Emailed my friend working for Fabbri. Yep, this one's true.
You've got a friend that works for GE Fabbri? You kept that quiet ....
Initially a friend of a friend (is very good friends with a guy I buy Brooklin 1/43 from on eBay), but was introduced via email. I suppose I owe you an explanation: remember how I kept saying and hinting at how they wanted to go to Bond 23? I was literally being told that by this guy...and as it turned out having hints dropped all over myself and missing them completely, since the goal of extending it to 130 is to get in Bond 23 cars.
) Oh well I didn't really like this hat that I am about to eat.... Glad I didn't bet my shirt on it finishing at 110.
I would bet that we won't see figures and dioramas from IXO. Its not that IXO can't do them I think that it is simply a matter of cost. Painting figures and sticking them in and making and painting one-off dioramas takes labour and with rising labour costs in China I think that the original price point that Fabbri have stuck to means it is now too expensive to do a diorama and figures and maintain everyone's margins whereas a printed backdrop costs very little. If they were selling at £9.99 I think that it might be different. Similarly I would expect IXO to re-use or mould swap wherever possible to maximise profit and where they produce entirely new moulds they will have an eye on re-use in other ranges. So with the Eastern European part works to plunder I guess Gaz "jeeps", Lada Niva's etc are quite likely to appear, and items like the decapitated bus less so. Fabbri are undoubtedly aware that many of the sales later in the series have been from general collectors not just Bond Fans so I suspect they will have an eye on that as well.
I also suspect that we will continue at one a month on the newstands for the simple reason that that buys them time to find out what cars are in next bond and to develop the models. If we reckon that the balance is something like 6 from the new Bond movie and 14 from old ones that gives them over a year at one per month before the new ones appear which is long enough. Rumours suggest IXO can go from nothing to a boxed model in about 6 weeks if they want to and have line capacity so that basically gives them about a year to get all the info in and start on next bond models.
I wonder which car makers have won the product placement battle for the next Bond? I bet this board will be alive with speculation when this is announced - I guess it may be close since Fabbri must have been in close touch with Bond Production company before extending.
Rather than the invisible Aston Martin from DAD i'd like the Rocket sled thing from DAD.
It's added
DN 1961 Chevrolet Impala Four-Door Sedan (This was Felix's Chase Car)
FRWL Chevy 1-Ton Stakebed Truck
FRWL Kerim Bey's Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith
GF Merc 180 bad guys pursuit car
GF Merc 220S Odd Job car
TB 1964 Lincoln Continental Lehmann-Peterson stretch limo
TB 1965 Lincoln Continental 4-door convertible (top up)*
TB Fiona Volpe's BSA motorcycle
TB Bomb Sled with Tow Sled outriders
OHMSS Draco's Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow convertible
DAF Ford LVPD police car (blue/white)
DAF 1971 Ford Thunderbird
DAF Honda tricycle from Moonbuggy chase
DAF Bathosub
LALD AEC REGENT Bus without top deck
LALD Power boat crashed into side of Sheriff Pepper's car
LALD 1973 Chevy Bel Air Louisiana State Police
MR Shuttle
MR Cable Car
FYEO 1974 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL
AVTAK American LaFrance Fire engine
TLD Audi 200 Avant (but please a real 200 and no Audi V8 clone)
TLD Wales & Edwards Rangemaster Milk Float
TLD 59 Chevy Impala Convertible
LTK Kenworth
LTK Lincoln Mk. VII Coupe (Felix's Lincoln)
LTK Dodge Ram Pickup
GE UAZ-469B/UAZ-31512 4x4
TND BMW R1200C bike
TWINE Lada Niva
DAD Invisible Aston Martin Vanquish
DAD Rocket sled
CR Ford Mondeo
D110 - feel free to add your last suggestions. The OHMSS Escort would probably be a real winner in the UK, the real car has a considerable following now with rapidly escalating prices for the car itself and original parts.
Please, light comments on this post only. Critical analysis is not welcome.
) Oh well I didn't really like this hat that I am about to eat.... Glad I didn't bet my shirt on it finishing at 110.
I would bet that we won't see figures and dioramas from IXO. Its not that IXO can't do them I think that it is simply a matter of cost. Painting figures and sticking them in and making and painting one-off dioramas takes labour and with rising labour costs in China I think that the original price point that Fabbri have stuck to means it is now too expensive to do a diorama and figures and maintain everyone's margins whereas a printed backdrop costs very little. If they were selling at £9.99 I think that it might be different. Similarly I would expect IXO to re-use or mould swap wherever possible to maximise profit and where they produce entirely new moulds they will have an eye on re-use in other ranges. So with the Eastern European part works to plunder I guess Gaz "jeeps", Lada Niva's etc are quite likely to appear, and items like the decapitated bus less so. Fabbri are undoubtedly aware that many of the sales later in the series have been from general collectors not just Bond Fans so I suspect they will have an eye on that as well.
I also suspect that we will continue at one a month on the newstands for the simple reason that that buys them time to find out what cars are in next bond and to develop the models. If we reckon that the balance is something like 6 from the new Bond movie and 14 from old ones that gives them over a year at one per month before the new ones appear which is long enough. Rumours suggest IXO can go from nothing to a boxed model in about 6 weeks if they want to and have line capacity so that basically gives them about a year to get all the info in and start on next bond models.
I wonder which car makers have won the product placement battle for the next Bond? I bet this board will be alive with speculation when this is announced - I guess it may be close since Fabbri must have been in close touch with Bond Production company before extending.
Some interesting points here. Bearing in mind how long the series has been running and will continue to run, it's a wonder the £7.99 price tag hasn't been raised anyway.
On the subject of dioramas/ figures, if, as D110 suggests, some IXO models already exist such as the GF Merc 180D, I wouldn't have thought it too much to ask for figures to be added would it? They could even pop them in a bag for us to add if they're strapped for time on the production line (just joking)
As a point of interest regarding the collection being aimed away from subscribers, who obviously receive every single model, I wonder where the 'peaks and troughs' are with back issue sales? Has the LaSalle been a runaway winner for instance? Are Fabbri building up an enormous stock of unsold GT40s?
BTW, I can also confirm that according to the people at JBCC issues 75,77,78,79 & 80 are no longer available, but 106 (which had a question mark over it earlier) is available.
I really, really hope Bond's ride in 23 won't be a Bentley. Such an old man's motor (sorry to any Bentley drivers reading this, but it really is compared to an Aston). I thought the Alfas in QOS were an inspired choice and would hope to see the secondary vehicles in 23 being as watchable
Please, light comments on this post only. Critical analysis is not welcome.
Can we realistically expect that Fabbri will have any prior knowledge of vehicles to be used in Bond 23? I very much doubt it, as it will probably be a secret until the last moment. In addition, in order to produce a diorama based on what is in the movie they will have to wait until the final cut anyway. As a result, I don't expect them to be able to release any Bond 23 vehicles until months after the premiere.
Can we realistically expect that Fabbri will have any prior knowledge of vehicles to be used in Bond 23? I very much doubt it, as it will probably be a secret until the last moment. In addition, in order to produce a diorama based on what is in the movie they will have to wait until the final cut anyway. As a result, I don't expect them to be able to release any Bond 23 vehicles until months after the premiere.
The release date for Bond 23 is November 2012 so it's possible even the moviemakers don't know what vehicles are involved yet. Shows how long the JBCC will be running though.
