[admin]

You'll find that most of us shop that way. In my area, there are a couple of hobby shops here that carry diecast, but it's usually a secondary product for them and the never have a good selection. If you have a true diecast store that carries more than one product line in your area, you are truely blessed. I order all of my diecast online.

Originally Posted by FormerViperDriver

Unfortunately some of us who live overseas don't have too many other options. Particularly in Germany in my case. There are NO diecast stores anywhere (at least within 4 hours of where I live, for sure). You have to go to France, the UK, or Netherlands to see stuff in person. But then you see the prices and say" "forget it."

Thankfully, I can order from the States at normal US postage rates (although they'll only do Priority Mail to the military addresses overseas). So I get good prices, but never get the opportunity to examine the model for flaws before buying, which would be nice indeed. But I've been pretty lucky so far (cross my fingers).

As to the HM Russian MiG-21, mine is on the way as a matter of fact, but I'm dissapointed to read about the "fiddly bits" problem. This is what has steered me away from Dragon (not entirely, but close). I like solid models as well. I guess I'll see when the model comes in.

FVD

[Celtic]

Originally Posted by admin

You'll find that most of us shop that way. In my area, there are a couple of hobby shops here that carry diecast, but it's usually a secondary product for them and the never have a good selection. If you have a true diecast store that carries more than one product line in your area, you are truely blessed. I order all of my diecast online.

Ditto. Dealers are far and few between. I always buy online.

And this brings us back to the other topic in this thread: maybe online dealers should let buyers know if this is a "parts model" or a "solid model". A parts model is heavy on landing gear parts (doors/braces/struts), opening/closing canopy, changeable weapons load, and figure pieces, most of which have to be assembled. A solid model is heavy (pun intended) on parts already glued on (including weapons and fuel tanks), canopy not detachable or swappable, and landing gear easily assembled up or down with fewer fiddly parts. The purpose of all this is to give the online buyers who want a solid model enough info so that they do NOT end up with one of these ersatz kits (with this model it was an expensive lesson at $37.00, with shipping and handling). Solid model buyers want a diecast for display with a minimum of assembly (usually limited to options in the landing gear area). On the other hand, it allows those who like kit-like, more realistic and detailed diecast (such as can be found in a plastic kit model) to find what they want.

HM has slipped into the parts model area now, joining Dragon. GA and Corgi are still in the solid model area, though Corgi's Predators, being HM moulds, are definitely parts models.

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by Celtic

Ditto. Dealers are far and few between. I always buy online.

And this brings us back to the other topic in this thread: maybe online dealers should let buyers know if this is a "parts model" or a "solid model". A parts model is heavy on landing gear parts (doors/braces/struts), opening/closing canopy, changeable weapons load, and figure pieces, most of which have to be assembled. A solid model is heavy (pun intended) on parts already glued on (including weapons and fuel tanks), canopy not detachable or swappable, and landing gear easily assembled up or down with fewer fiddly parts. The purpose of all this is to give the online buyers who want a solid model enough info so that they do NOT end up with one of these ersatz kits (with this model it was an expensive lesson at $37.00, with shipping and handling). Solid model buyers want a diecast for display with a minimum of assembly (usually limited to options in the landing gear area). On the other hand, it allows those who like kit-like, more realistic and detailed diecast (such as can be found in a plastic kit model) to find what they want.

HM has slipped into the parts model area now, joining Dragon. GA and Corgi are still in the solid model area, though Corgi's Predators, being HM moulds, are definitely parts models.

This is not exactly on-thread, but I like your distinction between the two types of model (although there is a continuum there, so where to exactly draw the line may be tough). My comment is: Century Wings, with their new F-14s, has IMHO figured out how to do the "parts" bit exactly as it should be. They have set the new standard in that area. I hope others take notice.

FVD

[hawkonevoodoo]

Originally Posted by Celtic

Ditto. Dealers are far and few between. I always buy online.

