Model Factory Hiro Maserati 250F

[mikael]

Sept 10, 2018 11:54:30 GMT René said:

I found another online store that sells these books for a much sharper price, Hiroboy:

www.hiroboy.com/Books_Magazines_Photo_CDs--category--68.html

They also have great kits and modelling stuff on offer.

René, regarding the Japanese magazines, the cheapest way to buy them may be via Amazon Japan:

www.amazon.co.jp

Under the search-bar (on its right side) there is a small globe; set that to "English-EN", and the site will appear completely in English.

I think they have the best prices in Japan on many things - certainly on books and magazines. And the Japanese postage is very reasonable too, to say the least. (While the prices have soared in Scandinavia, the price level in Japan has increase by just some 20% during the last twenty years.)  And Amazon will happily send globally. (I have often used Amazon US and UK here from Jp.)

Edit/addendum: They have MFH parts too. Not full kits, it seems, but some are sold on their site by private sellers.

[Deleted]

I have many Joe Honda's photo books. They are great for modelling detailing. I have bought them for the technical details, especially of the "minor" cars, but not only.

I have also all the issues of F1 Modeling up to until nine years ago (about forty issues), ordered in bulk directly from Japan, full of details and retrospectives on the cars I liked most (the '70s, in particular, but not only).

There are kits in 1:12, which series started about five years ago with this one:

www.hiroboy.com/112_Team_Lotus_Type_79_verA_Full_Detail_MultiMedia_Model_Kit--product--6519.html

which cost the best part of 600 pounds, with mind-boggling detail. I mulled over for quite a while about getting the 79 kit above, but I realized I would never find the time to do it, beside not having the skill to do it justice, and at that price I couldn't find argument to buy it.

[mikael]

As to model cars, I have often marveled at the Exoto models - which are not kits, but completed models, for display only. It seems that they look like scaled-down real cars.

But they are expensive. The 1:10 scale 1967 Ford GT 40 Mk. IV shown here, in Gurney/Foyt colours, costs 4.500 USD.

www.exoto.com/s/1/ProductOverview.aspx?Language=en&CategoryId=208

[robmarsh]

Exoto cars are very good. The creme de la creme of 1/18 die casts are CMC models. They make quite a few cars from the 30s and 50s and are beautifully detailed and put together. They are expensive but you get what you pay for. Minichamps also do some lovely cars.

Personally I prefer to build the models. Lucio I have that Lotus 79 you mentioned. It is a fantastic kit and I look forward to building it one day. It may be cheaper to source the kits direct from MFH as you get a 10% discount if you use their Barchetta shop. HobbyLink Japan, run by Scott Hards, the chap who interviewed Hiro San is also a good source of MFH models and Joe Honda books. Their prices are normally discounted by 5% and the postage is pretty cheap.

[Deleted]

You have the skill to do that awesome kit, Rob. Not me. I found it difficult to justify that kind of expense knowing my limitations. Exoto are very nice indeed, I knew them.

[robmarsh]

Thank you Lucio

[René]

Sept 10, 2018 13:28:06 GMT mikael said:

Sept 10, 2018 11:54:30 GMT René said:

I found another online store that sells these books for a much sharper price, Hiroboy:

www.hiroboy.com/Books_Magazines_Photo_CDs--category--68.html

They also have great kits and modelling stuff on offer.

René, regarding the Japanese magazines, the cheapest way to buy them may be via Amazon Japan:

www.amazon.co.jp

Under the search-bar (on its right side) there is a small globe; set that to "English-EN", and the site will appear completely in English.

I think they have the best prices in Japan on many things - certainly on books and magazines. And the Japanese postage is very reasonable too, to say the least. (While the prices have soared in Scandinavia, the price level in Japan has increase by just some 20% during the last twenty years.)  And Amazon will happily send globally. (I have often used Amazon US and UK here from Jp.)

Edit/addendum: They have MFH parts too. Not full kits, it seems, but some are sold on their site by private sellers.

Thank you Mikael, I will keep this in mind. I already ordered a few books at Hiroboy but I think I will order directly from Japan the next time. Thanks again.