Please, light comments on this post only. Critical analysis is not welcome.
Opportunity for the missed specials also? Maybe??
I am going to stick my neck out and reckon the collection
Will extend beyond 130 to guarantee bond 23 is included.
It was rumoured lotus were indicating an interest with their cars featuring in the next bond. Also BMW hinting at a comeback! What about jaguar Xkr-s as bonds wheels??
Great to see the collection getting a new lease of life and indeed the thread and back on topic. :-)
I don't think that Fabbri will have to wait till film is released. Licensed merchandise sellers should be able to find out what cars are being used a long time before film is actually shown. After all Fabbri must be paying quite a bit of cash for the JB licences. Bond websites suggest that the film will start shooting oct/nov 2011 so the product placement negotiations are probably going on now and leaks about what cars are in will start from autumn onwards I guess.
Guess my theory on 1 a month would still stand if Fabbri put out Bond 23 cars from Nov 2012 at one a month they can spin out collection quite nicely till then. If they just get to know maybe three 23 cars by mid 2012 - by which time trailers will be on the web which usually include at least one vehcile based action sequence - they are on course to keep to 130 I guess. But who knows? Maybe Fabbri will continue to extend the series to include the cars parked outside the cinema when a Bond Film was on....
Adding characters to cars might be done where they could buy in say police or ambulance staff quite easily but I still reckon proper custom figures are unlikely though I only speculate since I know no-one at Fabbri or its agents.
) Oh well I didn't really like this hat that I am about to eat.... Glad I didn't bet my shirt on it finishing at 110.
I would bet that we won't see figures and dioramas from IXO. Its not that IXO can't do them I think that it is simply a matter of cost. Painting figures and sticking them in and making and painting one-off dioramas takes labour and with rising labour costs in China I think that the original price point that Fabbri have stuck to means it is now too expensive to do a diorama and figures and maintain everyone's margins whereas a printed backdrop costs very little. If they were selling at £9.99 I think that it might be different. Similarly I would expect IXO to re-use or mould swap wherever possible to maximise profit and where they produce entirely new moulds they will have an eye on re-use in other ranges. So with the Eastern European part works to plunder I guess Gaz "jeeps", Lada Niva's etc are quite likely to appear, and items like the decapitated bus less so. Fabbri are undoubtedly aware that many of the sales later in the series have been from general collectors not just Bond Fans so I suspect they will have an eye on that as well.
If I had to guess...and yes, I am completely guessing...I would agree. Also some of Ixo's other moulds; the Mercedes-Benz 180D, for example. For example, we're technically getting a 20-car extension to the collection. Let's be conservative and only assume the last four issues are Bond 23. Okay, that means Ixo can plan 16 issues. Now, how many significant...and I do mean significant...cars can Ixo make by re-using its moulds? And I'll include "partial moulds" with that...cars where they've done the trim and would only have to alter the car's body and baseplate. You wind up with the following (an asterisk indicates an altered but existing mould)...
-Mercedes-Benz 180D "Ponton" Chase Car (GF)
-1964 Lincoln Continental Lehmann-Peterson stretch limo (TB)*
-1973 Chevrolet Bel Air 4-door sedan Louisiana State Police (LALD)*
-Scaldia-Volga M24 Luxe Sedan (OP)*
-UAZ-469B/UAZ-31512 4x4 (GE)
-Lada Niva 1600 with truck mirrors (TWINE)
That reduces the number of new moulds Ixo has to turn out/start working on from the ground up to ten. Or, in other words, fully half the number of moulds of the planned collection. By merely re-using three car moulds and making minor modifications to another three from six different films (you could make more for GE with existing moulds...), you reduce work by quite a bit and allow focus to shift to more complex, but also repeatedly-asked-for models that Ixo views it can market elsewhere (and not just the East Bloc...I know for a fact that Ixo PremiumX will be releasing the Econoline, the Country Squire, the Bronco II, and I *think* some variant of the LaSalle/Miller Hearse will be released as an ambulance). It would certainly save them time and effort for when Bond 23 comes out.
I also suspect that we will continue at one a month on the newstands for the simple reason that that buys them time to find out what cars are in next bond and to develop the models.
Correct. I DID get a (short) email from my friend...again, no discussion of the collection, but said distribution was fair game...in which he reaffirmed that there would be one model officially released per month, but also one model shipped per month. "Anyway, that's what's planned."
Ixo can indeed whip up a mould in six to seven weeks. I know that. Although before I get questioned again, I've made NO SECRET AT ALL of the fact I have a contact that supplies me with reliable information about Ixo (it's thus far proven all true...), though he does not actually work for them and in fact has little interest in the JBCC.
Can we realistically expect that Fabbri will have any prior knowledge of vehicles to be used in Bond 23? I very much doubt it, as it will probably be a secret until the last moment.
Possible. Remember though, they're going to be releasing one car a month starting with 111 in (I would guess mid to late) October 2011. Therefore...
-Issue 112: November 2011
-Issue 113: December 2011
-Issue 114: January 2012
-Issue 115: February 2012
-Issue 116: March 2012
-Issue 117: April 2012
-Issue 119: May 2012
-Issue 120: June 2012
-Issue 121: July 2012
-Issue 122: August 2012 (When the first trailers start getting released, if they stick to late monthly releases...)
-Issue 123: September 2012
-Issue 124: October 2012
-Issue 125: November 2012 (At the very least, I would expect them to have access to Bond's car at this time for Bond 23)
-Issue 126: December 2012
-Issue 127: January 2013
-Issue 128: February 2013
-Issue 129: March 2013
-Issue 130: April 2013
So, realistically, you're looking at Issues 125 to 130 as being potentially Bond 23, at least. Even if a few months later, certainly by 2013 they would be able to give us Bond 23 cars.
But who knows? Maybe Fabbri will continue to extend the series to include the cars parked outside the cinema when a Bond Film was on....
Hoo boy, I hope not. One thing I think we can all agree upon is the collection ending on a strong note, not dying with a whimper. That's everyone on this board, from the most hardcore Bond-Centric to the most hardcore Car-Centric (as he typed staring around innocently in various directions )...), absolutely agrees on based on every response I've seen. You have to end it strong. If I worked for Fabbri (I don't), I would actually save Bond's car, whatever it is, from Bond 23 for Issue 130. And make only one variant of it. Now how's that for a strong finish?
I wonder where the 'peaks and troughs' are with back issue sales? Has the LaSalle been a runaway winner for instance? Are Fabbri building up an enormous stock of unsold GT40s?
I can and will gladly answer this. The La Salle has been a runaway winner. So has the Ford Country Squire. I did not get this info, interestingly enough, from my contact at Fabbri (I suppose friend is too strong a word not even knowing his last name). Rather, an eBay dealer buys direct from a Fabbri distributor. The La Salle/Miller Hearse and Ford Country Squire, he said, were rumored as being bought and requested by numerous American buyers via all kinds of secondary market channels; not just eBay. He in turn asked his distributor if he was getting the same kind of demand from other sellers to confirm this. The distributor responded that all sorts of people had been requesting extras and said that these two cars, in particular, were in fact the quickest sellers he had ever doled out. I didn't ask for the slowest sellers, though certainly can if you want. This guy won't clam up on me.
And finally, I'll add my own additions to the list (thanks MCF!)...
