[Q] Mercedes 300SL Gullwing: AMT or Italeri?
Sir Loin of Beef
I'm guessing there'll be fit problems.
EmilA1944
>I'm guessing there'll be fit problems.
I've got both kits, but haven't built either one, but scoped them both out.
AMT's 300-SL dates from the mid-1960's, with their usual one-piece body shell,
dunno about its accuracy, but AMT did some very nice car kits at the time (was
one of AMT's Trophy Series kits). I saw one of the AMT kits built up, detailed
out as Rudolph Uhlenhaut's personal 300SL at a local contest two weeks ago, and
was quite impressed by the shapes and overall accurate-appearing stance.
Italeri's 300-SL kits come from the early-to-mid 1980's, and if they are
indicative of the Italeri car kits of that time, likely they are pretty danged
good.
I've built the Italeri Ferarri 250 GTO, and beyond a couple of difficulties
with the body shell, having to assemble and seam-fill the lower nose before
mounting on the chassis, and Italeri's polishing out the WRONG side of the die
for the air extractor scoops on the rear quarter panels (big ejector pin mark
there!), it was a breeze to build. Also, Italeri's Classc Car kits are quite
nice.
I'd be willing to bet the Italeri Mercedes 300SL kits are both pretty nice
(roadster and coupe), based on their then-established reputation.
Art Anderson
Sir Loin of Beef
>AMT's 300-SL dates from the mid-1960's, with their usual one-piece body shell,
>dunno about its accuracy, but AMT did some very nice car kits at the time (was
>one of AMT's Trophy Series kits). I saw one of the AMT kits built up, detailed
>out as Rudolph Uhlenhaut's personal 300SL at a local contest two weeks ago, and
>was quite impressed by the shapes and overall accurate-appearing stance.
I believe the AMT one has opening doors... but I'm guessing the
hinging is not very accurate. What kind of detail is included in this
one? Any engine/suspension?
>Italeri's 300-SL kits come from the early-to-mid 1980's, and if they are
>indicative of the Italeri car kits of that time, likely they are pretty danged
>good.
I totally missed buying any Italeri's from that era. Besides Ferraris
and Mercedes Benzes, did Italeri release any other cars?
>I've built the Italeri Ferarri 250 GTO, and beyond a couple of difficulties
>with the body shell, having to assemble and seam-fill the lower nose before
>mounting on the chassis, and Italeri's polishing out the WRONG side of the die
>for the air extractor scoops on the rear quarter panels (big ejector pin mark
>there!), it was a breeze to build. Also, Italeri's Classc Car kits are quite
>nice.
I'm looking for Italeri's 250GTO too. They're quite hard to come by
these days. I managed to pick up a Protar 250gto last month and am
quite impressed overall at first glance. The parts fit has yet to be
seen though.
Tom Hiett
NOSPAMm...@pacific.net.sg wrote:
> I totally missed buying any Italeri's from that era. Besides Ferraris
> and Mercedes Benzes, did Italeri release any other cars?
I have, I think its a 190 SL. Body style similar to a gullwing but a
cabriolet. Haven't built it but it looks OK.
Tom
C.R. Krieger
news:3dd85979...@news.pacific.net.sg...
> Any comments on the AMT/ERTL and Italeri kits? Both are quite old so
> I'm guessing there'll be fit problems.
Don't exactly know about fit because I haven't built it, but the AMT Gullwing is
one very good-looking kit. It is fully detailed, including separate doors,
hood, and trunk, although I couldn't comment on the hinges without digging it
out and checking them. If you're interested in one, email me as I bought the
thing for someone else here years ago and he never got back to me about it. It
was one of the old Trophy Series kits, which were generally quite well-done.
While I'm not absolutely certain whose tool it is (Italeri? Heller?), the
Testors-boxed 300SL cabrio looks as good, if a bit more delicately cast. If the
gullwing version is the same, I'd rate it as about equal to the AMT. I *do not*
have one of these as a gullwing[Thinking the cabrio will make a nice companion
piece to the contemporary BMW 507s and SS Jag I've got.], but I'll dig out the
cabrio to make an 'on the trees' comparison if it matters to anyone.
