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Volume 2 Issue #1 I'm sorry not to have gotten the WHWN out, (weekly), as I would have liked to, but the Christmas, and AFTER Christmas retailing, has left us as busy as beavers here! The WHWN will be coming out sporadically for the next few months or so, as we are trying to catch up! Hopefully, after that I can get back to a weekly routine! I find that there has started to be a LARGE price gap between collectors on the Net, and collectors that don't have access to the many auctions and price lists available! Some models actually command double the price they sell for on the auctions! I've questioned some of these sales, especially to people that have Net access, and to the customer they've quoted that they knew they could buy it cheaper, BUT, the quality of the models received is a real CRAP SHOOT! They would rather trust a SELLER that KNOWS his product so they don't have to worry about the hassle of returning it, or worse yet, having to collect INSURANCE from any of the major carriers! As I've been an avid buyer on Net auctions, I've noticed recently that there has been a rash of, shall we call it MISDESCRIBED models for sale out there! Seems missing pieces are prevalent, and some models coming in, are just TOO distressed to have been done by any of the mail carriers! Especially since the outside boxes are not SEVERELY beat up! This is just a WARNING to know who your seller is on the auctions, and to get a FIRM commitment from them on what their return and/or INSURANCE policy is, before you buy! There's been a lot of talk about the price drops on many FM/DM models on the major Net auctions lately! As mentioned above, I'm BUYING, BUT I'm being VERY selective as to what I now spend my money on! Most of the common cars have done little in way of price fluctuations, BUT many of the pricier scarce models have taken a good hit as far as what they are currently bringing! I used to bid on almost everything out there that I felt was a decent buy, but have recently bought so many nice models from collections being sold to us, that I'm sitting back and seeing in what direction the entire field will go! This is a new phenomenon, as the last 4 years have seen marked INCREASES in prices as we got closer to Christmas! Seems that MANY of the INVESTORS in this field, are WORRIED, and have decided to BAIL OUT of positions that they held! Not only investors are selling, BUT many of F.M.'s Independent dealer partners, are using UNIDENTIFIABLE names on e-Bay to sell NEW models at strongly discounted prices! F.M., I KNOW, has been looking into this situation, but some of these models are actually sold OUT OF STATE from where the Independent dealer is, just to make it that more difficult for F.M. to track down! Many COLLECTORS have duplicates that they had acquired for cheap prices, (private sales, public auctions, etc.). They have been trying to make some money by offering these now! There seems to be a GLUT of models being offered, and FEW people are willing to spend the cash right now! (This appears to be a trend, not only with model cars, but the collectibles field in general.) Hopefully this trend will turn around within the next month as we approach Valentines Day. We also have another problem as the U.S. economy seems to be headed into another recession, along with both oil and electric companies HOLDING US UP for up to 100+% increases in heating and electric power costs, as compared to this time last year! It really is a shame that our government isn't run like a major corporation, which would show consideration for, US, its stockholders! Back to models! Following in this train of thought, D4C member Phil Tocco brought up the following on the D4C Forum, "Creative Masters Devaluation- Well if the jury was out on whether the Creative Masters yellow Camaro would hold its value on the secondary market, the vote is in. Unless I'm mistaken, Roy was the high bidder recently on ebay for one that ended its auction for less than $800.00." Phil's correct! The C.M. models have taken a BIG hit recently with what I feel is an OVER CORRECTION in their price structure! The 1969 Yellow Camaro, (I have not seen prices this low in over 4 years!), and the GT-40 #9 car are the most notable, (FYI, I SOLD that Camaro within one week for double the buying price!). I will continue to buy these truly RARE models as long as I feel the prices are OUT OF WHACK to their rarity! This is surely a BUYERS market again, and I'm buying!!! I have sold the Yellow Camaro for over $5000.00 per model, and the GT-40 over $700.00! I do think the SHINE has come off this collection as REVELL has, (as F.M. HAD done with their INDEPENDENT retail partner trade), CHEAPENED their entire line by thinking about making a quick dollar off new issues, NOT caring who they sell them to, or POLICING how their models are sold! Now before everyone jumps on me because I'm complaining about getting your models cheap, take a look at this hobby in the long run! We not only collect because we LIKE what we collect, but also ENJOY the thought that this material will actually RISE in value in the future! By having the MAKERS sell off their products to WEAK HANDED retailers. (People that HAVE to sell these models off quickly in order to make back the money invested so they can buy the NEXT offering.) They believe a LITTLE, QUICK profit is better than keeping the market PROPPED up and SUPPORTED. To them, this seem to be NECESSARY to keep them in business! I see that F.M. has finally started to do something about their "Independent" dealers. These dealers are giving BIG discounts on NEW mint products! The F.M. Police have started to pull some contracts because of it! Watch for further developments here, as F.M. has STARTED to realize that this program is PRIME for abuse by the secondary market! 