DN 1961 Chevrolet Impala Four-Door Sedan (This was Felix's Chase Car)
FRWL Chevy 1-Ton Stakebed Truck
FRWL Kerim Bey's Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith
GF Merc 180 bad guys pursuit car
GF Merc 220S Odd Job car
TB 1964 Lincoln Continental Lehmann-Peterson stretch limo
TB 1965 Lincoln Continental 4-door convertible (top up)*
TB Fiona Volpe's BSA motorcycle
TB Bomb Sled with Tow Sled outriders
YOLT 1964 Dodge Polara 500 Sedan
OHMSS 1968 Ford Escort Mk. I Rallye
OHMSS Draco's Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow convertible
DAF Ford LVPD police car (blue/white)
DAF 1971 Ford Thunderbird
DAF Honda tricycle from Moonbuggy chase
DAF Bathosub
LALD AEC REGENT Bus without top deck
LALD Power boat crashed into side of Sheriff Pepper's car
LALD 1973 Chevy Bel Air Louisiana State Police
TMWTGG 1974 AMC Matador Sedan "Thai Police Car"
MR Shuttle
MR Cable Car
FYEO 1974 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL
OP 1977 (i.e. second generation) Scaldia-Volga M24 Luxe Sedan
AVTAK American LaFrance Fire engine
AVTAK 1984 Jeep Cherokee
TLD Audi 200 Avant (but please a real 200 and no Audi V8 clone)
TLD Wales & Edwards Rangemaster Milk Float
TLD 59 Chevy Impala Street Rod (The more I look at it, the more I think it's a converted sedan...which doesn't bother me, since we've not seen a street rod in a Bond film before or since other than as something that may have been in a parking lot)
LTK Kenworth
LTK Lincoln Mk. VII Coupe (Felix's Lincoln)
LTK Dodge Ram Pickup
LTK Utilimaster Aeromaster Van
GE UAZ-469B/UAZ-31512 4x4
GE VAZ-2106 Sedan St. Petersburg Militsia GAI
TND BMW R1200C bike
TWINE Lada Niva
DAD Invisible Aston Martin Vanquish
DAD Rocket sled
CR Ford Mondeo
CR 2005 Škoda Octavia Police
TLD 59 Chevy Impala Street Rod (The more I look at it, the more I think it's a converted sedan...which doesn't bother me, since we've not seen a street rod in a Bond film before or since other than as something that may have been in a parking lot)
If the two references below are anything to go by, it's certainly not a conventional 59 convertible.
The screen shot appears to show the red painted leading edge of the roof still in place, whereas the publicity illustration shows a chrome windshield top only. I presume this means the roof has been chopped off the LD car to make it a drophead. It's still a fabulous piece of machinery IMHO
Please, light comments on this post only. Critical analysis is not welcome.
I have just phoned Fabbri who can confirm that the series is being extended to 130 due to unpresidented demand from certain collectors. A letter is going out with issues 108 and 109,which states what some of the models are. Also they are reverting back to the Two per month senario.
Is this definite? Has anyone else who's spoken to Fabbri been told that the cars will again be issued on a fortnightly basis?
Seems it's just a publicity stunt as far as the FYEO livery goes, but I'm guessing the Evora could still be a contender for some form of appearance in 23. If it ends up being DC's ride perhaps silver might be more Bond-ish?.....
Please, light comments on this post only. Critical analysis is not welcome.
The screen shot appears to show the red painted leading edge of the roof still in place, whereas the publicity illustration shows a chrome windshield top only. I presume this means the roof has been chopped off the LD car to make it a drophead.
Correct! Also note that the chrome on top of the doors doesn't seem to match up perfectly if you drew a straight line. It should if it was a factory convertible. Does anyone have more screenshots of this car?
I don't think that Fabbri will have to wait till film is released. Licensed merchandise sellers should be able to find out what cars are being used a long time before film is actually shown. After all Fabbri must be paying quite a bit of cash for the JB licences. Bond websites suggest that the film will start shooting oct/nov 2011 so the product placement negotiations are probably going on now and leaks about what cars are in will start from autumn onwards I guess.
Guess my theory on 1 a month would still stand if Fabbri put out Bond 23 cars from Nov 2012 at one a month they can spin out collection quite nicely till then. If they just get to know maybe three 23 cars by mid 2012 - by which time trailers will be on the web which usually include at least one vehcile based action sequence - they are on course to keep to 130 I guess. But who knows? Maybe Fabbri will continue to extend the series to include the cars parked outside the cinema when a Bond Film was on....
Adding characters to cars might be done where they could buy in say police or ambulance staff quite easily but I still reckon proper custom figures are unlikely though I only speculate since I know no-one at Fabbri or its agents.
Of course, if Fabbri are licensed and in a good relationship with the film producers (as they seem to be), they may know what cars will be used before the movie is released. But the release their models they need a lot more than this - they need to make dioramas based on scenes that are actually are in the movie. An this is where the problem is. However, if they only release one model a month, this will not be a problem - they will just have to leave all Bond 23 vehicles until the end of the collection.
My suggestion and request to all subscribers: let's ask Fabbri (nicely) to issue free subscribers' gifts. I think those who have subscribed for so long deserve this.
I will not be making a list of models I would like to see (others have done a good job), but would love to see more Russian cars - Lada, UAZ, Volga etc.
The screen shot appears to show the red painted leading edge of the roof still in place, whereas the publicity illustration shows a chrome windshield top only. I presume this means the roof has been chopped off the LD car to make it a drophead.
Correct! Also note that the chrome on top of the doors doesn't seem to match up perfectly if you drew a straight line. It should if it was a factory convertible. Does anyone have more screenshots of this car?
Here's a couple more taken off the TV screen - crude, but hopefully reasonably clear. The Impala wasn't really seen fully other than in a distance shot unfortunately, but from what I could make out the wheels looked like standard 50s skinnies.
I believe it was meant to look something like this:
Or this model:
To be honest, if Fabbri provided us with a bog standard 59 Impala convertible in red with maybe figures of the girls and Bond I for one would be happy enough to overlook any minor inaccuracies related to LD. Lets face it, it wouldn't be the first time, would it? (LD Audi, TND BMW, LD Aston) And whoever makes it would have the opportunity to carry on marketing the model in different colours in other standard ranges
Please, light comments on this post only. Critical analysis is not welcome.
To be honest, if Fabbri provided us with a bog standard 59 Impala convertible in red with maybe figures of the girls and Bond I for one would be happy enough to overlook any minor inaccuracies related to LD. Lets face it, it wouldn't be the first time, would it? (LD Audi, TND BMW, LD Aston) And whoever makes it would have the opportunity to carry on marketing the model in different colours in other standard ranges
Ixo will re-release their Bond cars (Bronco, Econoline and Country Squire) in different colours in their product range (planned as Premium X models) so a standard 59 Impala convertible is quite realistic (except that Spark has just released one - but then we also have a Continental Mk V from both Premium X and Neo). What's interesting to note is that UH has not done this: They have not introduced a single of their Bond cars in the UH line. And except for a Land Rover Defender UH also did not use any existing models for the Bond collection (they have a Ford GT40, even in Gulf colours, but this has opening bonnet and doors so is a completely different casting).