BTW, I assume we're talking about the 1/24-1/25 versions, not the 1/12 monster
(Monogram? Revell? Italeri?) that's out there. The builtup I once had looked
quite impressive, but I couldn't see spending that much for a kit that turned
out *not* to be as cool as the equally-impressive 1/12 BMW CSL race car.
--
C.R. Krieger
"Don't argue with 'em, dear; they're beneath our dignity." - W.C. Fields
snh9728
own one, but never built it. Did some dry-fitting and the fit seemed
okay. I think it would have looked pretty good assembled.
Steve H
EmilA1944
>> and Mercedes Benzes, did Italeri release any other cars?
>
>I have, I think its a 190 SL. Body style similar to a gullwing but a
>cabriolet. Haven't built it but it looks OK.
>
>Tom
Tom,
I believe that Revell was/is the only model company to do a 1/25 scale Mercedes
Benz 190SL, which kit they first issued in 1959-60.
It's one of the last Revell kits to have been done with a multipiece body
shell. I've got a couple of the kits around here someplace, never built one,
but have seen them built, they can be made to look pretty danged good!
Art Anderson
EmilA1944
>hinging is not very accurate. What kind of detail is included in this
>one? Any engine/suspension?
The hingeing is about as "accurate" as anyone is going to be in that scale,
particularly if the hinge system is molded in plastic.
AMT's 300SL has full engine detail, including its being one of the first (if
not THE first!) car kit to have any real attempt at superdetails (the fuel
injection lines are part of the kit). In addition, I recall that it has pretty
much a full chassis (at least the parts that would be visible under normal
circumstances) as well.
The kit does come, however (and always has, BTW) with whatever generic 15"
tires AMT chose to put in it. Fred Cady Design does have tire decals which
include the proper "Continental" tire scripts though.
Very little in the way of 50's or 60's European or British sports car subjects
have truly been done in 1/24-1/25 scale over the years by European companies.
There has been an occasional BMW, and a few French racing Renaults, but most
has come out of Japan or the US:
1948 MG-TC. Monogram, with metal body and fenders, 1978, all-plastic in 1984
and later years.
1948 Jaguar XK-120. Monogram, metal body, converted to plastic body about 1998
by Revell-Germany, also marketed through Doyusha.
Jaguar XKSS. Revell-Monogram, 1993, reissued Revell-Germany.
Jaguar XK-E. Revell, 1964; Gunze Sangyo, 1988 (multi-media kit), all plastic
kit, 1996?.
Triumph TR-2, TR-3, TR-3a. Gunze Sangyo, about 1986.
Porsche 356. Fujimi Enthusiast Series, just about every variant of 356 done.
Austin-Healey 100-6. Revell, 1958, reissued most recently by Revell Monogram,
also by Matchbox.
Austin Healey Sprite (Bug-Eye). Gunze Sangyo.
Morgan Plus-4. Tamiya, 1996-97.
Lotus Seven. Tamiya, 1978, reissued about 2000.
Lotus Elan. Gunze Sangyo.
Sunbeam Tiger. AMT, 1966; reissued 1986 by AMT/Ertl, reissued 1990 as
Blueprinter Kit 1990.
Shelby AC Cobra (reputed to be a model of CX001, the very first 260-powered
Cobra), 1964, and many times since.
These are perhaps the best of the kits of classic sports cars I can think of,
and I'm sure that others can and will add to this list.
Of course, there have been less-detailed kits produced by other mfrs, but I
won't take the space or time to dig them out of my memory.
Art Anderson
Sir Loin of Beef
>AMT's 300SL has full engine detail, including its being one of the first (if
>not THE first!) car kit to have any real attempt at superdetails (the fuel
>injection lines are part of the kit). In addition, I recall that it has pretty
Sounds good. I'll have to keep a lookout for one.
>The kit does come, however (and always has, BTW) with whatever generic 15"
>tires AMT chose to put in it. Fred Cady Design does have tire decals which
>include the proper "Continental" tire scripts though.
Do any aftermarket tyres exist at all? I know there're hand-laced wire
wheels at around US$35 and up, but I've never seen tyres.
>1948 Jaguar XK-120. Monogram, metal body, converted to plastic body about 1998
>by Revell-Germany, also marketed through Doyusha.
