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Dear FSW,
 Well, I guess
it's time for me to get back on my soapbox again. It's been quite some
time since I have written anything to you concerning modelling, but I
guess it's time to vocalize my feelings again.
Why
can't we get any kits of cars that run in the ALMS? Yes,
I know, many of them are produced in the same markings
for Le Mans, but not all of the details are the same. Is
it really that expensive to add in a few additional decals
to cover the marking and number changes? I wouldn't think
it is that difficult to do.
But
there are many cars that run over here that never run at
Le Mans. Granted, PMA surprised me by releasing the Mazda
powered Courage that debuted earlier this year, but where
are releases like the Dyson Lolas? The ACEMCO Saleen? The
Maserati MC-12 that has been running the full season?
What
becomes even more frustrating is the fact that what used
to be the evil force of the die-casters such as IXO, Spark
and Minichamps are the ones that have stepped forth and
filled some of the gap. It wasn't around for very long,
but at least Spark Models did the Dyson Lola. Surprisingly,
IXO did recently market the Sebring class winning Saleen
S7-R from 2001. But where are the kit manufacturers? I
may not have the full story, but if a die cast manufacturer
can make money at some of these releases, surely a kit
manufacturer could also? I know the kit market has hit
hard times recently, but surely couldn't some of that be
because of the constant repetition of releases that we
are seeing now? How many Ferrari 512BB do we need? The
same for the 550/575 Ferraris. It seems like everybody
under the sun has produced every variation possible of
these cars. It's not that I don't like these cars, but
enough is enough already. Now it appears that the Maserati
MC-12 is headed the same way as the 550/575.
I
remember back to the times when Starter was the prolific
marketer in the 1/43rd scale hobby and I was buying sometimes
5-6 kits a month from them. Kits like the Ford GTP Probes,
the BMW GTP, the Toyota GTO Celica, the GTO Mustangs… the
list can go on and on and on… There must have been
a market then. Did I miss something and that market went
away? If it is a matter of references, please ask. There
are many of us over on this side of the pond that would
be more than willing to document the cars in order to have
them released as kits.
I
still enjoy the hobby, but I must admit that the interest
is not quite what it used to be. I look back on the "good
old days" and it seemed that every issue of 4 Small
Wheels had more things that I wanted than I could afford.
Now, there are many issues that I really don't find more
that 1-2 items that I really have much interest in at all.
But it is not just the current cars. It is some of the
historic cars also. I have yet to see the IMSA Mustang
that ran in 1981-83, which started as a re-skinned Zakspeed
Capri or the First National City Travelers Checks BMW 320i.
And don't get me started on the 935 and 962 Porsches. Wouldn't
a current technology Lowenbrau 962 be something to have
now? Thankfully, some of the cars I have wanted are being
picked off, and it is nice to see that Marsh has a few
of the early GTP cars on their future release list, but
where are the others?
OK,
I better go now, the medication is starting to kick in.
Thanks for allowing me to vent. I feel much better now.
Keep up the good work.
Gary Horrocks,
Vancouver, USA
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Hi Folks,
I've just received
the latest issue of FSW and would like to commend you on the great quality
- it was all the more noticeable when I happened across an old issue
from 1999 - what a massive difference !
Your comments
in the review of the Racing 43 Ferrari 575's made me smile; to a point
I agree with you about the number of 575 models available and yet I
also disagree.
What I find astonishing
is that specific race versions are repeated again and again. For example,
the 2nd place Spa 24 hrs GPC car is available from Technomodel, BBR,
Red Line and Francorchamps Mini Models... Likewise, the JMB and GPC
(non-Spa) FIA GT cars.
I imagine that
there is only a finite number of buyers for these kits and yet the
makers all offer the same thing ! Crazy.
Why can't original
subjects be made? Making a new decal set to suit a base model must
be a more economic way to diversify, surely ?
How about an Italian GT JMB 575 - that car actually won races in 2004
! You'd have my order straight away.
There is also a whole plethora of different colour schemes and teams
running in that series in 2005.
I know that you
guys also get a little tired with repeat models of Ferrari's, it just
confounds me that there are so many unbuilt subjects out there that
wear the Prancing Horse. Instead we get yet more 250 GTO variants.
There must be 10 times more models of that available than there were
real cars built !!
If any of the manufacturers are listening, how about, in no specific
order -
Ferrari 308 GTB/4 - Spa 1986
Minardi-Ferrari 206 M281 F.2 1981
Chevron-Ferrari B40 F.2 1977
Ralt-Ferrari RT1 F.2 1977
Ferrari 575GTC JMB - GT Italia
Ferrari 360GT JMB - GT Italia
Ferrari 360GT JMB Grand Am 2004
Alba Ferrari IMSA Daytona 1986
I'll keep my fingers crossed........
Cordiale Saluti and keep up the great work !
Richard Jordan,
Ferrari UK
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