Diecast007...awesome reply! Basically, to second MCF, yeah, we were kinda playing around with theoreticals. But I digress.
Just got the VAZ-2106 Zhiguli in the mail today and (surprise!) I love it! Unfortunately, the description of the car in the magazine is excessively poor. Here's a list of some errors...
-The VAZ-2106 was not chosen as the Russian Car of the 20th Century by any Russian or CIS magazine. What they really did was take the Zhiguli series AS A WHOLE and called it the Russian Car of the 20th Century.
-AvtoVAZ didn't exist until after the fall of the Soviet Union. The Fiat-Soviet agreement resulted in the creation of the Volzhskiy Avtomobilniy Zavod (Volga River Automobile Plant...NOT to be confused to the actual car sold as the "Volga", which is made by GAZ), or VAZ.
-The VAZ-2106 was a facelifted and improved variant of the VAZ-2103, which was based on the Fiat 124 Special T (NOT the Special). The VAZ-2106 had nothing to do with the 124 Special T other than being descended from a car (the VAZ-2103) that was descended from the 124 Special T.
-I would disagree that the VAZ-2106 was better quality than most Soviet cars. Just about any limousine as well as the GAZ-24 Volga, GAZ-24-10 Volga, and GAZ-3102 Volga were all of higher quality.
-What really killed the VAZ-2106 was not lack of investment, but the decision to focus all manufacturing (remember, this is 2001) on the VAZ-2107, which is the most upscale Zhiguli variant and remains in production to this day. Although it looked dated, that was actually a reason people were buying it (as well as the VAZ-2107)! Although it couldn't meet emissions standards, I'm not aware of the final production models failing to meet domestic safety requirements.
Also, we finally get a look at the badges on the mockups. Hooray! They appear to be "LADA 1600" badges.
Ok folks after speaking to Trading Standards I did email Database factory and i got this response.
"We are sorry you feel that there has been a difference in the quality of recent issues of the James Bond Car Collection. That’s certainly not the intention. It has always been the case that some but not all of the cars feature figurines, and the complexity of the replica scenes varies according to the scene that we are able to recreate. Recent models are extremely similar to say issues 16, 17, 22, 21, 32, 35 and so on.
There are also some licensing issues relating to the use of certain actor’s licenses in the collection. This is why there are no figurines in the cars from the most recent movies. I hope you will be reassured to hear that there are several more complicated movie scenes in development and that there will be more figurines in the forthcoming releases. "
Oh well , better than expected with complicated movie scenes in development and figurines to look forward too !!
Brilliant - well done that man! {[] Great news that the figure and diorama side of things clearly hasn't been forgotten or isn't 'off the menu' as feared. It's also good that they are prepared to talk about the series in reasonably informative terms rather than the more remote and disinterested 'PR speak' that I mentioned. I think we all know who the 'certain actor' is too - and you can't blame him, in the movie game he could be out of work in ten years time so has good reason to claim licence fees for likenesses.
I have to agree (again), well done Diecast, and good to see that Fabbri's answer wasn't some standardized text. However, I had to look up the "extremely similar" issues as I only recalled the Dr. No Bel Air as being without figures. Issues 16, 17, 22, 21, 32, 35 are the street Esprit, Sunbeam Alpine, Corvorado, Cougar, Mercedes 600 and the white Mustang, and while they are all on a road diorama every one of them includes at least one figure. So if the recent models would be extremely similar to these issues we would not have a reason to complain ...
Anyway, I want to again take you back to this long bygone era when the JBCC cars were accompanied by great dioramas and figures – to the last two issues of the French test series (issues 1-3 can be found on pp. 95 & 155, 96 and 104). Apologies that it did take that long, some things this year (like my girlfriend falling from a horse and getting seriously injured) didn't make model cars the top priority in my life (but still provided a most welcome distraction).
Issue 4:
BMW Z8 • LE MONDE NE SUFFIT PAS
This was released on December 29, 2005 and is the same casting as no. 350021 from Norev's range, of course painted silver instead of blue, and outfitted with a closed convertible top (which I don't know of ever being used in the standard range). Again, there are some simplifications on the JBCC model to somehow justify the price difference, the missing BMW emblems on the wheels are obvious.
After the first three of UH's JBCC models were based on Eligor's and Norev's castings, the Z8 was the first clearly different from its French predecessor. I much prefer Norev's Z8 over the UH. The wheels of the UH BMW are much too small, the proportions of the car remind me more of a Fiat Barchetta than a Z8. However, the details on the UH are better, you get the wheel emblems and red and black prints on the missiles.
I prefer the earlier diorama a little bit. I like how the planks are bowing upwards and that the buzzsaw doesn't just look like a toothed wheel. The UH diorama is still very good, with more of the buzzsaw assembly visible, the car mounted at a slight angle and the wood a lighter brown. The two pictures without the blister are from www.modelissimo.de.
And this brings us to issue 5:
JAGUAR XKR • MEURS UN AUTRE JOUR
Released on January 13, 2006 and concluding the French test of the JBCC, this seems to be the most elusive model of the test series. I had hoped that by the time I would come to issue 5 I would have one in my possession. All the others I have seen at least once in the last year but I still couldn't find one of the XKR's. So I have to rely once again on www.modelissimo.de.
While the two cars look very similar I think that the bonnet vents on the Norev version may be a little shorter than on the UH model. It's obvious that the UH diorama is much better; Norev's base looks more like water and not ice. Not much else to compare without the model ...
Let's hope that future issues will return to the brilliant quality of the early issues. Maybe the 450 SEL was pushed back to make a great diorama for this one?
Let's hope that future issues will return to the brilliant quality of the early issues. Maybe the 450 SEL was pushed back to make a great diorama for this one?