I really find this odd, and this brings me to something maz said yesterday:
I would bet that we won't see figures and dioramas from IXO. Its not that IXO can't do them I think that it is simply a matter of cost. Painting figures and sticking them in and making and painting one-off dioramas takes labour and with rising labour costs in China I think that the original price point that Fabbri have stuck to means it is now too expensive to do a diorama and figures and maintain everyone's margins whereas a printed backdrop costs very little. If they were selling at £9.99 I think that it might be different. Similarly I would expect IXO to re-use or mould swap wherever possible to maximise profit and where they produce entirely new moulds they will have an eye on re-use in other ranges.
So how is this possible? UH did make the models exclusively for the Bond collection, some even with damaged bodywork which prevents further use of the moulds without extensive modifications (e.g. the Sherpa van could surely be sold in many different company liveries, or there is not even another 1/43 model of a '69 Cougar) AND they could even include proper figures and elaborate dioramas. While Ixo re-uses the moulds (I guess we will see all, even the Range Rover convertible, re-released in different colours - except the Bondola of course), thus spreading the casting costs on far more models, and is still not capable to provide figures with all of their cars. Yes, the Ixo cars are nice but a plain black Consul without figures leaves me rather cold.
Diecast007 said: "UH or Ixo - again not bothered" - and I think he's right. We now tend to see the UH as the inferior offerings but in fact UH gave us much more value for money than Ixo. And most UH were really well done, especially the damaged cars and the Goldfinger Rolls. However, quality was inconsistent - something Ixo probably will do better. But bottom line is: Ixo can recoup their costs better with re-releases, so figures and better dioramas should not be a such a big problem. And I would rather pay a little more instead of having such bland dioramas.
And some subscriber's gifts really won't be to much now: I am still waiting for the OP horse trailer. And how about a clip-on wing assembly for Scaramanga's AMC? This would be a big thing but done in plastic shouldn't be too costly to produce and mail to the subscribers. (I would even by a second Matador.) I would also see a "invisible" Vanquish (a 1-piece transparent plastic carbody without any interior), if it can be done convincingly, as a free gift rather than a regular release.
Rainer ... What you are saying makes alot of sense. I like your gift ideas also.we have established that GEFabbri are watching this closely. So come on give us the specials too! Even at a an additional price. This is the definitive 007 collection so I write this with anticipation as you have extended the collection so specials are not a million miles away of being a probability?? Twenty more cars over next year and a half . I reckon there is room for five specials? What about a set of binders also to put our mags in. An index and contents page for all the mags would be useful also? What about some of the obscure vehicles seen in the various badguy locations? Ps picked up my diecast Finn McMissile (astonesque) nod to bond as seen in cars 2. Great little model.
So how is this possible? UH did make the models exclusively for the Bond collection, some even with damaged bodywork which prevents further use of the moulds without extensive modifications (e.g. the Sherpa van could surely be sold in many different company liveries, or there is not even another 1/43 model of a '69 Cougar) AND they could even include proper figures and elaborate dioramas.
Yes, they did all that (but not near the end), which makes me wonder about something: why did they do it? Ixo is a company that believes in turning around and re-using whatever it can wherever it can. And so are Norev and Eligor. But why did UH take a different approach? That is an excellent question, to which I can only guess at the answer...
UH, which I imagine was being paid VERY handsomely by Fabbri, went into the James Bond Car Collection with the mindset of making 20 "one-off" cars. Not much of a partwork, really. No need to re-coup losses. Then they were extended, and continued to make "one-offs". And they kept on making wonderful-quality cars consistently into the 20's. Notice I say consistently. But right after that's also when you start getting "Dinky 48'ing," unpainted interiors in certain cases, and shared baseplates. Remember, UH is nowhere near the big name diecast maker that any of the others involved in this collection (however briefly) were. As an experiment, I decided to measure the scale of the GAZ-31029 Volga, which looked a tad small for a Volga. Sure enough, it's 1/45. And the Leyland Sherpa is smaller than 1/43. Like I said, you're still getting good models, but the inconsistencies start showing. The further into the collection you go, the more inconsistencies you get. Count Lippe's Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner is one of my favorite cars in the collection produced by UH, but let's face it: if you're comparing it to the much earlier Sunbeam Alpine, which model wins the quality award there*? Now you go into the 80's and 90's and some (not all) of the cars start to look unfinished and diorama quality is just as bad as Ixo. And then UH's cars stopped coming with figures. UH realized...too late...that they had to make some kind of profit off of this collection, and at that point, you went from inconsistent to consistently bad. Universal Hobbies may have provided figures (past tense), but it became pretty clear that by the end, it was either too much for them monetarily or they just didn't care. Why else, logically, would Fabbri be so ticked off at them (well, that and still paying them handsomely)? UH has, simply put, never been involved in a partwork this large. I genuinely think that in the end, they bit off more than they could chew and just did not have the resources.
*On a forum I visit regularly, I think someone summed it up nicely when they described one particular model, the LALD Chevy Impala Convertible, as "Certainly good enough for a James Bond diorama, but on its own, nothing special as far as quality goes". The "lesser models" during this era in UH's production could be described fairly well as that (with the exceptions of the Falcon Ranchero and GT40...ICK!).
While Ixo re-uses the moulds (I guess we will see all, even the Range Rover convertible, re-released in different colours - except the Bondola of course), thus spreading the casting costs on far more models, and is still not capable to provide figures with all of their cars. Yes, the Ixo cars are nice but a plain black Consul without figures leaves me rather cold.
Fair, but again I ask what's the difference between cars like the Anglia, the Kawasaki Motorcycle and sidecar (had a rider, but even Ixo would have done that with a motorcycle...the diorama, I thought, was on the boring side), and the Rollers excluding Goldfinger's Phantom III Sedanca de Ville? The Ford Edge, to be fair, was a good model, and its lack of figures cannot be blamed on UH or Fabbri simply because they just can't do the Daniel Craig era Bond figures. But those other models...why are they any better than Ixo? Also, Issue 110, which we know is coming. Admittedly, they couldn't have put Daniel Craig in there. But the diorama seemed out of place and the weathering was pretty poor. The door seemed removed in the pictures, not ripped off. THIS is why you're seeing Ixo take over. UH may once have been able to get the job done, but it's proven to me that it can no longer do so. And if you're not going to get figures in any scenario, which do you choose? Late U.H. which got next to nothing right or Ixo, which at least is doing the cars right?
Diecast007 said: "UH or Ixo - again not bothered" - and I think he's right. We now tend to see the UH as the inferior offerings but in fact UH gave us much more value for money than Ixo. And most UH were really well done, especially the damaged cars and the Goldfinger Rolls. However, quality was inconsistent - something Ixo probably will do better. But bottom line is: Ixo can recoup their costs better with re-releases, so figures and better dioramas should not be a such a big problem. And I would rather pay a little more instead of having such bland dioramas.
No. It's not that UH gave inferior overall offerings throughout, because they didn't. It's that UH did so consistently right at the end with the exception of one car (two if we include the Ford Edge). Now, why can't Ixo include figures or make better dioramas? Well, for one thing, seeing as none of us know what the issues past 110 are going to be, we don't even know if that's going to continue. As I mentioned, my contact said that there were some discussions ongoing about that. I don't know how they're going to wind up, but I can say that if they're talking about it, then they're not just blindly ignoring us. They're also a pretty car-centric company. I think part of it goes with the territory with Fabbri perhaps needing to twist Ixo's arm and the other part is just being overextended.