[René]

Sept 11, 2018 2:31:18 GMT mikael said:

As to model cars, I have often marveled at the Exoto models - which are not kits, but completed models, for display only. It seems that they look like scaled-down real cars.

But they are expensive. The 1:10 scale 1967 Ford GT 40 Mk. IV shown here, in Gurney/Foyt colours, costs 4.500 USD.

www.exoto.com/s/1/ProductOverview.aspx?Language=en&CategoryId=208

I have a few Exoto Ferrari F1 cars in my collection, scale 1:18. They are absolutely beautiful, wonderful models.

I have the 1970 312B, the 1975 312T, 1976 312T2, 1979 312T4 and the 1990 641 (a small fortune... ). For all models (except the 312B) you can take the bodywork off so you can see all the engine and chassis detail.

[René]

I've made a few detail shots of my Exoto models. The lighting is not perfect but it gives an impression. The 126C is not by Exoto but by Looksmart.

[Carl]

Sept 12, 2018 16:06:15 GMT René said:

I've made a few detail shots of my Exoto models. The lighting is not perfect but it gives an impression. The 126C is not by Exoto but by Looksmart.

Rene,

           Absolutely fantastic detail!  I always thought the massive GOOD-YEAR on sidewalls looked so cool! 

                                  Forza Ferrari, Carl

[chrisb]

my word Rene, that - even from someone who isn't a Ferrari fan that is incredible, Forza Rene - lost in respect my friend, that is - just awesome, what a wonderful collection, wow

[mikael]

Sept 12, 2018 16:06:15 GMT René said:

I've made a few detail shots of my Exoto models. The lighting is not perfect but it gives an impression. The 126C is not by Exoto but by Looksmart.

René, a most impressive collection! And amazing details by those beautiful models.

A very nice stopwatch too! In this relation, mechanical watches have experienced a renaissance during the last 10 or so years here in Japan - and perhaps everywhere(?) - with several 70's mechanical chronographs etc. being re-born. Electronic things can do "everything", as you'd expect them to, but in a "two-dimensional", "virtual" kind of way. It seems that many have acquired a "saturated" feeling towards yet more electronics and find "good old-fashioned" mechanical things much more desirable.

[René]

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

Mikael, you have an eye for detail! The Heuer stopwatch is nice indeed. I always had a weak spot for the brand, even if they moved to McLaren later (as TAG Heuer) and now Red Bull. I love the original Heuer logo on the Ferraris and drivers overalls from the sixties/seventies. Also their timing equipment used in the seventies was great. I even made a Heuer style digital timing system for my slot race track!



I fully agree about the appreciation for analogue and mechanical pieces. It is as you say more 3 dimensional and real. I love that too.

[robmarsh]

René you have a fantastic collection of things Ferrari, congratulations. always loved Heuer from when I first saw it on the 1970 Ferrari 312B. I loved the logo, the name everything and it was always my dream to own a watch. My wife brought me a Tag Heuer F1 watch for my 50th birthday and it is the only watch I have worn since. Love that stopwatch too, very special.

[Carl]

Sept 14, 2018 14:40:56 GMT mikael said:

Sept 12, 2018 16:06:15 GMT René said:

I've made a few detail shots of my Exoto models. The lighting is not perfect but it gives an impression. The 126C is not by Exoto but by Looksmart.

René, a most impressive collection! And amazing details by those beautiful models.

A very nice stopwatch too! In this relation, mechanical watches have experienced a renaissance during the last 10 or so years here in Japan - and perhaps everywhere(?) - with several 70's mechanical chronographs etc. being re-born. Electronic things can do "everything", as you'd expect them to, but in a "two-dimensional", "virtual" kind of way. It seems that many have acquired a "saturated" feeling towards yet more electronics and find "good old-fashioned" mechanical things much more desirable.

I had a mechanical stopwatch made by Heuer-owned Leonidas through the 1970s and 1980s.  Having one was very useful at races, allowing you to know more than others and to know it sooner.  A good stopwatch and good binoculars were essential.