I love the XK-150. I've never seen any in 1/24. Those 1/43s are
beautiful but I'd prefer something bigger.
>Jaguar XKSS. Revell-Monogram, 1993, reissued Revell-Germany.
Ditto.
I heard this was reissued (or is going to be) within the year.
>Porsche 356. Fujimi Enthusiast Series, just about every variant of 356 done.
Probably some of the most advanced 1/24 models too. I've got the 356B
roadster, and the box won't close now that I've taken the parts out
for a look.
>Shelby AC Cobra (reputed to be a model of CX001, the very first 260-powered
>Cobra), 1964, and many times since.
Heard that the latest by Fujimi has some inaccuracies.
Some other stuff I'd love to find:
1/24 Lamborghini Miura/Jota
1/24 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale
1/24 Aston Martin DBS V8 Volante
1/24 Delorean DMC-12(without the back to the future modifications)
Probably the most sought-after 1/24 car would be the 250GTO. The Gunze
hi-tech ones go for $80-150 on ebay! Those Enthusiast Ferrari 365
Daytonas are not far-off either.
Al Superczynski
Loin of Beef) wrote:
>Do any aftermarket tyres exist at all?
Yes. See http://www.americansatco.com/ .
--
Al Superczynski, MFE, IPMS/USA #3795, continuous since 1968
My "From" address is munged - click "Reply To" to respond via email.
Check out my want and disposal lists at "Al's Place":
http://www.up-link.net/~modeleral/
"Build what YOU like, the way YOU want to,
and the critics will flame you every time."
Tom Hiett
> >> I totally missed buying any Italeri's from that era. Besides Ferraris
> >> and Mercedes Benzes, did Italeri release any other cars?
> >
> >I have, I think its a 190 SL. Body style similar to a gullwing but a
> >cabriolet. Haven't built it but it looks OK.
> I believe that Revell was/is the only model company to do a 1/25 scale
> Mercedes Benz 190SL, which kit they first issued in 1959-60.
>
> It's one of the last Revell kits to have been done with a multipiece body
> shell. I've got a couple of the kits around here someplace, never built one,
> but have seen them built, they can be made to look pretty danged good!
I was correct that its a Italeri (actually a Testors rebox of an Italeri)
and its a cabriolete of a Gullwing, but that makes it a 300 SL Cabriolet,
not a 190. Typical Italeri one piece body and quickly identifyable as
such. Mine has 1988 copyright on the bodyshell. Looks nice.
Tom
Tom Hiett
> Very little in the way of 50's or 60's European or British sports car subjects
> have truly been done in 1/24-1/25 scale over the years by European companies.
> There has been an occasional BMW, and a few French racing Renaults, but most
> has come out of Japan or the US:
> Jaguar XKSS. Revell-Monogram, 1993, reissued Revell-Germany.
Only been out as a Revell AG. Recently reissued. I hope the sale (again!)
of the company in the past few days doesn't screw it up!
> Porsche 356. Fujimi Enthusiast Series, just about every variant of 356 done.
Totally awesome kits. My review at:
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~thiett/356.html
> These are perhaps the best of the kits of classic sports cars I can think of,
> and I'm sure that others can and will add to this list.
If you include Cobras, why not Ferrari 250 GT SWBs, Califonias, 275 GTBs,
250LMs, and 250 GTOs?
Mercedes 300 SLR. Revell AG.
Mercedes 300 SLR Coupe. Revell AG
MGB, several versions. Aioshima(?)
Mercedes 300 SL Cabriolet. Italeri, also reboxed as Testors.
BMW 507 that C.R. mentioned
Blower Bently, Heller. 1/24 and 1/12
Tom
Tom Hiett
> Probably the most sought-after 1/24 car would be the 250GTO. The Gunze
> hi-tech ones go for $80-150 on ebay! Those Enthusiast Ferrari 365
> Daytonas are not far-off either.
A friend e-mailed me a few weeks ago to ask if I wanted a 365GTB4 Coupe
Enthusiast Series kit. His local shop had one for $12.95. Yep. It was gone
when he went back. ;-(
Its a shame Fujimi hasn't licenced and repopped these. Lets hope they do
someday.
