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For
the most part, especially among car modelers, there has always
been a Clash of the Titans when it comes to a plastic model
kit and a die cast car. Each side of the battle will hold it's
ground and argue their side in this conflict.
Typically
a modeler is seen as a craftsman, assembling a kit of many parts
to make a whole. Using various skills, from painting, molding,
to fabricating one off parts. Skills that require patience,
experience, and many hours of time.
A
person who has die cast is considered more of a "collector"
than a modeler. The diecast manufacturers and hobbyists have
fought back from their side of the hill by, first of all, calling
a diecast vehicle a "model". True, in a representative
way, it is a scale "model". But it adds confusion
in the market place for scale examples of your favorite vehicle.
Some
think that diecast replicas are hurting the modeling hobbyist.
To an extent, I think this is true. Let's face it, the market
for someone who wants to buy a scale example, already put together
without their own labor, is very high. Much more than a person
who will have to assemble, paint and glue a project together.
Diecast
cars can range from $ 8.00 to $ 1500.00 +. So it's not like
a diecast will be less expensive than a model kit. Some diecast,
the more expensive ones, are more detailed than most model kits.
But
the general population wants the instant gratification of buying
a diecast and displaying it. That seems to be human nature.
A
modeler would not be happy with a diecast because he/she had
no say in it's construction, no choice in the color or options.
They may even feel it is more of a "toy" than a scale
replica.
It
seems lately that if a replica is to be manufacturers, a company
will invest the dollars in making a diecast example rather than
a model kit. For the most part, in the past 10 years, I would
say the diecast vehicles are taking over. They might release
20 diecast examples to every one plastic molded model kit.
This
doesn't just effect the scale vehicle market. Even figure models
are under siege. Plastic model figure kits were somewhat popular
in the 1960's and 1970's, with Aurora
and others, and in my opinion, the 1990's was probably the height
of figure models.
Garage
figure manufacturers and casters sprang up to capture that model
segment, with companies like Horizon,
Geometric, and others. But now, figure toys have taken over.
You can buy a 12 inch figure for a fraction of the cost of a
high quality casting resin or vinyl kit.
From
an even stranger perspective, when was the last time you saw
a balsa RC plane kit? Even those are now prefabricated with
plastic, Styrofoam, and other space age materials. Few people
today are going to take the time and enjoy putting together
a balsa aircraft.
However,
hobbyists are changing their perspectives on die cast cars or
assembled figure models. In that last few years, progressive
hobbyists are seeing the value of these products and are turning
the tables.
It's
not uncommon for a modeler to buy a low cost die cast for the
wheels. Or purchase one just
to take apart and redo their own way. Stripping paint, opening
up hoods, putting drive trains in them.
Companies,
such as Revell and Polar
Lights (through their Johnny Lightning division) are releasing
diecasts you can assemble, some are even about 75% plastic in
content. In a sense, this can appease and mend the gap between
modelers and diecast collectors. Especially when the same model
company makes model kits and diecast replicas side by side.
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