Terrific stuff on the Norev models as always, RW! Good luck with finding the Jag...I've no doubt you'll eventually find one.
Regarding this last quote, that would change a number of things. If they do that literal cliffhanger with Bond, Locque, and the 450SEL...then I'm ready to say it's the best diorama they've done without even seeing it. But, as you point out...
Issues 16, 17, 22, 21, 32, 35 are the street Esprit, Sunbeam Alpine, Corvorado, Cougar, Mercedes 600 and the white Mustang, and while they are all on a road diorama every one of them includes at least one figure. So if the recent models would be extremely similar to these issues we would not have a reason to complain ...
I agree. I'll believe figures and likenesses when I see figures and likenesses. Those cars mentioned were truly fine models...certainly up to par with what Ixo is offering. I'm betting that's what they mean.
The DAD XKR in my opinion is one of the last true gadget bond vehicles . The james bond car collection version is superb. I would like to see an XK8 also seen in DAD in front of the ice palace. Yes it was only a bit part but no less than a number of vehicles making there way on to the collection. The current XKR-S would be a perfect contender as a Bond car for SKYFALL.
Still think the vanish would be perfect as an edition or as one off special.
Thanks again for sharing your French market-test collection with us, RW. Good luck with your search for a XKR
I'll second that - RW, your postings on these cars make fascinating reading. Up until you started showing us and describing these models, I didn't even know variants of the JBCC existed.
Also, we finally get a look at the badges on the mockups. Hooray! They appear to be "LADA 1600" badges.
And the car itself? NO COMPLAINTS!!!! -{
Hello, my first post, although I have been following the forum on the collection for a couple of years. But this is the first time I've had a question.
My Vaz 2106 is still labelled as a LAda Niva on the boot lid - are you saying that yours has the more correct Lada 1600 badge? If so, I think I should call Fabbri for ma replacment!
It has been interesting reading everyones comments over the years!!
Hello SWJ, welcome to the forum! I think Dalko refers to the magazine and photos of full-size mockups that were destroyed during the filming of the tank chase. The models will all have the Lada Niva badge.
Thanks guys for your interest in the test models. I am sure sooner or later an XKR will show up. Funny thing is, when they were new there were lots of them available. I first found out about these models when looking on Ebay for Bond Astons and Lotus, and the first three models had been released by then. I ordered two of the DB5 for 8 euros (was quite disappointed at first that I got an Eligor too as the photo was of the better Norev DB5), and one each of the Vanquish and Esprit, as shipping was the same for up to four models from the dealer.
And I wanted to order the Z8 and XKR along with the next two. Of course I didn't know then that this was just a test and there would be no more after the XKR. And then I couldn't find a dealer who had both, or did charge to much for shipping or didn't ship outside France. Still, they were plentiful and I never had the feeling that soon they would be gone completely.
But that is the most interesting part in collecting: the hunt for things. The items we have already in the collection are nice to look at but it's the things that we don't yet have that are more interesting (at least from my point of view). Things that come up on Ebay, and those few days left until the auction ends ...
I wouldn't be surprised if the JBCC cars I do not buy not will be the ones I will be desperately looking for in a few years time.
The white Mercedes and the Lada Police car have arrived. They are both models that could command a price of about £17.50 in a model shop, without question. Unfortunately, they both arrived damaged - Mercedes - defective paint, Lada, missing indicator lamp. Not many of my models have been damaged, unlike some posters on here, but they have agreed to send me new ones. Pretty good service I would say. I remain happy with the collection!
Also, we finally get a look at the badges on the mockups. Hooray! They appear to be "LADA 1600" badges.
My Vaz 2106 is still labelled as a LAda Niva on the boot lid - are you saying that yours has the more correct Lada 1600 badge?
Diecast007 said on page 159 that the badge actually says Lada Riva, not Niva. I believe this would still be wrong as I understand the Riva was the VAZ-2105, whereas as mentioned, the VAZ-2106 would have been badged as Lada 1600 in the West.
Okay, with regards to the Lada badging thing, I better address that... )
Rainier Wolfcastle was correct about what I was saying...that is, the mockups of the car in the film (and you can see this in the magazine) clearly say "LADA 1600" on the badge (food for thought: ever wonder if they recycled any of the Lada 1600's from TLD that were mocked up as Czechoslovakian Verejna Bezpecnost for the to-be-crushed mockups?). The models all say "LADA NIVA".
I believe this would still be wrong as I understand the Riva was the VAZ-2105, whereas as mentioned, the VAZ-2106 would have been badged as Lada 1600 in the West.
Okay, not quite, but almost. The system the Soviets had of badging these things is almost incomprehensible to anyone who tries to decipher it, and that includes East Bloc car nuts like me.
Let's start out with the designation "Lada Riva". It didn't come along until the 1980's and was used only in the West. Technically, while no Lada 1600's were badged as Lada Rivas, they WERE sold as them. Likewise in Brazil, the car was called the "Lada Laika", but still featured Lada 1600 badging. But by the same token, not all VAZ-2106's were badged as either "VAZ-2106 ZHIGULI" (in Cyrillic) or even "LADA 1600". You'll also find "LADA 2106" during the 80's exported to certain East Bloc and Comecon countries. "LADA 2106" was also a shortening at times if the VAZ-2106-based car had a downrated engine. You also sometimes had side badges indicating that the car's engine had been downrated (for example, "LADA 2106" with "1500" a few inches aft and above the rear wheel wells, for example...amusingly, Ixo's Polish partwork does a Lada 2107 badged as such with the engine downrated to the 1300 option, as indicated by side badging). Now, to really confuse the heck out of you, it turns out that there IS a Lada Riva 1600 and a Lada Riva 1600i...but both are based on the VAZ-2107, NOT the VAZ-2106 (though they do use the same engine)! To make matters MORE confusing, there's also a Lada Nova 1600...but that either used the VAZ-2105 OR VAZ-2107 as a basis, though never the VAZ-2106! Clear as mud, huh?