Tom
Sir Loin of Beef
>A friend e-mailed me a few weeks ago to ask if I wanted a 365GTB4 Coupe
>Enthusiast Series kit. His local shop had one for $12.95. Yep. It was gone
>when he went back. ;-(
I know the feeling. 2 weeks ago I saw a Fujimi 1/24 enthusiast
Quattrovalvole Countach at S$15 (approx US$8). I have to wonder why I
didn't just pick it up.
>Its a shame Fujimi hasn't licenced and repopped these. Lets hope they do
>someday.
Agreed with totally. They've got a ton of Ferraris that I'd love to
get my hands on. The 330, F40LM and 354GTB/4.
Sir Loin of Beef
>If you include Cobras, why not Ferrari 250 GT SWBs, Califonias, 275 GTBs,
>250LMs, and 250 GTOs?
Love the 275s. Saw a few Italeri ones on ebay in recent months, ending
at US$30-40 each.
>Mercedes 300 SLR. Revell AG.
>Mercedes 300 SLR Coupe. Revell AG
They made a 300SLR?
Tom Hiett
> >Its a shame Fujimi hasn't licenced and repopped these. Lets hope they do
> >someday.
>
> Agreed with totally. They've got a ton of Ferraris that I'd love to
> get my hands on. The 330, F40LM and 354GTB/4.
And in the history of plastic car models, Fujimi Enthusiast series kits
are as good as they get. I was lucky to get a few- Porsche Speedster, 356
B/C coupe, 356 B/C Cabriolet, 911 RS, and a 288 GTO, but I passed on so
many over the years that I now regret. I was dissapointed with the 911 RS.
Tom
Tom Hiett
The Mille Mille racer. Revell AG reboxed as Monogram 10 years ago or so.
That was a 300 SLR wasn't it? Maybe I have the number wrong. Had space
frame, huge inboard drum brakes, and nice engine. The Fangio airbrake
version of the same car would have been better and some do a conversion
that MRRN had a story on. They also did the coupe that was named after one
of the Mercedes guys. Begins with a U... Only one was built.
Tom
Tom Hiett
> >Jaguar XKSS. Revell-Monogram, 1993, reissued Revell-Germany.
>
> Ditto.
> I heard this was reissued (or is going to be) within the year.
Waiting for mine... Hope yesterday's sale of Revell and Revell AG doesn't
screw it up! This one should have been a Revell USA release.
> >Porsche 356. Fujimi Enthusiast Series, just about every variant of 356 done.
Some of the box bottoms, box inserts, and catalog sheets show a few more
versions and kit numbers that never actually made it. I think we still got
7 variations. Sort of like the 365GTB4 Daytona Competition Enthusiast
series kit we see mentioned in Fujimi boxes and sheets that never made it.
> Probably the most sought-after 1/24 car would be the 250GTO. The Gunze
> hi-tech ones go for $80-150 on ebay! Those Enthusiast Ferrari 365
> Daytonas are not far-off either.
I passed on one for $35 a while back. My friends who saw it first and who
wheel and deal in kits assured me it was in the current ebay range. This
was a hi- tech but without engine. Yeah, still should have bought it.
Weren't there a couple versions? Ironically, most of the all out GTOs I
see in magazines and contest annuals are built from Italeris..
I'd say the Gunze Cobra Coupes is quite a bit rarer. One of the above
mentioned friends sold one for $180 or so several years ago on ebay.
Tom
EmilA1944
>someday.
>
>Tom
Tom,
Prolly Fujimi simply refuses to pay Mattel any money, seeing as how they have
exclusive licensing for models and toys of Ferarri's? Yes, I know Tamiya has
been willing to bite that bullet, but almost no one else.
Art Anderson
EmilA1944
>mentioned friends sold one for $180 or so several years ago on ebay.
>
>Tom
FWIW,
Gunze is said to have failed to get licensing (oh that dirty word again!) for
the Daytona Cobra GT from Shelby-American -- their screwup, our loss!
Art Anderson
DNSH
Make a lot of sense, too. Let the molds sit around in a warehouse so they can
make 100% on no sales instead of making a 20 - 30% profit on $40 kit sale.
Dan
William Banaszak
"Get Smart" box.
