Looking at the pics it appears that the "diorama" is still far from what UH were able to offer - the crates look rather toy-like and plasticky. So perhaps now it's the time to code 1 them instead of the car itself?
They do look a bit like tan Lego bricks, don't they? Each one's exactly the same unpainted moulding and they're all precisely arranged in a 'repeat' fashion of three sets of two with an extra one on top of one stack. I think if anyone's going to the bother of adding figures, the base and crates could do with a bit of tonal wash paint to add some realism. - Were they wooden crates in the movie or cardboard boxes? - UH actually made some brilliantly detailed dioramas (bases) which I think was part of the original hook for many subscribers, possibly quite underrated really. It's not until you start pulling one of these models apart that you realise just how much detailing effort went into the figures and bases as well as the car. I now think there's a third aspect to the JBCC other than 'car-centric' and 'Bond-centric', which is 'model-centric'. I think it's quite possible some earlier models appealed to people who weren't overly keen on the vehicle or the movie it was featured in, but the overall 'boxed scene' was attractive or unusual enough in itself to tempt purchase. I could see the Tuk-Tuk falling into that category for example - not the greatest Bond movie IMHO, not a vehicle most would be interested in, but a really attractive overall presentation.
Looking at the pics it appears that the "diorama" is still far from what UH were able to offer - the crates look rather toy-like and plasticky. So perhaps now it's the time to code 1 them instead of the car itself?
They do look a bit like tan Lego bricks, don't they? Each one's exactly the same unpainted moulding and they're all precisely arranged in a 'repeat' fashion of three sets of two with an extra one on top of one stack. I think if anyone's going to the bother of adding figures, the base and crates could do with a bit of tonal wash paint to add some realism. - Were they wooden crates in the movie or cardboard boxes? - UH actually made some brilliantly detailed dioramas (bases) which I think was part of the original hook for many subscribers, possibly quite underrated really. It's not until you start pulling one of these models apart that you realise just how much detailing effort went into the figures and bases as well as the car. I now think there's a third aspect to the JBCC other than 'car-centric' and 'Bond-centric', which is 'model-centric'. I think it's quite possible some earlier models appealed to people who weren't overly keen on the vehicle or the movie it was featured in, but the overall 'boxed scene' was attractive or unusual enough in itself to tempt purchase. I could see the Tuk-Tuk falling into that category for example - not the greatest Bond movie IMHO, not a vehicle most would be interested in, but a really attractive overall presentation.
I reckon that's a very good point, MCF. Looking at this diorama again in these new photos, I'm starting to think that maybe it would have been better if they had just re-used and modified the UH base from issue 25.
I actually quite liked the Tuk-Tuk! I was surprised to see it manufactured, but it's not bad at all.
Also yesterday I finally tracked down the Autin Taxi at a newsagent's. The usual newsagent had had stacks of the previous release (Lada GAI Militsia), but I could not find a single specimen of this one. I went to another one who I know stocks the JBCC and after rummaging through the partwork file (can't believe how many partworks there are on the market at the moment!) I found ONE. I suppose this was because this model appeals to many collectors, some of whom may not even be interested in Bond at all. While it's not bad for the price, I was disappointed to see the rear lights just painted instead of plastic. The "Austin" badge at the back is just ridiculous, and the door vent windows are far too large. The model looks OK, probably because there have been few 1/43 releases of the same car, and they all have been far from perfect, but if you compare it to the photos of the real thing, it's just not so good anymore. Another thing is that while the case was not broken, whoever was assembling the model must have read complaints on this forum about cars floating in the air - this one was so firmly on the ground that one tyre has slipped off, and the screw was done so tightly that the base cracked! I would imagine that Ixo moved the assembly line to Japan and is now employing sumo wrestlers.
The usual newsagent had had stacks of the previous release (Lada GAI Militsia)
Tell him to put them on eBay and market as a secondary language in German, if he can speak it. A lot of the Russian buyers speak German and are willing to buy these for incredibly high prices.
Looking at the pics it appears that the "diorama" is still far from what UH were able to offer - the crates look rather toy-like and plasticky. So perhaps now it's the time to code 1 them instead of the car itself?
That'd be Code 3. But seriously, the car itself could actually do with a Code 3: try dulling some of the really shiny surfaces (especially the chrome in the hubcaps) with clear matte finish. It should give it a nice "worn" look, especially if dry-brushed on. I actually plan on detaching the car from its base and giving it Yugoslavian license plates (have a look at some archival footage of Yugoslav politicians and the 180 and 190 were two HUGE favorites throughout the 1950's and 1960's...further, you'll even see M-B's in the background in certain Yugoslavian films where they filmed in places like Belgrade, Zagreb, or Sarajevo!), but that's just me.
Re: Tuk Tuk. It had already appeared in Altaya Taxis of the World series and that may have given a chance for the mould to be used directly or indirectly to cut cost of making the model. I dont have it but it's one of the back catalogue I will pick up in time.
