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FRR INFO
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« on: August 10, 2009, 08:45:18 PM » |
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Here's the back story on this pre-production piece I just received. It's made by Motor Max for a series of movie cars complete with dioramas. The Diplomat is from "The Usual Suspects". Others are the yellow Buick convertible from "Rainman" and the Taurus from "Robocop". They are not destined for U.S. sales, as close as we'll come are Canadian Wal Marts.
It had been my hope we were going to be able to use these as the basis for our Diplomat much like we did when we accessed the Magnum tooling from Motor Max.
However, they made this to a really cheap toy price point and it's pretty crude. The wheels and tires are way off and all plastic like the early Road Champ cars.
About the only redeaming quality is the actual body which isn't too bad but the fit of the glass, grille and head light fit, rear lights are very poor.
Granted it is a 1/43 Diplomat but I'd hoped for so much more. So take a moment and give me your critical thoughts forgetting for a minute that at least it's something. Motor Max is giving me the opportunity to comment on this directly and has offered to modify the tooling if I take enough.
Of course I'd add mirrors, three piece wheel,tire,dog dish hubcap, improved fitment of the front and rear plastic pieces and better glass fit. It just depends if they see the value in upgrading it. If not, we'll have to tool our own.
He is your opportunity to be heard. Do it honestly and constructively. If I can get them to make the changes you're the people that will be buying them.
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I should have stayed retired, life was so much easier.
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Mark B
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« Reply #1 on: August 11, 2009, 12:28:34 AM » |
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Certainly going to take some work to bring it up to FRR standard. The idea of a 1/43 Diplomat is pretty good though.
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FRR INFO
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« Reply #2 on: August 11, 2009, 02:04:43 AM » |
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Certainly going to take some work to bring it up to FRR standard. The idea of a 1/43 Diplomat is pretty good though.
I'm taking it apart to strip the paint and put it in gray primer in addition to fitting a set of wheels and tires from a White Rose Plymouth to see if that helps it. In it's present form it's not even close to a WRC 88 Caprice. If I can't get it up to at least that level then I'll have to give it a pass for our purposes. We'll see what can be done and what they are willing to do. |
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I should have stayed retired, life was so much easier.
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duckman376
Full Member
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Posts: 121
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« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2009, 04:57:47 AM » |
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I second Mark B, The diplomats are a great idea...kinda' like the idea of the box 89-92 FCVs......I know I have had a lot of demand at my department for the 1:24 Dips......good start......
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Troy
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« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2009, 06:19:05 AM » |
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Well, if anybody can get it done right...Dennis is the man for the job!
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Loyalty above all else...except Honor
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Mark B
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« Reply #5 on: August 11, 2009, 06:37:37 AM » |
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Well, if anybody can get it done right...Dennis is the man for the job!
. Very true. As Dennis said, the casting looks promising its just the details that are lacking. A great American police car that all police/emergency diecast collectors have been sceaming out for ever since I have been collecting. Can't wait to see Dennis' modified version. |
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cops119
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« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2009, 08:52:24 PM » |
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Really good idea if improvements are made as the details.
At first sight the frame sounds good but everything else looks like a toy..
I'm looking forward to seeing a prototype....
In this connection what about making a line of police car models like we find in Europe.
There were several series made about French, Italian and Spanish police cars models, or a few police models like in the James Bond's cars serie ( Dodge Monaco, Chevy Nova )
Each model came in with a booklet and was sold in newsstands, or on subscription.
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Mark B
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« Reply #7 on: August 14, 2009, 02:58:36 AM » |
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Funny you should mention the James Bond line Christophe. They were supposed to do a 74 AMC Matador PD car from Man with the Golden Gun. It appears that they have dropped it in favour of a dune buggy casting instead. Talk about frustrating.
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policecarmodels
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« Reply #9 on: August 18, 2009, 08:21:30 PM » |
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For those interested in this item from Motormax (not sure where Dennis's pictures went...), I will have them in hand by the end of this week. Should be about $17.00, looks like it comes with some figures and maybe a display case. Anyhow, something new to kitbash! Jeff @ www.policecarmodels.com |
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FRR INFO
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« Reply #10 on: August 18, 2009, 09:34:12 PM » |
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Here are the photos again. I'll post a photo of a modified version shortly using tires,wheels and hubcaps from a White Rose Plymouth among other changes.
Since I initially posted this, I found a wrecked one in a junkyard and took measurements of the rear since I wasn't convinced the proportions were correct. As it turns out the body actual casting isn't bad at all but the wheels, tires and grille/head light assemblies have got to be changed to make it worthwhile to any extent.
Now that I'm satisfied with the body, if Motor Max is willing to modify it for us, to my specifications, we'll be ordering them in mass. They will be offered as blanks in assorted b/w paint schemes with parts. If this works out then they'll be part of our custom builders offerings in addition to a series.
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I should have stayed retired, life was so much easier.
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policecarmodels
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« Reply #11 on: August 18, 2009, 11:08:47 PM » |
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... And in the mean time, if you want to add one "as-is" to your collection, or mess around with customizing on your own - we will have them in hand this week! $15.95 each (Sorry, more free press!!) Jeff @ www.policecarmodels.com |
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« Last Edit: August 19, 2009, 10:26:27 PM by policecarmodels »
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