Dalko - Mercedes has arrived. Not unpacked it yet but from what I can see in box it is an excellent model. Of course the IXO headlights show the fitting through them as ever but otherwise a very nice model for the car centrics amongst us. For Bond collectors it may lack some pizzaz.
Was surprised in previous post to hear that database factory have said there will be more dioramas... I look forward to seeing them but am somewhat sceptical but clearly Fabbri/Eaglemoss have told them they are coming or they wouldn't have said this.
Have ordered the "Lada" and am looking forward to getting that - hopefully before Christmas..
I know Its a change of subject,but does anybody know how the 1/8 scale DB5 is progressing?Only I noticed the bonnet,in the newsagents and wondered how close it is to completion?I know its not JBCC,but I'm just interested to know.
Hi Winnie, the DB5 subscribers in the UK reached the halfway point in October with Issues 40-43 delivered. They should now have up to Issue 47 from November and I suppose there are another four this month. The final issues should arrive in September 2012.
Back to the JBCC, I get Issue 90 next week and then it's 20 left for next year until the original final issue of 110, which should be available also in September 2012. I'm still deciding whether to continue with the extension, if indeed the local distributor even offers it.
I know Its a change of subject,but does anybody know how the 1/8 scale DB5 is progressing?Only I noticed the bonnet,in the newsagents and wondered how close it is to completion?I know its not JBCC,but I'm just interested to know.
With regards to the cars and dioramas argument,I want them to go balls out with the henchmans car in Goldfinger,the 1958 Mercedes 220s,henchmen hanging out the side and everything.
Okay, with regards to the Lada badging thing, I better address that... )
Rainier Wolfcastle was correct about what I was saying...that is, the mockups of the car in the film (and you can see this in the magazine) clearly say "LADA 1600" on the badge (food for thought: ever wonder if they recycled any of the Lada 1600's from TLD that were mocked up as Czechoslovakian Verejna Bezpecnost for the to-be-crushed mockups?). The models all say "LADA NIVA".
I believe this would still be wrong as I understand the Riva was the VAZ-2105, whereas as mentioned, the VAZ-2106 would have been badged as Lada 1600 in the West.
Okay, not quite, but almost. The system the Soviets had of badging these things is almost incomprehensible to anyone who tries to decipher it, and that includes East Bloc car nuts like me.
Let's start out with the designation "Lada Riva". It didn't come along until the 1980's and was used only in the West. Technically, while no Lada 1600's were badged as Lada Rivas, they WERE sold as them. Likewise in Brazil, the car was called the "Lada Laika", but still featured Lada 1600 badging. But by the same token, not all VAZ-2106's were badged as either "VAZ-2106 ZHIGULI" (in Cyrillic) or even "LADA 1600". You'll also find "LADA 2106" during the 80's exported to certain East Bloc and Comecon countries. "LADA 2106" was also a shortening at times if the VAZ-2106-based car had a downrated engine. You also sometimes had side badges indicating that the car's engine had been downrated (for example, "LADA 2106" with "1500" a few inches aft and above the rear wheel wells, for example...amusingly, Ixo's Polish partwork does a Lada 2107 badged as such with the engine downrated to the 1300 option, as indicated by side badging). Now, to really confuse the heck out of you, it turns out that there IS a Lada Riva 1600 and a Lada Riva 1600i...but both are based on the VAZ-2107, NOT the VAZ-2106 (though they do use the same engine)! To make matters MORE confusing, there's also a Lada Nova 1600...but that either used the VAZ-2105 OR VAZ-2107 as a basis, though never the VAZ-2106! Clear as mud, huh?
Dalko - Mercedes has arrived. Not unpacked it yet but from what I can see in box it is an excellent model. Of course the IXO headlights show the fitting through them as ever but otherwise a very nice model for the car centrics amongst us. For Bond collectors it may lack some pizzaz.
I agree with this. Of course, regarding the headlights, just poke them out and file the backs down. Works every time for me.
Was surprised in previous post to hear that database factory have said there will be more dioramas... I look forward to seeing them but am somewhat sceptical but clearly Fabbri/Eaglemoss have told them they are coming or they wouldn't have said this.
They could be trying to negotiate, although as I said earlier, I'll believe it when I see it.
Have ordered the "Lada" and am looking forward to getting that - hopefully before Christmas..
My Russian friends like this one in terms of its accurately portraying a St. Petersburg Militsia GAI car, save the Niva badge and to a far lesser extent the license plates. If they like it, that generally means that not only Ixo, but EON also got it right.
No just the truth. Most of them are based on old fiat 124 from the sixties. I think its a compliment and a credit to the old car that it continues well into the new millenium albeit as derivatives from the original.
I have owned Fiats, Lancias and Alfaromeo all fantastic motor cars but the bottom line is compared to the other marques they are not the best or the most reliable but that is all part of their charm. I think the same can be said for most eastern block cars especially from a western europe point of view
In the eighties and early nineties Lada was very popular here in the Uk as it offered people a brand new car at the fraction of the cost of the equivalent Ford or vauxhall or European offerings. Most ended up as Taxi's, then there was a big export market of used ones going back to eastern europe after the wall came down in Germany and the break up of the USSR.
Closer to home My father even considered a new Lada 1600 unfortunately on opening the drivers door the door card fell off onto the dealership floor . That was enough for him to decide that a two year old Cortina was a more sensible option.
Lada and skoda both bore the brunt of jokes in the UK for along time but Skoda have turned it round in the UK offering a very competent and competitive range of cars. Lada was killed off due european emmission legislation but i believe the marque is to return in 2012 with a new range of cars for the UK/Western European market .