Hi everyone,
I just received my mercedes-benz 220S [117#]
and on the outer packaging, underneath on the cardboard there is a sicker on the bottom right corner, the sticker is silver, with writing on:
SONA442816
LICENSED BY
DAIMLER
Then there are 3 outlines of cars underneath the word DAIMLER, any thoughts on what it might be? Thanks, om99
If you wantto see it that way, Daimler is for Mercedes like General Motors is for Chevrolet or Vauxhall in the UK
On a sidenote, local people refer to "The Daimler" such as he works at "The Daimler" for decades - even at the time the company officially firmed as Daimler-Benz
President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
That's easy: Ixo has always been pretty close to Daimler AG. They even got to make one dealer sample on a W111 chassis that turned out really nice. Their only competition in 1/43 is Minichamps, which makes the lion's share of "dealer only" models (and is probably why Minichamps' M-B's turn out so nicely). Basically, this is Ixo flaunting the fact that it has a license from Daimler AG.
I've also gotten to view even more pictures of the actual model (I'd repost them here if this particular website, which by the way, is NOT a Bond car website, allowed people to re-post things from there) and can report five things...
1) The "wash" on the grille seems a bit pale and/or inconsistent. You may need to put some black paint on it. Or you could work with an option I outline below.
2) The hubcaps have four "slits" in them each. This was an undesirable trait of very early Ixo that I've not seen since the first iteration of the Taxis of the World partwork. The French-language partwork had it, but the subsequent Spanish-language and Italian-language partworks did not. Basically, this means you have to matte finish the chrome in the hubcaps, or else it sticks out like a sore thumb. Alternately, you could buy an Altaya 180D taxi (they're not particularly expensive...buy the Lisbon variant because the Tel Aviv variant has cream-colored hubcaps) and just swap out the base. You could also do this with the grille, which is correctly washed on the 180D Lisbon taxi.
3) The car has NO numeric designation on the back. As I said, I was actually (confusingly) able to find a handful of these on the internet. This could stem from the fact that the 190 we see the back of several times had absolutely no numeric designation anywhere on the car (yes, I re-watched the chase AGAIN).
4) The car's one BIG positive is the outline of the trunk. It was poorly done on all previous Ixo W120's, but they seem to have completely fixed it.
5) Looking at the Lisbon and Tel Aviv taxis, and indeed taking another look at my own Ixo 180, they all have vent windows. Interesting. Since they had the mould, I wonder...why did they go out of their way to represent the car as a 180 and not a 190? Sure, the baseplate says "220S", but they knew what they were doing. They had to have known they were avoiding making a 190 (with the only differences being chrome trim and the interior trim) and purposely going for an early 180. I wonder why?
Hi everyone,
I just received my mercedes-benz 220S [117#]
and on the outer packaging, underneath on the cardboard there is a sicker on the bottom right corner, the sticker is silver, with writing on:
SONA442816
LICENSED BY
DAIMLER
Then there are 3 outlines of cars underneath the word DAIMLER, any thoughts on what it might be? Thanks, om99
Mine's the same except the number is SONA447199...& the best thing about issue 116 are pages 6,7 & 8..lol -{ :007)
Well, good news for when they release the Scaldia-Volga. They just put out their first picture of the GAZ-24-95 Volga 4x4 (yes, there was a 4x4 Volga, though it was experimental...it eventually wound up in the hands of Leonid Brezhnev, who liked taking it off-roading, apparently...) and the body shell, which is interchangeable with the standard bottom you'd expect for the Ixo Volga 24, features "second generation"/"second series" bumpers, fog lights, pillar lights, and improved door locks. It's a very nice-looking model that I think will translate well into this collection, especially if they put the "Volga" badging in standard Roman letters (i.e., what makes a Scaldia-Volga a Scaldia-Volga). I could get a couple of these and have fun with them, I think.
It also leaves a third viable option for re-using the moulds within the next three issues (maybe go VAZ-2105, Mercedes-Benz 220D W115, and then Scaldia-Volga M24). They'd need front corner glass and a side mirror (two things the GAZ-24-95 did oddly not have), but we've seen those on both of their "second series" police car body shells, so I have faith in this one.
Hi everyone,
I just received my mercedes-benz 220S [117#]
and on the outer packaging, underneath on the cardboard there is a sicker on the bottom right corner, the sticker is silver, with writing on:
SONA442816
LICENSED BY
DAIMLER
Then there are 3 outlines of cars underneath the word DAIMLER, any thoughts on what it might be? Thanks, om99
Mine's the same except the number is SONA447199...& the best thing about issue 116 are pages 6,7 & 8..lol -{ :007)
Alright, c'mon - for those of us who haven't got issue 116, what's on pages 6,7 & 8?????? Denise Richards by any chance? :v
Hi everyone,
I just received my mercedes-benz 220S [117#]
and on the outer packaging, underneath on the cardboard there is a sicker on the bottom right corner, the sticker is silver, with writing on:
SONA442816
LICENSED BY
DAIMLER
Then there are 3 outlines of cars underneath the word DAIMLER, any thoughts on what it might be? Thanks, om99
Mine's the same except the number is SONA447199...& the best thing about issue 116 are pages 6,7 & 8..lol -{ :007)
Alright, c'mon - for those of us who haven't got issue 116, what's on pages 6,7 & 8?????? Denise Richards by any chance? :v
Yes! Denise on page 6 & Sophie on 7 & 8.. -{ :007)
Mine's the same except the number is SONA447199...& the best thing about issue 116 are pages 6,7 & 8..lol -{ :007)
Alright, c'mon - for those of us who haven't got issue 116, what's on pages 6,7 & 8?????? Denise Richards by any chance? :v
Yes! Denise on page 6 & Sophie on 7 & 8.. -{ :007)
LOL! Actually it's funny how the magazine content gets so little mention on the forum, bearing in mind the model cars are supposed to be 'free' with it!
