Every so often I have to ask this question again, so that I don't run and bash my head in to a wall. I visit the Mint Models showroom on a regular basis and there are literally dozens of NEW 1:18 scale models from a wide variety of company's.
It makes me angry! Why? Because we've been told for the last decade now that our beloved 1:24 scale model's CAN'T be produced. No matter how many times so-called rationale is shared as to why this is, I can't and won't ever be able to understand why! And before anyone gives me the old story again about the 1:18's being "old" but "re-tooled" issues, check out the Mint Models site and you'll see that is NOT the case at all. There are new producers and new cars!
I just continue to ask why 1:24 isn't still with us. Okay I'm done. I'm going to go take an Excedrin and lie down.
Every so often I have to ask this question again, so that I don't run and bash my head in to a wall. I visit the Mint Models showroom on a regular basis and there are literally dozens of NEW 1:18 scale models from a wide variety of company's.
It makes me angry! Why? Because we've been told for the last decade now that our beloved 1:24 scale model's CAN'T be produced. No matter how many times so-called rationale is shared as to why this is, I can't and won't ever be able to understand why! And before anyone gives me the old story again about the 1:18's being "old" but "re-tooled" issues, check out the Mint Models site and you'll see that is NOT the case at all. There are new producers and new cars!
I just continue to ask why 1:24 isn't still with us. Okay I'm done. I'm going to go take an Excedrin and lie down.
Every so often I have to ask this question again, so that I don't run and bash my head in to a wall. I visit the Mint Models showroom on a regular basis and there are literally dozens of NEW 1:18 scale models from a wide variety of company's.
It makes me angry! Why? Because we've been told for the last decade now that our beloved 1:24 scale model's CAN'T be produced. No matter how many times so-called rationale is shared as to why this is, I can't and won't ever be able to understand why! And before anyone gives me the old story again about the 1:18's being "old" but "re-tooled" issues, check out the Mint Models site and you'll see that is NOT the case at all. There are new producers and new cars!
I just continue to ask why 1:24 isn't still with us. Okay I'm done. I'm going to go take an Excedrin and lie down.
And don't hesitate to breathe deeply George.
I understand and am amazed too. Do you think that it might have to be more costly to produce with all the features we're used to having in 1/24 than in 1/18 ? Or are all the factories in China gone...? Kaput ? Nada ? Goose eggs ? Never to be seen again ?
I'll never forget the first time I got my Franklin mint Mercedes-Benz 300sl back in the oh my god when the late '80s mid 80s and I thought this was absolutely fantastic. Yeah I cry I'm sad but I don't keep harping on my violin about it.
But I understand what you're saying and believe me I'm right there with you.
Well as I said, you mention the same excuses always given as to why 1:24 scale isn't possible anymore. And that's exactly what they are...excuses. And so, I/we continue want something that we're not getting, when it is possible to have, but they won't give it to us. A vicious cycle. The 1:18 scale people are happy and the 1:43 folks too.
Hi George, I'll answer as I have in the past, that firstly yes I agree with you 100%. Its agony not having new quality 1/24 releases. Especially when seeing such quality produced in other scales.
However mint quality 1/24 models are being made. Just not the cars most collectors want. Here in Australia DDA are producing many popular Australian models of what I would suggest is early mint quality.
And then there's the Chinese DONG FENG Golden Dragon CA71 Sedan. This 1/24 model is of the latest mint quality, for sale at around $100. I emailed my Chinese seller suggesting the manufacturer consider wider production but heard nothing further.
LOL, you said there are 1:24 scale models being made, "just not the cars most collectors want". So I ask, does it make sense to make models that most collectors don't want? Wouldn't it be make financially good sense to produce cars that "collectors do want"? I'm going to hit my head against a wall again.
Hi George, I'll answer as I have in the past, that firstly yes I agree with you 100%. Its agony not having new quality 1/24 releases. Especially when seeing such quality produced in other scales.
However mint quality 1/24 models are being made. Just not the cars most collectors want. Here in Australia DDA are producing many popular Australian models of what I would suggest is early mint quality.
And then there's the Chinese DONG FENG Golden Dragon CA71 Sedan. This 1/24 model is of the latest mint quality, for sale at around $100. I emailed my Chinese seller suggesting the manufacturer consider wider production but heard nothing further.