Apologies went off topic a bit. I read the new London Bus is to feature in SKYFALL. This vehicle is modern take on the successful Routemaster of old. It will also see the return of conductors back on the buses in London. The model version is being released by corgi as part of the 1/76 scale collection. I would like to see it as part of this collection evn in 1/50th scale. I would be happy if it was issued as a double issue or even as a 'long forgotten special'. the AEC Regent from LALD i think is still a missed opportunity and London bombings aside should be part of the collection also.
No just the truth. Most of them are based on old fiat 124 from the sixties. I think its a compliment and a credit to the old car that it continues well into the new millenium albeit as derivatives from the original.
I have owned Fiats, Lancias and Alfaromeo all fantastic motor cars but the bottom line is compared to the other marques they are not the best or the most reliable but that is all part of their charm. I think the same can be said for most eastern block cars especially from a western europe point of view
In the eighties and early nineties Lada was very popular here in the Uk as it offered people a brand new car at the fraction of the cost of the equivalent Ford or vauxhall or European offerings. Most ended up as Taxi's, then there was a big export market of used ones going back to eastern europe after the wall came down in Germany and the break up of the USSR.
Closer to home My father even considered a new Lada 1600 unfortunately on opening the drivers door the door card fell off onto the dealership floor . That was enough for him to decide that a two year old Cortina was a more sensible option.
Lada and skoda both bore the brunt of jokes in the UK for along time but Skoda have turned it round in the UK offering a very competent and competitive range of cars. Lada was killed off due european emmission legislation but i believe the marque is to return in 2012 with a new range of cars for the UK/Western European market .
Apologies went off topic a bit. I read the new London Bus is to feature in SKYFALL. This vehicle is modern take on the successful Routemaster of old. It will also see the return of conductors back on the buses in London. The model version is being released by corgi as part of the 1/76 scale collection. I would like to see it as part of this collection evn in 1/50th scale. I would be happy if it was issued as a double issue or even as a 'long forgotten special'. the AEC Regent from LALD i think is still a missed opportunity and London bombings aside should be part of the collection also.
A brand new Lada or a recent, used, but very reliable Ford Cortina......hmmmm...decisions, decisions...... )
I agree with all of your comments as a typical UK petrol head. Back in the 70's and 80's, the only thing more unacceptable here than Ladas, Skodas, FSOs and Wartburgs were Reliant three wheelers. By the way, I think you may have gotten it wrong about the FSO and caravan deal you mentioned, are you sure the FSO wasn't free with the caravan?
Back in the day, the only thing good about any of these cars was that nobody ever stole them, even if the keys were left in them! However, as you say, it's also kind of cool to see the old Fiat 124 still chugging around, abeit as a Lada, a bit like the old Morris Oxfords still made in India.
Regarding the LALD bus, I'm not a bus fan but personally see no reason why this shouldn't have been modelled. I'm from the London area with many relatives and friends there, and don't feel the London bombings are relevant. Maybe if LALD was made after the bombings then possibly there's a vague issue, but the fact is that the LALD bus lost its top under a bridge (which does occasionally happen in the UK) not by terrorist attack.
No just the truth. Most of them are based on old fiat 124 from the sixties. I think its a compliment and a credit to the old car that it continues well into the new millenium albeit as derivatives from the original.
I have owned Fiats, Lancias and Alfaromeo all fantastic motor cars but the bottom line is compared to the other marques they are not the best or the most reliable but that is all part of their charm. I think the same can be said for most eastern block cars especially from a western europe point of view
In the eighties and early nineties Lada was very popular here in the Uk as it offered people a brand new car at the fraction of the cost of the equivalent Ford or vauxhall or European offerings. Most ended up as Taxi's, then there was a big export market of used ones going back to eastern europe after the wall came down in Germany and the break up of the USSR.
Closer to home My father even considered a new Lada 1600 unfortunately on opening the drivers door the door card fell off onto the dealership floor . That was enough for him to decide that a two year old Cortina was a more sensible option.
Lada and skoda both bore the brunt of jokes in the UK for along time but Skoda have turned it round in the UK offering a very competent and competitive range of cars. Lada was killed off due european emmission legislation but i believe the marque is to return in 2012 with a new range of cars for the UK/Western European market .
Apologies went off topic a bit. I read the new London Bus is to feature in SKYFALL. This vehicle is modern take on the successful Routemaster of old. It will also see the return of conductors back on the buses in London. The model version is being released by corgi as part of the 1/76 scale collection. I would like to see it as part of this collection evn in 1/50th scale. I would be happy if it was issued as a double issue or even as a 'long forgotten special'. the AEC Regent from LALD i think is still a missed opportunity and London bombings aside should be part of the collection also.
A brand new Lada or a recent, used, but very reliable Ford Cortina......hmmmm...decisions, decisions...... )
I agree with all of your comments as a typical UK petrol head. Back in the 70's and 80's, the only thing more unacceptable here than Ladas, Skodas, FSOs and Wartburgs were Reliant three wheelers. By the way, I think you may have gotten it wrong about the FSO and caravan deal you mentioned, are you sure the FSO wasn't free with the caravan?
Back in the day, the only thing good about any of these cars was that nobody ever stole them, even if the keys were left in them! However, as you say, it's also kind of cool to see the old Fiat 124 still chugging around, abeit as a Lada, a bit like the old Morris Oxfords still made in India.
Regarding the LALD bus, I'm not a bus fan but personally see no reason why this shouldn't have been modelled. I'm from the London area with many relatives and friends there, and don't feel the London bombings are relevant. Maybe if LALD was made after the bombings then possibly there's a vague issue, but the fact is that the LALD bus lost its top under a bridge (which does occasionally happen in the UK) not by terrorist attack.