But what about if Ixo fails to deliver or maybe includes nice dioramas but weak figures or vice versa? I've said it before and I'll say it again: Ixo is running on overload. All of their normal releases (Ixo Classic, Ixo Museum, Ixo Premium X, Ist) are being delayed more and more, some of their cars for hobby dealers are starting to get disproportionately delayed, and all the while, they're expanding their markets not only geographically (they're going to get more dealers in the US...you heard it here first), but also in terms of scale. They're now going to make a 1/18 scale line of cars. And a 1/43 scale line of trucks (granted, they've all been East Bloc so far and it's for one partwork, but rumor has it they may expand into 1/43 western trucks). They have two more partworks (one which will not re-use moulds) scheduled for release, too.
if it can be done convincingly [regarding the "Vanish"]
Ixo, if you have anyone reading this, I have one word: vacuforming. I'd LOVE to see this car done, but it has to be done convincingly or else the effect will be ruined.
I can't believe they have extended this again! Another 20!
I'm pretty sure they know that serious collectors who have stuck it out this far won't quit on a series. So this really feels like they are taking advantage of us. We're in deep, and they know it.
I can't believe they have extended this again! Another 20!
I'm pretty sure they know that serious collectors who have stuck it out this far won't quit on a series. So this really feels like they are taking advantage of us. We're in deep, and they know it.
hi, i think its great news....i have beeen subscriber from day 1......i dont look on this exyension as being taken advantage of....i look on it as being catered for......most of these models are not available anywhere else and another 20?.....bring 'em on !!!
I can't believe they have extended this again! Another 20!
I'm pretty sure they know that serious collectors who have stuck it out this far won't quit on a series. So this really feels like they are taking advantage of us. We're in deep, and they know it.
hi, i think its great news....i have beeen subscriber from day 1......i dont look on this exyension as being taken advantage of....i look on it as being catered for......most of these models are not available anywhere else and another 20?.....bring 'em on !!!
well done fabbri
I agree entirely this is great news. What about a heads up on what is coming?
But what about if Ixo fails to deliver or maybe includes nice dioramas but weak figures or vice versa? I've said it before and I'll say it again: Ixo is running on overload. All of their normal releases (Ixo Classic, Ixo Museum, Ixo Premium X, Ist) are being delayed more and more, some of their cars for hobby dealers are starting to get disproportionately delayed, and all the while, they're expanding their markets not only geographically (they're going to get more dealers in the US...you heard it here first), but also in terms of scale. They're now going to make a 1/18 scale line of cars. And a 1/43 scale line of trucks (granted, they've all been East Bloc so far and it's for one partwork, but rumor has it they may expand into 1/43 western trucks). They have two more partworks (one which will not re-use moulds) scheduled for release, too.
One point on this, and I have no idea whether it has any weight or not, before this series started I hadn't heard of UH or IXO, despite many years of model car collecting from huge players like Corgi and Minichamps to small resin kit companies. I might be alone in this or it could just be a UK thing, but I would imagine IXO's involvement with the James Bond machine has to be raising their profile considerably in important markets worldwide. Therefore wouldn't it make sense for them to prioritise the JB models and expand their operations albeit temporarily to accommodate the extra workload, maybe contracting out figures, bases etc?
Please, light comments on this post only. Critical analysis is not welcome.
I think IXO have been supplying French Partworks with 1/43 trucks for some time now (Michelin and Citroen series) and very good ones too. IXO don't really need publicity in UK although not available from toy shops or modelzone type outlets their own ranges are available from most serious car model suppliers and I guess that they may even outsell Corgi model cars in UK given how few models Corgi produce nowadays.
Difference between IXO and UH is that IXO do have their own established retail range as well as doing contract work. THey wont have missed the fact that their US outline JB models have been going to the states in substantial numbers. UH did have a tie up with Jouef at one time but do not have the same branding and distribution as IXO and seem happier sticking to contract work. Having said that they have clearly produced a lot of perfectly acceptable models for Altaya continental part works such as Citroen DS range etc. Think they also did the Voitures D'Antan and othe Altaya ranges as well. I guess that Fabbri may have had an exclusive deal with UH hence no re-issues in other part works but don't think IXO would do that unless very handsomely paid for sole mould rights.
Spoke to Database Factory this morning. 108 is available back order now. They confirmed the fact that series is extended to 130 and said that they are waiting to hear from FAbbri what the extra parts will be - have offered to send me a listing when available.
In light of what moviecarfan just said until starting this collection I had never heard of
Uh or ixo also? I have collected diecast since mid 1980's. Incidently a preordered vanguard ford Granada mk2 arrived this morning costing £17.00. The quality is good but no where near as good as even the poorest offering in this collection. I think this collection is fantastic value and full credit to uh, ixo or whoever for pulling it off. Ok there has been delays but nothing like the delays you experience with corgi releases.!
I think IXO have been supplying French Partworks with 1/43 trucks for some time now (Michelin and Citroen series) and very good ones too. IXO don't really need publicity in UK although not available from toy shops or modelzone type outlets their own ranges are available from most serious car model suppliers and I guess that they may even outsell Corgi model cars in UK given how few models Corgi produce nowadays.
Even since the series moved over to IXO I have only come across occasional mention of their models amongst lengthy lists of other manufacturers products in major UK publications such as Model Collector - but had no awareness of them beforehand. I can only assume that, as you say, the UK market may be of little importance to them hence the lack of familiarity with their products here. It just seems odd that Fabbri would choose a company that wouldn't want to take full advantage of the JB franchise and open up substantial new markets on the back of it 8-) Maybe Fabbri didn't have much choice.
Just to echo Diecast007, I received the special club edition Ford Capri from Corgi this morning - very nice but not fantastically better than the JBCC models and more than twice the price!
Please, light comments on this post only. Critical analysis is not welcome.
Comments
Initially a friend of a friend (is very good friends with a guy I buy Brooklin 1/43 from on eBay), but was introduced via email. I suppose I owe you an explanation: remember how I kept saying and hinting at how they wanted to go to Bond 23? I was literally being told that by this guy...and as it turned out having hints dropped all over myself and missing them completely, since the goal of extending it to 130 is to get in Bond 23 cars.
I would bet that we won't see figures and dioramas from IXO. Its not that IXO can't do them I think that it is simply a matter of cost. Painting figures and sticking them in and making and painting one-off dioramas takes labour and with rising labour costs in China I think that the original price point that Fabbri have stuck to means it is now too expensive to do a diorama and figures and maintain everyone's margins whereas a printed backdrop costs very little. If they were selling at £9.99 I think that it might be different. Similarly I would expect IXO to re-use or mould swap wherever possible to maximise profit and where they produce entirely new moulds they will have an eye on re-use in other ranges. So with the Eastern European part works to plunder I guess Gaz "jeeps", Lada Niva's etc are quite likely to appear, and items like the decapitated bus less so. Fabbri are undoubtedly aware that many of the sales later in the series have been from general collectors not just Bond Fans so I suspect they will have an eye on that as well.
I also suspect that we will continue at one a month on the newstands for the simple reason that that buys them time to find out what cars are in next bond and to develop the models. If we reckon that the balance is something like 6 from the new Bond movie and 14 from old ones that gives them over a year at one per month before the new ones appear which is long enough. Rumours suggest IXO can go from nothing to a boxed model in about 6 weeks if they want to and have line capacity so that basically gives them about a year to get all the info in and start on next bond models.
