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Is there a forgotten scale out there?

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  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Shrewsbury, UK
Is there a forgotten scale out there?
Posted by Martsmodels on Sunday, December 18, 2005 11:46 PM
Hi - I am thinking of setting up a website devoted to 1/16 scale.    Until I started to get interested in models in this scale I didn't realise just how many subjects there were or how these (mostly old and crude kits) can be turned into respectable replicas with  a little work.   And it is this, probably, which draws me on to like the scale.

Mostly the  kits are Japanese or Korean and not very accurate but, usually, can be worked to make a decent replica.    I would like to point out the pitfalls on the proposed site and build up an archive from
my own models and from other builders submitting articles - there's certainly no money in it for anyone - but - is there any future?

Here are two or three examples:

This one has the wheels converted to wire spokes and all the 'plastic' wood to mahogany and leather seats.


This Gakken TC  has had scratchbuilt door hinges made, leather seats and a more realistic scratchbuilt 'Bluemels' sprung steeering wheel etc etc


... and this Merc has a scratchbuilt burr oak dash and chestnut door cappings with oak inlays.

This last one shows the level of detail that some of these 1/16 kits have - this is on my 'workbench' and is the spaceframe chassis for a Minicraft 300SL Gullwing


The point is - would I be wasting my time in setting up a website devoted to this scale?

Under the bed -
300Sl Roadster ( Revell - all singing and dancing kit with lights and engine  sounds)
SS100 Jaguar (Revell) - when I can figure out how to make the wheels from wire)
1935 Morgan 3 wheeler - will probably be built as a 'barn find' needing TLC
Morgan +8 (LS - a nice kit which should benefit from real leather - has opening doors and bonnet
Lambo Muira (Oktaki - part built - lousy fit - gave it up and put it back in the box - some day maybe?)
Rolls Sedanca - (Revell - nice looking kit - will build into a lovely model with addition of proper opening doors, leather and wod interior etc.
Stutz Bearcat (Aurora - kerbside - frightens me to death! - how do I do the filigree gold lines?
and finally and my next project

Wait for it ...........   a Lindberg (don't laugh) 1914 Mercedes GP (French GP de Lyons)


Of course the Lindberg  kit looks nothing like this so it will be mainly scratchbuilt and will be my next  project - can't wait!

Ideas please!

Cheers - Martin
Martin http://www.freewebs.com/martsmodels/
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Paarl, South Africa
Posted by SeaBee on Monday, December 19, 2005 12:00 AM
Martin, seeing your subject line, I was allreay composing: 1:20 plastic F1... Angry [:(!] Strangely enough, this is a scale that's almost exclusive domain of resin manufaturers nowadays, with Tamiya seeming to have withdrawn from producing anything new and nobody else stepping up. Then you threw me a curveball...

Anyways, there is no such thing as a "wasted" scale. To get back to my initial thoughts, there are hordes of sites where 1:20 platic F1's are still discussed. The fact that the scale model you build and are interested in may not be readily available, should not be a put-down. I say go for it. Those are great-looking models! Maybe your site will get somebody else interested, having not even known of those models! Thumbs Up [tup]

The more exposure this hobby gets, the better.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 1:43 PM

Martin:

As one who love the pre-WWII classics, I have found many a wonderful kit in the 1:16 scale.  In addition to the wonderful MGTC and Mercedes Sonder Kabriolet that you show, there are some great Packards and Cadillacs in the 1:16 scale.  I have a number of these kits (won't ever build them unfortunately) and would certainly love to see more discussion around this scale.

Andy.

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Shrewsbury, UK
Posted by Martsmodels on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 4:34 PM
Andy - I believe there are two Cadillacs and two Packards done in 1/16 - neither of which I've been able to pick up for the 'right price' just yet.  

At the top of the wish list is the Duesenburg boat tail tourer - which unfortunately seems rarer than hens teeth, consequently the price goes into orbit when a good one shows on ebay.

For the time being I'll have to content myself with collecting a few of the more available kits.

Martin

p.s. your Ferrari looks phenomenal - looking forward to seeing more on that one.



Martin http://www.freewebs.com/martsmodels/
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 10:00 PM

Martin:

Suffice it to say, we have similar tastes. 

 

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Shrewsbury, UK
Posted by Martsmodels on Thursday, December 22, 2005 6:34 AM
Andy - someone's got to like them!

I think the other Packard is a convertible with rumble seat - don't know what they call it though.

I'm green with envy now seeing the Duesy there!

Do I detect an Alfa enthusiast?  I did this 8C a few years ago (2001) - it was my first and only Pocher and took 15 months to complete.  This is actually the K7 Grand Sport converted to a Zagato Spider.



Fullly intend to do another Bentley (which will be the fourth) -  this time I'd like to 'wire' the wheels as no matter how well built those kits are they still look like plastic to me.  I have some shots of Birkin's car which still exists and was surprised to see that the brake drums are silver and the green colour is almost black.  The kit is under the bed waiting as are too many others.


(this one was built in 1996 on the kitchen table, spent 3 years in a case in the local pub - came back in pieces and is now back in it's case at a friends house).   Time for another!

Martin

Martin http://www.freewebs.com/martsmodels/
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