Ebay prices for magazines are very low compared to the "free cars" LOL you could build the whole collection of mags VERY cheaply... But then content is erratic to say the least.
Dalkowski - letters - delivery was recorded to Database warehouse and Eaglemoss on 19th according to post office. So they can't say they didn't get them!
Issue 118: Confirmed as the TLD VAZ-2105 Zhiguli. Note that no one has ever determined if this car was a VAZ-2105 Zhiguli proper or a Lada Nova 2105, which was the Czechoslovakian variant. The only difference is badging on the trunk lid, which we never see despite the car actually getting a decent amount of screen time. Also, the one Ixo made pretty much couldn't be closer to the car we see on-screen as far as moulds go. Even the hubcaps match up almost exactly. I would expect the diorama to be similar to the one we saw for the ZIL-117, but flattened out for pavement.
Issue 119: FYEO Mercedes-Benz 220D (W115). They have to mix it up a little, and can afford to do so with this car, since the mould exists. Otherwise, you'd get two straight East Bloc cars. Given that this car NEVER had the four annoying little "vents" in its hubcaps, it's again very true to the movie car, even if it lacks the East Bloc uniqueness or sinister qualities of the Zhiguli and Scaldia-Volga, respectively. I also think they'd have to use a snow diorama for this car, since it doesn't travel on any other surfaces. Despite the car using the same body shell as the 220 from TMWTGG, we would at least get a new diorama.
Issue 120: OP Scaldia-Volga M24. Orlov's staff car. Seeing as Ixo went back and re-did their second series Volga mould just recently, this car should be perfectly true to the movie when given corner glass [which they've done] and a side mirror [they've done that, too]. The real question, I suppose, is "do we get a flag mounted on the fender?" EON screwed up by giving the car East German Nationale Volksarmee license plates and a Soviet flag in the film, plus just talking the Russian hobbyists, they seem interested in the car more for the "hey, it's that car we sent to the Belgians and the Dutch" aspect than anything else save the car being "second series". I wouldn't be shocked if they leave it out. I wonder what diorama it winds up with.
Issue 121: LALD 1973 Chevrolet Bel Air Louisiana State Police. This would be a partial re-use of a mould that's only existed for THIS partwork: the very-nicely-executed 1973 Chevy Impala Custom Coupe. But the Impala Custom Coupe's name is pretty deceptive. The car was enormous. It has the EXACT SAME length outside, wheelbase, and width as the Bel Air sedan! Translation: you can re-use the baseplate so long as you just cut off the driver's side (i.e. left) tailpipe. You can also re-use a great deal of the trim, although not all of it, seeing as by definition, the Bel Air had a lesser trim level than the Impala (the biggest difference being that the Impala had six tail lights, while the Bel Air had four; the innermost two would be interchangeable with the existing Impala, while the outermost two would be a new mould/the rear bumper is different. You also have the obvious 4 doors vs. 2 doors and the entire top of the car and trunk, but you can re-use the grille, everything related to the grille, the headlights, and basically everything else fore of the A-pillar). You'd need the lightbar obviously. You'd need new hubcaps. And the tires? Well, in theory, all they'd have to do with spare tires being made for the Impala Custom Coupe for extra batches is just flip them over since there are no whitewalls on the opposite side! Cheap? Yeah, but if it saves time for something ELSE they wind up getting correct, like a correct rear bumper and correct tail lights, I would think that would make it worthwhile. They wind up releasing their first "big American car" since the Impala Custom Coupe if you don't count the awful TB Thunderbird, it's a police car, it's very different from everything else we've seen since the extension...and yet, it doesn't really require THAT much alteration from an existing mould. This has the potential to be a great issue. By the way, since it drove around on DIRT roads, I have a feeling we'll be seeing an old "friend" again.
Issue 122: TB 1965 Lincoln Continental Lehmann-Peterson Type 53A Executive Limousine. You can interchange one very important part with the existing '67 Ixo Continental, and that is the baseplate. As a matter of fact, the wheels and tires, too. It may have a total of fewer interchangeable parts with the existing car than my predicted issue 123, but you can build off a baseplate and that is important. You also get to use the same side mirrors, wiper blades, hood ornament, and you get to re-use a number of the interior trim parts. So really, all that leaves is the 1965 body shell and associated parts not counting the wipers, mirrors, and hood ornament. Ixo can do that faster than they can lengthen or shorten a wheelbase. Drove around on pavement, so we at least wouldn't get the Sand Stand of Doom. Also, they can market this one to the East Bloc, since the link to the Continental I posted earlier is one of just a handful of surviving cars where the Soviets basically brought them in to stylistically copy (in this case, for the ZIL-114).
Issue 123: FYEO Mercedes-Benz 450SEL (W116.033). Despite having loads of parts that could interchange with this one, Ixo basically has to design a new body shell and a new baseplate. Okay, why, you ask? Simple: unlike the superficially-more-difficult Bel Air and Lehmann-Peterson Continental, there's no existing baseplate this car can be built off of. Had EON chosen to go with a 450SE, we'd have already seen this car by now, since they did a 280SE (which, I would guess, is where a majority of the parts will wind up coming from). But you need a completely new baseplate, and as many interchangeable parts as you actually have, making the baseplate and getting the wheelbase right (4 inches longer in real life on the SEL...and yes, you can usually tell, especially since we saw a 350SE [lower trim level and shorter, but wasn't a 280S or 280SE] and a 280S [thrown off the cliff] used as duplicates) is not as easy as building off an existing baseplate. Hence why UH, for example, recycled baseplates whenever possible (which is what I believe caused the huge amount of "Dinky 48'ing"). Still, considering the 450SEL is and always will be remembered in M-B circles as the top-of-the-line for the real S-Class, I would think Ixo would want to get this one right for a variety of reasons (not the least of which being their contract with M-B).