I wonder which car makers have won the product placement battle for the next Bond? I bet this board will be alive with speculation when this is announced - I guess it may be close since Fabbri must have been in close touch with Bond Production company before extending.
It's added
DN 1961 Chevrolet Impala Four-Door Sedan (This was Felix's Chase Car)
FRWL Chevy 1-Ton Stakebed Truck
FRWL Kerim Bey's Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith
GF Merc 180 bad guys pursuit car
GF Merc 220S Odd Job car
TB 1964 Lincoln Continental Lehmann-Peterson stretch limo
TB 1965 Lincoln Continental 4-door convertible (top up)*
TB Fiona Volpe's BSA motorcycle
TB Bomb Sled with Tow Sled outriders
OHMSS Draco's Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow convertible
DAF Ford LVPD police car (blue/white)
DAF 1971 Ford Thunderbird
DAF Honda tricycle from Moonbuggy chase
DAF Bathosub
LALD AEC REGENT Bus without top deck
LALD Power boat crashed into side of Sheriff Pepper's car
LALD 1973 Chevy Bel Air Louisiana State Police
MR Shuttle
MR Cable Car
FYEO 1974 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL
AVTAK American LaFrance Fire engine
TLD Audi 200 Avant (but please a real 200 and no Audi V8 clone)
TLD Wales & Edwards Rangemaster Milk Float
TLD 59 Chevy Impala Convertible
LTK Kenworth
LTK Lincoln Mk. VII Coupe (Felix's Lincoln)
LTK Dodge Ram Pickup
GE UAZ-469B/UAZ-31512 4x4
TND BMW R1200C bike
TWINE Lada Niva
DAD Invisible Aston Martin Vanquish
DAD Rocket sled
CR Ford Mondeo
D110 - feel free to add your last suggestions. The OHMSS Escort would probably be a real winner in the UK, the real car has a considerable following now with rapidly escalating prices for the car itself and original parts.
Please, light comments on this post only. Critical analysis is not welcome.
Some interesting points here. Bearing in mind how long the series has been running and will continue to run, it's a wonder the £7.99 price tag hasn't been raised anyway.
On the subject of dioramas/ figures, if, as D110 suggests, some IXO models already exist such as the GF Merc 180D, I wouldn't have thought it too much to ask for figures to be added would it? They could even pop them in a bag for us to add if they're strapped for time on the production line (just joking)
As a point of interest regarding the collection being aimed away from subscribers, who obviously receive every single model, I wonder where the 'peaks and troughs' are with back issue sales? Has the LaSalle been a runaway winner for instance? Are Fabbri building up an enormous stock of unsold GT40s?
BTW, I can also confirm that according to the people at JBCC issues 75,77,78,79 & 80 are no longer available, but 106 (which had a question mark over it earlier) is available.
I really, really hope Bond's ride in 23 won't be a Bentley. Such an old man's motor (sorry to any Bentley drivers reading this, but it really is compared to an Aston). I thought the Alfas in QOS were an inspired choice and would hope to see the secondary vehicles in 23 being as watchable
Please, light comments on this post only. Critical analysis is not welcome.
The release date for Bond 23 is November 2012 so it's possible even the moviemakers don't know what vehicles are involved yet. Shows how long the JBCC will be running though.
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I am going to stick my neck out and reckon the collection
Will extend beyond 130 to guarantee bond 23 is included.
It was rumoured lotus were indicating an interest with their cars featuring in the next bond. Also BMW hinting at a comeback! What about jaguar Xkr-s as bonds wheels??
Great to see the collection getting a new lease of life and indeed the thread and back on topic. :-)
Guess my theory on 1 a month would still stand if Fabbri put out Bond 23 cars from Nov 2012 at one a month they can spin out collection quite nicely till then. If they just get to know maybe three 23 cars by mid 2012 - by which time trailers will be on the web which usually include at least one vehcile based action sequence - they are on course to keep to 130 I guess. But who knows? Maybe Fabbri will continue to extend the series to include the cars parked outside the cinema when a Bond Film was on....
Adding characters to cars might be done where they could buy in say police or ambulance staff quite easily but I still reckon proper custom figures are unlikely though I only speculate since I know no-one at Fabbri or its agents.
If I had to guess...and yes, I am completely guessing...I would agree. Also some of Ixo's other moulds; the Mercedes-Benz 180D, for example. For example, we're technically getting a 20-car extension to the collection. Let's be conservative and only assume the last four issues are Bond 23. Okay, that means Ixo can plan 16 issues. Now, how many significant...and I do mean significant...cars can Ixo make by re-using its moulds? And I'll include "partial moulds" with that...cars where they've done the trim and would only have to alter the car's body and baseplate. You wind up with the following (an asterisk indicates an altered but existing mould)...
-Mercedes-Benz 180D "Ponton" Chase Car (GF)
-1964 Lincoln Continental Lehmann-Peterson stretch limo (TB)*
-1973 Chevrolet Bel Air 4-door sedan Louisiana State Police (LALD)*
-Scaldia-Volga M24 Luxe Sedan (OP)*
-UAZ-469B/UAZ-31512 4x4 (GE)
-Lada Niva 1600 with truck mirrors (TWINE)
That reduces the number of new moulds Ixo has to turn out/start working on from the ground up to ten. Or, in other words, fully half the number of moulds of the planned collection. By merely re-using three car moulds and making minor modifications to another three from six different films (you could make more for GE with existing moulds...), you reduce work by quite a bit and allow focus to shift to more complex, but also repeatedly-asked-for models that Ixo views it can market elsewhere (and not just the East Bloc...I know for a fact that Ixo PremiumX will be releasing the Econoline, the Country Squire, the Bronco II, and I *think* some variant of the LaSalle/Miller Hearse will be released as an ambulance). It would certainly save them time and effort for when Bond 23 comes out.
Correct. I DID get a (short) email from my friend...again, no discussion of the collection, but said distribution was fair game...in which he reaffirmed that there would be one model officially released per month, but also one model shipped per month. "Anyway, that's what's planned."
Ixo can indeed whip up a mould in six to seven weeks. I know that. Although before I get questioned again, I've made NO SECRET AT ALL of the fact I have a contact that supplies me with reliable information about Ixo (it's thus far proven all true...), though he does not actually work for them and in fact has little interest in the JBCC.
Possible. Remember though, they're going to be releasing one car a month starting with 111 in (I would guess mid to late) October 2011. Therefore...
-Issue 112: November 2011
-Issue 113: December 2011
-Issue 114: January 2012
-Issue 115: February 2012
-Issue 116: March 2012
-Issue 117: April 2012
-Issue 119: May 2012
-Issue 120: June 2012
-Issue 121: July 2012
-Issue 122: August 2012 (When the first trailers start getting released, if they stick to late monthly releases...)
-Issue 123: September 2012
-Issue 124: October 2012
-Issue 125: November 2012 (At the very least, I would expect them to have access to Bond's car at this time for Bond 23)
-Issue 126: December 2012
-Issue 127: January 2013
-Issue 128: February 2013
-Issue 129: March 2013
-Issue 130: April 2013
So, realistically, you're looking at Issues 125 to 130 as being potentially Bond 23, at least. Even if a few months later, certainly by 2013 they would be able to give us Bond 23 cars.
