FM and DM catalog

Welcome to the forum and the list of those requesting this wonderful resource.  I have ticket 🎫 #1 and your are (by my count) 🎫 #6.  Since the previous Diecast.org domain was sold and taken offline Dec 1, 2020 all similar inquiries have received the reply to be patient, getting this forum was the first priority and it would be coming. 
I would prefer to see any more substantial reply from the new owners.

1. Who is the new owners

2. Mission of new organization 

3. Plans and timelines for new web to be restored 

4. other changes such as subscription, funding sponsors , paid advertising 

if any/ all agree PLEASE reply.to this post

Thanks

Posted by: @ilyazoom

Hi everyone,

Before the diecast.org site went into renovation it had such a nice feature as catalog of diecast models (pictures, review, date of issue, code, etc.) . Is there a hope to see it back again? Or perhpas it can be accessible in some other way?

 

Many thanks in advance.  

I

Welcome aboard. Yes, the archived Car Lists & Reviews will be added to the new site as soon as possible. The site developers have been busy working on it and have met with delays as most of the country has in the last year or so. The next priority may be the restoration of the auction, soon followed by the Car Lists.

Glad to have you here! 😎 

@greatmachines

Thanks Brad, I am glad that i am not the only one missing the list. I am somewhat new to DM/FM and those tables were a great resource. Hope they will put them back soon. 

I was not aware the domain was sold, such a shame. 

@perrone1

Thanks for the good news. Look forward to seeing back the reviews.

Posted by: @ilyazoom

@perrone1

 

Thanks for the good news. Look forward to seeing back the reviews.

You are most welcome ...and...Me Too!!

@greatmachines Ok, my two cents, I've been on this site for several years already so here is my perception. As far as I know there hasn't been change in ownership. Very briefly, the site was created by D4C members in the late 90's from collectors to help collectors, the database was build from volunteers, it was wasn't created for profit, the forums are moderated by volunteers, the old site was too expensive to manage and the software was outdated, hence the change to the new site. The D4C used to have membership fee of $25 per year (when was the last time you paid your membership, I haven't paid mine since the last LECC model was issued few years ago). The site is owned by MintModels but probably not generating much revenue for them. Probably they don't want to invest invest much money and time in this, nothing here is critical after all. It will get done when it is done.

Thanks you for this information.  This is all I desired to know and I think a lot  of newer members will greatly appreciate your response.  It is going on 7 years since both Franklin and Danbury ceased offering these cars.  New members are critical to keeping this great hobby going.  The health of this hobby is of great value to the “newbies” (I am in my 60’s 😝) and seasoned veterans like you.  All  members (or their survivors)  realize their value in their investment when they need to reduce or liquidate their collection so knowledge should be transparent and easy for all to obtain.

@chav

I too have not paid the club fee since the demise of the D4C club car. Felt the odd pang of guilt at times but while I was happy to support my main reason was to access the D4C car. I suggest reviving it could revitalise the site with fees paid and general increased participation.  Lu’s great Unique models post shows the level of interest there is in “exclusive” type releases. Could a company like M2 be approached? While not quite at mint standard I’m pretty sure we are all accepting of their models. I would suggest though its important to produce a model the mints have not done, and while I love Corvettes and Mustangs and have heaps of them, another just wouldn’t serve the purpose.

@greatmachines, as long as the database is saved I believe it will come back one way or another. I am actually concerned that the old forum posts may no be coming back, I hope I am wrong. They archives was an enormous knowledge base; difficult to navigate but very useful. I also wish there was more transparency in how the development of this site is going, but there is not and I don't think JK and TP have big influence on that development. Will tag Michelle (@peters1) here, may be she can enlighten this issue. Back in the days of transition of ownership from LegacyDiecast to MintModels we were asked for donations, i don't remember if we were told what the money were spent on, I assume they were spent in maintaining this site. However if it a matter of money, I am open to another fundraiser if that can help speeding the transition of all features.

@geoff-jowett The D4C club car was a great feature and without it I don't think the club can exist. The old team facilitating the LECC editions included: Jay Olins, LegacyDiecast/Mintmodels, Tony Perrone, Raffi Minasian and perhaps more people. My perception is that team has dissolved with Jay's passing and the frictions between MintModels and Automodello (Raffi designs the cars for Automodello). I was hoping that there may be a productive cooperation between MintModels and Esval but that has not come to fruition either. 

Yes I agree.  I did not monitor the previous forum like I do now but it would be great to have all of that knowledge back.  I believe I have posted this one already but attached is what the catalog lookup table looked like.  The model field was hyperlinked to jump right to the review like the one posted above by Tony P of the DM Pro Touring Corvette.  It was wonderful.

RE: Mint Models as owner I just searched their site  for Danbury and got NO hits.  On my Franklin and got approx  12 Hits for used cars for sale with two Limited Edition Corvettes at $599+ each

After reading all of the above, I have to say that I am not concerned with progress on the Diecast Zone. First priority for me is generation of interest and getting an active membership doing posts. The rest will come, maybe slower because of Covid and time/cost issues but it will happen.

I think that we should all be more patient.

@greatmachines We all know how the database looked like.

MintModels are selling some old inventory of FM, they are entitled to decide what price they want to ask. Did you see also the last club car, discounted 50% Jay Leno's Duesenberg Aerodynamic Walker Coupe in 1:24 Scale by Die Cast Car Collector Club (mintmodels.com) I think it was limited edition of 250, cannot sell for years, original price was $275 or so. 1/24 has become a niche collecting, although the Walker coupe was strange choice to start with.

@chav

Just to clarify my last post: i posted it for new members since December 1 2020 or those that didn’t access it.  
Also I was not being critical of MM price as those FM Vettes as they are rare cars (so more power to them).