After that, I have no idea. The Dodge Ambulance uses a handful of parts from an existing Dodge Weapons Carrier, but only a handful and none of them would really speed up design or production. But there you have it. My predictions up to 123.
Dalkowski - letters - delivery was recorded to Database warehouse and Eaglemoss on 19th according to post office. So they can't say they didn't get them!
Thanks Maz! I wonder...if they got them the 19th, let's assume they took the 23rd and 24th off (plus today). That leaves the 20th, 21st, and 22nd to write a serious response, especially given whose name I invoked regarding Ixo. They may want to snail-mail you a letter back as opposed emailing a form letter or even check with the guy whose name I used to see that I'm a real person (the reason I typically avoid using my name here...first or last...is because I'm the only person in the United States with this name, so a cursory check of the White Pages should confirm who and where I am...). I'd give them a few extra days, as well...I addressed a bunch of rather small but significant and very specific issues with specific cars due out in the future rather than saying "Issue X was all wrong when you released it, I expect you'll do a better job, we all want figures, and the dioramas have to improve." Since that would be something that happened in the past, they could address it much faster. However, since I asked about future issues, that may take a bit more time (it has with ICV Models and Polish DeAgostini, though I got good responses from both companies).
Hi everyone,
I just received my mercedes-benz 220S [117#]
and on the outer packaging, underneath on the cardboard there is a sicker on the bottom right corner, the sticker is silver, with writing on:
SONA442816
LICENSED BY
DAIMLER
Then there are 3 outlines of cars underneath the word DAIMLER, any thoughts on what it might be? Thanks, om99
Mine's the same except the number is SONA447199...& the best thing about issue 116 are pages 6,7 & 8..lol -{ :007)
OK - Hi Guys - got my #116 and #'117 this weekend and re the Mercedes '220S' : that's one hell of a holographic sticker underneath the blister pack, yes my number's different too ... SONA447772 - but just catch the hologram in the right light and, as well as the three cars on the strip at the bottom, there's also a large .. err .. is it a Mercedes-Benz R-class? or an M-class? right across the middle.
Really wanted to say, though - was delighted that they've finally managed to squeeze in some diorama 3D 'content' in terms of the 'crates' but have to agree those boxes look just awful in their plastic synchronised random-ness! No figures again, as usual ... they would have transformed that one and brought it totally to life. (from my Bond-centric perspective)
Cheers,
Rhinoman B-)
PS Also, agreed - needed more pix of Denise Richards really haha
Also got the 180 today. I naturally converted it into a Yugoslavian car with the lights turned on. Ride height isn't as bad as I thought it would be...the car is on a stand where the wheels don't touch the ground. The wheels also seemed better "washed" with gray paint than I expected. However, I will have to "wash" the grille and give the car a set of whitewalls. As a car-centric, it doesn't compare to the Lada Niva and likely will not compare to the VAZ-2105, but it's certainly much better than the Austin FX4 (ultimately messed up) and Austin Cambridge A55 Mk. II (where it almost looks like they weren't trying).
MB 180 with Mercedes 200S and IXO clearly printed on the base... Grey wash on wheels are we talking abut the same model? Mine just has plastic "chrome" wheels with a black disk printed in centre with MB star in circle printed on it. The MB star on the bonnet is very easily broken btw so needs careful handling. Pretty good model though. Not sure of reflectors in back bumper though for a 180 - cant see any in my picture refs. Eaglemoss details and no model maker printed on white card round case. Diorama a bit feeble but just noticed that the base plate is completely unpainted or surfaced to make up for the fact you have a diorama!
Niva - Neat model but one wiper at front and wiper at rear are way off screen surface. Lovely base detail too. Weathering should also go on rear and certainly on mud flaps! But have to say really good model of a tough little vehicle. White card refers to Fabbri and universal hobbies in france.
Grey wash on wheels are we talking abut the same model?
I'll be happy to give you photos. They did something to dull the chrome plastic on the wheels. But then, I've been wondering about the consistency of the "wash" of this particular model. Since one of our photos clearly showed a heavily-washed grille, one (on that forum where I'm not allowed to repost) showed very, VERY minimal gray wash (but detectable nonetheless), and my own car has NO gray wash on the grille at all, I'm wondering just how consistent these models are.
Agreed about the rear bumper lights. The 220S (W180) had these in certain model years, but I'm not sure about any other "Ponton". I've thought of filling these in with chrome-colored paint since I figure "washing" the bumpers couldn't hurt anyway. Thoughts?
I too noticed that we finally got an Eaglemoss 2012 copyright with zero mention of Fabbri or UH. Perhaps the type-setting on those earlier boxes that had been marked UH was a transition from the Ocean Metal Factory boxes with Fabbri's name specifically mentioned to what we just saw?
Pretty good models as a car centric.
