In a change from our regular format, today’s exclusive to Hooniverse episode of Diecast Delights is all about you.
Nothing delights us more than our own possessions. I can show pretty pictures of diecast models all day long , but if we can’t relate to the subject matter it’s difficult to form any emotional link to even the very best.
Getting the ball rolling, today’s Diecast Delight has survived a transatlantic crossing, fetching up in Mistley all the way from the Oak Harbor desk of our own Ray Lindenburg. Representing his very own Ford Escape SUV. Check it out and get ready for a show and tell in the comments after the jump.
Firstly, we need to establish whether this model is an Official Licensed Product or not.
Oh, good.
Onwards, then.
This is a 1:24 scale model of the 2001-2006 model year Ford Escape, brought to you by Messrs Welly of China. It lacks a few of the functions that 1:18 models spoil us with, namely opening rear doors and steering, but does that really matter? People spend hundreds of quid on resin models that don’t have any working features whatsoever.
I reckon the silhouette and proportions look pretty good.
The finish isn’t bad, either, though the metallic paint is a tad on the coarse side – but if you optioned your Escape with the seldom chosen Metalflake Clearcoat this replica would be pretty much bang on.
Externally the fine detail is varied in its execution. The Ford ovals are well drawn and accurate, but while the attempts at detail in the individually-moulded lamp units is creditable, they aren’t applied with a lot of care.
By contrast, the interior is modelled with a resolution that I really didn’t expect – even to the point of buttons on the stereo being picked out individually, and a neatly applied decal to represent the instrument cluster. It’s a better effort than the sorry sight under the commendably opening bonnet – the engine is represented by a messy splash of plastichrome a far sight from the magnificent Duratec found in the genuine article.
But hey, knock it off with the negativity. It’s doubtful that this was ever meant as anything more than a toy, and as fun-for-the-kids products go, it’s A Nice Thing. And it’s not even the quality of the model that matters in this case. It’s what that model represents that counts.
As scale representations of Ray’s Escape go, there can’t be a huge diversity of choices out there, so this was pretty much a must-buy. I would have done the same if it were my car.
And I’ve tried, but Rover 800 models are few and far between, and none of them reference the later type that I own. The best I’ve found so far was this Corgi which offsets its somewhat low material resolution by boasting an actual working sunroof. B5-generation Audi A4s are scarce, too, with the best being a touring car in racing livery, produced by UT models and now changing hands for handsome amounts of hard cash.
Of course, owning a model of your own car is made far more easy if you happen to daily drive something from the Hot Wheels back catalogue.
So I hand it over to you. What model do you have of your own car? Or of cars you’ve owned in the past?
(All images copyright Chris Haining / Hooniverse 2016)
Diecast Delights Special Edition: Scale My Ride (inc Ford Escape)
About
33 responses to “Diecast Delights Special Edition: Scale My Ride (inc Ford Escape)”
-
Searching the Bay of E now for Corgi Sterlings with working sunroofs.
Odd working features might be something of a tradition with 1:43ish sized Rovers.
The Dinky 2000TC had detatchable wheels and a full roof glazed panel.The roof panel was a very rare (real Triplex glass ) option on the real P6s, removeable wheels, less so.
http://www.vectis.co.uk/AuctionImages/414/4183_l.jpg
http://www.qualitydiecasttoys.com/system/photos/27323/original/C275H26.jpg-
Reasoning why Rover owners and collectors want move- and removable parts is so low hanging fruit, we may just give model car makers a respectful nod.
-
The golden jacks were a Corgi gimmick in the late 60s/early 70s just before the plastic whizz wheels. I had an Olds Toronado with the jacks and working popup headlights, and I think my Hillman Hunter rally car als ohad them, although I remember the swiveling spotlights more. As an aside a spare tire on the trunk is actually protoype correct, apparently the combination of De Dion axle and base unit bodywork made the P6 short on trunk space so putting the spare on the lid, in the reverse of Rover’s other product (Land Rover)was a common practice.