Hi Geoff,
That yellow model is beautiful. What is it ?
A Holden ? It appears very GM like to me. Perhaps an Opel ?
It may not be a question of "why" so much as "when". Not as an absolute, but in general, the predominant 1/18th model gives a good return-on-investment to its maker. They have had long-established contacts overseas to assemble or manufacture product. Their target buyer can afford the replica and doesn’t demand what we collectors have come to expect in ‘precision’ detailed diecast cars of 1/20th and 1/24th scale.
The high-end replica producers can charge more because they build in better detailed features and more opening parts.
So why can’t they produce smaller scale versions? They can. I believe, at some point they will, if they can be convinced that there is an additional market for the 1/24th. The younger, current buyers, are not, generally big collectors, so they can buy the occasional 3 or 5 models and have space for their meager displays. The older collector who can afford the higher-end product, has larger collections and larger display areas in which to keep them.
But there’s far less of us older, more demanding consumer, than the younger and easier-to-market-to buyer in this day and age.
Covid depleted the existing work force around the globe so future changes are slow in coming. Hiring new people to research, photograph, measure and offer a new supply of smaller scale replicas may take a little more time.
I think it may be a question of when more than why.
George, I am with you 100%. I have now seen even 1/18 scale models with all the features that we got in 1/24 and I believe that the 1/24 scale is what prompted the 1/18th scale to adapt and make the buying public want them. M2 makes a nice 1/24 scale model, but they are using the same dies and just repainting into something different. They have not made a new model in awhile. I have not seen anything from Crown Premiums as well. I also agree with Tony as we are the dying breed. The younger generation does not appreciate all the oldies the way we do. Time will tell if we do get something new, but at this point in my life I am not going to add anything further. With my collection well over 1000 cars, my kids will not want them and my wife definitely does not want them, so I will probably start selling them off in the next 5-6 years to ease the burden of my family having to get rid of them.
Interesting comments made regarding the decline/loss of 1:24 scale models. I also cannot say with any certainty exactly what prompted this decline but one thing I do remember well was when Danbury Mint experienced their problems with its Chinese manufacturers. I loved DM models and bought most of them back then but in the last few years I began receiving models from them that had QC problems ranging from minor to fairly major; which caused me to have to return many of them (an irritating procedure for me living in Canada). Shortly afterward DM announced that it was ceasing production. My impression was that the main problem was its relationship with its Chinese manufacturers. Does anyone else have info of this kind?
You hit Jack; DM's diecast problems initiated with their Chinese contacts and contracts. A switch to a more viable vendor went unfulfilled and they dropped their primary diecast line. They continued on with second party vendors to sell 1/18th product - primarily ACME brand cars.
You hit Jack; DM's diecast problems initiated with their Chinese contacts and contracts. A switch to a more viable vendor went unfulfilled and they dropped their primary diecast line. They continued on with second party vendors to sell 1/18th product - primarily ACME brand cars.
And to make it even worse when DM folded, the next car up on their schedule was the gorgeous 1953 Ford Victoria HT. What a shame!
The Chinese manufactures or Australian companies, don't know what the American collectors want in 1/24 and don't care. The European companies produce for the European and global markets that clearly have preference towards 1/43 and 1/18 for the higher end models. CMC and Autoart don't care about 1/24. You need someone in US to commission American cars to Chinese manufactures. And Automodello and Esval do it, in resin, and they can barely sell their 1/24 models. Diecast is different story, a model of DM quality will cost >400K to produce, you are talking e.g. about 2000 models sold at $400 (based on 50% margin). Are they gonna sell 2000 cars? Who is crazy to invest in diecast in this credit environment. Somehow we have to attract Elon Musk in the hobby, perhaps then we may have a chance. The other hope is Japan, because they like 1/24 too and the model kits are still produced primarily in 1/24, but Japan is unlikely to start with American cars either. George, if you start liking Corvettes or pre-war cars you can add hundred models at greatly discounted prices, the DM and FM prices are constantly going down on the secondary market.
@chav With roughly 340 million people living in North America, why wouldn't Chinese and Australian manufacturers not care about that market? It is my understanding that the 1:24 market was healthy in N. America before all the QC problems began showing up. At that time DM prices weren't cheap, that's for sure, but reasonable for the quality of model received.