Of some note to those C.M. collectors out there! Seems D4C
member, Tom Rutherford, just received a YELLOW C.M. Camaro without
the BLACK body striping! This is the third one I know of! It's
interesting because he received it from a fellow who, about 6 months
ago sold another identical piece on e-Bay! Seems this DEALER has
HOARDS of certain C.M. models, and some of the very rare and
prototype pieces! In comparing Tom's piece to the one I have,
(received from another Revell source), there is a glaring
difference! My piece is identical to the production piece BUT does
not have the stripes! Apparently, this was taken off the production
line just before final painting! Tom's piece, as well as the one
other I know of, is a PROTOTYPE which included such features as a
yellow licensee plate with black lettering, (Production had a black
plate with yellow lettering), ALL chrome wheels instead of silvered
and chrome wheels, NO stamping on the chassis, and it has BLACK rear
axle, springs and gas tank where the production car had those pieces
painted silver! Quite interesting that there are now TWO distinct
varieties of this rare subtype!
Getting back to the "HAND-BUILT MINT" models that are currently
the RAGE amongst a small group of core FM/DM/CM collectors; we have
a REMANUFACTURED 1992 Petty NASCAR Pontiac that a modeler has turned
into a #27 RUSTY WALLACE "KODIAK" race car! This modeler went so far
as to even paint the interior netting a different color,
and paint
the buckle silver! All in all, it's just about as nice as what we
get from the Mint, and certainly adds another distinctive touch to
our collection! I've included some photo's of this piece for your
pleasure, and would like to hear from my readers if you'd like me to
continue bringing you these intriguing pieces. The decaling was
taken from a 1/25 scale plastic model, and adapted to our
standardized 1/24 scale with much care and fitting!
Quite a few
coats of clear coat were used over them to give it that MINT feel!
Another really nice "HAND-BUILT MINT" model was just done by Lenny
Spalone! Len had taken a 1998 Corvette convertible and made it into
a 2000 model by painting it Millennium Yellow! I was lucky enough to
have him stop by on his way home to Boston the other week, and took
some photo's of this striking model!
For those that don't know, Len
has a body shop, and this model was treated just like the REAL car
would have been by going through the spray booth, and having the
paint BAKED on a la a FULL size car! Must have been a sight to see
this 1/24 scale model taking up the space of a full size car while
being treated! The paint is enamel, and hard as a rock to prevent
scratching! It certainly does stand out in his Corvette collection,
and I believe I talked him into doing a yellow Z06 in the near
future! Kudo's to you Len for a job at least as good as any mint's
work! There will be MORE of these coming from MANY different QUALITY
modelers, and each one is certainly going to be worth your interest,
if NOT your dollars!