Thanks for the link - the Velorex is priceless! I have recently bought a handbuilt model of one:
No just the truth. Most of them are based on old fiat 124 from the sixties. I think its a compliment and a credit to the old car that it continues well into the new millenium albeit as derivatives from the original.
Sort of. The VAZ-2101 was a license-built copy of the Fiat 124 (and the VAZ-2102 of the Fiat 124 Familiare), though was actually inspired by a totally forgotten Bulgarian car called the Pirin-Fiat 124, constructed from complete knockdown kits. Then you had the facelift to the VAZ-2101 and got the two additional sedan derivatives, the VAZ-21011 and VAZ-21013 (I'm not counting the police models), plus the station wagon derivative the VAZ-21021.
But that was it with regards to the Fiat 124 base model. The very different Fiat 124 Special (via Zastava importing them into Yugoslavia, which was a Comecon observer state and traded heavily with the USSR) inspired the VAZ-2103, VAZ-2105, VAZ-2106, and VAZ-2107, plus the VAZ-2104 Station Wagon.
I think the same can be said for most eastern block cars especially from a western europe point of view
Pretty much. Their limousines were usually pretty reliable, as were a great many of their trucks, but the problem with both was that they were comparatively outdated (the GAZ-51, for example, which was designed during the final days of WWII as a light truck, kept on being made until 1975 with ONE major alteration in 1955 plus the materials for the cab changing in 1949).
In the eighties and early nineties Lada was very popular here in the Uk as it offered people a brand new car at the fraction of the cost of the equivalent Ford or vauxhall or European offerings. Most ended up as Taxi's, then there was a big export market of used ones going back to eastern europe after the wall came down in Germany and the break up of the USSR.
The re-imports are actually pretty popular from what I know and quite fascinating. I know someone recently found the last GAZ-M21N Volga with right-hand drive (which was a decent car in fairness, but hopelessly outdated before it even rolled off the assembly line). I know its successor, the GAZ-21P Volga, is also known from several examples.
Lada and skoda both bore the brunt of jokes in the UK for along time but Skoda have turned it round in the UK offering a very competent and competitive range of cars. Lada was killed off due european emmission legislation but i believe the marque is to return in 2012 with a new range of cars for the UK/Western European market .
Skoda at least was an original design. Granted the Octavia Typ 702 was the last one with good steering and quality control was sort of a crapshoot after about 1970, but the MB1000 and the 120L were at least their own designs. I know many from the former East Bloc who would take them over a VAZ and even a Dacia in a heartbeat. The Favorit 136L was even a solid design that came about during the Communist era, but the catch there is that the engineers kept on "tweaking" the original design away from what the Czechoslovakian state wanted.
Top Gear's 2009 take on Russian cars, worth a watch IMHO for the big GAZ Chaika
The GAZ-13 Chayka steered like pregnant hippo and was not exactly a good handler (it took 20 seconds to go from 0-60 mph, I believe), but one of the few things it really did have going for it was that once it got up to speed, it could actually stay up at that speed. The guy was right...it basically is a copy of the '56 Packard Caribbean with some influence from Chrysler.
When we saw the Volga, he was right about the parts. The best places to get parts for the old Volga 21 and Volga 22 (the wagon) are Latvia as he mentioned and Belarus. I would imagine former Soviet Central Asia is a completely untapped resource for the west since I've seen pictures of "car graveyards" that go back to the 1940's with just hundreds and hundreds of abandoned cars sitting there in a very dry environment, not being scrapped. For what it's worth, they seem well-preserved. A few people have taken Moskvitch 400's from the 1940's, GAZ-M20 Pobedas, real early model, "First Generation" GAZ-M21V and GAZ-M21G Volgas, and even one guy got a GAZ-12 ZIM limo up and running and gotten them restored and posted the result on youtube from these "car graveyards".
Sorry for the lengthy OT post, but I didn't start it this time.
Sorry for the lengthy OT post, but I didn't start it this time.
Actually, if we are going 'off topic', the JBCC started it by modelling every car under the sun - which gives us the right to talk about every car under the sun! It's also their fault for taking so long between releases, I'm not sure what else we can discuss in the 'down-time', and I haven't noticed any OT complaints being posted. Besides, most of what's been said is kind of related to the current releases in many respects.
From what I can see both models look good. The A55 looks good in the striking taxi livery. I am looking forward to this as my first car on the road was a 21 year old 1966 Wolesley 16/60 and i was a member of the COOC (Cambridge Oxford Owners Club) This included all Farina styled BMC cars the Oxford, Cambridge, Wolesley, Riley and MG Magnette. These cars were all very popular with most ending up as the preferred banger in short circuit racing part of the UK Stock Car scene. The Corgi Vanguard version and Carama versions will take some beating but from what I can see this looks promising
From what I can see both models look good. The A55 looks good in the striking taxi livery. I am looking forward to this as my first car on the road was a 21 year old 1966 Wolesley 16/60 and i was a member of the COOC (Cambridge Oxford Owners Club) This included all Farina styled BMC cars the Oxford, Cambridge, Wolesley, Riley and MG Magnette. These cars were all very popular with most ending up as the preferred banger in short circuit racing part of the UK Stock Car scene. The Corgi Vanguard version and Carama versions will take some beating but from what I can see this looks promising
The A55 does look an impressive model, and the background looks good too - (no comment on the gravel road!) I used to go along to 'Destruction Derbies' back in the 90's, and out of all the various makes of car trying to destroy each other, it was nearly always an A55 type motor that ended up being 'last car moving'. They were good looking cars, and ridiculously tough old birds too.
At least the background scenes on the insert cards on these two releases are realistic, unlike with the VAZ !!