Hoo boy, I hope not. One thing I think we can all agree upon is the collection ending on a strong note, not dying with a whimper. That's everyone on this board, from the most hardcore Bond-Centric to the most hardcore Car-Centric (as he typed staring around innocently in various directions
I can and will gladly answer this. The La Salle has been a runaway winner. So has the Ford Country Squire. I did not get this info, interestingly enough, from my contact at Fabbri (I suppose friend is too strong a word not even knowing his last name). Rather, an eBay dealer buys direct from a Fabbri distributor. The La Salle/Miller Hearse and Ford Country Squire, he said, were rumored as being bought and requested by numerous American buyers via all kinds of secondary market channels; not just eBay. He in turn asked his distributor if he was getting the same kind of demand from other sellers to confirm this. The distributor responded that all sorts of people had been requesting extras and said that these two cars, in particular, were in fact the quickest sellers he had ever doled out. I didn't ask for the slowest sellers, though certainly can if you want. This guy won't clam up on me.
And finally, I'll add my own additions to the list (thanks MCF!)...
DN 1961 Chevrolet Impala Four-Door Sedan (This was Felix's Chase Car)
FRWL Chevy 1-Ton Stakebed Truck
FRWL Kerim Bey's Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith
GF Merc 180 bad guys pursuit car
GF Merc 220S Odd Job car
TB 1964 Lincoln Continental Lehmann-Peterson stretch limo
TB 1965 Lincoln Continental 4-door convertible (top up)*
TB Fiona Volpe's BSA motorcycle
TB Bomb Sled with Tow Sled outriders
YOLT 1964 Dodge Polara 500 Sedan
OHMSS 1968 Ford Escort Mk. I Rallye
OHMSS Draco's Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow convertible
DAF Ford LVPD police car (blue/white)
DAF 1971 Ford Thunderbird
DAF Honda tricycle from Moonbuggy chase
DAF Bathosub
LALD AEC REGENT Bus without top deck
LALD Power boat crashed into side of Sheriff Pepper's car
LALD 1973 Chevy Bel Air Louisiana State Police
TMWTGG 1974 AMC Matador Sedan "Thai Police Car"
MR Shuttle
MR Cable Car
FYEO 1974 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL
OP 1977 (i.e. second generation) Scaldia-Volga M24 Luxe Sedan
AVTAK American LaFrance Fire engine
AVTAK 1984 Jeep Cherokee
TLD Audi 200 Avant (but please a real 200 and no Audi V8 clone)
TLD Wales & Edwards Rangemaster Milk Float
TLD 59 Chevy Impala Street Rod (The more I look at it, the more I think it's a converted sedan...which doesn't bother me, since we've not seen a street rod in a Bond film before or since other than as something that may have been in a parking lot)
LTK Kenworth
LTK Lincoln Mk. VII Coupe (Felix's Lincoln)
LTK Dodge Ram Pickup
LTK Utilimaster Aeromaster Van
GE UAZ-469B/UAZ-31512 4x4
GE VAZ-2106 Sedan St. Petersburg Militsia GAI
TND BMW R1200C bike
TWINE Lada Niva
DAD Invisible Aston Martin Vanquish
DAD Rocket sled
CR Ford Mondeo
CR 2005 Škoda Octavia Police
The screen shot appears to show the red painted leading edge of the roof still in place, whereas the publicity illustration shows a chrome windshield top only. I presume this means the roof has been chopped off the LD car to make it a drophead. It's still a fabulous piece of machinery IMHO
Please, light comments on this post only. Critical analysis is not welcome.
Rumours re lotus for bond 23. A nod to spy who loved me
And nice diecasts too ???
Is this definite? Has anyone else who's spoken to Fabbri been told that the cars will again be issued on a fortnightly basis?
I found this:
....and the associated article:
http://uk.autoblog.com/2011/01/12/one-off-james-bond-lotus-evora-up-for-sale/
Seems it's just a publicity stunt as far as the FYEO livery goes, but I'm guessing the Evora could still be a contender for some form of appearance in 23. If it ends up being DC's ride perhaps silver might be more Bond-ish?.....
Please, light comments on this post only. Critical analysis is not welcome.
Correct! Also note that the chrome on top of the doors doesn't seem to match up perfectly if you drew a straight line. It should if it was a factory convertible. Does anyone have more screenshots of this car?
Of course, if Fabbri are licensed and in a good relationship with the film producers (as they seem to be), they may know what cars will be used before the movie is released. But the release their models they need a lot more than this - they need to make dioramas based on scenes that are actually are in the movie. An this is where the problem is. However, if they only release one model a month, this will not be a problem - they will just have to leave all Bond 23 vehicles until the end of the collection.
My suggestion and request to all subscribers: let's ask Fabbri (nicely) to issue free subscribers' gifts. I think those who have subscribed for so long deserve this.
I will not be making a list of models I would like to see (others have done a good job), but would love to see more Russian cars - Lada, UAZ, Volga etc.
I have my fingers crossed for some free gifts, I tell you, we deserve them!
Here's a couple more taken off the TV screen - crude, but hopefully reasonably clear. The Impala wasn't really seen fully other than in a distance shot unfortunately, but from what I could make out the wheels looked like standard 50s skinnies.
I believe it was meant to look something like this:
Or this model:
To be honest, if Fabbri provided us with a bog standard 59 Impala convertible in red with maybe figures of the girls and Bond I for one would be happy enough to overlook any minor inaccuracies related to LD. Lets face it, it wouldn't be the first time, would it? (LD Audi, TND BMW, LD Aston) And whoever makes it would have the opportunity to carry on marketing the model in different colours in other standard ranges
Please, light comments on this post only. Critical analysis is not welcome.
I really find this odd, and this brings me to something maz said yesterday:
So how is this possible? UH did make the models exclusively for the Bond collection, some even with damaged bodywork which prevents further use of the moulds without extensive modifications (e.g. the Sherpa van could surely be sold in many different company liveries, or there is not even another 1/43 model of a '69 Cougar) AND they could even include proper figures and elaborate dioramas. While Ixo re-uses the moulds (I guess we will see all, even the Range Rover convertible, re-released in different colours - except the Bondola of course), thus spreading the casting costs on far more models, and is still not capable to provide figures with all of their cars. Yes, the Ixo cars are nice but a plain black Consul without figures leaves me rather cold.
Diecast007 said: "UH or Ixo - again not bothered" - and I think he's right. We now tend to see the UH as the inferior offerings but in fact UH gave us much more value for money than Ixo. And most UH were really well done, especially the damaged cars and the Goldfinger Rolls. However, quality was inconsistent - something Ixo probably will do better. But bottom line is: Ixo can recoup their costs better with re-releases, so figures and better dioramas should not be a such a big problem. And I would rather pay a little more instead of having such bland dioramas.
And some subscriber's gifts really won't be to much now: I am still waiting for the OP horse trailer. And how about a clip-on wing assembly for Scaramanga's AMC? This would be a big thing but done in plastic shouldn't be too costly to produce and mail to the subscribers. (I would even by a second Matador.) I would also see a "invisible" Vanquish (a 1-piece transparent plastic carbody without any interior), if it can be done convincingly, as a free gift rather than a regular release.
