[Closed] Good Quality, Low cost = High Value

Oh Pete - where to start?

Agat - These began as old Russian recasts of the Saratov models, I don't think any of their newer items fit in the $3-$15 range. They are probably inferior to IST models, for only a few dollars more.
Partworks - Someone explained here a few weeks ago that these are offered initially by subscription only. Those that don't sell get remaindered and end up at European flea markets. I got the impression there is simply no practical way to offer them via the traditional manufacturer-distributer-wholesaler-dealer network.
Saico - Aren't these 1:32?
Corgi/Vanguards - I think you can get these from Pete's Model Garage.
Bburago - Up until recently, I saw these at Wal-Mart. If they quit selling them, there's probably a reason. I almost bought their version of the new Beetle, it looked decent.
Heller - weren't these 1:43 plastic kits?
Yat Ming - There's a gazillion of these on ebay from US sellers. Same for New Ray and Solido, Starline and UH.
Road Champs - Are these still made? I haven't seen any since the big box stores dropped them.

The fallacy in this equation is that you can't get good quality at low cost.

It just isn't possible. Low cost invariably means that accuracy suffers. You want
high quality? It'll cost you. Don't care about high quality? Then low cost is for
you. You can't have it both ways.

Like Wal-Mart models? Then you don't care about quality or accuracy. As in all
things in life, you get what you pay for.

Just some notes

ADP - a German handmade brand, usually in scales other than 1/43, although did they have some resin 1/43 issues under their name
Agat - a current manufacturer based in Russia. The quality is inferior and they are prone to metal fatigue. Plenty are available on Ebay
Altaya, Atlas, (and all the other Part Works companies) - Ebay
Bburago- I see them in Wal-Mart and Zellers (Canadian equivalent of K-Mart)
Classico - these were 1/36 to my knowledge
Donetzt - did you mean Donetzk/Donetsk? This is a city in Ukraine, that used to have a toy factory; they closed many years ago. They were manufacturing copies of older Mebetoys/Politoys models
Edison - these are repackaged partworks, sold in Italy
Guisval - Spanish firm, don't think they exist now
Guiloy - same story as Guisval.
Heller- now belongs to Airfix (?)
High Speed - very good qaulity for the money, but they are available in select countries only. Some of their models were sold under Schuco Junior brand
Hongwell - Apason sells the Cararama brand, don't know if he has any left
King Star - a South Korean company, they make models in 1/32-1/36 scales for local market only.
Kinsmart - these are available in dollar stores
Kintoy - similar to Kinsmart, I have only seen a Toyota Land Cruiser by them
Krugosor - same idea as Donetsk. This was a Moscow factory, making plastic copies of Mebetoys. Finally shut its doors some 4-5 years ago
Legend - this is Universal Hobbies, they used this name for boxed models from the Del Prado partworks series
Lucky Plan - I have only seen one car, a racing BMW E36, decent quality.
Maisto- plenty are available in Canada.
Maxicar - this was a failed attempt to create a new brand. Somebody ordered these models, then dropped the line. Most ended up being sold at huge discounts. They were probably made by Hongwell
Motormax - available in Wal Mart
New Ray - Wal Mart
Power43 - this is actually a name used for Maisto cars with apull-back motor
Rastar - a company from Malaysia, they make current vehicles, not bad for the money, Hongwell level. Avilable on Ebay
Realtoy- Wal Mart
Road Champs - dead many years ago
Road Tough - this was a Yat Ming brand, no longer used
Saico- Ebay for 1/43. Other scales were available in department stores
SE modelle - these are not cheap. They only made a few Borgwards, same cars have since been reproduced by others
Speed Car - some cheap toys from dollar stores
Solido - don't know whether there is still a North American dealer for them
Sunnyside - nothing for 1/43, mostly pull-back cars in 1/24-1/32
Starline - decent models, available in US from a few dealers
Tins? Toys - have only seen these in Europe
Tomica - current 1/43 are rare and not sold outside of Japan for the most part
Unique Replicas - Ebay
Universal Hobbies - alive and well. There is a wholesaler in Toronto
Vanguards - owned by Corgi
Welly - they have two 1/43 lines; one consists primarily from pull-back toy-like cars, the other is actually very good, Hongwell quality, but is only sold in Europe
Yat Ming - in Canada you can find these in hobby shops. There is awholesaler in Toronto.

A few more notes

Motormax and New Ray... WalMart and Diecast Direct
Sunnyside, they have mostly vintage Ford trucks similar to Tins Toys...Rite Aid and plenty of stores in Manhattan and Diecast Direct and a couple of other retailers
Tins Toys...Diecast Direct and Evers Toy Store
Yat Ming...plenty at Diecast Direct and Evers
Welley...Diecast Direct, they have police cars... also sold at Rite Aid
And as mentioned there's always ebay.