Bill Banaszak, MFE
Tom Hiett
> >Prolly Fujimi simply refuses to pay Mattel any money, seeing as how they have
> >exclusive licensing for models and toys of Ferarri's? Yes, I know Tamiya has
This is a frequent discussion where we hear some pretty twisted logic.
Some facts:
1. Licensing is nothing new to the model business
2. Model companies are in the business of making model kits
3. Model production has continued since licensing models became big business
4. The company doesn't really pay the license fees, the consumer does
Would we get more if there wasn't licensing required? Who knows? We
obviously didn't get everything we wanted before. Despite the continued
assertion that licensing is evil and keeping stuff from getting kitted, we
still get a steady suppy of new subjects. We had nay sayers several years
ago who insisted F1, Ferrari, and Porsche kits were gone forever.
Licensing, you know. Costs too much. Nobody can afford it. I never
believed it. It was an absurd notion that has proved to be false.
F1- In the last six years I count at least 13 new F1 plastic kits, and
another- the Toyota is on the way. Plus old kits reissued.
Ferrari- Two F50 kits, three 360 kits, six F1 kits, and the Enzo is on the
way. Plus many old kits reissued.
Porsche-Two Porsche 996 kits, two Boxster kits, three GT1 kits, GT2 and
GT3 kits. Plus old kits reissued.
I'm only counting body variations per manufacturer. I'm not counting the
yellow/clearviews/metallized finish kits, special editions, or the
alternate racer versions with same or nearly the same bodywork by the same
manufacturer or prevously unreleased decal variants. Licensing seems to
have had no effect on diecast releases at all, and many resin kits are now
licensed.
Do I pay license fees? Sure I do. I pay one every time I buy a Fisher
Porsche, a Burago diecast, or just about any plastic kit. Does it bother
me? Not in the least. I'm only interested in building stuff that interests
me. If a part of what I pay goes back to the people who are responsible
for its creation in exchange for permission for allowing a finely crafted
crisp and accurate scale reproduction to be made that will bring me many
hours of enjoyment and will spend the rest of my life on my shelf, its a
bargan.
The plus side for the manufacturer is less risk. Once negotiated they can
invest in expensive tooling without fear of being taken to court and
forced to withdraw it from the marketplace.
Fujimi has top notch tooling for three Ferrari classics- Daytona, Dino and
a 330P4, (was it Hasegawa or Fujimi that did the F355?) which is
undoubtably respresents well over a million dollars of tooling. I suppose
Al could be right and they'll simply throw up their hands and scrap it,
but I doubt it. The big money is already spent. The nature of the model
business is issue, withdraw, then reissue periodically over a long period
of time. Classic Ferraris are pretty enduring subjectsand they chose well.
Like every company does for every reissue, someday Fujimi will likely
decide its time and negotiate licensing for a run, just like they have
done with the recent Porsche 356 kits reissues.
Tom
Tom Hiett
> >Its a shame Fujimi hasn't licenced and repopped these. Lets hope they do
> >someday.
> Prolly Fujimi simply refuses to pay Mattel any money, seeing as how they have
> exclusive licensing for models and toys of Ferarri's?
Unless their original agreement has changed, Mattel manages all Ferrari
licensed merchandise worldwide, not just models and toys. Saying they
control Ferrari product licensing is more accurate than saying they have
exclusive licensing themselves, since their job is to license others to
make many of the Ferrari products. Since more than one licensee often do
the same subjects (like Revell and Tamiya with the 360), these deals
obviously are not always exclusive.
Tom
Tom Hiett
> >Prolly Fujimi simply refuses to pay Mattel any money, seeing as how they have
> >exclusive licensing for models and toys of Ferarri's? Yes, I know Tamiya has
Licensing is a frequent discussion where we hear some pretty twisted logic.
Tom Hiett
> >Prolly Fujimi simply refuses to pay Mattel any money, seeing as how they have
> >exclusive licensing for models and toys of Ferarri's? Yes, I know Tamiya has
Licensing is a frequent discussion where we hear some pretty twisted logic.
