[Closed] PICS - Anyone familiar with Vector Models?

I see they have been and are now offered on eBay, but with little success. Come from Ukraine.

Randall, not even close.

This is like comparing Motor City to Record.

Vector Models creates their models from galvanized copper. They are metal, but fairly thin. Windows are, usually, just a piece of film glued from the inside, and the buses sometimes fall apart in transit, due to the cheap glue used. Also, you have to be very careful when handling them, the sides can just concave.

All that inferior workmanship for $300?

The law of supply and demand. Bus collectors are crazier than us

Forum member Max Paransky has a website showing some Vector models and I'm sure he won't mind me pointing you in that direction. Check it out here:

LINK

Vector models are very similar to Kherson and Kimmeria models, all made in the same part of the Ukraine and all using galvanised copper or sometimes resin as the base material (I think these guys must know each other!). I have a couple of Kherson car models which are pretty fair representations, if not quite up to mass-produced standards of detail and finish, and don't seem too fragile at all, but I don't know about the buses.

I think that whatever your views on the quality of the end result, the bus models are real artisan handbuilts, individually constructed rather than a couple of hundred copies being turned out from moulds taken from a master model, the way Brooklin do it, for example. Maybe that accounts for the high price. Whether you think it justifies the prices being asked is another matter entirely!

Vector

Graeme,
Of course I don't mind, the site is for info purposes in the first place. My Vector models are a fairly small percentage of their offerings, as they are probably the most high-volume and prolific of the russian/ukrainian handwork outfits. They've been around since the 90's and are fairly common online. The price has probably doubled since I got most of mine in early 2000's, so I've stopped. Today there is real competition on the russian subjects - IXO/Ist Models, Spark/Dip Models, ClassicBus, Hongwell/NAP (some of these names are probably unknown to the forumers here but are common knowledge for russian collectors).
Vector covers a lot of subject matter, the most notable probably the russian/USSR trucks and buses/trolleybuses of various origins. All mine arrived from overseas in good condition, so no complaints with construction. Also didn't have any issues in 10 years of displaying them with small parts falling off or bodies caving. Of couse it's common sense - any handmade model shouldn't be handled excessively regardless of materials or maker. I don't have any SPTC models for comparison.
Max

I would agree with Graeme: not as good as St Petersburg, but far from junk!

I have the following Vector buses, all made more than seven years ago, and still I think in production:
Late 50's Ikarus Luxus bus
1952 Krupp 80 Titan bus
1938 Zis 16 bus
1951 Faun Condor Aero bus with two levels and lounge
1933 Gaz 03-30 bus
1953 Mercedes Benz 0321H Tour bus--yes, the Minichanps is better
The American bus is I think new production. So, bear in mind my comments are taken from looking at older models.

My general take on the quality: they are handmade, and sometimes you will see a slight wobble in the paint around window trim. Paint finish is good, but not polished piano perfect. There are a LOT of details on the models, inside and out, all of which have been picked out, but you might notice a little irregular edge here and there. Sometimes the riveting is a little too large.

But these overall are well built artisanal products. I would strongly disagree that the models are weak structurally. The complete opposite, in fact. I think these copper things will be here long after all my pretty resin Hecos have crumbled, and the silver tape peeled off! I've never had any parts come off or hang loose from my Vectors, as I have from Italian makers of resin models like ABC or Klaxon.

If you have a complete intolerance for any imperfection, the models are not for you. If you enjoy colorful and quite detailed artisanal products of unique subjects that are pretty darned close to the prototype, they may be for you.

Thanks to you all for your informative posts!