Only one problem with that A55 diorama - as the background is showing the old fort (or whatever it is) at Port Royal, the model should be facing the other way. The pics on the magazine support this and I remember when rewatching DN recently (to get the Vauxhall Velox licence plate for Maz) that the taxi reverses away after SC exits, so it never on-screen faces back up the road it comes down to the harbour where Quarrel is painting his boat.
If I remember correctly this seller from Darlington also had the Econoline for sale weeks ahead of its general release, about six months ago.
Comments
Just got the VAZ-2106 Zhiguli in the mail today and (surprise!) I love it! Unfortunately, the description of the car in the magazine is excessively poor. Here's a list of some errors...
-The VAZ-2106 was not chosen as the Russian Car of the 20th Century by any Russian or CIS magazine. What they really did was take the Zhiguli series AS A WHOLE and called it the Russian Car of the 20th Century.
-AvtoVAZ didn't exist until after the fall of the Soviet Union. The Fiat-Soviet agreement resulted in the creation of the Volzhskiy Avtomobilniy Zavod (Volga River Automobile Plant...NOT to be confused to the actual car sold as the "Volga", which is made by GAZ), or VAZ.
-The VAZ-2106 was a facelifted and improved variant of the VAZ-2103, which was based on the Fiat 124 Special T (NOT the Special). The VAZ-2106 had nothing to do with the 124 Special T other than being descended from a car (the VAZ-2103) that was descended from the 124 Special T.
-I would disagree that the VAZ-2106 was better quality than most Soviet cars. Just about any limousine as well as the GAZ-24 Volga, GAZ-24-10 Volga, and GAZ-3102 Volga were all of higher quality.
-What really killed the VAZ-2106 was not lack of investment, but the decision to focus all manufacturing (remember, this is 2001) on the VAZ-2107, which is the most upscale Zhiguli variant and remains in production to this day. Although it looked dated, that was actually a reason people were buying it (as well as the VAZ-2107)! Although it couldn't meet emissions standards, I'm not aware of the final production models failing to meet domestic safety requirements.
Also, we finally get a look at the badges on the mockups. Hooray! They appear to be "LADA 1600" badges.
And the car itself? NO COMPLAINTS!!!! -{
Anyway, I want to again take you back to this long bygone era when the JBCC cars were accompanied by great dioramas and figures – to the last two issues of the French test series (issues 1-3 can be found on pp. 95 & 155, 96 and 104). Apologies that it did take that long, some things this year (like my girlfriend falling from a horse and getting seriously injured) didn't make model cars the top priority in my life (but still provided a most welcome distraction).
Issue 4:
BMW Z8 • LE MONDE NE SUFFIT PAS
This was released on December 29, 2005 and is the same casting as no. 350021 from Norev's range, of course painted silver instead of blue, and outfitted with a closed convertible top (which I don't know of ever being used in the standard range). Again, there are some simplifications on the JBCC model to somehow justify the price difference, the missing BMW emblems on the wheels are obvious.
After the first three of UH's JBCC models were based on Eligor's and Norev's castings, the Z8 was the first clearly different from its French predecessor. I much prefer Norev's Z8 over the UH. The wheels of the UH BMW are much too small, the proportions of the car remind me more of a Fiat Barchetta than a Z8. However, the details on the UH are better, you get the wheel emblems and red and black prints on the missiles.
I prefer the earlier diorama a little bit. I like how the planks are bowing upwards and that the buzzsaw doesn't just look like a toothed wheel. The UH diorama is still very good, with more of the buzzsaw assembly visible, the car mounted at a slight angle and the wood a lighter brown. The two pictures without the blister are from www.modelissimo.de.
And this brings us to issue 5:
JAGUAR XKR • MEURS UN AUTRE JOUR
Released on January 13, 2006 and concluding the French test of the JBCC, this seems to be the most elusive model of the test series. I had hoped that by the time I would come to issue 5 I would have one in my possession. All the others I have seen at least once in the last year but I still couldn't find one of the XKR's. So I have to rely once again on www.modelissimo.de.
While the two cars look very similar I think that the bonnet vents on the Norev version may be a little shorter than on the UH model. It's obvious that the UH diorama is much better; Norev's base looks more like water and not ice. Not much else to compare without the model ...
Let's hope that future issues will return to the brilliant quality of the early issues. Maybe the 450 SEL was pushed back to make a great diorama for this one?
Terrific stuff on the Norev models as always, RW! Good luck with finding the Jag...I've no doubt you'll eventually find one.
Regarding this last quote, that would change a number of things. If they do that literal cliffhanger with Bond, Locque, and the 450SEL...then I'm ready to say it's the best diorama they've done without even seeing it. But, as you point out...
I agree. I'll believe figures and likenesses when I see figures and likenesses. Those cars mentioned were truly fine models...certainly up to par with what Ixo is offering. I'm betting that's what they mean.
Still think the vanish would be perfect as an edition or as one off special.
I'll second that - RW, your postings on these cars make fascinating reading. Up until you started showing us and describing these models, I didn't even know variants of the JBCC existed.
Hello, my first post, although I have been following the forum on the collection for a couple of years. But this is the first time I've had a question.
My Vaz 2106 is still labelled as a LAda Niva on the boot lid - are you saying that yours has the more correct Lada 1600 badge? If so, I think I should call Fabbri for ma replacment!
It has been interesting reading everyones comments over the years!!
Thanks guys for your interest in the test models. I am sure sooner or later an XKR will show up. Funny thing is, when they were new there were lots of them available. I first found out about these models when looking on Ebay for Bond Astons and Lotus, and the first three models had been released by then. I ordered two of the DB5 for 8 euros (was quite disappointed at first that I got an Eligor too as the photo was of the better Norev DB5), and one each of the Vanquish and Esprit, as shipping was the same for up to four models from the dealer.