Some facts:
1. Licensing is nothing new to the model business
2. Model companies are in the business of making model kits
3. Model production has continued since licensing models became big business
4. The company doesn't really pay the license fees, the consumer does
Would we get more if there wasn't licensing required? Who knows? We
obviously didn't get everything we wanted before. Despite the continued
assertion that licensing is evil and keeping stuff from getting kitted, we
still get a steady suppy of new subjects. We had nay sayers several years
ago who insisted F1, Ferrari, and Porsche kits were gone forever.
Licensing, you know. Costs too much. Nobody can afford it. I never
believed it. It was an absurd notion that has proved to be false.
F1- In the last six years I count at least 13 new F1 plastic kits, and
another- the Toyota is on the way. Plus old kits reissued.
Ferrari- Two F50 kits, three 360 kits, six F1 kits, and the Enzo is on the
way. Plus many old kits reissued.
Porsche-Two Porsche 996 kits, two Boxster kits, three GT1 kits, GT2 and
GT3 kits. Plus old kits reissued.
I'm only counting body variations per manufacturer. I'm not counting the
yellow/clearviews/metallized finish kits, special editions, or the
alternate racer versions with same or nearly the same bodywork by the same
manufacturer or prevously unreleased decal variants. Licensing seems to
have had no affect on diecasts and many resin kits are now licensed.
Do I pay license fees? Sure I do. I pay one every time I buy a Fisher
Porsche, a Burago diecast, or just about any plastic kit. Does it bother
me? Not in the least. I'm only interested in building stuff that interests
me. If a part of what I pay goes back to the people who are responsible
for its creation in exchange for permission for allowing a finely crafted
crisp and accurate scale reproduction to be made that will bring me many
hours of enjoyment and will spend the rest of my life on my shelf, its a
bargan.
The plus side for the manufacturer is less risk. Once negotiated they can
invest in expensive tooling without fear of being taken to court and
forced to withdraw it from the marketplace.
Fujimi has top notch tooling for three Ferrari classics- Daytona, Dino and
a 330P4, (was it Hasegawa or Fujimi that did the F355?) which is
undoubtably respresents well over a million dollars of tooling. I suppose
Art could be right and they'll simply throw up their hands and scrap it,
Tom Hiett
> Gunze is said to have failed to get licensing (oh that dirty word again!) for
> the Daytona Cobra GT from Shelby-American -- their screwup, our loss!
I'm been puzzling over this for a few days and haven't come up with an
reason why licensing is a dirty word.
Sounds like someone tingabout that no good greedy farmer put up a fence so
he can't steal his vegetables anymore.
Just coz they failed to license it the first time doesn't mean it can't be
licensed now. Shelby isn't against the idea of making money, and he's lost
some tradmark/copyright court clashes himself.
Tom
Hiroaki Fukuda
Tom Hiett wrote:
>
> NOSPAMm...@pacific.net.sg wrote:
>
> > Probably the most sought-after 1/24 car would be the 250GTO. The Gunze
> > hi-tech ones go for $80-150 on ebay! Those Enthusiast Ferrari 365
> > Daytonas are not far-off either.
>
> A friend e-mailed me a few weeks ago to ask if I wanted a 365GTB4 Coupe
> Enthusiast Series kit. His local shop had one for $12.95. Yep. It was gone
> when he went back. ;-(
I got three 288GTO for 26 each a few years ago. Sold a couple on
auction for $70 each. :)
> Its a shame Fujimi hasn't licenced and repopped these. Lets hope they do
> someday.
>
> Tom
Want to know why? Simply, it's because Mattel says no. I asked a
Tamiya about renting Fujimi tool or try some different idea, but EM kits
just don't fit the current line of other Tamiya kits, because the design
philosophy is very different. Still, they even think the lack of Fujimi
EM Ferraris on the market is a shame.
--
Hiroaki Fukuda
Sports and Race Car Modeling Page
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~xr2h-fkd/scalemodels/index.html
Hiroaki Fukuda
Tom Hiett wrote:
>
> Fujimi has top notch tooling for three Ferrari classics- Daytona, Dino and
> a 330P4, (was it Hasegawa or Fujimi that did the F355?) which is
> undoubtably respresents well over a million dollars of tooling. I suppose
> Art could be right and they'll simply throw up their hands and scrap it,
> but I doubt it. The big money is already spent. The nature of the model
> business is issue, withdraw, then reissue periodically over a long period
> of time. Classic Ferraris are pretty enduring subjectsand they chose well.