I would agree, though would place the Niva above the 180. Finally seeing a 1600L gives me some hope that Ixo will try the new mirrors on their planned Ist Models Verejna Bezpecnost 4x4 (which I think will be a Foxtoys exclusive). To my knowledge, that's been the holdup with that model. By the way, regarding the wiper blades, you could press those in, but the Niva is the single-most difficult East Bloc partwork-derived car to disassemble. As a matter of fact, it may be Ixo's single-most difficult model to disassemble. If you want instructions on how to do that (it's not fun, but it will give you a better-looking model...I had to replace a broken side mirror on my Ist Models VAZ-2121 and it was pretty annoying), I will post them here.
Be glad to see pictures of your wheels and grille. Sounds to me like these are getting produced in batches probably because they order a certain number then if newstrade sales are high they order more to send to direct subscribers and back order people like me. Guess then either instructions on production line or time to do models differs between batches. Will make the future interesting when collection is over and someone tries to decide what a mint model should be like!
I wont reassemble Niva but will try to persuade blades back with tape and warmth (nb not heat) at some time.
Looking at imcdb there is a picture of the merc in black with those rear overriders in the film so it is accurate to film in some way at least - whether that car was a 108 I cant judge!
Be glad to see pictures of your wheels and grille. Sounds to me like these are getting produced in batches probably because they order a certain number then if newstrade sales are high they order more to send to direct subscribers and back order people like me. Guess then either instructions on production line or time to do models differs between batches. Will make the future interesting when collection is over and someone tries to decide what a mint model should be like!
I wont reassemble Niva but will try to persuade blades back with tape and warmth (nb not heat) at some time.
Looking at imcdb there is a picture of the merc in black with those rear overriders in the film so it is accurate to film in some way at least - whether that car was a 108 I cant judge!
As soon as my digital camera gets a new battery tomorrow, you'll get photos of the grille and wheels. Rather ticked off that it ran out on me!
As for the car in the film...I noticed that too. That particular car was a 190 (W120), but oddly, even the 190 examples I looked up lacked those bumper lights. Perhaps they were custom-order?
Much to my surprise I received a reply to the e-mail I sent Database which was a copy of the rather excellent and wordy post from a couple of pages back.Here it is:
Dear Kai Rowe,
Thank you for your detailed comments regarding recent models.
You are quite correct that the collection has reused a certain number of moulds where this is appropriate. We are sorry if you feel that some of these haven’t quite been up to the high standard that you would hope for. The majority of the remaining models in the collection will involve new tooling, with some of them appearing for the very first time anywhere in the world. We continue to work hard to produce models that will take pride of place in your collection and hope you will be particularly pleased with some of the ones that are in development.
Okay, I finally got a picture of the car up...it's the best I could do, as I've not found the time to go out and get another camera battery...
You'll have to take my word for it that the dark spots on the hubcaps are indeed a wash of some kind and that there's nothing on the grille; it's just shadows. The license plates are Yugoslavian, of course, specific to what is now Kosovo (test, though...I've yet to make real decals and those were for sizing purposes...as you can see, they're a bit undersized).
As for the response to the letter...glad to hear someone's listening. Still, the best DBF can do is just say "okay". The real mover and shaker here is Eaglemoss, and we've yet to get a response from them.
OK see what you mean the grey is the coloured center to hubs round MB star. Wheels are exactly same as mine.
I have had no reply at all.... We know the letters were delivered! Maybe they just dont want to issue anything except anodyne rubbish since we keep on buying the models and since they havent killed the series they are still making money.
Personally still dying to get my hands on the promised Savoy - will order several before they all cross the Atlantic via EBay!
OK see what you mean the grey is the coloured center to hubs round MB star. Wheels are exactly same as mine.
I have had no reply at all.... We know the letters were delivered! Maybe they just dont want to issue anything except anodyne rubbish since we keep on buying the models and since they havent killed the series they are still making money.
Personally still dying to get my hands on the promised Savoy - will order several before they all cross the Atlantic via EBay!
To be honest, I'm guessing they may not respond to the letters. As for anodyne rubbish, well...the VAZ-2105 should be a superb model. It was the best-liked and best-done Lada in the USSR AvtoLegende series; I have the original and it's superb. The Mercedes-Benz 220D should at least be correct, though, plus the Scaldia-Volga, despite having partially re-used moulds, should be fine (the Ixo-for-DeAgostini USSR AvtoLegende GAZ-24-95's bumpers, fog lights, and body are the same as a "Second Series" Volga). I do wonder about the 450SEL, '65 Lincoln Continental Type 53A Executive Limousine, and I would guess the 1973 Chevy Bel Air, though it's REALLY difficult to see them screwing up the lattermost car.
Comments
They do look a bit like tan Lego bricks, don't they? Each one's exactly the same unpainted moulding and they're all precisely arranged in a 'repeat' fashion of three sets of two with an extra one on top of one stack. I think if anyone's going to the bother of adding figures, the base and crates could do with a bit of tonal wash paint to add some realism. - Were they wooden crates in the movie or cardboard boxes? - UH actually made some brilliantly detailed dioramas (bases) which I think was part of the original hook for many subscribers, possibly quite underrated really. It's not until you start pulling one of these models apart that you realise just how much detailing effort went into the figures and bases as well as the car. I now think there's a third aspect to the JBCC other than 'car-centric' and 'Bond-centric', which is 'model-centric'. I think it's quite possible some earlier models appealed to people who weren't overly keen on the vehicle or the movie it was featured in, but the overall 'boxed scene' was attractive or unusual enough in itself to tempt purchase. I could see the Tuk-Tuk falling into that category for example - not the greatest Bond movie IMHO, not a vehicle most would be interested in, but a really attractive overall presentation.