And I wanted to order the Z8 and XKR along with the next two. Of course I didn't know then that this was just a test and there would be no more after the XKR. And then I couldn't find a dealer who had both, or did charge to much for shipping or didn't ship outside France. Still, they were plentiful and I never had the feeling that soon they would be gone completely.
But that is the most interesting part in collecting: the hunt for things. The items we have already in the collection are nice to look at but it's the things that we don't yet have that are more interesting (at least from my point of view). Things that come up on Ebay, and those few days left until the auction ends ...
I wouldn't be surprised if the JBCC cars I do not buy not will be the ones I will be desperately looking for in a few years time.
Diecast007 said on page 159 that the badge actually says Lada Riva, not Niva. I believe this would still be wrong as I understand the Riva was the VAZ-2105, whereas as mentioned, the VAZ-2106 would have been badged as Lada 1600 in the West.
Rainier Wolfcastle was correct about what I was saying...that is, the mockups of the car in the film (and you can see this in the magazine) clearly say "LADA 1600" on the badge (food for thought: ever wonder if they recycled any of the Lada 1600's from TLD that were mocked up as Czechoslovakian Verejna Bezpecnost for the to-be-crushed mockups?). The models all say "LADA NIVA".
Okay, not quite, but almost. The system the Soviets had of badging these things is almost incomprehensible to anyone who tries to decipher it, and that includes East Bloc car nuts like me.
Let's start out with the designation "Lada Riva". It didn't come along until the 1980's and was used only in the West. Technically, while no Lada 1600's were badged as Lada Rivas, they WERE sold as them. Likewise in Brazil, the car was called the "Lada Laika", but still featured Lada 1600 badging. But by the same token, not all VAZ-2106's were badged as either "VAZ-2106 ZHIGULI" (in Cyrillic) or even "LADA 1600". You'll also find "LADA 2106" during the 80's exported to certain East Bloc and Comecon countries. "LADA 2106" was also a shortening at times if the VAZ-2106-based car had a downrated engine. You also sometimes had side badges indicating that the car's engine had been downrated (for example, "LADA 2106" with "1500" a few inches aft and above the rear wheel wells, for example...amusingly, Ixo's Polish partwork does a Lada 2107 badged as such with the engine downrated to the 1300 option, as indicated by side badging). Now, to really confuse the heck out of you, it turns out that there IS a Lada Riva 1600 and a Lada Riva 1600i...but both are based on the VAZ-2107, NOT the VAZ-2106 (though they do use the same engine)! To make matters MORE confusing, there's also a Lada Nova 1600...but that either used the VAZ-2105 OR VAZ-2107 as a basis, though never the VAZ-2106! Clear as mud, huh?
Was surprised in previous post to hear that database factory have said there will be more dioramas... I look forward to seeing them but am somewhat sceptical but clearly Fabbri/Eaglemoss have told them they are coming or they wouldn't have said this.
Have ordered the "Lada" and am looking forward to getting that - hopefully before Christmas..
I don't have much interest in this model myself but I follow the thread on it here whenever someone posts something new:
http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/34859/ge-fabbri-18-scale-am-db5-kit/
Back to the JBCC, I get Issue 90 next week and then it's 20 left for next year until the original final issue of 110, which should be available also in September 2012. I'm still deciding whether to continue with the extension, if indeed the local distributor even offers it.
D110, thanks for the extra info on the "Ladas".
At issue 51..& it seems OK..No Major problems..
put in simple terms all old fiats! :-)
A bit insulting to old Fiats, don't you think?
I agree with this. Of course, regarding the headlights, just poke them out and file the backs down. Works every time for me.
They could be trying to negotiate, although as I said earlier, I'll believe it when I see it.
My Russian friends like this one in terms of its accurately portraying a St. Petersburg Militsia GAI car, save the Niva badge and to a far lesser extent the license plates. If they like it, that generally means that not only Ixo, but EON also got it right.
No just the truth. Most of them are based on old fiat 124 from the sixties. I think its a compliment and a credit to the old car that it continues well into the new millenium albeit as derivatives from the original.
I have owned Fiats, Lancias and Alfaromeo all fantastic motor cars but the bottom line is compared to the other marques they are not the best or the most reliable but that is all part of their charm. I think the same can be said for most eastern block cars especially from a western europe point of view
In the eighties and early nineties Lada was very popular here in the Uk as it offered people a brand new car at the fraction of the cost of the equivalent Ford or vauxhall or European offerings. Most ended up as Taxi's, then there was a big export market of used ones going back to eastern europe after the wall came down in Germany and the break up of the USSR.
Closer to home My father even considered a new Lada 1600 unfortunately on opening the drivers door the door card fell off onto the dealership floor . That was enough for him to decide that a two year old Cortina was a more sensible option.
Lada and skoda both bore the brunt of jokes in the UK for along time but Skoda have turned it round in the UK offering a very competent and competitive range of cars. Lada was killed off due european emmission legislation but i believe the marque is to return in 2012 with a new range of cars for the UK/Western European market .
Apologies went off topic a bit. I read the new London Bus is to feature in SKYFALL. This vehicle is modern take on the successful Routemaster of old. It will also see the return of conductors back on the buses in London. The model version is being released by corgi as part of the 1/76 scale collection. I would like to see it as part of this collection evn in 1/50th scale. I would be happy if it was issued as a double issue or even as a 'long forgotten special'. the AEC Regent from LALD i think is still a missed opportunity and London bombings aside should be part of the collection also.
A brand new Lada or a recent, used, but very reliable Ford Cortina......hmmmm...decisions, decisions......