-
Yes, a few of my P6s have had the fitment. The vinyl tyre cover is usually missing.
I always wanted the Toronado.
http://www.aronline.co.uk/images/p6_07.jpg
-
-
-
Somewhere in a box in the basement, I have a 1:18 E36 convertible with a working cloth folding top. It’s not a 318ti, but it’s still pretty cool. I’ve had it for probably 20 years, back to when the E36 was new.
Then, on my desk at work, is the 1:18 Yat Ming 1960 Thunderbird below. Yat ming makes 2 versions of the convertible, pale yellow with a red interior and black with a tan interior. My wife bought me both for Christmas one year and I disassembled them and swapped the interior pieces to make a clone of mine. You’ll note that the sun visors are still tan, I never got around to painting them. The yellow / tan model went to a forum member at squarebirds.org.-
I’ve got that E36 too. I don’t know of any other 1:18 folding tops.
Maybe because it’s not very good?
http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/IMG_2642.jpg-
I haven’t looked at mine in many years, but I remember it fitting better than that. Like a real convertible, however, it does look better with the top down.
-
-
-
Since I only buy diecast vehicles of cars that I own or have owned (that they make a diecast of), this post is going to be a rundown of my entire collection.
We’ll start with my first car. It was a 1976 Triumph Spitfire, so I have this nice 1:43 Vitesse model:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8595/28576062780_f05bf8f1bb_z.jpg-
My second car was a black 1986 AW11 MR2 (Mine was all black, and this is a really dark green with silver ground effects)
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8705/28755839122_82b607969e_z.jpg -
My third car was a 1963 Corvette, but that is unfortunately not available in diecast as a convertible. I do have an unbuilt AMT model kit of a ’63 convertible, though.
My fourth car was a 1991 S10, which is surprisingly not available as a diecast.
My fifth car was an ’87 AW11 (This model is of a supercharged, and mine was N/A, but it the color is right, as are the T-tops)
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8850/28576106680_2e9cd02211_z.jpg -
My sixth car was a 1992 Nissan Maxima, so I have this AHT in 1:43
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8770/28784634691_e3dda7b812_z.jpg -
My seventh car was a 1988 XJ Cherokee, so I have this “Grand” Cherokee (the plinth is labeled “Grand Cherokee”, but it’s pretty clearly an XJ.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8560/28755843422_0fbe26a490_z.jpg -
My eight car was (is) a 1979 Checker Marathon, so I have this 1:64 Taxi.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8728/28755849242_79688be464_z.jpg
A 1:43 Ixo Checker A12 is on my shopping list. -
Cars 9, 10, 11, 12:
1998 Buick Skylark
1989 Chevrolet S10
1988 Ford F150
1988 K1500
No diecast of any of these.
13th car was a 1987 XJ-S, so I have this 1:43 (ish) Corgi
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8652/28576101510_8bbb20111f_z.jpg
and this 1:18 AutoArt
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8670/28755853302_a3e3ea3287_z.jpg -
14, 15, and 16 were all Fieros. I don’t have any diecast of my ’84 or my ’87, but I do have this 1:43 Ertl “88” GT (mine was an ’86, and this model is clearly not an ’88)
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7758/28784631851_269d852f65_z.jpg -
Car #17 was (is) my 2005 GTO, so I have this beautiful (if a bit dusty) 1:18 GMP
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7778/28784630011_80acef0cf8_z.jpg -
Car #18 was (is) my 2009 9-7x. I do’t have a diecast of it (yet). I’m hoping for a 1:43 Norev to show up from a US seller.
