[AllenTC2]

Hey, can anyone point me to some good sources INSIDE THE U.S. for Biante V8 Supercar models and/or AUTOart World Rally Car models?

Failing that, anyone in the U.K. or Australia wanna help me out? LOL

Oh, and does anyone have any experience with the 1:43 scale AUTOart WRC models? How do they compare with their bigger brothers?

[bsmith13]

Try ewacars.com. I've only ever been able to get Biantes from eBay, but Ewa has all sorts of AutoART stuff.

[AllenTC2]

WO!! Already found a couple at a great price!! Thanks!

[bsmith13]

Glad to be of help. I've happily given them my business for about five years now.

[Berkut76]

Originally Posted by AllenTC2

Hey, can anyone point me to some good sources INSIDE THE U.S. for BIANTE V8 Supercar models and/or AUTOart World Rally Car models?

Failing that, anyone in the U.K. or Australia wanna help me out? LOL

Oh, and does anyone have any experience with the 1:43 scale AUTOart WRC models? How do they compare with their bigger brothers?

AllenTC2, ignore BIANTE V8Supercar models because they are too expensive in North America and BIANTE won't produce them effective next year.

The only source for BIANTE models outside Australia is a Canadian outfit, http://www.scale18.com/cgi-bin/page/diecast.html Scale18 has some on sale right now: http://www.scale18.com/cgi-bin/page/...ercars+&c2=%2A

However, Classic Carlectables manufacture far superior models in terms of level of detail. Check my pics here: http://p080.ezboard.com/fautobarnmot...t=561&stop=580 Scale18 and Linpin.ca carry those in North America.

Anyway, I'm a huge fan of V8Supercars and WRC cars. So if you have any questions feel free to drop by my small forum: http://p080.ezboard.com/fautobarnmotorsportsfrm3

EWA is the most expensive dealer that I know off. When they have 20% off sales is when their prices begin to match those of other vendors. I usually buy my models in bulk during various sales so i can save some money, http://www.replicarz.com/ has a good one going right now.

Regards,

Sergey

[AllenTC2]

Thanks Sergey, I recall your advice from the old Model Hanger, but not the links!

FWIW, ewa has the Citroen Xsara on sale for like $42 shipped. IIRC, that was a decent price for the "shell" body style.

I am waiting to get a 2002 Focus (Sainz/Martin, Catalunya Rally) I won on eBay for like $41. I've also currently winning an auction for a 2003 Peugeot 206, but it's going to be pricey. Some Canadian outfit charging something like 15GBP for shipping. It should be around $60 if I win.

I was hoping to get one major manufacturers car with a major driver/co-driver pair, hopefully around the same time period, but I don't see that happening now. If I want McCrae/Grist, I need to get another Focus, Burns/Reid is just too pricey right now.....so I'm taking it slow.

As far as the V8 Supercars go, I am just nuts over the Holden Racing Team's livery. IIRC, Biante has exclusive rights to them, is that correct? As much as I'd like to get one for all the different teams, I think that is cost prohibitive.

HOLY COW!!! I just checked out Linpin's listings on eBay...the engine covers come off? The detail in there is INCREDIBLE!!!

[Berkut76]

Originally Posted by AllenTC2

Thanks Sergey, I recall your advice from the old Model Hanger, but not the links!

Some Canadian outfit charging something like 15GBP for shipping. It should be around $60 if I win.

All the 206 Pugs, inclduing Gronholm ones ended up on clearnce in the US despite being sold out everywhere else. Check this outfit, they have all of them for $35US plus reasonable shipping: http://www.wildcollections.com/product/AR80257

As far as the V8 Supercars go, I am just nuts over the Holden Racing Team's livery. IIRC, Biante has exclusive rights to them, is that correct?

This year is the last one as BIANTE pulled the pug on V8Supercars production. At $140US per model, I find them a poor value to say nothing of questionable accuracy compared to CC models, which have all the bells and whistles easily rivaling GMP 1:18 models. Personallly, if you want to buy HRT or HSV models, I'll wait for Scale18 sales to score some for a good price.

Regards,

Sergey

[AllenTC2]

For once I hope I lose an auction then!!! LOL Thanks!

Will CC have the HRT team colors in the future? If so, I can wait. I saw a couple of other schemes I like a lot with CC. And those engine bays.....WOW!!!

[Berkut76]

For once I hope I lose an auction then!!! LOL Thanks

Just cancel your bid, no biggie. For rally models, AutoArt has switched to sealed bodies. So, if you want full openings, you'll have to get either SunStar or Solido models (Solido has no distribution in North America). 1:43 AA WRC models are quite good, perhaps the best in that scale out there with an exception of HPI ones. Unfortunately, when compared to IXO selection is paltry.

It should be noted that secondary values for rally models in 1:43 scale are very low, you'll be struggling to get $10USD for them when selling on eBay(trust me I know).

Will CC have the HRT team colors in the future? If so, I can wait.

I'll definitely say, yes. Next year V8Supercars Holden teams are switching to a new body, i.e. VE, so a new mold must be in order. BIANTE exit form this niche gives CC incentive to develop new tooling since prior to BIANTE announcement CC didn't have popular Holden Teams under contract.

Regards,

Sergey