I agree with all of your comments as a typical UK petrol head. Back in the 70's and 80's, the only thing more unacceptable here than Ladas, Skodas, FSOs and Wartburgs were Reliant three wheelers. By the way, I think you may have gotten it wrong about the FSO and caravan deal you mentioned, are you sure the FSO wasn't free with the caravan?
Back in the day, the only thing good about any of these cars was that nobody ever stole them, even if the keys were left in them! However, as you say, it's also kind of cool to see the old Fiat 124 still chugging around, abeit as a Lada, a bit like the old Morris Oxfords still made in India.
Top Gear's 2009 take on Russian cars, worth a watch IMHO for the big GAZ Chaika:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXvKl-LlVnE
Regarding the LALD bus, I'm not a bus fan but personally see no reason why this shouldn't have been modelled. I'm from the London area with many relatives and friends there, and don't feel the London bombings are relevant. Maybe if LALD was made after the bombings then possibly there's a vague issue, but the fact is that the LALD bus lost its top under a bridge (which does occasionally happen in the UK) not by terrorist attack.
Thanks for the link - the Velorex is priceless! I have recently bought a handbuilt model of one:
Sort of. The VAZ-2101 was a license-built copy of the Fiat 124 (and the VAZ-2102 of the Fiat 124 Familiare), though was actually inspired by a totally forgotten Bulgarian car called the Pirin-Fiat 124, constructed from complete knockdown kits. Then you had the facelift to the VAZ-2101 and got the two additional sedan derivatives, the VAZ-21011 and VAZ-21013 (I'm not counting the police models), plus the station wagon derivative the VAZ-21021.
But that was it with regards to the Fiat 124 base model. The very different Fiat 124 Special (via Zastava importing them into Yugoslavia, which was a Comecon observer state and traded heavily with the USSR) inspired the VAZ-2103, VAZ-2105, VAZ-2106, and VAZ-2107, plus the VAZ-2104 Station Wagon.
Pretty much. Their limousines were usually pretty reliable, as were a great many of their trucks, but the problem with both was that they were comparatively outdated (the GAZ-51, for example, which was designed during the final days of WWII as a light truck, kept on being made until 1975 with ONE major alteration in 1955 plus the materials for the cab changing in 1949).
The re-imports are actually pretty popular from what I know and quite fascinating. I know someone recently found the last GAZ-M21N Volga with right-hand drive (which was a decent car in fairness, but hopelessly outdated before it even rolled off the assembly line). I know its successor, the GAZ-21P Volga, is also known from several examples.
Skoda at least was an original design. Granted the Octavia Typ 702 was the last one with good steering and quality control was sort of a crapshoot after about 1970, but the MB1000 and the 120L were at least their own designs. I know many from the former East Bloc who would take them over a VAZ and even a Dacia in a heartbeat. The Favorit 136L was even a solid design that came about during the Communist era, but the catch there is that the engineers kept on "tweaking" the original design away from what the Czechoslovakian state wanted.
Awesome model of the famous Czechoslovakian Velorex Oskar Cyclecar! Rumors are circulating that we might see one in Kultowe Auta PRL-u, incidentally.
The GAZ-13 Chayka steered like pregnant hippo and was not exactly a good handler (it took 20 seconds to go from 0-60 mph, I believe), but one of the few things it really did have going for it was that once it got up to speed, it could actually stay up at that speed. The guy was right...it basically is a copy of the '56 Packard Caribbean with some influence from Chrysler.
When we saw the Volga, he was right about the parts. The best places to get parts for the old Volga 21 and Volga 22 (the wagon) are Latvia as he mentioned and Belarus. I would imagine former Soviet Central Asia is a completely untapped resource for the west since I've seen pictures of "car graveyards" that go back to the 1940's with just hundreds and hundreds of abandoned cars sitting there in a very dry environment, not being scrapped. For what it's worth, they seem well-preserved. A few people have taken Moskvitch 400's from the 1940's, GAZ-M20 Pobedas, real early model, "First Generation" GAZ-M21V and GAZ-M21G Volgas, and even one guy got a GAZ-12 ZIM limo up and running and gotten them restored and posted the result on youtube from these "car graveyards".
Sorry for the lengthy OT post, but I didn't start it this time.
Actually, if we are going 'off topic', the JBCC started it by modelling every car under the sun - which gives us the right to talk about every car under the sun!
Issue 114, Austin FX4 Taxi from OP:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140663974720
Issue 115, Austin A55 Cambridge Mark II Taxi from DN:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150720891782
From what I can see both models look good. The A55 looks good in the striking taxi livery. I am looking forward to this as my first car on the road was a 21 year old 1966 Wolesley 16/60 and i was a member of the COOC (Cambridge Oxford Owners Club) This included all Farina styled BMC cars the Oxford, Cambridge, Wolesley, Riley and MG Magnette. These cars were all very popular with most ending up as the preferred banger in short circuit racing part of the UK Stock Car scene. The Corgi Vanguard version and Carama versions will take some beating but from what I can see this looks promising
Hopefully this is the confirmed return of the two per month delivery for subscribers?
The A55 does look an impressive model, and the background looks good too - (no comment on the gravel road!) I used to go along to 'Destruction Derbies' back in the 90's, and out of all the various makes of car trying to destroy each other, it was nearly always an A55 type motor that ended up being 'last car moving'. They were good looking cars, and ridiculously tough old birds too.
Only one problem with that A55 diorama - as the background is showing the old fort (or whatever it is) at Port Royal, the model should be facing the other way. The pics on the magazine support this and I remember when rewatching DN recently (to get the Vauxhall Velox licence plate for Maz) that the taxi reverses away after SC exits, so it never on-screen faces back up the road it comes down to the harbour where Quarrel is painting his boat.
If I remember correctly this seller from Darlington also had the Econoline for sale weeks ahead of its general release, about six months ago.