And this brings us back to the other topic in this thread: maybe online dealers should let buyers know if this is a "parts model" or a "solid model". A parts model is heavy on landing gear parts (doors/braces/struts), opening/closing canopy, changeable weapons load, and figure pieces, most of which have to be assembled. A solid model is heavy (pun intended) on parts already glued on (including weapons and fuel tanks), canopy not detachable or swappable, and landing gear easily assembled up or down with fewer fiddly parts. The purpose of all this is to give the online buyers who want a solid model enough info so that they do NOT end up with one of these ersatz kits (with this model it was an expensive lesson at $37.00, with shipping and handling). Solid model buyers want a diecast for display with a minimum of assembly (usually limited to options in the landing gear area). On the other hand, it allows those who like kit-like, more realistic and detailed diecast (such as can be found in a plastic kit model) to find what they want.

HM has slipped into the parts model area now, joining Dragon. GA and Corgi are still in the solid model area, though Corgi's Predators, being HM moulds, are definitely parts models.

I agree with you 100% about information being provided by the retailer. Maybe there should be some sort of rating like the plastic models, 1 - 5 with1 being as you put it "solid model and 5 being nothing but parts. Also I think it is up to the buyer to ask certain questions before ordering, How much is shipping, does this model have interchangeable parts, etc.


As for Hobby Master having fiddly parts, there are people here that want to display the plane on the stand without gear showing. Others want to display the plane standing on its gear. Some like to display there models clean and no weapons, others say the more weapons the better. There is only one way to accomplish this and that is to provide the extra parts and let you make the decision of what to or not to use. The models come in an All Up setting, wheels in wells and all you have to do is put the 3 piece stand together and put the model on it. There are some weapons to install if you want them, if you don't want them then that is your choice. I know Hobby Master is looking at ways to make the F-104 gear assembly a one piece insert and the reason for the Mig-21 struts being an add on is because they Hobby Master made them to scale and that means they are very thin. They were thinking that if they made them part of the mold they would be broken off somewhere along the way. They could have made them all one but then they would have had to be too thick and look out of scale.
My own personal opinion, we don't have to be rocket scientists to put these parts on and I would rather have to spend 2 - 5 minutes and have the parts to scale. As for the weapons, I'll spend another 2 minutes added the weapons that I want, rather than the "take what you get and like it' approach. Also I'd rather spend the 2 minutes adding the weapons load I want then spending who knows how long getting rid of permanently fastened weapons. And then spending who knows how long fixing the damage I did to the model trying to get these weapons off. Finally, after you have spent maybe 10 minutes to add everything, how often do you intend to change things around? Again Personally, I think this parts thing is blown way out of propotion and I'd feel this way regardless of what company made models like this. But you are intitled to your opinion and to be able to express it.

[Spinnaker]

Originally Posted by hawkonevoodoo

Personally, I think this parts thing is blown way out of proportion and I'd feel this way regardless of what company made models like this.

Hi Hawk, I agree with most of your post. However, getting the undercarriage on the Mig 21 nearly drove me to the bottle! I had to use super glue to make it stay together. But this doesn't change my opinion of HM - still think they are great models!

[Celtic]

Hawk, I understand the business decisions the diecast companies must make, and HM has been very successful by making good ones. They also make superb models. (Doesn't mean they won't lay an occasional egg. That happens to us all sooner or later.) My problem with fiddley parts isn't about marketing techniques or increasing the popularity of any given model, it is just a preference, and if possible I'll choose the less fiddley model over the fiddley. That's why I dropped Dragon and stayed with Corgi ---- they offer much the same lines, and Corgi has offered the more "solid" models. (And that doesn't mean I'm dropping HM -- its just an example). "Solid model" fans can be appeased by such models as the HM Hellcat. That model offers a lot of parts, but the parts fit so well, and are molded in such high quality, that the fact that the parts are fiddley is hardly noticeable. The issue isn't about which type of model (Solid or Parts) is best, but our personal preference. As more and more companies go toward Parts, the Solid model collectors will have fewer and fewer options. But then, in the past, the Parts people had fewer options. I think all the major companies (Corgi included) will eventually find a happy medium. HM has already shown the way with its Hellcat mould.

[roh_kudus]

I had had my experience with those damn fiddley bits. It was my Dragon's F-14B. Never had such dissapointment before with Dragon props though i used glue here and there.

I'm eyeing for the rock solid Witty Wings jets. It's not an airplane unless it's rock solid otherwise it's just a fuselage with canopy and wings and plenty other spare parts