[Gort]

Guess I’d better take the lead and start this thread. Several members have proffered terrific guidelines on what constitutes “extinct” or hard-to-find models; I say they’ll all excellent, and as this thread evolves we’ll likely incorporate most or all of them. For my part I’ll leave those parameters to better minds.

In the mean time, I’ll adopt this guiding principle: Models for consideration should be out-of-production (retired) and EXTINCT (like dinosaurs, thus the title “Jurassic”), rendering them extremely difficult (but not necessarily impossible) to find.

OK ... here it goes ...

For your consideration and review:

The Forces of Valor U.K. Challenger 2 - Basra, 2003; SKN: 80019; Scale: 1/32; released 2005; MSRP: $39.95; availability status: IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND

I've looked everywhere, but this model has simply vanished: I can't find it on eBay; can't find it on any vendor sites; can't find it in stores. The last time it appeared on eBay (about a year ago), it sold for nearly $300. I've got one, and I'm holding on to it for dear life!

[lanslide]

Gort!...did you take your Challenger model out of the box?!

[Gort]

Originally Posted by lanslide

Gort!...did you take your Challenger model out of the box?!

Sorry, lan. I grabbed those photos somewhere else. Or, as a good redneck friend of mine would say: "Nooooop! Them is somebody else's pitchers!"

[MoMo]

My first pair of rarer models are the, now legendary, first Dragon issues of the Tiger.

A few years ago I had never heard of Dragon prebuilds. As a modeller, I was familiar with Dragon's range of 1.35 AFVs, etc. but I was unaware that they had introduced a range of 1.72 models and that they had started to market them as fully built and finished models.

One saturday afternoon, as was my habit, I wandered into Jaimison's Models at Glasgow Cross. Looking at the shelves I spied four small, highly coloured boxes containing tanks....Tigers! I had a close look and gulped, " Buggers.....how the hell have they managed to paint these better than I can ! " I had to have one....but which one? They're both good, no, excellent ! I'll have both models. Wait, there are only two of each left.

" Are these four all you got ? " I asked one of the guys.

" No, we got six of each and put them out this morning. We've sold four of each in the last hour. They seem to be popular. They're bringing out King Tigers and some more stuff, but I'm sure that we'll order some more of the Tigers and anything else that's in the pipeline! "

" Hmmm! These are £8.99 each. I'll buy the four and put one of each out on display and keep two of each in their boxes.....you never know, they may become highly collectable, you know, like Dinky Toys."

" Yeah, you never know, " the shop guy replied, sagely.

" Not with my luck," I added.

The rest is history......

I love them, both !

[Gort]

Originally Posted by MoMo

" Hmmm! These are £8.99 each. I'll buy the four and put one of each out on display and keep two of each in their boxes.....you never know, they may become highly collectable, you know, like Dinky Toys."

" Yeah, you never know, " the shop guy replied, sagely.

Oh, yeah! I count myself lucky (and awfully smart) to have found and purchased the last surviving Dragon Armor 60001 Tiger I on planet earth three years ago. It's still brand new and pristine in its box (of course!).

[Epapazian]

One of my candidates for the "lost classics" category is a Marushin Betty ( 1:48th scale ). Which raises a question----or several questions. First, does the party making the nomination have to currently own---or, at one time had--- the model in question? As I don't have a Marushin Betty, this leaves me out on this one. Second, does the party making the nomination have to supply a full range of background info---when issued, size of run, initial retail price, etc.? Getting most of the relevant data may be a major problem for many candidates.

[Gort]

Originally Posted by Epapazian

One of my candidates for the "lost classics" category is a Marushin Betty ( 1:48th scale ). Which raises a question----or several questions. First, does the party making the nomination have to currently own---or, at one time had--- the model in question? As I don't have a Marushin Betty, this leaves me out on this one. Second, does the party making the nomination have to supply a full range of background info---when issued, size of run, initial retail price, etc.? Getting most of the relevant data may be a major problem for many candidates.

I’d like to see members actually own the model they’re nominating; but that and having to supply background info are, as far as I’m concerned, optional. If anybody feels differently, say so (puh–leeze).

Boy, Epapazian, from rave reviews I’ve read over the last couple of years on MHI & MHII, Marushin models must be extremely cool. I never did get into them, much to my chagrin.

Is this bird absolutely impossible to find?

[PappyB]

I'd have to nominate the Minichamps R01 Panther -- the first 1:35 tank that rolled off Minichamps assembly line... in 2000? 2001?

I bought one for $70 at that time, and enjoyed it for quite some time -- but when prices hit $300+ for them, I sold it off to fund a new camera purchase. Can't say I "regret" it as I've really enjoyed the camera, but I do miss it a bit... sniff. (thinking of buying a dragon 1:35 panther to try to fill the void).

I can recall be truly impressed with the R01 when I got it, and rolling it across the carpet and watching the treads and suspension in action -- marvelling at how "cool" it was to the wife ("Here... feel the weight of it") while she just looked at me like I was truly nuts.

[MoMo]

This is my second posting. I'm not sure how rare this one is, but it dates from the year 2000. It was limited to 4,100 copies, worldwide.

RX6835/XT-W - Flg Off Brian Carbury, No. 603 SQn.

I have it on display, so the box is in a cupboard somewhere. I think that it came with a facsimile log book.

Now, does rarity bring a premium? I wonder what it's worth now?

[Epapazian]

Marushin made two versions of the Betty. Here's one of them---a very rare bird.