initiative. Or what you think?.
Daniel Vasquez Burke
Editor's response: Thanks for your comments. I agree that the Morgan
Aero 8 would be a good choice. I don't think anyone could better the Minichamps
DTM Mercedes-Benz models.
Sounds more and more like Yatming was producing at least some of Playart's
product. I've seen cases before where the same part number was used on slightly
different castings, and even where different part numbers were used on the
same casting. The toy industry is not static. Things get done or changed
by the constantly shifting demands placed on it, as in any business. I have
two Tootsietoy 1/38 scale '84 Corvettes that were sold as the same item,
yet one is a Tootsie, and the other is, yes, you guessed it, Yatming, complete
with the Yatming part number. Yatming took up everybody's slack, so to speak.
I suspect that Tootsie couldn't Make enough of the Corvettes, so they bought
ready-made substitutes from Yatming. Yatming may have aquired Playart's
tooling when Playart died, or it may have been their own tooling to begin
with. I suspect they were(and are) very capable of whipping up tooling for
their customers, quickly and without blinking! Most of the Oriental diecasters
can do so. I have a Welly '32 Ford, major parts of which are interchangeable
with the Yatming '32 Ford. There are small detail differences between the
two, but the design and engineering approach to both is identical. That
includes pattern making and tooling design. I suspect that the Welly was
at least designed by Yatming, if not produced by them. Or the guys at Welly
knocked off Yatming with the utmost skill (a not impossible feat, as Welly
has proved to be no slouch!).
However, similar, yet different, items, even with the same part number,
don't necessarily mean two different sources. As I said, most of the Oriental
diecasters are quite capable of making new tooling quickly. Sometimes tooling
is damaged and has to be replaced. Other times a product is redesigned to
make it less expensive or easier to produce. Sunnyside redesigned their
Ferrari Modulo at least three times, finally replacing it with a Pontiac
Fiero that bore the part number previously used on the Modulo. The Modulo
was originally too heavy and complex to sell as a budget toy, an early lesson
for Sunnyside on how not to produce a cheap toy! Perhaps the slightly different
Playarts are simply the results of a need to simplify the tooling for that
part number. Lawsuits can also be a good reason to replace tooling, too,
and can be seen in many examples of diecast cars. Sunnyside, Welly ,Yatming
and several others have all replaced tooling at one time or another because
a car manufacturer (or another toy manufacturer) sued them or demanded they
pay for a licensing agreement. Rolls Royce, Volkswagen and others have attempted
to stamp out unlicensed toys of their products. In many cases, the toy companies
made changes to their products to to skirt around the specifics of the lawsuits.
It beats the forced halt of production of the item in question or paying
fees that cut into your profit margin.
I'm sorry to hear that nobody at Yatming will respond to your enqiries.
They used to be more open, but since Hong Kong was returned to Chinese control,
it has become much harder to get information from anyone. Not a big surprise.
Maybe it's paranoia. Sadly and strangely, in returning to Communist control,
they seem to have aquired the capitalist attitude of only wanting to talk
to paying customers. It's a multiple whammy! Getting back to those slightly
different castings, it should be noted that most diecasters use(d) different
approches and techniques for producing their products. This can be almost
like a fingerprint, in its usefullness in identifying who made a particular
casting. Parting lines, ejector pin and sprue locations can point to who
did it. The level and type of finish is important, too. Wheels were, in
most cases, specific to manufacturers. The differences in these (and other
things) can be quite small, but they are there. One has to really train
their eye to spot them.
Unfortunately, no amount of training one's eyes will help spot a toy car
that I helped produce. The company I work for, Heritage Metalcraft, Inc.,
doesn't make them. It was discussed at one time and some preliminary work
done, but, much to my great sadness, that's as far as it ever went. Regards,"
Bob