I see a FAVORITE TOPIC of discussion on the D4C Forum is the current ACTIVITY in the D4C "Miami Sand" Packard! EVERYONE has an opinion, and this is mine! I've now had this model IN HAND for several weeks, and the more I look at it, the more I like it! The color is UNIQUE, and tends to draw your attention to it when on display! The NEW hood ornament does seem to be just a bit big for the model, BUT it was made in STERLING SILVER, and quite a COUP to have on a club car! PRICING----- as with the rest of the models market, it's SOFT! I see where some are offered for COST, and don't sell, and just saw one sell UNDER COST at $150.00! Folks, if you have more then one to keep for yourself, I suggest just PUTTING them away for awhile! Like everything else, when a market is OVERSUPPLIED, the prices DROP like a rock! For now, there is no more INSTANT 100+% profit in ANY of these models, and your just going to have to get used to it! Use your brains when buying or selling! Some RUMORS from the F.M. side of things has it that their DIECAST RALLYE will be held TWICE in 2001, once in March and the second date to be announced! Also another L.E. Corvette will be offered! This is to be a 1963 Corvette, this time a 3000 issue, and with a FIBERGLASS body in Daytona Blue, priced at $135.00! FYI, the Gallery stores have only 2000 of these available, and the remainder are to be distributed to the Independent dealers again! IF you have contacts there, I suggest a quick call! Another SUGGESTION to F.M. would be to have the GALLERY stores cars an EXCLUSIVE to them, and IF they are going to keep the IRP program, GIVE those Independents their OWN car, as promised 3 years ago! As interesting developments from F.M. are always popping up, I've INCLUDED a copy of an internal newsletter stating that the "Muscle Car Series" is still up in the air. It seems they are not sure it's going to be produced! IF YOU WANT THIS SET PRODUCED, call mail order, OR your Gallery store NOW, and put in an order! REMEMBER, this is NON BINDING, but could make the difference of seeing this great set of cars produced! 
Also NEW from F.M. is the Laurel Green with white roof, 1961 Ford Country Squire Wagon currently priced at an, "I DON'T KNOW WHY", $135.00, (should be $120, and IF NOT an L.E., will probably be so marketed later on). The 2001 Christmas Harley is supposed to be a Green and Red Harley Springer, with a paint job, I'm told, that looks like a Christmas Ornament! The 2001 Christmas truck will be the 1946 Chevy Suburban, "Franklin Hardware Store Panel Truck", L.E. of 9500, with model Santa and reindeer! SUPPOSEDLY it will be decorated with "WORKING LIGHTS!!!". A 1958 Harley Duo-Glide with sidecar in black & white should be out by summer, and an ULTRA Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail in Black, probably in 1/6th scale with WORKING LIGHTS, and a motor that makes a REVVING sound for $495.00 is planned! (THAT should be some piece!). Most folks know about the 1998 Corvette INDY Pace car in an L.E. of 9800 due out! I'm interested to see if the FIT and FINISH are anywhere as good as the HAND-BUILT MINT model done by Phil Tocco! If CLOSE, it will be a BIG winner!! The American Graffiti Deuce Coupe in YELLOW with no hood, and exposed engine at $105.00 is also scheduled to make its debut this year, (If so, can F.M. make it's '55 Chevy into the COMPANION piece? They'd be NUTS if they didn't do it! HEY F.M., how about some FIGURES from the movie for these models??? If scheduled to sell at $105.00, knock it up to $120.00, and give me some DRIVERS! Wouldn't these 2 make a GREAT desert type drag race diorama!). LOOK for MORE INDY Pace Cars if the '98 Corvette sells well, (it's a Corvette, it's an INDY Pace Car, and it's BEAUTIFUL, think it will sell out?), and I keep hearing RUMORS of MARK II's in the works! Let's keep our fingers crossed on that one, and MORE fiberglass bodied Corvettes! It will be an INTERESTING year for F.M.! I hope you all found some new information (I know SOME of it is a little OLD, but I had been writing things down, here, and there) and I'll try like hell to keep the WHWN back up and running! I've had more then a few inquiries about this becoming a subscription service with EXPANDED coverage, what do YOU think? Let me know and hopefully I'll have more to write SOON! Regards, Roy Return To www.franklindanbury.com The "WHAT'S HOT, WHAT'S NOT!" Archive |
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