> Like every company does for every reissue, someday Fujimi will likely
> decide its time and negotiate licensing for a run, just like they have
> done with the recent Porsche 356 kits reissues.
>
> Tom
I had the same doubt, so I asked Fujimi.
It is Mattel who doesn't allow two manufacturers in Japan for Ferrari
plastic model kits.
Fujimi still have all the Ferrari tools, and they say if they can get
the license again, they will flood the market with their Ferrari kits,
and make lots of $$$.
When an agent is involved, they sometimes don't understand the market at
all and demands high royalty fee, which may not even get to the actual
car manufacturers.
Fujimi doesn't have a good lawyer to negotiate with Mattel. Any lawyers
who think you can help, you should contact Fujimi. They "want to" sell
their Ferrari kits.
BTW, 348 and 355 curbside are from Fujimi, and 328, 348 full kit are
from Hasegawa.
Tom Hiett
> I had the same doubt, so I asked Fujimi.
> It is Mattel who doesn't allow two manufacturers in Japan for Ferrari
> plastic model kits.
Some have been repopped by Testors in the past...
> Fujimi still have all the Ferrari tools, and they say if they can get
> the license again, they will flood the market with their Ferrari kits,
> and make lots of $$$.
Flooding the market with Fujimi Ferrari Enthusiast Series kits... The mere
thought makes my week brighter! ;-)
> Fujimi doesn't have a good lawyer to negotiate with Mattel. Any lawyers
> who think you can help, you should contact Fujimi. They "want to" sell
> their Ferrari kits.
Given the frequency of tool swapping, this doesn't sound insurmountable.
We're seeing a steady stream of Hasegawa plane releases repopped as
Revell. With their latest AR234 we even had a different version of a
Hasegawa kit slated from the start (the 4 engine version) to be a Revell
kit. The AMTech TA 183 was repopped as a Tamiya in the home market...
There is some maximizing of opportunities being done around the world.
Maybe Fujimi will get in on it.
Thanks again Hiro.
Tom
Charles Fox
manufacturer can copyright is the name and maybe model designation. He can't
protect the look, the shape, the colors. . . So because someone can't come
up with a way to give a kit an alternate name, we get cheated out of
building something that would only enhance the manufacturer's image.
Stoooooooooooooooooooopid!
"Tom Hiett" <thi...@iastate.edu> wrote in message
news:thiett-2211...@itc60158.itc.iastate.edu...
Charles Fox
close to Show Time. Lovely kit, though the body had a few failings (nothing
that styrene and sprue goo couldn't fix, luckily).
"Sir Loin of Beef" <NOSPAMm...@pacific.net.sg> wrote in message
news:3dda581b...@news.pacific.net.sg...
Two versions, dude! The Mille open car, and the Uhlenhaut coupe.
Tom Hiett
> Part of why we all get so wigged with this is that the only thing a car
> manufacturer can copyright is the name and maybe model designation.
Names and model designators are trademarked, not copyrighted. Body designs
fall under copyright. Functional aspects may be patented.
> He can't protect the look, the shape, the colors. . .
They can. They have. Not the colors though.
> So because someone can't come
> up with a way to give a kit an alternate name, we get cheated out of
> building something that would only enhance the manufacturer's image.
Unfortunatly, the law says its up to the copyright holder to decide if and
when they want their image enhanced. We'll just have to do what our friend
Dale does and scratchbuild what nobody will give us. Yeah, looks like I'll
be doing without too...
They should make them anyway, but refer to them generic names like
"sportsracer", part number "962" (wink, wink) in plain boxes. Most the
tobacco decal sheets I get have no reference as to their manufacturer or
origins. Makes it easy to deny andy knowledge. ;-)
Years ago when tobacco decals were coming under fire I suggested
camoflaging them:
Le Camelos
Rothmansinski
De Marlborolos
Do a bit of slicing and wa-la! My that's a coincidence that the colors and
typefaces match... I'm told someone actually sold Bud, weis, and ser
decals years ago.
Tom
snh9728
just happened to be in TWA color and font....;^)
Steve H