I reckon that's a very good point, MCF. Looking at this diorama again in these new photos, I'm starting to think that maybe it would have been better if they had just re-used and modified the UH base from issue 25.
Also yesterday I finally tracked down the Autin Taxi at a newsagent's. The usual newsagent had had stacks of the previous release (Lada GAI Militsia), but I could not find a single specimen of this one. I went to another one who I know stocks the JBCC and after rummaging through the partwork file (can't believe how many partworks there are on the market at the moment!) I found ONE. I suppose this was because this model appeals to many collectors, some of whom may not even be interested in Bond at all. While it's not bad for the price, I was disappointed to see the rear lights just painted instead of plastic. The "Austin" badge at the back is just ridiculous, and the door vent windows are far too large. The model looks OK, probably because there have been few 1/43 releases of the same car, and they all have been far from perfect, but if you compare it to the photos of the real thing, it's just not so good anymore. Another thing is that while the case was not broken, whoever was assembling the model must have read complaints on this forum about cars floating in the air - this one was so firmly on the ground that one tyre has slipped off, and the screw was done so tightly that the base cracked! I would imagine that Ixo moved the assembly line to Japan and is now employing sumo wrestlers.
Tell him to put them on eBay and market as a secondary language in German, if he can speak it. A lot of the Russian buyers speak German and are willing to buy these for incredibly high prices.
That'd be Code 3.
I just received my mercedes-benz 220S [117#]
and on the outer packaging, underneath on the cardboard there is a sicker on the bottom right corner, the sticker is silver, with writing on:
SONA442816
LICENSED BY
DAIMLER
Then there are 3 outlines of cars underneath the word DAIMLER, any thoughts on what it might be? Thanks, om99
The company firms yet as Daimler AG and one of their brands is Mercedes-Benz (Carl Benz was the other founder.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daimler_AG
If you wantto see it that way, Daimler is for Mercedes like General Motors is for Chevrolet or Vauxhall in the UK
On a sidenote, local people refer to "The Daimler" such as he works at "The Daimler" for decades - even at the time the company officially firmed as Daimler-Benz
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
I've also gotten to view even more pictures of the actual model (I'd repost them here if this particular website, which by the way, is NOT a Bond car website, allowed people to re-post things from there) and can report five things...
1) The "wash" on the grille seems a bit pale and/or inconsistent. You may need to put some black paint on it. Or you could work with an option I outline below.
2) The hubcaps have four "slits" in them each. This was an undesirable trait of very early Ixo that I've not seen since the first iteration of the Taxis of the World partwork. The French-language partwork had it, but the subsequent Spanish-language and Italian-language partworks did not. Basically, this means you have to matte finish the chrome in the hubcaps, or else it sticks out like a sore thumb. Alternately, you could buy an Altaya 180D taxi (they're not particularly expensive...buy the Lisbon variant because the Tel Aviv variant has cream-colored hubcaps) and just swap out the base. You could also do this with the grille, which is correctly washed on the 180D Lisbon taxi.
3) The car has NO numeric designation on the back. As I said, I was actually (confusingly) able to find a handful of these on the internet. This could stem from the fact that the 190 we see the back of several times had absolutely no numeric designation anywhere on the car (yes, I re-watched the chase AGAIN).
4) The car's one BIG positive is the outline of the trunk. It was poorly done on all previous Ixo W120's, but they seem to have completely fixed it.
5) Looking at the Lisbon and Tel Aviv taxis, and indeed taking another look at my own Ixo 180, they all have vent windows. Interesting. Since they had the mould, I wonder...why did they go out of their way to represent the car as a 180 and not a 190? Sure, the baseplate says "220S", but they knew what they were doing. They had to have known they were avoiding making a 190 (with the only differences being chrome trim and the interior trim) and purposely going for an early 180. I wonder why?
Mine's the same except the number is SONA447199...& the best thing about issue 116 are pages 6,7 & 8..lol -{ :007)
It also leaves a third viable option for re-using the moulds within the next three issues (maybe go VAZ-2105, Mercedes-Benz 220D W115, and then Scaldia-Volga M24). They'd need front corner glass and a side mirror (two things the GAZ-24-95 did oddly not have), but we've seen those on both of their "second series" police car body shells, so I have faith in this one.
Alright, c'mon - for those of us who haven't got issue 116, what's on pages 6,7 & 8?????? Denise Richards by any chance? :v
Yes! Denise on page 6 & Sophie on 7 & 8.. -{ :007)
LOL!
Dalkowski - letters - delivery was recorded to Database warehouse and Eaglemoss on 19th according to post office. So they can't say they didn't get them!
Issue 118: Confirmed as the TLD VAZ-2105 Zhiguli. Note that no one has ever determined if this car was a VAZ-2105 Zhiguli proper or a Lada Nova 2105, which was the Czechoslovakian variant. The only difference is badging on the trunk lid, which we never see despite the car actually getting a decent amount of screen time. Also, the one Ixo made pretty much couldn't be closer to the car we see on-screen as far as moulds go. Even the hubcaps match up almost exactly. I would expect the diorama to be similar to the one we saw for the ZIL-117, but flattened out for pavement.