Yes, they did all that (but not near the end), which makes me wonder about something: why did they do it? Ixo is a company that believes in turning around and re-using whatever it can wherever it can. And so are Norev and Eligor. But why did UH take a different approach? That is an excellent question, to which I can only guess at the answer...
UH, which I imagine was being paid VERY handsomely by Fabbri, went into the James Bond Car Collection with the mindset of making 20 "one-off" cars. Not much of a partwork, really. No need to re-coup losses. Then they were extended, and continued to make "one-offs". And they kept on making wonderful-quality cars consistently into the 20's. Notice I say consistently. But right after that's also when you start getting "Dinky 48'ing," unpainted interiors in certain cases, and shared baseplates. Remember, UH is nowhere near the big name diecast maker that any of the others involved in this collection (however briefly) were. As an experiment, I decided to measure the scale of the GAZ-31029 Volga, which looked a tad small for a Volga. Sure enough, it's 1/45. And the Leyland Sherpa is smaller than 1/43. Like I said, you're still getting good models, but the inconsistencies start showing. The further into the collection you go, the more inconsistencies you get. Count Lippe's Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner is one of my favorite cars in the collection produced by UH, but let's face it: if you're comparing it to the much earlier Sunbeam Alpine, which model wins the quality award there*? Now you go into the 80's and 90's and some (not all) of the cars start to look unfinished and diorama quality is just as bad as Ixo. And then UH's cars stopped coming with figures. UH realized...too late...that they had to make some kind of profit off of this collection, and at that point, you went from inconsistent to consistently bad. Universal Hobbies may have provided figures (past tense), but it became pretty clear that by the end, it was either too much for them monetarily or they just didn't care. Why else, logically, would Fabbri be so ticked off at them (well, that and still paying them handsomely)? UH has, simply put, never been involved in a partwork this large. I genuinely think that in the end, they bit off more than they could chew and just did not have the resources.
*On a forum I visit regularly, I think someone summed it up nicely when they described one particular model, the LALD Chevy Impala Convertible, as "Certainly good enough for a James Bond diorama, but on its own, nothing special as far as quality goes". The "lesser models" during this era in UH's production could be described fairly well as that (with the exceptions of the Falcon Ranchero and GT40...ICK!).
Fair, but again I ask what's the difference between cars like the Anglia, the Kawasaki Motorcycle and sidecar (had a rider, but even Ixo would have done that with a motorcycle...the diorama, I thought, was on the boring side), and the Rollers excluding Goldfinger's Phantom III Sedanca de Ville? The Ford Edge, to be fair, was a good model, and its lack of figures cannot be blamed on UH or Fabbri simply because they just can't do the Daniel Craig era Bond figures. But those other models...why are they any better than Ixo? Also, Issue 110, which we know is coming. Admittedly, they couldn't have put Daniel Craig in there. But the diorama seemed out of place and the weathering was pretty poor. The door seemed removed in the pictures, not ripped off. THIS is why you're seeing Ixo take over. UH may once have been able to get the job done, but it's proven to me that it can no longer do so. And if you're not going to get figures in any scenario, which do you choose? Late U.H. which got next to nothing right or Ixo, which at least is doing the cars right?
No. It's not that UH gave inferior overall offerings throughout, because they didn't. It's that UH did so consistently right at the end with the exception of one car (two if we include the Ford Edge). Now, why can't Ixo include figures or make better dioramas? Well, for one thing, seeing as none of us know what the issues past 110 are going to be, we don't even know if that's going to continue. As I mentioned, my contact said that there were some discussions ongoing about that. I don't know how they're going to wind up, but I can say that if they're talking about it, then they're not just blindly ignoring us. They're also a pretty car-centric company. I think part of it goes with the territory with Fabbri perhaps needing to twist Ixo's arm and the other part is just being overextended.
But what about if Ixo fails to deliver or maybe includes nice dioramas but weak figures or vice versa? I've said it before and I'll say it again: Ixo is running on overload. All of their normal releases (Ixo Classic, Ixo Museum, Ixo Premium X, Ist) are being delayed more and more, some of their cars for hobby dealers are starting to get disproportionately delayed, and all the while, they're expanding their markets not only geographically (they're going to get more dealers in the US...you heard it here first), but also in terms of scale. They're now going to make a 1/18 scale line of cars. And a 1/43 scale line of trucks (granted, they've all been East Bloc so far and it's for one partwork, but rumor has it they may expand into 1/43 western trucks). They have two more partworks (one which will not re-use moulds) scheduled for release, too.
Ixo, if you have anyone reading this, I have one word: vacuforming. I'd LOVE to see this car done, but it has to be done convincingly or else the effect will be ruined.
I'm pretty sure they know that serious collectors who have stuck it out this far won't quit on a series. So this really feels like they are taking advantage of us. We're in deep, and they know it.
hi, i think its great news....i have beeen subscriber from day 1......i dont look on this exyension as being taken advantage of....i look on it as being catered for......most of these models are not available anywhere else and another 20?.....bring 'em on !!!
well done fabbri
One point on this, and I have no idea whether it has any weight or not, before this series started I hadn't heard of UH or IXO, despite many years of model car collecting from huge players like Corgi and Minichamps to small resin kit companies. I might be alone in this or it could just be a UK thing, but I would imagine IXO's involvement with the James Bond machine has to be raising their profile considerably in important markets worldwide. Therefore wouldn't it make sense for them to prioritise the JB models and expand their operations albeit temporarily to accommodate the extra workload, maybe contracting out figures, bases etc?
Please, light comments on this post only. Critical analysis is not welcome.
Difference between IXO and UH is that IXO do have their own established retail range as well as doing contract work. THey wont have missed the fact that their US outline JB models have been going to the states in substantial numbers. UH did have a tie up with Jouef at one time but do not have the same branding and distribution as IXO and seem happier sticking to contract work. Having said that they have clearly produced a lot of perfectly acceptable models for Altaya continental part works such as Citroen DS range etc. Think they also did the Voitures D'Antan and othe Altaya ranges as well. I guess that Fabbri may have had an exclusive deal with UH hence no re-issues in other part works but don't think IXO would do that unless very handsomely paid for sole mould rights.
Spoke to Database Factory this morning. 108 is available back order now. They confirmed the fact that series is extended to 130 and said that they are waiting to hear from FAbbri what the extra parts will be - have offered to send me a listing when available.
Uh or ixo also? I have collected diecast since mid 1980's. Incidently a preordered vanguard ford Granada mk2 arrived this morning costing £17.00. The quality is good but no where near as good as even the poorest offering in this collection. I think this collection is fantastic value and full credit to uh, ixo or whoever for pulling it off. Ok there has been delays but nothing like the delays you experience with corgi releases.!
Even since the series moved over to IXO I have only come across occasional mention of their models amongst lengthy lists of other manufacturers products in major UK publications such as Model Collector - but had no awareness of them beforehand. I can only assume that, as you say, the UK market may be of little importance to them hence the lack of familiarity with their products here. It just seems odd that Fabbri would choose a company that wouldn't want to take full advantage of the JB franchise and open up substantial new markets on the back of it 8-) Maybe Fabbri didn't have much choice.
Just to echo Diecast007, I received the special club edition Ford Capri from Corgi this morning - very nice but not fantastically better than the JBCC models and more than twice the price!
Please, light comments on this post only. Critical analysis is not welcome.