That's simply not true, Rick. There certainly can be low cost models that are also of good quality and accuracy. I think generalizations many times tend to paint with too broad a brush.

High price doesn't neccessarily guarantee very high accuracy, as the high price can come from other factors, too, such as rarity/low production, etc.

I agree that high price doesn't guarantee high accuracy but...

what low priced models (those from $3.00 to $15.00, according to Pete) are highly accurate? I think this is the point that Rick was trying to make.

In my experience (and this is only my experience), one needs to step up to the next level (e.g., Minichamps) to get models that look fairly similar to the 1:1s they are representing.

But, my collecting experience is fairly limited.

I guess that the danger is in the generalization, Mike. We didn't define terms, such as "low cost" or "good quality," so your point is valid. I was not
referring to Minichamps diecasts and the like, which can be very good indeed
and can be considered low cost when compared to other models. I was
referring to the really cheap cars found in the big-box stores, and I stand by
my comment when you consider those. They are rarely accurate, or of good
quality or detail.

A sub-$10 toy car may be perfectly acceptable for what it is, but it won't be
the equal of a more-expensive white-metal or resin handbuilt or a $39
Minichamps, for that matter.

My opinion, of course.

Rick or anyone else could you tell us about the accuracy you look for in high cost cars and what do the low cost cars lack in accuracy? Rick I'm just asking for some honest opinions.

Sure. In higher-cost cars, I look for accuracy of shape and faithfulness to design, as well as correct placement of trim pieces and accurate exterior
colors and details. A good example is the '55 Pontiac Custom Safari as done
by Road Champs, and how it does not compare favorably with the Motor City
version. While I don't expect the level of detail that Motor City put into the
grille of its Safari for what the RC version costs (that would be impossible to
achieve), I do expect the body shape to be more accurate on the RC one.

Another example is the Yat Ming '69 Corvair convertible. Not only was that
car released in colors not available on the '69 Corvair (interior color choices
were limited to three), but the windshield is disproportionately high and
throws off the look of the model.

It all depends on what a collector is looking for. The RC Safari looks fine
across a room on a shelf, but if that particular car is something that a
collector has a sentimental interest in, for example, and wants the best
possible rendition of, then only the MOC will do.

See the discussion elsewhere on the Forum regarding the recent NEO models.
Given the widespread availability of information and photos on the internet,
there is no reason that correct original colors, accurate trim, correct
whitewalls, etc., should not be found on the models. Those dual exhausts on
the Pontiac Bonneville hardtop, for instance, were not found on the factory
1:1, I don't believe.

And I don't collect just white-metal handbuilts; I have a number of
Minichamps diecasts and the ones I have are terrific models with accurate
details. Their BMW Z8 roadster is a thing of beauty, and cost under $30 when
I got it years ago. Yat Mings, Road Champs, etc., the cars I was referring to
when I talked about low-cost models, are generally not-very-good to only
fair when it comes to accuracy and detail.

Also to be considered is the availability of a variety of models. My Rami section has representations of cars that no one else has done, in any price range. I think that's also correct with Minialux, GADM, Brumm, and Mini Marque. Sometimes I have to go where the models are, despite the price range.

Besides, I like just about all of them!

A lot of good points being made here, I'll add my 2 cents

I have everything from the lowly Road Champs to Motor Citys and a lot in-between, plus "classic" toys. There is something to be said for most of them. Not all Road Champs are that bad, a comment that is usually followed by "for the price". Their '53-'54-'55 Corvettes are pretty OK, and years ago I bought their Jeep CJ in blue with a color splash on the side. Highly accurate - where I used to work a blue Jeep with the exact color pattern was parked there daily. And what could be more appropos for the South than a pickup hauling a bass boat? RC also made a 1912 Christie fire engine that is still one of my favorites.

All the comments about inaccuracies in Neo/American Excellence offerings has scared me away from some of them for a while. So high price doesn't guarantee accuracy either.

When the quality/price argument comes up, I keep coming back to this Vitesse which is better than most handbuilt versions of the venerable '55:

photo no longer available

So accuracy and value are where you find them....

Harvey good points for 2 cents

Like you said the Vitesse 55 Chevy is well done and the same version was made by Sun Star. FM & RC also made the 55 but because of the shut lines not as good as Vitesse or Sun Star. What I don't understand is why pay over $150.00 for a handbuilt 55 Chevy when the Vitesse is done well for the price.
The RC Christie fire engine still gets a high price.

Rick could you be a bit clearer on RC Pontiac

I don't know what you find wrong with the body shape and the grille?