Issue 119: FYEO Mercedes-Benz 220D (W115). They have to mix it up a little, and can afford to do so with this car, since the mould exists. Otherwise, you'd get two straight East Bloc cars. Given that this car NEVER had the four annoying little "vents" in its hubcaps, it's again very true to the movie car, even if it lacks the East Bloc uniqueness or sinister qualities of the Zhiguli and Scaldia-Volga, respectively. I also think they'd have to use a snow diorama for this car, since it doesn't travel on any other surfaces. Despite the car using the same body shell as the 220 from TMWTGG, we would at least get a new diorama.
Issue 120: OP Scaldia-Volga M24. Orlov's staff car. Seeing as Ixo went back and re-did their second series Volga mould just recently, this car should be perfectly true to the movie when given corner glass [which they've done] and a side mirror [they've done that, too]. The real question, I suppose, is "do we get a flag mounted on the fender?" EON screwed up by giving the car East German Nationale Volksarmee license plates and a Soviet flag in the film, plus just talking the Russian hobbyists, they seem interested in the car more for the "hey, it's that car we sent to the Belgians and the Dutch" aspect than anything else save the car being "second series". I wouldn't be shocked if they leave it out. I wonder what diorama it winds up with.
Issue 121: LALD 1973 Chevrolet Bel Air Louisiana State Police. This would be a partial re-use of a mould that's only existed for THIS partwork: the very-nicely-executed 1973 Chevy Impala Custom Coupe. But the Impala Custom Coupe's name is pretty deceptive. The car was enormous. It has the EXACT SAME length outside, wheelbase, and width as the Bel Air sedan! Translation: you can re-use the baseplate so long as you just cut off the driver's side (i.e. left) tailpipe. You can also re-use a great deal of the trim, although not all of it, seeing as by definition, the Bel Air had a lesser trim level than the Impala (the biggest difference being that the Impala had six tail lights, while the Bel Air had four; the innermost two would be interchangeable with the existing Impala, while the outermost two would be a new mould/the rear bumper is different. You also have the obvious 4 doors vs. 2 doors and the entire top of the car and trunk, but you can re-use the grille, everything related to the grille, the headlights, and basically everything else fore of the A-pillar). You'd need the lightbar obviously. You'd need new hubcaps. And the tires? Well, in theory, all they'd have to do with spare tires being made for the Impala Custom Coupe for extra batches is just flip them over since there are no whitewalls on the opposite side! Cheap? Yeah, but if it saves time for something ELSE they wind up getting correct, like a correct rear bumper and correct tail lights, I would think that would make it worthwhile. They wind up releasing their first "big American car" since the Impala Custom Coupe if you don't count the awful TB Thunderbird, it's a police car, it's very different from everything else we've seen since the extension...and yet, it doesn't really require THAT much alteration from an existing mould. This has the potential to be a great issue. By the way, since it drove around on DIRT roads, I have a feeling we'll be seeing an old "friend" again.
Issue 122: TB 1965 Lincoln Continental Lehmann-Peterson Type 53A Executive Limousine. You can interchange one very important part with the existing '67 Ixo Continental, and that is the baseplate. As a matter of fact, the wheels and tires, too. It may have a total of fewer interchangeable parts with the existing car than my predicted issue 123, but you can build off a baseplate and that is important. You also get to use the same side mirrors, wiper blades, hood ornament, and you get to re-use a number of the interior trim parts. So really, all that leaves is the 1965 body shell and associated parts not counting the wipers, mirrors, and hood ornament. Ixo can do that faster than they can lengthen or shorten a wheelbase. Drove around on pavement, so we at least wouldn't get the Sand Stand of Doom. Also, they can market this one to the East Bloc, since the link to the Continental I posted earlier is one of just a handful of surviving cars where the Soviets basically brought them in to stylistically copy (in this case, for the ZIL-114).
Issue 123: FYEO Mercedes-Benz 450SEL (W116.033). Despite having loads of parts that could interchange with this one, Ixo basically has to design a new body shell and a new baseplate. Okay, why, you ask? Simple: unlike the superficially-more-difficult Bel Air and Lehmann-Peterson Continental, there's no existing baseplate this car can be built off of. Had EON chosen to go with a 450SE, we'd have already seen this car by now, since they did a 280SE (which, I would guess, is where a majority of the parts will wind up coming from). But you need a completely new baseplate, and as many interchangeable parts as you actually have, making the baseplate and getting the wheelbase right (4 inches longer in real life on the SEL...and yes, you can usually tell, especially since we saw a 350SE [lower trim level and shorter, but wasn't a 280S or 280SE] and a 280S [thrown off the cliff] used as duplicates) is not as easy as building off an existing baseplate. Hence why UH, for example, recycled baseplates whenever possible (which is what I believe caused the huge amount of "Dinky 48'ing"). Still, considering the 450SEL is and always will be remembered in M-B circles as the top-of-the-line for the real S-Class, I would think Ixo would want to get this one right for a variety of reasons (not the least of which being their contract with M-B).
After that, I have no idea. The Dodge Ambulance uses a handful of parts from an existing Dodge Weapons Carrier, but only a handful and none of them would really speed up design or production. But there you have it. My predictions up to 123.