-
There’s a very nice 1:18 Mk IV out there, currently branded as SunStar but originally released under the Chrono name. Not sure if there was ever a white one.
http://i0.wp.com/hooniverse.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/CIMG3786.jpg?resize=720%2C374
-
-
Now the motorcycles thread: First bike (not counting dirtbikes) was a 1998 Triumph Daytona, so I have this 1:18 Maisto (my actual bike was black):
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8548/28576092890_3809ba20a1_z.jpg-
When the Daytona was stolen, I bought a 1973 CB750, but I don’t have a diecast of that one. I then bought a 1997 Triumph Daytona, so I have this other 1:18 Maisto (this one is the right color)
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8699/28755858712_bbbcffc715_z.jpg -
My fourth bike was (is) a 2000 Husqvarna SM610S, so I have this 1:18 Maisto (My bike is black, but this is the only diecast available of a 610 supermoto)
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8611/28755863802_2e26940032_z.jpg
-
-
The most representative diecast I have is a Maisto ’04 Kawasaki KLR650. The color scheme changed year to year (my ’99 was ’90’s-SUV green, this ’04 is red/black) and the front fairing & headlight aren’t supposed to turn with the handlebars like this model’s do.
I have 3 Hot Wheels 1:64 Challengers but none are quite right – a green ’71 R/T shaker, an orange ’08 SRT8, and a green version of Sam Hubinette’s drift Challenger whereas my 2010 was & 2015 is a blue R/T.
I’ve never seen a diecast of an ’05 Dakota or anything in the ’05-’11 range; the only diecasts for a ’96 Thunderbird I know of are NASCAR replicas; and the closest I’ve seen to my ’73 Cougar is a ’71 1:43 I didn’t know about till today. -
I’ve never seen a diecast of any of the 25 or so vehicles I’ve owned. Not sure how I feel about that.
-
This may be the finest article ever on this site. Kudos good sir. Glad the Escape made it unscathed on its trip to the other side of the Earth. It was a fine stand in for the real life car, but when I found the Redfire version, it became redundant. Now all I need is a scale Fusion to swap out the wheels.
-
Well, it was remarkably well protected by a large hi-resolution aerial view of Oak Harbor!
-
-
Diecast models of early SHOs, or even early Taurii are pretty much nonexistent.
There is a pretty decent selection of plastic model kits (police cars, ROBOCOP movie cars, and civillian SHOs) made by AMT/Ertl, representing 1989, 1990, and 1991 SHOs.
http://www.ford-taurus.org/taurusinfo/Other/Models.php
I have a nasty habit of turning models into sticky messes, however, so those aren’t really an option for me.
This meant my choice was a dealer promo model, whcih are availible every so often on eBay in a variety of colours and years for not crazy money.
I chose a silver 1989 promo model, foregoing the correct model year for a close to correct colour.
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/dSIAAOSw3YNXaxRk/$_1.JPG?set_id=880000500F
(Not my picture)Detail is non-existent, on par for most dealer promos for the era, but I’m pretty happy with it.
-
None. None cars, but not that I haven’t looked or tried.
Nobody makes a 1968 Plymouth GTX – I can easily find a ’67, a ’69, a ’70, a ’71 and I even once found a 1972 GTX, which wasn’t even a separate model that year, just a trim option! – but never a ’68. This has been an ongoing, anguishing search for over 25 years.
I’ve also been looking far and wide for a model in any scale, from Hotwheels to 1:18 of MiSSus GTXcellent’s new car. No dice. Closest I can find are NASCAR models, or, very very expensive Holden’s that are only available in Australia. Hotwheels made a Holden VFII a few years ago, but it’s not even close to the same. -
I like the Escape; nice detail.
I do have a 1/25 scale ’76 Vega hatchback, that I built when they were new. Unfortunately the kit is a base car, unlike my real one, which was a GT.-
The detail both on the silver one that I sent to Chris, and the red one that replaced it – especially considering the sub-$10 cost – is impressive. Funny what you can find at the Rite Aid when looking for children’s cold medicine.
-
-
One of my brothers built a model of my KV Mini 1 for me from scratch. I believe he captured its essence quite well.
https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8692/28779985012_128ecfee10.jpg
https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8388/28884592295_2d68f34126.jpg-
With the bonus of better panel fit?
-
And improved crash safety!
-
-
-
I’ve got the transformer of my car, can’t find a pic of mine though…
http://www.yellowsun.plus.com/models/downshift.html
Leave a Reply