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Forum 43
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28/01/2011 2:18 pm
I got a chance to see my 1st SPARK model close up today....
WOW!!! It was the Lotus 56 Jim Clark test version. I simply can't believe the quality of model your getting for around $60.00 (or less). The tricky day-glo red/orange STP paint of that period was flawless, crisp castings, all of the metal pieces had just the right finish on it to look real, the vents, scoops and other painted details were razor sharp, and all of the panel shut-lines were just the right believable size (the paint covered them, but didn't fill them up). Even the driver figure looked amazingly realistic and the painting on it was spot on. They have managed to get their tampos down on sidewalls of tires so small that some of us older guys might have trouble even seeing it (but I guarantee its there).
I've peered through the glass cases over at Prestige Hobby many times at them, but this was my first opportunity to really get a close look at one outside the packaging and its display case. How they can do them so well for the price is astonishing? I remember 20+ years ago when I was pretty serious about my 1/43 model, I would never buy a factory built car because I always could do much better, and get all of the details the factory would miss(I mainly collected Mark Donohue cars). These superb factory builds are not much more than our kits were back then (not even factoring in inflation), and a fraction of the price the factory builds cost. Let's admit it to, that 99% of us builders couldn't match the overall quality of these model (at least the one I'm looking at in front of me). Even today, I'm sure a almost all of the long-established 1/43 model car manufacturers are finding SPARK models really annoying competition (there are several I am personally fond of that I hope can stay in the game).
My only problem with them is that you want to buy so many of them. They seem to be able to branch in all sorts of subjects, and some really interesting variations that have never been done before (like their Can-Am cars).
It's a great time delve into 1/43 models or fatten up your collection, if your wallet can keep up with their large selection of cars that come at you like a freight train.
29/01/2011 12:49 am
I agree with you about the craftmanship.
When I opened a new theme, cars raced by Brazilian pilots ( non closed wheels ) I noticed Spark had several cars in this category. Now I have a good amount of models and always impressed by the finish and attention with small details. Just hope the resin have a long life like the diecast ones!
29/01/2011 4:36 am
The resin has an incredibly long life, and is much Better than....
many diecasts. Don't worry, all the resin models will out live All of us by many lifetimes.
29/01/2011 5:19 am
And the weight won't flatten tires!
29/01/2011 5:34 am
Is it the weight that flattens the tires? I thought it was a chemical reaction.
29/01/2011 5:52 am
Tires can flatten for a couple of reasons; weight being one of.....
them, and composition of the tire/material itself, which sometimes reacts with certain materials on various display surfaces. I've seen all the scenarios countless times. Harvey is very correct that with any of the soft to very soft tires the heft of a white metal will definitely flatten them. Some mfgs. get around that problem by using very hard tire material. There are a number of choices there.
The tire issue is something I've had to consider with all of my CMA production models produced over the past 22 years.
29/01/2011 5:59 am
Has there been a problem with wooden bases? Or is it just plastic?
29/01/2011 7:05 am
I put my heavy cars on old wooden dominoes to take the weight off the tires.
29/01/2011 9:19 am
I was just remembering a problem with an Abingdon Classics MG SA I once had
The tires flattened rather rapidly under weight on a GLASS shelf (so no chemical reaction, but I've had those too.
Just as a point I haven't seen this on Brooklin, or a number of others.
I'm wondering if resin will truly last that long. They have a distinct odor, which continues with time. This tells me they are losing mass, if ever so slightly. But I've seen no evidence of damage to my 30+ year old Fadinis yet.