Thanks Maz! I wonder...if they got them the 19th, let's assume they took the 23rd and 24th off (plus today). That leaves the 20th, 21st, and 22nd to write a serious response, especially given whose name I invoked regarding Ixo. They may want to snail-mail you a letter back as opposed emailing a form letter or even check with the guy whose name I used to see that I'm a real person (the reason I typically avoid using my name here...first or last...is because I'm the only person in the United States with this name, so a cursory check of the White Pages should confirm who and where I am...). I'd give them a few extra days, as well...I addressed a bunch of rather small but significant and very specific issues with specific cars due out in the future rather than saying "Issue X was all wrong when you released it, I expect you'll do a better job, we all want figures, and the dioramas have to improve." Since that would be something that happened in the past, they could address it much faster. However, since I asked about future issues, that may take a bit more time (it has with ICV Models and Polish DeAgostini, though I got good responses from both companies).
Looking forward to receiving yet another 'Ladadaddyda'.
Really wanted to say, though - was delighted that they've finally managed to squeeze in some diorama 3D 'content' in terms of the 'crates' but have to agree those boxes look just awful in their plastic synchronised random-ness! No figures again, as usual ... they would have transformed that one and brought it totally to life. (from my Bond-centric perspective)
Cheers,
Rhinoman B-)
PS Also, agreed - needed more pix of Denise Richards really haha
MB 180 with Mercedes 200S and IXO clearly printed on the base... Grey wash on wheels are we talking abut the same model? Mine just has plastic "chrome" wheels with a black disk printed in centre with MB star in circle printed on it. The MB star on the bonnet is very easily broken btw so needs careful handling. Pretty good model though. Not sure of reflectors in back bumper though for a 180 - cant see any in my picture refs. Eaglemoss details and no model maker printed on white card round case. Diorama a bit feeble but just noticed that the base plate is completely unpainted or surfaced to make up for the fact you have a diorama!
Niva - Neat model but one wiper at front and wiper at rear are way off screen surface. Lovely base detail too. Weathering should also go on rear and certainly on mud flaps! But have to say really good model of a tough little vehicle. White card refers to Fabbri and universal hobbies in france.
Pretty good models as a car centric.
I'll be happy to give you photos. They did something to dull the chrome plastic on the wheels. But then, I've been wondering about the consistency of the "wash" of this particular model. Since one of our photos clearly showed a heavily-washed grille, one (on that forum where I'm not allowed to repost) showed very, VERY minimal gray wash (but detectable nonetheless), and my own car has NO gray wash on the grille at all, I'm wondering just how consistent these models are.
Agreed about the rear bumper lights. The 220S (W180) had these in certain model years, but I'm not sure about any other "Ponton". I've thought of filling these in with chrome-colored paint since I figure "washing" the bumpers couldn't hurt anyway. Thoughts?
I too noticed that we finally got an Eaglemoss 2012 copyright with zero mention of Fabbri or UH. Perhaps the type-setting on those earlier boxes that had been marked UH was a transition from the Ocean Metal Factory boxes with Fabbri's name specifically mentioned to what we just saw?
I would agree, though would place the Niva above the 180. Finally seeing a 1600L gives me some hope that Ixo will try the new mirrors on their planned Ist Models Verejna Bezpecnost 4x4 (which I think will be a Foxtoys exclusive). To my knowledge, that's been the holdup with that model. By the way, regarding the wiper blades, you could press those in, but the Niva is the single-most difficult East Bloc partwork-derived car to disassemble. As a matter of fact, it may be Ixo's single-most difficult model to disassemble. If you want instructions on how to do that (it's not fun, but it will give you a better-looking model...I had to replace a broken side mirror on my Ist Models VAZ-2121 and it was pretty annoying), I will post them here.
I wont reassemble Niva but will try to persuade blades back with tape and warmth (nb not heat) at some time.
Looking at imcdb there is a picture of the merc in black with those rear overriders in the film so it is accurate to film in some way at least - whether that car was a 108 I cant judge!
As soon as my digital camera gets a new battery tomorrow, you'll get photos of the grille and wheels. Rather ticked off that it ran out on me!
As for the car in the film...I noticed that too. That particular car was a 190 (W120), but oddly, even the 190 examples I looked up lacked those bumper lights. Perhaps they were custom-order?
Dear Kai Rowe,
Thank you for your detailed comments regarding recent models.
You are quite correct that the collection has reused a certain number of moulds where this is appropriate. We are sorry if you feel that some of these haven’t quite been up to the high standard that you would hope for. The majority of the remaining models in the collection will involve new tooling, with some of them appearing for the very first time anywhere in the world. We continue to work hard to produce models that will take pride of place in your collection and hope you will be particularly pleased with some of the ones that are in development.
Kind regards,
hannah street
You'll have to take my word for it that the dark spots on the hubcaps are indeed a wash of some kind and that there's nothing on the grille; it's just shadows. The license plates are Yugoslavian, of course, specific to what is now Kosovo (test, though...I've yet to make real decals and those were for sizing purposes...as you can see, they're a bit undersized).
As for the response to the letter...glad to hear someone's listening. Still, the best DBF can do is just say "okay". The real mover and shaker here is Eaglemoss, and we've yet to get a response from them.
I have had no reply at all.... We know the letters were delivered! Maybe they just dont want to issue anything except anodyne rubbish since we keep on buying the models and since they havent killed the series they are still making money.
Personally still dying to get my hands on the promised Savoy - will order several before they all cross the Atlantic via EBay!
I have had no reply at all.... We know the letters were delivered! Maybe they just dont want to issue anything except anodyne rubbish since we keep on buying the models and since they havent killed the series they are still making money.
Personally still dying to get my hands on the promised Savoy - will order several before they all cross the Atlantic via EBay!